After the 99th Confession, The Cold School Beauty’s Personality Collapsed - Chapter 90:

Chapter 90: Is This Supposed to Be a Success?:

Meanwhile, in the hotel on the other side, Hao Meng had just finished her chat with Jia Ting and was now sharing the day’s events with her best friend, Shi Yulu.  

Initially, their conversation was filled with laughter and playful banter, their messages peppered with “hahahahahaha” and emojis. But when Shi Yulu learned that Hao Meng was staying at the same hotel as Qin Luo, she immediately switched to voice chat, her tone rising with disbelief.  

“You and Qin Luo are staying at the same hotel?!”  

Hao Meng rolled her eyes, already exasperated. “Why does everyone keep assuming the same thing?! First Jia Ting, now you. What’s wrong with you two? It’s just a coincidence! Get your minds out of the gutter!”  

“Huh? ‘Everyone’? Who else said that?”  

“Jia Ting,” Hao Meng muttered, and then quickly snapped, “But is that even the point?!”  

“Details, details,” Shi Yulu brushed her off, clearly unfazed. She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “So, are Qin Luo and Jia Ting really a thing?”  

Hao Meng hesitated, then replied thoughtfully, “Honestly, I’m not 100% sure, but they’re definitely into each other. That much is clear.”  

“What about Ji Yan? I mean, she and Qin Luo had a thing before, right?”  

“Ugh… Yeah, it’s complicated,” Hao Meng sighed. “At first, I thought it was pretty awkward—two girls from the same dorm interested in the same guy? It’s bound to get messy no matter how you look at it.”  

Shi Yulu agreed, “Yeah, that does sound awkward.”  

“But Jia Ting said something today that kind of stuck with me.” Hao Meng admitted.  

“What’d she say?”  

“She said that pursuing someone you like is everyone’s right. Just like Qin Luo pursued Ji Yan before—it didn’t work out, but that doesn’t mean it should stop someone else from trying.” Hao Meng paused, then added, “She even used you and me as an example. She said if both of us liked the same guy, it wouldn’t be fair to hold back just because of someone else.”  

Shi Yulu gasped dramatically. “Wow, you remembered all that?!”  

“Focus on the important part, you idiot!” Hao Meng snapped, though her irritation was half-hearted.  

Shi Yulu laughed. “Honestly, she’s got a point. As long as everyone’s clear about their feelings, it’s fine. I just hope it doesn’t turn into a mess like things did with Ji Yan.”  

Their conversation spiraled into a passionate debate about hypothetical scenarios. What if Qin Luo and Jia Ting really got together? How would Ji Yan react? Whose side should they take if things turned ugly? How would they mediate if tensions escalated?  

It was all speculation, yet they discussed it with fervor, much like people fantasizing about spending lottery winnings they didn’t have.  

Eventually, Hao Meng yawned, her energy spent. “Alright, I’m done for the day. I’ve been out all day and I’m exhausted. Time to shower and hit the sack.”  

“Go ahead,” Shi Yulu replied, but just as Hao Meng was about to hang up, her friend’s voice rose sharply.  

“Wait! Hold on!”  

“What now?” Hao Meng groaned, pulling the phone away from her ear in irritation.  

“I forgot the important part!” Shi Yulu said urgently.  

“What is it?” Hao Meng asked, resigned.  

“Go to Qin Luo’s room. Right now!”  

“Are you out of your mind?!” Hao Meng’s eyes widened in shock.  

“It’s not what you think!” Shi Yulu exclaimed. “I just need you to remind him about the piano sheet music he promised me! He still hasn’t sent it, and I’ve been waiting forever.”  

“That’s it?! And you want me to go to his room for that? What kind of friend sends her buddy into the lion’s den?!”  

“Oh, come on. Qin Luo’s not like that. He’s a decent guy—you’ll be fine!”  

“Decent or not, you can just message him on WeChat. Why drag me into this?”  

“I’ve messaged him a million times! He keeps saying he’ll send it when it’s done, but it’s been a whole month. I’m desperate!”  

Hao Meng sighed. “You actually paid him for this?”  

“Well… I offered to pay him 10,000 yuan, but he didn’t take it.” Shi Yulu admitted sheepishly.  

“Then why are you stressing over it so much?”  

“Because I really want that sheet music!” Shi Yulu whined. “The online recordings are terrible, and I’ve been losing sleep over it. Please, Hao Meng, just this once!”  

After some internal debate—and knowing she could never say no to her childhood best friend—Hao Meng reluctantly agreed.  

“Fine, fine. I’ll go,” she grumbled.  

“You’re the best! Good luck!”  

…

Moments later, Hao Meng found herself standing in front of Qin Luo’s room. She knocked hesitantly, glancing nervously at the hallway around her.  

“This feels so wrong… What if someone sees me”

She knocked again, louder this time. Still, there was no response.  

She frowned, checking her phone. It’s only eleven. There’s no way he’s asleep already. What is he, an old man?  

As she debated leaving, the door suddenly swung open, and Qin Luo’s annoyed voice rang out. “Who’s knocking while I’m in the shower?”  

Hao Meng’s planned reply froze in her throat as she took in his appearance.  

Qin Luo stood there, hair damp and slightly messy, a towel draped loosely around his neck. His casual shorts and T-shirt clung slightly to his skin from the steam.  

Hao Meng’s eyes widened. Her face turned bright red as if someone had lit a fire beneath her. She stood there, utterly stunned.  

When Qin Luo opened the door, Hao Meng was greeted with a sight she was unprepared for—he was practically naked.

The only thing covering him was a large bath towel loosely wrapped around his waist. While his legs were hidden, his upper body was entirely exposed.

Years of consistent training, combined with certain unexplained enhancements, had sculpted Qin Luo’s body to near perfection. His defined muscles, visible abs, and even the sharp lines along his obliques exuded an undeniable masculine charm.

Having just stepped out of the shower, his wet hair dripped water onto his sculpted features. Droplets trailed from his well-defined jawline to his prominent collarbones, and then further down to his chest and torso.

Hao Meng found herself unable to look away, her eyes helplessly tracing the path of one such droplet.

Snap!

The sound of Qin Luo snapping his fingers jolted her back to reality. She jumped in shock and took a few hurried steps back, pressing herself against the wall. Her face was a mix of fear and embarrassment.

“You… you… what are you trying to do?!” she stammered, her voice shaking.

Qin Luo chuckled at her reaction, finding her accusation ironic. “Seriously? You’re accusing me? I just stepped out of the shower. What’s the issue?”

“I… I… well, yes! I mean… I do have something to talk about, but it’s not urgent. You go finish your shower first!” Hao Meng replied in a flustered tone, her words spilling out in a rush.

Qin Luo gave her a suspicious look but didn’t press further. “Alright then, come back in 10 minutes.” 

With that, he shut the door and returned to his bathroom.

Hao Meng remained rooted in place, staring at the closed door. Her mind replayed the scene she had just witnessed, unable to shake the image of his toned physique.

Beauty truly has power, she thought. Whether it’s men admiring a woman’s figure or women appreciating a man’s, there’s something universally captivating about physical perfection.

Up until this moment, Hao Meng had never been interested in any man, no matter how good-looking. Her heart had always been devoted to fictional, two-dimensional characters. But now, after witnessing Qin Luo’s flawless physique, she felt her heart racing uncontrollably.

Realizing this, she clutched her chest and muttered, “Stop! Stop beating so fast!” After a pause, she reconsidered, “Wait, if it stops completely, I’m done for. Fine—beat slower!”

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she glanced back at Qin Luo’s door. Her emotions were a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. “This isn’t love. It’s not even admiration. I was just startled—that’s all!”

Before she could fully process her thoughts, the door opened again.

Qin Luo leaned casually against the frame, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve been standing there this whole time?”

Hao Meng, feeling guilty, quickly straightened up and said, “I just thought guys usually finish their showers quickly. No point going back to my room.”

Qin Luo sighed. “Alright, but why didn’t you just message me on WeChat instead of knocking on my door?”

Exactly! Why didn’t I? Hao Meng mentally cursed her best friend, Shi Yulu, for insisting she do this. If it weren’t for her, this whole awkward scene wouldn’t have happened!

Frustrated, she glared at Qin Luo, as if blaming him for everything.

Qin Luo, puzzled by her sudden anger, asked, “What’s with that look? Weren’t you just thanking me for taking all those photos earlier? What did I do now?”

Hao Meng explained, “Shi Yulu sent me here. She said you’ve been ignoring her messages about the music score she asked for.”

“That’s it? She could’ve just reminded me online,” Qin Luo replied, scratching his damp hair.

“She did! You ignored her for a month!” Hao Meng snapped. “She insisted I make you hand it over tonight, no matter what!”

“Alright, fine,” Qin Luo said with a resigned sigh. “Go back to your room. I’ll bring it to you once I’m done.”

With that, he shut the door again.

…

Hao Meng stood outside his door, stunned.

That’s it? It’s over just like that?

She hadn’t even entered his room, let alone faced any of the scenarios she had overthought earlier.

Feeling both relieved and oddly disappointed, she trudged back to her room. 

Why was she even worried? It wasn’t like anything was going to happen.

However, the lingering frustration puzzled her. 

Was it because she’d worked herself up for nothing, or was there something else?

…

Not long after, there was a knock at her door.

Hao Meng rushed to check, peeking through the peephole. Qin Luo stood outside, now dressed in a loose bathrobe tied securely at the waist. Although most of him was covered, the faint glimpse of his chest muscles was still visible.

“Why do I feel disappointed?” Hao Meng scolded herself, shaking her head. “What’s so special about abs anyway?”

Opening the door, she complained, “You’re knocking like it’s a life-or-death situation!”

Qin Luo smirked. “If this is life or death, then you knocking on my door earlier was like summoning a ghost!”

Ignoring her glare, he handed her the sheet music. “Here. Now I’m going to bed. Good night.”

Yawning, he walked away without waiting for a response.

Hao Meng stood there, clutching the sheet music, her mood swinging between irritation and disbelief.

So many guys in school would kill for a chance to talk to me, and here’s Qin Luo acting like staying near me is a chore! Unbelievable!

Back in her room, she examined the music score closely. Although she didn’t understand music well, she could tell it was well-written.

Was there anything Qin Luo wasn’t good at? she wondered.

She sighed, setting the sheet music aside. Despite all the confusion and frustration, one thing was clear—Qin Luo was far more intriguing than she had ever imagined.

Hao Meng pouted as she returned to her room, clutching the sheet music Qin Luo had handed her. 

Sitting down, she examined it closely. Although her understanding of music was limited, she knew her best friend, Shi Yulu, was an expert.

Growing up with Shi Yulu, Hao Meng had often listened to her play the piano and watched her meticulously compose music. Back then, even when Shi Yulu was extremely familiar with a piece, she never managed to write a score in one go. She would pause frequently to think, sometimes taking hours to complete a single composition.

This always bored Hao Meng, who lacked the patience for such a slow process.

But what she had just witnessed was completely different. Qin Luo had taken less than 10 minutes to write a perfectly detailed score.

“How is he this good at music?” Hao Meng wondered, her astonishment growing. “He didn’t even seem to think about it!”

She couldn’t help but feel like a character in an anime, standing on the sidelines, shouting phrases like, ‘Awesome! Amazing! Incredible!’

By now, she had been astonished by Qin Luo so many times that she was starting to feel numb.

Without delay, she sent the score to Shi Yulu, who replied almost instantly:

“I love you! Baby, it’s perfect! It’s exactly what I wanted!”

This was followed by an exaggerated “mua” emoji.

Feeling proud, Hao Meng smugly replied, “It was nothing.”

But after sending the message, she didn’t hear back. It was clear Shi Yulu had become engrossed in the music and forgotten all about their conversation. 

Rolling her eyes, Hao Meng muttered about “ungrateful friends” and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

…

Meanwhile, in his own room, Qin Luo picked up his vibrating phone and opened his chat with Shi Yulu. He noticed she had sent him a payment transfer of 10,000 yuan.

A month ago, Shi Yulu had asked Qin Luo for a music score. As a joke, Qin Luo had said it would cost 10,000 yuan, not expecting her to take it seriously. She had immediately tried to pay, but Qin Luo had declined the money.

It wasn’t that Qin Luo didn’t want to give her the score—it just wasn’t a priority.

During that time, his focus had been on trading stocks, and the request had simply slipped his mind. He hadn’t realized how important it was to Shi Yulu until tonight when she sent Hao Meng to knock on his door.

Now, even after receiving the score, she had resent the payment, which left Qin Luo both amused and slightly exasperated.

He replied: “It’s just a score. No need to pay.”

Shi Yulu responded: “No way! A deal is a deal. Even if you’re Jia Ting’s boyfriend, I still owe you this!”

Qin Luo frowned. “What exactly did Hao Meng tell her?”

Shaking his head, he accepted the money this time, deciding it wasn’t worth the argument.

…

Afterward, Qin Luo dried his wet hair and stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His thoughts wandered to Jia Ting and their conversations earlier at the comic exhibition.

The playful exchange they’d shared had seemed like a game of charades, but there was an unspoken understanding between them.

To say he didn’t like Jia Ting would be a lie.

As a man, he naturally admired beauty. At first, his feelings for Jia Ting were more of admiration rather than affection. His heart had been preoccupied with Ji Yan back then, so he never considered Jia Ting in a romantic light.

But now, with Ji Yan behind him, Qin Luo could acknowledge his growing feelings for Jia Ting.

The moment of realization hit him during their flight. Jia Ting’s calm, poised demeanor had an irresistible charm, especially when she sat quietly, lost in thought. She radiated elegance, and Qin Luo had been captivated.

What started as a subconscious attraction evolved into something deeper as they spent more time together. Though initially, his interactions with Jia Ting were influenced by the system assigning her as a “target,” Qin Luo couldn’t deny that his feelings for her were genuine.

Much like when he pursued Ji Yan, the system’s incentive was only part of the equation. He truly fell for Ji Yan during the process, and now, something similar was happening with Jia Ting.

…

Qin Luo reflected on Jia Ting’s qualities—her beauty, intelligence, and unshakable independence. She was a literary soul, someone who valued subtlety and depth. Winning her heart would require a careful approach, as being too forward might come off as insincere.

This was why he had subtly tested her feelings at the comic exhibition by asking if his earlier words still held meaning. Jia Ting’s thoughtful pause before her affirmative answer gave Qin Luo hope.

Their decision to embark on a trip together the next day seemed to seal the deal—or did it?

“Does this count as a win?” Qin Luo muttered, raising an eyebrow.

But his expression quickly turned serious. No, he thought. Jia Ting’s perfectionist nature meant she wouldn’t commit to something unless she was completely certain.

He couldn’t afford to rush into a confession now. A literary girl like her would value actions over words. Confession, Qin Luo reminded himself, should be the final step—a declaration of victory, not a plea for validation.

He resolved to use the trip to gauge her feelings more closely. By the end of their journey, Qin Luo was confident he could make her fall for him completely.

“And when that happens,” he thought with a smirk, “I’ll bring her home to meet my parents. That’ll be something to see.”

The image of his parents’ reaction made him chuckle.

…

Lying on the bed, Qin Luo turned off the lights and gazed out at the crescent moon through the room’s expansive windows.

The moonlight reminded him of Jia Ting’s gentle smile, and he couldn’t help but feel a wave of anticipation for the days ahead.

With those thoughts lingering in his mind, Qin Luo drifted off to sleep, a small smile appearing on his lips.