After the 99th Confession, The Cold School Beauty’s Personality Collapsed - Chapter 86:

Chapter 86:

The entire convention center was vast and lively. A large-scale comic exhibition was underway, and the setting was vibrant and eye-catching. There were stages for singing and dancing performances, booths selling anime and manga merchandise, and stalls serving Japanese snacks like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and sushi. 

The atmosphere was rich with the energy of the two-dimensional culture, and attendees dressed in elaborate cosplay outfits moved through the bustling center.

Thanks to a strong cultural influence from Japan, the love for anime and manga in Xia Country was immense. Their exhibitions often surpassed those in Japan, attracting people from all over the world. Many like Hao Meng had traveled from Shanghai just to attend this event.

Once they checked their tickets, Qin Luo, Jia Ting, and Hao Meng entered the convention hall. In the first ten minutes alone, they drew countless curious and admiring glances. The three of them were quite a sight—a tall, strikingly handsome man flanked by two stunning women. Together, they were a spectacle, captivating everyone’s attention as they walked.

Qin Luo somehow found himself in the middle, with Jia Ting and Hao Meng on either side. The way they strolled and laughed together made it seem like he was walking with two companions at either arm, a scene that left many onlookers both envious and bitter.

The trio had grown accustomed to such attention; it was unavoidable even during casual outings. As they walked, Jia Ting looked around with a curious gaze. It was her first time at an event like this, and she couldn’t hide the sense of novelty in her expression.

Qin Luo, for his part, was no stranger to anime and manga. He had once been a huge fan, though not to the extent of a hardcore enthusiast like Hao Meng. This was his first comic exhibition, but having seen online videos about such events, he wasn’t overly surprised.

While the decor was impressive, Qin Luo’s attention was quickly drawn to a specific booth. It was dedicated to Ultraman, with a performer dressed as Ultraman Tiga striking iconic poses for fans. On the table nearby were authentic merchandise and collectibles for sale.

A little boy stood near the booth with his father, eyes wide with awe as he pointed to a figure on the table. “Dad, I want to buy this!” he exclaimed.

At first, the father seemed dismissive, but upon seeing the price tag, he tried a different approach. “Son, Ultraman’s mission is to protect Earth, not to play with you. Understand?”

The boy protested, “You’re just saying that because it’s too expensive and you don’t want to buy it!”

Hearing this, the father’s face darkened, and just as it seemed he might scold his son, the boy declared, “It’s fine. When I grow up, I’ll earn money and buy it myself!”

The surrounding crowd, moved by the boy’s determination, praised him warmly.

“What a well-raised child.” Jia Ting remarked.

Hao Meng nodded enthusiastically. “I wish my future children would be so sensible.”

Qin Luo couldn’t resist teasing, “Can you have children with a 2D character?”

Jia Ting burst out laughing, while Hao Meng shot Qin Luo a glare. They were about to continue walking when they overheard the father ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up, then?”

The boy replied confidently, “A food delivery guy!”

The father, stunned, asked, “Why that?”

The boy shrugged and added, “Or a courier.”

The father’s confusion deepened, and Qin Luo, who had paused to listen, found himself amused. The man asked, “Is there nothing else you want to do?”

The boy listed more options: “Plumber, air conditioning repair, tutor, private doctor…anything’s fine!”

The father’s expression darkened, and he gave the boy a light slap on the head. “What the heck, have you been looking at my computer again?!”

The boy burst into tears, leaning forward and wailing loudly, much to the amusement of onlookers. Qin Luo shook his head with a grin. “This kid’s going places.”

Jia Ting and Hao Meng, however, didn’t quite understand his remark. After a moment, Hao Meng realized something, wrapped her arms around herself, and exclaimed, “I hope I never have a kid like that.”

Jia Ting, still clueless, looked at Qin Luo for an explanation. He smirked, “Are you sure you want to know?”

Just as she was about to respond, a memory of their last outing in the small county surfaced, making her hesitate. “You know what, never mind.”

The trio continued, once again attracting countless glances as they moved through the hall. Hao Meng, slightly overwhelmed, scanned her surroundings and muttered, “Where’s the changing room? I can’t find it.”

Qin Luo looked at her. “You planning to cosplay?”

“Of course! Why else would I be here?” she said, holding up a slightly bulging bag.

“What’s the character?” he asked.

“Secret. You’ll see,” she said confidently.

After some searching and asking staff for directions, they finally found the changing rooms. But they weren’t alone—long lines had already formed outside each room, a testament to the event’s popularity.

At that moment, Jia Ting noticed a girl walking out of the men’s fitting room. She was surprised and asked, “Do the men’s and women’s fitting rooms share the same space?”

Hao Meng immediately responded, “Of course not,” but then followed Jia Ting’s gaze and chuckled. “Oh, you mean that person? That’s probably a guy.”

“A guy…?” Jia Ting was shocked. “The outfit is so feminine!”

Hao Meng laughed softly. “At comic exhibitions, this happens a lot. Men dress as women and vice versa. My next costume is actually a male character.”

Realizing what she’d said, she quickly clapped her hands over her mouth, looking embarrassed. “Oops, I wasn’t supposed to say that.”

Qin Luo rolled his eyes playfully. “There are so many male characters, we’ll never guess.”

“True,” Hao Meng grinned, waving off the slip. “Anyway, I’m going to queue up. Wait for me, okay?” She picked up her bag and headed off.

The line was long, and Qin Luo estimated it would take at least half an hour for Hao Meng to reach the fitting room. In the meantime, he and Jia Ting decided to get milk tea from a nearby shop. They bought three cups, delivering one to Hao Meng as she waited in line before stepping back a bit to chat.

“When are you leaving the imperial capital?” Jia Ting asked.

“Tomorrow,” Qin Luo said. “We’ll explore the comic exhibition today, stay overnight, and leave in the morning.”

“You’re not planning to see any sights in the imperial capital?”

“I’ve already visited most places when I was younger since my hometown is close by. I’ve kind of lost interest,” he replied with a shrug.

“Oh, I see,” Jia Ting nodded, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of disappointment.

Qin Luo caught her expression and asked casually, “Do you remember what you said last time?”

Jia Ting blinked, momentarily confused. “What are you talking about?”

“When you were at my house, you mentioned… well, do those words still hold true?” He turned to her, his eyes holding a mysterious glint.

She met his gaze, feeling her heartbeat quicken. There was something unspoken in his eyes that made her feel uneasy and excited all at once. For a few moments, neither of them spoke, communicating silently instead.

After a moment, Jia Ting took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes. It still counts.”

A smile spread across Qin Luo’s face. “Good to hear.”

“Then when you leave tomorrow…”

“Just send me the location,” Jia Ting said firmly. “I’ll be there.”

“Deal.”

Their simple exchange carried a weight of understanding and connection that seemed to shift the atmosphere between them. Despite the bustling crowd around them, they unconsciously drew closer, occasionally sharing glances and soft smiles.

At one point, Jia Ting pointed to his face and said, “You have milk tea on your face.”

“Really?” Qin Luo stuck out his tongue and tried to lick it off, but failed.

Laughing, Jia Ting pulled out a small towel from her bag and gently wiped his face. The soft touch and the faint scent of her perfume made Qin Luo pause. He looked at her, their eyes meeting again. Realizing how close they were, Jia Ting’s cheeks flushed, and she stammered, “I… I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Let’s go together,” Qin Luo offered with a smile.

Avoiding his gaze, Jia Ting walked off, and Qin Luo followed a few steps behind. 

Before leaving, he glanced back at Hao Meng, who was still in line, to signal where they were going. 

Hao Meng noticed, met his eyes for a moment, and quickly looked away, flustered.

She muttered to herself, “Something more than friends…”

The scene of Jia Ting wiping Qin Luo’s face replayed in her mind, leaving her unsettled.

Meanwhile, in the men’s bathroom, Qin Luo washed up and adjusted his hair. Just then, a scream came from the women’s restroom nearby, startling everyone. Some men hesitated, unsure if they should check, but they saw Qin Luo emerge from the men’s room and rush into the women’s restroom without hesitation.

Chaos ensued, with screams and thrown objects flying. 

Moments later, Qin Luo stumbled out, pursued by furious women hurling all sorts of items.

A security guard, eyeing him suspiciously, asked, “Why did you enter the women’s restroom?”

“I heard someone scream! I thought they were in danger!” Qin Luo defended himself.

“That doesn’t give you the right to barge in!”

“…”

“Don’t think I’ll let this slide just because I’m a security guard and not the police!”

The security guard sneered and glanced at the “victims” who had thrown objects at Qin Luo when he rushed into the women’s restroom. 

Angrily, he asked, “Everyone, what should we do with this pervert?”

A girl dressed as Asuna from Sword Art Online raised her prop rapier and declared, “We must deal with him strictly!”

Another girl, cosplaying Heiyan, nodded while holding a prop gun. “Exactly, he deserves serious punishment!”

A girl dressed as Ellie glared at Qin Luo and added, “We can’t let him off that easily!”

The security guard, satisfied with their reactions, turned back to Qin Luo with a smirk. “See? You’re done for. You think being handsome will save you after barging into the women’s restroom? I’m calling the police!”

Before he could reach for his phone, the girls all turned to him, their expressions suddenly fierce. “No!” they shouted in unison.

Startled, the security guard nearly dropped his phone. “Why not?”

“Don’t call the police!” they demanded.

“But… you said he shouldn’t be let off easily,” the security guard stammered, clearly confused.

The girl dressed as Asuna rolled her eyes. “We said not to let him off easily, but no one mentioned calling the police.”

She then approached Qin Luo, a shy smile replacing her earlier outrage. “Sorry, little big brother. I got a bit too excited earlier. Hope you’re not mad.”

The girl cosplaying Heiyan stepped up next, concern written all over her face. “Did my bag hit you? I hope you’re okay.”

The Ellie cosplayer leaned close, her voice low and teasing in Qin Luo’s ear. “Hey there, little big brother… how about making me your daughter?”

“…”

Qin Luo stood there, stunned, unsure how to react.

At this moment, Jia Ting stepped in, bowing politely to the group. “I’m really sorry for the trouble. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be on our way.”

Grabbing Qin Luo’s hand, she quickly led him away.

“Wait, little big brother!” one of the girls called after them. “Add us on WeChat first!”

Another sighed dramatically, “He even runs gracefully…”

Watching them leave, the security guard was left dumbfounded. “This is insane,” he muttered. “I came here to arrest a criminal, and now the ‘victims’ are fawning over him?”

A man who had been watching approached the security guard and clapped him on the shoulder. “You know why there are so many ‘perverts’ in the world, brother?”

“Why?” the security guard asked, still puzzled.

“Because they’re as ugly as we are. If they were as handsome as that guy, would anyone even call them perverts?”

The security guard’s expression turned grim. Nearby men clutched their chests in silent agreement.

Meanwhile, Jia Ting led Qin Luo away, finally slowing down. She bent over, laughing uncontrollably. “You… hahaha… you should have seen your face!”

Qin Luo, still processing what happened, complained, “I heard you scream, so I ran in without thinking! How was I supposed to know it was a girl dressed as a guy?”

Jia Ting burst out laughing again, holding her stomach. “It’s too much…!”

Qin Luo glared at her. “Laugh all you want! I hope you laugh until you can’t stop!”

Eventually, Jia Ting regained her composure, reverting to her usual composed demeanor. She bowed slightly, saying, “I’m sorry.”

Qin Luo chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. “You can laugh a bit more.”

She shook her head. “I know you rushed in because you were worried. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but laugh.”

“Go ahead. Laugh.”

“Are you mad?”

“No.”

“Then let’s go find Meng.”

Seeing her blush and quickly change the subject, Qin Luo could only smile, feeling an inexplicable warmth.

Qin Luo assumed that Jia Ting was feeling a bit embarrassed after remembering the bathroom incident and didn’t think much of it as they walked back to the fitting rooms together. Just as they arrived, the door to one of the fitting rooms for girls opened, capturing everyone’s attention.

Even Qin Luo found himself momentarily amazed by what he saw.

It was Hao Meng, just as she had mentioned before, cosplaying a male character named Natsume from a Japanese anime. Gone were her usual twin ponytails; instead, she wore a golden wig, its tips softly framing her ears. Beneath her parted bangs, her delicate and refined features stood out.

For the first time, Qin Luo truly noticed Hao Meng’s appearance. Her features were strikingly well-defined, giving her an elegant, three-dimensional beauty that evoked a mixed-race charm. Her tall figure, over 1.7 meters, made her stand out even more. 

She wore a black Chinese tunic suit, simple yet perfectly tailored, enhancing her aura and making her look like a male idol straight out of a drama. Unlike Qin Luo’s masculine handsomeness, Hao Meng exuded a more refined, soft allure, a blend of masculine and feminine grace. At first glance, people might mistake her for a boy, but a closer look would leave them guessing her true gender. The almost otherworldly beauty she possessed made it seem like she had stepped straight out of a two-dimensional anime world.

Everyone around couldn’t help but stare, jaws dropping and eyes wide in envy and admiration.

“Oh my gosh, this person is stunning,” someone whispered.

“Is that a boy? I’m in love!” another exclaimed.

“No, you fool! She’s a girl. But who cares about gender when there’s love?” others chimed in.

People couldn’t stop talking, and the crowd’s focus firmly settled on Hao Meng. She basked in their admiration, a confident smile lighting up her face. Scanning the room, her gaze fell on Qin Luo and Jia Ting.

The memory of Jia Ting wiping Qin Luo’s face flashed through Hao Meng’s mind, making her feel a twinge of embarrassment. But the admiration she saw in Qin Luo’s eyes quickly replaced her guilt with a surge of pride. She remembered how dazzling Qin Luo had been at the school celebration and how her heart had unexpectedly raced. Now, she was ready to shine in her own way.

Approaching Qin Luo and Jia Ting, Hao Meng’s lips curled in a subtle, triumphant smile, as if to say, “Look at me.”

Qin Luo nodded in approval. “Not bad.”

Hao Meng’s pride swelled. “Does it look good?” she asked Jia Ting eagerly.

“It looks… very good. Very handsome,” Jia Ting replied sincerely after a pause.

Hao Meng grinned, clearly pleased. “I wanted to wear this at the school celebration, but my parents wouldn’t let me. Imagine if I did. Qin Luo wouldn’t have been the star of the show.”

“Yes, yes, you’re the best,” Qin Luo teased. Hao Meng’s smile stretched wider, her confidence soaring.

At this moment, a young Japanese couple appeared. The boy turned to his girlfriend. “Wait for me; I need to use the restroom.”

“Okay, I’ll be here,” she replied sweetly, but as soon as the boy left, she spotted Qin Luo. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly approached him.

“Hi there, handsome. Can I add you on WeChat?” she asked.

Hao Meng wasn’t surprised. With her and Qin Luo’s looks, they always attracted attention like moths to a flame. This kind of thing was just routine.

Jia Ting, however, couldn’t help but feel a flicker of irritation. She raised an eyebrow as the girl flirted with Qin Luo, her expression subtly hardening. She turned to see how Qin Luo would respond.

After a brief pause, Qin Luo spoke, his voice surprisingly soft and feminine. “Aren’t girls bold these days?”

The girl froze, looking at him in disbelief. Realizing she had just tried to flirt with a man disguised as a woman—or so she thought—she turned and walked away, muttering, “How unlucky…”

Qin Luo smirked, turning back to find both Hao Meng and Jia Ting staring at him in shock.

“How did you do that?” Jia Ting asked.

“Yeah, how can you speak like that?” Hao Meng added.

“It’s called a false voice,” Qin Luo replied casually. Thanks to his [Advanced Voice Control Skill], he could change his voice effortlessly, imitating any sound he desired, even cars or birds. It was beyond what professional voice actors could achieve.

“False voice?” Jia Ting still seemed confused, but Hao Meng nodded slowly, impressed. “You’re full of surprises.”

Qin Luo rolled his eyes playfully. “You’d better believe it. I can even fly a plane if I want.”

Hao Meng wanted to argue, but deep down, she believed him. With Qin Luo, anything seemed possible.

Qin Luo always seemed to surprise everyone around him with unexpected skills. First, it was his slam dunks on the basketball court, then his musical compositions and impressive piano skills. Now, the revelation that he could use a false voice left Hao Meng astonished.

Jia Ting, still trying to understand, asked, “Is a false voice a technique for changing how you sound?”

Hao Meng explained, “Basically, it’s like in anime when men voice female characters or women voice male characters.” She then coughed twice, and when she spoke again, her voice was noticeably different—neutral, neither masculine nor feminine. “Actually, I can do it too,” she said.

Jia Ting looked at her in surprise, not expecting her roommate of two years to have such a hidden talent. Hao Meng, pleased with the reaction, turned to Qin Luo, raising her chin as if to say, “See? I’m not so easy to outshine.”

Qin Luo offered a playful bow of respect, acknowledging her skill.

Just then, a voice interrupted. “Excuse me?”

They turned to see the boyfriend of the girl who had approached Qin Luo earlier. With a cheerful smile, he looked at Qin Luo and Jia Ting and said, “You two make a really attractive couple. I’m a professional photographer, and my passion is capturing beautiful moments with beautiful people.”

He continued enthusiastically, “It’s such a shame I didn’t bring my camera today. I’d have loved to do a free photo shoot for you two—you have such striking looks and wonderful chemistry!”

His flattering words caught Qin Luo and Jia Ting off guard, and they exchanged a glance, both remembering the photographer who approached them when they first arrived in the imperial capital. Realizing they had the same thought, they couldn’t help but smile.

The man then turned to Hao Meng. “And you, miss—could I have your WeChat?” he asked, adjusting his glasses, which reflected a sharp glint. Despite Hao Meng’s masculine attire and the convincing illusion she created, he clearly recognized her true gender.

Qin Luo and Jia Ting were surprised by the man’s perceptiveness. Most people would assume Hao Meng was a boy at first glance due to her height and distinct features. Yet this man saw through the disguise instantly.

Hao Meng paused for a couple of seconds, then replied in a neutral voice with a thick northeastern accent, “Sorry, bro. Not interested.”

Jia Ting almost burst out laughing, barely holding it in. Qin Luo stared at Hao Meng, shocked at her quick-witted response and perfect mimicry of his earlier trick.

He expected the man to leave, embarrassed like the girl before. But instead, the man’s glasses glinted again. “Are you sure? Think about it.”

This time, it was Hao Meng’s turn to be taken aback. Jia Ting stifled her laughter, but Qin Luo couldn’t contain himself, laughing loudly. “Hahaha, I can’t believe this! Hahaha…”

As Qin Luo’s laughter echoed, Hao Meng glared at him before turning back to the man. With a deadpan expression, she took out her phone and recited a series of numbers. The man eagerly wrote down what he thought was her WeChat ID, leaving with a satisfied smile.

Qin Luo stopped laughing and stared at her. “Did you seriously give him your number?”

Jia Ting, equally shocked, asked, “Meng, are you interested in someone like him?”

Hao Meng shrugged casually. “Not at all.”

“Then why give him your number?” Qin Luo asked, confused.

Hao Meng grinned mischievously and said, “I gave him yours.”