After the Flash Marriage, My Ex Who is a Movie Queen Keeps Flirting with Me - Chapter 2

Things went far more smoothly than Jiang Wanyu had imagined. When she told Mother Jiang about it, perhaps because her mother believed that their past as first loves meant they knew each other better than someone met through a blind date, Mother Jiang quickly agreed.

“Jiyue is such a good person,” Mother Jiang said, her voice tinged with nostalgia, as older people often do. “You two were so happy together back then. What on earth happened…?”

Mother Jiang trailed off, leaving the question hanging in the air: Why did you break up when everything seemed so perfect?

Life is full of twists and turns.

Since Jiang Wanyu lived with her mother, she didn’t need to consult anyone else about the marriage. That night, back in her room, she prepared to reply to Ming Jiyue.

She picked up her phone, then hesitated. It had been less than twelve hours since their separation, and replying so soon would make her seem too eager to marry.

I’ll wait a couple of days, she thought.

No, even that’s too soon. I should wait for Ming Jiyue to ask first.

Jiang Wanyu made up her mind.

Unfortunately, the woman who had resolved to wait sat at her computer for over two hours, her mind far from her work. The stubborn, prideful woman who had vowed to “wait for Ming Jiyue to ask first” finally gave up the struggle, pulled out her phone, and began composing a message.

How should I put this?

It was just one sentence, but she wrote and deleted, wrote and deleted, unable to decide.

Jiang Wanyu tugged at her hair in frustration. She hadn’t even agonized this much when drafting messages to her thesis advisor about her graduation project.

After revising dozens of drafts, Jiang Wanyu finally reverted to her original version. Just before hitting “send,” she glanced at the time.

22:34

Jiang Wanyu frowned slightly. If the other party replied immediately, her bedtime might be pushed back to 11 PM or even later.

Someone with an extremely disciplined routine, after agonizing over the decision all night, suddenly acted decisively. She put down her phone, turned off the lights, and closed her eyes.

Sleep was paramount; she’d deal with it tomorrow.

Sufficient sleep cleared her mind. The next morning, Jiang Wanyu sent the message without hesitation.

She was a woman of action. Once she made a decision, she executed it without regret, regardless of the outcome.

I chose this; I’ll take responsibility.

Jiang : I agree to what we discussed yesterday.

The reply came instantly:  Great!!!

Just as she was about to type a response, the message was retracted. Under Jiang Wanyu’s slightly surprised gaze, a new message arrived.

Okay

Jiang Wanyu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

To avoid embarrassing Best Actress Ming and to pretend she hadn’t witnessed the entire charade of retracting and resending the message, Jiang Wanyu deliberately waited a few minutes before replying.

Happy to collaborate.

With the matter settled, Jiang Wanyu leaned back in her chair before the computer, lost in thought.

Getting ready to get married.

For the past few days, Jiang Wanyu had been busy job hunting. In truth, she didn’t need to put in much effort. As a Ph.D. in architecture from abroad, her resume was flawless. On her very first day back in China, multiple companies had already extended job offers.

All Jiang Wanyu needed to do was choose the one that best suited her.

As evening approached, Jiang Wanyu went to a nearby restaurant.

She had arranged to meet her best friend for dinner—a proper reunion was essential after returning home.

Riding her bike to a small, unassuming eatery, she arrived during peak dinner hours. The place was already more than half full, filled with laughter and chatter, the vibrant energy of everyday life washing over her.

Still scanning the room, Jiang Wanyu spotted Tian Cheng waving her arms and calling out loudly, “Yuyu! Over here!”

Tian Cheng had a sweet, youthful appearance, her simple ponytail framing a slightly round, oval face that radiated a charming innocence.

They had been college roommates and known each other for nine years. She was also the one who had teased Jiang Wanyu about her blind date on the phone the previous day.

As Jiang Wanyu approached, Tian Cheng immediately stood up and gave her a warm hug, then pulled her into a seat. “I’ve already ordered—all your favorites! I’ve been so busy lately, I only had time to relax this afternoon. This meal’s on me, to welcome you back!”

The dishes arrived quickly—a few simple home-style dishes, their vibrant colors and enticing aromas filling the air, making Jiang Wanyu’s mouth water.

Tian Cheng also ordered a bottle of beer and a bottle of juice. She opened the beer and thoughtfully poured the juice for Jiang Wanyu.

“After all these years, you still haven’t changed your aversion to alcohol,” Tian Cheng remarked. “It’s not like you can’t handle it. Remember that time at the university bar? You drank everyone under the table and didn’t even get tipsy. Yet you make such a fuss about having a single drink normally?”

Jiang Wanyu raised her juice glass and clinked it against Tian Cheng’s beer. “Juice is perfect for me.”

As they ate and chatted, Tian Cheng asked about the blind date from the previous day. “How was yesterday’s demure lady?”

Ming Jiyue’s face immediately flashed through Jiang Wanyu’s mind. She nearly choked, setting down her glass before answering slowly, “Same as before.”

“Another rejection?” Tian Cheng clicked her tongue twice. “Auntie went to such trouble arranging it, but still not good enough for Dr. Jiang’s discerning eye. Your standards are impossibly high!”

“She was a lovely person, just not a good match for me.”

“How many blind dates have you been on now? It’s always the same excuse: ‘Not a good match.'” Half the beer was gone, and Tian Cheng’s cheeks flushed a delicate blush, her voice rising unconsciously. “Then who is a good match for you?”

Tian Cheng was all talk and no game, her alcohol tolerance low despite her love for drinking. Jiang Wanyu could tell she was already half-drunk.

Jiang Wanyu rubbed her temples, looking troubled. “You shouldn’t drink anymore.”

At the same time, she was considering telling Tian Cheng about her relationship with Ming Jiyue.

Before she could speak, Tian Cheng burst out, “I bet you’re still hung up on that breakup years ago! You can’t move on and don’t want to date again!”

Mindful of Ming Jiyue’s celebrity status, Jiang Wanyu tugged at Tian Cheng’s sleeve. “Keep your voice down. People are listening.”

But Tian Cheng wouldn’t listen. The alcohol had emboldened her, and she blurted out whatever came to mind. Fortunately, the bar was noisy, with conversations louder than her voice, so no one noticed the two women at their corner table.

Jiang Wanyu tried to interrupt, but Tian Cheng cut her off. “Tell me, what’s so great about that… Ming Jiyue? Why are you still moping around like a lovesick housewife after seven years?”

Jiang Wanyu tried to interject, “I was just about to tell you, she and I…”

“What about her? She’s no good! After all those years abroad, she won’t even show her face. You have to go to her place just to get the door slammed in your face! She’s heartless! If I were you, I’d have forgotten her the day we broke up seven years ago. I’d be living it up, dating eight guys a year just to piss off that cold-blooded b1tch!”

“Actually, I was going to ask her…”

“You don’t need to say another word! I know exactly what kind of person she is!”

Interrupted again, Jiang Wanyu gave up trying to explain and let Tian Cheng vent her frustrations.

“There are countless beautiful women out there! If one doesn’t work out, we’ll just find another! With so many wonderful women in the world, why hang yourself over a crooked tree? Listen to me—forget that crooked tree, and you’ll find true happiness!”

Fueled by alcohol, Tian Cheng spoke her mind without restraint, completely ignoring objective facts and placing all the blame on Ming Jiyue. Her bias was so extreme it had crossed the Atlantic.

After her outburst, the girl finally felt exhausted. She grabbed her beer glass and gulped down several large mouthfuls.

As Tian Cheng quieted down, Jiang Wanyu finally had a chance to interject. “Actually, there’s something I need to tell you about Ming Jiyue and me.”

Tian Cheng, her face flushed from drinking, grinned and threw her arm around Jiang Wanyu’s shoulder, shouting loudly, “Good! You’ve finally seen Ming Jiyue for the treacherous little snake she is! You’re cutting ties completely and kicking her to the curb, right?”

She raised her glass again.

“No, I’m going to marry Ming Jiyue.”

“Pfft—!”

Tian Cheng spat out her mouthful of wine.

She whipped her head around, narrowly avoiding spraying Jiang Wanyu in the face.

Tian Cheng wiped her mouth with a tissue, muttering, “The clown… it was me all along.”

Poor Tian Cheng, half-drunk and half-awake, had been passionately denouncing her best friend’s ex-girlfriend when the shocking news sobered her up instantly.

“Y-y-y-you… what did you say? Who are you marrying?” Tian Cheng stammered, struggling to untangle her tongue.

Jiang Wanyu repeated calmly, “I’m marrying Ming Jiyue.”

Realizing it wasn’t her ears playing tricks but Jiang Wanyu’s brain malfunctioning, Tian Cheng nearly collapsed to her knees. “Please don’t say something like that with the same casual tone you’d use to say, ‘I went out for dinner with her’!”

Jiang Wanyu’s eyes were sincere. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry my ass.

“You’re… getting married? You’re about to become legally married spouses?” Tian Cheng couldn’t believe her ears.

“Mm-hmm.”

Tian Cheng patted Jiang Wanyu’s shoulder solemnly. “Even though we’ve been friends for years, you didn’t have to rush to tell me this. I think it would have been perfect to announce it at your child’s first birthday party.”

Jiang Wanyu: ……

Tian Cheng, who had weathered many storms in her life, took a few minutes to process the news before exclaiming in anguish, “Wanyu, a good horse doesn’t graze on old pastures!”

Jiang Wanyu solemnly and sincerely corrected her, “I’m a bad horse.”

“……” This woman’s icy humor could freeze the soul.

Tian Cheng was at a loss for words. After a moment of silence, she silently drained her glass of wine before finally asking, “Why get married so suddenly? You’ve only been back a few days! How many times have you even seen her? Have you forgotten what happened seven years ago? How she treated you?”