Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 7

Without realizing it, Qiu Erlang began to feel a little guilty. He instinctively tried to block the view of the courtyard with his body, but how could he possibly hide all those overflowing piles of flowers?

Inside the house, Qiu Luo had heard the commotion and stepped out. “Miss Cheng, what brings you here?”

“I came to see you,” Cheng Yu replied, her gaze sweeping over the flower-filled courtyard. She didn’t explain her true purpose—she couldn’t exactly say she’d come to quietly deliver more silver in case Qiu Luo couldn’t afford the betrothal gifts.

Knowing the terms of their agreement weren’t for outsiders to know, Qiu Luo had Qiu Erlang fetch tea while she invited Cheng Yu inside.

It was the same shabby room, the same little wooden bed—it almost felt like that night had just happened yesterday.

The two women exchanged a glance, falling into brief silence. Clearly, they were both thinking of the Mid-Autumn night.

Qiu Erlang brought in the tea and then thoughtfully excused himself, even closing the door behind him. He truly worried himself sick over his sister’s—no, their—future prosperity.

Qiu Luo sat down at the table. “Miss Cheng, please have some tea.”

Cheng Yu, unbothered by the humble setting, also took a seat and lifted the cup. “Why didn’t you send the betrothal gifts? Was the money not enough?”

If the money wasn’t enough, that was easy to fix. But if Qiu Luo was having second thoughts, that would be much harder to deal with.

Qiu Luo smiled. “It’s not time yet. And the money is enough.”

The first batch of watermelons would be planted soon. From sowing to harvest would take around a hundred days. Their contract lasted six months—plenty of time.

Hearing this, Cheng Yu hesitated. She had grown up studying among fellow scholars, and one thing was common among most of them: a lofty pride and sense of superiority. Especially someone like Qiu Luo, who came from a poor background—would she mind being helped again and again with silver?

After some thought, Cheng Yu refrained from handing over more silver. Instead, she simply said, “If the money runs short, just let me know.”

Had Qiu Luo known she just missed out on several thousand taels of silver, she would’ve pounded her chest in regret. She was so short on money!

“I won’t stand on ceremony with you, Miss Cheng.”

“Have you decided on what to give as a betrothal gift?”

Qiu Luo raised an eyebrow and gestured toward the courtyard. “Yes. All those carts of flowers out there are the betrothal gift.”

Cheng Yu: “…”

Taking an unorthodox route was fine—but this?

She opened her mouth to respond but realized anything she said might be inappropriate. In the end, she simply nodded. If Qiu Luo really showed up with carts of flowers, she would quietly supplement the rest herself.

“I’ll be going now. One more thing…”

“What is it?” Qiu Luo asked.

Cheng Yu looked at her, hesitated, then said softly, “Qiu Luo, from now on, you can call me by my name.”

They had already agreed to cooperate—there was no need to keep calling each other “Miss.”

Qiu Luo readily agreed. “Alright, Cheng Yu.”

Her voice was warm and laced with a faint smile. It made Cheng Yu’s heart skip a beat. She quickly calmed herself, nodded lightly, and stood to leave.

As she walked out of Qiu Family Village and away from the courtyard filled with flowers, Cheng Yu rubbed her temples, feeling a little uncertain about her decision.

In Nanyue, women weren’t treated as inferior. They could study, take imperial exams, do business—and romantic affection between women wasn’t rare either.

But because most men reached adulthood at eighteen and often had concubines even before marrying, unmarried women over twenty were considered somewhat unusual.

Like her.

She was already twenty-three, three years older than Qiu Luo, and hadn’t been betrothed yet—her family had been pressuring her constantly.

“Miss,” said Xiao Miao, her maid, “that Qiu Luo doesn’t seem too reliable. Should we go back and reconsider?”

She recalled the villagers joking about the Qiu siblings being fools, exchanging cash for flowers. It made her uneasy.

Cheng Yu returned to her senses. “Xiao Miao, don’t speak of her that way. She’s very capable.”

Only the two of them knew about their contractual relationship. Since they had to keep it hidden and each had their own reasons, she needed to protect Qiu Luo—no matter the situation or audience.

With that thought, a faint smile appeared on Cheng Yu’s lips. Who would’ve thought she’d one day have to act—pretending to be lovesick, pretending Qiu Luo was the one she was devoted to.

Xiao Miao pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Her young mistress seemed smitten already. And things hadn’t even really begun. Ah, even the smartest people lose their clarity when it comes to love.

Well, she would stay rational.

She only hoped that Qiu Luo was merely a little unconventional—and not someone who would break her mistress’s heart.

But Qiu Luo was destined to disappoint Cheng Yu. After all, theirs was only a contractual relationship. Cheng Yu was the female lead, and Qiu Luo—well, she was the cannon-fodder scumbag whose end in the original story was tragic.

Still, things were developing better than expected. At least she wasn’t walking the original villain’s path.

Having transmigrated, Qiu Luo had only one goal: to live for herself.

Because what’s the point of living if not to be happy?

So, after extracting the colchicine, she handed all the farming responsibilities to her unlucky younger brother, Qiu Erlang.

It wasn’t about slacking off—it was about training Erlang. She was a good sister, after all. How could she watch her brother laze around doing nothing all day?

As for herself? She had more important matters—like market research. If her seedless watermelons couldn’t sell, wouldn’t all her effort be wasted?

With silver in her pocket, Qiu Luo excitedly headed to the county town and picked a restaurant grander than the small eatery from before.

“Waiter, do you serve any melons or fruits?” she asked.

The waiter gave her a strange look. “Miss, if you want fruit, you’ll need to go outside. We’re a restaurant—we serve food and wine, not fruit.”

This girl looked bright and well-bred—why was she asking such nonsense?

Who comes to a restaurant to buy fruit?

Qiu Luo raised an eyebrow and feigned confusion. “But what if I get tired of eating oily food and want something refreshing? Don’t you have fruit platters?”

“Fruit platters? Like a plate of fruit? No, we don’t serve those here,” the waiter replied honestly.

“Really? Is it just this restaurant, or all of them?” she pressed.

If no one offered them, that would be perfect. She could pitch her seedless watermelon as a solution.

After all, no matter the season, eating a cool slice of watermelon after a heavy meal was bliss. She certainly enjoyed it.

“I don’t think any of them do,” the waiter said, now clearly bored. “Would you like to order something?”

Qiu Luo nodded and casually ordered a few dishes. After eating, she wandered the streets and kept an ear out for useful intel.

When she learned that the largest restaurant in town was owned by the Cheng family, a lightbulb went off in her head.

She’d almost forgotten—Cheng Yu wasn’t just the daughter of the county’s wealthiest household. She would go on to become a business powerhouse.

It made so much more sense to bring the idea to her.

Qiu Luo smacked her forehead. Sure, she didn’t plan to repeat the original villain’s romantic entanglements with the female lead—but that didn’t mean they couldn’t do business together!

Partnering with the heroine in business?

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

With the idea in mind, Qiu Luo went straight to the Cheng residence.

Upon hearing she’d arrived, Cheng Yu had her brought to the study.

“Qiu Luo, what brings you here?”

Qiu Luo smiled. “I came to discuss a business proposal.”

“A business proposal?” Cheng Yu was briefly stunned. She gave Qiu Luo a once-over and asked calmly, “Go on.”

This woman had only recently passed the preliminary imperial exam. Shouldn’t she be preparing for the next round? Why was she thinking about business?

Was she planning to abandon the exam route?

If that were the case, Cheng Yu didn’t mind. Businesspeople were considered the lowest of the four classes, while scholars were the most revered. If her contract partner didn’t look down on merchants, it would certainly make future interactions smoother.

Qiu Luo continued, “I’ve heard that the Cheng family runs restaurants and inns. You’re the largest wine and food merchant in the county, aren’t you?”

She paused, watching Cheng Yu closely.

Cheng Yu nodded. “Correct.” More accurately, her family practically monopolized the restaurant business across several counties.

“In that case,” Qiu Luo said, “I have a suggestion that could take your restaurants to the next level—if you’re interested.”

She laid out her idea step by step, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she awaited Cheng Yu’s response.

Cheng Yu furrowed her brows thoughtfully. Fruit platters in restaurants? Refreshing fruit to cleanse the palate after meals? It was worth a try.

She looked at Qiu Luo. “What’s the catch?”

As a businesswoman, Cheng Yu knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Qiu Luo must have something she wanted in return.

And Cheng Yu needed to weigh whether that price was worth it.

Qiu Luo beamed. “Just one condition—your Cheng family restaurants must serve only our Qiu family’s seedless watermelons in the fruit platters. Imagine—cool, sweet watermelon slices after a meal. No one could resist.”

Especially since they’d be the first to do it. Novelty always drew attention. Done right, it could even boost their brand.

“Seedless watermelon? You mean a watermelon without seeds?” Cheng Yu’s eyes lit up. She loved watermelon, but Nanyue’s varieties were always packed with seeds—an annoyance.

Foreign watermelons had fewer seeds, but the seeds were larger and the prices were outrageous. Not ideal.

Qiu Luo raised her brows with a grin. “Exactly. And I can provide an exclusive supply just for Cheng family restaurants. Like they say—‘Don’t let fertile water flow to outsiders.’”

Cheng Yu blinked. “‘Don’t let fertile water flow to outsiders’? That sounds promising. But we’ll have to see if your melons are truly seedless—and whether the flavor and sweetness measure up. Only then is it a deal

worth making.”

Their relationship may be contractual, but business was business—profit came first.

Naturally, she wouldn’t agree blindly.

“In about three months—around the twelfth month, right before the New Year—you’ll see our seedless watermelon for yourself. If you’re interested, I’ll arrange to grow more. There’ll be plenty,” Qiu Luo promised.