Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 10

Cheng Yu had returned not by choice, but due to unfortunate timing—by the time her carriage reached the outskirts of the city, the gates were already halfway closed.

The gate guards showed no mercy and shut the city doors without hesitation.

Qiu Luo guessed as much and took the initiative to say, “The city gates must’ve closed. Luckily, Erlang was just about to head out to visit a friend. Let your maid use his room tonight, and the coachman can sleep in the carriage.”

Qiu Erlang turned and trudged away, resigned. Yes, he was definitely going to visit a friend—anything to avoid sleeping in the streets. Who told him to run his mouth recklessly?

Cheng Yu nodded coolly and followed Qiu Luo back inside. Only after stepping in did it dawn on her—Where exactly am I sleeping, then?

When she saw Qiu Luo take out another pillow and place it beside her own, she froze slightly, lips pressing together, silent.

They were both women, and business partners at that. Sharing a bed wasn’t a big deal… It wasn’t like they hadn’t done it before.

Still, Cheng Yu couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort.

Yes, they were both women. Yes, they’d shared a bed before.

But… they’d also shared something else that night.

Qiu Luo had made the arrangement without thinking, but once they were alone in the room, even she began to feel a bit uneasy.

This is reckless, she thought. After all, she and the female lead… shared a night together…

Would sleeping together again really be okay? Was it appropriate?

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” she offered hastily. “If you’re uncomfortable, I can go sleep in Erlang’s room with your maid.”

Cheng Yu, seeing her nervous expression, surprisingly relaxed. “No need. This is fine.”

A faint awkwardness lingered in the air.

“I’ll heat some water for washing up,” Qiu Luo said, and quickly escaped to the kitchen.

Cheng Yu sat by the bed, taking in her surroundings. The drafty thatched house… the creaky wooden bed that groaned under the slightest weight… The Qiu family’s poverty was evident.

She had given Qiu Luo quite a bit of silver. Why hadn’t she used it to fix the house?

Later, as they lay side by side after washing up, the silence between them thickened. Cheng Yu finally voiced her curiosity.

Qiu Luo paused, then answered with a hint of longing, “I don’t plan to stay here long. I want to earn enough money to take Erlang with me to the capital.”

After all, since she’d transmigrated once, she had to see what the ancient imperial city looked like in all its glory.

She wasn’t going to spend her whole life stuck in a little place like Qiu Village.

As for where to settle long-term, that could wait. She’d figure it out later—when she was older and ready to retire somewhere she loved.

Cheng Yu seemed thoughtful, then nodded in agreement. “You’re right. The world is vast—we should go out, explore, see it all. Only then will our lives not be wasted.”

That was one of the reasons she liked doing business.

Rarely, the two of them found their goals aligned.

After that, silence returned.

Cheng Yu, lying on the outer side, rose to blow out the candle.

In the dark, Qiu Luo turned to face the wall, watching as Cheng Yu climbed into bed and lay beside her.

She closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep, but the more she tried, the more awake she felt.

Then suddenly, the person next to her turned over and laid a hand on her waist.

Qiu Luo’s breath hitched. She froze.

After a moment, she gently removed Cheng Yu’s hand and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But in the next second, Cheng Yu’s hand returned—and her entire body inched closer.

“…”

Qiu Luo inhaled slowly, testing, “Cheng Yu? Are you asleep?”

There was no response from the other side—no movement, no sound.

She blinked, unsure whether to feel relieved or… disappointed. She removed Cheng Yu’s hand again.

This time, it stayed off.

The chill of an early autumn night settled in. Qiu Luo turned her back, not knowing when she finally drifted into sleep.

Behind her, Cheng Yu—clearly not the most well-behaved sleeper—felt cold under her thin quilt. In her half-asleep state, she instinctively kicked it away and burrowed toward the source of warmth: Qiu Luo.

From above, it looked like she had pulled Qiu Luo into her arms.

Cheng Yu’s brow relaxed for the first time that night.

At dawn, a rooster crowed, waking the sleeping pair.

Cheng Yu opened her eyes to see Qiu Luo right in front of her. They were sharing a single pillow, and only one blanket—her own had been kicked to the foot of the bed.

Stunned, she moved carefully, lifting a corner of the blanket to let in some cool air. That stirred the sleeping Qiu Luo.

Eyes still closed, Qiu Luo pulled her close and murmured, “Shh… don’t move.”

Cheng Yu stiffened, frozen in place.

The hand at her waist felt like fire, burning through her thin underclothes.

After a long moment, seeing that Qiu Luo didn’t move again, Cheng Yu tried to rise—only to have that hand tighten, pulling her back in.

Qiu Luo finally opened one eye, sounding exasperated. “I said, be good.”

Before Cheng Yu could respond, Qiu Luo’s eyes flew open. She was instantly awake—and instantly aware of their very intimate proximity.

They were practically breathing the same air.

They stared at each other in silence.

Cheng Yu was the first to recover. Trying to act nonchalant, she turned her back.

Then she froze again—Wasn’t I trying to get up? I should’ve sat up…

The creaky wooden bed groaned as she turned over, making the moment even more awkward.

Qiu Luo was confused. Weren’t they sleeping under separate quilts?

So why were they huddled under one?

And was she… hugging Cheng Yu just now?

Yes. Yes, she was.

The room was dead silent. Neither moved. Neither spoke. No one knew how to break the awkward silence.

Fortunately, a knock at the door came just in time.

“Miss, it’s time to get up and return to the city. Madam must be worried sick,” the maid called. She stood outside holding a warm basin of water and knocked gently with her elbow.

This place is so shabby, she thought. Worse than the Cheng family’s firewood shed. I hope Miss slept well…

Cheng Yu had slept well.

Qiu Luo, however, had not.

Thanks to Cheng Yu’s roaming hands, it took her half the night to fall asleep. And then waking up with a beauty in her arms had completely startled her out of what little rest she’d had. Now she felt like a ghost, wandering in a daze.

Cheng Yu rose quietly, avoiding Qiu Luo’s gaze for reasons even she didn’t fully understand.

Qiu Luo, still lying on the bed, pretended to sleep, watching her through half-lidded eyes as she dressed and did her hair.

Just before Cheng Yu reached the door, Qiu Luo muttered, “I’ll nap a bit longer, won’t see you out.”

“…Mm.” Cheng Yu didn’t turn around. She responded softly and slipped out, gently closing the door behind her.

Was it just her, she wondered, or did things feel… weird between them now?

Maybe it was because of that mishap on the Mid-Autumn night.

Outside, Qiu Luo listened to the fading sound of the carriage. Once it had fully gone, she finally exhaled and sat up.

Sleep? What sleep? She had work to do. Better head to the watermelon patch and keep an eye on things.

She didn’t fully trust that little brother of hers yet.