Transaction #018 Faced with the iron lady’s persistent questions, Lu Yun finally decided to go all-in and admitted what seemed utterly unbecoming: “So in my dreams, I saw Professor Zhang—how strange it is—I reached out and touched that thing, and before I knew it, there was a flow of something new.” Of course, the iron lady understood perfectly well what Lu Yun meant by "flow"—a subtle blush rose on her forehead as she gently furrowed her brows. “And since then,” she asked, “have you ever thought of her again?” Lu Yun nodded carefully, watching closely for any shift in the old woman’s expression. What was happening today? Was it that he had finally developed what everyone said seniors suffered—the so-called ‘senile springtime syndrome’? Or why would someone in such a distinguished position ask questions so oddly intimate? “Every day,” Lu Yun replied, “I think of her—just now in class, when I saw you, I found myself remembering my dream. That’s why I wandered off and accidentally brushed against you.” As he finished speaking, he almost gasped at how bold it sounded—he had never imagined saying such a thing aloud before in front of the iron lady. “You’re so young,” she said, “and yet now you’ve developed these rather unusual feelings for me. Today’s incident shall be enough—no need to daydream during class anymore.” Her words were still echoing when the classroom bell rang. “Well… then I’ll go back now, thank you, Teacher,” Lu Yun said, surprised that such an awkward moment had been so gently brushed aside—and he was filled with a growing sense of curiosity about her unusual behavior. “Go on,” she replied quietly. “Have a hearty breakfast—you’re at the height of growth.” Relieved beyond words, Lu Yun bowed deeply and then dashed out of the office as if fleeing from an impending storm—fearful that she might change her mind at any moment. Once he was gone, the iron lady stood there, lost in thought, murmuring softly: “What has come over me? I’ve been gently touched by a student—and now, hearing him speak of dreams… instead of feeling upset, I feel something warm and pleasant.” Even more puzzlingly, when he mentioned that he dreamed of her every day, she felt her cheeks grow hot—her mind briefly drifting to the image of what might be happening in those dreams. She sighed deeply and stood up, stepping out into the hallway. The summer morning air wasn’t exactly refreshing either… On his way back to class, a boy suddenly pulled him aside and grinned excitedly: “Lu Yun—how about that? Did it feel good?” “What—what ‘double’ is this?” Lu Yun asked, puzzled as he looked at the boy holding him. The boy was Zhou Quan—the one who had woken him up in the dormitory earlier. He’d listened with disdain to Lu Yun’s tale and now said: “You’re playing dumb! When the iron lady hit you on your head, didn’t your hand rest right on her big rabbit? Everyone else might have missed it—but I saw it clearly! How was it?” “Zhou Quan,” Lu Yun interjected, “are you going to die if this gets back to the iron lady? She’s known for her firm palm pressure—she’ll give you a solid lecture!” “You don’t tell me yet?” Zhou Quan pleaded. “I’m already holding my breath waiting!” “Holding your breath? Then go find your junior-year fox-girl friend and have her help you release the tension,” Zhou Quan muttered, eyes dull with frustration. “She’s not even here—her aunt is visiting from home and hasn’t left yet! I can’t very well move.” Lu Yun looked at him, puzzled: “Make her use her hands or mouth on you? Can a living person really be squeezed to death by urine?” “Well…?” Lu Yun glanced around cautiously, lowering his voice. “Zhou Quan—do you think… maybe you’ve been planning to take the iron lady yourself?” By now, most of the students had gone off to eat, leaving only Lu Yun and Zhou Quan. With a little push, Zhou Quan held Lu Yun firmly in place and chuckled: “If she ever agrees, I’ll be anything but polite. You don’t know how much I’ve admired mature women—like green apples that are still young and crisp—they’re often too stiff to enjoy.” Lu Yun thought for a moment and smiled gently: “Honestly, it wasn’t really special—I was so startled at the time, I couldn’t even think about anything else.” “You’re kidding,” Zhou Quan replied, rolling his eyes. “I’ve known you longer than that—when the world ends and the roof collapses, you still won’t move when it’s your turn to gain something.” “Well then,” Lu Yun said, turning his gaze back with a sharp look, “what would be different? Just slightly larger, softer, perhaps?” “You don’t know anything at all!” Zhou Quan exclaimed. “The two things on the iron lady’s chest—those aren’t ordinary! I’d say most of the female teachers here fall short when compared to hers. In fact, I often dream about holding those in my hands.” “Get lost,” Lu Yun said firmly, pushing him away. “I’m off to eat now—I’ll see you dreaming all day long!” When Lu Yun truly began to walk away, Zhou Quan grew anxious: “Wait—here’s a secret I’ve been saving for you!” “What kind of secret?” Lu Yun paused and listened intently as he walked. “Apparently,” Zhou Quan said with an air of mystery, “we’re getting a new female teacher coming in—she’ll teach our art class.” “And that’s so surprising?” Lu Yun asked, stopping halfway. “There are already several female teachers at the school—what’s special about this one?” “You don’t know,” Zhou Quan replied, “she’s from the city—and she’s absolutely stunning!” “Oh?” Lu Yun paused again and turned to face him. “Who told you that?” “That doesn’t matter,” Zhou Quan said firmly. “Tonight, after dinner, I’ll ask you to sneak over to her office with me—once we see the new teacher arrives, I’ll do everything in my power to help you secure her.” He didn’t wait for a reply—he saw Lu Yun’s hesitation and knew he was already committed. “Let’s just wait until then,” Lu Yun said, “for now, I simply want to eat—nothing else.” “Well, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed,” Zhou Quan promised with confidence, smiling. “I’ll treat you to egg pancakes tonight—after dinner, we can go together and make a little extra progress.” Lu Yun rolled his eyes: “A real color lover!” Zhou Quan didn’t care at all—he laughed lightly. “You’re not so bad yourself—you know how it is, men and women are always like that, right? Besides, she’s not even my cousin—she’s the one who initiated everything. As a progressive young socialist, how could I possibly refuse such an opportunity?” “Then you’ve gone full of chaos!” Lu Yun snapped. “You’re talking about something far beyond mere romance—you're describing something scandalous!” “Well…” Zhou Quan trailed off, rubbing his temples. The two continued walking in near-whispered tones, arguing fiercely—Lu Yun’s words nearly drove Zhou Quan to the point of collapse. … Rural Beauty #018 – Transaction #018 Completed!