After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 35

The atmosphere in the kitchen had turned thick with a quiet, heavy tension.

Li Sui took a breath and steadied herself. She put herself in Shuyi’s shoes—if she were the one who had woken up after a drunken night to find herself married to a stranger, only to discover later that her new spouse was her own niece’s ex-girlfriend… anyone would feel a knot of discomfort in their chest.

Li Sui knew she had to clear the air right now. She couldn’t let a shadow fall over what they were building.

“You know how it was,” Li Sui said, her expression soft, almost pleading, as she spoke with earnest clarity. “I was foolish back then. I let myself be deceived for two years by someone who saw our relationship as nothing more than a bet. But you’ve seen it for yourself—I’ve closed that door. I don’t love her anymore. To me, she is a stranger, and there will never be anything between us again.”

Shuyi looked up, her dark eyes searching Li Sui’s face as if trying to read the very depths of her soul. Li Sui didn’t flinch; she met the gaze with open, honest transparency.

After a long moment, Shuyi’s gaze flickered, and she gave a slow, deliberate nod. “I believe you.”

She really believes me? Li Sui was surprised. She knew Shuyi was a reasonable woman, but such immediate, total acceptance made her feel a bit lightheaded. It’s that simple?

As if reading her mind, Shuyi’s tone grew patient and warm. “I told you before—I’m incredibly grateful that I met you at that bar. Meeting you was the best stroke of luck I’ve ever had.”

It wasn’t the first time Li Sui had heard those words, but her face still flushed a deep pink. “Me too,” she whispered. “Ever since I met you, it feels like my luck has completely changed.”

The brief moment of vulnerability seemed to dissolve the lingering awkwardness. Shuyi’s lips curved into a genuine smile. “Sui Sui, do you know what else your grandmother told me the other day?”

Li Sui shook her head, curious. “What?”

Shuyi’s voice dropped into a tender murmur. “She said she calculated your fortune. She said I am your ‘true match,’ and everyone else was just a passing distraction. We are what people call ‘a match made in heaven.'”

Li Sui froze, stunned. She couldn’t believe her grandmother would say something so bold. She wondered if Shuyi was just saying sweet things to tease her. “My grandmother… why would she tell you that?”

Shuyi looked into Li Sui’s eyes, a wave of emotion rolling through her gaze before settling into a fierce, steady conviction. “Because we are a perfect fit. We were meant to walk through this life together.”

In that moment, the only thing Li Sui could hear was the frantic thumping of her own heart. To walk through life together… forever?

What about the girl Shuyi’s sister mentioned? Was Shuyi not looking for her anymore?

The sudden, sharp trill of the doorbell shattered the moment.

“Ah! The door!” Li Sui snapped out of her daze, her face burning with a mix of embarrassment and flustered heat. She turned and practically scrambled out of the kitchen. “It must be Mimi and Cheng Nai. I’ll go let them in!”

Shuyi let out a soft chuckle. “Wait for me. I’ll come say hello, too.”

*****

It was indeed Mimi and Cheng Nai at the door. They hadn’t been waiting long before the door swung open.

“Mimi! We’ve been waiting for you.” Li Sui greeted her friend, but her attention was immediately pulled to the bright, spirited girl standing beside her. “You must be Cheng Nai. It’s so good to meet you. Please, come in!”

“Thank you! You must be Li Sui, Mimi-jie’s best friend,” Cheng Nai said. To her, the title of “best” friend was a major seal of approval, and she was determined to make a good impression. She handed over a beautifully wrapped gift box with a respectful smile. “Since it’s our first meeting, I wasn’t sure what to get, but Mimi-jie mentioned you’re a manga artist and have a talent for calligraphy. I picked out a special inkstone. There’s a gift for your partner in there, too. I hope you like it!”

“I love it, thank you!” Li Sui said, genuinely touched.

Once inside, Mimi introduced Cheng Nai to Shuyi. After the initial round of greetings, Shuyi checked the time and headed back into the kitchen to finish lunch. Seeing this, Mimi rolled up her sleeves to go help.

Li Sui, knowing her own culinary skills were a liability, stayed in the living room to entertain Cheng Nai. Well, it wasn’t exactly solo entertaining—the two resident “fat cats” were there to help.

Cheng Nai waved a cat teaser wand, her face lighting up like a sunflower as she played with them. “Mimi-jie told me you had cats! They are so adorable!”

Li Sui couldn’t agree more. Her two cats were impressive in size, had beautiful coats, and the blue cat, Dudu, was incredibly well-behaved. At Li Sui’s signal, Dudu trotted over and flopped onto his back at her feet, shamelessly begging for belly rubs.

Cheng Nai watched with delight but then let out a small sigh. “My mom hates how much cats shed. She won’t let me have one no matter how much I ask.”

“The shedding is definitely a thing,” Li Sui laughed, remembering her own learning curve. “You have to stay on top of the cleaning. But honestly, other than the fur everywhere, they’re perfect.”

Cheng Nai listened intently as Li Sui shared her stories. She told her how she’d adopted the cow cat, Dundun, from a friend’s litter because she fell in love with a photo. Then she told the heart-wrenching story of Dudu, the blue cat, whom she’d found abandoned in a trash can during a typhoon. He’d been tied up with rope so he couldn’t find his way back home, and if Li Sui hadn’t found him in the rain, he wouldn’t have survived.

“People can be so cruel,” Li Sui mused, looking at Dudu. “He’s about a year old now. The vet said he was healthy, just malnourished. Now, even though they fight over territory sometimes, they’re the highlights of my day. Just watching them nap in the sun makes everything feel worth it.”

“That’s such a beautiful story,” Cheng Nai said, her heart melting as she looked at Dudu. “Dudu, you were so lucky to find Sui Sui-jie.”

Li Sui smiled. Caring for them had given her a sense of purpose and healing.

Cheng Nai’s mood brightened again, and she cast a shy glance toward the kitchen where Mimi was working. “I’ve already decided—once Mimi-jie and I move in together, we’re going to have as many cats as we want. No one can tell us no!”

Li Sui: “…”

Wait, did I miss a few chapters? Moving in already? Their relationship is moving that fast?

Shuyi emerged from the kitchen to set a dish on the table before heading back in. Li Sui quickly washed her hands to help with the napkins and silverware, and Cheng Nai joined in.

As they worked side-by-side, Cheng Nai caught a glimpse of Li Sui’s profile and froze. For a split second, she saw a face that looked hauntingly familiar.

“Sui Sui-jie… are you wearing makeup?” Cheng Nai asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

Li Sui wondered if her late nights were showing on her face. “No, I’m not. Do I look that tired?”

“No, no!” Cheng Nai explained quickly. “It’s just… you look different from the photos Mimi-jie showed me. You’re so beautiful without makeup. I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

“Really?” Li Sui looked at her, puzzled. “I’m pretty sure today is our first time meeting.”

Cheng Nai hesitated, biting her lip. “Has anyone ever told you… that you look like a certain movie star?”

Li Sui laughed and shook her head. “No, never.” She’d always been told she looked like her mother, but since she’d never met her father and didn’t even have a photo of him, she had no other point of reference. “I’ll take it as a compliment, though!”

“Hahaha, sorry! I must have a bad memory,” Cheng Nai said, rubbing her nose before pointing at Dudu. “Can I come over to pet the cats whenever I want?”

“I’m usually home, so you’re always welcome,” Li Sui replied.

Li Sui found Cheng Nai’s personality fascinating. In photos, she looked like a delicate, soft-spoken girl, but in person, she had a bold, lively energy and an easy, “old-friend” familiarity. She and Mimi seemed like a perfect match—they’d likely be together for a long time.

*****

In the kitchen, Mimi was feeling a bit out of her element. She could usually talk to anyone, but Shuyi’s cold, powerful aura made her feel strangely stifled.

“I’ll… I’ll take this out!” Mimi said, seizing the lobster platter and making a quick exit.

The moment she reached the living room, she found Li Sui and blurted out, “Sui Sui, I don’t know how you do it.”

“Do what?”

“Live with Lawyer Bai!” Mimi whispered, looking back at the kitchen. “She’s so… serious. I feel like I can’t even swear in front of her. If I had to stay in the same room as her for too long, I’d lose my mind.”

Li Sui blinked and shook her head with a soft smile. “She isn’t scary at all once you get to know her. She’s actually very easy to get along with.”

“Only you would think so,” Mimi grumbled, but then her eyes landed on Cheng Nai, and she grinned. “Anyway, my Xiao Nai is much more my speed. Look at how cute she is.”

Li Sui rolled her eyes playfully.

“Cough.” Mimi’s grin vanished as Shuyi walked out of the kitchen. She quickly shifted into “polite guest” mode. “Everything looks amazing, Lawyer Bai! Thank you for the hard work!”

“It was fine,” Shuyi said, bringing the last dish to the table and removing her heat-resistant oven mitts.

Li Sui lent a hand, placing the gloves back on the nearby rack.

“Time to eat!” Shuyi said with a bright smile, inviting Li Mimi and Cheng Nai to dig in.

Li Sui hurried to fill everyone’s glasses, enthusiastically playing the hostess. “Come on, come on, you have to try Sister Shuyi’s cooking!”

Even though Li Sui hadn’t spent much time in the kitchen during the prep, she provided plenty of “emotional value” at the table. Having hit it off with Cheng Nai in the living room earlier, the two were already chatting like old friends.

With Mimi being a natural conversationalist and Cheng Nai being equally lively, the group’s energy never dipped. Shuyi joined in perfectly, and the conversation flowed seamlessly until nearly two in the afternoon.

The winter afternoon was pleasantly warm on the balcony, so Li Sui decided to take the group for a stroll around the neighborhood, bringing her two cats along on leashes.

As the four of them meandered through the community paths, chatting idly, Cheng Nai suddenly stopped. She pointed at a real estate advertisement posted nearby and smiled. “Maybe I should just buy a villa in this complex too.”

Mimi loved the idea, thinking she could see Cheng Nai more often when visiting Li Sui. “Then you and Sui Sui would be neighbors!”

“Mhm.” Cheng Nai looked at Mimi, a shy smile playing on her lips as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I just wonder… Mimi-jie, do you like the environment here?”

“Of course the environment is great,” Mimi replied, her professional instincts kicking in. “The Ningcheng district is one of the top locations in Gan-Du. Even if the broader real estate market is volatile, property here is a rock-solid investment. If you like it, you should definitely look into it.”

Seeing how much Mimi liked the area, Cheng Nai grabbed her hand excitedly. “Let’s go! We’re going to the sales office right now. I’ll buy whichever one looks best.”

“Xiao Nai, don’t be impulsive!” Mimi tried to remain the voice of reason. “You only drank juice at lunch, not liquor. Buying a house is a huge deal, you can’t be this reckless.”

Cheng Nai already owned a dozen properties, but none in Ningcheng. Since Mimi liked it, there was no time like the present. “Let’s just go see!” she insisted, practically dragging Mimi toward the sales office. “If we like it, we’ll sign for it today.”

Mimi: “…”

What am I even supposed to say to that?

Cheng Nai waved a quick goodbye to Li Sui and Shuyi before dashing off. Li Sui and Shuyi, each holding a cat, watched them disappear, momentarily stunned.

Then, Li Sui remembered Cheng Nai mentioning earlier that she wanted to move in with Mimi. Based on that… Is she buying a ‘marriage home’?

Li Sui was floored. “Is she… is she in that much of a hurry?”

Shuyi, sensing the dynamic, said calmly, “It looks like their ‘happy news’ is coming sooner rather than later.”

*****

That evening, Li Sui received a message from Cheng Nai.

She had actually done it. She bought a villa right next door for over ten million yuan—fully furnished and ready for move-in the very next day.

Cheng Nai also sent an invitation for a housewarming, promising to take them to a boutique guesthouse her family owned once the winter activities started. It sounded like it was going to be a blast.

Mimi messaged her privately as well, still reeling from the scale of the Su family’s reach. The moment they stepped into the sales office, the manager had recognized Mimi. Once the staff realized who she was, the VIP treatment was almost overwhelming. They practically offered to let Mimi pick any house she wanted for free.

Mimi: [Sui Sui, it’s so surreal. I finally experienced the ‘rich life’ today. Buying a house felt as easy as buying a head of cabbage. It feels like a dream, totally fake.]

Li Sui: [So, which one did you get?]

Mimi: [The one next to you, of course! From now on, we’re neighbors!]

Li Sui was amazed to learn that the Ningcheng development was a Su family project. She messaged back her congratulations, thrilled that they could now drop by each other’s houses whenever they wanted.

The day brought even more good news. Li Sui received a formal notification from Tan Xiao: the International Manga Festival was opening next week, and her work, The Museum’s Cat Lady, had been nominated for the prestigious “Golden Dragon Award.” She had received a formal invitation to the award ceremony and the subsequent artists’ gala.

Li Sui had suspected a nomination was coming—her Master had called a few weeks ago to tip her off—but seeing the formal invite made it real. The Golden Dragon Award was the gold standard in the domestic manga scene. A nomination alone was a massive validation of her work.

She was so excited she was practically dancing in her study. It had been six months since her “Best Newcomer” win, and she remembered how flustered she’d been on stage back then. This time, she was determined to prepare a proper speech and stay composed.

Tomorrow Master returns, she thought. I can share the joy with her and ask for advice on the ceremony etiquette.

*****

Shuyi finished her work and came out of her own study, carrying two introductory law books for Li Sui. Before she even reached the door, she heard Li Sui’s joyful laughter.

Knock, knock.

Shuyi tapped gently on the half-open door. Li Sui turned around, her face still glowing. “Sister Shuyi, you really are my lucky star!”

“Something good happened?” Shuyi asked, her own expression softening with a reflected smile. “Did you find some money?”

“Better than money!” Li Sui took Shuyi’s hand and led her to the computer. “Look at this email.”

Shuyi leaned in, her eyes scanning the bilingual text. A minute later, she looked up. “You’ve been nominated? Our Sui Sui really is incredible.”

“Hee hee,” Li Sui rubbed her nose, blushing.

Shuyi’s gaze was tender. “This definitely calls for a celebration. Shall we open a bottle of wine?”

Li Sui was about to agree when she remembered Shuyi’s finger. “Is your cut really healed?”

“Look,” Shuyi held her hand out for inspection. “It’s been fine for a while. I can definitely have a drink now—you promised me, remember?”

Li Sui checked the finger carefully and nodded. “Okay. Just a little bit then.”

Shuyi’s eyes lit up. She decided to push her luck a little further. “By the way, since we’re meeting your Master tomorrow, I should probably take it seriously. What do you think I should wear?”

Li Sui looked blank. “Is there anything you don’t look good in?” She laughed, knowing Shuyi usually wore high-end designer labels. “My Master is only strict about art; otherwise, she’s very easygoing. Just dress like you’re visiting an elder. Don’t be nervous.”

Shuyi’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest of the chair. A playful smirk touched her lips. “I have an idea. Want to hear it?”

“Sure, what’s the idea?”

Shuyi met her eyes, her voice slowing down significantly. “I want you to wear my clothes… and you pick out something you like for me. We’ll switch styles for the day.”

Switching clothes? Li Sui started to imagine what that would look like.

But her thoughts were cut short. Shuyi reached out, caught her arm, and pulled her. Caught off guard, Li Sui lost her balance and tumbled directly onto Shuyi’s lap.

Li Sui gasped, her body freezing.

In the sudden closeness, she was enveloped by Shuyi’s scent—a clean, floral gardenia fragrance from her recent bath. Her hands, having nowhere to go, accidentally brushed against something soft. Even the body heat she could feel through their clothes seemed intensely, scorchingly hot.

Li Sui bit her lip, her face turning a vivid scarlet. She didn’t dare meet Shuyi’s eyes. She wasn’t entirely naive; she’d watched enough… “educational” videos from Mimi to understand the tension of the moment.

Shuyi noticed the tips of Li Sui’s ears turning red. Her gaze dropped to Li Sui’s bitten lip, which was moist and pink, looking like a tempting piece of fruit.

She wanted to kiss her.

Shuyi leaned in, her lips almost brushing against Li Sui’s.

Li Sui’s pupils contracted, her heart feeling like it was about to explode. She didn’t know how to react, her body was stiff, but her eyes instinctively began to flutter closed…

Ring! Ring! Ring!

The sharp trill of a phone shattered the silence.

Li Sui jumped, her mind buzzing like a startled cat. She scrambled out of Shuyi’s lap before her brain could even process the movement.

Shuyi blinked, momentarily dazed. “It’s my phone.”

The awkwardness was thick enough to cut. Li Sui’s heart was hammering against her ribs, and her face felt like it was on fire. Feeling like a thief caught in the act, she frantically grabbed the vibrating phone and shoved it into Shuyi’s hand before pushing her out of the study.

Slam!

The study door shut, cutting off the noise. Shuyi stood in the hallway, clutching the ringing phone and staring at the closed door. A wave of frustration washed over her.

What a terrible time for a call!

When she looked down and saw “Mom” on the caller ID, her irritation turned into a silent, internal groan.

Of course. My own mother, ruining the moment.

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