The weight of fifty thousand dollars hadn't left Liang Chen's chest. Every time he checked his account, he had to blink twice, as though the numbers would vanish if he stared too long.
For most students, that kind of money was impossible outside of lottery tickets or a rich family. For Liang Chen, it was the beginning of something greater.
Money is power, he thought, lying in his dorm bed as the campus buzzed outside. But idle money dies. It has to move. It has to grow.
I can't waste this chance. If I treat it like a windfall, it'll vanish. But if I invest…
His mind spun with possibilities. Stocks? Too risky without inside knowledge. Real estate? Too large an upfront cost. E-commerce? Promising, but he needed something tangible, something visible.
His thoughts drifted to the student fair and the smell of sizzling skewers in his simulation. And suddenly it struck. Food.
Everyone needed to eat. And on a campus filled with students flush with allowances—or hungry scholarship kids like him—there was always demand.
The next morning, Liang Chen made his way to the east gate of the university. It was a weekday morning, and the street outside was a mini-market of life: street vendors shouting about breakfast buns, groups of students rushing with half-eaten sandwiches, and food delivery bikes weaving through the crowd.
But amidst the chaos, one small storefront caught his eye.
A faded wooden sign read: Coffee & More. The paint was peeling, the glass door scratched. Through it, he saw dusty counters and a tired middle-aged woman hunched behind the counter.
The bell jingled as he pushed inside. A faint smell of stale beans hung in the air.
The woman looked up, startled. "Oh. Another student? Sorry, dear, we're not open today."
Liang Chen smiled. "I'm not here for coffee. I'm here about your café."
She blinked, then sighed. "So you heard. Yes, I'm putting it up for transfer. My health… it's not good anymore."
They sat at a small table, and Liang Chen listened carefully as she spoke of rent, licenses, suppliers. His Entrepreneurship Lv.2 perk lit up, subtly nudging him with insights:
Rent price was fair given the location.
Supplier ties could be renegotiated for better margins.
The existing student traffic was a goldmine.
Finally, he nodded. "I'll take it."
The woman studied him. "You're young. Most would play it safe, save money. Why take such a risk?"
Liang Chen met her gaze. "Because I can't afford to stay ordinary."
By evening, contracts were signed. Liang Chen, a broke student just days ago, was now the owner of a café.
Ownership wasn't victory—it was just the start.
That night, Liang Chen began calling his network. His first call was to a hotel management major he knew from class projects.
"Jun, how do you feel about running a real café instead of simulations?"
There was silence, then a laugh. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious. You'll handle operations. In return, profit-sharing and hands-on experience."
Jun didn't hesitate. "Count me in!"
Word spread like wildfire across departments. Culinary students signed up, excited to test their recipes. Hotel management students volunteered as waitstaff. Even business majors wanted to help manage accounts.
In their first team meeting, Liang Chen stood in the dusty café surrounded by students buzzing with energy.
"We're not here to flip coffee," he said firmly. "We're here to build something from the ground up. A café run by students, for students. Every success here will be ours. Every mistake will be a lesson. Do you dare?"
"Yes!" the group roared.
Renovation began the next morning. The café transformed before his eyes:
Art majors painted murals of steaming bowls of noodles and pastel macarons.
Business students redesigned the logo and menu.
Tech students built an app for online orders and table booking.
Liang Chen spent hours on paperwork, applying for hygiene permits, food licenses, and legal registration. His System-assisted Restaurant Management skill made the process smooth, guiding him step by step.
Within two weeks, the old café was gone. In its place stood a chic new student hub: warm yellow lighting, wood tables polished to a shine, plush sofas tucked in corners for group study sessions.
But the true soul of the café was the menu.
The culinary students poured their hearts into it:
Spicy Street Flavors: chili potatoes crisped to perfection, chicken 65 sizzling with garlic and chilies, saucy vegetable Manchurian, chow mein that smelled like heaven.
Pastry Heaven: buttery croissants that cracked when bitten, éclairs oozing cream, mille-feuille layered like edible art.
Drinks Galore: cappuccinos topped with foamy hearts, hot chocolate rich enough to silence conversations, icy smoothies, tangy fresh juices, thick milkshakes.
Sweet Indulgences: brownie sundaes dripping with fudge, rainbow soft serve cones, and rotating ice cream specials.
The café had something for everyone—comfort food, show-off desserts, and caffeine for late-night cramming.
On opening day, Liang Chen arrived early. His team wore crisp uniforms designed by fashion students, and the aroma of fresh bread and spices filled the air.
The first few customers trickled in, curious. But soon, social media posts began to fly:
"New café at East Gate is fire 🔥🔥🔥."
"Their chicken 65 is addictive."
"Perfect study spot. Free Wi-Fi + cheap drinks = heaven."
By noon, the café was buzzing. Students crowded every table, laughter echoing through the air. Orders piled in faster than the staff could cook.
"Table five! Two cappuccinos, one chow mein!""Hot chocolate, no sugar, extra cream for table eight!"
Liang Chen moved everywhere: helping in the kitchen, calming customers, adjusting orders. He wasn't just the owner; he was the engine driving them forward.
By nightfall, the café had become the campus hotspot.
Success never went unnoticed.
Across the street, a shiny black car pulled up. Inside sat a young man in designer clothes, sipping from a gold-trimmed bottle.
"Boss," his assistant said, "this new café is pulling customers from the East Gate diner. That diner… belongs to your family's chain."
The young man's eyes narrowed. He looked across at the bustling café where students lined up outside the door.
"Find out who's behind it," he said coldly. "No small fry plays on my turf."
Late that night, Liang Chen collapsed in his dorm chair, exhausted but exhilarated.
The golden interface of the system appeared:
[Congratulations, Host.][You have successfully established your first real business venture: Café.][Evaluation: Atmosphere excellent. Customer response: Overwhelmingly positive. Profitability: High.]
Reward Granted:– $100,000– Skill: Restaurant Management Lv.2
Liang Chen's phone buzzed: +¥1,014,000 credited.
Knowledge surged into his mind—supply chain management, menu engineering, advanced scheduling, marketing psychology. His thoughts sharpened with strategies used by international restaurant chains.
Breathing hard, he looked out the dorm window at the city lights.
A few weeks ago, he'd been just another broke student. Now, he owned the most popular café near campus and held a system that turned ambition into reality.