Free Web NovelChapter 442: Chapter 442: You’ve Lost So Much Weight, I Almost Didn’t Recognize You
"Oh, I’m in Class 1." Tan You shrugged. "It’s almost time for dinner. We were planning to drop our stuff off and then head to the cafeteria. Where are you off to?"
Tan Ying glanced at the various supplies in Tan You’s hands. "I’m going to the school store to buy a few things."
"Then we’re not going the same way," Tan You said with a smile. "We’ll head back to our dorm first. See you later."
Watching Tan You lead a group of girls away, laughing and chatting, Tan Ying couldn’t help but frown. ’I’ve always been the center of attention, so how did that role go to Tan You? Didn’t her old roommates use to like me more than they liked her?’
’So that’s changed now?’
After parting ways with Tan Ying, Tan You went back to laughing and joking with the others. No one noticed she had been momentarily distracted. After all, they had all just met and didn’t know each other well. How could they possibly have noticed that something was amiss?
After lunch, everyone rested in the dorm room until one o’clock, each doing her own thing. Some slept, while others chatted quietly. There was also the studious Yin Xiu, who picked up a Chinese literature textbook to read. Tan You, on the other hand, pulled out her math competition problems and continued to wrestle with them.
It wasn’t until the whistle blew for assembly that everyone quickly put on their shoes and ran to the nearby athletic field. Since the PE teachers were conducting the military training, the school hadn’t prepared any uniforms. Everyone was wearing their own clothes. Tan You was especially well-covered in a long-sleeved shirt and long pants.
Even though she didn’t tan no matter how much sun she got, it was still better to have a layer of clothing.
The entire afternoon was spent on various drills like standing at attention, at ease, and holding military postures. The teachers were very lenient, giving them a twenty-minute break for every thirty minutes of training. After three such breaks, they were dismissed before five o’clock.
Yin Xiu was practically hanging off Tan You’s shoulder. "So tired, so hot. I just want to lie down right now and not do a single thing."
Tan You effortlessly supported Yin Xiu. "Let’s go eat first. When we pass by the dorm, we can grab our thermoses to get hot water. That’ll save us a second trip."
"Okay. Tan You, you’re so well-organized."
"Good thing we bought everything we needed at noon, otherwise we’d be the ones running off campus right now." Cao Haiyan’s short, curly hair seemed to have wilted, and her steps were especially heavy.
"First, we eat. Then, get water. Then, take a shower," Tan You laid out the plan. "Of course, you could also shower after evening self-study..."
"No way, we’d stink to death." Gu Qiuxia wrinkled her nose. "Let’s shower now and wash our clothes too. Then after evening self-study, we can come back and just relax comfortably in bed. Wouldn’t that be great?"
At Gu Qiuxia’s description, the previously listless girls perked up a bit. It was clear everyone was now thinking about quickly showering, changing their clothes, and heading to class feeling fresh and clean.
As they walked to their classroom, all fresh and clean, Yin Xiu couldn’t stop touching Tan You’s hair. "Your hair is naturally curly, just like Haiyan’s? I’m so jealous. My hair is super straight."
"Haiyan, why don’t you grow your hair out? It would look so pretty."
Cao Haiyan rolled her eyes. "You think I don’t want to? I’ve tried growing it long. It really doesn’t look good. It’s like having a bunch of steel needles sticking out of my head. Nothing like Tan You’s hair. Hers is prettier than permed curls."
’Not all natural curls are pretty,’ Tan You thought. ’My hair didn’t use to be that great either. It curled in all sorts of weird ways.’
"And Tan You’s hair is so dark. When I’m walking behind her, I feel like her hair is glowing," Gu Qiuxia chimed in. "I’m not so lucky. My hair is all yellow and dry. Tan You, what’s your usual hair care routine?"
Tan You thought for a moment. "Eat more black sesame. And maybe find a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to help balance your system. Once your body is well-conditioned, your hair quality will recover."
As the group of girls exited the main door of the girls’ dorm, Tan You ran into Tan Ying again by sheer coincidence. Tan You just smiled at her before turning and leading her group of friends away.
But Tan Ying didn’t give up. She took a few steps to catch up. "Tan You, you’ve lost so much weight. I almost didn’t recognize you."
Tan You paused, then smiled. "Yeah, I was losing weight over the summer break. It’s good to be a bit slimmer, it’s healthier. We’re in different classes, so we’ll get going."
Tan You didn’t like to think the worst of people, but now she couldn’t help but feel suspicious. ’When Tan Ying just brought up how fat I used to be, was that really just an offhand comment?’
Yin Xiu frowned. "Why do I get a weird vibe from you two? Aren’t you childhood friends?"
Tan You found it amusing. "Not all childhood friends become good friends. We just lived in the same village, that’s all. Come on, you still have the energy to gossip about me? Weren’t you tired from military training this afternoon?"
"I am, I’m dead tired." Yin Xiu sighed. "I heard from Teacher Ding that we have to learn goose-stepping tomorrow. That makes me even more miserable. Just how hard is the rest of this going to be?"
Tan You laughed. "Then you should just pray for rain. If it rains, we won’t have to train."
Beside them, Gu Qiuxia immediately clasped her hands together. "Then I’ll pray to the heavens for rain tomorrow. If it rains, everyone can get a break. It’s just too hot."
Tan You shrugged. ’It seems that in Han Tingting’s lifetime, she also prayed for rain every day during her university military training. I guess people are the same everywhere.’
In the classroom, everyone quieted down after the acting homeroom teacher walked in. Tan You took out the math competition problems she had brought with her. She was already starting to get a handle on them, and now was the time to push forward with all her might.
She was someone who got completely absorbed, so much so that she didn’t even notice the homeroom teacher standing beside her for a long time. It wasn’t until she solved the problem and was about to review her work that the scratch paper was snatched away.
Tan You looked up and saw that it was indeed Teacher Li. He stared at her scratch paper for a long time before finally handing it back, giving her a look that said, "Let’s talk outside."
Baffled, Tan You followed his steps. Looking at the small, thin homeroom teacher, an amused smile couldn’t help but touch her eyes. ’I heard he’s the math teacher,’ she thought. ’Don’t tell me I’ve managed to pique his interest?’
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the small office, Teacher Li was the first to ask, "What was your high school entrance exam score?"
Tan You was honest. "My grades used to be okay, but I slacked off in my third year of middle school reading novels. I scored a 582 on the entrance exam. I attended the middle school affiliated with this campus."
Teacher Li frowned. "You want to go the competition route?"
Tan You quickly waved her hands. "Me? I’m not cut out for that. I’ve just finished learning the high school curriculum and didn’t want to waste time, so I’m looking at these to pass the time and keep my brain active."
Teacher Li was surprised. "You’ve finished it all?"
His impression of Tan You had already soured somewhat. ’So young, yet so arrogant. Isn’t she afraid of bragging so much that she can’t back it up?’
Tan You said, "I have. Shame can be a powerful motivator. I spent the whole summer break self-studying the high school material."
Teacher Li snorted through his nose. He didn’t say a word, simply pulling out a test paper from the side. "Try this."
