Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 42

After Qiu Luo left, Madam Cheng waved her hand, signaling Ah Mo to withdraw as well.

She glanced at the agreement, eyes settling on Qiu Luo’s signature. She had seen it clearly—Qiu Luo hadn’t hesitated for even a moment before signing.

Madam Cheng smiled wordlessly, then walked over to the brazier and tossed the contract into the fire.

Only then did she feel truly at peace.

—

On the other side, Shen Yanding’s wedding was in full swing. After completing the ceremonial bows and sending his bride Lu Jiaojiao into the bridal chamber, he began to toast the guests with a wine cup in hand.

It should have been a simple formality. No one expected the groom to be forced into drinking excessively—after all, who would want to delay his wedding night?

But Shen Yanding didn’t follow convention. He drank cup after cup, as if he bore a grudge against the wine itself. There was no trace of joy on his face.

Lu County Magistrate’s expression darkened. If it weren’t for the fact that it was his daughter’s wedding day, he would’ve stormed off already.

Who is this Shen brat trying to snub with that attitude?

Watching for a while, the magistrate finally couldn’t hold his tongue. His love for his daughter compelled him to speak:

“Yanding, Jiaojiao is yours to care for now. You’d better treat her well, or I won’t let it slide.”

Shen Yanding cast a sideways glance at the magistrate. The bitterness in his heart surged—he had been forced to marry Lu Jiaojiao under this man’s power and influence.

A mere county magistrate, yet he cost me the one I love. And that woman—Lu Jiaojiao—father and daughter are two of a kind!

His resentment silenced him. He had completely forgotten the real cause of all this: it was his own fault for going after Qiu Luo and ending up in legal trouble. After digging his own grave, he had been the one to propose marriage to Lu Jiaojiao.

Now here he was.

Father Shen quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Brother Lu, don’t worry. Yanding will do his duty. Come—let’s drink.”

Shen Yanding listlessly drank the wine, his gaze cold and distant.

By the time he returned to the bridal chamber, he was thoroughly drunk. He collapsed onto the bed without even lifting his bride’s veil.

All of Lu Jiaojiao’s anticipation turned to bitterness. Her lips tasted only sorrow.

She lifted her veil and looked at the man who lay passed out on the bed. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

—

Back at the Lu residence, the magistrate returned in a fury, venting as he paced.

“Did you see the look on that Shen brat’s face? This marriage feels like a punishment to him! As if we’ve disgraced him by marrying our daughter to him!”

Madam Lu, however, seemed far less troubled. “You can’t force love, my dear. Given time, affection grows. As long as Jiaojiao is happy, why worry so much?”

With her father being the county magistrate, could Shen Yanding dare mistreat her?

The magistrate snorted. “You speak of affection—but that man’s heart clearly doesn’t belong to Jiaojiao. Just wait. The moment he gains power, she’ll be the last thing on his mind.”

Now he truly regretted it. A watermelon forcibly twisted from the vine is never sweet.

If Shen Yanding passed the imperial exam one day and became a court official, what would a lowly county magistrate father-in-law amount to? He’d probably be cast aside—or worse, punished in retaliation.

Madam Lu, upon hearing this, began to worry too. She thought for a moment and said softly,

“So long as he never gains power… so long as he stays beneath your heel forever, won’t Jiaojiao have peace?”

She was speaking from experience. If not for her own elder brother working under the prefect, who knows how many concubines her husband would’ve brought home by now?

Men… they’re all the same. You have to keep them suppressed, or they’ll stray.

The magistrate’s eyes lit up. “You mean… Hmph. I’ll think on that. I’ll think very carefully.”

—

While the male lead’s wedding descended into chaos, Qiu Luo had already accompanied Cheng Yu to the provincial capital.

Two days later, Madam Cheng arrived as well.

Originally, she had planned for the two to marry before the exam. But seeing how busy Qiu Luo was with expanding the business and how focused her daughter was on her studies, she reconsidered and postponed the wedding.

Qiu Luo had no objections—this had been her intention as well.

That night, just as Qiu Luo was about to go to bed, a knock sounded at her door.

It was Cheng Yu.

“Mother said… you agreed to delay the wedding until after the exam rankings are announced?” Her tone was neutral, but her eyes were unreadable.

Qiu Luo studied her expression and grew concerned. “Does that bother you?”

Cheng Yu hesitated, lips pressed together. She wasn’t exactly upset—just unsettled. Did this person not want to marry her sooner?

Qiu Luo gently took her hand and teased,

“Worried that you’ll rank so high in the exams I’ll be unworthy of you?”

Cheng Yu shook her head slowly. “I’ve never thought that. I…”

Under the flickering candlelight, her eyes grew soft, lips trembling with words unsaid.

“Then what are you worried about? Do you want to marry sooner?”

This time, Qiu Luo guessed right.

Cheng Yu lowered her gaze in silence. The truth was clear. Though their feelings were mutual, they hadn’t been together long, and the future was full of uncertainty—naturally, that bred anxiety.

Qiu Luo stood up, walked over, and gently embraced her.

“I want to marry you too—so badly I wish we could wed today. But your exams are close. I’m afraid if we marry now, I won’t be able to restrain myself… I’ll want to be with you every night. That could ruin everything. Cheng Yu, we have a long life ahead. A very long life.”

Cheng Yu understood the logic, and upon hearing Qiu Luo’s words, she felt herself calming down. She was intelligent, yes—but when it came to love, her clarity often blurred.

“You’re right. The days that belong to us are still ahead.”

Suddenly, a line of poetry came to mind:

‘If our love is meant to last, must we meet from dawn to dusk?’

Only now did she truly understand it. A smile curved her lips.

“What are you smiling about?” Qiu Luo gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her own smile blooming.

“I should go back to rest. I have studying to do in the morning,” Cheng Yu replied.

Qiu Luo: “…”

This woman really just came to stir me up and leave? That’s irresponsible.

So, she leaned in and whispered by Cheng Yu’s ear,

“Don’t go tonight. I won’t cross any lines.”

Cheng Yu’s smile froze, panic flashing in her eyes.

She turned slightly and met Qiu Luo’s gaze—bright, sparkling, full of unspoken affection.

Qiu Luo cupped her face gently and said in a low, coaxing voice,

“I just want to hold you. Kiss you. Nothing more. Consider it my consolation for the lonely nights to come while you study.”

Cheng Yu’s breath hitched. She turned away without answering—but her bright red ears gave her away.

Seeing this, Qiu Luo took her hand and led her to the bed.

Cheng Yu gave a half-hearted tug, but Qiu Luo only held her tighter.

Within moments, Cheng Yu was pulled onto the bed, pressed beneath her.

“The lights…” Cheng Yu glanced quickly at the table, face flushed.

Qiu Luo laughed softly and yanked the quilt over both their heads, plunging the world into darkness.

“There. No more lights.”

“Mmm…”

Cheng Yu shut her eyes, trying to steady her pounding heart.

Her pale fingers reached behind Qiu Luo, tugging the quilt up a little more, covering them to the shoulders.

“Be good. I won’t cross the line…”

On the table, the candlelight flickered, as if curiously peering at the figures beneath the covers.

Soon, the bed curtains fell, blocking out even the candle’s gaze.

They slept deeply and peacefully.

—

So much so that the next morning, they woke up late.

Outside, the maid Xiao Miao knocked on the door. “Miss, it’s time for breakfast!”

Miss never sleeps in… what’s going on today? She’s never missed breakfast before!

A voice replied, “I’m here.”

Xiao Miao turned in surprise. She looked at the door—then back again.

What? How did Miss get behind me? Isn’t the door still closed?

But then she understood.

Because standing behind Cheng Yu… was Qiu Luo.

Qiu Luo smiled, her gaze glued to Cheng Yu with unrestrained affection. In the morning sunlight, her eyes shimmered like stars.

The little maid gasped in realization.

Oh my—Miss climbed into someone’s bed last night! No, no—she had a passionate night! And I was here worrying she’d changed and started sleeping in!

These young masters and mistresses, always making trouble. No sense of moderation.

Shaking her head, she rushed forward.

“Young Masters, Sister Ah Mo’s already come to call you twice. Let’s hurry, or Madam will get anxious!”

She probably already was anxious. A woman who always woke at dawn suddenly sleeping in? Anyone would worry something had happened.