After the Flash Marriage, My Ex Who is a Movie Queen Keeps Flirting with Me - Chapter 4

Jiang Wanyu was awakened by her alarm.

After turning it off, her years of disciplined habits kicked in. She never lingered in bed, even with a throbbing headache from the previous night’s hangover. She slowly sat up.

Her memories of the previous night were hazy. Instinctively, she thought she was in her own room at home and needed to get up to wash and dress.

As she moved, she accidentally brushed against something warm and soft, nearly letting out a startled cry.

There’s someone else in my bed?

Jiang Wanyu whipped her head around, and flashes of last night’s memories flooded her mind:

Tangled sheets, intertwined bodies, suppressed moans…

The last vestiges of sleep vanished, leaving Jiang Wanyu fully awake.

This is a disaster.

The person beside her was still fast asleep, their long, raven-black hair spread across the pillow. The corners of their eyes were red and tear-streaked, as if they had been thoroughly taken advantage of.

Her gaze drifted downward, drawn by the unmistakable marks of passion that marred the snow-white, slender curve of their neck, disappearing beneath the thin blanket.

Jiang Wanyu didn’t dare imagine what lay beneath the covers.

The person beside her slept deeply, perhaps from exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wanyu’s hands were also exhausted.

In this situation, the awkwardness of their next encounter was almost palpable.

Imagining the scene that might unfold when Ming Jiyue woke up, Jiang Wanyu desperately wished she could faint on the spot or that the world would end in the next moment.

But reality offered her no time to prepare. Perhaps disturbed by the commotion, the peacefully sleeping woman stirred. Her long, delicate eyelashes fluttered slightly before her eyes slowly opened.

Jiang Wanyu nearly rolled off the bed.

She could already feel the suffocating awkwardness filling the room.

However, as it turned out, the only one feeling awkward was Jiang Wanyu herself.

Best Actress Ming was no ordinary woman. Having weathered seven years of storms in the entertainment industry, she had seen it all.

After a few seconds to regain her bearings and assess the situation, Ming Jiyue spoke, her voice a little hoarse, “Awake?”

Jiang Wanyu’s eyes widened, wondering if Ming Jiyue had lost her memory.

Reading the question in her eyes, Ming Jiyue yawned, her expression puzzled. “It’s not like we haven’t slept together before. Why are you so surprised?”

Jiang Wanyu: ……

Ming Jiyue sat up, the blanket sliding down to her hips, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin. Jiang Wanyu immediately averted her gaze, but still caught sight of the faint purple bruises dotting the pale expanse.

She really is…

Jiang Wanyu’s face flushed crimson. She murmured, “I’m sorry, I…”

“…Not this again,” Ming Jiyue sighed.

Jiang Wanyu looked bewildered. “What?”

Ming Jiyue lazily lifted her eyelids, glancing at her with a languid look. “Can you please stop doing everything you should and shouldn’t have done last night, then blushing crimson the next day and saying ‘I’m sorry’ with such an innocent expression? It makes it sound like I’m the one who took advantage of you.”

Jiang Wanyu stammered, “I… I’m sorry.”

Ming Jiyue, who had only been teasing her, stretched out a slender arm. “Help me out of bed.”

Eager to make amends, Jiang Wanyu immediately stepped forward. But the moment she took Ming Jiyue’s hand, she heard a sharp hiss.

Jiang Wanyu’s heart tightened. “Did I hurt you?”

Ming Jiyue waved her off, adjusted her position, and revealed her long, slender legs.

Only then did Jiang Wanyu notice that Ming Jiyue’s once fair and smooth knees were now rubbed raw and slightly swollen. She hadn’t noticed earlier because they had been covered by the blanket.

Unspeakable scenes from the previous night flashed through Jiang Wanyu’s mind, her face flushing crimson with guilt. “I… I’ll apply some ointment for you later.”

Ming Jiyue looked up at her with a pitiful gaze that instantly softened hearts. “A night as husband and wife earns a hundred days of grace. You have to take responsibility for me.”

Jiang Wanyu would have agreed to anything at that moment, nodding her head vigorously like a rattle drum. “Responsibility! I’ll take responsibility!”

Ming Jiyue nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Since you’re taking responsibility, go make breakfast first.”

She added with a final jab, “We burned through so much energy last night, I’m starving to death.”

The deeply guilty Jiang Wanyu hurried to the kitchen to make amends.

Standing at the counter, she rinsed the rice for porridge while fragments of the previous night’s memories flashed uncontrollably through her mind. She then poured out the rice and poured the rinsing water into the pot.

“……”

Just last night, she had been thinking that they had only seen each other a few times since returning home. Living together was one thing, but sleeping together seemed too much.

Academic Jiang deeply reflected: Alcohol leads to mistakes, alcohol leads to mistakes.

Ming Jiyue had just finished filming a drama and hadn’t started her next project yet. Living close to home, she was often called back by Mother Ming for meals during this period after the wedding.

One day, when Jiang Wanyu returned home with Jiyue, Mother Ming asked to speak with her alone in her room, saying she had something to ask her.

This was only Jiang Wanyu’s third meeting with Mother Ming, who had always struck her as incredibly warm and enthusiastic.

However, during their previous two encounters, Ming Jiyue had been present, shielding Jiang Wanyu from any awkwardness. Now, being alone with Mother Ming and facing her relentless warmth, Jiang Wanyu worried she might not be able to withstand the onslaught.

Fortunately, Mother Ming was quick-witted and could carry a conversation effortlessly on her own.

“Mom, is there something you wanted to talk about?” Jiang Wanyu asked, sitting stiffly across from her.

“Nothing specific, just chatting. We’ve known each other for so long, and it’s rare to have this time alone with you.”

Jiang Wanyu relaxed slightly and began chatting with Mother Ming. As promised, the conversation remained casual, covering work, family, and everyday matters. Mother Ming’s gentle demeanor put her at ease, preventing any awkwardness.

As lunchtime approached, the housekeeper came to call them. Before they left, Mother Ming asked, “Wanyu, do you ever watch variety shows?”

“Variety shows?” Jiang Wanyu maintained her smile. “I mostly watch movies and documentaries.”

“Oh, I see,” Mother Ming said, sounding slightly disappointed. She then asked, “Are you interested in variety shows at all?”

Meeting Jiang Wanyu’s puzzled gaze, she quickly explained, “I’ve been watching a few variety shows recently and found them quite interesting, so I thought I’d ask you.”

“If you had the chance, would you be interested in trying out for one?”

Jiang Wanyu had barely watched any variety shows. Her understanding of them was limited to the idea of celebrities playing games.

In her mind, participating in such a show seemed like something far removed from her reality.

Suspecting nothing, Jiang Wanyu’s first thought was that Ming Jiyue might be considering appearing on a variety show. Out of politeness to her elder, she smiled and replied, “It’s something new to me. If the opportunity arises, I’d be willing to give it a try.”

Mother Ming’s eyes narrowed into slits as she smiled. “Good girl, I understand. Come, let’s go eat.”

Jiang Wanyu didn’t give the conversation much thought, dismissing it as casual small talk from an elder. She promptly forgot about it.

Afterward, Jiang Wanyu successfully found a job at Beijing’s most renowned and reputable law firm, offering excellent salary and benefits.

On her first day at work, she had just arrived at the office when she received a group message:

Tomorrow, let’s all come home for dinner.

Jiang Wanyu was puzzled. When had she joined this group?

She opened the chat and recognized the familiar profile picture.

Mother Ming had created a group chat, including both families.

Jiang Wanyu typed a reply, and almost simultaneously, another message popped up:

Ming Jiyue: Okay.

Jiang Wanyu: Okay.

What a coincidence, she thought, not giving it much thought. Then she saw Mother Ming send a meme:

Mother Ming: Couples should always be together.jpg

Ming Jiyue: 8G surfing thumbs up

Jiang Wanyu chuckled. What kind of meme is that?

Mother Ming: We’ve created this family group chat. From now on, we can discuss everything here.

Mother Ming: We still need a group name. Any good ideas? Wanyu, our family’s top student, any suggestions?

Jiang Wanyu was suddenly called upon and caught off guard.

Coming up with a group name… she was truly terrible at that.

After pondering for a long time, she typed back:  How about “A Loving and Harmonious Family”?

Mother Ming:  Haha, that sounds pretty good.

Mother Ming silently dismissed her own idea of “Royal Council Chamber” and typed in “A Loving and Harmonious Family.”

She chuckled inwardly, thinking, This child… how is she more old-fashioned than me at such a young age?

Mother Ming:  You two are married now, why haven’t you changed your couple profile pictures?

Couple profile pictures? What does that mean?

Jiang Wanyu didn’t ask. She quietly opened her browser and searched.

Couple profile pictures.

There’s even an abbreviation for that.

Jiang Wanyu began to ponder, realizing her internet literacy was falling behind even the older generation.

Ming Jiyue: We have so many mutual friends. What if they find out?

Mother Ming:  Just pick ones that aren’t so obvious. All young couples use couple profile pictures these days. I’ve seen them countless times. I figured since you’re dating, you’d definitely want to get some too.

Ming Jiyue, ever the dutiful daughter, immediately set about fulfilling her mother’s request.

Ming Jiyue was remarkably efficient, sending several images to the group chat within minutes. From these, she selected a pair and tagged Jiang Wanyu, declaring, “This pair is perfect!”

Jiang Wanyu opened the full-sized images, her lips twitching.

One image featured an adorable cartoon girl.

The other… showed a blurry, dark figure holding a bowl and eating what appeared to be dumplings.

Jiang Wanyu rarely commented on people’s appearances, but this time she couldn’t help but think, Seriously, this is kind of ugly.

Is this profile picture… for real?

The two images clashed violently in style, creating an overwhelming sense of dissonance.

Jiang Wanyu, inwardly recoiling, phrased her objection diplomatically: Are these supposed to be couple profile pictures? They don’t really match.

Ming Jiyue : What do you mean? One’s feeding the other! Look how happy they look, it’s such a heartwarming scene.

Jiang Wanyu: ……

Ming Jiyue : If you don’t object, we’re going with this pair.

Before Jiang Wanyu could respond, Ming Jiyue immediately claimed: I’ll take the little girl one. Xiao Yu always used to feed me, so this time I’ll feed her.

Ming Jiyue: @Jiang Wanyu, aren’t I so thoughtful?

Jiang Wanyu struggled internally, trying to figure out how to refuse. Just then, both Mother Ming and Mother Jiang chimed in on the group chat.

Mother Ming: Excellent, very good. Let’s go with this one.

Mother Jiang: Young people have so many new trends these days. Wanyu should learn a thing or two.

Jiang Wanyu quietly chimed in:  Um… do we really have to change them?

A moment of silence hung in the group chat. Jiang Wanyu felt a pang of anxiety until Ming Jiyue sent a voice message.

Ming Jiyue: Sure, if you don’t want to change them, we don’t have to. Honestly, I wasn’t really keen on changing our couple avatars either. You know I’m an actress, and getting caught would be a hassle. Changing avatars is just a formality, after all. While I personally value rituals, it’s not like we absolutely have to do it. It’s just that our mothers want us to. But even though they’re our elders and want us to be loving and affectionate, their opinions aren’t that important. I really don’t want to change our couple avatars…

Jiang Wanyu didn’t have the courage to finish listening to the voice message. She mentally prostrated herself on the spot.

Jiang Wanyu: Fine, I’ll change it. I’ll give you the little girl avatar.

Ming Jiyue: I knew Xiao Yu was the best! Hello, I’m online just to wait for you (heart).jpg

Jiang Wanyu sighed and changed her profile picture to their matching couple avatar.

Mother Ming: A couple should always be perfectly coordinated.jpg

Mother Jiang: A couple should always be perfectly coordinated.jpg

Jiang Wanyu: …You guys are enough.

A colleague brought her some materials and noticed her constantly checking her phone. “Wanyu, who are you chatting with?”

Jiang Wanyu snapped out of her daze. “No one, just family.”

The colleague teased, “You’ve been grinning like an idiot. I thought you were talking to your girlfriend.”

Jiang Wanyu instinctively suppressed her smile and cleared her throat. “No, I’m not.”

Was I really smiling that much?

No, right? It’s just that Ming Jiyue and I changed our profile pictures to matching couple avatars.

Jiang Wanyu cherished tranquility and disliked being disturbed by outsiders. Ming Jiyue, deeply in love with Jiang Wanyu, naturally wanted to enjoy their shared living space as a private sanctuary.

After discussing it, they decided against hosting a grand gathering. Instead, they hired just one housekeeper. On her first day, the housekeeper naturally inquired about the daily routines of the two homeowners.

The housekeeper’s friend, who had recommended her for the job, had shared some details about the couple’s relationship. She mentioned it was a whirlwind romance—they had gotten married just days after meeting, without even holding a wedding ceremony.

Being older and more traditional, the housekeeper shook her head at this hasty marriage.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment, she thought. You can’t know someone’s true nature in just a few days. You should date for at least a year or two, meet their family and friends, and thoroughly understand their background before tying the knot. How can you marry someone you barely know?

But she was merely a hired housekeeper and wouldn’t voice her opinions. With a silent sigh, she admitted to herself that she couldn’t understand the thinking of these young people nowadays.

The housekeeper was meticulous, carefully noting everything in her notebook. When Ming Jiyue saw her struggling to write with her reading glasses, she offered to help. The housekeeper declined, saying, “I need to write it down myself to remember it properly.”

Finally, the housekeeper wrote her last line: “Any dietary restrictions?”

Ming Jiyue paused noticeably at the question, cleared her throat, and smiled. “Auntie, I don’t eat cilantro.”

The housekeeper diligently noted down the information, intending to ask Jiang Wanyu later. But Jiang Wanyu spoke up in a calm voice: “It’s not just cilantro. I don’t eat scallions, ginger, or garlic either. I avoid greasy foods and only eat fish and shrimp from seafood. I’ll eat a little crab if it’s shelled, but not if I have to do it myself. As for vegetables, I don’t eat eggplant or cauliflower, and I absolutely hate carrots—even the smell makes me sick. But if they’re finely minced and mixed into dumpling filling, I can’t taste them. Oh, and Auntie, she loves fish mint Houttuynia cordata. You could make some; it’s good for clearing heat and detoxifying. And…”

Before she could finish, Ming Jiyue angrily interrupted, “Jiang Wanyu!”

Jiang Wanyu fell silent, her expression remaining calm, as if she hadn’t said a word.

Ming Jiyue ground her teeth and immediately retaliated: “Auntie, she loves celery—absolutely loves it! She gets restless if she doesn’t have it for a day. Let’s have a full celery feast for dinner tonight. She shouldn’t be called Jiang Wanyu; she should be Jiang Wanqin Celery Jiang.”

Jiang Wanyu: …?!

The housekeeper: “Huh?”

Ming Jiyue: “Exactly! Don’t worry, Auntie, just go ahead and cook it. I’ll take responsibility if anything goes wrong.”

“I’ll even hire someone to play ‘Celery’ on repeat here so she can really enjoy it.”

With a beaming smile, she turned to Jiang Wanyu: “Miss Jiang Wanqin, do you like it?”

Jiang Wanyu: …

She wanted to call the police. Someone here was trying to murder their spouse.