Chapter 044: Repairing the Bed Hearing Lu Yun’s words, Liu Waihou sighed with a sense of helplessness. If not for her husband’s parents having long-standing illnesses and her son, Zhuzi, having passed away early, she would never have done such things that fell short of honoring Zhuzi’s memory. She hoped deeply that beneath the earth, Zhuzi would be able to forgive her. Liu Waihou was clearly in a gloomy mood, and Lu Yun could see it plainly. Yet he had only asked these questions so as to uncover the underlying tensions between her and the village chief—so that when it came time for him to propose marriage later on, he’d have leverage in his hand. Unanticipatedly, the seemingly plain-spoken third uncle turned out to be having an affair with Liu Waihou too. Indeed, one could say: people are not always what they seem, and rivers cannot be measured by their depth. Previously, being connected through his wife’s relationship, she had even felt a sense of guilt toward him—now that feeling was gone, replaced by understanding. Liu Waihou’s remark—“How could anyone not want to ride on someone else’s wife?”—now sounded absolutely true and profound. Seeing Liu Waihou so sorrowful and endearing, Lu Yun decided not to press her further. Instead, he made an effort to lighten her spirits, chatting with her about the village's little happenings. The atmosphere gradually warmed and became comfortable. When the school bell rang for dismissal, Liu Waihou stood up and said, “Little Yun, you better hurry now.” Lu Yun knew it was time to go. Nodding, he replied, “Yes, Auntie. I’ll be off then.” “I’ll open the door for you,” Liu Waihou hurried over two steps and opened the room door. After exchanging a few more words, Lu Yun finally stepped out. “Wait a moment,” Liu Waihou called out as she came to catch up with him. “Little Yun, why don’t I just go speak to your homeroom teacher? After all, I know more people at school than you do.” With genuine concern in her eyes, Lu Yun offered only a composed smile and said, “Auntie, please don’t worry—everything will work out for me.” “If the homeroom teacher still won’t let go of you, just come to me. I’ll have the old principal handle him personally.” Liu Waihou nodded, then noticing the fresh marks on Lu Yun’s face, she added with a touch of tenderness, “Just try not to fight people so often—hurting others isn’t good for anyone.” “I understand, Auntie,” Lu Yun said warmly. “As long as no one brings up my issues or involves my family members, I’m always a well-behaved student. Haha!” At that moment, students were already gathering and rushing toward the convenience store. Liu Waihou glanced at Lu Yun with an air of mock irritation. “Little rogue! The next time I see you fighting, I’ll crush your eggs underfoot!” Lu Yun returned her gaze with his usual unruly smile and said cheerfully, “Auntie, you’re quite as firm-hearted as stone—no more talk about it, I’m off.” Liu Waihou still didn’t feel fully at ease. As she watched Lu Yun’s retreating figure, she added one final piece of advice. “Just don’t forget to avoid fights again!” “Got it,” Lu Yun replied over his shoulder and disappeared without a trace. … Always choosing to skip classes—this constant avoidance wouldn't be sustainable long-term. He had to find a way to get through this challenge now. Taking a deliberate, slower pace, Lu Yun decided it was time to seek out Fei Xinqian for help. Arriving at the office of the old lady Fei, he straightened his clothes before knocking on the door. “Who is it? Come in,” came Fei Xinqian’s voice from inside. Lu Yun felt a surge of relief upon hearing her voice. He stepped through and entered. “Lu Yun, is there something I can help you with?” Fei Xinqian was busy grading papers when she lifted her head to see him and smiled gently. “Sit down—let me finish this first.” Nodding quietly, Lu Yun sat on a chair, remembering the times they had clashed passionately—the very chair had been pressed flat many times during their heated exchanges. Fei Xinqian seemed completely at ease despite his presence; she remained deeply focused, steadily grading papers with impeccable attention. To Lu Yun’s delight, her composure was inspiring. After sitting for three or four minutes without a single word, Fei Xinqian still hadn’t finished the grading. Lu Yun found himself idly glancing around the room. Suddenly, his eyes fell upon the single bed that had been flattened beneath their combined efforts during one particularly intense episode—how poorly constructed it was! It seemed on the verge of collapse. At that very moment, Lu Yun also decided how to approach Fei Xinqian and ask her to help him manage the awkward situation with the “bent chicken” teacher (the one who had been so reluctant to recognize his efforts). Two minutes later, after finally finishing her grading, Fei Xinqian stretched lazily, her chest rising above the edge of the desk as she leaned back. Lu Yun felt his cheeks grow warm—almost embarrassed enough to present himself before her in that moment. “Lu Yun, what’s on your mind?” Fei Xinqian stood up, tidied the papers neatly on the desk, and looked toward him. She noticed Lu Yun staring at her with fixed eyes, transfixed by the sight of her chest. In a hurry, she held her arms across her front to shield herself, pretending to be annoyed. “Lu Yun, what are you looking at?” Ah… “I—uh…” Lu Yun regained his composure and rubbed his nose, stammering, “Actually, I noticed some mosquitoes flying around you—I wanted to just point that out…” How flustered he was—he could barely hold back the blush. But Fei Xinqian didn’t seem at all offended. After all, she had already been through such a dramatic episode—now seeing it again wasn’t going to matter much. “Tell me every time—you’re supposed to call me ‘Miss’ when we’re not together,” she said as she stood up and poured herself a cup of water, then offered it to Lu Yun. “Have a drink, by the way. How’s your pain now?” Lu Yun took the cup in his hands and replied, “It’s gone now—the medicine from your friend has been remarkably effective. I hardly feel any pain at all.” “That’s wonderful,” Fei Xinqian smiled and glanced over at the crumpled bed. “Lu Yun, can you please fix that bed? Otherwise, I’ll have to sleep on the floor tonight.” Perfectly timed—Lu Yun had actually intended to do something with that very bed earlier. Now that Fei Xinqian had voiced it herself, it was even more natural. “I can manage,” Lu Yun said. “Though I don’t have any tools here yet.” In truth, he had already noticed a few axes and hammers stacked in the corner of the room, along with scattered nails lying on the floor—clearly items Fei Xinqian had gathered temporarily for this task. “Everything’s ready,” she replied. “They’re tucked right in the wall corner. Try your hand at fixing it. If you can’t manage, I’ll bring someone else to assist.” “No need,” Lu Yun said confidently. “This isn’t that difficult. Besides, if it weren’t for me, this bed wouldn’t have been damaged in the first place.” As soon as he spoke these words, Fei Xinqian’s face turned a deep crimson. The morning's intense episodes seemed to play out vividly in her memory—each motion and detail now clear and sharp. Her composed demeanor shifted subtly, becoming more warm and appreciative. Unaware of this subtle transformation, Lu Yun continued on without hesitation. He picked up the tools, walked directly toward the bed, and began working diligently with a series of sharp sounds—the clinks and clangs filling the room. Lu Yun’s third uncle was a skilled woodworker—though Lu Yun hadn’t formally learned much himself, he had gained some familiarity through observation. And now, just as he had hoped, this experience came in handy. … P.S.: Sorry for the oversight—I was busy revising the book yesterday and accidentally uploaded the chapter twice. Thank you for your patience! Chapter 044: "Repairing the Bed" – Updated!