After the 99th Confession, The Cold School Beauty’s Personality Collapsed - Chapter 82:

Chapter 82: How Much Money Does Our Family Have?:

For many college students, without a clear goal or a solid plan, a long vacation can become dull and repetitive. Spending two months doing nothing can make life feel monotonous and mentally draining.

In comparison, staying at school every day offers opportunities to interact, engage in activities, and meet new people, enhancing social and communication skills. However, not everyone enjoys socializing. Some people prefer the peace of staying at home, enjoying solitude, and avoiding unnecessary social interactions.

“So, you’ve stayed home for a month because of that?” Qin Luo’s mother asked him at dinner, clearly unimpressed.

Qin Luo tried to explain, “I did go to the restaurant occasionally and even taught the chefs a few things. That doesn’t make me a complete shut-in.”

His mother wasn’t convinced. “Going to the restaurant doesn’t count as getting out. Why can’t you visit friends, hang out, or have fun?”

“You’re 20, Qin Luo,” she continued with her usual lecture. “Look at your childhood friends. Didn’t your elementary school classmate—”

“Yang Bo,” Qin Luo’s father helpfully interjected.

“Yes, Yang Bo. He’s married and already has kids! And what about Ma Jun?”

“Ma Jun just got married this year,” Qin Luo’s father added again.

“They all grew up with you, yet there’s such a big difference now,” his mother sighed, clearly frustrated.

Qin Luo felt overwhelmed and protested, “People around here marry early because they left school long ago. Do you know many college students eager to tie the knot?”

His mother wasn’t swayed. “Plenty. There’s someone from our community—”

“Tian Jiao,” his father supplied.

“Yes, Tian Jiao. She’s your age and in college too. She even brought her partner home during the May holiday and plans to get married soon. Her school even encourages marriage with extra credits!”

Qin Luo was taken aback. “Wait, wasn’t she the one whose mom visited us recently?”

His mother nodded eagerly. “Yes, but Tian Jiao only pretended to have a partner because her mom was pressuring her. But she was serious about you. She said she’d marry you any time if you agreed, even without worrying about money.”

Qin Luo recalled Tian Jiao from primary school—a girl known for her fiery temper. He remembered her knocking a boy’s tooth out in a fight. He chuckled, amused at the idea of her as a potential partner.

“What’s so funny?” his mother demanded.

Before Qin Luo could reply, his father intervened, “There’s no need to rush. He’s only 20, and still in college.”

“Of course, you’d say that,” his mother shot back. “I’m not in a hurry either, but seeing so many of your friends married with kids makes me want to be a grandma too.”

Qin Luo’s father leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. “Besides, who says our boy is single?”

“Wait, you have a girlfriend?” his mother asked, suddenly hopeful.

“Of course not!” Qin Luo denied quickly.

“Yes, he does.” His father teased.

The contradictory responses made his mother glare at them both. “Explain yourself,” she demanded.

Qin Luo’s father recounted seeing a pretty and elegant girl with Qin Luo at the airport, who later visited their restaurant. He described how happy they seemed together.

His mother listened intently but grew serious when she heard the girl’s name. “Isn’t she Secretary Jia’s niece?”

“Yes,” Qin Luo’s father confirmed.

“That won’t work,” she declared. “We aren’t on their level.”

Qin Luo jumped in, “Why not? I’m not so bad myself.”

His father scoffed. “Nonsense! Our son is amazing. It’s only a matter of whether they’re good enough for him!”

Qin Luo grinned and gave his father a thumbs-up. His father waved it off, but a moment later, his mother thwacked him lightly with a chopstick.

“Act your age,” she scolded. “Our son is sensible despite your influence.”

Suppressing a laugh, Qin Luo changed the subject. “Actually, I’ve got plans. I was busy at home for a while, but tomorrow I’ll—”

His mother cut him off. “Busy? You? All you do is visit the restaurant.”

“I’ve been trading stocks,” Qin Luo admitted. “That gift I bought you was thanks to stock profits.”

“Really?” his mother asked, now interested. “How’s it going? Made any money?”

“Pretty good,” Qin Luo said with a smug smile. “I don’t take risks without a plan.”

“Speak clearly,” his father said, rolling his eyes.

Qin Luo pulled out his phone. “Here, see for yourselves.”

His parents peered at the screen. His mother was confused by the red and green numbers. “Is red good or bad?”

“Red is profit; green is loss,” Qin Luo explained.

His mother nodded slowly. “I still don’t get it. Did you make money?”

“The initial investment was 400,000 yuan, and he’ve made another 400,000.” His father summarized, glancing at Qin Luo with pride.

“That much?” his mother exclaimed.

Qin Luo shrugged. “It’s not as much as the restaurant’s monthly profit.”

“When business is slow, we don’t make nearly that much,” she said, impressed. “And you made it by trading stocks!”

After dinner, Qin Luo helped clear the table. As he sat in the living room, his father handed him a cup of tea.

“Want to tell me something, Dad?” Qin Luo asked.

His father sipped the tea before responding. “You invested in Xialu Group stocks, right?”

Qin Luo nodded. “Yeah.”

“When did you start?”

“The day I first met Uncle Jia.”

“You mean when he tried to bring me into the city deal?” Qin Luo asked.

“Yes,” replied his father.

Father Qin’s expression became more serious. “Old Liu told me two days ago that a director from Xialu Group ran off with a huge amount of money. Because of that, the group’s construction project in our county has been put on hold, affecting the entire company.”

“Ah, so that’s why you were so opposed back then,” Qin Luo realized. “You knew this might happen, didn’t you? That’s why you subtly warned me not to cooperate with them, while secretly buying their stocks.”

Hearing this, Qin Luo felt slightly uneasy. His father, though often appearing carefree and playful, was actually a wise man with a sharp mind. 

Despite his outwardly laid-back demeanor, he was more perceptive than most people gave him credit for. This was a man who once used a mere 30,000 yuan to pull off clever deals even in economic downturns.

Still, Qin Luo kept his cool. “You’re overthinking it, Dad. I just thought their proposal seemed too good to be true,” he explained. “Think about it—why would they insist on bringing you in for such a prime project? Sure, our restaurant does well here, but there are plenty of successful establishments. Why us?”

He continued, “Offering you a deal that practically handed out free money? That just seemed too suspicious. I didn’t want you to jump in blindly.”

Pausing for a moment, he added, “Besides, we aren’t exactly hurting for money. There was no reason to chase after something that felt too good to be true. If we had invested and the project shut down, we’d have taken a huge loss.”

His father nodded slowly but then suddenly asked, “How did you know they came only to me?”

Qin Luo hesitated. “Just a lucky guess.”

“Ha,” his father scoffed, clearly unconvinced. But he let the matter drop, taking a long sip of his tea. “Just be careful if you go on your trip,” he said, shifting back into a concerned fatherly tone. “It’s a self-driving tour, right? Don’t push yourself. Rest if you’re tired. If you’re on the highway, pull over safely if you need to sleep.”

He continued, “And when you buy a car, get something comfortable. Don’t just go for flashiness. Sports cars might look cool, but they’re not practical for long drives. They’ll wear you out.”

The sudden change from shrewd businessman to caring father caught Qin Luo off guard, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “I didn’t know you could nag like Mom,” he joked.

Father Qin glared playfully. “Insulting your mother, are you? I’ll—”

But he stopped short, smiling and saying, “If you need more money for the car, just call. Your dad’s got plenty.”

Qin Luo grinned. “Oh really? How much money do we actually have?”

“Trying to get your hands on my savings?” his father teased, then replied, “Not a ton. Most of what we earn goes back into the restaurant. But we’ve got tens of millions saved up, and your mom’s got a few million of her own.”

He went on, “We also own two properties in the city—both in high-end neighborhoods. Worth several million. And that’s not even counting the restaurant.”

Qin Luo was stunned. He’d hoped to impress his father with his own financial success, but it seemed his father was still a step ahead.

Over the past month, Qin Luo had earned over 20 million yuan through stock trading, bringing his total balance to over 40 million. He’d felt proud, believing he’d reached financial independence. But hearing his father’s words, he realized he was still the junior in terms of wealth.

“Guess I’m a hidden rich kid.” Qin Luo muttered.

His father noticed Qin Luo’s reaction and felt a sense of pride, believing he had impressed his son. Qin Luo, meanwhile, silently vowed to surpass him someday.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Qin Luo. “Why don’t you and Mom move into one of those houses?”

His father dismissed the idea. “We’ve lived here for decades. No reason to move.”

“But the house is old,” Qin Luo pointed out. “No elevator. It’ll be tough for you two if your health declines.”

Father Qin scowled. “Can’t you think more positively?”

After a moment, he admitted, “You’ve got a point. But it’s not urgent. If we move, we can buy another house.”

“But you already have two.” Qin Luo protested.

“One is for your future marriage,” his father explained. “You’ll need a place of your own.”

“And the other?”

“It’s for your sister.”

Qin Luo fell silent, surprised. His father continued, “Even though your sister isn’t with us anymore, she’s still part of this family. That house is hers. In case she ever comes back.”

His father’s voice softened. “We don’t move because we’re afraid she won’t find us when she does.”

With that, he walked to the door, patting his pocket for his cigarettes before stepping outside. The door closed behind him with a soft click.

Qin Luo sat quietly, lost in thought. Moments later, his mother appeared. “How… is your sister doing?”

“She’s doing well,” Qin Luo said with a reassuring smile.

His mother’s eyes filled with worry. “She’s been away for five years. Sometimes, I want to call, but I’m afraid her biological parents will be upset.”

Tears fell as she continued. “I watch her shows to see how she’s doing. She’s beautiful and talented, but when people criticize her online, I can’t help but argue back.”

She wiped her tears. “I recently heard Rainbow Entertainment stopped supporting her. Isn’t that her father’s company? Why would they do that?”

Qin Luo’s heart ached. “Don’t worry, Mom. She’ll be fine. You’ll see her on a new show soon.”

His mother nodded, smiling through her tears as she returned to her room, comforted by his words.

Qin Luo sighed, then went to shower. Later, back in his room, he picked up his phone and dialed Quan Zhitao’s number.