Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 21

On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Qiu Luo entered town with ripe watermelons and the property deeds that Cheng Yu had previously sent her—documents for the shops and inns operating under the

“Qiu Family” name. These were part of their contract, presented formally on this day as part of the betrothal ceremony.

“When we marry, all inns and taverns under the Qiu family name will be transferred to Cheng Yu. That will be my dowry.”

Madam Cheng looked deeply satisfied, while Master Cheng’s expression was… complicated.

So, it was Qiu Luo who had been setting up all those new little storefronts around town lately? He had been wondering about that.

But from the scale of it, it felt more like his daughter was the one truly orchestrating everything.

Still, acquiring that many properties required a huge investment—and Cheng Yu hadn’t withdrawn any significant funds from the family account lately.

Though there were plenty of deeds, in his eyes, they were all small businesses—nothing like the grand taverns under the Cheng family name.

He cleared his throat and said, “If you’re sincere, why wait until marriage? Why not transfer them to Yu’er today? Do you think our Cheng family would covet a few measly shops of yours? When the time comes, I
can throw in two large taverns as her dowry—worth far more than these.”

“Cough, cough, cough!”
Before he even finished speaking, Concubine Tang let out a sharp series of coughs.

This old fool—what nonsense was he spouting? Two large taverns as dowry? Why not just give the entire Cheng estate away? Those were meant to be her son’s inheritance. She would never agree.

Seeing her cough, Master Cheng hurried over in concern.

“What’s wrong, my dear? Are you unwell? Someone, call a physician!”

Tang-niang daintily covered her mouth with a handkerchief, speaking softly, “I’m just a little under the weather… probably caught a chill. And little Bao’er’s been stirring again.”

She gently patted her belly with a proud smile. “Bao’er” was the nickname she’d already given her unborn child.

Master Cheng instantly forgot everything else, supporting her carefully.

“You should rest—didn’t I say you didn’t need to attend? Come, let me take you back to your room.”

Madam Cheng said nothing the entire time. Only after they left did she turn to Qiu Luo.

“There’s no one else here. Let me speak plainly,” she said. “Most of those shops were established using my dowry. I’m making the call: from now on, they’ll be counted as Yu’er’s dowry. As long as you treat her well, they’ll belong to the Qiu family—you two, together.”

At this point, she had completely given up on Master Cheng. She only hoped her daughter could live a peaceful, happy life.

Money meant nothing to her. You couldn’t take it with you after death.

All she cared about was that after she was gone, her daughter would have a smoother path.

Qiu Luo composed herself and solemnly replied,

“Aunt, you have my word. My feelings for Cheng Yu are as true as hers are for me. They will not change.”

Madam Cheng nodded, smiling.

“Then once the new year passes, you should marry. A good thing shouldn’t be delayed.”

Qiu Luo froze slightly and instinctively turned to Cheng Yu.

Get married after the New Year? That felt too fast.

Their contract was for six months. The plan was just to get engaged to keep up appearances—not to actually get married during that time.

But Cheng Yu was looking at her too, eyes dark and unreadable. After a pause, she silently nodded.

Qiu Luo had no choice but to go along.

“I’ll follow Aunt’s wishes. I too hope to marry Cheng Yu soon—and to show my respect to you as soon as possible.”

The date was set for the third month of spring—exactly the final month of their contract.

After Madam Cheng left with a pleased expression, Qiu Luo looked at Cheng Yu, hesitating to speak.

“Let’s go to my room,” Cheng Yu said, already standing.

The main hall wasn’t suitable for private conversations. This household was still ruled by Master Cheng, and the servants were all sucking up to Concubine Tang these days. Anything said here might easily be reported back.

Cheng Yu’s room was tastefully furnished, exuding a scholarly elegance. Last time Qiu Luo was here, it had felt like an ordinary young lady’s boudoir. Now, it resembled a refined study.

Qiu Luo’s gaze fell on a wine pot on the table, her expression curious.

Does the heroine drink in private?

Noticing her look, Cheng Yu casually explained,

“I couldn’t sleep last night. Thought a drink might help.”

She’d known Qiu Luo would come today to formally propose. And once her mother got involved, the wedding date would be set. That thought had kept her tossing and turning.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Huh? Sure,” Qiu Luo responded on instinct. By the time Cheng Yu handed her a cup, she’d only just realized what was happening.

Now it would feel weird to decline, so she simply took a few quiet sips.

The wine was cool and sharp, tingling as it went down.

Outside, the maid quietly closed the door. The soft click seemed to seal off the rest of the world, wrapping the room in quiet stillness.

Qiu Luo suddenly felt awkward and didn’t know what to say. She simply downed the rest of the wine in one gulp.

Cheng Yu watched her and said softly,

“Would you like something to eat? I can ask Xiao Miao to bring some snacks.”

Qiu Luo blinked in confusion.

“Uh… is that necessary? Are we really drinking now?”

She had just sipped the wine because of the tension—but Cheng Yu seemed to be settling in for a heartfelt, wine-fueled conversation.

Cheng Yu leaned back against her chair, gently swirling her wine cup.

“We’re already drinking.”

The cold wine cleared her mind even more.

Marriage. To this person. And when the time comes—will we just quietly divorce as agreed?

Qiu Luo was thinking the same thing. She set down her cup, hesitating.

“Are we really going to get married?”

That wasn’t in the original deal.

Still… for some reason, the idea of marrying Cheng Yu stirred something like anticipation.

She looked at the woman reclining in the chair. Cheng Yu’s posture was relaxed, her features soft. Perhaps it was the wine, or the privacy of her own room—but she looked different from her usual cool self. More open. More human.

Cheng Yu looked up just then, blinking slowly—like sunlight dancing on a rippling lake.

Qiu Luo’s heart skipped. A phrase popped into her mind: eyes like silk threads.

Too dangerous.

This is cheating. The heroine is totally breaking the rules.

Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the Mid-Autumn Festival—Cheng Yu had looked like this then too. But that night, her eyes hadn’t been this clear or calm.

If the Cheng Yu now was like the moon in the sky, then that night, she had been the moon reflected in water—beautiful, but untouchable.

Stretch out your hand, and you could shatter the water’s surface—and the moonlight.

Qiu Luo stared at her so long that Cheng Yu finally tilted her head, smiling slightly.

“You don’t want to marry me?”

That gentle smile was like the moon shedding its veil—suddenly close, suddenly real.

It awakened something reckless and possessive inside Qiu Luo.

She wanted to shatter that moonlight.

To seize it.

To make it hers and hers alone.

She jerked her head to the side, mentally chanting:

Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form. Amitabha. Compassion and peace…

Nope. Still not working.

This is definitely cheating!

Seeing her shake her head, the smile on Cheng Yu’s lips faded slightly. Her voice dropped a little.

“It’s just for show. Once the timing is right, we’ll get a quiet divorce. If six months isn’t enough, I can pay you more.”

“This… isn’t about money.”

“Then what is it?”