After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 32

The next morning, Li Sui woke up and looked around for Shuyi, only to find a sticky note next to her phone.

[I’m out for a morning run. I’ll bring breakfast back so we can eat together.]

The handwriting was square and powerful—strikingly beautiful. Li Sui’s lips curved upward; she instinctively felt the urge to mimic it. However, after searching the bedroom, she couldn’t find a single pen.

In such a vast villa, being alone made it difficult to find simple stationery. She decided to explore. The daytime view of the house was different, but since the decor was similar to her own home, she felt comfortable enough to open some of the doors.

She eventually stumbled upon the study, and her eyes lit up as she pushed the door open. The space was grand, flooded with natural light, and elegantly furnished with an air of refined order. Beyond the high-quality sandalwood desk and bookshelves, the walls were adorned with various calligraphy pieces and paintings—all collector’s editions by famous masters.

Li Sui was quickly drawn to the bookshelves. She had expected them to be filled solely with legal texts given Shuyi’s profession, but there were history books, art volumes, and even a few storybooks.

Suddenly, her eyes widened. Tucked away on the highest shelf were several volumes of Go notation manuals. Does Shuyi like Go? she wondered. Then again, it made sense. Shuyi was raised in a family that prioritized a well-rounded education; Go was likely just one of many interests she hadn’t yet discovered about her wife.

Li Sui sat at the desk, pulled a pen from the holder, and began practicing on a sheet of blank paper. Shuyi’s handwriting wasn’t easy to copy—it looked straightforward, but everyone has their own unique quirks. Fortunately, Li Sui had been a sharp observer and a talented mimic since she was a child. Soon, she had reproduced Shuyi’s script so perfectly it was uncanny.

Comparing the two notes, she smirked. I wonder how surprised Sister Shuyi will be when she sees this.

As she stood up to leave, her elbow caught a folder on the desk, sending a cascade of papers scattering across the floor.

Panic flared. What if these are important legal documents? Did I mess up the order? She quickly knelt to gather them. Regardless of what they were, she knew she had to tell Shuyi what happened.

As she reached for a stray sheet, she found a photograph.

She picked it up, her breath hitching. Who is this beauty?

The woman in the photo looked to be in her early twenties—the quintessential “white jasmine” type with fair skin and eyes that carried a classical charm. She was smiling gently at the camera.

A cold realization washed over Li Sui. Remembering the drunken ramblings of Second Sister Zhixue at the wedding, she wondered: Is this the girl Shuyi hired hackers to search for? Is this the person she’s been looking for for ten years?

She was so lovely. It wasn’t hard to see why someone would search for her.

For a moment, Li Sui felt a sharp, stinging sensation in her chest. If Shuyi had found her, why did she ask Li Sui to marry her? Was it because the girl was out of reach?

*****

After her run, Shuyi hurried home with breakfast. Even though she had spent her shower time wondering if Li Sui would secretly meet Liang Xiaona, she had ultimately decided to trust her. Even if Li Sui went, she surely had her reasons—and if Shuyi happened to follow quietly, well, that was just being a protective wife.

She remembered Li Sui posting on social media about wanting “Lotus Leaf Chicken Rice,” so she had queued at a famous century-old breakfast shop specifically for it. Luckily, she had snagged the last two portions.

The door opened from the inside just as Shuyi reached for the scanner.

“You’re back!” Li Sui greeted her. She had been checking the peephole every few minutes. She wanted to say something to Shuyi, and it was better to do it face-to-face.

Shuyi walked in, her words catching in her throat when she saw Li Sui. Li Sui was wearing a cool-toned knit cardigan and jeans—a look that was both soft and artistic.

Most importantly, those were Shuyi’s clothes.

Seeing her wife in her own clothes was a 100-point visual. She looked incredible.

“Aren’t you cold?” Li Sui asked, looking at Shuyi’s thin white T-shirt, which was damp with sweat. Shuyi’s face was flushed from the run, and her ears were red from the winter chill.

Li Sui took the breakfast bags and naturally began ushering her toward the stairs. “Go change into a coat, or take a hot shower first. We’ll eat after.”

“I’m not cold,” Shuyi said, her eyes glued to Li Sui. “You look great in that. Better than I ever did.”

Li Sui felt her heart flutter. She did a little twirl like a butterfly. “Really? I noticed the temperature dropped this morning, so I raided your closet. I should have asked first, but I fell in love with this set immediately.”

“It looks perfect on you,” Shuyi said, finally slipping on a jacket. “I forgot to tell you, the walk-in closet next door is stocked with clothes for you. If you need anything else for the season, just let me know.”

“I have enough clothes,” Li Sui said, sensing the mood was right to come clean. “Actually, Sister Shuyi, I have something to ask you.”

“Go ahead.” Shuyi began unpacking the food.

The aroma of the chicken rice filled the room, mixed with the scents of soy milk, buns, and steamed dumplings. Li Sui’s mouth watered instinctively.

“Sister Shuyi,” Li Sui sat across from her and cleared her throat. “If I accidentally did something wrong, but I tried my best to fix it… would you be able to forgive my clumsiness?”

Shuyi’s lips twitched into a smile. She suspected she knew what was coming. “As long as you’re honest with me, I’ll consider it.”

“Really?” Li Sui spilled the story of her morning “clumsiness” in the study. “I saw your note and was so impressed by your handwriting that I went to find a pen to practice. But on my way out, I accidentally knocked over some files on your desk.”

Shuyi: “…”

A flicker of disappointment passed through Shuyi’s eyes. She had expected Li Sui to mention the message from Liang Xiaona. She’d already rehearsed her response to the “ex-girlfriend” topic, but Li Sui was talking about paperwork.

Li Sui noticed the shift in her expression and panicked. “Don’t worry! I picked them all up and organized them. And I promise I didn’t look at anything confidential. I know your profession involves strict privacy agreements.”

“Those were just files from closed cases,” Shuyi said, sighing as she poked a straw into a cup of soy milk and handed it to Li Sui. Her voice was coaxing. “It’s not a big deal. Was that the only thing you wanted to tell me?”

“Everything?” Li Sui looked puzzled as she took the drink. “Wait, does that include the photo?”

Shuyi offered a faint smile. “You mean the photo of the suspect? The truly important documents are at the firm. Anything at the house is non-essential. I know what you’re worried about, but it’s fine.”

A suspect…

She wasn’t the person Shuyi was looking for?

Such a beautiful woman was a criminal?

Li Sui wanted to ask about the case, but she held back. Sometimes, the less you know, the better.

Shuyi didn’t want to talk shop. “Eat. After breakfast, we’ll head out to transfer the house to your name.”

Li Sui had almost forgotten about the property gift. She unwrapped the lotus leaf, and the fragrant, savory scent of the glutinous rice hit her. She took a bite and nodded in pure bliss. “This is delicious! Did you get this nearby?”

Shuyi smiled, eating her own portion. “Mhm. I’ll take you to the shop next time.”

“Sister Shuyi,” Li Sui said after a moment of hesitation. “There’s one more thing. I don’t want to hide it from you.”

Li Sui took a deep breath. “When I was with Liang Xiaona, we exchanged gifts. When we broke up, I returned everything she gave me. Last night, she messaged me saying she wants to return everything I gave her. I… I want you to come with me to get them back.”

Li Sui had spent all night thinking about this. She knew Xiaona’s “return of gifts” was just a pretext, and even though she had a hidden camera ready, she didn’t want any misunderstandings. The best way to handle a snake like Xiaona was to bring her powerful wife along.

Shuyi’s eyes flickered with a strange, unreadable emotion. “You… you want me to go with you?”

Li Sui’s heart hammered against her ribs. In her head, the tiny version of herself was lying flat on the floor in embarrassment.

It was awkward. Asking your new wife to accompany you to see your ex-girlfriend to pick up old relationship gifts—especially when the ex-girlfriend was technically the wife’s niece.

The silence stretched on, the atmosphere turning thick and heavy. Li Sui finished her rice, yet Shuyi still hadn’t replied.

Maybe I shouldn’t have asked, she thought. This is too much to ask of her.

But in the silence, Shuyi’s internal frustration had turned into a soaring, secret joy. She was thrilled that Li Sui had chosen to be completely honest with her. It meant Li Sui trusted her—and her marriage—more than she feared her past.

Since they were going together, there was no longer any need for Shuyi to play the risky game of shadowing them in secret.

Shuyi kept her expression neutral, though her voice softened a fraction as she asked, “What time is the meeting?”

Li Sui looked at her and smiled, giving her a deep, meaningful gaze. “Three in the afternoon. She asked to meet at a café near my old apartment. If there’s no traffic, it’s only a thirty-minute drive from here.”

“Three is too late.”

Shuyi’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. She seemed unable to fully mask her irritation as her tone grew heavy. “Tell her to come out now. We’ll go early, settle this, and come back early.”

The sooner they nipped Liang Xiaona’s lingering delusions in the bud, the better.

Li Sui: “…”

Why does she seem more anxious than I am?

*****

When Su Tan slowly opened her eyes, a sharp, splitting pain throbbed in her head. The familiar misery of a hangover made her wince and knit her brows in discomfort.

After a few moments of adjusting, she looked around and recognized the place as Liang Xiaona’s residence. She remembered waking up in this very room with Xiaona after a drunken night out once before. Everything from the chairs to the bay window felt hauntingly familiar.

“Sweetheart?”

Su Tan called out, but after receiving no reply, she realized Xiaona wasn’t home. She slowly kicked off the duvet and began rummaging through the closet for something to wear.

She had drunk far too much the night before, and her emotions had spiraled. Her head throbbed with every pulse. She desperately wanted to selectively forget the events of yesterday; it felt as though the beautiful life that belonged to her had been utterly destroyed by a woman named “Li Mimi.”

A “True Heiress” appearing out of thin air? It was too ridiculous.

Su Tan powered on her phone, ignored several calls from unimportant people, and hurriedly opened her family group chat. It was dead silent. Not a single message about her.

According to what the matriarch and Su Youlan had said yesterday, she was supposed to go on a honeymoon today with Liang Xiaona to hide out for a while. As for what would happen when she returned… that was anyone’s guess.

Her eyes welled with tears the moment she saw a message from Liang Xiaona:

[I’ve stepped out for a bit. Message me when you wake up. Next time, don’t go drinking alone. If you’re feeling down, call me; I’ll always be by your side.]

The message touched Su Tan deeply. It felt as if the entire world had abandoned her, leaving only this woman, Liang Xiaona, to stand by her as she always had. Setting everything else aside, last night was supposed to be their wedding night, and it had been a total disaster.

Su Tan felt a wave of remorse, but also a sense of bittersweet luck. At least Xiaona’s feelings for her remained steadfast and loyal. Perhaps Xiaona was the only person left in the world who truly cared for her.

Moved by this realization, Su Tan made a decision in her heart: she would cherish and spoil Xiaona even more from now on. She reached for her phone and habitually opened Xiaona’s WeChat, transferring 500,000 yuan to her. She specifically marked it as a “voluntary gift” and told her to spend it however she liked.

The money was accepted almost instantly, and a second later, Xiaona called.

“You’re awake?” Xiaona’s voice was as tender as ever, warming Su Tan’s heart.

“Mhm.” Su Tan’s emotional state stabilized. She walked barefoot to the sofa and sat cross-legged, looking out at the plants on the balcony. “I didn’t see you when I woke up. I missed you so much.”

“I had some things to take care of. I sent you a message,” Xiaona explained gently.

“But I’m hungry,” Su Tan pouted slightly. “What are you doing in the middle of the day? I want the hangover soup you make. No one else’s tastes like yours.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I finish up,” Xiaona coaxed her. “I’ll cook for you then. Why don’t you take a nap? We can have lunch together when I return.”

“Okay,” Su Tan agreed. Then she added, “My mom messaged me. She wants us to fly to Qingland this afternoon for the honeymoon. She already bought the tickets.”

“Got it. I’ll have my mom help pack my bags.”

The call ended quickly.

Liang Xiaona stared at the contact name “Su Tan” and let out a long, weary sigh. Sometimes she even disgusted herself—this person who was all flattery and false pretenses. But she couldn’t change now. Everything had been within her grasp, only for an obstacle to appear at the last second.

Xiaona hadn’t slept at all last night. After bringing Su Tan home from the bar, she saw that the internet was already flooded with leaks about Su Tan being an “adoptive daughter” and not the true heiress. The trending tags were high on the list, and many netizens were already pointing fingers at her as well.

At this critical juncture, she didn’t want any more trouble. So, after settling Su Tan, she had immediately gone back to find Cao Ying. She paid the one million yuan “hush money” Cao Ying demanded and gave her a stern warning before leaving: their past relationship was never to be mentioned to a third party. If Cao Ying tried to blackmail her again or failed to keep her mouth shut, she would make her regret it.

When she finally calmed down to think, Xiaona realized she was being cornered because she was too passive. Her promotion was blocked, her project was dying, and the Su Group shares she thought were hers had vanished. Everything was going wrong. She even began to wonder if choosing Su Tan had been a mistake from the start. Ever since she tied herself to Su Tan, bad luck had followed her like a shadow.

Xiaona sighed and checked her burner WeChat. Li Sui had replied 55 minutes ago, saying that 3:00 PM was too late and demanding she meet within an hour and a half.

When she saw the message, her stagnant heart felt like a fish finding water. Li Sui was truly different from the others in her heart. Why else would she care so much about a simple reply?

She couldn’t help but wonder: if Li Sui was willing to meet her, did it mean her anger had mostly subsided? If she lowered her head and said the right words to soften Li Sui’s heart, perhaps they really did have a chance to go back to the way they were.

Xiaona spent the next hour sitting in a corner of the café they used to frequent, waiting expectantly for Li Sui’s arrival, her mind filled with hopeful fantasies.

Suddenly, a notification from a Weibo Hot Search popped up on her screen, making her pupils contract in shock.

[Su Family Adoptive Daughter Su Tan Bullies Others at Mall, Scandalous Behavior Exposed]

Xiaona’s pulse quickened. The situation with the “fake heiress” was already complicated enough, so where did this negative news come from?

Ever since the video of the engagement banquet leaked, Su Tan’s name had been trending all night. Netizens were already comparing photos of Su Tan and Li Mimi, placing bets on who the Su family would choose as the successor.

Then, just ten minutes ago, a major entertainment account posted an unedited video of Su Tan instructing her female bodyguards to bully someone at a mall. The video showed Su Tan smoking in public and, when a passerby asked her to stop, she had her security violently drive the woman away. In the video, Su Tan could be heard shouting: “My family owns this mall! Who the hell are you to tell me where I can smoke? Do you have a death wish?”

Netizens immediately recognized her. The backlash was instantaneous. People slammed her for her arrogant “spoiled heiress” temper. Some even noticed a young woman wearing a mask standing next to her in the video—netizens were already identifying her as Liang Xiaona, the newly engaged fiancée.

Xiaona read the vicious comments and slammed her phone facedown on the table, rubbing her temples in frustration. What is the Su family’s PR team doing? Why aren’t they filing lawsuits for this?!

Just then, she saw a familiar figure pass by the window, making her heart skip a beat.

Li Sui was here.

Xiaona hurriedly pulled out a compact mirror to check her makeup. She had used extra concealer to hide her dark circles; surely she looked okay?

When she saw Li Sui walking toward her with a calm expression, she stood up with a smile to greet her. But her smile froze before she could even take a step.

A scene she never could have imagined unfolded before her.

Bai Shuyi—whom she never expected to see—was following right behind Li Sui. Shuyi had a faint smile on her face as she allowed Li Sui to lead her by the hand toward the table.

The two of them, moving in close intimacy, seemed like the center of the universe. They radiated a brilliance that made everyone else in the café fade into the background.

Xiaona stood rooted to the spot, petrified. Shock flooded her eyes, and a sharp, stabbing pain pierced her heart.

Why did she bring her aunt?

Bringing her current wife to see her ex-girlfriend?

Is Li Sui insane?

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