Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 32

In the quiet room, the candlelight on the desk flickered alongside the warmth from the brazier in the corner.

Cheng Yu looked at Qiu Luo, her gaze brighter than the flames, making Qiu Luo’s heart burn just from meeting her eyes.

Feigning contemplation, Qiu Luo’s mind had already whispered the answer to Cheng Yu’s earlier question—who was worthy?

Of course, it was her.

But saying something so self-flattering out loud felt a little embarrassing.

“What is it?” Cheng Yu asked when Qiu Luo remained silent for some time.

Qiu Luo cleared her throat and said, with mock depth, “Who knows? It depends on who you like.”

Who she liked…

Cheng Yu glanced at her, thoughtful for a moment. “We should rest.”

With that, she walked over to blow out the candle.

When she returned to bed, there was no more idle chatter. It seemed Cheng Yu fell asleep quite quickly.

Qiu Luo blinked quietly and, in the end, didn’t pull Cheng Yu into her arms.

The next day greeted them with a brilliant sun. The snow had stopped, and the wind had calmed.

With the end of the twelfth lunar month approaching, Qiu Luo felt it was time to return home. She had bought some New Year’s goods and went to bid farewell to Cheng’s mother.

Madam Cheng smiled. “Yu’er likely won’t return until noon. Why not stay and have lunch? You can say goodbye to her then.”

Qiu Luo glanced at the sky and hesitated before replying, “I won’t wait. The roads might be slippery—I’d better head out early.”

The snow had only just begun to melt. Though Qiu Village wasn’t far from town, the journey by carriage would be slower than usual. It was best to leave early to avoid getting caught out after dark.

Madam Cheng understood her concern and didn’t press her to stay. She instead had the maid prepare some gifts and goods for Qiu Luo to take home.

After accepting the gifts and thanking her, Qiu Luo finally left the Cheng household.

The streets outside bustled with people, each household busy preparing for the New Year.

Qiu Luo lifted the curtain of her carriage and asked casually, “Uncle Er Zhu, how much do you think it would cost to buy a house in the county town?”

Cheng Yu would be preparing for the provincial exams soon, and Qiu Luo would need to take on more of their shared business. Going back and forth from Qiu Village was getting inconvenient.

“You’re thinking of buying property here in town?” Uncle Er Zhu replied. “If you ask me, there’s no need for that.”

Ever since learning that Qiu Luo and Cheng Yu were partners in the seedless watermelon business, Uncle Er Zhu had started addressing her more respectfully.

Qiu Luo raised an eyebrow. “And why’s that?”

“It’s simple—you’re going to marry Miss Cheng, aren’t you? The Cheng family already has plenty of property.”

In other words: why spend the extra money?

Qiu Luo shook her head. “You don’t understand.”

That property belonged to the Cheng family—not to her.

Moreover, Cheng Yu had clearly shown signs of wanting to strike out on her own. If Cheng Yu herself didn’t covet the Cheng family estate, Qiu Luo had no reason to.

What she wanted was her own house. Their home.

Uncle Er Zhu really didn’t get it. In his mind, what belonged to the Cheng family belonged to Cheng Yu, and what belonged to Cheng Yu naturally extended to Qiu Luo too. After all, weren’t they getting married?

What need was there to separate things so clearly between husband and wife?

Qiu Luo glanced outside and lowered the curtain. One way or another, she would buy a home. Just not yet.

After all, she didn’t have much capital. The silver notes in her hand were Cheng Yu’s—payment from those three contracts.

She didn’t intend to spend it on herself.

She was waiting for their first round of dividends. If they were decent, she would use that money to buy a home. If not, she’d have to make other plans.

Privately, she hoped she could secure a house by mid-March—before the wedding.

A place that belonged to her and Cheng Yu.

The carriage moved at a leisurely pace. The icy roads slowed them down, but they made it back to Qiu Village before sunset.

“Big Sis, you’re back!”

Qiu Erlang was sitting by the fire, munching on a watermelon and marveling at how, for the first time in his life, he was having such a comfortable winter. At the sound of familiar carriage wheels, he threw down his watermelon, shoved the door open, and rushed out excitedly.

Qiu Luo handed him the New Year goods from the carriage, and the two of them went inside with Uncle Er Zhu.

“You even bought me new clothes? I told you—I already picked something at the tailor’s. It’ll be done before New Year’s Eve.” Qiu Erlang’s eyes landed on a new men’s cotton robe among the gifts.

He grumbled about the waste but was clearly delighted, already trying it on with barely-contained joy.

Qiu Luo watched him. It fit well, was finely made, and clearly of good quality.

Qiu Erlang beamed. “This robe must’ve cost a lot. It’s way better than the one I ordered.”

That’s his sister for you—always looking out for him.

But before he could bask in the emotion, Qiu Luo smiled and said,

“Actually, your Sister Cheng Yu bought that for you.”

Cheng Yu had given her the gift in advance, worried she wouldn’t return in time.

Qiu Erlang practically bounced in place with excitement, his grin stretching from ear to ear.

“Help me thank her properly! She really is my future sister-in-law!”

He was over the moon.

Cheng Yu wasn’t the kind of sister-in-law he imagined—someone to drink and go carousing with. She was a refined, beautiful, untouchable noblewoman.

He’d been nervous, worried she wouldn’t like him.

But now he felt his fears had been silly. Cheng Yu clearly liked him—otherwise, why go to the trouble of buying him new clothes?

He really was that lovable.

Qiu Luo chuckled and nodded. “Alright, alright, I get it. You’re happy. Now help me clean up.”

The New Year was just around the corner—time to bring in the holiday spirit.

The siblings got to work sorting the New Year goods, setting aside the posters and couplets to hang later, and giving the house a thorough cleaning inside and out.

That evening, Qiu Luo spoke to Qiu Erlang about her plans.

“After the New Year, we’re moving to town. What do you think?”

At first, Qiu Erlang’s face lit up, but soon he frowned.

“If we all move to town, who’s going to burn incense for Mom and Dad during the holidays? And what about the greenhouse?”

Qiu Luo rolled her eyes.

“We’ll come back for the holidays, of course. As for the greenhouse—we’ll rent it out. I’m planning to have the villagers all grow seedless watermelon for us instead.”

She had already made up her mind.

In winter, the villagers didn’t have money to build greenhouses. But come spring and summer, the cold wouldn’t be a problem.

Qiu Luo didn’t intend to spend her life farming a few acres. She had a business to run with the heroine.

As the saying goes: “A man without sin may still be guilty for having treasure.” With seedless watermelons unique to the Qiu family, someone would try to take them sooner or later.

That’s why she only intended to profit from the first wave—to be the pioneer. After that, she’d move on to other ventures.

Qiu Erlang was stunned for a long moment.

“So… we’re not growing watermelons anymore? Then… what am I supposed to do?”