My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 37

Whoa! This is way too much money!

Cheng Yi inwardly marveled as she looked at the deeds spread out on the table.

“This.” Lu Jiahe frowned, studying the old lady’s expression. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the other party was about to leave her. “Why are you suddenly bringing these out? You should keep these things safely for yourself.”

Having lived for decades, Old Lady Lu naturally understood what her granddaughter was thinking.

“Silly child, I’m perfectly fine. These are for you to marry Miss Cheng. How could you take a wife without giving a betrothal gift?”

“Ah?” Cheng Yi was shocked upon hearing this. She was already grateful that Old Lady Lu had given her money to open a shop, and now she was offering even more. “Old Ancestor, there’s no need for this. You’ve already helped me more than enough. Besides, I’m currently running the shop under the Lu family’s support. If you give me additional things, I would feel indebted to you.”

Cheng Yi never imagined that this was exactly the effect Old Lady Lu wanted.

Although Old Lady Lu planned to leave these assets to Lu Jiahe and Cheng Yi in the future, she wanted to create a reason for Cheng Yi to feel burdened, making it harder for her to leave her granddaughter easily later on.

People are selfish by nature. While Old Lady Lu admired Cheng Yi’s character, compared to her own granddaughter’s future, she cared more about Lu Jiahe.

“How can that be? This is the proper etiquette. The Lu family won’t shortchange you.” Old Lady Lu smiled warmly, carefully observing the expression on Cheng Yi’s face.

Hearing this, Cheng Yi raised her hand to her forehead. She truly didn’t want any betrothal gifts, as Lu Jiahe had already provided more than enough help and support.

Under the table, she secretly stepped on Lu Jiahe’s foot, signaling with her eyes for him to quickly refuse the offer.

Receiving Cheng Yi’s signal, Lu Jiahe nodded. “Grandmother, please don’t do this. Yi’er and I are deeply in love. Our feelings can’t be measured by money. Aren’t you doubting us by doing this?”

Cheng Yi’s face turned green upon hearing Lu Jiahe call her by that intimate name. Couldn’t he have found a better excuse? Why did he have to say something so nauseating?

Old Lady Lu’s eyes lit up upon hearing her granddaughter’s words. She gazed at the two with delight. “Really? But didn’t you used to dislike each other?”

“Grandmother, people’s feelings can change. We get along very well now, and Yi’er has agreed to go to the capital with me in a few days.” After saying this, Lu Jiahe deliberately gave Cheng Yi a reassuring look.

Cheng Yi was speechless. She propped her elbow on the table and rested her forehead in her hand.

Old Lady Lu’s spirits were much higher than before! She glanced at the old maid, signaling her to pack the items into the wooden box, then said, “If that’s the case, then it’s for the best. Whether I give these to you now or later, they’ll be yours eventually. Consider them something for you to rely on in the future.”

Lu Jiahe watched Old Lady Lu, her brows still furrowed. She couldn’t figure out why her grandmother had called them over so late at night.

“The reason I called you here so late is simply to ask when you plan to hold the wedding.”

Well, there it was, her ultimate goal.

Cheng Yi lowered her hand and glanced at Old Lady Lu, thinking to herself that the woman truly lived up to her reputation as someone tempered by society, even when forcing a marriage, she made it impossible to refuse.

Lu Jiahe turned her head upon hearing this and looked at Cheng Yi. How was she supposed to respond to this? It wasn’t as if her opinion mattered anyway!

Cheng Yi followed her gaze and shot Lu Jiahe a glare before replying, “Back then, I came to the Lu family and agreed to your conditions. I won’t go back on my word, so you can rest assured.”

She still remembered her agreement with Old Lady Lu. Not only had the Lu family provided her with food and clothing, but they had also given her a large sum of money to support her in opening a shop. Besides, she didn’t have any negative impressions of Lu Jiahe. Marrying her didn’t bother her in the slightest.

Old Lady Lu smiled and nodded at Cheng Yi, then turned to her granddaughter. “And you? What are your thoughts on this?”

Lu Jiahe frowned upon hearing this and thought it over carefully. Cheng Yi had always treated her well and was a decent person. Moreover, marrying her would make it easier to conceal her true identity as a woman. For her, this arrangement wasn’t a bad deal.

“I’ll follow her lead,” Lu Jiahe said, cautiously raising her eyes to glance at Cheng Yi.

Cheng Yi was slightly taken aback by this response. Shouldn’t the other party be opposing her? Why was she suddenly so passive?

“Good. Since that’s settled, you two should hold the wedding before heading to the capital. It’ll make things easier for you outside,” Old Lady Lu said, then stood up and hurried toward the back room. Afraid they might change their mind she deliberately quickened her pace. “Alright, it’s getting late. You should both head back and rest now.”

Cheng Yi watched Old Lady Lu’s retreating figure and thought to herself, This old lady isn’t just cunning—she’s remarkably spry too! Her earlier pitiful act was clearly a trap set for us.

The two of them left Old Lady Lu’s courtyard and walked back together. As they approached Cheng Yi’s room, they saw a group of maids and servants carrying bags and boxes out.

“What’s going on? Did your family decide to kick me out the moment I agreed to marry you?” Cheng Yi asked.

Lu Jiahe frowned upon hearing this. She had no idea why the servants were moving all of Cheng Yi’s belongings out of her room, so she quickly stepped forward to stop one of the servants.

“What’s happening? Who told you to move Miss Cheng’s belongings out? Where are you taking them?”

The servant, recognizing the young master of the house, bowed while holding the items. “Young Master, the master ordered us to move all of Miss Cheng’s belongings to your room.”

“To my room?”

Lu Jiahe was puzzled and wanted to confront her father about it. “I’ll go ask my father. Do you want to check your room first?” She felt that moving someone’s belongings without permission was highly inappropriate.

Cheng Yi was also displeased by the situation. “Isn’t your father right over there? Let’s go ask him,” she said, pointing toward the man standing at her doorway.

Lu Jiahe followed her gaze and, without another word, grabbed Cheng Yi’s hand and strode over.

“What are you doing? How could you just open someone else’s room and mess with their belongings?” Lu Jiahe glared at the man, her expression far from friendly.

Lu Zhengliang felt an immediate urge to erupt in anger and curse at Lu Jiahe for speaking to him in such a manner, but recalling his mother’s words from earlier that day, he suppressed the fury rising within him.

“I only had someone move the larger items you didn’t have in your room. Is it wrong for me to do something within my means for you?” Lu Zhengliang stared sternly at the other person.

“Regardless of what it is, this room belongs to Miss Cheng. No one should enter without her permission.” Over the years, Lu Jiahe had always opposed Lu Zhengliang, not only because of matters concerning her mother but also because he often acted under the guise of being the patriarch, doing many things she disliked under the pretense of it being for her own good.

Hearing this, Lu Zhengliang’s face darkened instantly. “You unfilial child! Are you saying that in this Lu residence, I need your permission to go anywhere or do anything?”

Cheng Yi glanced around the room and noticed that aside from her dressing table and some scattered cosmetics, nothing else had been touched.

“Jiahe, Father-in-law really didn’t move my personal belongings. Please don’t be like this.” Hearing the tension escalate, Cheng Yi quickly tugged at Lu Jiahe’s sleeve.

Feeling the tug on her sleeve, Lu Jiahe glanced at Cheng Yi and swallowed the words she was about to say.

Lu Zhengliang, too, decided not to press the matter further upon hearing Cheng Yi address him as “Father-in-law.”

“Since the two of you are about to marry, there’s no need to sleep in separate rooms anymore.”

Lu Zhengliang had been preoccupied with whether Cheng Yi was pregnant. Through the servants, he had also learned that the two had been sleeping together almost every day recently. If Cheng Yi wasn’t pregnant, he intended to use this opportunity to encourage them to put in more effort so he could soon hold a grandchild.

Sensing Lu Jiahe’s agitation, Cheng Yi grabbed her wrist and gave it a gentle pull. Then, turning to Lu Zhengliang, she said, “That’s fine.”

As both were women, she didn’t mind sharing a room with Lu Jiahe for the time being. Moreover, they were soon heading to the capital, and putting on a harmonious front for Old Lady Lu would set her mind at ease.

Lu Jiahe turned to Cheng Yi in disbelief, rendered speechless. Seeing this, Cheng Yi shook her head slightly, thinking she would explain later when they returned to their room.

By the time the two finished tidying up and returned, Lu Jiahe’s room was no longer as spacious as before. Traces of Cheng Yi’s presence could be found in every corner.

“How could you agree to him so easily?” Lu Jiahe sat on the bed, watching Cheng Yi organize her belongings in front of the wardrobe.

Without even looking at her, Cheng Yi replied nonchalantly, “From the look on your father’s face, I’d say he’s probably already figured out I’m not pregnant. Otherwise, why would he be in such a hurry to move me into your room?”

Lu Jiahe froze. Her anger having blinded her to this possibility. “How did you know?”

“I had a hunch when your grandmother called us over to discuss the wedding. Think about it, we’d already settled on getting married later, but her summoning us today must mean she discussed something with someone, prompting this urgency.”

“B-but won’t you be putting yourself at too much of a disadvantage by doing this?” Lu Jiahe bit her lip, staring at Cheng Yi’s figure. She had chosen to be with Cheng Yi only to conceal her own identity, but what about the other party?

Cheng Yi, for her part, felt that her impression of Lu Jiahe was fairly positive. After spending time together, she hadn’t developed any aversion to her. Rather than struggling alone in this unfamiliar dynasty, she didn’t mind getting to know Lu Jiahe better.

“I’m not at a disadvantage. I don’t mind spending more time with you to see how things go.” Cheng Yi closed the wardrobe door and turned around, studying Lu Jiahe intently.