After the Flash Marriage, My Ex Who is a Movie Queen Keeps Flirting with Me - Chapter 28

This is an acrostic poem! Read the first character of each line in order.

 

The first four characters… that would be…

In plain terms: I like you.

Got it!

Oh my god, Ming Jiyue, you’re too good at this!

Okay, I’m stealing this. Next time I confess, I’m using this. (rose)

Ming Jiyue’s confession: Acrostic poem,  (My heart yearns for you), subtle and refined. My confession: I fancy you.

Such understated beauty! If I didn’t already know they were together, I wouldn’t have guessed.

Don’t tell me this is just a coincidence!

Ming Jiyue: I just wrote a simple, sentimental poem. I didn’t mean anything by it. If you insist on interpreting it this way, I can’t stop you. Wan Yu and I aren’t even close.

The viewers in the live stream collectively figured it out. As for the people present: Ming Jiyue, of course, knew the poem’s meaning since she wrote it; Jiang Wanyu guessed it immediately; and Guan Tang, after studying the paper carefully for a while, finally understood and couldn’t help but laugh.

Only Hanhan remained, earnestly showering Ming Jiyue with praise. “Sister Ming, this poem is truly remarkable! If it were me, I’d only be able to spout empty platitudes.”

She then couldn’t resist taking a dig at Guan Tang: “It’s a million times better than Tangtang’s poem!”

Seeing Guan Tang studying the paper with a smile, Ding Yunxi grew puzzled. “What’s so funny? Is there something wrong with the poem? Are you going to keep it as a treasure?”

Guan Tang suppressed her smile and glanced at Ding Yunxi without a word.

Although… is Xiao Ding being serious? She doesn’t seem to be acting.

Don’t doubt it. If it were anyone else, they might be pretending not to understand. But our Xiao Ding? She genuinely doesn’t get it.

Her reaction time is… endearing. Please forgive our family’s daughter.

When Guan Tang remained silent, Ding Yunxi turned to Jiang Wanyu. “Xiao Yu, is there something wrong with this poem?”

Jiang Wanyu struggled to suppress the upward curve of her lips. “No, it’s fine. Teacher Ming just wrote it casually.”

Ding Yunxi: “Exactly! What could be wrong with it? I don’t know what Tangtang’s laughing about.”

Tsk tsk tsk, keep pretending. Jiang Wanyu, don’t tell me you didn’t understand!

LOL, some people’s smiles are practically reaching the heavens, and they’re still pretending!

After finishing their poems and claiming their points, the teams quickly departed to complete other tasks, wasting no time.

Jiang Wanyu said nothing, but her fingers kept unconsciously stroking the pocket where she had placed her poem.

Soon, all three teams had earned their full points and reconvened at the mountain peak. Jiang Wanyu and Ding Yunxi secured first place, while the male guests’ team came in second.

Guan Tang, who had suffered alone, initially thought she would come in last. To her surprise, the two members of the girl group team, both notoriously bad with directions, nearly got lost on the mountain, leaving her to avoid the bottom spot.

With the mountain climbing competition officially concluded, the Director announced that the rewards and penalties would be revealed during the evening’s activities.

As dusk approached, the Director announced the end of the daytime livestream, promising to resume at 8 PM sharp.

This followed the previously mentioned segmented livestream format. A full-day broadcast would be too demanding, and the guests would likely feel constrained under constant camera scrutiny. The mid-day break allowed them time to eat, rest, and decompress.

After the competition ended, Jiang Wanyu and the others returned to the temple to pick up Ming Jiyue.

Without the cameras filming them, everyone relaxed considerably.

Jiang Wanyu hoisted Ming Jiyue onto her back and carried her out of the temple.

As they stepped through the temple gate, Jiang Wanyu looked up and saw a massive silk tree, its trunk so thick it would take two people to encircle it.

In the quiet of winter, the silk tree had shed its vibrant foliage, leaving only bare branches adorned with red prayer plaques and ribbons that danced gently in the breeze.

Jiang Wanyu couldn’t help but recall a visit to a temple they had made years ago, during their university days.

They had been together for two years, and in those two years, they had done so much together.

Temples were essential attractions in mountainous regions, and after a hiking trip, they visited one again. This time, however, they weren’t there to hike; they took a cable car straight to the temple nestled halfway up the mountain.

Initially, Jiang Wanyu suggested climbing up herself, treating it as a leisurely walk. But Ming Jiyue refused. “Climbing is exhausting. No way.”

Jiang Wanyu found this odd. “Tired? Then why did you join the hiking trip last time?”

Ming Jiyue blinked innocently. “If my crush hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have gone.”

Jiang Wanyu froze. Ming Jiyue hadn’t specified who her “crush” was, but given their current relationship, the implication was clear.

Arriving at the temple during the off-season, they found it relatively quiet, much the same as their previous visit. The only difference was the abundance of vibrant red plaques hanging from the courtyard trees, swaying gently in the wind. Each plaque carried heartfelt blessings, word by word, expressing people’s most sincere wishes.

They obtained plaques from the temple staff, one for each of them, wrote their wishes, and hung them on the trees.

Ming Jiyue finished writing quickly and leaned over to see what Jiang Wanyu had written.

Jiang Wanyu instinctively covered her plaque with her hand. Ming Jiyue laughed. “What are you hiding? If you don’t show me now, I’ll sneak a peek later when you hang it on the tree.”

Jiang Wanyu eventually revealed her plaque.

For such a composed person, the words she had written seemed rather childish:

Jiang Wanyu and Ming Jiyue will be together forever and always.

After reading Jiang Wanyu’s message, Ming Jiyue smiled and showed her own plaque, which was nearly identical. She kissed Jiang Wanyu’s cheek. “We really are soulmates.”

When they hung the plaques on the tree, the two hung side by side, just like them—a perfectly matched pair.

Ming Jiyue said, “The last time I came here, I thought, ‘I must come back to this temple with her someday and hang this plaque on the tree, never to be taken down.'”

“Every five or ten years, we’ll come back to check if the plaques are still here. If they’re dirty or the writing has faded, we’ll replace them with new ones.”

Jiang Wanyu laughed. “Why would we replace it? It wouldn’t be the original anymore.”

Ming Jiyue retorted, “That’s called keeping the romance fresh. If you don’t understand, don’t spout nonsense.”

Jiang Wanyu simply smiled. “Alright, I’ll do whatever you want.”

Then Jiang Wanyu raised a practical concern: “What if the temple closes and they cut down the tree?”

“Why do you always think of such unlucky things?” Ming Jiyue frowned. “If that happens, we’ll just find another tree. The place doesn’t matter; it’s the sentiment that counts.”

Back then, they were deeply in love, convinced they were the happiest people in the world. Even when they considered the temple closing, they never imagined they would break up.

That day, Jiang Wanyu even got an extra prayer plaque, wrote the exact same inscription on it, and took it home. She kept it on her desk for nearly two years.

For the next seven years, she stored it in a drawer and never took it out again.

 

Nine years had passed. She wondered if that plaque was still there.

As she pondered this, the person on her back suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered, “This tree looks good—even sturdier than the one we saw last time. And this temple seems popular; it’ll definitely last a hundred years on this mountain.”

Jiang Wanyu: “Hmm?”

“After we finish filming this episode, let’s come back and hang one here. What do you think?”

Jiang Wanyu: “You know what I’m thinking?”

“Of course,” Ming Jiyue whispered, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “I told you, we’re telepathically connected.”

It was their unspoken understanding—a single glance was enough to know what the other was thinking.

Jiang Wanyu smiled and nodded firmly. “Okay.”

Ding Yunxi didn’t hear Ming Jiyue’s question, only Jiang Wanyu’s steady, resolute “Okay.” She tilted her head. “Okay to what?”

Guan Tang immediately pulled her away. “Let them talk. Stop eavesdropping.”

The production team, flush with funds, had booked a lavish villa instead of a hotel for the cast’s accommodations. The second and third floors were filled with empty rooms.

“So many rooms! Can we just pick whichever we want?” Ding Yunxi exclaimed excitedly.

Guan Tang calmly analyzed, “Knowing the production team’s track record, that’s highly unlikely.”

The Director approached with a sly smile. “Don’t worry about accommodations just yet. Let’s settle dinner first.”

Ding Yunxi glanced at the empty dining table. “Where’s the food? Hurry up and serve it! I’m starving.”

The Director shook his head.

The guests sensed something was amiss. “We’re not going to have to cook ourselves, are we?”

The Director’s affirmative gaze sparked a chorus of groans. “No way! We have to cook ourselves?”

“Director, there’s no live stream. No one will even see us cook. Can’t we just eat?”

The Director explained the production team’s plan. “Precisely because no one’s watching, you’ll be cooking yourselves. Once you’re proficient, the cooking segments will be live-streamed.”

“Come on, I have an image to maintain!”

“Why isn’t this episode being live-streamed?”

The Director’s reasoning was airtight. “Knowing your cooking skills, this is a practice run. We don’t want any embarrassing moments during the live broadcast.”

How thoughtful of you.

Before heading to the kitchen, the group exchanged wary glances. “Does anyone actually know how to cook?”

Among the eight of them, six were unmarried, hardly the demographic known for culinary expertise.

After a moment of silence, only Jiang Wanyu spoke up. “I do.”

The others immediately turned to her with fervent gazes, seeing her as their only savior.

Seeing that Jiang Wanyu was the only one who could cook, Ming Jiyue eagerly volunteered, “I haven’t cooked much, but everyone who’s tried my food has praised it highly. Should I give it a shot?”

“Sure, the more hands, the better,” the others chimed in. Only Jiang Wanyu immediately objected, “Teacher Ming, you’re injured. Moving around might be difficult for you. I’ll handle it.”

Ming Jiyue glanced at her still-swollen ankle, regretting the missed opportunity to show off her skills. “Alright then, I’ll assist you.”

The others echoed, “We’ll all help too!”

Since none of the others knew how to cook, Jiang Wanyu was left in charge. Fortunately, the production team, recognizing their culinary inexperience, had stocked the kitchen with plenty of semi-prepared foods that could be heated or boiled. Jiang Wanyu assigned them to handle these simple tasks while she prepared a few dishes herself.

While rummaging through the refrigerator for ingredients, she discovered zhe’ergen (fish mint).

Hmm, I can make a proper feast now.

After a flurry of activity, the meal was nearly ready. Just before they sat down to eat, Ming Jiyue pulled Jiang Wanyu aside.

Noticing her mysterious demeanor, Jiang Wanyu asked, “Is something the matter?”

“Can’t I call you just because I miss you?” Ming Jiyue pouted. “You’re either in front of the camera all day or with other people. I barely get a chance to talk to you. Can’t I just spend some time alone with you?”

Jiang Wanyu chuckled. “Sure.”

“I don’t want to call you ‘Wan Yu’ anymore—it sounds so formal. Can I call you ‘Xiao Yu’ instead?” Ming Jiyue asked with a smile. “And you too—forget ‘Teacher Ming.’ Call me ‘Yueyue.'”

Jiang Wanyu hesitated. “Isn’t that a bit too intimate?”

“What’s the big deal? It’s just a nickname,” Ming Jiyue insisted. “Besides, I heard you call me ‘Yueyue’ when you were panicked at Strange Stone Cliff.”

“I called you ‘Yueyue’?”

“Absolutely. I heard it clearly,” Ming Jiyue confirmed.

Jiang Wanyu’s heart tightened. She had blurted out such an intimate nickname—how could she have done that on their first meeting?

She wavered, realizing that attentive viewers must have noticed her slip-up.

Coupled with her previous risky behavior, she began to doubt whether avoiding suspicion on this reality show was even possible.

Sensing her hesitation, Ming Jiyue pressed her advantage. “Even if you keep calling me ‘Teacher Ming,’ the audience knows you want to call me ‘Yueyue.’ You might accidentally slip up anyway. Why not just switch now and be done with it?”

…Surprisingly, that made sense.

Jiang Wanyu relented. “Alright.”

Ming Jiyue’s eyes lit up. “Say it again, Xiao Yu!”

Jiang Wanyu glanced at her, a hint of resignation in her eyes. “Alright, Yueyue.”

Satisfied, Ming Jiyue draped an arm around Jiang Wanyu’s shoulder. “Come on, help me back to dinner.”

Jiang Wanyu helped Ming Jiyue sit down before joining the others in serving the dishes.

One by one, the dishes were brought to the table, their enticing aromas filling the air and tempting the hungry diners.

“Thank goodness Jiang Wanyu’s here! It smells so good, I’m starving!”

Ding Yunxi noticed the empty seat next to Ming Jiyue and immediately moved to sit there. Before her bottom even touched the chair, Guan Tang yanked her up. “You’re not allowed to sit there.”

Ding Yunxi protested, “Why not?”

Guan Tang didn’t know what to say. He bluffed earnestly, “Sister Ming and Wan Yu are friends, they sit together. You and I are… are business friends, we sit together.”

Ding Yunxi retorted, “Aren’t I friends with Sister Ming and Xiao Yu too? I’m friends with both of them! I want to sit between them.”

Guan Tang glared at her, “You’ve got some nerve! Wan Yu made braised shrimp in oil. I want you to sit next to me and peel them for me.”

Ding Yunxi retorted fiercely, “Dream on! Even if I peeled them, I’d eat the shrimp meat myself and give you the shells!”

Determined to wedge herself between the two, Guan Tang had to intervene to prevent her friend from becoming an unwanted “800-watt lightbulb.” “Sister Ming’s seat isn’t ideal,” she said. “Some dishes are out of reach, and with so many people, it’s awkward to ask others to pass things. It’ll interrupt your eating.”

Ding Yunxi’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh, I see! Why didn’t you say so earlier? Tangtang, you’re really looking out for me!”

As expected, the promise of uninterrupted feasting proved most persuasive. Ding Yunxi stopped arguing and obediently followed Guan Tang to the seat opposite Ming Jiyue.

With Ding Yunxi out of the way, Jiang Wanyu smoothly slid into the seat next to Ming Jiyue.

The entire group gathered around the table, picked up their chopsticks, and began to eat.

Ming Jiyue scanned the table, her expression thoughtful. “Xiao Yu, you’re amazing! You’ve made so many delicious dishes.”

The others chimed in, “All thanks to Wan Yu!”

“It was a team effort,” Jiang Wanyu replied modestly.

By sheer coincidence, the dishes placed before Ming Jiyue were braised shrimp in oil and sweet-and-sour fish—the only two seafood dishes she actually enjoyed.

And they were her absolute favorites.

The sweet-and-sour fish was easy enough to handle, but the braised shrimp… she really didn’t want to peel them herself.

Ming Jiyue frowned, earnestly contemplating whether it would be more appropriate to peel the shrimp with her chopsticks or simply eat them shell and all.

After a few bites of sweet and sour fish, Ming Jiyue decided to eat the shrimp whole, shell and all, for the calcium. She reached out with her chopsticks to grab one, but as she withdrew her hand, another shrimp silently appeared on her plate.

Ming Jiyue: “?”

Ming Jiyue paused, then her eyes curved into a smile as she glanced at Jiang Wanyu, who was acting completely nonchalant beside her.

Meeting her gaze, Jiang Wanyu feigned confusion. “What’s wrong?”

She’s denying it! Ming Jiyue had no proof, so she simply chuckled. “Nothing, just wondering where this shrimp on my plate came from.”

Jiang Wanyu didn’t even lift her eyes. “Knowing how much you like them, it probably jumped onto your plate itself.”

Ming Jiyue: “This shrimp sure has good taste. Not only did it peel itself and hop onto my plate, but it even thoughtfully soaked itself in sauce, worried I wouldn’t like it otherwise.”

Jiang Wanyu lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact, and replied with a straight face, “Indeed.”

The others stared wide-eyed, their faces conveying, What are you two talking about? I don’t understand a word!

After the “shrimp” automatically jumped onto Ming Jiyue’s plate several more times, Ding Yunxi couldn’t take it anymore. She spoke up weakly, “Xiao Yu, Sister Ming didn’t see it, but we all did.”

The others nodded silently: This isn’t how you feed someone dog food!

Guan Tang burst out laughing.

Jiang Wanyu’s face flushed slightly as she explained softly, “I like peeling shrimp, but I don’t like eating them. Since it would be a waste, I just gave them to her.”

Ding Yunxi murmured, “I like eating shrimp too. You can peel them for me too.”

She then asked Guan Tang, “Tangtang, why does it feel so sour inside when I see Xiao Yu peeling shrimp for Sister Ming?”

Guan Tang replied calmly, “Oh, that’s just a normal reaction for a single person suddenly witnessing others showing affection.”

Ding Yunxi’s eyes widened. “Showing affection?”

Guan Tang smiled. “Ah, right. If you don’t think they’re a couple, you can consider it ‘showing friendship’ instead.”

What a peculiar way to put it.

“So, what should I do?”

Guan Tang suggested with a mischievous grin, “Peel shrimp for me too, and show them right back!”

Ding Yunxi bristled. “Who wants to peel shrimp for you? If anyone’s doing the peeling, it’ll be you for me!”

Guan Tang simply smiled, saying nothing.

This is just the beginning of the sourness. There’s much more to come.

The production team kept their word. The broadcast started exactly at 8:00 PM—not a minute early, not a minute late. The group had just finished dinner and were clearing the table when the livestream opened.

Why didn’t they show us the cooking and eating? All we get is leftover soup and scraps? Waaah!

The person working overtime and eating instant noodles doesn’t want to talk. Let me see what delicious food you guys are having! It all looks like my favorites (drooling).

The first wave of viewers tuned in just in time to hear Ding Yunxi showering Jiang Wanyu with praise: “Xiao Yu, you’re amazing! Your cooking is so delicious. My stomach’s happiness now depends on you!”

The others chimed in: “Yeah, Wan Yu’s skills are truly exceptional.”

“Wan Yu is so thoughtful! She catered to everyone’s tastes, balancing meat and vegetables perfectly. She even remembered that some people don’t like cilantro and left it out—like me!”

Guan Tang quipped lazily, “Yeah, as thoughtful as those shrimp that automatically jumped into Sister Ming’s plate.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Shrimp that jumped into the plate? What’s the joke? What did I miss when the livestream was closed?!

Why would shrimp jump on their own? Were they raw? Director, I demand to see the hidden footage!

The chat was buzzing with excitement, but the guests couldn’t see it, so they continued to shower Jiang Wanyu with praise.

“That sweet and sour fish was amazing! I absolutely love fish! And the fish-fragrant shredded pork was delicious too!”

“She even made my favorite tomato and egg stir-fry! Wan Yu truly infused it with soul! She’s the best cook in our village!”

Ming Jiyue remained silent throughout the meal.

As the others showered Jiang Wanyu with compliments, Jiang Wanyu repeatedly started to speak, only to stop herself, ultimately choosing to listen with a smile.

Wow, did Jiang Wanyu make today’s meal?

Thank goodness she’s here. The others don’t seem like they know how to cook at all.

On camera, Ding Yunxi continued to shower Jiang Wanyu with her “affection”: “Xiao Yu, your cooking is seriously amazing! When did you learn to cook like this? I’m obsessed! I wonder who’s lucky enough to be your partner and get to eat your food every day.”

Ming Jiyue, sitting on the sofa, overheard this and silently curved her lips into a smile.

Yes, who is that lucky person?

Why, it’s me, of course.

Ding Yunxi: “Can I post photos of the food on Weibo? I haven’t had such delicious food in ages!”

Jiang Wanyu: “Sure, go ahead.”

“Great, thanks, Xiao Yu!”

Ding Yunxi: “I noticed none of the dishes have scallions or cilantro. Do you not like those? I think a little bit would make them even tastier.”

I actually agree with you, Jiang Wanyu thought to herself.

But she didn’t want to be too direct, so she simply replied, “Not really.”

Hahaha, Wan Yu is such a picky eater!

This statement ignited a fierce debate in the live chat between cilantro lovers and haters.

No cilantro! No cilantro! No cilantro! When I’m rich, I’ll eradicate every last sprig of cilantro from the world!

Cilantro forever! Cilantro forever! Cilantro forever! When I’m rich, I’ll scatter cilantro seeds across the entire globe!

While the guests busied themselves clearing the table, viewers scrutinized what they had eaten.

As expected of Wan Yu! You can tell she’s a gentle and considerate person. She even managed to cater to everyone’s tastes while cooking. Everyone praises her so highly!

Am I the only one who finds it unrealistic that she knew everyone’s preferences on their first meeting?

There’s only a plate bottom left in the corner… Is that houttuynia cordata? Cold houttuynia salad?!

Holy hell! That plate’s almost empty! Brothers and sisters, you actually like that stuff?

People actually enjoy houttuynia cordata? That □□, one taste and I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life.

I don’t know about others, but I know Ming Jiyue loves it, hahaha!

Exactly! Ming Jiyue even bragged on a show that she could devour an entire plate by herself, so proud of herself, lol!

It’s not just houttuynia cordata. The sweet and sour fish and braised shrimp on the table are also her favorites.

Shrimp? I adore shrimp! Braised, stir-fried, stewed, or boiled—they’re all delicious!

Although… but… besides what you mentioned, I remember Ming Jiyue saying in an interview that tomatoes and green peppers are her favorite vegetables, and she loves fish-fragrant shredded pork. Wow, Ming Jiyue is so lucky! Every dish on the variety show meal is something she loves!

Although… but… besides the few ready-made dishes, are these the only dishes on the table, like you said?

This comment was followed by an eerie silence in the live chat.

These are just the leftovers on the plates. Maybe there were many other dishes?

Eight people can’t eat that much, right?

Guys, Ding Yunxi just posted a Weibo update showing today’s full spread. It’s exactly what we saw—not only are all the dishes Ming Jiyue’s favorites, but everything she hates, like eggplant, cauliflower, carrots, etc., is completely absent. Hmm, celery, which Ming Jiyue likes, is missing too. Maybe they didn’t have any left in the fridge?

Didn’t Xiao Ding just mention that the dishes were made without scallions or cilantro? Those are Sister Ming’s biggest pet peeves!

Damn, this isn’t just luck—it’s like they hired a chef who knows Ming Jiyue’s tastes inside and out!

Who was it that said they made this meal earlier?

The three words flashed through everyone’s minds.

Holy crap, this is true love!

The online comments had already grasped the truth, but at the scene, Ding Yunxi was still discussing with Jiang Wanyu whether sweet and sour fish with cilantro and scallions would taste better. Guan Tang stared thoughtfully at the Houttuynia cordata dish, which only Ming Jiyue had touched.

The other guests, unlike Ming Jiyue’s fans in the comments, were still savoring the delicious dinner. They remained completely unaware that they were merely incidental parts of someone’s “cooking for his wife” role-play.

Wan Yu is so thoughtful, catering to everyone’s tastes.

She knew some people don’t like cilantro, so she didn’t add it—like me!

And she even made my favorite tomato and egg stir-fry!

LOLOLOLOL these people are hilarious! Could it be that she only has one person in mind, and you’re all just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time?

Is this the legendary “I cooked a whole feast for all the guests just to make a meal for you”?

Pfft! I can’t wait to see their faces when they find out the truth.

This goes beyond mere acquaintance. Holy crap, this is some serious chemistry!

I declare that Jiang Wanyu and Ming Jiyue must get married immediately, even if they don’t want to!

Everyone, stop shipping them so recklessly! Jiang Wanyu just happened to make a table full of dishes that Ming Jiyue loves, and coincidentally, none of the things Ming Jiyue dislikes were included. By pure chance, even niche preferences like Houttuynia cordata were catered to! Is it really so far-fetched to think Jiang Wanyu might have spent a year researching Ming Jiyue’s likes and dislikes, simply to show respect to her senior?

Exactly! Stop shipping real people so carelessly. I remember Ming Jiyue has a girlfriend… isn’t her name Jiang Wanyu? If you keep shipping them like this, Jiang Wanyu’s gonna get jealous! (crying loudly)