When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 116: Childhood Friend

"If you want to go, then go. You’ve been studying at home for so long, anyway..."

Tan You cut him off. "That’s not it. I told you yesterday, they aren’t that important. I had just managed to get a few ideas, but Tan Jin’s shouting scared them all away. That’s what I’m angry about."

Taking a deep breath, Tan You calmed down again and went back to racking her brain over the problem. She couldn’t help but smile wryly. ’Someone with an Intelligence Value of 60 trying to solve such a difficult problem... I really overestimated myself.’

When Tan Jin and Tan Tao arrived at Tan Ying’s house, she was eating breakfast. She glanced at the two of them. "Tan You didn’t come?"

Tan Jin said, "Why bring her? She’s at home pretending to be a good student. I gave her a shout."

Tan Tao was more charitable. "Does she need to pretend? Her grades have always been good. She just bombed the high school entrance exam this one time."

Listening to them, Tan Ying grew agitated. She hadn’t expected Tan You to really mean it when she said she wasn’t coming. In the past, she was always the one who most wanted to tag along with the group. ’How did she become like this?’

Recalling Tan You’s coldness yesterday, Tan Ying felt a sense of panic. But she couldn’t quite put her finger on why, leaving her feeling exceptionally conflicted.

Tan Jin said irritably, "Stop talking about her. Aren’t we supposed to go find Han Shun and the others? Let’s hurry up before the sun gets too strong."

Tan You couldn’t care less what Tan Ying, Tan Jin, and the others were thinking, or how they were having a lively get-together with their classmates. She was perfectly content staying home, mulling over math competition problems.

When she got tired, she switched gears to give her brain a rest. In the afternoon, Tan You spent two hours writing. Just as she was enjoying the quiet, Tan Deming’s voice came from outside. "Tan Ying is here? How was the get-together with your classmates?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Tan You snapped back to reality. She put her manuscript paper into the drawer, and just as she was closing it, Tan Ying came in.

Her face was wreathed in smiles, showing no trace of the cold expression she had when she left yesterday. "Tan You, are you studying again?"

"Mhm, might as well since I’m free." Tan You’s expression was blank. ’Compared to yesterday, Tan Ying seems really happy today.’

Tan Ying leaned casually against her desk. "We had so much fun today. We even had our own barbecue for lunch. That guy Han Shun tried to make us eat meat that wasn’t even cooked through, so Tan Jin grabbed a handful and stuffed it in his mouth..."

Tan Ying recounted the events with great excitement, bursting into laughter from time to time. Tan You just watched her quietly, listening to her talk about her day with their classmates.

’So, is Tan Ying showing off in front of me? What kind of reaction does she want? Jealousy? If so, she’s in for a disappointment. The old Tan You might have felt a twinge of that, but now, I’ve already cut ties with Tan Ying in my heart. Her life can no longer stir any emotion in me.’

Seeing Tan You just watch her quietly without saying a word, Tan Ying started to feel like she was making a fool of herself. As she continued talking, she found it more and more pointless.

But of course, she had other tricks up her sleeve. "Oh, by the way, Han Shun asked about you today. He wanted to know why you didn’t come."

Tan You put down her pen. "Who’s Han Shun?"

Tan Ying was surprised. "That really handsome guy from Class Four. You don’t know him?"

Tan You’s expression remained flat. "He’s in Class Four, I’m in Class Five. Why would I know him?"

Tan Ying frowned. ’Why is Tan You acting like a porcupine now? No matter what I say, her expression doesn’t change at all.’

She switched topics, starting to talk about her summer vacation. "I’m going to J City tomorrow. Last time, my mom took me to see Leifeng Pagoda, and I even took pictures. This time we’re going to have fun somewhere else..."

Tan You watched Tan Ying ramble on, propping her chin on her left hand. "Mm, have fun."

’I’ve seen so much in the task worlds, have I ever been smug about it?’ A faint smile touched Tan You’s lips. ’So, Tan Ying, without me putting in all the effort to maintain our friendship, your life will be even better, won’t it?’

Having failed to get the reaction she wanted from Tan You, Tan Ying couldn’t stay any longer. This time, however, she couldn’t find anyone to direct her anger at, because she was the one who had come looking for trouble.

Tan Deming had been sitting outside the whole time, so he naturally heard everything Tan Ying said. As soon as Tan Ying left, Tan You also came out of her room. Tan Deming fanned himself. "Aren’t you envious of her life?"

"Her mom takes her all over the place to have fun."

Tan You was very calm. "Our family situations are different. In our family, we rely on my mom to make money. She has to support me and Tan Yue, so every penny is precious."

"Tan Ying’s father is healthy and can support their family. I can’t use Tan Ying’s life as a standard for my own. My mom... she doesn’t have it easy." Tan You paused for a moment before saying this. Even though Cheng Wenhui was cold to her, after all she had been through, Tan You could now view Cheng Wenhui’s life with objectivity.

With an unreliable husband, she could only rely on herself for everything. A woman raising two daughters while also being filial to her elders... she truly had a hard life. Tan You couldn’t pretend not to see that.

"There’s no need for me to make them work even harder just so I can compete with Tan Ying," Tan You said, her gaze distant as she stared at the persimmon tree. "If I want to travel and have fun, I can do it later when I can earn my own money, not now."

Tan Deming smiled. "It’s good that you think that way. That girl, Tan Ying, she’s the spitting image of her father in temperament."

"Let’s not speak ill of others behind their backs," Tan You also smiled. "We’re all neighbors in the same village. There’s nothing more to it. We don’t need to be petty."

Tan Deming understood Tan You’s meaning and decided to change the subject. "I saw you weren’t working on problems this afternoon. What were you up to?"

"The problems are too hard; I couldn’t figure them out right away," Tan You said, half-truthfully. "Didn’t you bring back some magazines last time? I wrote a couple of pieces and I’m planning to submit them to see what happens."

"Submit them?" Tan Deming had never heard of such a thing and was instantly curious. "How do you do that?"

"You just write articles and mail them to the magazine publisher. If they use your submission, they’ll pay you a fee later. I don’t know how much, though." Tan You explained what she knew, which was enough to leave Tan Deming amazed.

"There’s a way to make money like that?"

"Mhm," Tan You smiled. "I’m just giving it a try. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just have wasted a few stamps. It’s not much money."

Tan Deming was full of enthusiasm. "Then tell me when you go to town to mail the letter. I’ll definitely go to the post office afterward to ask if you have any mail."

Tan You was amused. "If they accept it, the publisher will call. You really don’t need to run to the post office every day. It’s just a try, it might not get accepted. Let’s not get our hopes up too high."

Tan Deming said, "It’ll definitely get accepted. As long as you set your mind to it, you can accomplish anything!"

Tan You smiled. ’So her grandpa has this much faith in her?’ But she had to admit, she really liked this kind of feedback from Tan Deming. This was why there were many things she wouldn’t tell Cheng Wenhui or Tan Lin—all she would get from them was criticism and doubt.

But from Tan Deming, she always received a positive and encouraging response.