Chapter 048: Night Dark, Wind Strong—Stealing the Single Parallel Bar (Fourth Update) "Hey, buddy! I'm Li Guang from Class 2-3 of Grade 8. We’re meeting here at midnight and a half tonight. I’ve been watching this spot for quite some time—the gym is nearly empty during that hour. Even if people show up, they’re usually just students out for snacks. So you don’t have to worry about that. As for tools—I’ll take care of everything. You just need to keep an eye on me and make sure I don’t get interrupted. Any questions?" Lü Yun shook his head, looking at the unimpressive figure before him, thinking: "This guy seems like a seasoned thief—our school has seen its share of missing items lately. Could it be that he’s been behind the scenes all along?" "No issues," Lü Yun replied coldly. "But remember—one move out of place and you’ll end up in serious trouble." Li Guang smiled sheepishly. "Bro, you can count on me. We’ve always said 'thieves have their own code.' I won’t let you down." Lü Yun nodded and turned to leave without further delay. "Hey, buddy—what’s your name?" The voice behind him was rough, like a cracked bell. Lü Yun didn’t turn. "Lu Yun." When Lü Yun had walked far enough away, Li Guang’s modest face lit up with a smug smile. He muttered under his breath: "Well, I’ve been watching this guy for days—no doubt now he's not easy to fool. Huh! If this plan works out, I’ll be rich! Really rich!" ... During evening class, Lü Yun hadn’t paid much attention to Liang Hongyu, simply because his mind was occupied with the evening’s plan—to steal the single parallel bar from the gym—nor did he engage in any playful banter. Liang Hongyu kept her head down, pretending she was deeply immersed in her book, though she frequently glanced at Lü Yun out of the corner of her eye. She found herself puzzled—how could it be that just one day ago, she’d been annoyed by his antics, and now, every time she thought about him, a sweet warmth surged through her? Recalling how he used to tease her, now she felt something tender and pleasant rise in her heart. With a firm grip on her jaw, she scolded herself for being so shamelessly sentimental. She had gone over every flaw of his—his laziness, his lack of formality—but despite all that, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. He was right there beside her, yet somehow, in this moment, he felt unfamiliar. Was it possible that he’d had a falling out with the school’s top beauty, Lu Xiao Ying? Unlikely—Lu Xiao Ying was known for her gentle nature and calm demeanor. How could she possibly have quarreled with Lü Yun? If not, then why had today’s usually lively, relaxed boy suddenly become so serious, so composed? What had changed him from a casual jester to a polite, attentive gentleman? Liang Hongyu's mind raced through a series of questions. As her gaze drifted across the sharp contours of Lü Yun’s face, her heart fluttered—her cheeks flushed with warmth and delicate pink hues. "Lu Yun," Liang Hongyu thoughtfully reached out and gently tapped him on the elbow. "You seem to have something on your mind." Lü Yun was completely absorbed in his thoughts about what gift he should buy for Lu Xiao Ying once he’d sold the bar. When suddenly pushed by a classmate who normally stayed quiet, he snapped back into awareness. "Class President?" he asked, startled. The fellow clearly had something else on her mind—definitely Lu Xiao Ying! "I just thought you looked distracted," Liang Hongyu said with a pout, her lips slightly parted in mild disappointment. "No need to worry," Lü Yun replied politely. "I simply have some thoughts. I didn’t hear you clearly—please don’t take it personally." Hmph! Never before had she been so formal and reserved. She must be having a disagreement with Lu Xiao Ying, he thought. Liang Hongyu—the young woman still growing into herself—had undergone an unexpected transformation. Now, she was constantly attuned to every nuance of Lü Yun’s emotions, as if acting as the head of household in her own way. Though all this was just her imagination and concern, she now felt it with deep sincerity. Lü Yun, unaware of Liang Hongyu’s inner shift, could only marvel at how much had changed—was he moved by joy or sorrow? Only heaven knew. ... It wasn’t long before evening class ended. As Lü Yun prepared to leave the classroom, he again teased Liang Hongyu with a few light-hearted remarks, which made her unusually delighted. When he suggested a gentle kiss, she didn’t hesitate—she accepted without hesitation. That surprised him completely. He gave himself a sharp slap on the forehead, muttering under his breath: "The world has gone mad! Even the reserved Liang Hongyu has been taken over by some mysterious fox spirit!" Back in the dormitory, Lü Yun had set out to avoid oversleeping and missing the crucial appointment. He pulled from the bookstore in town a magazine titled *Tea and Dinner Breaks*. The content was mostly about various people—some being discovered in remote towns, others young university students being supported by wealthy entrepreneurs—along with news reports highlighting behind-the-scenes scandals across society. In short, it chronicled the hidden imperfections of everyday life. But when Lü Yun turned to the final page, one phrase stood out vividly: *The Top Ten Female Excellence Instruments!* Lü Yun instantly became energized. Upon closer reading, he realized that what Liu’s wife had described was merely a beginning—the book offered an in-depth explanation of these ten prestigious instruments. According to it, one could recognize whether someone possessed the “Top Ten” simply by observing their facial features or appearance. Lü Yun thought: "This magazine cost only two yuan—well worth every penny!" When joy fills your heart, time flies. As soon as his roommates drifted off into sleep and the dorm checkers passed through, Lü Yun quietly rose from his bed. He moved silently out of the room and began racing toward the gym, even though it was a warm summer night—the wind still felt crisp and refreshing. In his heart, however, a fire had been lit: *Xiao Ying—tomorrow, I’ll give you something special that you’ve always loved.* At the agreed-upon spot, Li Guang had already been waiting patiently. Seeing Lü Yun arrive in a rush, he whispered with a warm smile, "Brother—you’re really on time! We're just under thirty seconds away from midnight and a half. Nice!" Lü Yun furrowed his brows. The sound of his chuckling made him feel uneasy. Just then—the night was truly moonless, wind strong—ideal for stealthy thefts. As per their plan, Lü Yun’s role was simply to act as an observer—keeping watch and ensuring no one disturbed the operation. All physical labor should be handled by Li Guang alone. But now, with the sky darkened by towering clouds and only the faintest light from the ground, Lü Yun found his "watching" duties mostly ceremonial. He could hear clearly the energetic sounds of Li Guang working behind him—moving, lifting, carrying. He couldn’t help but wonder: had this man developed an extraordinary ability to see in total darkness? Not long after, Li Guang called out softly from behind: “Alright! Come over here and help us move the single bar.” This was their first such experience—they both felt a sense of nervousness mixed with excitement. "Wait—aren’t we only supposed to take one single bar?" Lü Yun asked as he approached, dimly seeing that several items were stacked on the ground. "Ah-hah!" Li Guang grinned. "As the saying goes: 'With more soldiers in the army, the better.' Thieves fear cluttered objects—too many things get in the way. I just took a few minutes to haul up the double bars and high bars as well. Let’s go—let’s get everything out before anyone notices." Without further hesitation, Lü Yun agreed and joined hands with Li Guang in lifting the equipment toward the wall. Just as they reached the base of the wall, preparing to carry the single and double bars outside, a sharp beam of flashlight suddenly lit up—the light was intense and sudden—cutting through the darkness like a sword—and a voice erupted, loud and commanding: “Stop! What are you doing here?” ... Today’s fourth update is delivered. Though slightly late, four chapters have been posted—thank you all for your continued support. *The Village Beauty*, Chapter 048 Completed: "Night Dark, Wind Strong—Stealing the Single Parallel Bar" (Fourth Update)