My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 26

For a moment, the previously arrogant and haughty Cheng Yi’s face quickly flushed with an alarming shade of red.

She suddenly thought to herself, having lain in bed for so long, wouldn’t the clothes beneath her, along with the bedsheet, have already been stained red?

Cheng Yi shut her eyes tightly, inwardly berating herself for such carelessness. How could she have agreed so hastily, without even remembering her own monthly cycle?

After sending the physician away, Lu Jiahe returned to Cheng Yi’s room. Seeing her lying there with her eyes closed and a pained expression, she panicked, assuming Cheng Yi’s condition had worsened.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?” Lu Jiahe asked anxiously as she rushed to her side. “Should I fetch the physician back to take another look?”

Her eyes brimmed with worry, as if afraid Cheng Yi might be hiding some grave illness from her.

Here she was, caring for the other person and bustling about, yet unexpectedly, a big black pot had been accurately and squarely dropped on her head by the wind.

Biting her lip, Cheng Yi was too embarrassed to speak the truth. Instead, she made up an excuse to send Lu Jiahe and the servants in the room away. “I’m fine now. Please take everyone and go back. I’d like to be alone for a while.”

After busying herself in the room for half the day, Lu Jiahe furrowed her delicate brows upon hearing this. “Was I too noisy just now? Are you annoyed with me?”

“No,” Cheng Yi quickly explained, fearing the other would misunderstand. “I’m just a little tired and want to sleep. I’m not trying to drive you away.”

Reassured, Little Lu’s knitted brows relaxed. “Then, would you like to eat something before sleeping?”

Hungry, Cheng Yi glanced up at the table. “No, I’ll rest first and go to the kitchen to eat later.” Reluctantly, she shifted her gaze away from the table.

“Alright then.”

Seeing how exhausted Cheng Yi looked, Lu Jiahe conceded. She had the dishes on the table moved to the small kitchen, then led everyone out of the room. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to extinguish the candle on the table.

Cheng Yi lay in bed for a long while. Only when she could no longer bear the damp, warm sensation below did she throw off the covers, quickly fetch the failed pajamas she had previously made for Lu Jiahe from the wardrobe, and put them on.

By the moonlight, she removed the blood-stained clothes and bedding, replacing them with fresh ones. Once done, she stealthily picked up a bucket, planning to fetch water from the well to clean the soiled items.

Creak!

Thud! Rumble, rumble, rumble!

“Oh, my heavens!”

“Are you trying to scare me to death, Lu Jiahe!”

Startled by Lu Jiahe, who had been squatting by the door, Cheng Yi patted her frantically beating heart. Only when it calmed did she step forward to retrieve the bucket that had rolled down the steps.

“Weren’t you supposed to be resting? Why are you out here in the dark with a bucket?” Lu Jiahe chattered incessantly by Cheng Yi’s ear, completely unaware that she had just single-handedly destroyed all the goodwill she had accumulated with Cheng Yi.

Picking up the bucket, Cheng Yi shot her an annoyed glare without answering and strode directly toward the well outside the courtyard.

“You’re not feeling well, let me carry this back for you.” Lu Jiahe, concerned about Cheng Yi’s discomfort, quickly reached out and took the water bucket from her hands.

Cheng Yi didn’t want anyone to find out about her embarrassing situation and hurried forward to stop her. “No need, I can manage it myself.”

Seeing that Cheng Yi was about to catch up, Lu Jiahe quickened her pace toward the door of Cheng Yi’s room.

Cheng Yi was so frustrated she could barely stand it! She was already unwell, and now this annoying girl was making her feel even worse.

“Wait! Lu Jiahe! You can’t go in.” Cheng Yi watched as the other girl was about to push open her door and, despite the pain in her stomach, rushed forward to grab her.

Lu Jiahe, holding the bucket, turned her head and looked at Cheng Yi in confusion. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you need to bring the bucket back?”

“I-It’s not convenient for you to come in.” Cheng Yi had thrown all her soiled clothes and bedding on the floor, and anyone opening the door would see them immediately. “I want to take a bath. Could you ask someone to heat some water and bring it over?”

Lu Jiahe nodded. “Alright, I’ll bring the water in for you and then go ask someone to heat the water.” With that, she raised her hand to open the door.

Cheng Yi held tightly onto Lu Jiahe’s arm, refusing to let go. “I want to bathe early and rest soon. Please go now. I’ll take the bucket in myself.”

Seeing Cheng Yi repeatedly blocking her from entering, Lu Jiahe guessed that there must be something Cheng Yi didn’t want her to see. She set the bucket down on the ground and turned to find Guo’er.

Only after Lu Jiahe had walked away did Cheng Yi relax. Time was tight, and she had a lot to do. She quickly picked up the bucket and slipped into her room.

Unexpectedly, Lu Jiahe hadn’t dismissed the servants in her courtyard when she left earlier. Instead, she had instructed them all to wait outside the annex where Cheng Yi was staying.

“Guo’er,” Lu Jiahe called out, beckoning the servant over.

“Young master, what do you need?”

“Take some people to the kitchen and heat a good amount of water for bathing. Also, bring the small bathtub that the carpenter delivered a few days ago to the place where Miss Cheng usually bathes.”

“Right away, young master. I’ll take some people and go now.”

After giving her instructions, Lu Jiahe hurried back to Cheng Yi’s room.

Cheng Yi, who had been hesitating inside whether to wash the clothes first or hide them, was startled by the sound of the door and immediately threw the garments she was holding into the water bucket.

“Are you trying to scare me to death? Why didn’t you knock?” Cheng Yi rubbed her temples, feeling that if she were to disappear from this era, it would likely be from fright caused by this person.

Lu Jiahe, noticing Cheng Yi’s pale face and lips, scratched her head apologetically. “Sorry, I forgot.”

Cheng Yi sat back down on the bed and glared at her irritably, having already forgotten about the clothes she had tossed into the bucket.

Lu Jiahe, feeling awkward and unsure how to comfort her, glanced around the room and noticed something in the water bucket. She quickly walked over to the table and lit the candle.

“Is it so late and you’re planning to wash clothes?” Lu Jiahe asked, picking up the clothes and bedding that were half-submerged in the bucket.

“Don’t touch those!” Cheng Yi exclaimed, rushing forward to snatch them back.

Lu Jiahe noticed the other’s expression was somewhat strange. She pursed her lips and tightly hugged the clothes and bedding. “Are you hiding something from me? We signed a contract, after all.”

Cheng Yi had been tugging at the items for a while but couldn’t pull them away. “I can wash my own clothes. Why are you causing trouble?”

“You’re sick, you shouldn’t touch cold water. I’ll wash these clothes and bedding for you.” Lu Jiahe lowered her head to look at the items in her arms, thinking that Cheng Yi’s earlier resistance to letting her into the room must be related to these things.

Cheng Yi frowned and stared at Lu Jiahe. After hearing her words of concern, her cheeks flushed without her realizing it.

“Maybe we should just throw them away. I don’t want anyone to see,” Cheng Yi finally relented.

Judging by Cheng Yi’s reaction, Lu Jiahe had a good idea of what was inside. “Don’t be afraid. We’re about to get married. It’s nothing for me to wash a few things for you.”

With that, Lu Jiahe opened the door, stuck her head out, and called for Lu An. She instructed someone to fetch soapberries and bring a few wooden basins with water.

Once everything was delivered, Lu Jiahe sat on a small wooden stool in the room, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work!

Although Cheng Yi knew Lu Jiahe was also a woman, she still felt like an outsider. Such an intimate task made Cheng Yi too embarrassed to let her do it, so she stood up and walked over to discuss washing the items herself.

“Leave it there. I know you mean well, but I’m just not used to it.”

“No, you can’t touch cold water right now. I’m going to be your husband soon. What’s wrong with washing a few dirty clothes for you?”

This was the first time Lu Jiahe had so firmly rejected Cheng Yi’s request. Though she knew her behavior was inappropriate and made the other person uncomfortable, compared to Cheng Yi’s health, she felt bearing a little criticism was no big deal.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Young master, we’ve brought the hot water for you.”

Hearing this, Lu Jiahe stood up, shook her hands dry, and called out to the door, “Leave it by the door and go rest.”

Guo’er outside the door was taken aback. Aren’t they going to bathe? No need for assistance? Why are they being sent away to rest?

“Young master, let me stay here and wait on you.”

“No need. Hurry back and don’t worry about the rest.” Lu Jiahe was eager for Cheng Yi to clean up, and her tone carried clear impatience.

“Yes, young master.” Guo’er sensed her master’s irritation, so she set down the buckets and left with the others.

Lu Jiahe leaned against the door, listening as the footsteps faded away. Only then did she push the door open. “Take your things to the side room. I’ll help you carry the water over first.” With that, she stepped out of the room and got to work.

Cheng Yi watched her every move, biting her lip. She was so flustered and annoyed she didn’t know what to do with the other person. In the end, she picked up a towel and followed Lu Jiahe to the side room.

Lu Jiahe made trip after trip, carrying buckets of water into the side room and pouring them into the small bathtub. After emptying the last bucket, she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“In your condition, it’s best not to take a full bath. Just wipe yourself down,” Lu Jiahe said, turning around and placing her hands on her hips as she looked at the blushing “shy little woman.”

“Okay.” Cheng Yi avoided Lu Jiahe’s gaze, walked to the bathtub, and tested the water temperature with her hand.

“Alright, once you’re done, just go back to the room. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Cheng Yi turned her back to the other person, unwilling to answer.

Seeing this, Lu Jiahe felt it was awkward to stay any longer. “I’ll go back to wash the clothes then. Once you’ve dried yourself off, come help me wring them dry.”

Creak, thud.

Only after hearing the sound of the door closing did Cheng Yi glance back. Once she confirmed that “Lu the Tyrant” had left, she vented her frustration by throwing the towel in her hand into the water.

The two of them spent the entire evening washing clothes and bedding. Lu Jiahe, who had never done so much manual labor since childhood, was so exhausted that she collapsed directly onto Cheng Yi’s bed.

Seeing her like this, Cheng Yi thought to herself that they had shared a bed before, so she let Lu Jiahe stay overnight in her room to save her the trouble of going back to her own courtyard.

No one knew who started the rumor, but by the time it reached Lu Zhengliang and the Old Lady Lu’s ears, it had transformed into: “Cheng Yi is pregnant, and Lu Jiahe stayed up all night taking care of her, personally fetching water and washing clothes for her.”