Chapter 1099: Another Military Expansion —— Originally, it was hoped that Wang Shiyu had already willingly embraced the situation, and their competitive rivalry would thus be settled. Yet Wang Shiyu remained resolutely persistent—just as Xiao Ying insisted on surrendering her body to Lu Yun only upon their wedding day. This left Lu Yun deeply troubled. (After once again seizing hold of Wang Shiyu’s hand when she wasn’t paying attention, Lu Yun thought: If only she had been this proactive from the very beginning, how could there have been so many twists and turns? Even now, evident in Wang Shiyu’s words and demeanor, her feelings for Lu Yun have clearly deepened, yet she remains as stubborn as ever.) Exhaling softly, Lu Yun gently stroked Wang Shiyu's small hand, and before long, the entire class period was wasted. When the bell for dismissal rang, Lu Yun suddenly felt a wave of reflection: Heaven's sake, it seemed clear now—he truly wasn't made of study material. If things continued this way, considering Xiao Yu and Xiao Ying's academic performance, would he still be able to keep up with them in high school after three years of junior high? The sudden thought sent a shiver down his spine. He was still young, at the prime age for studying. If he let his education slip, wouldn't he end up spending his entire life working and struggling in the village? Times were changing—how could anyone possibly predict what the world would look like in ten years? Just a few days away, the baseline exam was due. Lu Yun knew well the state of his own academic progress—he didn't need to take the exam; he knew he wouldn't pass. High school was a time when I could simply wander around all day, yet what possible reason could I have to expect Xiao Ying and Xiao Yu to join me in neglecting their studies? Moreover, my uncles and aunts had high expectations for me—could I truly let them down? That mysterious presence within me, though it had made my personal matters remarkably vigorous, seemed to suggest that for the entirety of my life, I would have to rely solely on my own pelvic vitality. Didn’t the saying go that young men should aspire to great things beyond their hometowns? And then there was Lu Yun’s grand vision—the plan of establishing three thousand consorts. Could such an ambitious undertaking truly be achieved simply by relying on his single, mighty phallus? No, Land Yun knew that well. While his physical prowess could greatly satisfy women, that satisfaction mostly applied to those who felt lonely and passionate after marriage. For girls like Xiao Ying, Xiao Yu, and Dan Dan—girls who had always genuinely cared for him from an early age—relying solely on his bed skills to make them live a carefree, heavenly life was nothing short of dreaming. How could any girl not wish for her husband to be a truly strong, dependable man? Just considering Wang Shiyu, Land Yun was certain that if he continued this way, their future together would be nothing more than a distant possibility. It was time to make an effort, he quietly resolved within himself. A new problem now stood before him. Since entering junior high, Land Yun had never actually attended a proper class. In the past, when Zhou Quan was around, both of their minds were entirely occupied with how to win over girls and enjoy the simple pleasures of life—like eating tofu. Now that Zhou Quan had left, Land Yun was left alone. There had been an agreement between him and Xiao Ying that they would both study hard, go to high school together, and even possibly become a couple—yet those goals now felt increasingly distant and out of reach, growing farther and farther from Land Yun. Thinking about this, he suddenly felt restless and agitated without any clear reason. Xiao Ying, Xiao Yu, Dan Dan—every girl around him excelled academically, while himself, this guy who always thought of himself as a real man, struggled with his grades. He had to catch up on the lessons he’d fallen behind in quickly! "You squeezed me," Wang Shiyu suddenly whispered to Land Yun, her face pale and beads of sweat forming. Upon hearing this, Lu Yun quickly released her hand, gazing at Wang Shiyu's pale face from the pain, and apologized, "Shiyu, I'm sorry. I was lost in thought just now. You're okay, right? Would you like me to massage your hands for you?" As Lu Yun finished speaking, Wang Shiyu was momentarily stunned—she had never heard him speak to her in such a gentle tone since transferring to this school. It was so warm and tender that she almost thought she had misunderstood. "I...," Wang Shiyu's cheeks flushed from white to pink as she gently reached out her hand. Holding Shiyu's small hand, Lu Yun gently massaged it, then chuckled to himself with a touch of self-consciousness, "I've just figured out so many things now, hehe." "Would you mind telling me?" Wang Shiyu asked, her tone unexpectedly gentle. Lu Yun smiled and said, "From now on, I won't disturb you during class anymore. I'll pay close attention, study diligently, and stay with you all the way through high school, university, and beyond." Previously, in Lu Yun's eyes, he wasn't exactly outstanding—far from being a model student like those others—but he wasn't terrible either. If it weren't for that inexplicable feeling he had toward Lu Yun, she would have already drawn a clear line between them, insisting that the disruptive student be moved to another seat. Had he truly turned around and made amends? Just then, as Lu Yun held her hand and helped her focus on the teacher's lecture, she suddenly noticed that the hand—once so strong in grasping her proud, snow-capped demeanor—was growing steadily firmer and firmer, until the pain in her hand became unbearable, at which point she quietly reminded Lu Yun. To Land Yun's surprise, after he released her hand, she heard him speak so earnestly. Wang Shiyu believed Land Yun was absolutely serious—not just being casual. If it were merely a passing remark, he wouldn’t have been so stunned, nearly crushing her little hand in his grip. Nodding slightly, Wang Shiyu whispered, “Let’s work together.” Land Yun nodded firmly, smiled gently, “Let’s start working now.” “Good,” Wang Shiyu withdrew her hand, sat upright on the chair, and gave Land Yun a warm smile before they both settled in to read and listen to class together. … It was pleasant—having a lovely young woman beside him—Land Yun listened intently to the lecture. Though not particularly brilliant before, his mind now absorbed the teacher’s lessons with ease. The only issue was that he had missed so many classes previously, and today was the day he finally caught up. The last class of the morning ended smoothly. Lu Yun stretched lazily and smiled at Wang Shiyu beside him, saying, "I originally planned to have dinner with you, but I had something come up today. Let's make it another time." "Go ahead and attend to your matters—I'll just keep reading a bit longer." Over these days, Wang Shiyu had been distracted by Lu Yun and hadn't managed to focus well in class, having to make up for missed lessons. Seeing Lei rushing toward her, Lu Yun stood up and headed out, saying, "People are like iron, but meals are steel—after all, we can always eat later." With these thoughtful words from Lu Yun, Wang Shiyu smiled warmly, her sharpness softened by a touch of youthful bashfulness: "I'll go now—don't forget to eat too." Lu Yun nodded and, together with Lei, stepped out of the classroom. Of course, he would make sure to say goodbye to Xiao Yu and Zhao Feiyan before leaving. Watching Lu Yun and Lei Zi leave the classroom, Liao Hongyu sighed helplessly and said to Zhao Feiyan beside her, "He originally wanted to have dinner with us—must have gotten busy again with Lei Zi." Zhao Feiyan smiled gently and replied, "We'll have plenty of time later; no need to rush." Seeing that only a few students remained in the classroom, Liao Hongyu whispered playfully, "Indeed, we'll have plenty of time later. After all, Feiyan is going to be Lu Yun's wife someday." "Hongyu, you—you're laughing at me and just ignoring me!" Zhao Feiyan blushed deeply, pouted, and promptly started walking toward the classroom door. Liao Hongyu laughed out loud and chased after her, saying, "What's the matter now? Are you still shy?" Just as the two were about to step out of the classroom, Wang Shiyu, who had never gone to the canteen to get her meal, suddenly stood up and waved to them, "Hongyu, Feiyan—may I join you?" Liang Hongyu and Zhao Feiyan both paused, turned to Wang Shiyu, and exchanged a glance. As class president, Liang Hongyu spoke first: "Shiyu, of course! Absolutely!" With a slightly shy, wistful tone, she quietly added to Zhao Feiyan beside her, "Lu Yun—this man with such a scattered heart—has clearly won Shiyu over again. It seems our sisterhood is going to be expanding once more." Zhao Feiyan smiled calmly. Having already been informed of all the details about Lu Yun by Hongyu, she now found it natural that another sister was joining the group—her heart remained undisturbed. She then brightened and said to Shiyu, "Shiyu, let's hurry! If we're late, there'll only be vegetable broth left." Seeing that both women were genuinely warm and natural, Shiyu eagerly picked up her bowl and rushed off, beaming, "Today I'm hosting—let's have a proper meal!" Then, as if they had known each other for years, she took each of their hands and walked them toward the classroom door. Liang Hongyu and Zhao Feiyan exchanged a smile. Wang Shiyu knew well that if she were truly to be with Lu Yun, she would have to accept the fact that he had many girlfriends around him. Even if they ultimately didn’t become a couple, she would still need to get along well with her classmates—of course, not including Wang Dabao. "Li said, frowning slightly, 'Yun, Big Peng's idea is completely one-sided. Think about it—no matter what, we're still new students, just recently enrolled. Plus, we're far from home. How can we possibly compete with those who've been around for two or three years?' Lu Yun nodded in agreement. He knew well that the students who could truly dominate the school were mostly from this town or from nearby villages just a few steps away. As the saying goes, a strong dragon can't always subdue the local snake—Big Peng's ambition clearly falls short when compared to them."