When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds

So she could only watch Tan You leave. She’d figured it out. Just a moment ago, Cheng Wenhui had greeted her with a smile, which obviously meant Tan You hadn’t gone back and mentioned what happened.

Turning these thoughts over in her mind, Yang Lanying simply watched as Tan You’s group disappeared into the distance.

As for Tan You’s dorm room, you couldn’t really call it small. It was at least thirty square meters, but with seven or eight extra people suddenly packed inside, it definitely felt a little cramped.

But it was actually manageable. The previous resident had partitioned the space well, with the dining table right next to the kitchenette. Right now, Yin Xiu, Cao Haiyan, Gu Qiuxia, Tan You, and Tan Yue were all sitting at the table, gobbling up their food with gusto.

Caught up in the moment, Gu Qiuxia grabbed a large bowl, filled it to the brim with rice, and then ladled the broth from the braised chicken feet over it. She polished off half the bowl in just a few quick bites.

Tan You put a chicken foot and two shrimp in her bowl. "Have some of the other dishes, too. Eating too much rice at night can give you indigestion."

Gu Qiuxia winked at Tan You. "Tan You, you’re the best! And your dad is an amazing cook. This is so delicious!"

Tan You smiled. "If you like it, eat up. How do you eat so much and not gain an ounce? I gain weight just from drinking water."

Tan You felt pretty helpless about it herself. From her decision to lose weight during summer vacation until now, over three months, she had lost about fifteen pounds. And that was only because she was diligently watching what she ate and getting exercise. If she let her guard down for even a moment, the weight she’d lost would come rolling right back.

Gu Qiuxia looked just as desperate. "If only we could average ourselves out. I’m lucky we have the school cafeteria. The food might be cooked in giant pots, but at least I can get my fill. If I were living with someone else, they’d probably ask me to chip in more for groceries within three days."

Tan You laughed. "The school cafeteria is definitely good for that. Eat your fill today."

Gu Qiuxia quickly slurped a chicken foot clean. "Mhm, trust me, I’m on it."

While the students chatted in the kitchenette, Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin were in the main room, helping Tan You tidy up and clean. Of course, Cheng Wenhui was doing most of the work. Tan Lin would help out with the cleaning, but he was nowhere near as meticulous as his wife.

Hearing the happy chatter and laughter from outside, Cheng Wenhui’s spirits lifted. But her expression shifted when she saw the martial arts magazines on a nearby bookshelf.

Tan Lin nudged her arm. "Those are just the author’s copies from the magazine publisher. I bet they’ll release a hardcover edition later. Isn’t that what they did with her last book?"

"If it gets adapted into a TV series, she’ll really make a killing."

Cheng Wenhui sighed. "You’d think, with money coming so easily to her, why does she still torture herself with all these practice problems? I was a science major, too, but I can’t make heads or tails of the problems she’s working on."

She said, flipping through a few of the books on Tan You’s desk, "She never used to have a knack for the sciences..."

Tan Lin was unconcerned. "Maybe it just clicked for her overnight? Anyway, she’s our daughter. The more successful she becomes, the happier I am. I’m just glad she’s working this hard."

"It’s no good to just laze around and wait to die when you’re young."

Cheng Wenhui gave Tan Lin a pointed look. "Young, and lazing around waiting to die? I thought you were talking about yourself."

Tan Lin grinned cheekily. "Me? My days of leeching off my parents are over, so now I’m focused on leeching off my kid."

Seeing Cheng Wenhui begin to glare, Tan Lin quickly justified himself. "I take care of Tan Yue at home, help Tan You look after the old folks, and hold down the fort for you and Tan You. I’m contributing my labor, too."

"I’m earning my keep through my own efforts. Besides, I was just kidding about leeching off our kid. I mean, isn’t Tan You supporting me now anyway? I’ve saved up all the salary you earn to put away for Tan Yue’s future schooling."

"My ’salary’ covers all the household expenses now. And let me tell you, even though housework is a bunch of little things, doing it day in and day out is exhausting."

Cheng Wenhui thought about Tan Lin’s behavior at home. "Alright, I can’t win an argument with you."

"That’s because I’m making a good point," Tan Lin said, looking a little smug. "Besides, I never have to ask Tan You for anything. She gives it to me on her own initiative. I think I’ve got our daughter’s personality pegged. As long as I do a good job, she naturally rewards me handsomely."

"So why should I have to struggle and scheme? Besides, she’s my daughter. If I were ever in a tough spot, she obviously wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing."

"To be honest, I’m already very content with the way things are. I don’t have to work outside in the wind and sun, I don’t have to worry about living hand-to-mouth. I just take care of the house every day and get to do things I enjoy. I’m truly, completely satisfied."

"We have a house and a vehicle. Even if the vehicle is just an electric scooter, it’s still worlds better than what we used to have."

As her parents spoke in low voices, Tan You overheard every word. Stepping outside of her role as their daughter, she was now looking at Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin with complete objectivity.

They weren’t bad people; they had never done anything truly malicious. They had their selfish moments, but they never had any intention of harming others. The face they showed to the world was always respectable and generous. But often, when someone saves their best side for strangers, they leave their worst for their own family.

Now, Tan You was also trying to find the good in Tan Lin. What she once saw as stinginess could be reframed as thriftiness. But she was also starting to see something else—that neither Tan Lin nor Cheng Wenhui were greedy people.

’Alright, speaking of that...’ Tan You was suddenly reminded of the time Tan Lin had thrown a huge tantrum, demanding to know why she wasn’t putting her money in his care. ’Thinking back on it now,’ she thought, ’my decision back then was absolutely brilliant.’

Everyone was at an age where they were still growing. Aside from Tan You, who was consciously controlling her portions, and Tan Yue, who was still little, the other three held nothing back. By the end, every last bit of food Tan Lin and Cheng Wenhui had brought was gone.

Near the end, Gu Qiuxia was practically eating straight out of the pot. Her reputation as a big eater was clearly well-earned.

Full and satisfied, the group realized it was almost ten-thirty. Cheng Wenhui and Tan Lin came out of the other room. Seeing the three girls getting ready to leave, Cheng Wenhui said, "Your dad and I can walk them back. You should stay here and get to bed early."

Tan You didn’t argue. "Okay. You two get some rest when you get back, too."

As for the food containers, bowls, and chopsticks they had used, Cao Haiyan and the others had already washed everything. As girls from ordinary families, they were quick and deft at such chores.

After her friends left, the dorm room felt much quieter. She had enjoyed the lively atmosphere, but when it came down to it, she preferred the peace and quiet.

A burst of liveliness was nice, but constant commotion would just give her a headache.

For the first time in ages, Tan You didn’t drill practice problems before bed. Instead, she lay down early. The Beauty System flew in front of her. "Host, are you unhappy? Is it because of Yang Lanying?"

Tan You thought for a moment. "Maybe a little. But I’m not the one who’s truly unhappy anymore. I was the victim, and I’ve already moved on from that part of my life."

"But it’s a different story for Yang Lanying. She’s not a bad person; she has her own principles and moral compass. But what can you do? She wronged me. How is she supposed to make peace with herself?"

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