My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 42

With a heart full of curiosity, Cheng Yi had Guo’er and the others leave the room, keeping only herself and Lu Jiahe inside.

“I’ll go change in the next room,” Lu Jiahe said, noticing how Cheng Yi stood by the table, bending over to examine the wedding dress with clear admiration. She picked up her own set of wedding attire and made to leave.

“Don’t,” Cheng Yi quickly called out to stop her. “Change behind the screen, and I’ll change here. I’m not sure how to put this on, so once you’re done, come out and help me.”

“Ah? T-that might not be appropriate,” Lu Jiahe stammered, her ears turning red as she looked at the other woman. Although they were both girls, the relationship between Cheng Yi and her was somewhat delicate.

Hearing this, Cheng Yi narrowed her eyes and studied the person before her, feeling a playful urge to tease. “What are you afraid of? Do you have some improper thoughts about me?” She stepped closer, one step at a time, until she was right in front of Lu Jiahe, close enough to hear her heavy breathing.

“No, no, no, not at all. Don’t talk nonsense. I’ll change behind the screen. Call me when you’re mostly dressed.” Clutching her clothes, Lu Jiahe hurried behind the screen.

Cheng Yi covered her mouth and chuckled softly at the other’s shy demeanor, thinking to herself how innocent this girl was, just a little teasing and her ears turned so red.

Behind the screen, Lu Jiahe quickly changed into her wedding robe. She glanced down at the outfit and a strange feeling suddenly welled up in her heart.

I never thought I’d actually be getting married.

She picked up the wedding cap from the chair and put it on, then sat quietly on the stool, waiting for Cheng Yi to call her.

Once both had changed, they stood together in front of the bronze mirror to take a look. Side by side in the reflection, they both seemed unable to believe that they were about to start a family.

Lu Jiahe called Guo’er into the room to have her check if the clothes fit properly, then changed into everyday attire, and they went together to Yiju for a meal.

“Study hard at the academy this afternoon, understand?” Cheng Yi reminded Lu Jiahe while eating, not forgetting to emphasize the importance of diligent learning.

“Oh, I know,” Lu Jiahe replied, burying her head in her meal. Although she didn’t like others interfering too much in her life, Cheng Yi was an exception.

“Just focus on your studies. If anyone bullies you in the future, just tell me, and I’ll stand up for you. Since we’re about to get married, from now on, whatever we do, we should discuss it together beforehand to avoid giving outsiders anything to gossip about.”

“Mm,” Lu Jiahe nodded without saying much.

Cheng Yi felt that she had changed. In the past, she only cared about her own happiness and never bothered with others’ affairs. But ever since meeting Lu Jiahe, she had gradually begun to accept the other person entering her life.

Lu Jiahe put down her chopsticks and looked at the person beside her with a troubled expression. “Will you still come back in the future?”

“Huh?” Cheng Yi was taken aback by the question. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Jiahe pursed her lips, hesitating for a long time before speaking. “I study because I want to escape the Lu family and live somewhere else. These past few days, I’ve been thinking, if I marry you, does that mean I’ll have to stay in Bianjing and won’t be able to leave?”

Cheng Yi frowned upon hearing this. Although she also wanted to leave Bianjing and live in a big city like the capital, Lu Jiahe had kept this matter bottled up for so many days and only brought it up right before their wedding. No matter who it was, this would feel hurtful.

“What do you mean? Are you trying to give me advance notice that you plan to flee from the wedding?” Cheng Yi put down her chopsticks, her expression serious as she frowned and looked at Lu Jiahe.

“No, no, don’t misunderstand,” Lu Jiahe quickly explained, seeing her anger. “You know my family situation. Before I met you, I planned to earn a scholarly rank to secure my future. But after meeting you… I wanted to ask for your opinion. Didn’t you say we should discuss everything? I just wanted to talk it over with you.”

“If you’re unwilling, then I’ll stay in Bianjing with you.”

“Hmph!” Cheng Yi let out a light snort, unsure whether to believe her words.

Seeing her skepticism, Lu Jiahe deeply regretted bringing it up. But she thought, since she was about to marry this person, she shouldn’t hide anything from her.

“I’m not trying to flee the wedding.” Only after saying this did Lu Jiahe realize they were in the backyard of Yiju. Covering her mouth, she glanced around and, seeing no one, continued, “If it were the old me, I definitely wouldn’t have told you. But I feel we’re good friends, so I wanted to discuss it with you.”

Cheng Yi found Lu Jiahe’s anxious demeanor rather endearing and, without realizing it, began making excuses for her in her heart.

“I’m not necessarily set on staying in Bianjing either. If the business environment in the capital is better, I’ll discuss with the old lady about opening another shop there. Later, I’ll bring Cui’er and Panda Eyes along as well.” To ease the other’s mind about studying, Cheng Yi decided to share her thoughts after much consideration.

Though Lu Jiahe only half-understood Cheng Yi’s words, she grasped that Cheng Yi wasn’t dead set on staying in Bianjing. “That’s good. We can explore the capital properly when we go.”

“Lu Jiahe.” Cheng Yi crossed her arms and scrutinized the person before her.

Startled by the sudden call of her name, Lu Jiahe flinched. “What’s wrong?”

Cheng Yi pressed her lips together, her expression serious and intent. “My staying in the capital is conditional on you earning a scholarly rank. You have your goals, and I have mine. After we marry, I don’t want us to hold each other back.”

Lu Jiahe understood. Cheng Yi wanted her to focus on her studies.

“I know, don’t worry.”

“This is the change and compromise I’m making for you. I hope from now on, you’ll share any thoughts or ideas with me immediately, not wait until the last minute like today.”

“I understand. It won’t happen again.” Lu Jiahe looked at Cheng Yi apologetically.

She knew her actions had disrupted the plans they’d made for their future. Though she wasn’t naturally expressive, she was willing to change for Cheng Yi.

“Take these, for the people you want to invite to our wedding.” Cheng Yi pulled a few small, sealed paper packets from her pocket and handed them over.

Lu Jiahe took the packets and glanced at them. When she saw the words “invitation” written on them, she paused. “These are invitations? Why are they packaged like this?”

“Besides our names and the wedding invitation, I also put a few Yiju membership cards inside,” Cheng Yi said, feeling a bit embarrassed as she spoke. “Remember, just give them to those you’re close with. For the others, let your father send someone to deliver them.”

Lu Jiahe squeezed the items in her hand and nodded at the other person, then packed them into her schoolbag, planning to head to the academy.

“Come back early. I’ll wait for you at the shop so we can go home together. With the wedding coming up, there’s a lot to do. Don’t go out fooling around with them these days.”

Cheng Yi was annoyed thinking about how Lu Jiahe had been going out with her friends over the past couple of days and not returning until late at night. Although she knew Lu Jiahe was a woman and wouldn’t betray her, it still made her uncomfortable!

“Mmm, I understand,” Lu Jiahe replied, feeling guilty as she recalled how Cheng Yi had waited up for her every night. She silently took the words to heart, deciding she wouldn’t go out with Jiang Huai and the others in the evenings anymore.

When Lu Jiahe arrived at the academy, she handed the invitations to Jiang Huai, Tan Siyuan, and a few others, asking them to pass the remaining ones to the rest of their friends.

“You’re getting married already? How come there was no hint of this before?” Jiang Huai held the invitation, looking at Lu Jiahe in surprise.

Lu Jiahe just smiled without saying a word.

“You’re really something, little brother, managing to win over a strong-willed girl like Miss Cheng. And you’re the first among us to get married,” Tan Siyuan remarked, already admiring Lu Jiahe for her academic achievements, and now even more impressed that she was ahead in matters of the heart.

“Not at all, not at all. We just get along well, and our families want us to marry soon,” Lu Jiahe said, scratching her nose shyly.

“By the way, we’ve invited Old Fourth and Old Second to go listen to music tonight. Why don’t you come along and give them the invitations in person? It’ll show more sincerity, don’t you think?” Jiang Huai closed his fan and grinned at Lu Jiahe.

Remembering what Cheng Yi had said before she left, Lu Jiahe refused without hesitation. “No, I’ve been busy lately, and Yi’er is waiting for me at home. How about I treat you all to a meal at Yiju during the break to make up for it?”

The sudden display of affection left Jiang Huai and Tan Siyuan speechless

.

“Oh, come on! You’re not even married yet, and you’re already ditching your friends for your lover,” Jiang Huai pretended to be displeased as he looked at his younger friend.

Tan Siyuan, who understood Lu Jiahe’s nature, knew she wasn’t the type to enjoy going out. On previous outings, she had often sat quietly while the others had fun.

“Enough, you know what she’s like. She only went along with us to keep us company. Now that she has someone waiting for her at home, don’t cause trouble for them,” Tan Siyuan interrupted Jiang Huai.

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. We’ll catch up another day.”

Lu Jiahe knew they were just joking and didn’t take their words to heart. “Sure.”

Time flew by, and in just a few days, it was the eve of Lu Jiahe and Cheng Yi’s wedding.

Since Lu Jiahe was to ride his grand steed with the bridal procession to fetch his bride tomorrow, Old Lady Lu had specially arranged for Cheng Yi to stay in a small residence owned by the Lu family within Bianjing, and even made sure to have Guo’er accompany her.

“Young Mistress, is it really appropriate for us to eat this so late at night?” Guo’er couldn’t help but swallow her saliva as she watched the sizzling, fragrant meat cooking on the iron griddle.

“It’s fine. We’ll clean everything up afterward, and no one will notice,” Cheng Yi reassured her, flipping the meat to cook the other side. “Cui’er, go fetch some more wine. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be a married woman. I want to properly bid farewell to the person I am tonight.”