After the Flash Marriage, My Ex Who is a Movie Queen Keeps Flirting with Me - Chapter 8

Jiang Wanyu gripped her phone tightly, her ears slowly flushing crimson.

For a fleeting moment, she felt an overwhelming urge to unfriend Ming Jiyue—a feeling she hadn’t experienced once in the seven years since their breakup.

Fortunately, Ming Jiyue had left her a way out.

Yueyue: Besides, my memory’s terrible. Even if you sent something and deleted it, I’d forget it anyway.

Jiang: Oh.

Jiang: Then tell me more about your “wives” in the entertainment industry.

Yueyue: I’ve confessed everything! Please have mercy!

Jiang: No mercy.

Yueyue: I swear! I swear, okay?

Yueyue: Ming Jiyue hereby swears that no matter what rumors circulate, they’re all false. There’s only one person in my heart, and her name is Jiang Wanyu!

Jiang Wanyu’s lips curved into a smile.

Jiang: I’ll barely believe you.

Yueyue: I knew Xiao Yu was the best! (kissing emoji)

The conversation should have ended there, but some people, having gotten their way, let their tails wag all the way to the sky.

Yueyue: Xiao Yu, after all that, you weren’t jealous, were you?

Jiang Wanyu immediately denied it without hesitation.

 Jiang : I’m not.

 Jiang : I’d never be so childish.

 Yueyue : Oh~~~ I thought so too. Designer Jiang is such a mature and composed person. How could he possibly be jealous?

 Jiang : Looks like you want to keep chatting about your little affairs in the entertainment industry.

 Yueyue : …I was wrong. I won’t say another word. It’s all my fault for being so talkative.

 Jiang : Hmm, go get back to work.

 Yueyue : Okay.

 Yueyue : Just one last thing before I go.

 Jiang : ?

 Yueyue : You’re the only one in my heart! Go get back to work. I’ll be waiting for you to come home. (Kiss emoji)

Jiang Wanyu smiled.

 Jiang : Okay.

“Something’s up, Wanyu? Who are you chatting with?” The office door swung open, and a cheerful female voice rang out.

“No one,” Jiang Wanyu instinctively put her phone away, looked up, and smiled at Duan Jin. “You’re done with work?”

Duan Jin was Jiang Wanyu’s colleague. Both had recently joined the company and were around the same age. Duan Jin’s easygoing and generous nature had quickly led them to become close friends.

“Finally finished! I’m exhausted,” Duan Jin said, wiping sweat from her forehead with two tissues. “I hate field work. I just want to stay in the office forever.”

“Go rest, you’ve worked hard,” Jiang Wanyu said, getting up to pour her a glass of water.

“No rush to rest. You haven’t told me yet—who were you chatting with?” Duan Jin took the glass and gulped down several mouthfuls, but she didn’t let the topic drop. Teasing playfully, she asked, “You’ve been glued to your phone lately. Are you in love?”

Ming Jiyue’s special status meant they couldn’t go public yet, so Jiang Wanyu naturally had to cover for her. “No, just chatting with a friend.”

“I don’t believe you,” Duan Jin said, her eyes sparkling with gossip. “Just because I haven’t been in love doesn’t mean I haven’t seen others in love. Since when does chatting with a regular friend make our usually calm and composed Teacher Jiang smile like a blooming flower?”

Jiang Wanyu didn’t know what to say, managing only a weak, “It’s really just a friend.”

“Why are you keeping secrets from me? This isn’t the first time I’ve caught you staring at your phone with that silly grin,” Duan Jin teased. “Is being in love something shameful? Why keep it hidden?”

Jiang Wanyu had intended to brush it off, but Duan Jin persisted, clearly sensing something was amiss and refusing to let it go.

Jiang Wanyu hesitated. As her current partner, she and Duan Jin would inevitably spend a lot of time together, making it difficult to keep her secret hidden. Besides, Duan Jin was already suspicious.

As a non-celebrity, even if she revealed the truth, no one would immediately connect it to Ming Jiyue.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Wanyu decided to be honest. “She’s my wife.”

Duan Jin’s eyes widened. “Y-you’re… married?”

Jiang Wanyu nodded. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet.”

Duan Jin shook her head in amazement. “Wow, congratulations! You’re so beautiful and highly educated—no wonder you found someone.”

“That’s wonderful.” Duan Jin’s gaze turned envious. “Someone as outstanding as you must have an equally remarkable partner.”

“What does she do?”

“She’s…” The word “actress” nearly slipped out. Jiang Wanyu paused, scrambling for a plausible explanation.

Duan Jin: “Can’t say? Is she working on nuclear weapons or something? Military secrets?”

“No, no, that’s not it,” Jiang Wanyu said. “She works in the entertainment industry.”

“The entertainment industry? That’s impressive! Is she a director or a screenwriter?” Duan Jin asked, her excitement growing.

Duan Jin’s first thought was director or screenwriter, or perhaps an agent or assistant. It never occurred to her that her colleague might be dating a top-tier celebrity.

Jiang Wanyu hesitated. “Um… a director.”

“Wow, a beautiful director!” Duan Jin’s curiosity intensified. “What projects has she directed? She must be quite famous, right? I wonder if I’ve heard of her?”

“You probably have.”

“I haven’t even mentioned which movies or TV shows I’ve watched, yet you’re already saying I’ve heard of her? She must be really famous!”

“I’m so curious and excited! I never imagined a big shot like that would be right here beside me!”

“Would it be okay to ask who she is?”

This was a question Jiang Wanyu absolutely couldn’t answer. “That might be a bit sensitive, you know, given the nature of her work.”

Duan Jin’s mind raced with guesses, trying to figure out which legendary director it could be.

Though she was destined to guess wrong.

“Is she exceptionally beautiful?” Duan Jin’s eyes sparkled.

Jiang Wanyu answered without hesitation, “Absolutely, exceptionally beautiful.”

“Aiyo!” Duan Jin laughed. “Your wife must be stunning if even a beauty like you is praising her like that. Truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!”

“Let me guess… you’re not in a long-distance relationship, are you? No, wait—married but living apart?”

Jiang Wanyu looked puzzled, unable to understand why Duan Jin would think that. “It only takes me twenty minutes to bike home.”

“That close?” Duan Jin exclaimed, surprised. She chuckled. “Judging by how often you two chat, I assumed you were miles apart.”

“So, even though you can see each other at home, you still can’t resist chatting all the time?”

“You’re not using Q/Q to maintain your ‘Spark,’ are you? How many days has it been? Has your ‘Friendship Mega-Ship’ set sail yet?”

Jiang Wanyu cleared her throat. “I just moved into a new place, so things have been hectic. That’s why we’ve been chatting more.”

Since starting university, she rarely used Q/Q, and she was completely unfamiliar with its flashy features. Hearing Duan Jin’s words, she looked bewildered. “Spark? Mega-Ship? What are those?”

“Seriously? You don’t know about Q/Q’s features?”

Jiang Wanyu shook her head.

“Alright, alright.” Duan Jin gave her a quick explanation, then joked, “You’re not from the 1980s, are you?”

Jiang Wanyu sighed helplessly. “I don’t really pay attention to these things.”

Perhaps because she’d never been in a relationship herself, Duan Jin was fascinated by other people’s romances. She immediately started gossiping about how Jiang Wanyu and her partner had met.

“Tell me about it! I’ve been single for over twenty years and I really want to experience love. Share some of your wisdom with me.”

Duan Jin’s sincerity moved Jiang Wanyu, who hesitated for a moment before offering a brief explanation.

“Let me think… where should I start? We had a whirlwind marriage.”

The mere mention of a “whirlwind marriage” stunned Duan Jin. “You had a whirlwind marriage? You seem so calm and composed! I never imagined you’d rush into marriage like that. I thought you’d need at least three years of dating before even considering it.”

“Now I’m even more curious about your partner! Is she some kind of celestial being descended to Earth? When can I finally meet her?”

This… I’d rather not.

“Maybe when the time is right.”

“Oh, right!” Duan Jin’s eyes lit up as she grabbed Jiang Wanyu’s hand. “Since your partner works in the entertainment industry, could you possibly get me Ming Jiyue’s autograph?”

Jiang Wanyu’s mind raced. “You like Ming Jiyue?”

“Of course! I’m her biggest fan!” Duan Jin’s enthusiasm surged, as if ready to drag Jiang Wanyu into a three-day, three-night marathon conversation. “I’ve been obsessed with her for four years!”

“Oh, right! Do you even know Ming Jiyue?” Remembering Jiang Wanyu’s notoriously slow internet speed, Duan Jin braced herself for a full-blown evangelization session.

Though her expression was complex, Jiang Wanyu nodded. “I know.”

“Did you just find out yesterday, or did you know before?” Duan Jin asked, recalling the relationship scandal from the previous day. “I was too busy yesterday to check the news. I only heard about it when I got home.”

“I knew before.”

Duan Jin beamed triumphantly. “I knew it! Even people from the 1980s know about Teacher Ming!”

Jiang Wanyu, who was actually from the 1980s, remained silent.

“You don’t mind that she’s in a relationship?”

“As long as Teacher Ming is happy, I don’t care,” Duan Jin said calmly. “I’m a fan of her looks and talent, not trying to marry her.”

Jiang Wanyu, Ming Jiyue’s actual wife, thought, You’re a good fan.

“Of course,” Duan Jin flipped her hair proudly. “You wouldn’t understand if you don’t follow the entertainment industry. Teacher Ming is amazing! Not only is she beautiful, but her acting is incredible. Unlike many of these current ‘it’ stars who rely solely on their looks—when they act, they’re either overacting or completely wooden.”

Jiang Wanyu smiled and nodded. “She truly is remarkable.”

“About the autograph…” Duan Jin’s face lit up with anticipation.

Jiang Wanyu hesitated for a moment. It wasn’t a difficult request. “I’ll ask her when I get home.”

“Great, great, great, Sister Wanyu! I’m counting on you!” Duan Jin’s excitement was palpable.

After returning home in the evening and finishing dinner, Jiang Wanyu and Ming Jiyue retreated to their respective rooms. Jiang Wanyu put the finishing touches on her design drafts and went to bed promptly at 10:30 PM.

They each had their own bedroom and slept separately. The housekeeper shook her head disapprovingly upon learning this. “What kind of newlyweds sleep in separate rooms?” she muttered. “Oh, these young people these days…”

Jiang Wanyu’s first night in the house had left a deep and indelible impression. After settling in, she had declared firmly: “One room each, separate beds. No sneaking into each other’s rooms.”

“Especially after drinking,” she added sternly.

Ming Jiyue raised an eyebrow. “What if you secretly sneak into my room to sleep?”

“I won’t.”

“I said what if.”

“Then just throw me out.”

“You’re so harsh on yourself?” Ming Jiyue teased. “What if I sleep in your room?”

Jiang Wanyu paused, then said quietly, “Don’t do that.”

Ming Jiyue chuckled. “Alright, I’ll try my best.”

Jiang Wanyu had only been living there for a few days, and perhaps due to the unfamiliar environment, she struggled to sleep well, waking up several times each night.

Ming Jiyue’s bedroom was positioned exactly where Jiang Wanyu’s room had been in her own home. Last night, half-asleep, she had nearly pushed open the door to Ming Jiyue’s room.

Fortunately, she realized her mistake just in time, avoiding an embarrassing situation.

She mentally reminded herself to be more careful.

Ming Jiyue didn’t adhere to a strict early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine like Jiang Wanyu. Especially now that it was vacation time and she didn’t have to work, she indulged her whims. It was nearly midnight, and the bedroom light was still on.

Lost in her novel, she suddenly heard the door click open from outside.

A flash of black hair and a white dress startled Ming Jiyue so badly she nearly cried out.

Thinking a burglar had broken in, she whipped her head around only to find Jiang Wanyu.

Her tense nerves relaxed, and Ming Jiyue was about to speak when she saw Jiang Wanyu silently and deliberately remove her shoes and climb into bed. The mattress dipped beside her as an arm naturally draped around her waist, and then all was still.

Ming Jiyue, inexplicably pulled into an embrace, blinked in confusion. What’s going on?

She whispered, “Xiao Yu?”

Only Jiang Wanyu’s even, deep breathing answered her.

Did she… wander into the wrong room?

Recalling Jiang Wanyu’s exhausted state when she returned from work, Ming Jiyue thought she understood.

Her beloved lay beside her, the soft lamplight casting a gentle glow on her cheek, making her face appear exceptionally tender, like a snow-white, docile cat.

Ming Jiyue’s heart ached with tenderness. She leaned down and gently poked Jiang Wanyu’s cheek, leaving a soft dimple that melted her heart.

So cute.

Much cuter than when she’s awake.

Ming Jiyue stared at Jiang Wanyu’s sleeping face for a while, then put her phone away and prepared to sleep.

Glancing at the bedside lamp, Ming Jiyue turned to look at the soundly sleeping Jiang Wanyu. Worried about disturbing her rest, she hesitated for a moment before pressing the switch.

With a soft click, the room plunged into darkness.

As if sensing the change, Jiang Wanyu stirred, moved closer to Ming Jiyue, and unconsciously nuzzled her head against Ming Jiyue’s neck.

Ming Jiyue’s lips curved into a smile, but then she felt the hand around her waist withdraw.

Without a word, she pulled Jiang Wanyu back, wrapping her slender arms around her waist again. She leaned closer, tucking herself completely into Jiang Wanyu’s embrace.

Soon, the room fell into complete silence, broken only by the comforting rhythm of their intertwined breaths.

The next morning, Jiang Wanyu woke up naturally, without the jarring alarm.

Her head felt a little groggy. Sensing someone lying beside her, the familiar scent and warmth prompted her to instinctively pull the person closer.

Thinking it was still early, she kept one arm around the figure while groping for her phone with the other hand to check the time. After fumbling around on the bedside table for a while, she couldn’t find it.

Yesterday, Jiang Wanyu had stayed up late rushing to meet a design deadline, leaving her utterly exhausted. She struggled to open her eyes, her vision still blurry.

In winter, dawn arrived late. The curtains blocked out the faint light outside, making it difficult to see clearly in the room.

Jiang Wanyu leaned forward slightly, finally making out the face of the person in her arms.

Ming Jiyue.

Jiang Wanyu’s gaze was dazed. The woman in her arms remained asleep, her forehead resting against Jiang Wanyu’s shoulder, her head half-pillowed on her arm. Her face was serene, still deep in slumber.

This must be a dream, Jiang Wanyu thought. How else could Ming Jiyue be in my arms?

With that thought, Jiang Wanyu tightened her embrace, as if she could hear the other woman’s heart pounding.

The sensation felt both familiar and utterly foreign.

If it’s just a dream, I might as well sleep a little longer. Just as she was about to close her eyes, realization struck her, and she snapped them open again.

Then, for the second time, Jiang Wanyu nearly fell off the bed.

The commotion startled Ming Jiyue awake. She slowly opened her eyes and asked, “What time is it?”

Jiang Wanyu sat on the floor, her face filled with panic. “You… how did you get into my room?”

“Hmm?” Ming Jiyue sat up, stretched languidly, and rolled her eyes with deliberate slowness. “Look around. Whose room is this?”

Jiang Wanyu froze, her gaze sweeping the room. Only then did she realize it wasn’t her own.

Her eyes widened with confusion, tinged with suspicion. “How did I suddenly end up in your room?”

No wonder I couldn’t find my phone earlier.

“How did you get here? Are you suggesting I kidnapped you?” Ming Jiyue lowered her gaze, her expression hurt. “Teacher Jiang, how cruel of you.”

“How can you turn on me the moment you wake up? Last night, you suddenly barged in, clinging to me and refusing to let go. You even called my name in your sleep. You weren’t acting like this then.”

Jiang Wanyu’s lips twitched. “I… clung to you and called your name?”

Ming Jiyue sighed dramatically, her face etched with exasperation. “Yes! I kept saying ‘no, no,’ but you insisted on climbing on top of me. I couldn’t push you off. In the end, I had no choice but to give in.”

Please stop saying things that sound so… suggestive!

“What was it you said yesterday?” Ming Jiyue propped herself up on one hand, her smile teasing. “If you entered my room, what would I do?”

What would I do?

Throw you out.

Jiang Wanyu had never imagined she would do something like this, which is why she had made the promise in the first place. Yet here she was, eating her own words.

“You crawled into my bed, and I didn’t throw you out. Aren’t I nice?”

“Mm, thank you,” Jiang Wanyu mumbled, unsure what else to say. “It won’t happen again.”

Fragments of the previous night finally surfaced in her memory. Though exhausted, she hadn’t slept soundly, waking once in the middle of the night before returning to her room…

Did I accidentally wander into the wrong room?

Jiang Wanyu fell silent.

She had nearly made the same mistake before. It was only a matter of time before trouble struck.

“It wasn’t intentional,” she explained. “I got up to use the restroom last night and accidentally walked into the wrong room.”

Ming Jiyue winked. “If you wanted to sleep with me, you could have just said so. Why make up excuses? I’m used to sleeping alone, but for Teacher Jiang, I could squeeze in.”

Jiang Wanyu pressed a hand to her forehead. “No need.”

As they were talking, the housekeeper arrived outside the room.

The aunt usually didn’t live at the house, only appearing during meal preparation times. When she arrived that morning, she heard Jiang Wanyu’s alarm clock ringing incessantly from her room, but no one seemed to be answering it.

Strange, the aunt thought. Still asleep?

She knocked on the door, but there was no response. Pushing the door open, she found the room empty.

Where is she?

After a moment’s thought, an answer popped into her head. She glanced toward the other mistress’s room and, sure enough, heard voices coming from inside.

The aunt couldn’t help but chuckle.

The two women emerged from the bedroom together. Jiang Wanyu, seeing the aunt, felt a little embarrassed.

The aunt couldn’t resist teasing, “If you wanted to sleep in the same room, why bother having separate bedrooms? I’m getting old; I just don’t understand these young people’s romantic games anymore.”

Hearing this, Ming Jiyue immediately chimed in, “Exactly, Xiao Yu! If you wanted to sleep with me, you could have just said so. Why go through all the trouble of sneaking into my bed in the middle of the night? Did the aunt catch you?”

Jiang Wanyu: ……