Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 38

Qiu Luo leaned in, until their foreheads touched.

“I did come to see you for something—something important.”

Her brows lifted slightly, eyes deep and intense. Her voice was low and slow, carrying a faint pressure, as if deliberately letting her intent show.

She was no saint. When she liked someone, she yearned for closeness—an inseparable kind of intimacy.

Cheng Yu’s fingers curled slightly, her hands gripping the desk behind her. There was nowhere to escape.

They stared at each other in silence—until Qiu Luo wrapped an arm around her waist and bent forward.

Cheng Yu instinctively closed her eyes, her lips parting slightly.

“Isn’t it… too fast now?”

She was referring to that time—when she’d taken the initiative, and Qiu Luo had said it was too soon…

Qiu Luo’s movements paused for a beat. Then, with her eyes still closed, she kissed Cheng Yu softly and murmured against her lips,

“Not too fast. Now I think… it’s far too slow.”

As she spoke, she cupped Cheng Yu’s face, hands brushing gently over her ears.

The warmth of her dry palms blocked out all sound. Cheng Yu’s lashes trembled, her breath growing uneven—her heartbeat echoing in her ears, thunderous and erratic.

Whose heart was racing? It was impossible to tell.

The rhythm chaotic, like drums in a storm.

When the kiss finally ended, Qiu Luo lingered—pressing soft kisses to the corner of her lips, her chin…

Cheng Yu opened her eyes, trembling slightly as she tried to steady herself.

That night during the Mid-Autumn Festival, she’d been drugged by Lu Jiaojiao, her memories hazy and disordered. This was different—it was the first time, the first time they shared a breath while fully sober.

Only now did she realize how loud a person’s breath could be.

Only now did she feel how soft Qiu Luo’s lips truly were.

It overwhelmed her senses, left her dazed—like wandering through morning mist.

Sunlight. Crimson clouds. A breeze. Birds chirping…

All of it tugged at her soul, making her forget where she was.

Until her collar loosened, and slender, firm fingers brushed her neck.

“Qiu Luo, don’t…” Cheng Yu grasped her hand, her breath catching.

Qiu Luo’s fingers stilled, then gently entwined with hers.

She looked up at the woman before her.

Cheng Yu wore a crimson top and a black skirt. Her long hair flowed like ink, her bright eyes now tinged with a softness brought on by an uneven heartbeat.

Qiu Luo drew in a deep breath and embraced her.

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t cross the line. We’ll wait—until we’re married.”

“…Mm.”

“I wish we could marry tomorrow.”

“Nonsense.”

Qiu Luo hugged her tighter, feigning dissatisfaction.

“How is that nonsense? Don’t tell me you don’t want to marry me soon.”

Cheng Yu’s gaze flickered, but she said nothing.

…Of course she did.

—

In the inner courtyard, Madam Cheng looked up as her head maid entered.

“Ah Mo, has Qiu Luo gone to find Yu’er? Did they argue?”

Ah Mo shook her head. “Miss Qiu entered the study and hasn’t come out. I didn’t hear any fighting, so I returned.”

Madam Cheng sipped her tea, casually blowing on it.

“No quarrels—that’s good. Spread the word: from now on, no one from the Shen family is allowed inside. As for the Shen-Lu wedding, just send a gift in my name. No need for anyone from our household to attend.”

By “our household,” she didn’t just mean herself—it included Cheng Yu and Qiu Luo.

Ah Mo had served Madam Cheng for many years; she understood the implications immediately.

“Yes, madam. I’ll inform the young miss at once.”

She made her way back to the courtyard outside the study and hesitated at the door.

A small maid noticed her and asked cheerfully, “Sister Ah Mo, are you here for the young miss?”

Ah Mo nodded. “Xiao Miao, is the young miss available now?”

“She is! I’ll let her know.”

Since there had been no instructions not to disturb them, Xiao Miao knocked gently.

“Young miss, Sister Ah Mo is here.”

From inside came Cheng Yu’s voice:

“Come in.”

Ah Mo entered quietly, eyes lowered, not daring to glance at the scene inside the room.

“The madam says it’s best if neither you nor Miss Qiu attend the Shen family’s wedding banquet, to avoid unnecessary trouble—”

“Thank you, Sister Ah Mo. Please tell Mother we’ll follow her lead,” Cheng Yu replied, seated calmly at her desk.

Qiu Luo sat cross-legged on a small couch, idly flipping through a book, silently listening.

Ah Mo took the hint and backed out, closing the door behind her.

Now the room held only two.

Qiu Luo set down the book and walked over.

Cheng Yu stiffened, fingers nervously curling.

“Don’t… don’t be reckless. You said we’d wait until marriage…”

“Until what…?”

Cheng Yu pressed her lips together, eyes darting away.

Qiu Luo came up behind her and gently massaged her shoulders.

“Don’t let your mind wander. Let’s talk seriously. We won’t attend Shen Yanding’s wedding, but I doubt he’ll give up so easily. That’s why I think… we should get married sooner.”

Once they were married, she would accompany Cheng Yu to the city for the exams. If Cheng Yu didn’t pass, they’d stay long-term and gradually shift all business there.

If she passed, they’d head to the capital and prepare for the spring imperial exam.

In short—the farther they were from that unpleasant male lead, the better.

Cheng Yu looked up, her mind stirring. Qiu Luo’s suggestion of marrying soon—it was hard not to read into that.

Especially when she’d just accused her of overthinking things.

Gently biting her lip, she replied,

“Alright. Let’s marry soon.”

With their decision made, they went to speak to Madam Cheng—only to run into an unexpected guest.

Father Cheng smiled for the first time in ages as he looked at them.

“Yu’er, come here. Take this invitation. I hope you’ll visit home when you can. Even though your mother and I are no longer together, we’ll always be father and daughter.”

He didn’t spare Qiu Luo so much as a glance—completely ignoring her.

Qiu Luo rolled her eyes internally and stayed relaxed. She wasn’t about to greet a man who had cast aside his wife for a concubine.

Cheng Yu accepted the red invitation and looked to her mother.

Madam Cheng merely leaned back in her chair and smiled faintly, saying nothing.

Lowering her head, Cheng Yu glanced at the card. Her sharp eyes caught a few words:

Tomorrow — Full Month Celebration of Cheng Family Daughter.

The day before Shen Yanding’s wedding.

Ah yes—on the day she’d left the estate, Concubine Tang had gone into early labor.

Then came the New Year. She hadn’t paid attention to whether the baby was a boy or girl.

Now she had her answer. It had already been a month.

Her eyes cooled, her tone toward Father Cheng becoming distant and polite.

Getting no warmth in return, he forced a laugh, left behind a trunk of silk, and excused himself.

Only after he left did Madam Cheng snort coldly.

“He waited and waited, and still didn’t get what he wanted. So now he remembers you’re his daughter? Hmph. If he really cared, he’d be more generous—what’s the point of bringing useless cloth to annoy us?”

She waved a hand, signaling for the servants to take the silk away.

Cheng Yu folded the invitation neatly.

“Mother, shall we go?”

Remembering her only the day before the baby’s celebration? It was likely he hadn’t intended to invite them at all—something must have changed his mind.

Madam Cheng sighed.

“He’s still your father. You and Qiu Luo go ahead. I’m getting old—I’d rather not attend.”

That house no longer felt like home. But she didn’t want her own anger to affect Cheng Yu’s relationship with her father.

She and that man were already divorced. Best to stay apart and avoid bitterness.

“I understand. We’ll attend and come back to keep you company,” Cheng Yu said, walking to her mother’s side and gently taking her arm.

No matter her relationship with her father—she would always be her mother’s daughter.

Madam Cheng’s eyes grew misty.

“My Yu’er has really grown up…”

“Mother, don’t cry.”

Cheng Yu wasn’t good with words and didn’t know how to comfort others, but seeing her mother’s tearful eyes, she couldn’t help feeling a pang in her chest.

Madam Cheng wiped her eyes and smiled through her emotions.

“I’m not crying. I’m happy—so proud of you.”

Then she turned to Qiu Luo, her tone gentle.

“Qiu Luo, go with Yu’er. Bring Erlang too—don’t waste the gift. Go enjoy the banquet.”