The Rural Beauty 153, Main Text 153 She was kicked. The girl was tender-hearted. Upon hearing the news of her uncle and aunt's passing, Lu Xiaoying's eyes glistened with tears, which rolled down in a steady stream. Overcome with sorrow and grief, she also worried that Lu Yun might be distressed, so she quickly wiped away her tears and turned to tidy up the scattered goods on the shelves. This content comprises the textual material of Chapter 153 of The Rural Beauty 153. Life has eight sufferings: birth, aging, illness, death, separation from loved ones, lingering resentment, unfulfilled desires, and inability to let go. Since life is born, death is inevitable. A single thought of love or resentment can lead to unfulfilled desires, making it impossible to calmly release what one holds dear—thus, the sufferings cascade like a chain reaction, and one issue triggers all eight. Pfft! Lu Yun reached into her pocket, pulled out a crumpled cigarette box, took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep, strong draw—unlike the time before, when she had been nearly choked—instead, the smoke Lu Xiaoying heard the sound and turned around to see Lu Yun deeply inhaling and exhaling, his brows slightly furrowed. She reached out to take the half-smoked cigarette still in his hands, but when she saw the look of deep concern on his face, she paused and simply sighed quietly, then went about arranging the goods herself. She must be thinking of Uncle Lu Feng! At that moment, Lu Yun indeed found himself thinking of his parents, Lu Feng and his wife, who had long since left him. In theory, he should have resented them—how could he have left his own parents, if it weren’t for them? How could he now be so alone, like a young wolf wandering aimlessly through a vast, open wilderness, constantly colliding with the unfamiliar surroundings? This question had been running through my mind countless times, each time offering a different answer to myself. With a slightly dazed head, Lu Yun finished his last cigarette, watching Lu Xiaoying busily moving about, and suddenly a gentle warmth welled up inside him. This content is from Chapter 153 of "Rural Beauty." "Xiaoying, I'm a bit confused. You stay here a moment—let me lie down for a while," Lu Yun said softly, gently wrapping his arms around her slender waist and whispering into her ear. Xiaoying sighed lightly and nodded. "I'll help you to your room. From now on, no more smoking." "Alright, no more smoking," Lu Yun admitted—he had clearly been drinking too much from the smoke. Wobbling slightly, he stepped out of the counter and made his way toward the inner room. Seeing this, Xiaoying quickly stepped forward to steady him, entered the inner room, and filled a basin with cold water. Just as she reached for a towel to dampen and place on his forehead, Lu Yun suddenly jumped off the bed and walked to the sink, plunging his head straight into the water without a word. The cool, clear water washed away the dizziness in her mind. She lifted her head with a splash, took the towel offered by Lu Xiaoying, wiped her face vigorously, and as the dampness disappeared, the worried expression vanished, replaced by a carefree smile. She turned to Lu Xiaoying and said, "Xiaoying, after school today, I'll be taking Hongyu home. Would you mind going back by yourself?" Seeing Lu Yun's expression return to normal, Xiaoying breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Of course, but don't treat her badly—otherwise, I'll never forgive you." Knowing how bad Lu Yun could be, she pretended to be fierce, waving her small pink fist as a warning. Lu Yun chuckled, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She'd already teased Xiaoying in the little forest—three pearls of spring water, and just thinking about it felt refreshing. As she recalled this, her gaze grew increasingly attentive, wandering restlessly over Xiaoying's graceful figure. "What do you have in mind?" Lu Xiaoying felt increasingly uncomfortable, especially with the evil glint in Lu Yun's eyes, which made her heart race like a deer in a frenzy. It wasn't the first time Lu Yun had teased her in the small grove—each encounter brought both excitement and fear. Now, seeing that look of malice from Lu Yun, and in a moment of panic glancing at the modest room, she found herself recalling the scenes from the grove. What could she do? It seemed Lu Yun had another scheme for her. She longed to escape, but Lu Yun had already blocked the door, making it impossible for her to leave. In her haste, she wrapped a towel around her neck and trembled, saying, "Lu Yun, please—don't push me." Lu Yun smiled slyly and approached her, speaking with a tone of wounded innocence. "You wouldn't let us bother Hongyu, so now you're offering yourself up to be treated to one little bout of our attentions—just once, won't you?" His voice left no room for negotiation. "Me... I... I..." "Indeed, as expected—this person truly hasn't changed at all. Lu Xiaoying's cheeks flushed with embarrassment; upon seeing Lu Yun approaching, she stepped back instinctively, unable to help but retreat. Lu Yun cleared his throat and gave a mischievous smile. "Xiaoying, what's the matter? I'm not going to eat you, am I? What's there to be afraid of? This content is from Chapter 153 of 'Rural Beauty.' " Lu Yun's omission of the word "eat" had been smooth, but as soon as he uttered it, the scene of his past bullying in the small grove came vividly to mind. Her face burned with heat, and she stepped back even faster. "Ah—!" After retreating a few steps, Xiaoying suddenly stumbled backward and fell, landing right by the bed. Her foot caught on something, and she instantly cried out, falling backward. Lu Yun chuckled, stepping forward and swiftly reaching out to intercept her just as she was about to fall onto the bed, wrapping her in a firm embrace. Their eyes met, and Xiaoying immediately realized Lu Yun had done this on purpose. "Xiaoying, please "Lu Yun spoke as if he were pitiful, but his actions were anything but gentle—he immediately laid Lu Xiaoying on the bed and spread his arms wide, ready to pounce. Not this time! Last time in the small grove, he had almost devoured her; this time, he mustn't succeed again! Lu Xiaoying bit her lips tightly, watching as Lu Yun charged forward. She bent her legs to her chest, aimed precisely at his chest, and suddenly drove her feet hard against him. Rabbit kicking an eagle! Unprepared, Lu Yun was squarely hit, gasped in surprise, and staggered back five or six steps before finally sitting down on the ground with a thud. Oh my goodness! Lu Yun was utterly frustrated, gritting his teeth and clutching his chest, so embarrassed he was nearly crying. He sat there, head drooping, silent for a long time. “Lu Yun… you… you’re okay, right? I didn’t mean to kick you hard…” The situation had been urgent, and when Lu Xiaoying kicked Lu Yun, she hadn’t given it much thought. Now seeing Lu Yun lying motionless on the ground for a while without speaking, she grew worried. But knowing Lu Yun was always fond of playing clever tricks, she only tentatively asked, without rushing to check on him. “I’m dead from the kick,” Lu Yun said, looking up with a look of genuine hurt. Seeing that Lu Yun was fine, Lu Xiaoying pouted and replied, “You always find ways to tease me! This is just a small lesson. Next time you don’t behave, I’ll kick you right onto the roof! Don’t you dare stay down there—how dirty the ground will get!” Lu Yun rolled his eyes, then quickly scrambled up and walked over to Lu Xiaoying, smiling warmly. “Next time, I’ll tie you up with a rope first…” “Next time? You still dare to have another one? You’ll tie me up and suffocate me!” … Rural Beauty 153, Chapter 153 – Updated!