My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 20

Lu Jiahe swallowed hard as she stared at Cheng Yi’s slightly angry face. She didn’t dare say anything to contradict her anymore, she was genuinely afraid of getting hit!

“Look, I’ve written down everything you just said.” Lu Jiahe handed over the dried sheet of paper.

Cheng Yi narrowed her eyes and scrutinized the other person, who was being uncharacteristically obedient.

“This…”

They were all traditional characters, so hard to decipher!

Frowning, Cheng Yi read through the content and realized there were too many characters she didn’t recognize.

“Oh, your handwriting is way too small. I can’t see it clearly. Why don’t you read it out loud for me?” She shoved the paper back into Lu Jiahe’s hands.

Lu Jiahe eyed her with suspicion. “The characters aren’t that small. Even our ancestors could read them, can’t you see them clearly?”

“No, I can’t. Read it to me.”

Unable to figure out what Cheng Yi was up to, Lu Jiahe had no choice but to recite the shop-opening plan word by word.

Cheng Yi shifted her stool closer, listening while following along on the paper. Whenever she came across a particularly complex or hard-to-recognize character, she interrupted.

“Wait, what’s this one again? I can’t see it clearly. Grab another piece of paper and write it bigger for me.”

Lu Jiahe turned and shot Cheng Yi an annoyed glare before huffily picking up a brush to rewrite the character on a fresh sheet.

After several rounds of this, her patience wore thin. Finally, when Cheng Yi asked about the same character for the fifth time, Lu Jiahe snapped.

“This is the sixth time I’ve written this character for you! I’m starting to think it’s not that you can’t see, it’s that you don’t know how to read, isn’t it?” She set down her brush, crossed her arms, and studied the woman in front of her.

Cheng Yi pursed her lips, her eyes darting around. As someone who had received nine years of compulsory education, how could she not know how to read? She just didn’t recognize traditional characters, that’s all.

“How could that be! I’m warning you, Lu Jiahe. Don’t you dare slander me.”

Lu Jiahe, watching Cheng Yi’s flustered expression, grew even more convinced. “I don’t believe you. Prove it, write this character for me.” She placed the paper and brush in front of Cheng Yi.

Damn girl! She’s clearly trying to embarrass me.

“Forget it. If you don’t want to read it, then don’t.” To avoid exposing her weakness with traditional characters, Cheng Yi, for the first time, refrained from arguing back. She snatched the paper from Lu Jiahe’s hands, stood up, and made to leave.

Seeing her reaction, Lu Jiahe became even more certain. “Don’t try to fool me, you really can’t read.”

Cheng Yi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Patience. I must have patience!

Lu Jiahe, ignored once again, trailed after her like a shadow, chattering, “I knew it, I was right.”

Smack!

Hot-tempered Cheng Yi couldn’t take it anymore. After twelve years of diligent study, how could she tolerate such an insult?

She spun around and slammed her hand hard on the table. “Bah! Who says I can’t read? I just didn’t want to bother with a little girl like you.”

Lu Jiahe, the “shadow,” remained completely unaware that she had angered her. “I don’t believe you. Prove it to me.”

Having been “bullied” and suppressed by Cheng Yi for so long, Lu Jiahe finally seized an opportunity to get back at her. If she didn’t fight back now, she’d have no chance later.

“Fine, I’ll write. What are you going to do about it?” Cheng Yi snorted and sat back down on the round chair.

Seeing Cheng Yi’s slightly defensive attitude, Lu Jiahe felt a surge of confidence. But as soon as she opened her mouth, hesitation flickered again. What if she was wrong and got punished for it?

“Go on, what should I write?” Cheng Yi deliberately put on a stern face to scare her.

Screw it!

Lu Jiahe sat down opposite her, gathered all the papers from the table, and left only one blank sheet before Cheng Yi. “The character from earlier.”

Damn! Miscalculation!

Cheng Yi had thought Lu Jiahe would back down and pick a simple word just to smooth things over. She hadn’t expected her to double down.

“What’s wrong? Did you forget it?” Seeing Cheng Yi hesitate to pick up the brush, Lu Jiahe secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hurry up and say it!” Cheng Yi barked.

“Okay.” Lu Jiahe stiffened in fear. “Then I’ll test you on a simpler one—the character for ‘cabinet.’”

Cheng Yi tightened her grip on the brush. She was so angry she could barely think straight.

She knew how to write the simplified version, but the traditional one. She only remembered the “wood” radical on the left and had no idea what the other part looked like.

Irritated by Lu Jiahe’s smug expression, she quickly drew a few circles and loops on the paper and shoved it back toward her.

Lu Jiahe frowned. “What character is this?” She tilted her head left and right, completely baffled.

“Hah! It’s the character for ‘cabinet.’ What? Can’t you read? All those years of studying were wasted.” Cheng Yi glared at her, inwardly cursing, ‘You little brat, still trying to mess with me?’

“This isn’t even a character!” Lu Jiahe protested, never expecting Cheng Yi to resort to such tactics.

Cheng Yi snorted. “So what? That’s just how I write it. Not satisfied?”

“I~” Lu Jiahe was speechless, unable to refute.

Even if she couldn’t recognize the character, she couldn’t lose in terms of attitude!

Seeing Lu Jiahe wilt like a deflated eggplant, Cheng Yi seized the moment. “I know my handwriting isn’t great. In that case, why don’t you take some time every day to teach me how to write?”

She had long planned to learn proper calligraphy. Since Lu Jiahe had brought it up, she decided to take advantage of the situation.

“Alright, I’m going back to my room to sleep.” Without giving Lu Jiahe a chance to refuse, Cheng Yi snatched the papers from her hands and left the courtyard.

The entire scene of their late-night “lesson” was witnessed by the servants Lady Lu had stationed nearby. In less than an hour, news of their private nighttime meeting had reached Lady Lu’s ears.

“Young people these days are just too shy to admit their feelings. If there was nothing between them, why would Miss Cheng sneak into the young master’s room so late at night?” the old nanny whispered beside Old Madame Lu.

Old Lady Lu couldn’t hide the smile tugging at her lips. “Ah, as long as they care for each other, I won’t have to worry so much about the future.”

“By the way, Old Ancestor,” the nanny added eagerly, “since the young master and Miss Cheng seem to have mutual affection, what about the matter of heirs. Should we give the medicine to the young master now?”

Old Lady Lu chuckled softly. “There’s no rush. Miss Cheng doesn’t know about this yet, we should first ask for her opinion.”

The old nanny nodded approvingly. “Alright, Old Ancestor, it’s getting late. Let me help you rest.”

“Let’s go.” Supporting herself on the nanny’s arm, Old Lady Lu returned to her room.

Early the next morning, Cheng Yi brought the shop-opening plan she had written the night before and joined Lu Jiahe for breakfast with Old Lady Lu. After briefly explaining her plan, she handed the paper over for review.

“Not bad, very innovative.” Old Lady Lu smiled as she set the paper down. “I’ve never seen this kind of business method before. Where did you, young lady, learn it?”

“Um.” Cheng Yi pursed her lips. She couldn’t very well say she learned it from modern daycare centers. “I’ve been to some places where people mentioned this idea, but no one dared to try it. I thought I’d give it a shot.”

“Hm.” Old Lady Lu knew she was fibbing but didn’t call her out. “Then why do you want to use the Lu Family Bank’s name?”

“If I open a shop and no one knows who I am, they won’t be willing to pay for membership cards. But with the Lu Family Bank’s name as a brand, it’s different. The Lu family is a prominent household in Bianjing, everyone trusts its reputation.”

“Good. Young people with ideas should act on them. With you by Jiahe’s side, I feel much more at ease.” Old Lady Lu smiled warmly, then turned to her granddaughter. “Jiahe, you must study hard from now on, understand?”

Lu Jiahe blinked, confused. What did Cheng Yi opening a shop have to do with her studies? “I understand, Grandmother. Don’t worry.”

“Miss Cheng, I entrust our Jiahe to your care from now on.”

“?”

Cheng Yi didn’t quite understand. Couldn’t Lu Jiahe, with all her limbs intact, take care of herself? “Don’t worry, I will,” she said nonetheless.

Old Lady Lu, satisfied with both their answers, waved her hand. “Go on then, and secure the shop soon. Jiahe will be busy with the academy, so she won’t have much time to help.”

“Miss Cheng, wait a moment.” Old Lady Lu beckoned Cheng Yi closer.

Lu Jiahe turned around, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.

Seeing her expression, Old Lady Lu chuckled softly. “What’s this? Are you worried your future wife might be bullied here?”