After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 38

The woman who was slapped couldn’t keep her balance and collapsed onto the floor. Her hairstyle was ruined, and her head snapped to the side; a moment later, a bright red liquid began to trickle from the corner of her mouth.

“Oh my, she’s bleeding!”

“How could she hit her? What are we going to do?”

The other women gasped in terror.

But as soon as they realized who had delivered the blow, they shut their mouths instantly, not daring to utter another word.

“Mom…”

Wu Meili saw stars, her eyes clouding over with tears. She looked at her biological mother standing before her in utter disbelief, her cheek burning with a searing pain.

“What are you screaming for?”

Mother Wu was truly livid. In the brief moment she hadn’t been paying attention, she’d heard her daughter backstabbing Li Sui. Did the girl have no idea what the Bai family’s status was in Gan-Du? She pointed a trembling finger at Meili and barked, “Your mouth is always running! Do you have any idea where we are? This isn’t the place for your petty gossip! Apologize to Ms. Li this instant!”

Dazed by the scolding, Wu Meili didn’t react for a long time, her heart filled with a deep sense of grievance. Is this still my doting mother?

The other women who had been “insulting” Li Sui alongside her felt a wave of cold dread wash over them when they saw the subject of their gossip, Li Sui, standing right there. It was one thing to talk behind someone’s back; it was quite another to get caught red-handed.

Especially since Li Sui was now a member of the Bai family… In Gan-Du, even the mayor treated Bai Zhilan with the utmost respect. If the Bai Group made even a small move against them, would their families even have a way to survive?

“It was Wu Meili! She forced me to say it!” One woman, thinking fast, turned to Li Sui to apologize. “I didn’t mean to say bad things about you.”

Others quickly chimed in. “Yes, exactly! Wu Meili was the one who wanted to place the bet!”

“Heh.”

A cold sneer flickered in Li Sui’s eyes. Nice acting.

Mother Wu hurriedly called out, “Ms. Li!”

She had caught the flash of anger on Li Sui’s face. She knew it was better to punish her own daughter herself than to let someone else do it—it made the situation easier to manage. If she apologized and begged for forgiveness now, they might be able to settle this quietly.

Moreover, she had been observing Li Sui throughout the auction. Standing by Bai Zhilan’s side, the girl looked gentle and soft-spoken—surely she had a forgiving nature.

“My daughter’s words were offensive,” Mother Wu confessed, not bothering with excuses. “I will have her apologize to you sincerely right now. She just speaks without thinking sometimes. Please, be the bigger person and don’t hold it against her…”

As she spoke, she tried to drag Meili toward Li Sui, but the girl was stubborn and refused to move.

“Are you dead? Get up!” Mother Wu’s voice rose, looking like she wanted to deliver another slap. “You should have been more careful with your words! Now that you’ve done wrong, you must admit it! Apologize to Ms. Li!”

Li Sui just watched the spectacle like she was watching a farce. She was the victim here, and she held all the cards. But she didn’t want to come across as an arrogant bully just because she had the Bai family behind her. More importantly, she wasn’t about to let them off the hook with a few flimsy apologies. She wasn’t that generous.

She thought of a better way to vent her frustration. Putting on a wounded expression, she said softly, “I’ve only just realized… some people not only have a hobby of slandering others behind their backs but are also clairvoyant. To think you’ve already calculated when my wife and I will divorce. Sigh.”

With that, she played the part of the injured party perfectly, turned on her heel, and walked away. She didn’t give them a single chance to defend themselves.

Look at that. Even though these people looked down on her background and placed bets on her marriage failing, they still had to bow their heads and apologize because of her connection to the Bai family. These “high-society” types were nothing more than this.

The news of the incident spread through the auction in small circles. When it reached Bai Zhilan’s ears, her female bodyguards presented her with the recording and video. Zhilan was furious. She lost all interest in touching up her makeup.

How dare someone be so bold as to bully my Sui Sui right under my nose?

The bodyguard handed Zhilan a tablet. “These are the details of their family businesses. A few of them have ongoing contracts with our group.”

“Cut them off,” Zhilan said, her voice cold and grave. She didn’t even bother looking at the screen. “If they have the audacity to bully a member of the Bai family, let reality teach them a lesson.” She needed to make an example of them so no one else would dare look down on Li Sui.

When Zhilan reached the parking lot, she saw Li Sui sitting in the car, her head bowed as she quietly messaged someone. She looked so small and still that Zhilan’s heart ached. She must be so hurt after being so mistreated.

Li Sui noticed her approaching and stepped out of the car. “Mom,” she called out softly, a shy smile on her face.

Zhilan’s heart went out to her. Sui Sui is so beautiful and gentle. She shouldn’t have to deal with such rubbish. She made a mental note to have a serious talk with Shuyi about being more protective.

Although Zhilan had three daughters of her own, they had all grown out of their “clingy” phase long ago. None of them were as sweet and comforting as Li Sui. The youngest really does have good taste in wives, she thought.

Once they were settled back in the car, Li Sui handed Zhilan a small cake she’d boxed up. “Mom, those little cakes you mentioned are delicious. I saved a piece for you to try.”

“It is good,” Zhilan agreed, taking a bite.

Li Sui smiled and ate her own cake. Sweets always made her feel better. Zhilan could see that Li Sui was trying not to make a big deal of what happened, but she wasn’t going to let it slide.

“Sui Sui,” Zhilan said, taking a silk handkerchief to wipe a bit of frosting from the girl’s lip. “I know what happened. Next time something like this occurs, come straight to me. Don’t be afraid. No matter what lies they spread, your mother will get justice for you.”

Li Sui blinked. The news traveled that fast? She was used to solving her own problems, and hearing this made her feel slightly guilty, as if she were taking advantage of the Bai family power.

“Don’t be nervous,” Zhilan said gently, sensing her hesitation. “Most people are opportunists. If we elevate ourselves to a height they can never reach, their opinions won’t matter. Often, we don’t even have to lift a finger—others will clean up the mess for us.”

“Okay. Thank you, Mom.” Li Sui decided to stay her usual sweet self. “Actually…” she whispered into Zhilan’s ear, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “they said a lot of nasty things, but I recorded everything. I have proof of their slander. They can’t bully me that easily.”

She gave a small, innocent-looking grin. “I’ve been studying the law with Sister Shuyi lately. Maliciously spreading rumors to defame someone can be classified as libel. It’s punishable by up to three years in prison.”

“Good for you,” Zhilan said, patting her hand, impressed by her resourcefulness. “If they treat you like this in public, who knows what they’d do behind your back. It’s time they were taught a lesson. They’ll be begging for your forgiveness soon enough—not because they mean it, but because their own interests are at stake.”

Li Sui nodded. She felt a warm glow of protection. For the first time, she truly understood the benefit of having someone powerful “backing” her.

Within half an hour, the news of the auction incident had spread throughout Gan-Du. Along with it came the news that the organizer of the private auction was being investigated. Someone had reported that fakes were being sold as genuine antiques, and the Auction Association had stepped in.

Meanwhile, at the Wu residence, Mother Wu had dragged her daughter home. She spent the entire ride lecturing Meili about apologizing to Li Sui before her father found out.

“Do you have any idea who you offended?” Mother Wu asked, exasperated. “Li Sui is always by Bai Zhilan’s side. That means she has her approval. And you had to go and badmouth her right where she could hear you!”

“So what?” Wu Meili grumbled, clutching her bruised cheek. “I wasn’t the only one talking. Why do I have to apologize? Just send them some gifts and be done with it.”

“You really don’t get it!” Mother Wu felt her blood pressure rising. “Do you think the Bai family cares about gifts? You don’t know how ruthless Bai Zhilan can be.”

She had spoiled her daughter for too long, and now the girl was arrogant and oblivious.

“Wu Meili!”

The front door slammed open, and Wu’s father stormed in, his face purple with rage. Mother Wu’s heart sank. Her worst fears were coming true.

Before anyone could speak, another slap landed squarely on Meili’s other cheek.

“Oh, stop it!” Mother Wu cried, horrified. Now both sides of her daughter’s face were swelling. She’s going to be disfigured!

As she tried to calm her husband, he reached for a baseball bat leaning against the wall. Mother Wu scrambled to block him. “No! You’ll kill her!”

Meili shrank into a corner, sobbing hysterically.

“Move!” her husband roared. “Thirty minutes ago, our major project with the Bai Group was suddenly defunded! We’ve been working on that for three months! My team has been working themselves to the bone, and now it’s all gone!”

Left with no choice, he had called the Bai Group, only to be met with a cold, professional wall. 

Father Wu was terrified. He soon realized that his daughter had committed such an infuriating, reckless act of stupidity.

The Wu family was a small-time player; they didn’t dare cross the Bai family, one of the wealthiest in Gan-Du. It would have been one thing if it were just a few careless words, but after Father Wu watched the video… it was disgraceful. Their daughter had been utterly ruined by their indulgence, her personality warped into something arrogant beyond reason.

“If you want me to stop hitting you, fine,” Father Wu said, calming down slightly as he threw the baseball bat aside, panting with rage. “Do you have any idea who you offended? You just cost me over three million yuan! If you weren’t my daughter, I would have beaten you senseless by now. Now, get cleaned up and get over to the Bai residence to beg for forgiveness. If Li Sui doesn’t forgive you, don’t bother coming back to this house.”

Wu Meili was paralyzed with fear, her eyes red, feeling a deep sense of grievance. The mother who had never raised a hand against her had slapped her in public and scolded her, and her father had turned violent, threatening her with a bat to make her apologize to Li Sui. She knew she was wrong, but that didn’t mean she was humbled.

“I… I understand,” she sobbed.

“We’re hosting a formal banquet tomorrow. You must make sure they’re invited,” Mother Wu added with a heavy sigh, leading her daughter upstairs. “You’re coming with us to the Bai house tonight. We have to get their forgiveness, or our company is finished. Learn your lesson: disaster comes from the mouth.”

“This one looks great. Sui Sui, go try it on.”

After leaving the private auction, Bai Zhilan had taken Li Sui to her family’s mall to decompress. She was on a “buy-buy-buy” spree, showering Li Sui with jewelry, bags, and high-end designer clothes.

“Okay,” Li Sui said with a smile, dutifully heading to the fitting room.

Normally, Li Sui preferred staying home with her cats; this level of luxury shopping was a bit overwhelming. She knew Zhilan was trying to make up for what happened earlier. Once inside the fitting room, she quickly sent a SOS message to Shuyi:

Li Sui: [o(╥﹏╥)o]

Li Sui: Sister Shuyi, Mom is being too good to me.

Li Sui: She took me to the mall and bought so many gifts. I love them all.

Li Sui: I wish you were here.

Li Sui: Sister Shuyi, hurry up and come!

At that moment, Shuyi was in an important meeting, listening to her legal team discuss a case. Everyone was focused and participating actively. Suddenly, the relentless ding-dong, ding-dong of message notifications interrupted the discussion.

The room fell into a ghostly silence. The team members exchanged glances. Who is brave enough to keep their volume on during a meeting? Especially with Boss Bai? Do they have a death wish?

Shuyi raised an eyebrow, reached into her pocket, and checked her phone. When she saw the contact pinned to the top labeled “Wife,” a small, involuntary smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Her wife was messaging her. And so many messages!

As she read the notifications, her expression shifted. She stood up and said solemnly, “Assistant Wang, your proposal is good. Secretary Li, follow up on it. Meeting adjourned. You’ve all worked hard; go home early so your families don’t have to wait for dinner.”

Without another word, she turned and practically skipped out of the conference room.

The remaining staff exploded like a bomb had been dropped in boiling water.

“Wait, ‘families waiting for dinner’?”

“Is that the same cold, distant Boss Bai we know?”

“She even posted about her relationship on social media recently. It’s unprecedented.”

“The Ice Queen has turned into a mere mortal for love. It’s terrifying.”

“Cough, cough.” Secretary Li stood up and gave a friendly warning. “We’re still on the clock, keep the gossip to private chats. Everyone, head home.”

Shuyi hurried out of the office and sent a tender voice message: “Sui Sui, I’m on my way.”

She’d thought the auction would last late, but her wife had called for her. Since it was the first time Li Sui had seriously “summoned” her, she was determined to be there on time. Within thirty minutes, she reached the third-floor designer boutique, slightly out of breath. She spotted her mother and slowed down to steady her breathing.

“Mom,” she said, trying to look composed as she walked in. “Where’s Sui Sui?”

The sales staff grew tense. They knew exactly who the three daughters of the Bai chairman were. To serve the Chairman herself and the Third Miss was a rare honor. They realized the beauty in the fitting room must be the Third Miss’s new bride.

Zhilan wasn’t surprised to see her daughter. She signaled her over. “Sui Sui is trying on clothes. Come here, I need a word with you.”

Shuyi’s gaze drifted toward the fitting room. Zhilan pulled her aside. “Do you know what happened today?”

“I’m paying for everything today,” Shuyi said, choosing her words carefully. “Why don’t you head home? Isn’t Dad coming back soon?”

“Home? Why would I go home?” Zhilan said earnestly. “You get here and immediately try to chase me away? Do you have any idea how much Sui Sui suffered today? You didn’t even bother to ask.”

Shuyi froze. Her mind raced through the worst-case scenarios. “…Who dared to upset her? What happened?”

Zhilan recounted the events of the auction, specifically naming the families involved. She’d already cut off their funding, but her message to Shuyi was clear: Your wife was insulted, and you didn’t even know?

“Shuyi,” Zhilan said seriously. “I’m embarrassed for you. You need to be more attentive. I hate seeing that child forced to smile through her pain. And stop being stingy with the money—hand your earnings over to Sui Sui. You live and eat at the office half the time; just keep a small allowance for yourself. Listen to me.”

Shuyi nodded, her expression grave. “I understand. I’m listening.”

She had already handed over most of her assets, but she agreed with her mother. Clearly, she hadn’t been thoughtful enough. She could almost imagine the scene… it was her failure as a partner that gave those people the chance to be so bold.

A sharp, icy glint flashed in Shuyi’s eyes. “I’ll follow up on this.” She would have Secretary Li take the evidence to the police. If they wanted to slander people, they could pay the legal price.

Zhilan then mentioned the “fake” painting Li Sui had spotted, her tone shifting to admiration. “Sui Sui is incredibly sharp. She’s very clever.”

Shuyi felt a surge of pride, her lips curving upward. “Sui Sui has always been exceptional.”

“Right,” Zhilan said, shifting gears. “Your father returns tomorrow. I’ve done my best to clear out his old-fashioned ideas, but change takes time. Bring Sui Sui to the old mansion for a bit, then take her out for a walk after dinner.”

Shuyi frowned slightly. “Okay.”

“And another thing,” Zhilan whispered, glancing toward the fitting room. “When are you finally taking those wedding photos? Are you not taking this seriously? Before you were married, you only cared about work; now that you’re married, you need to make time. You can never finish earning all the money in the world.”

Shuyi stiffened. They had talked about the photos, but the schedule wasn’t set. She felt a bit dejected. “I’ll arrange it as soon as possible.”

Inside the fitting room, Li Sui’s phone vibrated. She stared at it, stunned.

A series of transfer notifications. All from Shuyi.

Shuyi told her not to worry about the cost—the family money was hers to spend, and Shuyi would only keep a 200 yuan allowance for herself.

“???”

Li Sui was floored. Is she possessed? 200 yuan? How many days is that supposed to last? She’d already given her the deeds and bank books; this level of trust was bordering on reckless.

Outside, Zhilan saw the fitting room curtain move and nudged Shuyi. “Stop playing with your phone.”

Zhilan hurried over to Li Sui, phone ready to take photos. “Oh, Sui Sui, that outfit is perfect! So beautiful!”

Shuyi looked up and her smile widened. Zhilan pulled her toward Li Sui. “Shuyi, stand next to her! Let me get a photo of the two of you.”

Shuyi reached out and expertly wrapped her arm around Li Sui’s slender waist, pulling her close. She leaned down and whispered into her ear with a playful grin, “Sui Sui, do you remember how long we’ve been married?”

Li Sui’s ears turned hot. “About half a month?” she guessed.

Shuyi looked at the clock on the store wall, a look of pure devotion in her eyes. “It’s been 28 days and 11 hours.”

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