Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 5
Qiu Luo had walked there on foot, but since a carriage was offered for the return trip, she gladly accepted.
Besides, she had just cooperated with the female lead. If she refused now, wouldn’t that be like slapping herself in the face?
So, to show that they truly hit it off, she even called out warmly, “Sure, thank you, Sister Cheng.”
Sister Cheng?
Cheng Yu raised her eyebrows slightly, nodded, and walked ahead.
Once in the carriage, the two sat in the cramped space, and the atmosphere grew a little awkward.
Qiu Luo leaned against the window, resting her cheek on her hand as she stared outside, pretending to be captivated by the view. In truth, she had no idea what to say.
Cheng Yu, mulling over her own plans, broke the silence. “Qiu Luo, would you be willing to get engaged to me?”
Qiu Luo nearly slipped and hit her chin on her hand. “Sister Cheng, what did you say? Did I hear that right?”
The female lead wanted to get engaged to her?
Was she hallucinating?
Cheng Yu remained composed. “I’d like to ask you to get engaged to me—just for a while. If you’re willing to help me, the terms are negotiable.”
She had been missing all night, and while she could fool others, she couldn’t fool her mother.
Her mother had been investigating, both openly and discreetly, trying to find out who she’d spent the night with—and was on the verge of arranging a marriage if she didn’t get an answer.
Cheng Yu had no romantic interests and didn’t want to marry just anyone. After weighing her options and coming up with nothing, today’s graduation banquet had sparked an idea.
Now that everyone believed she had spent that night with Qiu Luo, why not go along with it and get engaged to her? That way, she could pacify her parents and avoid the hassle of a real marriage.
It all depended on whether Qiu Luo was willing to play along.
Qiu Luo thought hard. Was this what people called a “contract engagement”? And with the female lead, no less!
Was she stepping into the same storyline as the original scumbag character? Was there no way to avoid it?
Perhaps her silence lasted too long, as Cheng Yu pulled out a silver pouch and handed over a large-denomination banknote. “One thousand taels.” Sensing it might not be enough, she added, “That’s just the deposit. It’s only for six months. There’ll be another thousand taels afterward.”
Six months was more than enough time—by then, she would have established herself in the business world and gained more influence.
Qiu Luo blinked at the large banknote before her. Damn these capitalists—using money to tempt her! Did they think she was that shallow?
Well… she definitely was.
“Deal. But just to be clear, I’m only lending my name. Nothing else. After six months, we go our separate ways.”
She took the note without hesitation, smoothly tucking it away like it was second nature.
Only a fool wouldn’t take easy money—and she wasn’t a fool. Two thousand taels in half a year? This was a deal worth making.
Cheng Yu gave a small smile. “Agreed. We’ll leave each other alone.”
The very next day, rumors spread: Lu Jiaojiao heard that Qiu Luo had gone to the Cheng household to propose marriage. Though the Chengs hadn’t officially agreed, it confirmed that something improper had happened between Qiu Luo and Cheng Yu.
Who would’ve thought—just when it seemed there was no way forward, Qiu Luo once again surprised her.
Lu Jiaojiao was pleased. But someone else was not.
As soon as Shen Yanding heard the news, he rushed to the Cheng residence.
“Miss Cheng, you don’t need to mind what others say. If that Qiu Luo is pestering you, I can get rid of her for you.”
Just look at Qiu Luo—obviously from a poor family. She acted like she’d never eaten watermelon before at the banquet and couldn’t stop gorging on it.
He’d done some digging. She was just a newly recognized, penniless scholar with no power or influence—hardly a threat.
But to his surprise, Cheng Yu furrowed her brows slightly and said coldly, “I’m the one who asked her to propose. I want to marry her.”
Her gaze was too deep, and Shen Yanding’s heart skipped a beat. He stood frozen, speechless.
Seeing him silent, Cheng Yu added, “I hope you won’t make things difficult for her. She’s the most innocent party in all of this.”
She had been dragged into the situation and still helped out kindly. Though their arrangement was strictly a financial transaction, Cheng Yu didn’t want to cause her unnecessary trouble.
Shen Yanding’s face turned pale. “Miss Cheng, you know how I feel about you. If this is about what happened that night, I can pretend it never occurred. No matter what happened between you and her, I can accept it.”
He had liked this cool, reserved girl since youth—like the moon in the sky, lighting up his heart.
He had waited so long—until he came of age, achieved success, and finally could stand by her side. How could he accept being cut off now?
“You should also know,” Cheng Yu said coolly, lowering her gaze, “I’ve always seen you as a younger brother. Don’t say such things again.”
She had never harbored romantic feelings for Shen Yanding. All these years, she had only treated him as a younger brother. Even without Qiu Luo in the picture, they would never have ended up together.
Shen Yanding lowered his head, utterly disheartened. “I overstepped. I’ll take my leave.”
After he left, Cheng Yu’s mother came in, having heard what happened. “Yu’er, Yanding is a good boy. I practically watched him grow up. Can’t you at least consider him?”
“He took in a concubine before he even came of age,” Cheng Yu said with indifference.
Shen Yanding had turned eighteen this year, but by sixteen he’d already had his first concubine. Rumor had it he took in a second one last year.
She knew both families hoped they’d marry. She’d even considered it—if she reached marriageable age without finding someone she liked, perhaps she could try giving him a chance.
But after Shen Yanding brought in two concubines in a row, even that sliver of interest vanished.
Cheng Mother chuckled. “So that’s what you mind? It’s just two concubines without formal status. If you don’t like them, the Shen family can dismiss them.”
“And if they dismiss these, more will come. Who can guarantee he won’t take more wives in the future?”
“There are hardly any men who stay true to one woman these days. What does it matter if he takes concubines, as long as you’re the main wife?”
Cheng Yu’s voice cooled. “Do you like it when Father takes concubines, Mother? Do you like Aunt Tang?”
Aunt Tang was the latest beauty Father Cheng had married. Since she entered the household, he spent every night in her courtyard—only returning to Cheng Mother’s room once a month.
Faced with her daughter’s downcast eyes, Mother Cheng fell silent. She didn’t try to persuade her again. Do not impose on others what you do not desire yourself.
“So, you’ve really set your heart on Qiu Luo? She’s just a girl, from a poor family no less. Don’t tell me that Mid-Autumn night, the two of you actually…”
“Yes,” Cheng Yu replied flatly, eyes lowered.
She had all but confirmed it.
Mother Cheng choked, sighing internally. Her daughter was strong-willed—there would be no changing her mind.
But she wasn’t about to give in so easily. “Even if you’ve… been intimate, she still has to prove herself worthy of your hand. This is a lifetime decision. If I’m to agree, then she must be the one marrying in—or better yet, have her join the Cheng family outright.”
After all, the Cheng family had few descendants. Father Cheng, now in his forties, had only Cheng Yu as a child.
Cheng Yu thought of her agreement with Qiu Luo and nodded.
Cheng Mother’s expression finally softened. She promptly sent word to Qiu Luo’s village. Since this was a formal proposal, there had to be betrothal gifts—and she was curious to see what kind of respectable dowry Qiu Luo could offer.