After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 36

Shuyi took a deep breath, forcing herself to be patient before answering the phone.

“What is it?”

On the other end, Bai Zhilan paused, sounding quite surprised. “Honestly, child, why are you still speaking to me in that tone? I thought you might have changed after getting married.”

Shuyi kept her expression cold, glancing toward the study as she lowered her voice slightly. “…Mom, is there something urgent?”

Bai Zhilan didn’t seem to mind her daughter’s stern tone. Her hearty laughter echoed through the line. “I know Sui Sui enjoys auctions, and I just heard about a private one coming up. I was thinking of taking you and Sui Sui along. What do you think?”

“I’ll tell her.” Shuyi felt the irritation in her chest dissipate slightly at the mention of Li Sui. Her voice remained cool. “Anything else?”

“You really are something,” Bai Zhilan grumbled at her business-like attitude, though she added with a smile, “That’s all for now. Oh, but your father is coming back to the country soon. He hasn’t met Sui Sui yet, so bring her home for a family reunion dinner when he arrives.”

Inside the study, Li Sui was straining her ears against the door. Why is it so quiet out there? Who was on the phone?

Her mind was a chaotic mess of “what-ifs.” Did I mess up? I shouldn’t have pushed Sister Shuyi out like that. Does she think I was rejecting her? She had simply panicked. Having zero experience with such intense intimacy, her first instinct was to hide. After a few minutes of frantic mental preparation, Li Sui cautiously cracked the door open just a sliver.

At that exact moment, Shuyi was about to head downstairs. She looked up at the sound of the door. Their eyes met, and the air turned thick with an awkward, lingering tension.

“You…”

“I…”

They both started at once and immediately stopped.

“You go first,” Li Sui offered, trying to be considerate.

“It was my mom,” Shuyi said, tucking away her previous frustration as she offered a slow smile. “She mentioned a private auction and wants to take you. It’s tomorrow at 4:30 PM. She’ll come to pick you up. I checked my schedule, and I don’t think I’ll be able to join you.”

“That’s fine.” Li Sui watched her face closely. Shuyi didn’t seem as “angry” as she’d feared. She gave a shy, relieved smile. “I’ll go with Mom then. You focus on work, Sister Shuyi.”

Shuyi hesitated for a second. “And my father is coming back soon. Mom wants us to have a family dinner together.”

“Okay.” Li Sui agreed without a second thought. When she had visited the old family mansion before, Shuyi’s father had been abroad. To her, Shuyi’s father was now her own; she knew she needed to take the meeting seriously.

The two stood there for a moment in silence.

“Wait for me!” Li Sui suddenly remembered something. She’d been so distracted by the Golden Dragon nomination that she’d forgotten her primary goal. She dashed to the shelf next to her desk and pulled down an exquisitely wrapped box.

It was the “return gift” she had been planning for Shuyi. She hadn’t been satisfied with earlier versions, so she’d kept refining it. Now, it was finally ready.

She held the box out with both hands, a soft smile on her lips. “This is the return gift I promised you. I’m sorry it took so long.”

Shuyi was stunned. She hadn’t expected a gift at all. Her mood did a complete 180, soaring from frustrated to ecstatic. A faint, genuine smile curved her lips. “I love it already. Thank you for putting so much effort into it.”

Li Sui felt a rush of sweetness seeing her accept it. “If I win the award, we’ll celebrate properly with champagne. I still have some drawing to finish tonight, so don’t wait up for me, Sister Shuyi. Go get some rest.”

With that, Li Sui turned and ducked back into the study.

Shuyi stood frozen in the hallway, her eyes shining like stars in the night sky. A wedding return gift? When they got married, Shuyi had only thought about social etiquette; the necklace she’d given hadn’t even been hand-picked.

Receiving something so meaningful from Li Sui made her heart race. She opened the box curiously and her breath hitched.

It was a hand-carved wooden figurine.

It was a “chibi” version of a girl sitting at a computer desk, reviewing files. The figure wore a white shirt and glasses. It was tiny, delicate, and bore an unmistakable resemblance to a miniature version of Shuyi herself. The wood was polished to a smooth, flawless finish. It was incredibly life-like.

Looking at it, Shuyi could imagine Li Sui spending hours in the study, meticulously carving away. The sheer level of care was overwhelming. Shuyi felt a pang of guilt—her own gift felt so cheap and thoughtless in comparison. She realized that in all the time they’d been married, she hadn’t given Li Sui a single truly personal gift. Even the wedding ring they wore was something Li Sui had provided.

I really need to step up my game, Shuyi thought, clutching the little wooden figure.

*****

The next morning, Li Sui woke to an empty bed. Just like every other morning, Shuyi was already up and gone. She reached over to Shuyi’s side of the bed; the sheets were already cold.

How does she do it? Li Sui wondered. Shuyi’s morning run was a permanent fixture. Every time Li Sui finally made it downstairs, there was a hot breakfast waiting—sometimes bought from a local spot, sometimes homemade, but always delicious and never the same two days in a row.

Li Sui dressed quickly, but as she went to change out of her pajamas, she remembered Shuyi’s suggestion about “switching styles.” She hesitated, then decided to head downstairs in her pajamas first.

She found Shuyi in the living room, playing with the cats. Li Sui checked the time: 8:30 AM. She’s back already?

“You’re awake?” Shuyi greeted her, clearly in a fantastic mood.

“Mhm.” Li Sui smiled back.

Shuyi set the cat teaser aside and pointed to the spread on the table. “Good timing! That old breakfast stall that sells basket-steamed rolls (bojiban) and peanut soup finally reopened today. There was a huge line, so I knew it had to be good. I also grabbed some pan-fried buns.”

Oh, this is going to be good! Li Sui thought. The local Gan-Du palate was salty and spicy, so some southern-style snacks were a welcome change.

“You don’t have to wait for me, Sister Shuyi,” Li Sui said, sitting down. “You get up so early; you should eat when you’re hungry.”

Shuyi’s eyes flickered. “I want to wait. Eating alone doesn’t taste the same.”

Li Sui’s heart melted at that. Hearing something so sweet first thing in the morning was enough to keep her happy all day. Shuyi pulled out her chair for her and then brought a bowl of warm peanut soup from the kitchen. It was thick, fragrant, and made Li Sui’s mouth water.

As Li Sui ate with gusto, Shuyi watched her with a fond, distant look. It reminded her of her days studying Go. Although she came from a wealthy background, she had spent years living at her aunt’s house near the Go academy. She and her classmates would frequent the local stalls, scarfing down food so they could get back to their boards. It was a loud, lively time.

When she was eventually taken back to the “main” Bai family, those “bad habits”—like talking while eating or holding chopsticks a certain way—had to be unlearned and disciplined out of her.

Li Sui noticed Shuyi’s sudden melancholy. “Sister Shuyi? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Shuyi snapped out of it, her smile returning, soft and lingering. “Have you always eaten with such an appetite?”

Li Sui felt self-conscious under the gaze. “Is… is my table manner bad?”

“Not at all,” Shuyi said, picking up a steamed roll. “It just makes me hungry watching you. It makes the food look delicious.” She took a large bite herself.

Li Sui laughed, her worries vanishing. Why am I overthinking this? Eating is the most important thing. She buried her face back in her bowl, enjoying every bite.

Li Sui had to meet her Master at 10:30 AM, so they couldn’t linger. Shuyi brought out the “outfits” she had picked for Li Sui. “I have three sets ready. If you don’t like the first one, we have backups.”

Li Sui didn’t want to dampen her spirits. “If we have time, I’ll try all three,” she promised.

Shuyi’s voice turned a bit husky. “Good.” She practically hurried into the guest bedroom to change.

Li Sui realized there was a bit of a height difference between them, and their styles were worlds apart. Even though she’d worn Shuyi’s clothes once before, she still felt a bit… unusual. This is going to be an interesting day, she thought.

Although Shuyi kept insisting that Li Sui looked beautiful, Li Sui knew she was a head shorter than her wife—there was no way she could pull off the look with the same effortless grace.

However, when Li Sui unfolded the clothes Shuyi had chosen, she realized her worries were misplaced. Shuyi had picked pieces with vertical lines and narrow silhouettes that cleverly masked her height, creating an elongated, elegant frame that didn’t rely on being tall.

The tags were gone, but the fabric felt crisp and new.

Wait, Li Sui thought, a small realization dawning on her. Did Sister Shuyi buy these specifically for me? It felt like discovering a sweet, hidden secret.

A few moments later, there was a soft knock on the dressing room door. Li Sui checked her reflection one last time; the outfit made her look remarkably tall and lean—she felt like she was six feet tall.

“Sister Shuyi, you can come in,” she called out.

The door opened, and Shuyi stepped inside. Li Sui was busy adjusting her collar and cuffs in the mirror. Shuyi’s eyes lit up instantly, her breath hitching in her throat. The clothes fit perfectly. Sui Sui looked stunning; she deserved nothing but the best the world had to offer.

When Li Sui turned to look at Shuyi, she paused for a second before walking over. “Your belt is tied wrong.”

Shuyi looked down, but before she could move, a pair of slender, fair hands reached toward her. The girl’s voice was soft and gentle near her ear: “The color of the belt on this coat is tricky to distinguish. I used to tie it wrong all the time, too.”

Shuyi’s body went rigid, allowing Li Sui to fix the belt. An imperceptible smirk touched her lips. The belt “mistake” had been entirely intentional—and Sui Sui had noticed, just as she’d hoped.

Only when Li Sui stepped back did Shuyi pull back her smirk, replacing it with her usual graceful smile.

“There, all done,” Li Sui said, turning back to the mirror.

In the reflection, they didn’t look like they were wearing a matching set, yet their outfits complemented each other perfectly. Standing next to the 5’8″ Shuyi, Li Sui looked much taller than usual. Shuyi was delighted; she could already imagine the scenes of people turning their heads to watch them walk by—the perfect, natural couple.

Suddenly, Shuyi’s gaze settled on Li Sui’s neck. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Sui Sui… do you not like the necklace I gave you?”

Li Sui instinctively touched her bare neck and let out a soft laugh. “I love it.”

“Then why don’t you wear it?” Shuyi asked, her eyes lingering on the spot. She had never seen her wear it once.

Li Sui tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I… I just always forget when I’m heading out. I’m not really in the habit of wearing necklaces. But since you reminded me, I’ll go put it on right now.”

That was exactly the opening Shuyi wanted. Her eyes sparkled. “Can I help?”

Help with the necklace? Li Sui was a bit surprised and didn’t answer immediately.

“May I?” Shuyi pressed.

Li Sui gave a soft “Mhm” in response. “Okay.”

Li Sui retrieved the jewelry box. When the lid opened, the brilliant necklace caught the light. Shuyi carefully lifted it out, her fingertips trembling slightly as she moved to fasten it around Li Sui’s graceful neck.

They were so close that Shuyi could see the fine, soft down on Li Sui’s skin. Her complexion was flawless, and the scent of her body wash was intoxicatingly sweet.

“Cough.” Shuyi suddenly realized she was staring too intently. “There… it’s on.”

Li Sui stood up and admired the look in the mirror. Perfect. She was genuinely pleased.

“Let’s go,” she said happily, instinctively taking Shuyi’s hand to lead her downstairs. “We don’t want to be late.”

******

Li Sui’s Master was a woman known as “Old Lady Xiao.” At fifty, she was an Associate Professor at Gan-Du University’s College of Liberal Arts. Her expertise spanned traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, antiques, Go, and the Guqin. However, she was most famous for her thirty-year career in authenticating cultural relics.

Before Li Sui’s art entrance exams, Old Lady Xiao had stayed in Li Sui’s hometown for a while. During that trip, she discovered Li Sui’s immense talent for painting. She liked the girl’s steady personality and how she remained vibrant and hopeful despite living in adversity. Li Sui was well-liked in the small town, and she’d even won over the stern professor by constantly sharing snacks with her.

After much thought, Old Lady Xiao had simply asked Li Sui if she wanted to be her apprentice. If she agreed, the professor would take care of her training and her living expenses. At the time, Li Sui had no idea who the woman was. She simply stated that she was preparing for the Gan-Du Academy of Fine Arts entrance exams; if she got in, she felt she would then be worthy of being her student.

That response had intrigued Old Lady Xiao. She stayed to mentor the girl, and Li Sui worked tirelessly, practicing late into the night. On the day her acceptance letter arrived, Li Sui felt like her life finally had meaning. She showed the letter to her Master, and under her grandmother’s witness, she performed the formal three kowtows to officially enter the apprenticeship.

Before the Master left, they agreed to reunite at the Academy. It wasn’t until later that Li Sui’s grandmother revealed that she and Old Lady Xiao were old acquaintances. Her grandmother had secretly sent photos of Li Sui’s work to the professor, hoping for some guidance. The apprenticeship itself was a stroke of destiny.

“So that’s how it happened,” Shuyi said from the driver’s seat as Li Sui finished her story. She sounded a bit stunned. “I remember my second sister once wanted a Guqin teacher and someone recommended Old Lady Xiao. But she was rejected before she even made it through the door.”

“Really?” Li Sui was surprised. She knew her Master was prestigious, but she didn’t realize she was that selective.

Shuyi smiled warmly. “It just shows how exceptional my Sui Sui is. No one can compare to you.”

Li Sui’s lips curved into a secret grin. Being praised like this… I might actually start floating.

They soon arrived at the old campus near the Academy. As a graduate, Li Sui was a familiar face. Carrying bags of gifts, she greeted various professors as they walked through the grounds. Two elderly women sunbathing under a tree spotted her and came over.

“Sui Sui, visiting your Master again?”

“You should visit more often even when she’s traveling!”

“Who is this handsome young person with you?”

“Is this the partner you mentioned?”

Elders were always full of questions. Li Sui kept a polite smile on her face. These were her Master’s friends—Professor Wu and Professor Lin. She knew that being sincere was the best way to handle them.

“Professor Wu, Professor Lin,” Li Sui said, pulling out wedding invitations and boxes of candy. “This is my wife. We’re having our wedding soon, and we’d be honored if you could attend.”

“Oh, getting married!”

“Wonderful news!”

The professors looked between Shuyi and Li Sui with pleasant surprise. After a few more minutes of pleasantries, Li Sui made her escape, pulling Shuyi toward the courtyard. Once they were alone, Shuyi pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Li Sui, who looked like she’d just survived a battle.

“Thanks,” Li Sui said, wiping her brow.

“Did you ever bring Liang Xiaona to meet your Master?” Shuyi asked, her voice calm but her eyes unreadable.

Li Sui’s hand paused. After a moment, she nodded. “…Yes.”

Shuyi froze for a few seconds. Her eyes turned dark as ink, and her grip on the gift bags tightened until her knuckles turned white.

So I’m not the only one? She couldn’t help but wonder how deep Li Sui’s feelings for Xiaona had truly been. Had they planned to marry after meeting the elders? Had Li Sui once intended to love Xiaona forever? If she hadn’t caught Xiaona cheating… would Shuyi even have a chance?

A heavy weight settled in Shuyi’s chest. If only we had met two years ago, she thought. I would have happily been the villain. I would have uprooted that relationship before it even started.

Li Sui noticed the sudden silence and the shift in Shuyi’s mood. She quickly added, “It was during the New Year, but my Master wasn’t home, so they never actually met.”

Shuyi’s expression remained flat.

“And,” Li Sui added hurriedly, “my Master didn’t even want to see her.”

The clouds in Shuyi’s mind vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of joy. “Why wouldn’t she see her?”

Li Sui saw the spark back in Shuyi’s eyes and smiled. “My Master has a very sharp eye. She said that while it’s good for young people to be ambitious, one shouldn’t be obsessed with quick gains. She felt Liang Xiaona wanted too much and wasn’t sincere in her heart.”

Master really is a Master, Li Sui thought. I was the only one who was blind back then.

Shuyi’s mood improved in a second, though she lowered her eyes with feigned worry. “Then… are you worried she won’t like me either? That she’ll turn me away?”

From the nearby basketball court, a sudden burst of cheers erupted, filling the air with energy. Shuyi stood facing Li Sui, her long dark hair fluttering in the breeze. For a moment, she looked uncharacteristically vulnerable—a mix of cool elegance and quiet anxiety.

Li Sui’s heart skipped a beat. She’d never seen Shuyi look so “lonely” or unsure.

She offered a sweet, radiant smile. “Sister Shuyi, you’re different. You don’t even need to compare yourself to her.”

Shuyi was momentarily dazed by the smile. Then, her dull eyes flared with a sudden, aggressive intensity. She looked at Li Sui and said, one word at a time: “Sui Sui, what if I want to compare? Can I win in your heart?”

Li Sui was taken aback by the heat in her gaze, but then she let out a soft laugh. She reached out and took Shuyi’s hand, showing off their matching wedding rings.

“What is there to compare?” Li Sui said softly. “Sister Shuyi, you’ve already sped past the finish line. Don’t you think you’ve already won?”

Shuyi felt a jolt of warmth at the words “already won.” The shadows in her heart vanished. Her gaze settled on Li Sui’s lips, and she felt a sudden, fierce itch in her heart—one that was only growing more intense.

It was a maddening kind of itch.

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