"Tangtang, Tangtang, wake up! I'm going to be late for school!"
Que Tang frowned irritably at the shouting. She struggled to roll over in bed, pulling the duvet over her head to drown out the noise.
"Tangtang, I'm really going to be late!"
"You're already a sophomore in high school. Why do you still need me to take you to school? Besides, I don't have classes this morning. I was playing WOW until three last night. Can't you give me a break?" Que Tang finally threw back the covers, looking blearily at the girl next door before glancing at the clock on the wall. The hands pointed precisely to six-thirty.
"You promised my parents you'd take good care of me," the young girl pouted. Though she was still young, her striking features were already beginning to take shape. Her long, straight black hair fell across her chest, and her willow-leaf brows framed large eyes that were currently filled with grievance.
Que Tang nearly collapsed in defeat. *Fine. I have no right to complain about parents who are comfortable enough to leave their daughter with a shut-in college student next door before heading abroad for work—nor about myself for agreeing to it.* She ran a hand through her messy, light-brown hair, climbed out of bed with a touch of morning grumpiness, and shuffled to the bathroom in her slippers to wash up.
"I'll go get breakfast ready for you first." Seeing her mission accomplished, the girl in the school uniform hummed a cheerful tune as she skipped out of the room.
Que Tang changed into jeans and a long-sleeved navy blue sweater. When she walked out, she saw the girl wearing only a thin uniform and instinctively frowned. "Mu Yao, aren't you cold?" She walked over to the long table currently serving as a dining area, pulled out a chair, and sat down, habitually turning the TV to the news channel. The weather reporter was announcing that the temperature had dropped to a low of four degrees Celsius.
The girl in the apron emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of fried eggs, ham, and lettuce. Before sitting down, she slipped off the apron and sat right next to Que Tang, leaning close. "If I'm cold, I just have to lean against Tangtang."
"...Who on earth taught you that?" Speechless, Que Tang picked up a piece of toast that had just popped up, spread some jam on it, and handed it to Mu Yao. "Just eat."
"What about you?" Mu Yao asked curiously as she took the toast.
"If I eat, I won't be able to go back to sleep..." Que Tang still looked exhausted, her appetite non-existent.
"Hmph." The girl bit into the toast unhappily. After swallowing, she leaned toward Que Tang and opened her mouth. A moment later, she was satisfied when Que Tang stuffed a small piece of ham and egg into her mouth. Only then did she flash a bright smile.
Once breakfast was finished, they both put on their coats. Just before they headed out, Que Tang suddenly called out, "Wait."
Mu Yao stopped mid-motion and looked back.
Que Tang took a pair of gloves and a beanie from the rack, pulled them onto the girl, and buttoned up her black overcoat. Only then did she pat her head and say, "Let's go."
Mu Yao happily hooked her arm through Que Tang's as they stepped out.
"Tangtang? Tangtang?"
Que Tang's eyes snapped open. She sat up abruptly, staring straight ahead and panting.
"Tangtang, what's wrong?" A soft, sweet voice came from her left. Que Tang turned her head in a panic to see a child looking at her with eyes full of worry. A cat sat at the girl's feet.
"Ah, Ruan Mianmian?" Que Tang looked in disbelief at the girl, who now clearly had the stature of a middle schooler. "How did you grow up so much?" If it weren't for that strange purple hair, she wouldn't have recognized her. And her face... Que Tang realized now that she looked remarkably like someone in her memories. However, Ruan Mianmian's expression held a hint more coldness.
"Because Tangtang completed the mini-game, I was able to grow up smoothly," Qi Ruolan explained with a smile. "And today is the orientation for my new middle school. Tangtang has to come with me."
Que Tang pressed a hand to her forehead, her head throbbing. "Game...?" She suddenly looked up. "The game! What about Ai Ti?" She looked toward Little Mushroom.
"Meow. Ai Ti has been successfully saved by the host. Her soul has ascended in peace," Little Mushroom communicated telepathically.
"Oh..." Que Tang nodded.
"Since Ruan Mianmian has grown up, the school storyline has been unlocked. The host must accompany the target to school. If you spend too little time with her, it may cause her Rebellion Value to increase. Meow~"
"Rebellion Value..." Que Tang sighed weakly. "Raising a kid is so much work. You have to feed them, clothe them, and worry about them turning bad. And if they do turn bad, you worry about them getting into trouble outside... and if it's a girl, you worry about her being..." She bit her lip and fell silent, letting out a final sigh.
"Ai Ti? Who is Ai Ti?" Qi Ruolan asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing. You're reporting for school today?" Que Tang stared worriedly at her purple hair. "The teachers will scold you for this color... but it's already six-thirty, too late to dye it. Whatever, I'll go with you and explain it to the teacher. I'll dye it black for you when we get back."
The system had thoughtfully prepared everything Ruan Mianmian needed, even upgrading Que Tang's single bed to a double. Although Que Tang had protested, she was overruled by Ruan Mianmian and ignored by the system.
"It's autumn already." Stepping outside in just a long dark-grey sweater and light-blue patterned leggings, Que Tang shivered slightly from the chill. Because the room had been so warm, she hadn't realized autumn had arrived. Furthermore, being trapped in missions where her clothing changed with her roles, she hadn't paid much attention to the seasons.
Ruan Mianmian was dressed in a standard student outfit: a white blouse, a black sweater, a light-grey skirt, black stockings, and black leather shoes. Que Tang had tied her chest-length purple hair into a ponytail. Carrying her schoolbag in her right hand, the girl linked her left arm with Que Tang's. "Tangtang, will you come pick me up after school today?" she asked expectantly.
"Hmm? Pick you up?" Que Tang felt a bit conflicted. She wasn't sure when the next mission would start, and if she made a promise she couldn't keep... she hated doing that.
"Is that a no? After today, I'll be staying in the dorms. It's your fault for signing me up for a girls' boarding school," Ruan Mianmian said, lowering her head in disappointment.
"Eh? Boarding school? Wait, what's the name of your school?" Que Tang asked.
"You forgot the name of the school you signed me up for? Hmph." Ruan Mianmian turned her head away petulantly. "It's Chonghua Girls' High. It's a combined middle and high school."
"Chong... hua?" Que Tang's eyes widened in shock. How... how could it be? That was the school she had attended. Her shock lasted all the way until they entered the classroom. It was only when she heard the teacher explaining the future school arrangements that Que Tang snapped out of it.
"It really is that Chonghua..." Every sight along the way was identical to the school she remembered.
"Meow~ The system has integrated settings from the host's original world. Please do not be confused," Little Mushroom's voice suddenly chimed in.
"...I see." Que Tang felt something was off, but she was eventually convinced. Since today was only an orientation, it ended before noon. Que Tang took Ruan Mianmian to a cafe near the school for lunch.
As soon as they sat down, Ruan Mianmian excitedly ordered a brunch set and a fruit tea. Que Tang, having little appetite, just ordered a hot latte.
"Tangtang, can we go to the amusement park after lunch?" Ruan Mianmian leaned happily against her.
"Sure." Que Tang took the latte from the server and sipped it while browsing a newspaper. Seeing names of real-life people printed there, she couldn't help but think the integration was too realistic. Just how much memory did this system need to run these calculations? "But remind me to buy black hair dye before we go back. This hair is too eye-catching." She set down the paper and her coffee, ruffling Ruan Mianmian's hair.
Ever since she realized how much Ruan Mianmian resembled her, Que Tang couldn't help but give in to her every whim, just like she used to.
"Really? Tangtang, you're the best!" Ruan Mianmian flashed a joyful smile.
After lunch, they took a bus to the amusement park. Que Tang accompanied Ruan Mianmian on every ride, including a thrilling roller coaster. As soon as they got off, Que Tang rushed to a trash can and threw up.
"Tangtang, how can you be so useless?" Ruan Mianmian complained, gently patting her back.
After finally finishing, Que Tang rinsed her mouth at a tap to clear the discomfort. Only then did she feel like responding. "I'm an old lady. Look at the age gap between us. Besides, I haven't touched these things since I started college." Her head was still spinning.
"Hmph." Ruan Mianmian pouted and helped her to a nearby bench. "Tangtang, will you miss me once I start boarding school?"
"Huh?" Que Tang didn't understand the question. Something felt slightly off.
"We could have chosen to commute, but you signed me up for boarding. You must hate me, right?" Ruan Mianmian lowered her head gloomily.
"Eh?" Having long outgrown her own rebellious phase, Que Tang—who didn't understand the whims of a teenage girl—finally realized she truly was getting old. she gave the answer Little Mushroom had just "delivered" to her. "I heard Chonghua's boarding facilities are excellent and the management is strict. I want you to focus on your studies so you can get into a good university. That way, I can be promoted to general manager, become a CEO, marry a beautiful rich girl, and reach the pinnacle of life..." She stopped abruptly.
*Holy crap, Little Mushroom, what kind of twisted answer is that? The last part was completely unnecessary!* Que Tang cursed the "pit-digging" system in her mind.
"Meow~" Little Mushroom ignored her complaints entirely and vanished.
"...Tangtang wants to be a general manager and a CEO?" Ruan Mianmian, who Que Tang thought had been silenced by the absurdity of the statement, suddenly spoke up.
"No, no, no, don't overthink it. I was just joking, haha," Que Tang gave a dry laugh. "But it's true that I want you to study hard. At the very least, a degree from a good school will make your life a bit easier." But Ruan Mianmian didn't seem to hear the explanation; her eyes were burning with determination.
"Okay, I understand. I will work hard to start a company so Tangtang can be a general manager and a CEO!"
Que Tang nearly coughed up blood. But seeing the girl so spirited, she could only nod perfunctorily.
Back home, Que Tang dyed the girl's hair and helped her pack. That night, Ruan Mianmian lay beside Que Tang, full of anticipation for school life.
"What kind of new friends do you think I'll make, Tangtang?"
"Mm, probably a bunch of middle-schoolers with raging hormones," Que Tang muttered, half-asleep.
"Tangtang!"
"Huh?!" Que Tang's eyes snapped open.
Seeing how tired she was, Ruan Mianmian let out a mature sigh. "Fine, go to sleep. Remember to take me to school tomorrow." She turned off the light and snuggled into Que Tang's arms to sleep.
The next day, Que Tang walked Ruan Mianmian to her dorm room door. Ruan Mianmian hugged her tightly, reluctant to let go. "Tangtang, you have to come see me during the holidays."
"Okay, okay... I definitely will. Now go inside." They had been hugging at the door for half an hour. Other parents were staring, making Que Tang feel incredibly self-conscious. She quickly pushed the girl into the room. "I'm heading back now. I'll see you next time. Study hard!" She immediately bolted downstairs.
Qi Ruolan stood by the window, smiling as she watched Que Tang's retreating figure. Once Que Tang was out of sight, her smile vanished. Her expressionless face bore a striking resemblance to Ai Ti.
Back at home, Que Tang collapsed onto the bed in exhaustion. "Sending a kid to school is exhausting. And having to wake up so early..."
"Meow~ Is the host ready for the next mission?"
"Wait, answer one question first. I haven't aged at all, but Ruan Mianmian keeps growing. Doesn't she find that strange?"
"Meow~ At each stage of the target's growth, the game automatically resets the host's age and writes it into her program. In other words, no matter how old the target gets, she will always perceive Que Tang as she is now."
Que Tang nodded. "Alright then. Let's start the next mission."
***
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Transmigrated as the Mary Sue: The Villainess's Revenge System | Chapter 54 | A New Stage of Growth | Novela.app | Novela.app
