Chapter 036: The Off-Kilter Roast Duck vs. Ling Xiaoman Little birds flutter their wings, eager to dive into the grassy thicket in search of insects to munch on. But just as Lu Yun’s little bird was about to weave its way through the dense, lush grove of Liu Yun's forest, suddenly—his ears were snatched and lifted. "Hey! Who the heck did this to me?" Lu Yun shouted, wincing in pain. "Lu Yun," said the teacher, "you've really grown up—you’ve now dared to scold your instructor!" Though Lu Yun couldn't turn his head to see who had grabbed him, his hearing remained sharp. As soon as the voice came out, he instantly recognized the speaker. "Teacher, I—uh—" Mommy! What about the woods? What about Liu Yun’s lush grove? It was all a dream! He’d been asleep and dreaming of springtime romance. This class was now doomed to be one of Lu Yun's most miserable ones—the very lesson taught by his homeroom teacher, Wang Zhiyang. Last night he had missed the entire session, and now he was dozing off again in the middle of it. How could he possibly survive this? "You what? Go stand right there and keep sleeping!" Wang Zhiyang leaned on one side with a crooked neck, then slapped Lu Yun hard on the back. Lu Yun rubbed his ears and dashed out of the classroom, muttering under his breath: "How about you, old crook? You’re still not dead yet, are you?" "Wobbly-Necked Roast Duck"—that was exactly how the students had nicknamed Wang Zhiyang. Strange. Usually, when Lu Yun dozed off and got caught, it was always the class monitor, Liang Hongyu, who would gently wake him up. But this time, she’d completely overlooked him—why? Hadn’t he just given her a passionate performance earlier, perhaps even causing her to feel resentful? That didn't make sense at all. Liang Hongyu’s character was one of the most reliable and steadfast in the school—he wouldn’t have simply let Lu Yun suffer this way. Lu Yun leaned against the classroom door, gazing toward his seat with a growing wave of questions swirling inside him. "Liang Hongyu has never missed a single class before. Why today? And why not during Wang Zhiyang’s class—the very one that's so unbearable to me?" With all these mysteries spinning in his mind, Lu Yun settled down under the sunlight, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes, pretending to sleep. Where had Liang Hongyu gone off to? To wash her face? Was it really taking this long? Stunned! People say when things go wrong, even cold water tastes like gravel—well, that’s precisely what was happening now. When is a little monitor like Liang Hongyu ever going to miss a class? Not just any day—it had to be during Wang Zhiyang’s lesson! What a stroke of bad luck! A falling star in love and a classroom disaster in pursuit! Lu Yun sighed deeply, then decided—since the lecture was now officially canceled, might as well sleep on. The dreamy image of Liu Yun kept haunting him. By heaven! Tonight he was going to meet her—the sly fox of Liu Yun’s heart! Moving slightly, Lu Yun watched Wang Zhiyang on stage, passionately expounding on textbook content, then shook his head and muttered under his breath before finding a spot near the window, sinking into a doze. The sun shone bright—perfect conditions for a deep nap. Just as Lu Yun was drifting off, a clear, crisp voice broke through the silence: "Hmm! This student—you didn’t go back to class; you're sleeping right here outside. Isn't it possible that the teacher might punish you?" Lu Yun quickly sat up, rubbed his still-drowsy eyes and carefully studied the woman speaking. She was a woman of about twenty years old, with short hair neatly cut just past her ears. Her lips were softly painted—delicately blended together—and her small, proud nose adorned with a single pair of eyeglasses. She wore a white blouse Lu Yun had never seen before, paired with knee-length pants that gave off an icy freshness. Her long, slender legs were wrapped in soft, netted tights, and her feet rested in a pair of purple flat shoes—simple yet full of wild charm. Faced with such beauty, Lu Yun felt his cheeks flush warmly; he scratched the back of his neck, nervously saying: "I fell asleep during class and was caught by the teacher, so I've been standing here being punished." The woman smiled gently. "Ah—I see! Then how do you plan to avoid getting caught again—doesn't it feel risky to keep sleeping outside?" Looking at her attire, Lu Yun knew she wasn’t from a rural background; likely one of those city-raised young ladies from the urban elite. "Since I can't attend the lesson today anyway, maybe just another nap now would be better than anything else—just to recharge for tomorrow’s classes," he replied with some hesitation. Lu Yun found himself drawn to her charm and warmth. Before he could help it, he took a few steps forward, asking: "By the way—you’re not one of our students, are you?" She nodded, smiling lightly. "Yes! I just arrived today. I was wandering around campus when I noticed your class had students standing outside—being punished." Her laughter was light and warm; there was absolutely no judgment in her tone. That only deepened Lu Yun’s admiration. "Honestly, last night I didn’t sleep well," he added, trying to sound humble. "I’ve been juggling a lot of late-night activities—so today I couldn't stay alert." "Really?" said the woman with genuine interest. "Well, actually—I think that’s the very best kind of student: honest and sincere. Now, let me go speak with your teacher and see if we can have him return to class so he doesn’t miss any part of the lesson. After all, it's the instructor who should be responsible for ensuring students don't lose learning opportunities." With a gentle smile, she watched Lu Yun as the breeze stirred her hair, making her appear especially pure and fresh. Lu Yun stood spellbound—just how could he have imagined that this very woman would surpass Yang Yanping in charm? Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t connect this elegant young lady with Yang Yanping—the famed stylish girl of campus fame. "By the way," she asked, "what’s your name?" "I’m Lu Yun." "Lu Yun!" She laughed softly. "That's such a genuine name! You're quite honest now. Come—let me go talk to your teacher and ask him to let you return to class." She turned gracefully, leaving behind an impression of elegance that made Lu Yun feel utterly enchanted. Amen! This was someone truly worthy of being admired from afar without ever wanting to get too close! Lu Yun managed to steady his fluttering wings—his restless little bird—and followed the woman into the classroom. "Excuse me, Mr. Wang Zhiyang," she said as she entered, bowing slightly and gazing at him while he was passionately lecturing. Wang Zhiyang immediately turned around in frustration upon hearing someone interrupt his lesson, ready to reprimand the intruder. But as soon as he locked eyes with her, he stopped—his gaze remained fixed on her face and figure, unable to shift. She gently furrowed her brow, still maintaining politeness. "I'm sorry for disturbing your class." The quiet murmurs from students in the audience gradually rose. Finally, Wang Zhiyang regained his composure with a touch of embarrassment. "Ah—yes! I’m Wang Zhiyang," he said, turning to face her. "And you are—" "I'm Ling Xiaoman," she replied calmly, stepping forward. "I was walking around the campus when I noticed your students standing outside being disciplined. The education commission has issued a directive: no matter what mistake students make, they must not be denied their right to attend class. So, I’d like to discuss with you whether it would be possible for Lu Yun to return to his seat and continue listening to your lecture." "Ah—" Wang Zhiyang gazed at Lu Yun, who was hidden behind her, then narrowed his eyes with a playful sparkle. "Well—yes! I see now. Since Ms. Ling has advocated on his behalf, let’s give him the chance to return to his seat and keep listening." He added warmly. "Lu Yun—you should thank Ms. Ling!" Ah! So that was Ling Xiaoman—the very one mentioned by Zhou Quan! Her name matched her grace. Thinking of Zhou Quan’s promise, Lu Yun couldn’t help but feel a flutter in his heart again—his little bird wanted to take flight once more. "Thank you so much, Ms. Ling," said Lu Yun, bowing formally and returning to his seat. ... Chapter 036: The Rural Country Maiden vs. The Off-Kilter Roast Duck & Ling Xiaoman – Updated!