After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 44

Shuyi let out a soft chuckle. She hadn’t expected her secret “little morning ritual” to be discovered so easily. Looking a bit flustered, she shook her head. “Pick another one.”

“No.”

The smile on Li Sui’s face widened, her voice sounding sweet and playful. “I want this one. I’m going to punish you for a whole month, Sister Shuyi.”

Seeing her smile, Shuyi’s mood brightened as well. “Alright,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll do as you say.”

Li Sui’s eyes curved into crescents. She noticed Shuyi’s lips were a bit pale and peeling from thirst, so she immediately turned to the table to pour a glass of water.

“It’s room temperature.”

Li Sui pressed the glass into Shuyi’s hands and pulled a chair over. Once she sat down, she stared at her with curiosity. “Sister Shuyi, how exactly did you get hurt?”

Li Sui had only heard the vague version from Wenwen—that Shuyi was injured, went to the hospital, and wanted to keep it a secret. She’d been too frantic earlier to ask for details, but now it all came back to her.

“I went out for a walk and ran into a little girl who had fallen into a ditch. I was just too anxious to help and ended up slipping myself.” Shuyi didn’t rush to drink; she answered Li Sui’s question first before slowly taking small sips from the glass.

In this weather? At this hour?

Li Sui didn’t find it strange that Shuyi helped, but it was raining heavily and there had been thunder and lightning earlier. A little girl falling into a ditch? Where were her parents?

After a few sips, the dryness in Shuyi’s throat eased, and a bit of warmth returned to her body. She regained some strength and continued, “Fortunately, the girl is fine. The doctor checked her and said she was just in shock. Later, Xiao Li told me the family had arrived at the hospital. I was worried you’d wake up and panic if you didn’t see me, so I asked Xiao Li to hide it for a bit. I really didn’t do it on purpose.”

Saying this, Shuyi looked at Li Sui with sincere eyes and added, “I promise to discuss things with you next time.”

Meeting her gaze, Li Sui gave her a small smile. “Okay. I’ll hold you to that.”

Truthfully, Li Sui wasn’t actually trying to start a fight over the secrecy; she just wanted them to be open with each other.

It was far too late now. The rainstorm had completely wrecked their plans. With Shuyi needing rest for her ankle, the wedding shoot probably wouldn’t continue tomorrow. Although she felt a bit of regret, Li Sui knew Shuyi got hurt while saving someone. Thinking of it that way, she felt like Shuyi’s virtues were shining even brighter.

Sister Shuyi really was a beautiful and kind soul.

“Let’s wash up and get some sleep then.”

Li Sui’s gaze swept over Shuyi’s face and settled on the wheelchair. She teased with a twinkle in her eye, “Sister Shuyi, do you need help with your bath?”

“Cough.”

Whatever Shuyi was thinking, her hand gripped the controls of the electric wheelchair firmly. Her voice was resolute. “I can manage the bath myself.”

Li Sui raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “But surely the doctor said you can’t get the bandage wet?”

She was already injured, so why be so stubborn about bathing alone? What if the wound got inflamed?

Shuyi looked at her and smiled, skillfully maneuvering the wheelchair. She grabbed her pajamas from the wardrobe and headed toward the bathroom. “I’ll be fine. Go to sleep first, Sui Sui.”

The whirring of the wheelchair echoed through the bedroom.

“…Oh.”

Li Sui sounded a bit dejected. She watched Shuyi’s retreating back, hesitating for a moment before forcing herself to look away and head toward the bed.

Only when the wheelchair reached the bathroom door did Li Sui see Shuyi—likely finding the chair too bulky for the small space—suddenly stand up. In an abrupt, one-legged hop reminiscent of a golden rooster standing on one leg, she bounced her way into the bathroom.

Then the door shut, cutting off the view.

Li Sui: “…”

I guess even for her, when you’re injured, your image isn’t that important. Is Sister Shuyi shy, too?

Perhaps because she had napped earlier, Li Sui lay in bed feeling completely wide awake. The sound of splashing water from the bathroom only added to her restlessness. She didn’t want to sleep yet. That bizarre nightmare she had before the livestream was still haunting her…

Even in her dreams, Liang Xiaona refused to let her be happy. And that childhood incident of reporting Sun Youwei for domestic violence remained a thorn in her heart; occasionally it would “inflame,” reminding her of the pain.

When she was busy, she could push it to the back of her mind. But whenever she was alone or asleep, the nightmares returned.

Li Sui recalled the final scene of the dream: Shuyi leading another woman down the aisle while the guests cheered. It stung. She couldn’t figure out what was happening to her. They had started as strangers, but in just this short time together, she’d developed such strong feelings—even a terrifying, possessive thought that Shuyi was “hers” and no one else could touch her.

Shuyi was so accomplished; she must have met many incredible women. She even had Liang Xiaona as an ex-girlfriend, so it wouldn’t be strange if Shuyi had a “white moonlight” of her own. Why did the thought make her chest feel so tight? She’d never felt this way before.

It wasn’t the first time she felt inferior. She hated how, whenever someone was even a little bit nice to her, she wanted to cling to them and hope they would love her back. She knew it was an unhealthy mindset—to put it bluntly, a sign of being starved for affection. It wasn’t normal.

She was also terrified. If Sister Shuyi knew about this dark side of her, would she be so disgusted that she’d pull away?

As Li Sui drifted into a light doze, the sound of water stopped. Her eyes were heavy, her lids felt like lead, and she didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger.

After washing up and applying her night cream, Shuyi slowly climbed into bed. Even though her foot was throbbing painfully, she gritted her teeth and bore it, not wanting to wake the sleeping Li Sui.

The lights went out, and the bedroom fell into silence.

Too many things had happened today for Shuyi to organize her thoughts. She cautiously moved closer to Li Sui, reaching out to pull her into an embrace.

She wanted to kiss Sui Sui. But Sui Sui had punished her—no stealing kisses for a month.

What should I do?

Shuyi let out a silent laugh. She was starting to get the hang of this. When she wakes up tomorrow, I’ll just kiss her openly. That won’t count as ‘stealing’ a kiss.

In the early hours of the morning, Li Sui was sleeping deeply. However, in her hazy consciousness, she felt as though she were being coiled by a high-temperature python. For a moment, she felt suffocated. She opened her eyes, feeling exhausted.

Something is wrong. Another nightmare?

In her blurred state, Li Sui felt a searing heat radiating from behind her. The temperature was climbing steadily, and the hands wrapped around her waist were squeezing so tightly she could barely breathe.

Suddenly, Li Sui realized something.

“Sister Shuyi?”

Li Sui turned her body slightly, trying to look at Shuyi. A jolt of panic went through her, and she hurriedly flicked on the bedside lamp.

Shuyi was still asleep, but her usually pale cheeks were now flushed an unnatural red, like a severe fever. Li Sui’s heart sank. She reached out and touched Shuyi’s forehead.

So hot! She has a fever!

Li Sui frowned. Was it from saving the girl in the rain, or was the wound inflamed? Shuyi looked healthy enough; surely a bit of rain wouldn’t cause a high fever so easily.

“Sister Shuyi…”

Li Sui got out of bed and called her name softly, trying to wake her. It was no use; Shuyi didn’t respond. Li Sui’s eyes grew red, her heart aching. She remembered when her mother was deathly ill… she was terrified the same thing would happen to Shuyi.

But Li Sui quickly calmed herself. Now wasn’t the time for weakness. She had experience taking care of the sick. After her mother had been beaten by a drunken Sun Youwei, Li Sui knew going to the hospital meant another round of violence, so she had learned how to handle high fevers at home.

Fortunately, they had brought an emergency medical kit. Li Sui was glad she had been so thorough in her preparation. She took Shuyi’s temperature.

She was burning up—nearly 104°F (40°C).

Li Sui hurried to boil water for medicine, then rushed to the bathroom to wet a towel. She thought about calling Secretary Li, but her finger hovered over the dial and stopped. It was the middle of the night. Secretary Li hadn’t rested all day.

Li Sui hesitated about taking her to the hospital, but she checked Shuyi’s temperature again and noticed it had dropped slightly. She decided to try physical cooling first and wait until dawn.

Shuyi felt weak and hot, as if she were on fire. Her eyelids were too heavy to open. She had a sliver of consciousness; she could hear Li Sui’s voice near her ear, but she had no strength to respond.

After an unknown amount of time, she felt something cool—a towel—pressed against her forehead. The icy sensation brought a small relief to the fire inside her. A little later, she felt someone feeding her something. She swallowed instinctively and heard a joyful whisper: “You’ll be better after drinking this.”

Shuyi’s eyelashes fluttered, but she still couldn’t open her eyes.

Once Li Sui had fed her the medicine, she wrung out the wet towel and skillfully wiped Shuyi’s face and arms. She checked the temperature repeatedly, sticking by the bedside to look after her.

Throughout the night, Shuyi felt like she was suffering in an endless ordeal. First, she was roasting in a great fire, then she was drifting on a freezing sea—one moment hot, the next cold, with nowhere to land. She could hear someone talking to her at first, but then her consciousness began to scatter until eventually, she heard nothing at all.

Qingland. Broad daylight.

Liang Xiaona’s life in Qingland had been a series of frustrations lately. Su Tan was even more depressed than she was; whenever she had a moment, she just wanted to sleep. She seemed to have no ambition and no concern about their inability to return home.

But this wasn’t the life Liang Xiaona wanted. She wanted to go back. She wanted the fame and fortune that were rightfully hers.

Stepping out for some air, the scent of a pleasant coffee made her stop in her tracks. She was picky about coffee; Su Tan didn’t understand her tastes, but Li Sui did. She missed the hand-ground coffee Li Sui used to brew for her. So much. The familiar, rich aroma made her chest ache with regret.

Liang Xiaona pulled out her phone and tried to call Li Sui. Still no answer. She had been blocked since the breakup. No matter what new number she used to call that familiar one, she couldn’t get through. Li Sui really didn’t want her anymore.

“Huh?”

A young woman walking by stopped and let out a gasp of surprise when she saw her face. She turned back to greet her. “Is that really you, Liang Xiaona?”

“?”

Liang Xiaona frowned, trying to place the woman. Seeing her confusion, the woman laughed. “It’s me! Your college classmate, He Qianqian. When did you come to Qingland? You didn’t even mention it on social media.”

At the name “He Qianqian,” a memory clicked into place. She finally remembered who she was.

He Qianqian and Liang Xiaona had grown up in the same elite circles in Gan-Du, having attended a prestigious private high school together until He Qianqian moved abroad immediately after graduation. Occasionally, when He Qianqian returned to the country, those within their shared social circle would hear tidbits about each other’s lives.

Finding a fellow local in a foreign land, He Qianqian acted with practiced familiarity. She gestured toward a nearby café with a smile. “Why don’t we head inside for a seat?”

Liang Xiaona followed her gaze; she was in the mood for a coffee anyway. “Sure.” She had only come out for some fresh air and wasn’t in any particular hurry to get home.

As Liang Xiaona followed He Qianqian into the shop, several staff members greeted He Qianqian as “Boss.” It turned out the café belonged to her.

“Have a seat,” He Qianqian invited as she brought over some desserts. She asked casually, “When did you arrive? Did you come alone?”

“Just a few days ago,” Liang Xiaona answered vaguely.

He Qianqian chatted about this and that, encouraging Liang Xiaona to enjoy her time in Qingland, before suddenly asking, “By the way, I heard a rumor in our group chat recently—did you get married?”

Liang Xiaona’s expression remained flat as she gave a slight nod. “Mhm.”

He Qianqian raised an eyebrow, her tone meaningful. “It couldn’t be that campus beauty you were chasing back in college, could it? The one from the Art Department… Li Sui?”

Liang Xiaona: “…”

The atmosphere turned strangely stiff.

“Cough, cough.” He Qianqian cleared her throat, seemingly sensing the reason for the silence. She laughed it off. “Ah, sorry! I haven’t kept up with things back home for so long; I really didn’t know the situation.”

Back then, it was hard not to know about Liang Xiaona’s pursuit of Li Sui. Growing up in the same circle, gossip traveled fast. He Qianqian had heard that Liang Xiaona had chased the girl for months because of a bet, only for her interest to fade once they were actually together.

Hearing the apology, Liang Xiaona realized He Qianqian truly was in the dark. For the first time, she felt a sudden urge to vent.

“No, we broke up.” Liang Xiaona took a sip of her coffee, her brow furrowing.

This coffee… the taste was remarkably similar to the hand-ground coffee Li Sui used to make. She couldn’t help but take a few more sips, a flicker of joy easing her heavy mood.

He Qianqian didn’t miss the furrow in Liang Xiaona’s brow. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips as she pulled out her phone to quietly send a message to someone.

Liang Xiaona stopped after half a cup and glanced around the shop curiously. “What about you? What have you been up to lately?”

He Qianqian laughed, gesturing toward her shop. “Just this. Running the café and traveling occasionally.”

Suddenly, a young girl with exotic features ran out from the back kitchen, smiling excitedly at He Qianqian. “Boss! We really hit it big! You’re a genius!”

He Qianqian remained calm, waving the girl away. “As long as we made a profit. I have a friend here.”

“Sorry, sorry!” The girl acted as if she had only just noticed Liang Xiaona, offering an apologetic smile before hurrying away.

“Just helping the girl play the stock market a bit,” He Qianqian explained with a dry laugh, as if mentioning it in passing. “The bull market has been soaring lately. I enjoy playing around with stocks; if you’re ever interested, you can look for me.”

Liang Xiaona had no interest. She shook her head. “No, I’m not in the mood.”

“You look so dejected.” He Qianqian took a sip of her coffee and gave her a helpless smile. “You’re on vacation abroad; what on earth happened?”

To Liang Xiaona, she truly needed someone to talk to. Since He Qianqian knew a bit about her history with Li Sui, she met the criteria for a confidante.

As He Qianqian listened to Liang Xiaona describe her misery after the breakup, her expression became difficult to describe. In her heart, she was practically drawing tiny circles of curses.

The “Bet Game” was really true. Talk about having too much time on one’s hands—she hadn’t cherished the person when they were by her side, yet now that she’d lost her, she was wallowing in regret. Who was this “love until death” act for?

Despite her internal criticism, He Qianqian played her part well. She asked with a half-smile, “So, you broke up with Li Sui, and now you’re starting to miss how good she was to you?”

Liang Xiaona looked pained and let out a long, hollow sigh. A desolate smile touched her lips. “Do you think I’m a glutton for punishment? I didn’t cherish her when she was there. I didn’t even know how to like someone; I only had a shallow, superficial fondness for everyone. But after she left, it hurt. I realized I can’t lose her. But she already hates me… I’m the one who pushed her into someone else’s arms.”

Lately, memories of her time with Li Sui kept resurfacing. She found herself constantly comparing Su Tan to Li Sui—the tone of her voice, her clothes, her behavior, even her opinions on what to eat for dinner. And every time, her heart would conclude: Li Sui was the best. It was like a sickness she couldn’t control.

He Qianqian’s mouth twitched. She suppressed her disdain and adopted a gentle, persuasive tone. “Sister, this isn’t right. You’re already married, after all. Some people are just destined to be apart. Let it go.”

Liang Xiaona let out a scoff. She understood the logic, and she truly did want to let go. But the thought that Li Sui had hooked up with her aunt and was treating her like she didn’t exist made her chest tighten with a dull, throbbing pain.

“I just remembered I have something to do. See you next time.” With that, Liang Xiaona stood up and left.

He Qianqian acted surprised, standing up to see her to the door. “Be happy! If you want coffee, just contact me anytime.”

The moment Liang Xiaona’s silhouette vanished, the smile on He Qianqian’s face disappeared. The next second, Cao Ying stepped out from the back kitchen.

“She’s as disgusting as ever.” Seeing the blatant loathing on Cao Ying’s face, He Qianqian walked over and patted her back soothingly. “Don’t be angry. Don’t waste your energy on someone with such rotten morals. I guarantee that in less than a week, she’ll be crawling back to me to ask about stocks.”

Cao Ying’s voice was icy. “I hope so.”

This was only the first step of the plan. Cao Ying quickly copied the surveillance footage and sent a report to Li Sui.

******

In the early morning, a sliver of light filtered into the bedroom. Shuyi slowly opened her eyes. She felt sticky and immediately noticed someone leaning against her side. Seeing the girl, her heart filled with a mix of surprise and joy.

Li Sui was leaning toward her, her peaceful face softened by the morning sun. However, the dark circles under her eyes were impossible to ignore. Sui Sui stayed with me the whole time.

Shuyi couldn’t hide her excitement. She wanted to call her name but realized she shouldn’t disturb her rest after she’d looked after her all night. But as she tried to lift the covers to get out of bed and tuck Li Sui in, Li Sui suddenly startled awake.

Their eyes met.

“Sister Shuyi?” Li Sui’s sleepiness vanished instantly. She stood up excitedly. “You’re awake! Do you still have a fever?” She reached out and expertly felt Shuyi’s forehead.

The temperature was normal. Li Sui let out a massive sigh of relief and offered Shuyi a radiant, heartfelt smile. Hearing Li Sui’s tired but relieved voice, Shuyi’s eyes flickered with emotion, and she smiled back happily.

Li Sui, remembering Shuyi was still injured, ushered her back into the covers and tucked her in. “You really scared me! Your fever hit 104 last night. I was terrified it wouldn’t break and I’d have to call an ambulance.”

“Thank you for your hard work.” Shuyi lay back, looking at Li Sui’s dark circles. Her eyes grew moist, and her voice was raspy. “Thank you, Sui Sui.”

“It wasn’t that hard,” Li Sui said, trying to sound casual as she kept smiling. “If I had a fever in the middle of the night, you’d look after me the same way, Sister Shuyi. Don’t worry about it; just get better soon.”

Without pausing, Li Sui grabbed the thermometer to check Shuyi’s temperature again. She wasn’t going to rest until she saw the reading with her own eyes. Shuyi watched her bustle about—taking her temperature, getting her warm water, and wiping up the wet floor. It made her chest ache.

“Sui Sui, it’s still early. Stop working and come back to bed.”

“Are you hungry?” Concerned that Shuyi needed nutrition after being sick, Li Sui knelt by the bed. “Should I ask the kitchen to make some millet porridge?”

“I’m okay.” Shuyi shook her head, her eyes full of concern and guilt. “Stop moving. Come, let’s sleep a bit more.”

Li Sui hesitated for a moment before grinning. “Hehe, okay!” She scrambled back into the covers. Li Sui really didn’t want Shuyi to get sick again. “We have to stay healthy from now on.” She’d already decided to visit a temple to pray for them. “When we get back, let’s go to a temple to pray for peace and health.”

She leaned in close, wanting to give Shuyi a kiss. Shuyi, sensing her movement, placed her hand between their lips. “No,” she said firmly. “I have a cold; I’ll give it to you.”

Li Sui’s brow furrowed, her eyes filled with disappointment. After a moment of silence, Shuyi pulled her into her arms and added softly, “Wait until I’m better… then I’ll let you kiss me as much as you want.”

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