Chapter 047: Partnership {Third Update} As Lu Yun left the canteen with a growing sense of distress, he found Li Hongyu no longer in the classroom. Sitting there quietly, occasionally glancing toward the girls near the front row, she finally couldn't contain herself and stood up abruptly, rushing once more out of the room and toward the playground—her heart full of simmering fury that needed to be vented. Halfway through her run, figures approached from the opposite direction. Lu Yun’s eyes narrowed in surprise—he thought it was a mere coincidence, but then realized: *It's fate, plain and simple.* The group had now spotted him too, pausing briefly before stepping forward with their usual confident ease. “Hey, Lu Yun—where are you off to?” The man approached was none other than Zhou Gao-ren—the very student who had been beaten senseless by Lu Yun and Zhou Quan earlier in the day, along with his group of loyal companions. Lu Yun glared at Zhou Gao-ren, his face darkening. His anger surged as he recalled that it had been only due to a moment of mercy—on his part—that Zhou Quan hadn’t been subjected to even more severe punishment. “What’s wrong with you? You’re not just being ungrateful—you’re downright disrespectful!” Lu Yun snapped. “You promised me something today, didn’t you? Now you back out on your word? Are you still a man?” Zhou Gao-ren poked his nose while chuckling with a smug, self-satisfied expression. “Lu Yun—don’t go accusing me of being unjust! What have I done?” “You’ve done nothing but act as if you don't know what you’re doing,” Lu Yun shot back. “I even went to Iron Teacher to plead on your behalf—and now you dare to let Zhou Quan suffer like this? That’s the kind of treatment a true man would show!” With that, Lu Yun’s frustration reached its peak. He clenched his fists and prepared to confront him—ready to launch into action. Zhou Gao-ren quickly stepped back, shouting, “Wait a minute! Don’t go pushing me too hard. If it weren’t for Iron Teacher lending her support behind you, I’d have thoroughly humiliated you with just those two sentences. And as for today—I only said I wouldn’t bother you personally. I never promised not to take on Zhou Quan later. Once he brings reinforcements, we’ll settle this once and for all. So until then, you might as well find another place to hang out!” Lu Yun paused, mentally reviewing the scene earlier that day—yes, Zhou Gao-ren had indeed said he wouldn’t pursue him personally. But now it seemed clear: the man was playing a game of words, using subtle language to avoid direct confrontation. Then, recalling what Zhou Quan had told him before leaving—he realized how much deeper this issue ran. It wasn't merely about personal grievances anymore. It was becoming evident that Zhou Gao-ren didn’t fear Lu Yun personally—but feared the power behind him: Iron Xinlan—the quiet woman who had stepped forward today to intervene, whose very presence had altered the course of events. Otherwise, why hadn’t he already overwhelmed Lu Yun with his strength? “If I possessed the skills of those martial heroes on TV—wouldn't people still look down upon me?” Lu Yun mused aloud, imagining himself as a legendary swordsman, defending the weak, upholding justice, admired by all. Even if he didn’t reach such heights, wouldn’t at least have to match Zhou Gao-ren’s strength and presence? *Thud!* Just then, as Lu Yun was lost in his reverie—imagining himself wielding mighty martial arts to defeat the rivals, sending them scattering like leaves—he suddenly felt a sharp impact on his forehead. The world went blurry; he nearly fainted. He had only been thinking about how he could single-handedly dispatch Zhou Gao-ren’s group when he hadn’t realized that he’d already reached the playground. He simply kept moving forward with full concentration—only to collide head-on with the parallel bar, which stood rigid and unmoving. After clutching his head and wobbling on his feet for several minutes, the dizziness slowly subsided. Lu Yun rose up, kicked the single bar sharply, and muttered under his breath: “Damn it! Even this old piece of hardware has a grudge against me—so I’ll make sure to take it down tonight!” A voice from behind suddenly broke through the silence. “What’s that?” Lu Yun turned around. He didn’t recognize the speaker at all. “I don’t know you,” he said, voice strained. “Why would I want to partner with someone I haven’t met?” The boy who spoke was about fifteen or sixteen years old—slightly short in stature and somewhat awkwardly built. His face wasn’t exactly striking—he looked more like a regular student than anything special. “Ahem,” the young man said, smiling with gentle charm. “We didn’t know each other before, but now we do. I’ve always had a grudge against this single bar—especially since it’s been standing here for so long without being moved. If only I could have taken it down myself, I’d have done it sooner!” Lu Yun blinked in disbelief. *Oh no!* He hadn’t realized that the boy was hoping to partner with him—to work together and remove the single bar as a shared venture—just so they could sell it for extra pocket money. “Honestly,” Lu Yun said, puffing out his chest, “I’ve never considered myself particularly stingy. But I must confess—I do have strong feelings about theft. It’s not just about style or appearance—it touches on one's integrity. You’re talking about stealing, and I’m being treated as though that were some kind of personal offense.” If the boy knew how Lu Yun felt—especially after having listened to him for so long—he might be even more disapproving. “By the way,” Lu Yun added, “I didn’t say I was interested in anything beyond a simple statement. I’m just saying what I thought at the time. You’ll have to find someone else.” The boy’s eyes brightened as he watched Lu Yun, then said with quiet confidence: “But wait—what about your clothes? They don’t look like they come from an affluent household, do they?” Lu Yun raised one eyebrow. “And so?” Instead of answering directly, the boy asked gently: “Do you have a girlfriend? I know you’re good-looking—you must attract quite a few admirers, right?” “Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Lu Yun said, face flushed with indignation. “Does it matter whether I have a girl or not to you?” The boy folded his arms and grinned. “It doesn’t matter at all—except that if we can sell this bar, then you’ll have extra funds. With those funds, you could buy gifts for your girlfriend. That would be something special—something she’d truly appreciate. Maybe even spark a deeper connection between you two. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” *Oh, good heavens!* Lu Yun stared at him in growing dismay. While he didn’t believe that Xiao Ying was the kind of girl who cherished material possessions—he did realize how little he had to offer beyond his current situation. What if someone else—someone more well-off—used subtle charm and warmth to win her over? What if, through a series of carefully crafted gestures, she began to see him as less than ideal? The thought made Lu Yun feel suddenly chilled. “Hold on,” he said, turning back to the boy with a determined expression. “I’ll partner with you—but only under one condition: when we divide the profits, I take six out of every ten, and you take four. If it feels unfair to you, then let’s simply part ways.” “That sounds fair!” The young man nodded decisively. “I’m delighted—this partnership will be a real pleasure.” “Li Guang?” Lu Yun asked, startled by the name. At once, Lu Yun thought of the famed general Li Guang from Chinese history—the legendary warrior known for his unmatched courage and tenacity in battle. Yet, this young man seemed far more suited to the character of a figure from *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*—someone grounded, perhaps even somewhat clumsy—but with an inner strength rooted in perseverance. *Well,* Lu Yun thought, *he’s certainly not the Li Guang I imagined.* Yet, there was still something admirable about him—the quiet dignity in how he had approached this matter. And so, the partnership began—not through sudden revelation or dramatic flair, but through a simple exchange of mutual needs and growing awareness. **Rural Beauty 047 | Chapter 047: Partnership {Third Update} — Complete!**