After Being Cheated, I Had a Flash Marriage with My Ex's Aunt - Chapter 46

Mimi dialed one number after another, but none connected.

She pulled out her own phone to try, then even attempted using Shuyi’s, only to realize the recipient’s phone had been turned off.

“Mimi, wait, calm down first.” Li Sui sensed that the situation was more complicated than she’d imagined. She poured Mimi a glass of water. “Tell me first—what was that about being ‘kept’? Aren’t you two in a relationship?”

“Of course we’re in a relationship!”

Mimi managed to steady her thoughts enough to explain to Li Sui. “Look, Xiao Nai keeps transferring money to me. I told her I didn’t want it, and every time I sent it back, she’d just send it right back again. Do I look like someone who’s desperate for cash?”

Shuyi, who had been in the kitchen boiling water for tea, heard the commotion. As she brought out the freshly washed teapot and cups, she caught the tail end of Mimi’s rambling explanation about her relationship with Cheng Nai.

Mimi even mentioned how it all started back at the hot spring resort—it was Cheng Nai who had initiated the conversation. From the moment they added each other, Cheng Nai’s first words were that she liked Mimi and wanted to “keep” her.

Mimi’s stance had always been clear; she returned every transfer. Even after they started meeting in person, she did her best to control their financial boundaries. For every gift Cheng Nai bought her, she would return the favor with a gift of equal value.

Mimi didn’t understand what was happening now, but it was clear Cheng Nai was refusing to talk to her—likely because of whatever that woman on the phone had said.

Li Sui sighed deeply, her mind racing with possibilities. “I suspect the person on the phone was someone from Cheng Nai’s family. They’ve clearly misunderstood your relationship. To them, you probably look like a scammer out for her money.”

“How do I look like a scammer?”

Mimi found herself in a position where she couldn’t defend herself. She remembered how she had initially been wary of Cheng Nai’s actions, even suspecting it was some kind of “fishing” scam. Now, she felt a wave of grievance and a deep worry for Cheng Nai’s whereabouts. “…I want to hear it from Xiao Nai. If she thinks this relationship should be ‘bought out,’ I want an explanation. I won’t be slandered like this.”

Mimi stood up from the sofa, her face more serious than Li Sui had ever seen it.

Li Sui was stunned. As Mimi rushed toward the foyer, she suddenly remembered something and pulled a stack of invitations from her bag. “Oh, by the way—the Su family is officially hosting a recognition banquet for me next week. Sui Sui, whoever from the Bai family wants to come is welcome.”

Li Sui chased after her. “Mimi, are you leaving just like that?”

The situation looked volatile. Li Sui was worried Mimi wouldn’t be able to stay calm. Though she couldn’t say for sure if this meant they were on the verge of a breakup, she was deeply concerned.

“Don’t be too hasty,” Li Sui advised calmly. “Find out where Cheng Nai lives first, then find an excuse to see her face-to-face.”

“Right.” Mimi realized that even if they were going to break up, she had to clear up that “ten million yuan” claim. She found a sliver of logic to hold onto. “I’m going to find her. Even if it’s over, we’re going to settle this properly.”

Li Sui saw she was a bit more focused now but still felt uneasy. “Be careful on the road. Don’t drive too fast!”

Mimi waved her off with a flick of her wrist, looking cool despite the chaos. “I’m out.”

Li Sui watched until Mimi’s silhouette vanished from the doorway.

Shuyi, noticing how Li Sui was staring longingly after her friend, felt a trace of jealousy. “She’s long gone, Sui Sui. You should be looking at me.”

Li Sui blinked, meeting Shuyi’s gaze. She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. “Mhm, I’m looking.”

Shuyi took her hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it, her voice light with joy. “Get ready. It’s getting late, and we need to head to the old mansion.”

Li Sui’s eyes flickered. “Right—to pick up Dundun and Dudu, right?”

“Yes, to bring them home.” Shuyi nodded, then added, “And my father is back from abroad. My mother really wants a family gathering. No matter what my father says, don’t take it to heart. We’ll leave as soon as dinner is over.”

Li Sui blinked and nodded. “Okay.”

She headed upstairs to the dressing room. Since marrying Shuyi, she had met almost everyone in the Bai family except for Shuyi’s father and her eldest sister-in-law. Her father had been on a business trip, and her sister-in-law was reportedly rarely at the mansion due to her health.

At this formal dinner, they would likely both be there. Li Sui felt a mix of curiosity, nervousness, and a bit of anticipation. She knew Shuyi didn’t have a deep bond with her family, but she didn’t press for details; if Shuyi wanted to tell her, she would.

Linglan Villa District, Gan-Du.

“Daddy! I missed you so much!”

Chu He had been back in the country for a little while and had just rushed home from the office. As he pushed the door open, a soft, tiny girl ran toward him and hugged his leg.

Chu He’s heart melted. He picked the little girl up, his voice full of concern. “Oh, my Nannán! You’re not feeling well; why aren’t you resting in bed?”

Just then, an elegant woman stepped out from the balcony. She looked to be in her early twenties, wearing cute loungewear and holding a deep red rose. She gave Chu He a radiant smile.

“Honey, you’re back.”

Zhang Hong leaned softly against him, the red rose in her hand making her look incredibly alluring. “You have no idea, Nannán almost had a terrible accident. Thank goodness she’s lucky.”

The little girl reached out a chubby hand. “Mommy, I’m okay! A pretty sister saved me.”

Chu He knew a bit about the incident. Zhang Hong liked taking Nannán on trips. While in Xiamen during the storm, she had lost sight of the child for a moment, and Nannán had almost been in grave danger until a kind stranger stepped in. Zhang Hong had apologized, saying she was showering and forgot to lock the door.

At four or five years old, children were hard to watch; it was normal for them to be mischievous. Chu He also knew that he was busy and Zhang Hong raised the children alone. He had to deal with the frustrations of Bai Zhilan and the Bai family, so he couldn’t spend all his time at this villa. He only made it here occasionally.

“Alright, I’m not blaming you,” Chu He said with a smile, pinching Zhang Hong’s cheek. “Where’s Dabao? I brought lots of gifts for him.”

Zhang Hong smiled shyly. “In the study upstairs. He’s been studying so hard lately.”

“Good.” Chu He’s voice was warm. “I have to leave soon, so have Dabao come down to open his presents.”

“Why are you leaving so soon after getting here?” Zhang Hong’s face fell, her voice turning coquettish. “You’ve been away for nearly two months. The children are almost going to forget who their father is. You’re so cruel.”

The atmosphere stiffened for a moment. Even the little girl in Chu He’s arms had fallen fast asleep.

“Tsk.” Chu He let out a cold chuckle.

He placed the sleeping girl on the sofa and looked at Zhang Hong, his tone flat. “Then tell me, what am I supposed to do?”

Zhang Hong froze. She softened her voice, whispering, “I… I didn’t mean it that way. I just feel bad for the kids. You only come once or twice a month…”

Chu He had his own family—he was a son-in-law who had married into the Bai family, a fact Zhang Hong had always known. Years ago, in her youth, she had been pressured by her boss to toast Chu He. She’d ended up drunk and woke up in his bed.

She’d been stunned. Chu He was nearly thirty years older than her. She had been in a daze for a long time, unable to believe it. She’d cried so hard she hadn’t even heard what he said; she’d just wanted to pretend the one-night stand never happened. She’d even refused his money and left in shame.

But back then, her family was bankrupt, debt collectors were at her door every day, and her paralyzed brother’s medical bills were suffocating her. She had been on the verge of giving up. During that dark time, she realized her body was changing—her period was months late.

A small clinic confirmed it: she was pregnant. It was Chu He’s child.

She’d been devastated for a long time before realizing that this child might be her only chance to change her fate. She’d sought out Chu He, placing all her hope on him, and willingly became his “little lover” kept in the Linglan Villa.

Chu He treated her well. As long as she didn’t ask for a marriage certificate or a formal title, he gave her almost everything she wanted. It was a far better life than being chased by creditors. And the two children were well-behaved and sweet.

Seeing Zhang Hong go silent, Chu He realized his words had been too harsh. Remembering how hard it was to raise kids, he softened his tone. “Fine. You can spend whatever you want this month. I’ll come over as soon as I have time. Just take good care of the two of them and don’t overthink things.”

Zhang Hong smiled happily and leaned against him. “Mhm. You’re the best, honey.”

Chu He looked at the woman in his arms. Unlike Bai Zhilan’s dominance and cold logic, Zhang Hong seemed fragile and helpless—the kind of woman who triggered a man’s protective instincts. He loved the way she looked at him with pure, shy devotion. He tilted her chin up and bit softly at her lip.

Zhang Hong turned her head slightly, teasing, “Stop it, the child is right here.”

Li Sui and Shuyi finished getting ready and drove toward the old Bai mansion. Bai Zhilan knew they were coming and had the servants ready. Even Zhixue and Yurilin had been told to be home for the family dinner.

When they arrived, they saw Yurilin getting out of her car in the garage.

“Eldest Sister.”

“Hello, Eldest Sister.”

Yurilin adjusted her glasses and nodded. She looked at Shuyi. “You’re back. Is your ankle okay?”

Yurilin had been drowning in work lately. It was only a few days ago that she’d seen in the family chat that Shuyi and Li Sui had gone to Xiamen, and that Shuyi had twisted her ankle while saving a child. Though she’d messaged her, she was still worried.

“It’s better now,” Shuyi said, taking Li Sui’s hand as they walked together toward the living room.

As they entered the house, Li Sui curiously tugged at Shuyi’s sleeve and lowered her voice. “How come I haven’t seen your Eldest Sister-in-law yet?”

Shuyi turned her gaze toward Yurilin as well.

Shuyi had felt that something was missing earlier, and it wasn’t until Li Sui asked that she realized it was her eldest sister-in-law, Qin Yafang—the family member with the quietest presence.

Her eldest sister, Yurilin, and Yafang had met through a matchmaking arrangement organized by their parents. From Shuyi’s perspective, when she first returned to live with the Bai family, her sister’s wedding preparations were already in full swing. Qin Yafang was somewhat simple and delicate, acting as a warm contrast to Yurilin’s icy exterior. The two seemed very harmonious; Shuyi had even caught them looking much more affectionate in private than rumors suggested.

Yurilin seemed to overhear Li Sui’s question and added with a smile, “Your sister-in-law came over early. She’s probably in the backyard playing with the cats and Mom right now.” With that, Yurilin headed toward the garden greenhouse.

“Sister Shuyi, let’s go too!” Li Sui’s eyes sparkled. She couldn’t wait to see her two beloved “babies.”

Just then, Li Sui saw Shuyi’s father, Chu He, coming from the backyard with a cold expression. They ran right into him.

“Dad,” Shuyi said flatly.

Li Sui followed suit. “Dad.”

“Mhm,” Chu He grunted. He gave them a single, brief glance before brushing past them without another word.

Once he was gone, Li Sui felt a strange unease. This was her first time meeting him. While Shuyi inherited her father’s striking features, this man didn’t seem easy to get along with—certainly not a traditional doting father.

Shuyi noticed her confusion and explained with a smile, “My dad is just like that. He doesn’t say much to us three sisters, either. Don’t take it to heart.”

“I’m fine,” Li Sui chirped. She was mostly here to take Dudu and Dundun home.

They had been away for quite some time, and when Li Sui reached the greenhouse and saw the two cats circling her, she was shocked. The two felines had ballooned. They looked like little trucks.

Dundun, the blue Munchkin, was practically a sphere. The vet had warned that his breed shouldn’t get too heavy to avoid joint issues. Li Sui felt a pang of guilt, worried he might get sick later.

Bai Zhilan was holding the blue cat, but the moment he saw Li Sui, he struggled to get down. “Oh, look at him! The moment you show up, he starts acting up,” Zhilan laughed.

The blue cat slipped through Zhilan’s arms like a loach and waddled toward Li Sui at a surprisingly fast clip. Li Sui knelt down and scooped him up, expertly smoothing his fur. “My precious baby! Dundun, you are seriously fat. We’re starting a diet tomorrow, you hear me?”

Only then did Li Sui notice a stunning woman standing next to Zhilan. She wore a light blue maxi dress and was teasing the calico cat with a feather wand. Li Sui guessed immediately—this was the eldest sister-in-law, Qin Yafang.

“Sister-in-law,” Shuyi greeted.

“Hello, Sister-in-law,” Li Sui added quickly.

“Hello, you two.” Qin Yafang offered a gentle smile, her gaze falling on the cat in Li Sui’s arms. “Mom said you rescued this blue cat. You’ve raised him well.”

“She certainly has,” Zhilan added warmly. “He’s so clingy; he isn’t shy with anyone.”

With the cats acting as a bridge, the atmosphere was much better than Li Sui had expected. The conversation revolved almost entirely around pets. Shuyi, who didn’t know much about cats, occasionally chimed in.

“Should we take him to the vet later?” Shuyi asked a rather strange question while Li Sui was free. “I feel like he’s always snoring. Is something wrong with his breathing?”

Li Sui burst out laughing. For the first time, she thought Sister Shuyi was incredibly adorable.

Shuyi frowned. “Did I say something wrong?” Between the family’s calico and Li Sui’s two cats, only the blue one made such a loud, vibrating noise.

“No,” Li Sui explained, still giggling. “That’s purring! It’s a sound of comfort. It means Dundun is relaxed and trusts you. He likes you!”

Shuyi rubbed her nose, realizing she had a lot to learn. “If I make any more silly mistakes, you have to remind me, Sui Sui. I don’t want to become a joke.”

“I will,” Li Sui said, her smile radiant.

Ever since Mimi heard that phone call telling her to stop contacting Cheng Nai, she had been a mess. All she could see and think about was Cheng Nai’s face. She desperately wanted to know if that person was a parent. Misunderstandings had to be cleared. She had always planned to return the money anyway.

She reached out to the hacker Qiao Zui for help, but Qiao Zui replied saying she was busy studying with her Master and wouldn’t be able to give an answer until evening.

Mimi was frantic. She wanted to vent to Li Sui, but she knew her friend was at the Bai family dinner and didn’t want to disturb her. Instead, she tried to distract herself.

“Mimi?” Su Youlan knocked and entered, finding Mimi squatting by a potted Money Tree, plucking at its leaves with a look of pure misery.

“Aunt? What’s up?”

“What are you doing down there?” Youlan patted her sleeve with maternal affection. “It’s dirty. I’ve noticed you’ve been distracted for days. What’s on your mind?”

Mimi’s eyes darted away. She had indeed been unfocused at work lately. She looked at Youlan’s concerned face and felt a sudden urge to talk. “Aunt… I have a ‘friend.’ Her girlfriend suddenly went silent. My friend had another friend call, and a parent answered. They think they aren’t really dating and told them to stay away. As an elder, what do you think my friend should do?”

Su Youlan paused, then laughed knowingly. “What do you mean ‘not a real relationship’?”

Mimi blurted out the rest. “The girlfriend transferred money to my friend, so the family misunderstood. Do you think if my friend brought a gift and went to their door to apologize, she’d get in?”

“That depends on how far they’ve progressed,” Youlan said kindly. “If they intend to be together for the long haul, they should clear things up. But if they’re just in the ‘observation’ phase, and it’s this much trouble, maybe it’s better to part ways early before someone gets hurt too deeply.”

Mimi went silent. She had wondered if she could be cool about a breakup, but the problem was this relationship had started and seemed to be ending so… strangely. She felt stifled.

Youlan left her with a project report to review, encouraging her to prove her worth to the family. But Mimi knew that until the Cheng Nai situation was resolved, she wouldn’t be able to focus. She sent another message to Qiao Zui: [Boss, please, I can pay extra!]

Dinner at the Bai mansion was officially served.

As they sat around the table, the conversation turned to the upcoming end of the year. Old Lady Bai mentioned that with Li Sui joining the family, things felt livelier. She suggested a large family reunion dinner. Zhilan loved the idea and suggested inviting Qin Yafang’s family and Li Sui’s grandmother.

“We’ll hold it here at the mansion,” Zhilan proposed excitedly. “No outsiders, just our families.”

Chu He’s eyes flickered, and he naturally took over the topic. “I’ll handle the arrangements, Zhilan. Don’t worry about it.”

“Alright,” Zhilan smiled at her husband. “Just make sure the food is to everyone’s taste.”

Li Sui felt a warmth in her chest. She truly felt like she was becoming part of Shuyi’s family. She glanced at Shuyi, only to find Shuyi was already looking at her. Their eyes met, full of affection. Li Sui, feeling “burned” by the intensity of the gaze, shyly looked down at her plate.

“Here,” Shuyi said, sensing her shyness. She casually placed a piece of fish into Li Sui’s bowl. “Your favorite. Eat more.”

Qin Yafang exchanged a look with Yurilin and stifled a laugh. She nudged her wife and whispered, “I’ve never seen your sister so attentive. She really pampers her own choice.”

Yurilin looked at her. “As if I don’t pamper you?”

Yafang scoffed playfully. “Please. You never say anything romantic. You have some nerve saying that now.”

Yurilin looked over at her younger sister and Li Sui. She calmly adjusted her glasses. “Fine. I’ll learn from her.” She picked up a rib and placed it in Yafang’s bowl. “Here, honey, eat more. There’s plenty.”

Yafang’s mouth twitched. “Just eat your dinner.”

The meal was genuinely pleasant. Afterward, Shuyi stayed true to her word—they were out the door in less than thirty minutes. Zhilan didn’t stop them, only reminding Shuyi: “If you love the house, love the crows. Same goes for the cats. If you don’t know something, learn it.”

Back at home, Li Sui spent the afternoon cleaning the cats’ area and playing with them. Dinner was simple. With her manga drafts ahead of schedule, she was looking forward to a few days of rest.

When she emerged from the bathroom after her shower, she froze. Shuyi was reclining on the bed, her stunning figure accentuated by a silk slip nightgown. The lace and silk left little to the imagination. The room was suddenly thick with a heavy, intimate atmosphere.

Li Sui hadn’t even had a thought of “doing anything,” but the visual impact was overwhelming. Sister Shuyi is so beautiful. And she’s being so… proactive. What is she planning?

Time seemed to stand still for a second. Then, Shuyi’s voice, laced with a soft smile, broke the silence.

“Finished your bath?”

Shuyi looked at her with a beaming smile, as if she had been waiting for a long time. “Come here.”

Li Sui stared blankly, her heart captured by the sight and that charming smile. Her face turned a deep crimson, her heart hammering against her ribs.

Shuyi beckoned her with a finger, her red lips curving slightly. “The night is late. It’s time for us to rest.”

Li Sui, feeling utterly defenseless and blushing furiously, found herself obediently walking toward her.

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