After the Flash Marriage, My Ex Who is a Movie Queen Keeps Flirting with Me - Chapter 24

“Then you’ll repay me with your body. How about that?”

Ming Jiyue, like a pool of melted spring water, pressed down on Jiang Wanyu, her gaze hazy with seduction.

But Jiang Wanyu always had the ability to shatter any lingering romantic tension with a single sentence.

“Okay.”

Before Ming Jiyue could even celebrate her quick agreement, Jiang Wanyu suddenly grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the bathroom. “Okay, but first, let’s dry your hair.”

“……” The lingering romantic atmosphere vanished instantly. Ming Jiyue felt like her life was being dragged away against her will.

How can this woman be like a nun from a temple 99% of the time, completely immune to any flirting?

Ming Jiyue struggled. “Drying it is such a hassle. I don’t think it’s necessary. Actually, you could just exercise with me to dry it.”

Jiang Wanyu paused, as if she didn’t understand the implication in Ming Jiyue’s words. Her expression remained utterly innocent. “You want me to exercise with you?”

“Of course! Exercise is good for your health. If you want, we can start going to bed at 10 PM and waking up at 6 AM to exercise together.”

Ming Jiyue ground her teeth. Would hitting her now count as domestic violence?

In the end, she couldn’t win and was forced to have her hair dried.

Ming Jiyue pulled a hairdryer from the cabinet and shoved it into Jiang Wanyu’s hand. “You dry it for me.”

Jiang Wanyu readily agreed, plugging in the hairdryer and turning it on. The buzzing filled the room as her fingers threaded through Ming Jiyue’s thick, dark hair, carefully drying it strand by strand.

Then, Ming Jiyue was obediently escorted to bed.

 

Time flew by, and before they knew it, April had arrived. Jiang Wanyu and Ming Jiyue spent the past few days packing for their upcoming variety show appearance.

Jiang Wanyu’s dear best friend, Tian Cheng, was incredibly curious about her participation in the show, even more so than Jiang Wanyu herself.

In the days leading up to their departure, Tian Cheng insisted on visiting Jiang Wanyu, using the excuse that she wouldn’t see her for a long time while she was filming the show. She conveniently ignored Jiang Wanyu’s reminder that they would only be gone for three or four days at most.

Unable to dissuade her, Jiang Wanyu relented. After returning home from work, she mentioned the matter to Ming Jiyue.

“Tian Cheng wants to come over.”

Ming Jiyue raised an eyebrow. “She still dares to come? It seems the last time didn’t leave a deep enough impression. Sure, I welcome her.”

The next question was difficult to ask. Jiang Wanyu cleared her throat, mentally preparing herself, and asked, “What day are you filming that commercial?”

“Friday.”

Receiving the expected answer, Jiang Wanyu lowered her head and mumbled, “Tian Cheng was wondering if you could reschedule it to Saturday?”

Ming Jiyue raised an eyebrow.

The other party likely already suspected their intentions. Jiang Wanyu forced herself to say, “She has to work on Friday, so Saturday is her only option. She wants to come when you’re not here.”

Ming Jiyue maintained her smile. “She could choose not to come at all.”

Jiang Wanyu sighed inwardly, remaining silent.

Being caught in the middle was truly a thankless position.

Of course, Ming Jiyue’s refusal was just a joke; she wouldn’t want to put her wife in a difficult position.

“We can reschedule for Saturday. I’ll let them know.”

Jiang Wanyu’s face lit up. “Great!”

Ming Jiyue added with a mischievous grin, “But remember, I’m not doing this for Tian Cheng. I’m doing it for my wife.”

After negotiating with the collaborators, Tian Cheng arrived bright and early on Saturday morning, full of excitement.

At first, the two women watched variety shows in the living room to prepare for the upcoming recording. Tian Cheng chattered incessantly, peppering Jiang Wanyu with questions about the show.

Before long, Jiang Wanyu’s interest waned. “This show is a bit boring. Let’s watch something else.”

“Like what?”

“A movie?”

Tian Cheng expressed her opinion sincerely, “I think variety shows are more entertaining than movies.”

“That depends on the movie,” Jiang Wanyu replied.

“Like?” Tian Cheng asked.

Without hesitation, Jiang Wanyu answered, “Homecoming.”

Tian Cheng’s face immediately fell. “Not that again? You must have watched it at least ten times already!”

“I’ve watched Dreamy Shadows twelve times,” Jiang Wanyu countered. “This one only eight.”

Tian Cheng’s lips twitched. “You really keep track.”

Anyone would say that’s true love.

Jiang Wanyu frowned. “Why wouldn’t I watch it? Isn’t Homecoming good?”

Tian Cheng explained wearily, “It’s great! How could it not be? After all, it was the box office champion during the Spring Festival holiday this year. It’ll probably be the top-grossing film for the next couple of years too. The current number one is another movie starring Ming Jiyue.”

“If it’s so good, why don’t you want to watch it?” Jiang Wanyu pressed.

Tian Cheng raised her hands in surrender. “Even the best movie loses its appeal after the third viewing.”

“But I find it gets better with each watch,” Jiang Wanyu insisted.

Tian Cheng scrutinized Jiang Wanyu. “Do you like this movie because it’s good, or because your wife stars in it?”

Jiang Wanyu replied with unwavering sincerity, “Because it’s good.”

“Then all those times you dragged me to see Ming Jiyue’s movies whenever you came back to China these past few years—was that also because they were all good?”

Jiang Wanyu nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

Tian Cheng took a deep breath and switched tactics.

“It just finished its theatrical run. Is it even available online yet?”

“I watched it early. It’s already on Hami Melon Video.”

Tian Cheng gave her a thumbs-up. “Good for you, supporting legitimate sources. I’m the same with novels—I only read them on official websites.”

Seeing that Jiang Wanyu was determined to watch it, Tian Cheng resigned herself to her fate. “Fine, go ahead and search for it.”

As Jiang Wanyu fiddled with the TV, Tian Cheng couldn’t resist teasing, “Your internet speed only seems this fast when you’re looking for movies.”

Jiang Wanyu searched and, sure enough, the film was already available.

She pressed play and immediately became engrossed in the movie. Tian Cheng fetched snacks and drinks from the fridge, but Jiang Wanyu didn’t take them. “You need to focus when you’re watching something,” she said.

“Even when I watched it the first time, I wasn’t as focused as you are now.”

Tian Cheng shook her head, unable to tell if it was the power of Ming Jiyue’s beauty and acting skills, or the strength of her own love for Ming Jiyue, that allowed her to watch the same movie so many times.

Jiang Wanyu made a “shush” gesture and sat up straight, focusing intently on the screen.

When someone is deeply engrossed in something, their mind becomes highly focused, and time seems to fly by.

The movie was nearly three hours long. They had started watching at 9:30 AM, and with only the final segment remaining, it was already lunchtime.

Tian Cheng wanted to ask if they should eat first, but seeing Jiang Wanyu’s completely absorbed expression, she knew interrupting would only earn her a glare. She obediently kept quiet and silently kept her company.

Accompanying someone to watch a movie they’ve already seen three times? Who wouldn’t praise me as the best best friend in China?

The TV was quite loud, and both women were glued to the screen, completely unaware that someone was quietly approaching the door.

Jiang Wanyu was engrossed in the film when she suddenly heard the distinct click of the door lock turning.

The sound was loud enough that Jiang Wanyu couldn’t possibly miss it. She leaped up from the sofa, swiftly grabbed the remote, and snapped the TV off with a click.

Her lightning-fast reaction stunned Tian Cheng. Why did she turn it off so quickly? Is there something embarrassing in this movie?

Jiang Wanyu didn’t have time to explain to Tian Cheng, because Ming Jiyue had already pushed the door open and walked in, just in time to see the TV click off.

Jiang Wanyu stood up, a smile spreading across her face as she approached. “You’re back! Are you tired?”

Ming Jiyue raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her expression. “Not really. It was easier than filming.”

Jiang Wanyu maintained her smile, feigning casualness. “I thought you were filming all afternoon and wouldn’t be back for lunch. Why are you here so early?”

“The schedule said afternoon, but I’m efficient. I finished everything this morning. I’ve missed Tian Cheng lately, so I rushed back to see her.”

Tian Cheng rolled her eyes.

Jiang Wanyu chuckled. “Perfect timing! Let’s go eat.”

She tugged Ming Jiyue toward the dining room, but Ming Jiyue didn’t budge.

Jiang Wanyu’s eyelid twitched, a bad feeling creeping in.

Ming Jiyue remained rooted to the spot, her eyes narrowed into a smile as she gazed at Jiang Wanyu. “What were you two sneaking around watching this morning, afraid I’d find out?”

Jiang Wanyu’s heart sank, but she forced herself to play it cool. “Nothing much. Just a movie.”

Ming Jiyue laughed. “What’s something I’m not allowed to see? Why are you two acting like kids caught watching TV when their parents aren’t home?”

“You’re overthinking things,” Jiang Wanyu said.

“You’re usually not like this,” Ming Jiyue replied.

Jiang Wanyu forced a smile. “What do you mean? I’m not acting any differently.”

Ming Jiyue gazed at her with deep affection. “Darling, this is the warmest welcome you’ve given me since we got our marriage certificate.”

Jiang Wanyu: ……

By then, Ming Jiyue had already reached the living room and grabbed the remote before Jiang Wanyu could react. “Let’s see what you two have been secretly watching at home.”

“Could it be… you’ve been watching something naughty behind my back?”

In her earlier panic, Jiang Wanyu hadn’t completely turned off the TV; she’d only put it into sleep mode.

The moment Ming Jiyue pressed the power button, the screen lit up, displaying the content they had been watching.

And there, in the center of the large screen, was Ming Jiyue’s own flawless face, captured in a 360-degree, unflattering close-up.

Ming Jiyue fell silent.

Who watches porn with their best friend? Tian Cheng thought to herself. You two are more hilarious than each other.

After a moment of silence, Ming Jiyue’s expression visibly shifted from surprise to delight, her face radiating undisguised joy. “I thought you were watching something naughty, but it turns out you were just admiring a beautiful woman!”

Tian Cheng: ……

Jiang Wanyu shamelessly passed the buck, “Tian Cheng insisted on watching it. She’s your fan.”

Tian Cheng: ?

“The previous ticket stub was also because of her.”

Tian Cheng: ??

Tian Cheng seethed silently, When did I become her fan? Can’t you respect the person involved? I’m right here!

But Jiang Wanyu had no intention of respecting her feelings. Her eyes remained fixed on Ming Jiyue, but the resolute set of her back conveyed a silent plea: Help me. Please.

Tian Cheng took a deep breath. This apartment must have terrible feng shui. How else could I have such bad luck every time I come here?

Forcing a smile, she said, “That’s right, I’m your fan. I was the one who dragged her to see this movie. I’ve watched Homecoming four times already—who says I’m not a true fan?”

“I see,” Ming Jiyue said, her face lighting up. “Xiao Yu, why didn’t you tell me who your die-hard fan friend was when I asked you last time?”

Jiang Wanyu: “Tian Cheng is shy.”

Tian Cheng gritted her teeth, Shy my ass.

Internally, she wailed, What kind of role-playing game are you two playing now? And why am I being dragged into it?!

“Tian Cheng is actually my fan?” Ming Jiyue chuckled, her gaze flitting between the two women. “Can I revoke her fan status?”

Tian Cheng nearly exploded. I don’t even want to be your fan, and you dare try to kick me out?

She clenched her fists, silently vowing to give Jiang Wanyu a thorough dressing-down the moment she left this place. Only then did she manage to force out a twisted smile. “I’m your real fan! You can’t do that!”

The smile on Ming Jiyue’s face widened. “Alright, since you’re such a devoted fan, let’s test your knowledge.”

“In Homecoming, when Jiang Wan returns to her hometown to see her grandmother one last time, what color is her top?”

Tian Cheng froze. She always focused on the plot when watching movies, never paying attention to details like clothing. Besides, the female lead wore at least a dozen different outfits throughout the film—how could she possibly remember?

But as Ming Jiyue’s die-hard fan, she couldn’t admit to forgetting.

She instinctively glanced at Jiang Wanyu for help, but Ming Jiyue was watching closely. Unable to speak, Jiang Wanyu could only offer a helpless look in return.

Racking her brain for any scrap of memory, Tian Cheng declared with unwavering conviction, “White!”

Ming Jiyue’s smile turned smug. “Wrong. It’s brown.”

“You’re mistaken! It was definitely white,” Tian Cheng insisted stiffly.

“I starred in the movie—how could I not know? It’s brown.”

“White.”

“Brown.”

“White.”

“Brown.”

The two women argued, neither willing to yield.

Tian Cheng knew she was only a half-baked fan, no match for the film’s lead actress. She resolved to maintain a firm stance, asserting her fan status. If Ming Jiyue found the clip, she would claim she’d misunderstood which scene the actress was referring to, hence her mistake.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Wanyu chimed in, her voice hesitant due to the excessive certainty in both women’s tones: “Wait, I thought it was black?”

Tian Cheng was stunned. How did another color get added to the mix?

Ming Jiyue flashed a triumphant smile. “Ah, my memory’s slipping. It was black. These little details are easy to mix up.”

But her expression lacked sincerity.

“Xiao Yu, you’re just a casual viewer, yet you remember it better than the lead actress and even the supposed ‘superfan’ here.”

“Anyone would think you’re my biggest fan.”

Tian Cheng: ……

Jiang Wanyu: ……

This scheme runs deep.

After Ming Jiyue and Jiang Wanyu finished lunch, and Tian Cheng had her fill of “dog food” (romantic displays), Tian Cheng politely declined Ming Jiyue’s invitation to “come back and hang out sometime.” She fled the scene without delay, eager to escape this chaotic situation.

 

The first episode of the variety show was just a few days away. After the official announcement, Ming Jiyue had assumed she only needed to prepare and wait for filming to begin. She never imagined that even participating in a variety show would come with so much trouble. Being on the internet meant being constantly vulnerable to attacks.

This time, however, the target wasn’t Ming Jiyue herself, but Jiang Wanyu.

Jiang Wanyu was a complete newcomer. Before the official announcement, most people had no knowledge of her and no reason to harbor any baseless malice. But in today’s hyper-connected world, if someone truly wanted to ruin someone’s reputation, they could always find a way.

The incident began when someone posted on Weibo, claiming that Jiang Wanyu had stolen her spot on the variety show and demanding an explanation. She directly tagged the show’s production team in her post.

The woman shared screenshots of chat logs and a digital contract, claiming that she had originally been cast for Walking in the Spotlight. She claimed that she and the production team had reached an agreement, and only the final signature was needed when she was suddenly informed that she had been replaced.

At the time, she had felt disappointed, assuming she simply wasn’t good enough. Later, someone told her that her spot had been snatched by someone with connections who had forced her out.

Though she regretted missing the opportunity, she refused to let someone who casually stole another’s spot and invalidated their hard work participate comfortably. She wanted to expose them.

Walking in the Spotlight already had high public attention, and when this news broke, many rushed to follow the drama.

Holy crap, Jiang Wanyu looks so beautiful, yet her heart is so malicious. Why would she steal someone else’s spot for no good reason?

How can a nobody pull off something like this? What kind of powerful connections does she have? Just waltz in, replace someone else?

There were only two spots for non-celebrities. This person worked so hard to get hers, and you just snatched it away? Desperate for fame, huh? I can’t even be bothered to roast you. Just get lost! Go back to your day job. Speechless.

I followed her the day the official announcement dropped, thinking, “Such a pretty girl! Even if the show’s boring, at least I can enjoy looking at her.” But then this happens? What rotten luck. You can’t judge a book by its cover.

As soon as the news broke, Jiang Wanyu’s name was trending with negative comments. Ming Jiyue received the news immediately.

“What’s with the trending topic? Xiao Yu was confirmed from the start, right?” Ming Jiyue immediately called her manager, struggling to contain her anger toward irrelevant parties. Yet her voice still betrayed her anxiety and frustration.

“Don’t panic, I’m contacting the production team,” the manager said quickly. “What that person on the trending topics is saying is definitely false. Wan Yu was the first choice they confirmed. Even if you ignore everything else, her looks and resume are the best among all the applicants. They would have chosen her no matter what. Who’s slot did she steal?”

The manager continued, outlining the current problem: “There’s no issue with Wan Yu being selected, but the production team contacted the backup candidates around the same time. Proving Xiao Yu didn’t steal someone else’s spot will be really difficult.”

Ming Jiyue was also frustrated. “Tell the production team to investigate thoroughly. Everything leaves a trace. We’ll find evidence. This needs to be resolved today.”

“If we drag this out, no one will believe our explanation, even if we give one.”

“Okay, okay, I’m contacting them now. Just stay calm.”

“You weren’t this worked up when you were accused of stealing someone else’s endorsement last time,” the manager said, exasperated. In the past seven years, he hadn’t dealt with as much drama as he had in the past month.

A while later, the manager called again. Ming Jiyue answered immediately. “What’s the situation?”

“They’re not in any hurry at all. When I called, they were leisurely drinking tea and watching the show.”

“They’re all just bullies who prey on the weak. The show’s production team knows exactly how to exploit people. It’s hard to explain this clearly—someone is clearly trying to sabotage Wan Yu. Since she has no one to back her up, they’re planning to mess with her however they want. If that doesn’t work, they’ll just replace her, blame everything on her, and say the online backlash is her own fault. They’ll make her pay the breach of contract fees too.”

“They’ll avoid any blame and even profit from the drama. It’s a win-win for them.”

“What a brilliant scheme,” Ming Jiyue sneered. “Replace her? We’ll see if they have the guts.”

“The blogger’s post clearly has the tone and style of someone in the industry. Someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes, otherwise it wouldn’t have blown up so quickly.”

“Investigate everything,” Ming Jiyue said. “And look into the guest appearance I mentioned earlier too.”

“Understood. I’ll have my people look into it right away.” The manager sighed. “First, calm Wan Yu down. Tell her to ignore all the nonsense online. I’ll handle this.”

“Okay, I will.”

As the manager was about to hang up, he remembered the most crucial thing and his voice grew urgent: “Wait! Make sure—absolutely make sure—she doesn’t do anything rash. Tell her not to post anything online. Leave everything to me.”

“I know Wan Yu isn’t that kind of person. I’ll remind her to be careful.”

Remind her? the manager thought. You’re the one who can’t keep your mouth shut online!

He sighed. “Just don’t encourage her to say anything foolish online. I’ll finish up here and call her later.”

After hanging up, Ming Jiyue tossed her phone aside and rubbed her temples.

Forgetting all the nonsense, she focused on finding Jiang Wanyu. I wonder if she’s seen those online rumors yet.

Ming Jiyue took a deep breath, pressed her index fingers against the corners of her mouth, and forced a smile.

She pushed open the door to Jiang Wanyu’s room and found her staring at her phone.

Ming Jiyue strode over and casually leaned against her wife’s side. “What are you looking at? You look so serious. Let me see too.”

Jiang Wanyu’s mood seemed genuinely sour. She tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Nothing much.”

A glance at the screen confirmed she was scrolling through Weibo. Ming Jiyue clenched her fist, but her smile remained fixed. “Those online people just love to jump on bandwagons and spread rumors. Don’t take it to heart. Leave it to me to handle.”

“It’s fine. I was just browsing.”

“Stop looking at it.” Ming Jiyue gently but firmly pulled the phone from Jiang Wanyu’s hand, her voice soft and irresistible. “Look at me instead. I’m much more interesting than your phone.”

Jiang Wanyu let Ming Jiyue take her phone, smiling faintly. “Alright.”

Though Jiang Wanyu’s expression seemed calm, Ming Jiyue couldn’t shake her unease. After all, Jiang Wanyu had never faced anything like this before. This wasn’t just schoolyard gossip; it was a full-scale online mob attack—a vicious cyberbullying campaign.

And it was the worst kind: people hurling insults without understanding the situation, blindly attacking without distinguishing right from wrong.

“Don’t take it to heart,” Ming Jiyue said. “These people are like that—they believe every rumor they hear. In a few days, when the truth comes out, they’ll just turn around and start attacking the other side. I’ve been through this so many times. Arguing with them is just a waste of your time.”

Jiang Wanyu’s focus shifted, her eyes flickering slightly. “Do people often falsely accuse you like this?”

Ming Jiyue paused. “It’s not too bad. In the entertainment industry, everyone experiences this kind of thing eventually.”

“Don’t worry. It’s all just baseless rumors. With Sister Chen handling it, it’ll be resolved for sure. She might seem demanding, but she’s incredibly capable. She always handles these PR crises.”

“I trust you all,” Jiang Wanyu said. “Thank you for your hard work, Sister Chen.”

After a moment of silence, she spoke again, “I want to post something on Weibo.”

Ming Jiyue was slightly taken aback. Why was she suddenly taking the initiative? “What do you want to post?”

“I want to clear my name,” Jiang Wanyu said, her expression serious and resolute.

Since others were slandering and bullying her, she needed to make her stance clear.

Ming Jiyue opened her mouth to speak, but Jiang Wanyu hadn’t even finished her sentence before Jiyue understood her intention.

The promise she had made to her manager just ten minutes earlier—to refrain from posting anything rash—had already been forgotten. The pent-up anger surged to the surface. “Good! Post it! We won’t tolerate this kind of behavior. You draft it, and I’ll review it.”

Soon, Jiang Wanyu posted a statement on her official Weibo account, declaring her stance. She affirmed that she had been the intended candidate from the start, that she had never stolen anyone else’s spot, and that she trusted the show’s producers to clear her name. She urged her followers not to be swayed by the online vitriol.

The post immediately went viral, trending on Weibo.

Those who had already been condemning Jiang Wanyu grew even more agitated.

“The innocent need no defense? What a joke! Where’s your evidence? I could write eight of these flimsy essays in an hour. Without proof, who’s going to believe your empty words?”

“Seriously? You stole someone else’s opportunity, yet you’re acting like you’re the victim here? Unbelievable.”

Sister, keep flapping your wings. Let’s see how much longer you can keep hopping around.

The already intense public outrage erupted into a furious storm after Jiang Wanyu posted this Weibo update. The waves of condemnation grew louder and more relentless.

Jiang Wanyu was just an ordinary person with barely any followers online. The few who had recently followed her were merely Appearance Fans, completely unaware of her character or background. Seeing this post instantly soured the goodwill they had felt after the official announcement photos.

Fueled by paid online trolls deliberately stoking the flames, Jiang Wanyu was subjected to a torrent of abuse. Even bystanders who doubted the truth of the situation simply watched the spectacle for entertainment, with no one willing to defend her.

Public opinion had completely turned against her, drowning her in insults and demands for her to withdraw from the variety show and return the spot to its rightful owner.

Meanwhile, at Liu Fan’s home, he was closely monitoring the situation.

“Are you sure this is the right approach?” his assistant asked, sounding concerned.

“What are you worried about?” Liu Fan smirked, his tone dismissive. “Do you think she’s some powerful figure with influential backers? At this point, the production team will only prioritize self-preservation and distance themselves from the controversy. Why would they waste resources on such an insignificant person? They’re all just ordinary people—anyone could fill her spot.”

“I’ve checked. She’s participating in the show, most likely for the multi-million yuan appearance fee. Getting selected was pure dumb luck. The producers probably just saw she was decent-looking and cheap, so they let her in.”

“Monitor online trends closely and hire more internet trolls. We have to get her kicked off this time,” Liu Fan said, a ruthless glint in his eyes. “If I can’t have it, neither can she.”

The assistant remained uneasy. “Sister Liu, what if someone investigates?”

“Investigate? Who would bother?” Liu Fan leaned back casually, smugly pleased with his scheme. “She’s just an ordinary person—no connections, no money. Who would waste their time backing her up?”

“Who can she rely on? That cheap girlfriend she just started dating?”

Liu Fan sneered, casually refreshing Weibo. The smug smile on his face froze. His pupils contracted sharply, and he shot to his feet.

Just moments ago, Ming Jiyue had posted new content.

She had retweeted Jiang Wanyu’s clarification post:

@MingJiyuevv: The innocent need no defense. Supporting the fight for justice.