After the Flash Marriage, My Ex Who is a Movie Queen Keeps Flirting with Me - Chapter 23

Ming Jiyue, with her mischievous schemes and knack for leading others astray, and Jiang Wanyu, who appeared innocently oblivious but whose true awareness remained uncertain, both received a scolding for secretly using a couple’s name. They obediently switched to something else.

In the end, the manager ordered Ming Jiyue to stay put and keep quiet, forbidding her from causing any further trouble. With her silenced, the Weibo registration and verification finally proceeded smoothly.

That evening, the official lineup for Walking in the Spotlight was announced.

The internet immediately erupted with excitement.

Fire Dragon Fruit Channel’s variety shows had always been the highest quality and most prestigious among all platforms. This particular show’s innovative format, featuring phased live broadcasts, promised to capture the raw, unfiltered state of the participating celebrities, offering viewers an authentic, unedited experience.

While both live and prerecorded formats have their merits, it’s undeniable that prerecorded content heavily relies on the skill of the post-production team. After all, malicious editing scandals are far from rare online.

One variety show even went so far as to mirror-reverse two artists who had been standing back-to-back, making it appear as if they were gazing deeply into each other’s eyes, sparking a CP frenzy. When the truth was exposed, public outrage erupted.

Beyond its innovative format, the guest lineup alone was enough to generate immense anticipation, especially the inclusion of Ming Jiyue.

Ming Jiyue’s name was like a living, gold-plated signboard. This marked her first-ever variety show appearance, instantly elevating its prestige. Her legions of fans—movie fans, drama fans, appearance fans, and more—mobilized en masse, their excitement reaching fever pitch upon hearing the news.

I wonder what Ming Jiyue is like in real life. I can’t wait to find out!

I bet she’s just like her secret Weibo account: constantly thinking about eating, drinking, and sleeping.

Hahahaha, you might actually be right! Ming Jiyue: “Filming all day is already annoying enough. You want me to do this too?!”

I can’t even imagine how the production team convinced Ming Jiyue to join. I bet the director knelt outside her door for three days and nights, threatening to hang himself if she didn’t agree.

Whatever she’s like, as long as it’s Ming Jiyue, I’ll love it. I’ve already pre-ordered—hurry up and release it!

The production team knew how to play the hype game perfectly. Instead of announcing all six guests at once, they released them one by one, slowly building anticipation.

Compared to the celebrity guests, the two non-celebrity participants received less attention. By the time the first three A-list stars were announced, excitement was already running high. But when Ming Jiyue’s announcement dropped, the internet exploded.

Ahhhhh! The rumors from those gossip accounts were actually true! I finally get to see Ming Jiyue on a variety show! I can’t even—I’m going for a twenty-lap run to calm down!

I’ve been burned by these rumors so many times before. Ming Jiyue has been “confirmed” for dozens of variety shows by these accounts, and none of them ever came true. I even cursed them out for spreading fake news! I never thought I’d actually see this happen in my lifetime.

I’ve been crying in bed for seven hours straight, had 1,456 mental breakdowns, banged my head against the wall 784 times, hallucinated 21 times, and had auditory hallucinations 18 times. I just fainted and woke up to see my wife is going to be on a variety show! Finally, I’ll get to see you on TV, my love!

Beyond Ming Jiyue, the production team’s trump card, the other guests were also highly anticipated.

The reasons for someone being noticed can be complex, ranging from popularity and looks to romantic pairings. But before this, Jiang Wanyu was a complete unknown. Apart from those who knew her personally, most people were entirely unfamiliar with her.

The official announcement on Weibo, featuring her, caused a sensation. The number of retweets, likes, and comments skyrocketed, and there was only one reason for this:

Her sheer beauty.

Holy sh1t, where did this goddess come from? She’s stunning! I need all her information within three minutes!

Wait, is she a non-celebrity guest? Did the showrunners just pick people based on looks? How can a non-celebrity be this gorgeous? I propose we crowdfund to shower her with money and make her debut right now!

Ugh, she’s so beautiful, so gentle. My screen’s dirty, but I’ll lick it—just one lick!

Hello, beautiful. First time meeting you, but I think you look a bit like someone. Who? My destined wife whom I’ve never met (dog emoji with a rose in its mouth).

Jiang Wanyu broke through the ranks of several top-tier celebrities, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers on the day her official announcement photo was released.

The account had just been created, with only one Weibo post—a retweet from the official account. Yet the comments section was already overflowing, everyone begging her to post more content.

So pretty, I love it!

Follow Jiang Wanyu now, so I can say I was an OG fan when she blows up.

Although filming was scheduled to begin next month, it was already late March, and the start date was rapidly approaching. The manager had given them a sneak peek of some details, including the guest stars for the first two episodes.

Jiang Wanyu’s knowledge of the entertainment industry was woefully lacking. When the manager mentioned two names she’d never heard of, she was surprised. “Are there only two guest stars?”

“Yep, the contracts are signed. It’s locked in,” the manager replied.

Liu Fan had previously sworn he’d secured guest spots for her in the first two episodes, but now her name was nowhere to be found.

The exact reasons remained unclear, but not having to face that person was a relief.

Ming Jiyue raised an eyebrow. “What, were you expecting someone else?”

Jiang Wanyu lowered her head. “No, I just thought there would be more guest stars.”

The sudden question startled her, and in her fluster, she lost her grip on her phone, which clattered to the floor.

Ming Jiyue bent down to pick up the phone for her. “It was just a casual question. Why are you so startled?”

As she handed the phone back, she glanced at the case. “You should get a new phone. You just got paid, right? Treat yourself to an upgrade.”

Jiang Wanyu’s phone had been purchased during her doctoral studies. It often lagged, but she’d never bothered to replace it. Ming Jiyue’s suggestion prompted her to nod.

“I’ll check out phone stores this weekend.”

Since she had some free time, she decided to use the opportunity to clean up her phone, deleting unnecessary files and contacts.

Jiang Wanyu was a woman of action. She immediately began clearing out her photo album, voice recordings, and text messages. Then she opened WeChat, where her contacts list contained hundreds of names. Many she couldn’t recall ever adding, and their chat windows were completely empty.

Determined to do a thorough cleanup, Jiang Wanyu scrolled through the list, deleting contacts without notes or chat history.

Halfway through, she noticed one contact.

The name was simply a period, with no notes. There was chat history, but it consisted solely of holiday greetings:

“Happy New Year.”

“Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.”

“Happy Dragon Boat Festival.”

He even remembered her birthday perfectly, sending her a “Happy Birthday” message every year at midnight.

Apart from these holiday greetings, there was nothing else. She scrolled to the top in just a few swipes.

Jiang Wanyu synced her data whenever she got a new phone, so the chat history remained intact.

The friend request had been sent seven years ago, the year she went abroad.

Jiang Wanyu racked her brain, trying to remember who this was, but came up empty.

They probably weren’t close; otherwise, he wouldn’t have only sent holiday greetings, likely mass-mailed.

With that thought, she tapped the delete button, but hesitated before pressing it.

Mass-mailing holiday greetings was one thing, but birthday wishes? That seemed unlikely.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Wanyu, unsure of her own reasoning, finally backed out of the interface.

Whatever. Just one contact. I’ll keep it.

“What are you doing?”

Jiang Wanyu had been lost in thought when a head popped up beside her.

She had already exited the chat interface. Smiling, she replied, “Nothing much, just cleaning up my contacts.”

Ming Jiyue’s eyes flickered. “Well, be careful not to delete me.”

Jiang Wanyu took it as a joke. “How could I ever?”

“You never know. You might have me in your contacts and not even recognize me.”

The variety show’s official announcement sparked widespread attention, naturally including Ming Jiyue’s fans, among them Duan Jin.

Within half an hour, this 8G-surfing user had already received the news and began frantically messaging Jiang Wanyu on WeChat. Unsatisfied with texting, she immediately called.

Besides Duan Jin, Tian Cheng and many others also reached out, utterly astonished by Jiang Wanyu and Ming Jiyue’s participation in the show.

Jiang Wanyu’s WeChat flooded with messages.

Unable to keep up, she prioritized answering Duan Jin’s call, as she seemed the most urgent.

“Why didn’t you give me even a hint before? You’ve been secretly plotting something big!”

“Oh my god, I can’t believe it! My colleague is going to be on the same variety show as my goddess! You’re my colleague, Ming Jiyue is my goddess, and you’re on the show with her—that basically means I’m on the show with my goddess too, right? Ah, I’m dying of excitement!”

Duan Jin chattered excitedly, then suddenly remembered something and shouted, “Wait, didn’t Liu Fan say she was going to be a guest star? Won’t you two run into each other?”

“She’s not on the final roster,” Jiang Wanyu replied.

“She’s not?” Duan Jin was surprised, then burst into laughter. “That’s fantastic! Last time, she was so smug and arrogant, bragging about being on the show with Teacher Ming. It scared me half to death! That annoying pest—let’s hope she doesn’t cling to anyone. Anyone who gets involved with her is doomed!”

“Did she pop the champagne halfway through, only to lose her spot? Or did she get in and then get kicked out? That’s hilarious!” Tian Cheng laughed. “Serves her right! I thought she was so amazing.”

Duan Jin spent a long time talking to Jiang Wanyu, expressing her excitement and reminding her to get an autograph for her, conveying her love for her idol to the real person. Finally, she hung up, completely satisfied.

After dealing with that, there was still the other side to handle. Jiang Wanyu spent the entire evening replying to messages and making phone calls.

The others were easy enough to deal with—they didn’t see each other daily, so a simple explanation would suffice. But Duan Jin was her colleague; they saw each other every day at work. Keeping up the pretense indefinitely wasn’t a viable solution.

Jiang Wanyu was torn. Telling Duan Jin the truth felt wrong, but so did continuing to lie.

Ming Jiyue noticed her troubled mood and asked what was wrong.

Jiang Wanyu explained the situation: “One of my colleagues is a huge fan of yours. She absolutely adores you.”

“Mm, you mentioned her before. The signed photo was for her, right? What’s the problem?”

Jiang Wanyu briefly recounted the lies she had told to conceal their relationship, feeling a headache coming on. “I’ve managed to stall for now, but I can’t keep this up forever. I’m trying to figure out how to explain things to her.”

“There’s a reason for everything. She won’t blame you. It’s not a lie, it’s a white lie,” Ming Jiyue said, more concerned about something else. “You told her you’re moving out? When are you moving out?”

Jiang Wanyu: “It was just an excuse.”

“So, when are you moving?”

Jiang Wanyu sighed helplessly. “Next lifetime, okay?”

Only then was Ming Jiyue satisfied.

Ming Jiyue’s mischievous mind began to scheme again. “She got so excited just hearing you’re doing a variety show with me. If I told her we live together, she’d probably die of shock!”

Jiang Wanyu: ……

She’d either be driven mad by Duan Jin or strangled by her manager.

“If you feel guilty, just try not to mention us so much,” Ming Jiyue suggested earnestly.

Jiang Wanyu sighed. “I’d love to, but she’s your fan. Who else would I talk about?”

Ming Jiyue grinned. “She’s a true die-hard fan! She sounds really interesting. When can I meet her?”

Jiang Wanyu: “She’s invited me out this Saturday to thank me for the signed photo.”

Ming Jiyue’s eyes lit up. “She can’t just thank you! I’m the one who signed the photo. So I…”

Jiang Wanyu: “You’re staying home to rest.”

Her tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Ming Jiyue’s protest died in her throat, and she grudgingly mumbled, “Okay.”

So stingy.

The internet was buzzing with excitement over the official cast announcement for the variety show. The university classmates’ group chat, where members fervently shipped Ming Jiyue and Jiang Wanyu, was equally abuzz with anticipation.

The group, which had been dormant for seven years after their breakup, had recently sprung back to life thanks to Ming Jiyue and Jiang Wanyu’s series of public appearances together.

Holy sh1t! Did you guys see the Walking in the Spotlight announcement?! They’re actually going to be on the same show! They’ll be on stage together! Being on stage together means they’ll be in the same room, and being in the same room means they’ll be in the same bed, and being in the same bed means they’re dating, and dating means they’re getting married soon!

Exactly! My OTP is finally getting their happily ever after!

But didn’t Tian Cheng say they weren’t together…? What’s going on?

I’ve known Tian Cheng for years. She loves to gossip. I trust my gut more than anything she says.

Exactly! No matter what Tian Cheng claims, Ming Jiyue personally came to pick up Jiang Wanyu at the last reunion. That’s a fact!

All this speculation might be wrong. We’ll know for sure when the show premieres.

I’ll be ready with my cola and popcorn, watching my first love CP’s remarriage ceremony live!

Even before its premiere, Walking in the Spotlight had already reached peak anticipation among viewers.

On the weekend, as planned, Jiang Wanyu and Duan Jin went out for dinner. With nothing else to do after their meal, they strolled through the streets together.

What started as a casual outing between friends soon took an unexpected turn when they realized someone was discreetly following them.

As they walked leisurely down the street, Duan Jin glanced up and noticed a woman passing by. A gentle breeze stirred her hair, and even from behind, she exuded an ethereal, otherworldly beauty.

More importantly, as the woman walked past, she seemed to notice them, turning her head to offer a faint smile. Though she wore a hat and mask, her strikingly beautiful eyes remained visible.

Duan Jin’s heart skipped a beat. “Wow,” she thought, her fan radar instantly activating.

She tugged at Jiang Wanyu’s sleeve, whispering urgently, “Look! That woman looks just like Teacher Ming! Could it be her?”

Jiang Wanyu had noticed the woman even earlier. As soon as they entered the street, she’d spotted someone staring at her, bearing a striking resemblance to Ming Jiyue. At first, she’d dismissed it as a trick of the light.

But when the woman sauntered past them, deliberately turning back for another glance, Jiang Wanyu’s suspicions solidified.

She told me to stay home and not go out, Jiang Wanyu thought. Now she’s not only sneaking out but also ending up on the same street as us, engineering this “chance encounter.”

“If this is a coincidence, even ghosts wouldn’t believe it,” Jiang Wanyu muttered, pressing a hand to her forehead. “She really knows how to stir up trouble. Can’t she ever just stay put?”

“Look, look! Is it her? Is it really her? I think it looks just like her!” Duan Jin kept asking anxiously, hesitant to approach but terrified of missing Ming Jiyue if it truly was her.

Jiang Wanyu pulled Duan Jin back. “It can’t be her. Why would Ming Jiyue show up here? Wouldn’t she be worried about being mobbed?”

Jiang Wanyu had hoped to stall until Ming Jiyue left, but the person ahead slowed down, eventually stopping when they realized the two weren’t following.

It was as if their entire being was screaming, Come find me! Come find me!

Jiang Wanyu: ……

Ming Jiyue was desperately trying to get their attention, Duan Jin was straining her eyes to confirm if it was her idol, and Jiang Wanyu was desperately trying to hold Duan Jin back, determined to keep her from finding out.

But she couldn’t stop her. Duan Jin finally decided to take a leap of faith, ignoring all caution and rushing forward. Jiang Wanyu couldn’t hold her back.

As Duan Jin got closer, her eyes lit up. “Teacher Ming!”

Ming Jiyue, who had been waiting patiently, feigned surprise. “Oh dear, I’ve been recognized!”

Jiang Wanyu: ……Best Actress Ming, could you put even less effort into your acting?

However, Duan Jin, completely absorbed in her excitement, didn’t notice anything amiss. She fumbled through her bag, struggling several times to pull out a pen. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and she lowered her voice, fearing she might attract attention, her face flushed with excitement.

“Teacher Ming, hello! I’m your fan. Could I get your autograph?”

Ming Jiyue pulled her hat lower, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and finally replied, “Sure, I can do that.”

After signing, Ming Jiyue paused and asked, “Do you want a personalized autograph?”

Duan Jin’s eyes nearly lit up like light bulbs. “Yes, yes! Ahhh, thank you so much, Teacher Ming!”

Ming Jiyue seemed even more approachable in person than Duan Jin had imagined. Even with a mask covering her face, her beauty remained undeniable. Duan Jin felt so overwhelmed with happiness she nearly fainted, but she mustered the courage to ask, “Teacher Ming, could I take a photo with you? I’ve been your loyal fan for four years.”

“Of course,” Ming Jiyue replied with a warm smile, looking remarkably easygoing.

“Thank you so much, Teacher Ming!”

After signing Duan Jin’s autograph, Ming Jiyue seemed to notice the person standing beside her for the first time. She smiled and asked, “Does your friend need one too?”

She immediately received a cold refusal from Duan Jin’s wife: “No need, thank you.”

Then, she glared at Duan Jin, her eyes conveying: I don’t know you. Don’t cause trouble.

Duan Jin, still basking in the excitement of meeting her idol in person, suddenly remembered Jiang Wanyu was beside her. She quickly said, “Teacher Ming, this is Jiang Wanyu. She’ll be joining you on a variety show soon. Don’t you remember? You’re both alumni—she’s your junior. You’ve met before.”

Ming Jiyue’s face lit up with recognition. “Ah, I remember now. Hello, Jiang Wanyu. I look forward to working with you.”

Duan Jin nudged Jiang Wanyu with her elbow. “Say something! Have you forgotten Teacher Ming?”

Jiang Wanyu didn’t know what to say. Realizing there was no escape, she sighed and greeted her soon-to-be collaborator and fellow alumna, “Hello, Teacher Ming. I didn’t recognize you earlier. I’m sorry.”

Ming Jiyue chuckled. “No worries, Teacher Jiang. You must be very busy. It’s perfectly normal to forget—after all, I’m not your wife or someone close to you.”

Jiang Wanyu’s lips twitched.

Ming Jiyue’s eyes darted around, a mischievous glint in them. She spoke with an easy familiarity, “Since we’re both alumni, let’s drop the ‘Teacher’ formality.”

Jiang Wanyu was taken aback. Does she want me to call her by her first name?

Then Ming Jiyue smiled sweetly and said, “I’m older than you. Call me ‘Sister’ instead.”

Jiang Wanyu: ……

Before Jiang Wanyu could respond, Duan Jin, who had been rendered irrational by her idol’s presence, chimed in, “Yeah, yeah, calling her ‘Teacher’ is too formal. Just call her ‘Sister’!”

Jiang Wanyu tried to brush it off, but when she looked up, she found both women staring at her with burning intensity, as if they wouldn’t let her leave until she complied.

Forced into a corner and reluctantly giving in to the advantage being taken, Jiang Wanyu mumbled, “Sis… Sister.”

Ming Jiyue beamed, her face blossoming into a radiant smile. “That’s more like it! Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”

Eager to escape the awkward situation, Jiang Wanyu grabbed Duan Jin’s arm to leave. But Duan Jin protested, “Don’t go yet! Say another word to Teacher Ming!” Ming Jiyue was equally reluctant to let her go.

“Wan Yu, it’s been so long! I remember you had a girlfriend in college—your first love, right? You two were so close back then. Are you still together?”

Jiang Wanyu’s hand clenched into a fist.

You really know how to pick a topic!

Duan Jin exclaimed in surprise, “There’s more to the story?”

Jiang Wanyu was about to explode on the spot, desperately wanting to shut Ming Jiyue up and drag her home. But with Duan Jin watching, she could only maintain a strained smile. “Yes, we were very close. We’re married now.”

Duan Jin gushed, “You never mentioned this! Your wife is your college classmate and first love? Wow, what a coincidence!”

She then turned to Ming Jiyue, her eyes sparkling with gossip. “Teacher Ming, do you know who her college sweetheart was?”

Under Jiang Wanyu’s warning glare, Ming Jiyue smiled and replied, “Her first love? I can’t reveal the name. But she was wonderful—I’ve never met anyone so perfect.”

Jiang Wanyu: I’ve never met anyone so shameless either.

Afraid she’d lose control and start a scene in the street, Jiang Wanyu finally dragged Duan Jin away, who kept looking back over her shoulder.

Even after they were out of sight, Duan Jin still peered back, looking disappointed. “Why were you in such a hurry to leave? Teacher Ming was so friendly—I wanted to chat with her longer.”

Jiang Wanyu sighed helplessly. “We’re filming a variety show together. We’ll have plenty of chances to see each other later. No rush.”

Hearing this, Duan Jin perked up again, grabbing Jiang Wanyu’s arm and making a wish: “Okay, Wan Yu! My future happiness depends entirely on you!”

As twilight deepened, Jiang Wanyu finally finished her errands and returned home. She opened the door to find the apartment pitch-black, the lights off.

Strange, she thought. Hasn’t Ming Jiyue come back yet? She reached for the light switch, but before her fingers could touch it, a gust of wind swept past her, and Jiang Wanyu barely had time to react before she was pinned against the wall.

With a click, the lights flickered on, revealing the scene before her.

The assailant was, of course, Ming Jiyue. Fresh from her shower, her hair was still damp, and she wore only a silk nightgown. The expanse of pale skin exposed was dazzlingly white, and the gown’s low neckline revealed glimpses of her full, snow-white br3asts with every movement.

“You’re back?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Ming Jiyue gripped Jiang Wanyu’s wrist, her eyes wet and glistening like freshly washed gems as she gazed at her, her tone half-complaining, half-playful anger: “You finally came home! You pretended not to know me outside—it hurt my feelings so much.”

Pinned in the corner and unable to move, Jiang Wanyu replied with surprising composure: “Didn’t you pretend not to know me too?”

Ming Jiyue frowned. “That’s different! If you hadn’t stopped me, I would have rushed over and hugged you right away.”

Jiang Wanyu: “And then we’d be on the front page tonight, both of us strangled by our managers?”

Ming Jiyue couldn’t help but chuckle, her skin still damp from her bath, her cheeks so tender they seemed to drip with moisture. “I don’t care. How are you going to make it up to me?”

Jiang Wanyu stood her ground. “You took advantage of me too.”

Ming Jiyue paused, then remembered what she meant—the “sister” Jiang Wanyu had called her. “I am older than you. Is it really so bad to ask you to call me ‘sister’?”

She held Jiang Wanyu in her arms, but being slightly shorter, she had to tilt her head back to maintain eye contact. Jiang Wanyu lowered her gaze, and for a moment, it was unclear who was scrutinizing whom.

Ming Jiyue’s hair was still wet from her shower, dark strands clinging together, water droplets gathering at the tips before falling with a soft plink.

The cool liquid splashed against Jiang Wanyu’s skin, yet it felt searingly hot, burning with desire.

Ming Jiyue’s slender fingers traced Jiang Wanyu’s skin. “Tell me,” she murmured, “how are you going to make it up to me?”

“How do you want me to make it up to you?” Jiang Wanyu countered.

Ming Jiyue pressed her cheek against Jiang Wanyu’s neck, her warm breath brushing against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. Leaning closer to Jiang Wanyu’s ear, her red lips parted slightly, her voice like a hook. “Good sister,” she purred, “you’re so beautiful. I find myself quite… fond of you.”

“Then how about paying with your body? What do you say?”