The dorm room was quiet except for the faint hum of Liang Chen's laptop fan and the rhythmic sound of rain tapping against the window. It had been two weeks since the café opened, and the success of the venture still felt surreal. Students from across the campus flocked to it daily, not just for the food but for the experience. The system's reward of Restaurant Management Lv. 2 and $100,000 had given him confidence, but he knew this was only the beginning.
The café had become a strong foundation, but to build an empire, Liang Chen needed to branch out into more lucrative ventures. As he lay on his bed, staring at the glowing screen of the Virtual Business Empire app thinking about various business venture he could do, the words on the interface shimmered with a mysterious allure:
[New Module Unlocked: Virtual Stock Exchange]
Liang Chen sat upright, curiosity sparking in his eyes."Stock Exchange, huh? This… this could change everything."
The screen of his tablet transformed into a simulation of a unpredictable stock exchange. Numbers flickered in real-time, graphs moved like living snakes, and company names scrolled endlessly. It was overwhelming at first glance, like staring into a storm of numbers and probabilities.
A notification chimed:
[Welcome to the Virtual Stock Exchange. Learn how to analyze companies, predict market trends, and make investments. Performance in this module will directly translate into real-world skills.]
Liang Chen's heart pounded. So this isn't just a game—it's training me.
A virtual tutor appeared, an AI modeled after an old Wall Street veteran, cigar clenched between his teeth and sharp eyes that glinted with experience."Kid," the AI said in a gravelly voice, "the stock market isn't a casino. It's a battlefield. Every dollar you invest is a soldier. Send them blindly, and you'll bury them. Send them wisely, and they'll conquer kingdoms for you."
Liang Chen smirked. "Then teach me how to command my army."
For the next three nights, Liang Chen immersed himself in the simulator.
He learned how to read candlestick charts, decipher quarterly reports, and assess P/E ratios and market caps. The system gamified every lesson. For example, when he successfully analyzed a company's financial health, the simulator would reward him with glowing points that increased his "Analysis Proficiency."
The first challenge was simple: invest $10,000 of virtual currency into one of three companies. Two were unstable startups with flashy advertisements, while the third was a boring but consistent logistics firm.
Liang Chen paused. "Most people would go for the flashy ones… but the logistics firm has steady cash flow, positive earnings, and low debt."
He clicked "Invest."
Two in-game weeks later, the startups collapsed due to mismanagement, while the logistics firm's stock rose by 12%. The system chimed:
[Correct judgment. +50 Proficiency Points. Skill: Stock Trading Lv. 1 acquired.]
Liang Chen grinned. "So this is how it feels to beat the market…"
After days of simulated trading, Liang Chen received his first real reward:
[Congratulations, you have successfully familiarized yourself with the Virtual Stock Exchange. Reward: $200,000 Real Funds + Skill: Investment Lv. 1.]
The notification nearly made him choke."Two hundred thousand… real money?!" He jumped from his bed, pacing around his dorm room. "This system is insane!"
His hands trembled as he opened his banking app. Sure enough, a new deposit of $200,000 appeared under his account. It was clean, untraceable, as if it had always belonged to him.
Liang Chen's breathing quickened. "With this, I can finally make real moves."
The next morning, instead of attending his usual lecture first thing, Liang Chen slipped into the quiet corner of the university library. He opened his laptop, connected to a brokerage account, and stared at the live stock tickers.
This is it. No more simulations. This is the real battlefield.
He remembered the lessons from the virtual exchange: never chase hype, diversify wisely, and always set stop-loss orders.
His first pick was a well-established tech company that had just announced a new line of AI products. The market was buzzing with potential, and the fundamentals were strong. Liang Chen put in $50,000.
Next, he invested $30,000 into a pharmaceutical company with a promising cancer treatment in stage three clinical trials. High risk, high reward.
The remaining $120,000 he scattered into smaller, safer options: logistics, green energy, and consumer staples.
Then he waited.
The week that followed was unlike anything Liang Chen had ever experienced. Every morning, he woke up early to check pre-market trends. Between classes, he snuck glances at his phone, monitoring candlestick charts.
There were moments when his stomach dropped—like when the pharmaceutical stock dipped 15% in a single day after rumors of failed tests. But instead of panicking, Liang Chen analyzed carefully."The fundamentals are still there. Rumors are just noise. I'll hold."
Two days later, the company announced positive trial results. The stock skyrocketed 70% overnight.
Liang Chen clenched his fists in triumph. "This… this is the thrill of the market!"
By the end of the week, his portfolio had ballooned. The initial $200,000 had transformed into nearly $2,000,000.
As Liang Chen reviewed his portfolio, the familiar golden glow filled his vision:
[Congratulations! You have successfully multiplied your wealth through stock trading.][Funds Earned: $2,000,000][Skill Upgrade: Stock Trading Lv. 2 | Investment Lv. 2]
Liang Chen exhaled sharply. "Two million… in just one week."
The system then added another line:[Recommendation: Allocate capital wisely. Reckless trading may lead to losses. Suggestion: Invest $1.5 million in long-term growth companies and retain $500,000 as liquid personal funds.]
Liang Chen nodded. "So it doesn't just reward me—it guides me too."
That very night, Liang Chen began scouting stable companies for long-term investments. He spread the $1.5 million into:
Green energy firms at the forefront of renewable technology.
Logistics giants expanding into international markets.
Tech conglomerates with steady dividends.
The remaining $500,000 he kept in his personal account. It was money he could use for opportunities, emergencies, or personal growth.
For the first time, Liang Chen felt the weight of financial independence. Just a week ago, he had been scraping together coins to buy instant noodles. Now, he could pay off his tuition ten times over, buy a luxury car, or even put a down payment on prime real estate.
But he wasn't in this for shallow luxuries—not yet. This was about building an empire.
Late at night, Liang Chen stood by the window of his dorm room, staring at the city skyline lit by neon signs.
He thought about the arrogant rich heirs who strutted around campus, bragging about their family wealth and looking down on others. Soon, they would have no idea who they were messing with.
"I don't need their family names," Liang Chen whispered to himself. "I'll build something bigger… something untouchable."
The rain had stopped, and the night felt clearer than ever.
This was only the beginning.