Chapter 717: Don’t Worry, Still Alive
Tan You washed her hands and went over to help. Soon, everyone had a large bowl in front of them. Even the youngest, Guoguo, was holding a small bowl and slurping his noodles, his cheeks splattered with a few drops of broth.
Huang Ruixiang was perceptive. After slurping down his bowl of cold noodles, he pushed it aside and said, "I’m heading back to my dorm to rest. You guys take your time."
Li Fugui glanced at his departing figure, then at the bowl to his right. "There’s more to Mr. Huang than meets the eye, isn’t there?" he suddenly remarked. "He seems so gentle and refined, but he actually has a whole other side to him, doesn’t he?"
Teacher Lin tapped Li Fugui’s chopsticks. "Just eat. If you have something to say, spit it out. It’s not about the bowl. Mr. Huang is giving you two some time alone."
Tan You had naturally figured it out as well. She took a bite of cucumber. "What’s this about?"
When it came to official business, Li Fugui grew serious. "It’s about your competition. The principal wants you to focus on preparing for it and not worry about anything else. So, about those evening study sessions you’re running—should we stop them?"
Tan You shrugged. "Sure. I was actually hoping to spend more time really digging into the math competition anyway."
Li Fugui chuckled. "Alright. I guess your classmates are going to be heartbroken. No one will be up there explaining problems at night anymore."
"It’s nothing to be upset about. All the teachers are way more experienced than I am. I think they’re just being supportive because I’m their peer. Compared to the teachers, I’m still worlds away." Tan You refused to take the credit. ’It’s always better to stay humble.’
Teacher Lin couldn’t help but laugh. It was no wonder she and her husband were both so fond of Tan You. Someone so capable and talented who also knew how to be humble might not be loved by absolutely everyone, but at least they wouldn’t go around making enemies.
Li Fugui, who was sipping his tea, happened to glance outside. "Looks like your friends are here. Finish up and head on back. I’ll clean up here."
Tan You didn’t stand on ceremony with Li Fugui. Formality was for strangers, and there was no need for it between her and the couple. She casually ruffled Guoguo’s hair. "Okay. I’ll make shumai tomorrow morning and save some for Teacher Li."
"Then I’m in for a treat," Li Fugui said with a grin. "Hurry along now. Don’t study too late."
Tan You stood up, and as she walked out of the dorm, she ran into Cao Haiyan and the others. Cao Haiyan looked at Li Fugui’s family of three behind the window, then back at Tan You, her eyes filling with admiration. "Tan You, you were having dinner with Teacher Li?"
Tan You smiled. "And not just him. Mr. Huang and Teacher Lin were there too. Have you guys eaten already?"
"Yep. We washed the rice cooker while we were at it. We ate a little too much, so we figured we’d come out for a walk to digest," Yin Xiu said with a laugh, holding the rice cooker.
Tan You led them toward her dorm. "Want to come in and hang out for a bit?"
Gu Qiuxia waved her off. "No, we’ve got to get back to our problem sets. We still haven’t finished today’s practice test."
She leaned closer to Tan You. "Man, we’re only freshmen and there are already so many tests. Is it only going to get worse?"
Tan You thought about her own high school experience. On this front, she was powerless to help. "Just have to grind through it. Work on solving the problems faster, and it’ll get better over time."
Yin Xiu handed the rice cooker to Tan You. "Well, delivery’s made. We’re heading back."
Tan You thought for a moment. "I bought some grapes this morning, and I can’t possibly eat them all myself. You guys should take some back with you. They’ll just go to waste otherwise."
Cao Haiyan looked a little sheepish. "We’re eating your food and then taking more... Is that really okay?"
"There’s nothing wrong with it." Tan You’s tone was gentle, yet it made it impossible to refuse. "Friends should share with each other. You all share your snacks and fruit with me all the time, and I’ve never said a word about it."
Gu Qiuxia burst out laughing. "Exactly! No need to be so formal between friends. After the next monthly break, I’ll bring you some of my mom’s specialty crispy rice. It’s delicious."
Tan You liked Gu Qiuxia’s attitude—she was frank, open, and treated her like a true friend. She accepted help and always reciprocated when she could. ’Isn’t that what a healthy friendship is all about?’
Yin Xiu and Cao Haiyan were convinced, and soon the three girls left, their arms laden with fruit. As for Tan You, after setting some glutinous rice to soak, she sat cross-legged on her bed.
She was still thinking about the lottery for the five Intelligence Value points. Now, in the dead of night, it was time to reap her sweet reward.
At the thought, the grand lottery wheel materialized before her. She glanced at her remaining 37 Energy Points, then at the five Intelligence Value points on the wheel, and felt a thrill of excitement she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
If she won it, her Intelligence Value would reach 80. An Intelligence Value of 75 was enough for her to place first in the math competition qualifiers, so 80... At the thought, Tan You couldn’t help but clench her fists.
Perhaps it was because Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin had called her a dim-witted blockhead ever since she was a child, but Tan You had always subconsciously yearned to be smart. Now that she finally had the chance, she was desperate to become even smarter.
𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
After these thoughts flashed through her mind, Tan You quickly composed herself. "Start the lottery."
The system’s puppy-like avatar sat in the crook of her arm, drooling shamelessly. "Host..."
Tan You knew instantly that the little thing had its eyes on her Energy Points again. ’What can I do? Other than hand them over, what choice do I have?’
After letting the little system skim off the top for three rounds, Tan You was down 24 Energy Points. Her balance was now just 13 points—enough for only one more spin.
This was supposed to be a reward, but what if the little system screwed it up? Tan You had to guard against that possibility. She gave the scruff of its neck a warning pinch. "You remember what I want, right? Hmm?"
The Beauty System, which had been happily counting its new Energy Points, jolted. "Host, rest assured! This system will definitely get it for you."
A faint, unreadable smile touched Tan You’s lips. "Fine. I’ll be waiting."
Perhaps prompted by Tan You’s threat, the five Intelligence Value points finally appeared. Seeing the points floating before her, Tan You tapped ’Use’ without hesitation.
The next second, Tan You collapsed onto the bed with a THUD. If she hadn’t known how bad the soundproofing was, she would have started cursing out loud. She’d thought going from 61 to 70 Intelligence Value points was the height of agony, but now, going from 75 to 80, Tan You realized her previous experience had been child’s play.
This was the real deal. Tan You clutched her head and rolled around on the bed, biting down hard on her pillow, not daring to make the slightest sound.
Veins bulged on the backs of her hands, a testament to the agony she was enduring.
Twenty minutes passed, with each second feeling like an eternity. Afterward, Tan You looked as if she’d been fished out of the water. There was even a damp, human-shaped patch on her bedsheets, showing just how much pain she had suffered in that short time.
Gasping for breath, Tan You glanced up at the Beauty System hovering over her head. "Don’t worry," she rasped. "Still alive."