It had been nearly a year since Liang Chen first awakened the mysterious system. In that span, his life had undergone a transformation that most could only dream of. Yet fate was far from finished with him.
During one of Professor Zhang's economics lectures, the elderly scholar pushed his glasses up his nose and spoke with unusual weight in his tone.
"Students, I hope you have been diligently working on your projects in Virtual Business Empire. The assessment will take place in one week. I will be personally evaluating the businesses you have created. And let me be clear—this test carries real merit value, so treat it seriously. The student with the best project will receive a special award—one million US dollars."
The room froze for half a second before erupting into chaos.
"What?! This was an actual assessment?!""Wait, one million? Did I hear that right?""I deleted the app! Someone send me the link again!""That's enough to cover tuition for three years and still live like a king!"
The class buzzed with disbelief and panic.
Liang Chen, however, sat in stunned silence. A warm wave of gratitude washed over him—for Professor Zhang, and for the strange little app Virtual Business Empire. After all, it was through this app that he had encountered the system and clawed his way out of poverty. The boy who once dreamed of treating his parents to a simple meal in the city now owned luxury cafés, high-class real estate, and a growing investment portfolio.
But… when he opened the app, reality hit.
All he had inside was a lemonade stand and a street food stall.
He chuckled bitterly. So much for being a successful entrepreneur in the virtual world. If Professor Zhang sees this, it'll be shameful.
Determined not to embarrass himself, Liang returned to his dorm and poured his heart into the simulation.
The app simulated a vibrant city—complete with malls, schools, parks, and endless opportunities. Liang began by upgrading his humble food stall into a full-fledged café, modeled after his real-life venture. His knowledge and experience worked like a cheat code in this virtual sandbox.
One by one, he created new establishments:
A burger-and-fried-chicken shop with milkshakes and fries.
A barbecue and hotpot restaurant where customers cooked their own meals.
A fine-dining restaurant tailored to the elite, ideal for candlelit dinners.
A chain of gaming cafés, buzzing with young customers.
But Liang soon recognized the same flaw he saw in real markets—the hospitality sector was oversaturated. Too many students would build restaurants, resorts, and cafés. Expansion without uniqueness would lead to diminishing returns.
That's when his instincts as an investor kicked in.
He analyzed the simulation's city services: inefficient taxis, overpriced groceries, and endless queues for necessities. In response, Liang introduced:
An Electric Taxi Service – cheaper, eco-friendly, and app-based, eliminating the old-fashioned struggle of waving down cabs.
A Rapid Delivery Service – a streamlined network delivering food, groceries, stationery, and household essentials within minutes.
Within days, residents of the simulation were hooked. His businesses flourished, and profits soared.
A week later, the class gathered, buzzing with nervous energy.
"I built a jewelry shop—handcrafted designs.""I made a supermarket.""Pfft, I opened a luxury resort that went viral. Revenue hit 100k in just a week!""That's nothing! I built five resorts, complete with helicopter service between them!""I opened a spa… copied my family's business idea.""I did the same with our hotel chain."
The students compared their projects like traders boasting about deals.
Liang Chen, however, remained silent in his corner, listening intently. He could easily distinguish between viable ideas and laughable ones. A single resort might succeed, but five? Helicopter transfers? A financial sinkhole waiting to happen. Jewelry stores had potential—but only with the right market segmentation. Supermarkets were practical but required ruthless efficiency.
At last, Professor Zhang returned, holding a stack of documents.
"Students, I must say, I am… surprised. Some of your work is admirable. Some, frankly, is laughable. But what matters most is your effort."
He scanned the list, then looked up.
"Liang Chen—your submission stands above the rest. Your insight is remarkable. Your ideas are practical and innovative. Congratulations. You are this term's best performer. The one million USD reward will be credited to you tomorrow. Please meet me after class—I'd like to discuss your concepts further."
The classroom fell silent.
"What? Liang Chen?""No way. Isn't he just a scholarship student?""He must've cheated somehow!"
Zhou Kai's face twisted with resentment. The humiliation of coming in second place was unbearable.
"What's so great about him?" Zhou Kai sneered. "He must've spent an entire year building his project. I only worked for a week and still came second. If we all had a fair start, he'd be nowhere."
Murmurs spread through the room, swaying opinion.
Zhou Kai smirked and added coldly, "Liang, enjoy your reward while you can. When your scholarship is revoked, you'll need it."
The implication was clear—Zhou Kai's uncle managed the school's finances. Revoking a scholarship was as easy as snapping fingers.
Liang met his eyes with calm indifference. "Thanks for the advice."
After class, Liang met Professor Zhang privately.
"Liang, your electric cab and delivery service—these are not just good in the simulation. They could be revolutionary in the real world. Have you considered developing them outside the app?"
Liang smiled. "Yes, sir. I've been thinking about it."
"That's good. Young people should have vision and ambition," Professor Zhang nodded firmly. "Then let me mentor you. I can guide you through government grants and provide connections. If you're serious, these ventures could become your legacy."
As Liang left the room, his system pinged with a new notification:
After class, Liang met Professor Zhang privately.
"Liang, your electric cab and delivery service—these are not just good in the simulation. They could be revolutionary in the real world. Have you considered developing them outside the app?"
Liang smiled. "Yes, sir. I've been thinking about it."
Professor Zhang nodded firmly. "Then let me mentor you. I can guide you through government grants and provide connections. If you're serious, these ventures could become your legacy."
As Liang left the room, his system pinged with a new notification:
[System Mission: Real-World Expansion]
Task: Launch the Quick Delivery Service & Electric Cab Service in the real world.
Reward: Logistics & Transport Management Lv. 4, $20 Million USD, and Government Relations Lv. 1.
Liang's heart raced. This wasn't just another mission. This was the first step toward building an empire that bridged the gap between virtual and reality.