After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 41

After finishing their barbecue, the two strolled hand-in-hand along the Ganjiang River for half an hour, snapping several photos together with the night view before finally heading home.

Passing an open lottery shop, Li Sui pulled Shuyi inside on a sudden whim. In the past, whenever she went out with Mimi, she’d spend ten or twenty yuan at the scratch-off machines. Since she was in such a good mood today, she felt she ought to test her luck.

The shop wasn’t large, but because of the nearby night market, it was busier than expected. Shuyi felt a sense of novelty seeing Li Sui’s excitement. In her memory, Li Sui wasn’t someone obsessed with money, and she suspected the girl had simply been too reserved before to show this side of herself. Tonight, the atmosphere was just right for Li Sui to reveal her true, playful nature.

As soon as they entered, Li Sui called out to the female owner watching TV, “Boss, we’ll take two ten-yuan scratch-offs, please!”

Li Sui pulled out her phone to scan the payment code. The owner glanced at the two striking women and handed over two tickets with a smile.

Li Sui quickly handed one to Shuyi. “Here, Sister Shuyi, you scratch this one.”

“You do it, Sui Sui,” Shuyi said, pausing for a beat. Thinking two tickets wouldn’t be enough for Li Sui to have fun, she looked at the owner and said, “Boss, give us another hundred tickets.”

Li Sui hurriedly stopped her. “No need for so many! We’ll just buy twenty yuan’s worth. If we don’t win, it’s fine; if we do, it’s a lucky bonus.”

Shuyi couldn’t help but laugh. “Are two really enough?”

“Definitely,” Li Sui said with confidence. She had plenty of experience with these; she never bought too many, but usually, a couple of small ones would at least win her money back. She was in it for the experience of the process.

The most she had ever won in her life was fifty yuan. Occasionally, Mimi had better luck and once won a hundred, which they promptly spent on a milk tea celebration.

Shuyi studied the instructions on the ticket, realizing that as long as her scratched number matched the winning number, she won the corresponding prize. The jackpot was a million yuan. She took the scratching tool and first revealed the winning number: [15].

She began to scratch away the silver film one by one. Li Sui, being a pro, finished hers in seconds, her eyes scanning the grid. Her winning number was [29].

As she revealed the first row, her eyes lit up. “I won!”

A thirty-yuan prize. Li Sui was delighted; she had won on the very first try. By the time she finished the whole card, her heart was racing. She had found eight “29” symbols—the first was for thirty yuan, and the rest were for ten yuan each.

“One hundred yuan!” Li Sui beamed. Her luck was fantastic today; this was her first time hitting a hundred.

When she turned to share the news, she saw Shuyi had just finished her card. “Sister Shuyi, any luck?”

Shuyi handed the ticket over without hesitation. “I don’t really get it. You check for me.”

“Let me see.” With the confidence of a winner, Li Sui took Shuyi’s ticket. As she counted the symbols, she couldn’t suppress her gasp of excitement.

“Five hundred yuan?!” Li Sui’s voice was full of joy and envy. “Sister Shuyi, you won five hundred! Congratulations, you’re amazing!”

Shuyi’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Mhm. And you won a hundred, right?”

A few other customers poked their heads over, wondering if someone had won five million based on the level of excitement. Li Sui quickly snapped photos of the winning tickets as a memento before handing them to the owner to claim the prizes.

When the owner asked where to transfer the six hundred yuan total, Shuyi looked directly at Li Sui and said smoothly, “She’s my wife. In our house, my wife handles the money.”

Li Sui’s face turned bright red instantly. “What are you saying!” she hissed, tugging at Shuyi’s sleeve to stop her from saying anything else embarrassing.

The owner, having already guessed they were a couple, didn’t dawdle and transferred the money to Li Sui’s phone. As she did, she asked casually, “Since your luck is so good, want a few more?”

Li Sui waved her off. “No, thank you. It’s getting late.”

She knew better than to push her luck. Money obtained this way had to be spent quickly. As she pulled Shuyi out of the shop, looking at the account balance, she felt a surge of “instant wealth” happiness.

“Happy?” Shuyi asked, noticing her radiant expression.

“Very happy,” Li Sui replied. Then, she thought to herself: Sister Shuyi really is my lucky star!

It had been a few days since the 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit Yulin County. Li Sui learned that many villages had lost homes, so she contacted Tan Xiao about donating funds and supplies.

They were supposed to take their wedding photos tomorrow, but because of the earthquake, an important witness in one of Shuyi’s cases had gone missing in the affected area, and Shuyi had to send a team to find them. Consequently, the photoshoot had to be delayed for a few days.

During this time, Cao Ying reached out to Li Sui again. Since their last conversation was cut short, she asked for a formal meeting. Li Sui was initially hesitant about meeting her so soon, but then she heard a piece of news from Mimi: Liang Xiaona was planning to return to the country.

Su Tan had been sent to Qingland for an indefinite “honeymoon” to avoid the scandal, but Xiaona’s risk was lower. Her professional performance at the Su Group was well-regarded, so the Matriarch hadn’t fired her, but rather kept her in Qingland as a “dispatched employee.”

However, Xiaona had no intention of staying in Qingland. She wanted to claw her way back up and was trying to convince her mother, Liang Jun, to help her land a high-profile project that would justify a transfer back to the Gan-Du headquarters.

Mimi also revealed that after her formal recognition banquet, she would be placed in the Su Group as well, starting from the ground up to eventually reach a general manager position. Currently, Xiaona’s rank was actually higher than Mimi’s.

“Word is many employees think highly of Liang Xiaona,” Mimi whispered over the phone. “Su Tan is obsessed with her, and since I didn’t exist before, the family was basically training Xiaona to take over. Now I’m air-dropped in to snatch the position away from her. She’s definitely going to try and sabotage me.”

Li Sui comforted her friend. “What’s there to fear? This is your house, Mimi. Just follow your grandmother’s plan. Once you prove your results and win people over, her seniority won’t matter.”

“It’s not that it’s hard,” Mimi sighed dramatically, her voice taking on a theatrical, operatic tone. “I just feel like it’s going to be a messy fight. Arrows in the dark, and here I am… friendless and alone!“

Li Sui laughed, playing along with the drama. “No matter how hard she works, she’s just building the empire for you, Empress Mimi. You just sit on your throne. If she dares try a coup, we’ll exile her to the far south!”

“Hahaha! Sui Sui, you’re bolder than I am.”

After hanging up, Li Sui sat in thought for a long time. She agreed that whether for her own peace of mind or for Mimi’s future at the Su Group, Liang Xiaona was a dangerous variable. Her ambition was too great.

The next day, Li Sui met with Cao Ying in person.

This time, Li Sui presented a meticulously crafted plan. She wanted to ensure that if Liang Xiaona returned, she would return in disgrace—or better yet, not return at all. In this plan, Cao Ying was the key player.

Cao Ying would need to go abroad. Since Xiaona was avoiding her, Cao Ying would go to Qingland and adopt a new identity that would make Xiaona want to seek her out.

Cao Ying was stunned into silence for a long moment after hearing the plan. On one hand, she was impressed by the feasibility; on the other, she felt a shiver of dread. She was glad she hadn’t actually done anything to seriously hurt Li Sui, or she might have ended up in a hole somewhere. Li Sui looked so gentle, but she had a hidden depth of strategic ruthlessness. She was like a sweet glutinous rice ball—soft on the outside, but with a dark sesame filling.

Well, as long as Xiaona is miserable, I’m happy, Cao Ying thought.

“Are you sure?” Cao Ying asked after regaining her composure. “If I do exactly what you say, Xiaona will really come looking for me?”

Li Sui had known Xiaona for two years. Now that she had stepped back, she could see her character with clinical clarity. “Liang Xiaona is driven by interest. If she sees that you have something she can use, she will come to you like a moth to a flame.”

Cao Ying hesitated, looking as if she had more to say. Seeing this, Li Sui narrowed her eyes and spoke plainly: “If you still doubt me or don’t trust this partnership, we can stop right here. There’s no need to continue.”

“No, it’s not that…”

Cao Ying grimaced, her expression a chaotic mix of melancholy and pure spite. “It’s just so nauseating,” she muttered, gritting her teeth. “The thought of adopting another identity just to go back to Liang Xiaona and flatter her all over again… it makes my stomach turn.”

Li Sui raised an eyebrow but didn’t say a word. In her view, this was the most reliable way to make Liang Xiaona truly break. Other methods were too slow and messy—not her style.

“Think it over one last time,” Li Sui cautioned, her voice steady. “Once this plan is set in motion, neither of us can pull out halfway.”

Cao Ying knew there was no turning back. She stood up abruptly, running a hand through her hair, pacing as she muttered to herself in a focused process of self-persuasion. Li Sui didn’t interrupt; she simply sat there, watching her and quietly sipping her lemon water.

Finally, Cao Ying stopped, hands on her hips. “No more thinking. I’m in.” She reached out a hand. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

Li Sui stood and shook it, her expression calm. “Likewise.”

She then handed over a pre-prepared bag. “Here is one million yuan in startup funds. Once you’re in Qingland, exchange it for local currency. Contact me as soon as you find where she’s staying.”

“Got it,” Cao Ying said, taking the bag. She paused, whispering, “I’ll head out the back. Wait a few minutes before you leave the café.”

Li Sui watched her go. It wasn’t that she necessarily wanted to leave Liang Xiaona with absolutely nothing; it was just that Xiaona was an obstacle—a constant, annoying noise in her life. To Li Sui, a good ex should be like a dead person: never seen, never heard from, and certainly never in the way.

With the courthouse now handling Shuyi’s major case, she was finally able to take her long-awaited annual leave. She and Li Sui officially began their multi-city wedding photo tour, and their first stop was Xiamen.

It was the place where they had met—the Xiamen scenic area.

Xiamen was a coastal city that people dreamed of visiting, with its pleasant climate and picturesque views. More importantly, it had the kind of local food that could win over anyone’s heart. Li Sui had visited several times, but this trip felt different.

They had chosen the photography company together, and the itinerary—overseen by Secretary Li—spanned three days. To look her best for the camera, Li Sui had spent weeks doing 45-minute dumbbell sessions and strictly controlling her sugar intake.

Of course, Shuyi’s morning breakfasts were often too delicious to resist, and every “extra bite” was followed by a wave of remorse. She felt especially self-conscious next to Shuyi; not only was she shorter, but she feared looking “three pounds heavier” on film. Shuyi, who never missed a morning run, had a figure that was effortlessly perfect—a fact that the chronically-sleepy Li Sui could only grumble about in private.

Their first shoot took place at Xiamen’s famous “Lover’s Sea” scenic spot. It was mid-November, and the temperature was a perfect 77°F (25°C). The afternoon light on the beach was ethereal.

Waves, sunshine, sand, and the person she planned to spend her life with—everything felt right. The area was crowded with tourists, and Li Sui saw several other couples taking photos, all wearing the same happy smiles.

“Ms. Li, relax your body… yes, just like that. Rest your hand on Ms. Bai’s shoulder and look into her eyes… perfect. Now, give her a deep, soulful look.”

The photographer was beaming behind her lens. In her six years of work, she had never seen a pair so perfectly matched. Every movement they made was a work of art.

“Stay right there, don’t move!”

“Ms. Bai, don’t look at the camera. Look at your lover. Yes, exactly like that.”

Li Sui did exactly as she was told, her body stiffening with the effort of holding still. Staring into Shuyi’s eyes for so long made her own eyes start to sting and turn slightly red. She had always been a bit awkward in front of a camera; usually, she just looked up poses on the internet and hoped for the best before posting to social media.

“Sui Sui,” Shuyi whispered, her voice rich and melodic. “Focus. Look at me.”

Li Sui blinked. How embarrassing. Here she was, in such an important moment, and her mind was wandering.

But as she met Shuyi’s gaze, she saw a look of such profound affection that she felt a jolt of electricity. Her heart began to race. It wasn’t just awkwardness anymore; a thick, sweet intimacy was blooming between them.

They were wearing matching custom-designed gowns. It was the first time Li Sui had seen Shuyi in a white wedding dress outdoors. With her hair and makeup done to perfection, Shuyi’s face was a masterpiece—a face that Li Sui was realizing was her absolute favorite in the world.

They were closer than they had ever been in public. If either of them moved an inch, their noses would touch, their lips would brush…

Li Sui’s mind began to wander to certain “images” again, and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She was certain Shuyi could hear her heart thumping. Her inner self was screaming in a mix of panic and joy.

Shuyi noticed Li Sui’s earlobes turning a shade of dark red. On a whim, she reached up and slowly touched one. Her fingertips grazed the skin in a slow, teasing stroke—gentle, but heavy with meaning.

Li Sui shuddered, her pupils contracting. A jolt like an electric current traveled from her ear through her entire body, making her breath catch. Her legs felt dangerously weak.

“Don’t do that,” Li Sui hissed, giving her a mock-glare of complaint.

To Shuyi, that look was an invitation. Her eyes darkened, and she reached out a long arm, pulling Li Sui firmly into her embrace, completely ignoring the people around them.

“You—”

Li Sui was both annoyed and flustered. Her hands gripped the front of Shuyi’s dress as she instinctively tried to pull back, but she quickly remembered the camera and went still.

CLICK!

The photographer captured the moment instantly, her blood practically boiling with excitement. Beautiful women really do belong with beautiful women, she thought. They didn’t even need poses; every candid shot was a masterpiece.

After the coastal shoot ended, Li Sui’s feet were aching. She collapsed onto a lounge chair to let the makeup artist touch her up. Shuyi, meanwhile, was reviewing the photos with the photographer.

“How many did we get?” Shuyi asked.

“Over three hundred in this set alone,” the photographer smiled. “You can pick your favorites later.”

Shuyi nodded, satisfied. Li Sui looked incredibly natural—there was no “acting” in her expressions. The way she looked at Shuyi… anyone could see she was completely smitten. Shuyi’s eyes flickered; she loved that look. The look of utter devotion.

“Send them all to my email,” Shuyi said with a smile. “Every single one.”

“Huh?” The photographer blinked. Usually, it took weeks to edit and select a final cut. But looking at them, she realized these two didn’t need any editing. Their beauty was raw and flawless. “No problem. I’ll have them to you tonight.”

As they prepared to leave the beach, the sky suddenly turned a dark, bruised purple.

“Is it going to rain?”

“The forecast said clear skies all day!”

“Hurry, pack the gear before it pours!”

Secretary Li took charge, directing everyone to pack up and get to the cars. A storm on the coast was dangerous, and they needed to move fast. Li Sui, now changed out of her gown, looked at the heavy clouds with a frown. What a waste of a beautiful day.

She started looking around for Shuyi.

“Let’s get in the car.”

Shuyi had noticed Li Sui searching for her and quickly caught up, taking her hand and leading her toward the vehicles. They had planned to take night shots at a nearby ancient town, but that was clearly on hold.

Li Sui watched the crowds running through the light drizzle. She worried about the hour-long drive back to the hotel in a thunderstorm. The traffic would be a nightmare. As the rain started to pick up, she looked up at the dark sky, reminded of the day she’d found her cat, Dundun, in a similar storm…

Suddenly, the ground disappeared. Before she could react, Shuyi had scooped her up into a bridal carry.

“Oh!” Li Sui gasped, her hands instinctively flying to Shuyi’s neck.

Her ears were ringing with the sound of the wind and distant car horns, but all she could see was Shuyi’s profile. Shuyi’s lips were curved into a tiny, triumphant smile, and her eyes were full of a joy she couldn’t hide.

The chaos of the storm seemed to vanish. Li Sui’s heart calmed, though her face felt incredibly hot. She looked away, too shy to meet Shuyi’s eyes.

Shuyi felt a wave of tenderness so strong it was almost overwhelming. “Sui Sui,” she whispered, her voice full of indulgence. “How about we find a boutique guesthouse nearby and wait out the storm? What do you think?”

“Okay,” Li Sui murmured softly.

She leaned her head against Shuyi’s chest, her heart feeling impossibly sweet. Shuyi smiled, delighted by her compliance. The girl in her arms looked thin, but she felt soft and light—like a delicate piece of cake.

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