Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 33

Qiu Luo pondered for a moment before asking seriously,

“Erlang, do you prefer studying, doing business, or is there something else you enjoy doing?”

Qiu Erlang was eighteen this year—an age when many young men in ancient times were already married with children. But from what Qiu Luo knew, her unfortunate younger brother was far from ready. He was still a boy without much direction. Marriage wasn’t urgent; learning how to make a living was far more important.

If he couldn’t even support himself, how would he marry and raise a family? Would they all end up starving or living off his future wife?

“I like doing business! I want to become a big boss!” Qiu Erlang raised his hand enthusiastically, as if swearing an oath.

Was his sister finally going to let him run a shop in town? That was fantastic news.

He knew it—since she was helping Cheng Yu manage so many shops, she wouldn’t forget her own brother.

But seeing the gleam of excitement on his face, Qiu Luo couldn’t help but splash cold water on his daydreams.

“Your Sister Cheng Yu’s shops do need more help—but not a head manager. What they need are waiters. I think you’d be perfect for that.”

Trying to run before he’d learned to walk? Not on her watch.

Qiu Luo had no intention of spoiling him, let alone letting him rise too fast. Giving him a leadership position right away wouldn’t just be irresponsible to Cheng Yu’s businesses—it’d be unfair to Qiu Erlang himself.

Instantly deflated, Qiu Erlang muttered,

“A waiter? I’d rather stay here and farm.”

Seeing his discouraged face, Qiu Luo softened and said earnestly,

“It’s not that I won’t give you a chance. But how many characters can you read right now? Can you understand a ledger? Can you do accounting or manage a shop? If you really had the ability, I’d absolutely recommend you as a manager. But right now, even if I handed you a shop, you wouldn’t know where to start, right?”

Qiu Erlang blinked. That… actually made sense. He could barely read, didn’t understand accounting, and had no clue how to run a business.

“But I can’t be a waiter forever, can I?”

Qiu Luo smiled and reassured him,

“Start at the shop, get familiar with how it works. Observe how the managers operate. Take time to learn how to read and calculate. Once you’re capable, I’ll definitely put you forward to be a head manager. Erlang, you’ve always been smart and quick to learn—your sister believes in you.”

Encouraged by her words, Qiu Erlang’s confidence returned. Clenching his fist, he declared,

“Don’t worry, sis! I’ll work hard!”

A head manager, huh? Just wait—he’d be up to the task soon enough.

Pleased, Qiu Luo nodded. Her brother had a good heart and a serious attitude—he just needed experience to grow.

The next day, the siblings traveled to town together.

Qiu Luo planned to help Qiu Erlang pick out a shop where he could start as a server. That way, once the new year began, they could settle into county life quickly.

She and Cheng Yu had already taken over more than a dozen small shops across the county.

Most were small eateries, primarily for selling products derived from seedless watermelon.

The shop she brought Qiu Erlang to specialized in juice.

The hand-powered juicer she had designed had just been built and was now in use.

It was the perfect place to put Qiu Erlang.

He was thrilled—not only was he fascinated by the juicer he’d never seen before, but he couldn’t stop staring at the rows of colorful juices. If he hadn’t already been stuffed, he would’ve tried every flavor in the store.

While the two siblings were chatting with the shopkeeper, Cheng Yu arrived.

Qiu Luo had sent Uncle Er Zhu ahead with word of their arrival, so Cheng Yu had come specifically to find her.

“Sister Cheng,” Qiu Erlang greeted her politely.

Cheng Yu paused, then offered a gentle smile. She casually took her coin pouch from a maid and handed it to him.

“Our last meeting was a bit rushed. Consider this a proper greeting gift.”

Qiu Erlang glanced at his sister. Seeing Qiu Luo smile and nod, he confidently accepted the gift.

“Thank you, Sister Cheng. You two talk—I’m going to look around.”

Qiu Luo followed Cheng Yu upstairs to a private room.

“What’s wrong?” she asked when she noticed Cheng Yu’s solemn expression.

Cheng Yu handed her a red envelope and said softly,

“This is addressed to you by name.”

Qiu Luo opened it—it was a wedding invitation from the Shen family.

The male lead, Shen Yanding, was marrying the antagonist, Lu Jiaojiao, right after the New Year. Not only was Cheng Yu invited, but Qiu Luo too.

Looking at the vibrant red card, Qiu Luo’s feelings were mixed.

“Are you going? Should I go too?”

Hopefully there wouldn’t be any drama. In the original story, Lu Jiaojiao had made life difficult for Cheng Yu more than once.

Cheng Yu hesitated.

“I’ll probably go with my parents.”

The Cheng and Shen families had been neighbors and close for years. Although their relationship had cooled after Shen Yanding confessed and was rejected, it was still proper to attend since they’d received an invitation.

As soon as Qiu Luo heard Cheng Yu would attend, she made up her mind.

“Then I’ll go too.”

Shen Yanding might be a scholar, but he wasn’t someone to fear. Even if the Shen family had once been glorious, now they were nothing special. Surely, he wouldn’t cause trouble on his own wedding day.

Cheng Yu nodded, though her expression remained tense.

“We should still be cautious.”

This marriage wasn’t of Shen Yanding’s choosing. The root of it traced back to Qiu Luo’s seedless watermelons. Cheng Yu knew how vindictive Shen Yanding could be.

There was no guarantee he wouldn’t blame them both.

After a pause, she looked at Qiu Luo and said,

“If I place in the exams next year, I plan to go to the capital for the palace exams. Would you come with me?”

As she spoke, her fingers clenched slightly around the teacup, a strange nervousness blooming in her heart.

By then, barring any surprises, they would already be married.

She truly hoped Qiu Luo would go with her.

But it all depended on Qiu Luo’s choice.

Qiu Luo’s eyes lit up.

“Go to the capital? That’s great! I’ve wanted to see the imperial city ever since I got here.”

“Ever since… you got here?” Cheng Yu’s gaze flickered.

There was something off about those words.

This person wasn’t the same Qiu Luo she had asked the servants to investigate.

The Qiu Luo of Qiu Village had been described as sharp-tongued, moody, and selfish.

But the woman in front of her was nothing like that.

Cheng Yu also recalled how Qiu Luo always seemed to avoid writing things by hand. Her suspicions solidified.

Qiu Luo’s heart jumped. She realized she’d misspoken and tried to brush it off—but then remembered how Cheng Yu had once covered for her.

Suddenly, she didn’t feel like pretending anymore.

Taking a deep breath, she said slowly,

“You started gathering any books I’d written in—was that because you already suspected something?”

Smart as she was, Cheng Yu must have noticed the discrepancies.

Otherwise, why would she have gone out of her way to help destroy handwriting samples?

Cheng Yu nodded gently.

“I had some vague suspicions. But I don’t think it matters. If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.”

At first, all she’d needed was a cover to avoid marriage.

Later, she’d needed a capable business partner.

Now what mattered most was this person in front of her. Nothing else was as important.

Qiu Luo fell silent. Cheng Yu was so understanding—she didn’t even know where to begin.

Especially since the truth was… impossible.

She hesitated for a long time, then looked at Cheng Yu.

“I’m really not the same Qiu Luo anymore. But from the night we met to now, that part has never changed. If I get the chance, I’ll tell you everything.”

She would be honest with Cheng Yu—before their wedding.

Cheng Yu’s heart tightened. She pursed her lips and asked quietly,

“Will you change… in the future?”

She didn’t care who Qiu Luo had been before. She just didn’t want the woman in front of her to turn into someone she no longer recognized.

Qiu Luo frowned slightly.

“I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll change.”

But even as she said it, her heart was uncertain. What if she suddenly returned to the modern world? And where had the original Qiu Luo gone, anyway? Why did they share the same name—and even the same face?

Cheng Yu was stunned. She… didn’t know?

Seeing Qiu Luo’s worried face, Cheng Yu smiled softly, as if to offer comfort.

“It’s alright. I’ll recognize you no matter what.”

Qiu Luo’s gaze lingered on Cheng Yu’s face—bright features with an aura of cool grace, always giving off a distant calm.

But now, with that smile, she looked so gentle… and oddly convincing.