Chapter 296: The Aching Egg and the Tight Lotus Flower Land Xiao-ying opened the pantry, selected two vegetables she particularly liked, and gave Land Yun a fierce, scowling expression before walking over to the water basin that Mrs. Liu had already prepared. She placed the dishes in sequence. There were two beautiful women busy at work, and despite Land Yun’s desire to intervene, he found no place to step in. Bored, he approached them and joked, “Xiao-ying, we’ve both tried Mrs. Liu’s cooking. Just don’t eat too much or you’ll end up full and uncomfortable.” Land Xiao-ying looked up at him, her voice soft and delicate, “Do you really think I’m like you? Always careless when eating, picky about what I eat—look at you, so thin, like a mantis. Just one strong breeze and you’ll be blown away.” "Lù Xiǎo Yīng seems particularly adept at arguing with Lù Yún today. This would have been unthinkable in the past; now, her words and manner reveal her lively side. Lù Yún had originally intended to find something to do, just to amuse Lù Xiǎo Yīng, but instead ended up being thoroughly outdone by her. With a touch of embarrassment, he rubbed his nose and said, "Am I really that unimpressive? After all, I'm still a tall fellow—over one meter seventy." Lù Xiǎo Yīng burst into laughter, the initial shyness she had felt when Lù Yún had publicly declared his intention to marry her in front of Liu Guāiwife now completely gone. Liu Guāiwife smiled gently, then suddenly asked, "Xiao Yun, where is Zhou Quán? I don't see him anywhere." Knowing that Zhou Quán and Lù Yún were usually inseparable, and that Zhou Quán had dined with them the previous time, she found it unlikely he would be reluctant to come here now. Lù Yún's expression immediately dimmed. Unable to bring up the matter, he only managed to offer a vague "Li Guo-fu knows about his feelings for Zhou Quan. Though she notices that his demeanor has changed, she simply assumes it's because Lu Yun is heartbroken and reluctant, so she doesn't press the matter further. With a smile, she says, 'He'll definitely meet you again. That young man isn't one to stay put—sometime soon, he'll surely come find you.' Hopefully so! Reminded by Li Guo-fu's words, Lu Yun feels a glimmer of anticipation. Maybe Zhou Quan will actually come visit him. Then he'll have to go with him to the canteen and enjoy the 'soybean tofu' treats offered by the girls. As for Li Guo-fu's small store, he's certainly not going to start any romantic pursuits there. Zhou Quan, if you have any sense of decency, do drop by whenever you can! With this growing anticipation, Lu Yun now feels even more eager to see his close friend—someone he treats like a true brother." Unaware of this, at a distant location, Zhou Quan was undergoing grueling training under the scorching sun. His well-built frame had taken on a bronze hue, and sweat sprayed like raindrops in every movement he made. "Lu Yun, once I've got the confidence to protect myself, I'll go back to school and find you to go out on dates together. Don't forget me, okay? Otherwise, I'll make you taste the full force of my iron fists," Zhou Quan thought, suddenly launching a powerful punch that landed squarely on the sandbag. ... Hmm—Lu Yun's mind instantly grew disoriented, as though someone were quietly criticizing him from within. Yet this strange sensation faded quickly, and he could only offer a wry smile to console himself: "It must be that Zhou Quan hasn't managed to land any successful dates yet, and he's blaming me for not teaching him all the skills needed to do so." Li Guofo and Lu Xiaoying were busy washing and selecting vegetables, and didn't notice the varied expressions on Lu Yun's face. Li Guofo said, "Xiaoying, is this dress you bought in the city? It looks really beautiful on you." "It was sent back by my mother, but whenever I wear it, I always feel a bit strange," Xiaoying replied, blushing slightly, as if a bit shy from Li Guofo's praise. Li Guofo smiled and said, "No, I think it's very beautiful—actually, more beautiful than the children from the city." She then added, "Don't you find it comfortable? It fits well, doesn't it?" Xiaoying blushed even more, glanced at Lu Yun, who was standing there motionless, as if lost in thought, and whispered to Li Guofo, "The shorts are fine, but this top is too tight." She looked at her raised chest, then blushed and said, "It's made so high now—I just don't feel comfortable showing myself to people anymore." "Li Guo-fu chuckled warmly, 'No way—women must stand tall and make their own mark, never letting those smug men underestimate us.' Lu Xiao-ying nodded, somewhat puzzled. Though her voice was soft, Lu Yun heard every word clearly, smiling to himself. It was clearly a trait inherited from her mother. Even without wearing such an outfit, that pair of delicate, appealing features would still draw attention. Thinking of Xiao-ying's mother, Jin Zhi, Lu Yun found himself recalling her gaze—bold, passionate, full of subtle hints. Good heavens! That was clearly a clear signal to him. Yet, he cherished Xiao-ying, so how could he possibly rekindle a relationship with her?" Having taken on the role of a hardworking laborer, she now allowed herself the freedom to visit her home at will. But when she came, how could she handle situations where she showed her charm or used her status as village chief’s wife to pressure or entice her? How could she navigate these moments without hurting Xiao Ying, yet still emerge unscathed? This issue was quite complex—should it go wrong, and if the woman deliberately made things difficult, the prospect of marrying Xiao Ying might become increasingly challenging. Would it truly come to the point of marrying her secretly and fleeing together? Oh, what a headache! At the moment Land Yun lowered his head, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the snowy fabric nestled between Land Xiao Ying’s collar, pressed into a cluster by her knees—originally a small white rabbit, now transformed into a larger one. As she moved to chop vegetables, the larger rabbit occasionally emerged, its half-exposed bust glistening with a delicate flush of red. Gulp! Land Yun swallowed, mentally urging himself upward—higher, even higher, higher—and imagining he could just catch the bright red eyes of the rabbit. Yet, as if sensing his gaze, Land Xiao Ying lowered her head, resting her chin on her knees, completely concealing the snowy mass beneath. Lu Yun was instantly disappointed. Although he had clutched and gently squeezed the pair of cotton-ball-like white rabbits from Lu Xiaoying right in the small forest outside the school, he hadn't managed to examine them closely. Just a moment ago, he had almost been able to see the full, plump grains on their surface—only for Lu Xiaoying’s simple gesture to dissolve his once-dignified hopes into nothing. Unyielding! In his heart, Lu Yun roared, yet soon he adjusted his mindset. To have seen even half of them was already a luxury. If Lu Xiaoying knew he had glimpsed her little rabbits, she would surely storm at him.