After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 4

Ever since Li Sui arrived in Xiamen, she had been run ragged.

She placed a great deal of importance on this signing event. Although it wasn’t her first time, she remained meticulous about every detail, managing the logistics with a focus that bordered on obsessive. It was only after the event finally concluded that she allowed herself a long, relieved exhale.

To celebrate, she treated her team to a lavish seafood feast and granted everyone a two-day break.

Xiamen was a city with a slow, rhythmic pulse, full of scenic spots perfect for social media. Li Sui decided to take advantage of the downtime and wander the city alone. By four in the afternoon, she had captured enough reference photos to last a month. Seeking a place to rest, she ducked into a quiet tea house to polish off some of her latest manga drafts.

“Hello, what can I get for you?” a waitress asked softly.

Li Sui offered a polite smile. “An iced coffee, please. Thank you.”

Between the mandatory overtime of the “vacation” and the lingering sting of her ex’s betrayal, Li Sui felt that if she were to draw a self-portrait right now, she’d look like a shriveled pufferfish.

Feeling a pang of hunger, she fished a small packet of pickled mustard tubers from her bag. As the salty-sweet flavor hit her tongue, she felt the “airbag” in her cheeks finally deflate. Dopamine began to flood her brain.

Pickled tubers are truly the best, she thought. How can anyone be unhappy when they have these?

Chewing happily and chasing it with plain water, she eventually looked up—only for a familiar figure in the distance to bolt into her line of sight. Her eyes widened, and a jolt of surprise shot through her.

Is that Bai Shuyi? What is she doing in Xiamen?

Li Sui wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. They had messaged on WeChat a few days ago about having dinner, but the conversation had fizzled out when Li Sui left for her business trip. She hadn’t expected to see her here.

When the waitress returned with the coffee, she noticed Li Sui’s curious gaze and pointed toward a nearby banner. “Over there is our tea house’s ‘Open Matchmaking’ party.”

“Open matchmaking?” Li Sui found the concept intriguing.

Xiamen was a tourist hub, and these types of spontaneous dating events were popular in scenic areas. You’d grab a numbered card at the door, head inside, and let a “Matchmaker Zhao” pair you up for a quick chat. Whether it led to a “successful pairing” or just a new friend, it was a fun way to pass the time.

*****

A few moments later, card in hand and nerves on edge, Li Sui walked into the designated area.

The interior was more spacious and elegant than she’d expected, decorated with a romantic, rustic charm. There were quite a few people present, all wearing their matchmaking numbers. As Li Sui entered, several heads turned her way.

Uncomfortable with the attention, she stood still, her heart a messy tangle of anticipation. She scanned the room, but her heart sank. Bai Shuyi was nowhere to be found.

But I clearly saw her come in…

“Oh my, what a beautiful girl!”

A plump woman wearing a “Matchmaker” badge bustled over to Li Sui, smiling warmly. “What number did you draw, dear?”

Li Sui hesitated before handing over her card.

Matchmaker Zhao clapped her hands in delight. “Room 9! It’s right over there.” She pointed toward a quiet corner of the tea house.

Li Sui offered an awkward smile and headed toward the room. I’m already here, she thought. Might as well treat it as research for a new story.

The door to Room 9 was slightly ajar. The silence inside was heavy. Li Sui gave a polite knock, but there was no answer.

Bolstered by the quiet, she stepped inside. It was a serene, Chinese-style private booth, decorated with minimalist elegance. A wooden screen partially obscured a round table near the wall. Li Sui habitually took a photo of the decor, but just as she was about to sit down, she heard a light step behind her.

She turned around, her breath catching. A tall, graceful figure stepped into the doorway.

Li Sui froze, her eyes wide with shock. It really was Bai Shuyi.

Shuyi was dressed casually but elegantly in deep-blue jeans and a white, French-style V-neck blouse. A vibrant silk scarf was tied around her neck, and her earrings swayed gently as she moved. In the warm light of the room, she looked softer and more approachable than she had during their first meeting.

She looked even more beautiful than Li Sui remembered.

Li Sui’s gaze involuntarily dipped toward Shuyi’s collarbone. Memories of that night—the softness of Shuyi’s skin and how easily it marked—flashed through her mind.

Cough.

Li Sui forced her thoughts away from the gutter. “What a coincidence!” she blurted out, her voice a bit frantic. “Sister, what brings you to Xiamen?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Shuyi’s face before it smoothed into a gentle smile. “I had a project here. It just wrapped up, so I decided to look around.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Li Sui’s mouth. “I’m here on business too. I felt terrible about having to turn down your dinner invitation the other day because of the airport rush. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”

Shuyi pulled out a chair and sat down with effortless grace. “It’s fine. You explained it on WeChat. Besides, haven’t we run into each other again regardless?”

Li Sui had to admit she was right. Everything that had happened lately; from the breakup to the accidental night with a famous lawyer—felt like it was operating outside the bounds of normal logic.

Shuyi picked up the teapot and poured two cups. “Have some tea.”

Li Sui took the cup with both hands. “Thank you.”

A quiet fell over them. Li Sui felt Shuyi’s gaze lingering on her, a realization that made her shift uncomfortably and take several quick sips of tea.

“Bai Shuyi,” the woman said, her voice a melodic hum. “That’s my name. I’m a lawyer.”

Li Sui looked up, finally finding her voice. “I’m Li Sui. I… I draw comics.”

Shuyi narrowed her eyes slightly. “I know your name. You told me last time.”

The mention of “last time” brought back a vivid mental image of the bar, and Li Sui looked away, her face heating up. The silence was becoming borderline unbearable.

“Actually,” Li Sui said, trying to regain her composure, “you looked very familiar to me. I realized later that I’d seen you on the news and those variety shows. You’re very famous.”

Shuyi didn’t seem surprised. “You looked me up? What did you think of my performance on the show?”

“I didn’t watch much of it,” Li Sui admitted honestly. “I’m not really a variety show person.”

Shuyi let out a soft laugh. “That’s fair. I was just curious.”

With the ice broken, the atmosphere softened. Li Sui noticed several prompt cards on the table, designed to help jumpstart matchmaking conversations.

Why did you choose matchmaking?

What are your hobbies?

What is your family background?

What does a happy marriage look like to you?

What are your expectations for a partner?

“Why did you choose to come to a matchmaking event?” Shuyi asked, her voice light and teasing.

Li Sui blinked, realizing they were actually going through the motions of the “game.” “Curiosity, mostly,” she said. “What about you, Sister?”

“Curiosity as well,” Shuyi replied. “And I don’t have a partner.”

Li Sui caught something in her tone. “Sister… are you really single?”

“You asked me that last time, too.” Shuyi’s eyes crinkled with amusement as she recalled Li Sui’s drunken interrogation. “You said you’d take responsibility for me. I assume you haven’t forgotten?”

“I haven’t!” Li Sui’s face burned. “I will. Like I said on WeChat, if there’s anything you need, I’ll do my best to make it up to you.”

“Oh, I’ll definitely be taking you up on that ‘compensation,'” Shuyi said with a breezy smile. “I’ll have to give it some careful thought.”

Li Sui bit her lip, staring at the woman across from her. Shuyi was exactly her type—so much so that her heart was beating an erratic rhythm and her brain felt like it was short-circuiting.

They finished the pot of tea. Shuyi looked at her with a satisfied smile. “Have you had dinner yet?”

Li Sui thought back to her lonely packet of pickled tubers and shook her head. “No.”

Shuyi’s red lips curled into a smile. “Do you like spicy food?”

Li Sui’s mood lifted. “You offered to treat me last time, but it should really be my turn to pay. Let me make it up to you.”

Shuyi nodded. “Deal.”

*****

As they stepped out of the private booth, Matchmaker Zhao met them in the lobby, her eyes twinkling with delight. “I knew there was a spark between you two! Leaving already?”

Li Sui paused, remembering this was supposed to be a matchmaking event. She glanced at Shuyi, whose eyes were dancing with hidden laughter.

“We have commemorative gifts for successful couples,” Zhao said, handing them a pair of small phone charms. They were shaped like tiny “Peace Persimmons,” delicate and petite.

Shuyi looked at Li Sui, her smile widening. Li Sui felt her cheeks grow hot as she reached out and took the charms with stiff, clumsy fingers.

“Thank you,” Shuyi said graciously.

“You’re very welcome,” Zhao added. “I wish you two a long and happy life together!”

Li Sui: “…”

Outside, the sky was a heavy, bruised grey. A storm was brewing, and the air was thick with a humid, sticky heat. They walked side-by-side through the scenic area, their conversation drifting from topic to topic. Li Sui gripped the persimmon charm tightly, her heart fluttering with a strange, giddy excitement.

“I need to go grab my things from the locker,” Shuyi said, checking her watch. “Stay right here. I’ll be back in a second.”

“Okay!” Li Sui nodded firmly.

As Shuyi walked away, Li Sui’s phone vibrated in her pocket. It was a video call from her aunt. She hesitated for a second before answering.

“Sui-sui!” her aunt’s loud voice blared from the speaker. “Your cousin said you broke up with Xiaona! Did you do something to make her angry? Xiaona is such a good girl!”

Li Sui: “…”

When Shuyi returned, she saw the girl standing by the entrance. Li Sui was wearing a pale blue qipao that complimented her elegant features, her hair pinned up simply. She looked pure, natural, and impossibly sweet—a serene island in the middle of the crowded, noisy street.

Shuyi felt an irresistible pull toward her. She had had her secretary look into Li Sui, and she had discovered something incredible: she had actually met Li Sui ten years ago.

“…You know your grandmother loves you most,” the voice on the phone continued. “She wants you to get married soon. The person I’ve found for you is excellent—he saw your photo and liked you immediately!”

Shuyi slowed her pace as she approached, catching the tail end of the conversation. Li Sui looked up and froze when their eyes met.

“Are you even listening to me?” the aunt demanded. “I’m setting up a meeting for this Saturday. Make sure you dress up and don’t let this one go…”

Li Sui’s face paled. She hurriedly disconnected the call.

A few seconds of silence passed. “Marriage pressure?” Shuyi asked, her voice neutral.

Li Sui offered an embarrassed smile. “Yeah. I guess I’m getting to ‘that age.'”

Shuyi, who was older than Li Sui, let out a soft laugh. “What are you looking for in a partner?”

Li Sui thought of her disastrous past relationship. Her lashes fluttered. “As long as they have a good character, we get along, and they don’t cheat… that’s enough.”

Shuyi arched an eyebrow, her red lips curving into a smirk. “Do you want to date me, then?”

Li Sui stared, certain she had misheard.

Shuyi’s gaze was deep and intense. “I fit all your criteria perfectly,” she added, her voice dropping into a serious, velvety tone.

Li Sui’s breath hitched. Her hand tightened around the persimmon charm. Fit the criteria? Shuyi’s face alone was enough for her to ignore everything else.

Shuyi made her point even clearer. “Aside from you, I haven’t been with anyone. Since both our families are pushing for marriage, if you’re willing, we could skip the dating phase and go straight to getting a license. We can build the emotional connection after we’re married.”

Li Sui forgot how to speak. Her thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind.

Marriage? We’re talking about marriage already?

Shuyi watched her for a long moment, her expression turning tender. “Take your time to think about it. You can give me your answer later.”

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