Chapter 1450: Borrowing Money The blur of a day, filled with Land Yun's various thoughts, quickly passed. As night fell, after finishing up the tasks at the convenience store, Land Yun made his way to the dormitory, weary both physically and mentally. Having made the most pessimistic preparations—regardless of what the ancient-dress figure in his dreams would ultimately bring—he now had no other choice. It was as though a warrior engaged in relentless battle; at this moment, Land Yun had no retreat but forward motion. Perhaps giving up Zhang Ning was his best course of action. Yet, after giving her up, there were still many girls who liked him, and who he himself deeply admired. By giving up Zhang Ning, he had set a precedent—there was a strong likelihood that he would go on to abandon one after another of these girls, possibly even ending up losing Xiao Ying. Lu Yun didn't want it to be this way. Once one had fallen in love with him, he would do everything in his power to protect them—despite the unknown future, despite the constant fear and unease swirling within him. But when the bow was drawn, had there ever been a moment when one turned back? The pawns who cross the river advance without hesitation, until they are finally eliminated by the enemy. As a living person, a flesh-and-blood being, how could Lu Yun remain indifferent, silent, while watching the women he loved endure endless suffering? Perhaps Lu Yun would regret this decision for the rest of his life. Yet in his heart, he was certain that if he could not help Zhang Ning safely navigate through this crisis, then no matter how steadfast the women in his life remained loyal to him, he would have lost the strength to protect them. A man who watched helplessly as the women closest to him endured humiliation and the daily hardships of life would never achieve true success—he would merely remain a weak and hesitant one. Lu Yun did not wish to be that man. Therefore, he stepped forward to accept the blade—the blade wielded by the strange, ancient-dressed figure, radiating an eerie aura. The blade, renowned among all weapons for its commanding presence and sharpness, was formidable. Yet Lu Yun feared that the unusual nature of the figure might influence his own mind once he took the blade. As his thoughts surged like a turbulent sea, Lu Yun found himself unconsciously arriving at his dormitory door, pushing it open, and stepping toward his bed, where he immediately sank down and lay there. A loud thud woke up Lei, who was lying right next to Lu Yun's bed. With his eyes still half-open, Lei glanced at Lu Yun and asked drowsily, "Bro, what's wrong? You seem really tired." Lu Yun sighed inwardly—man, it wasn't his body that was tired; it was his mind. The countless worries he had piled onto Lei's shoulders might very well drive him insane. But he didn't say any of that. He yawned and replied casually, "It's just that every day I have to handle all the little things at the convenience store. When Aunt Liu was still in charge, I never thought it was that much of a hassle. Now that I'm the owner myself, I realize how much the business actually demands—though it looks small, it's never quiet. All those students coming in and out, bustling and noisy throughout the day, make your head ache." "Li said with a bright smile, his voice filled with endless admiration: 'Yun, you really have it! You've managed to secure so many profitable positions at that convenience store. You're going to make a fortune, I'm sure.' Lu Yun smiled. If it weren't for the fact that the convenience store had previously been run by Liu's widow, even with ample funds, he wouldn't have taken it over. The reason for acquiring the store was simply to have a personal connection—so that whenever Liu's sister returned, she could easily find him. Yet, Liu's sister has been gone for so many days now, and Land Yun has no idea how she's doing in the county. As a woman venturing out on her own, it truly concerns him. Last time he went to the county, if it hadn't been for meeting that wealthy sister-in-law, he would have sold off all the tears he had collected from Yang Yanping and insisted on making a solid fortune there, hoping to finally find Liu's sister." "Uncle Yun, I've been a bit tight on cash lately—could you lend me some money?" Just as Lu Yun was thinking about Liu's widow, Lei suddenly blushed and spoke up. "Money?" Lu Yun looked at Lei in surprise. Lei's family wasn't particularly well-off, and he had always been careful not to spend a single yuan unnecessarily. How come he was asking for a loan from him today? With a twinkle in his eye, Lu Yun asked with a knowing smile, "Lei, tell me—what exactly do you need the money for?" As soon as he said this, Lei's already flushed face turned the color of liver, and after stammering for a while, he still couldn't come up with a clear reason. Lu Yun's sharp eyes easily picked up on Lei's subtle changes in expression—clearly, it wasn't a matter of trouble requiring expenses. On the contrary, Lei's eyes were darting around with a hint of excitement, signaling that something good was definitely on the horizon. "Hey, Lei," Lu Yun said, "what's there to be embarrassed about? As long as it's something good, just go ahead and tell me—no matter what you need, I'll make it At this point, Lu Yun, now confident and well-off, spoke with the poised air of a rising young entrepreneur. "Lu Yun, you know, if I say something, don't laugh at me, okay?" Lei stammered, glancing at Lu Yun hesitantly. "Hmph, go on then," Lu Yun chuckled, his spirits lifting as he watched his brother seemingly about to achieve something good. With genuine enthusiasm, he leaned in and said, almost afraid that his roommate might overhear, wrapping his arms around Lei and whispering softly, "Keep it low—by the way you're acting, you must be eager to keep this a secret. Come closer and tell me slowly, right here at my ear." Lei's face turned crimson as he struggled internally, finally pressing close to Lu Yun and murmuring, "Lu Yun, I... I managed to get Xiao Jing onto the bed." As soon as the words left his lips, even though Lu Yun had anticipated something positive from Lei, he was nonetheless taken aback. To be honest, Lei and Xiao Jing have only known each other for a short while. In fact, Lei used to constantly bother Lu Yun, asking him how to win girls over—down to the specifics of how to properly interact with them, even how to kiss. Back then, Lu Yun was so busy he simply didn’t have the time to teach Lei these delicate skills. Yet, surprisingly, Lei managed to effortlessly win over Xiao Jing, who was quite shy. I’m speechless—how is this possible? Lei and Xiao Jing’s progress has actually outpaced Lu Yun’s with all the girls around him. “What happened?” Lu Yun asked, trying to remain composed. “Just yesterday, actually. You haven’t returned to your dorm lately, and during the day, I’ve been too shy to bring it up, Yun-gong, you….” Lei hesitated. Lu Yun chuckled softly and said, “Alright, I’ve accepted your request. As long as it’s within my capabilities, I’ll definitely help you out.” Upon hearing Lu Yun's words, Lei's flushed face instantly broke into a happy smile. Somehow, the boy was so excited that, while Lu Yun wasn't looking, he gave him a light kiss right on the cheek.