Thus, players became exceedingly passionate. Coupled with the fierce publicity by official gaming platforms and recommendations from people like Li Zhengwei and Teacher Qiao…
The week’s income exploded!
What’s more, it would not be so for just one week. In the next one or two months, Ocean Stronghold would surely make a lot of money.
Pei Qian thought about Chen Lei coming to Fish-Catching Internet Cafe to sing for a couple of days.
He came face-to-face with a painful fact. He would not be able to incur losses this week.
Pei Qian slumped down on his chair, feeling suicidal. On further thought, who could he blame this time? He could not blame anyone…
It was Pei Qian who asked Chen Lei to go to Shanghai, who decided to sell only five hundred Barrett Dooms… and who allowed ordinary players to buy Barrett Dooms based on their credit.
The only problem was that Pei Qian did not make clear to Lin Wan what kind of factors to include in the credit rating system and how the players could increase their credit rating.
Lin Wan told Lu Mingliang and allowed him to come up with these details. Thus, Lu Mingliang included accounts’ spending as a consideration.
This was very natural. It would be illogical not to increase the credit rating of whales who spent 888 yuan on Red Kilins.
Therein was the problem.
Many players, who had no intention to buy the Red Kilin, did so in order to increase their chances of obtaining a Barrett Doom. Now, they could spend money to increase their credit rating. When more Barrett Dooms were put up for sale the following month, they would have higher chances of obtaining them.
That was why many people splurged on Red Kilins in this final week. That was why Ocean Stronghold made so much money this week!
That was probably what people meant when they said ‘one false step brings everlasting grief’…
What hurt Pei Qian’s head the most was that he could not undo this mistake. Could Pei Qian take away the limitation on the number of Barrett Dooms for sale now? Sorry, the players would go even crazier over it.
What’s more, he could not get rid of the credit ratings. The players would curse him to death. Pei Qian and the team in Tengda would fall apart.
Thus, nothing could be done about Ocean Stronghold anymore.
No way!
Boss Pei was miserable. He wanted to drink his worries away.
“Forget it. I’ll go to Fish-Catching Internet Cafe to have a couple of drinks. In any case… I won’t be able to incur losses this month.”
Chapter 184 - Absolutely Irreconcilable!
At Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s flagship store…
The entrance was blocked by a passionate crowd that even water could not pass through the gaps between them.
On the stage, Chen Lei was strumming his guitar nonchalantly and singing.
Although it was still day time, the audience was very cooperative. They listened quietly and suppressed their applause and cheers. They waited until Chen Lei finished singing before they went crazy.
People kept walking towards the bar counter. They whipped out several red cash notes at once and then only took one glass back with them. The other drinks they paid for were to be tips for Chen Lei.
The bartender, waiters, and even Ma Yang and Zhang Yuan were so busy that they forgot the time.
Even in their dreams, they did not see Fish-Catching Internet Cafe becoming this popular!
It was a good thing that they transferred waiters from the other Fish-Catching Internet Cafes over to help the night before. It was only then they were barely able to hold the fort.
Ma Yang felt a wave of emotion. It was all thanks to Brother Qian who repaired the house before it rained by opening a couple more branches. Where else would they have found the extra help?
The traffic in the other Fish-Catching Internet Cafes was increasing as well. However, it was nothing compared to the flagship store. After all, people were coming for Chen Lei.
Now, the flagship store was really a flagship store!
On the second level, a long-legged girl was seated by the windows. She struck a pose and took a picture. She was holding a book from one of the bookshelves, reading it seriously under the sunlight. Looking at her, one would feel like everything was at peace.
However, the cover of the book was in Greek, and it was upside down. It read ‘Use and Maintenance of Hand Tractors’.
Some people ordered drinks and listened to Chen Lei’s singing. However, there were too many people in front of the stage. There was no way they could squeeze in. Thus, many people headed towards the internet cafe area to explore more of this mysterious place.
The internet cafe area was clean and neat. It was surrounded by filled bookshelves. A private movie hall with great ambiance was also there, along with very respectful waiters.
It was only then that people began to realize this internet cafe had so much quality!
Among these customers, most lived in the area. When they heard that Chen Lei would be coming, they rushed over at once. They had passed by this internet cafe before, but they had never stepped in to take a closer look. They were all dissuaded from doing so by the high prices.
However, on closer inspection, the prices were not that high!
On one hand, the internet cafe’s environment; and the waiters were good. All things aside, the hardware in this internet cafe alone could beat all the other internet cafes.
Of course, there were other high-end internet cafes in the area. However, all of them tended to save as much as they could in terms of hardware. After all, it would be too huge of an investment to make. Most internet cafes opted for hardware that would give them the highest
payoff.
Yet, the hardware here was flawless. Many people determined to get a good computer for themselves might not even choose ones of this quality. The gaming experience was so good!
was so
There was no need to even talk about the alcohol and ambiance here; everything was top-notch.
On the other hand, the place did not raise their prices! They kept their prices the same before and after Chen Lei came. This was too kind of them!
If the boss were a different person, he would probably have started selling entry tickets once Chen Lei came to perform. Even if he did not, the alcohol and other drinks here would probably be more expensive.
He was out to make a profit after all. These were all common tactics.
However, Fish-Catching Internet Cafe was different. Even now that Chen Lei was here, the prices remained the same. Many customers were touched. Not many shops were as kind as this now!
We were wrong to think this place was too expensive!
What’s more, from tonight onward, Chen Lei’s hardcore fans might continue to fly in from other cities. The scene then would probably be even more chaotic and lively than now!
When Pei Qian arrived at the entrance of Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s flagship store, he realized that he should not have come. He was already in a bad mood. His intention was to come here and drink his sorrows away.
In the end, he discovered that there was no space for him to even step into the internet cafe!
Both levels of the internet cafe were full. The bar area aside, even the internet cafe area was filled. Behind each player at the computer were three or four more bystanders.
Pei Qian wanted to walk in, but that was also what the hundreds of people outside the entrance were trying to do. What’s more, the people inside did not look like they were intending to leave.
Many people remained at the entrance of Fish-Catching Internet Cafe to listen to Chen Lei sing. As they did so, they raised their hands, holding out money to the waiters passing by. They all bought only one drink but gave the rest to Chen Lei.
Even the shops next to Fish-Catching Internet Cafe were filled. Many people also went to the second floor of the board game cafe opposite Fish-Catching Internet Cafe, just so that they could get a good top-do
wn view of the performance.
It was a good thing that the road outside Fish-Catching Internet Cafe was not a main road, too. There were a few cars. Otherwise, Pei Qian was sure that there would have been a traffic jam.
Pei Qian was absolutely hurt.
Is this the Fish-Catching Internet Cafe that I opened?
It was good before… it was cold and empty. I could come in and drink alcohol, and sit at any seat I wanted. The entire internet cafe was running for me. I could even incur losses at the same time. It was perfect!
Now, look. I cannot even find a spot to place my foot.
“Forget it, I’ll go somewhere else.”
Pei Qian was speechless. It looked like he did not even need to come back to this flagship store. The good thing was there were several other branches.
Just as Pei Qian turned to leave, a waiter serving guests outside spotted him. He ran all the way to Pei Qian’s side. “Boss Pei, you are here. Quick, come in. We’ve saved a seat for you!”
Pei Qian paused. “You saved a seat for me?”
The waiter nodded. “That’s right. Chen Lei is waiting for you. Come!”
Several other waiters came to him as well. They led Pei Qian to enter Fish-Catching Internet Cafe through the staff entrance.
Beside the bar counter was an empty seat. These people must have purposely saved it for Pei Qian.
Ma Yang looked very tired, but he still perked himself up as he continued working. “Brother Qian is here? Quick, sit! Your alcohol will be here at once!”
On stage, Chen Lei looked at Pei Qian, smiled subtly, and nodded. Then, he began singing nonchalantly.
“On a quiet night, I walked on the street.
“In the dim light, you waited.
“In the hustle and bustle of the city, only you understand my sorrows.
“No matter how far I drifted, I never forgot you and that intoxicating wine…
The song-Waiting, which became famous on The Voice of China and made it to the music billboard-started echoing throughout the internet cafe.
Chen Lei was performing it live.
At that moment, in that place, everyone felt moved and connected. A man seated in the front row, who was dressed casually but who looked charismatic, called a waiter over and whispered a couple of words.
Very quickly, Chen Lei finished the song.
The waiter walked on stage and said, “Let me tell everyone some good news. All the expenses from now until the night will be paid for by Young Master Lin!”
Pei Qian had been sipping his alcohol, but he immediately spat it all out.
As the crowd cheered, Pei Qian turned to look at the man. Immediately, there was a sense of strange familiarity.
Young Master Lin was looking in Pei Qian’s direction. He smiled subtly and nodded.
Pei Qian was speechless. “…”
This man looked vaguely like Lin Zhou whom Pei Qian had seen in pictures. Lin Zhou was the President of Shenhua Real Estate. However, this man looked slightly younger…
Pei Qian’s heart thudded.
He remembered. It was Lin Zhengnan’s third son, Lin Chang. He was Shenhua Film and Media Co. Ltd.’s president.
Pei Qian finished his drink quietly.
Lin Chang was surprised.
This Boss Pei was not simple indeed.
Someone was paying the bill. Everyone would surely spend more than they intended to. Tonight, he might pay hundreds of thousands of yuan. To Lin Chang, this was no big deal. He would take it as a greeting gift for Boss Pei. What’s more, he appreciated Chen Lei’s singing.
What made him more curious, however, was Boss Pei’s reaction. He did not look moved at all. He even looked cautious of Lin Chang.
The profits he was making had not gone to his head. Even in the face of such huge success, he could remain calm and collected. He could still be cautious of gifts that seemed to be out of nowhere. He was always keeping an eye out for any risk.
He is just like Ah Wan said. He’s an impressive talent! Lin Chang exclaimed in his heart.
Pei Qian slammed his glass harshly on the table. He had only one thought in his mind.
The Lin Family and I will be absolutely irreconcilable!
However, on second thought, something was amiss. He could forget about incurring losses now. If he could earn more money, he would be able to convert more.
Thinking of things this way, he began to feel grateful to this Lin Chang. A single move from him might allow Pei Qian to add thousands more yuan to his Personal Wealth.
This was something to rejoice about. Yet, why did it feel almost impossible to rejoice…?
Pei Qian felt melancholic.
Chapter 185 - System, Your Mama So Fat!
June 30th, day of settlement…
Pei Qian had a mouthful of Coca Cola. However, even the happy drink for fatties could not cheer him up.
On the third day, Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s popularity exceeded his own imaginations. Chen Lei’s fans flew in from various parts of the country. They gave Chen Lei alcohol rewards as if they were insane.
Since his hopes of incurring losses were dashed, Pei Qian had no choice but to return to his own rented apartment. He kept to himself for two days.
In these two days, Pei Qian kept thinking about one question.
Where did he go wrong?
It felt like every time, at the crucial moment, all his work would go down the drain.
From the moment he obtained this cheating system, he had only managed to incur a loss once. What’s more, it was a mere loss of twenty thousand yuan. All he had to do was earn two million yuan to cover that loss. The plot was going in a completely opposite direction from what Pei Qian imagined.
At first, he thought that with the system, he would be able to incur losses and become a wealthy man. However, from the looks of the situation, the System Funds were only going to increase. His Personal Wealth was remaining the same. Until now, he had not made more than a hundred thousand yuan.
“This is so strange. Logically, I should not be this poor.”
“Yet, why am I this poor…?”
Pei Qian started to doubt his life. He must have been going in the right direction. Before the start of this week, Pei Qian would not have thought that he would be able to earn so much money.
Ocean Stronghold’s sudden popularity and Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s unfortunate circumstances were all out of Pei Qian’s expectations.
If he knew that he would not be able to incur losses, he would have thought about how he could earn more money. Yet, he would not have been able to tell the future!
What’s more, to Pei Qian, there was not much of a difference between a hundred thousand yuan and twenty thousand yuan now.
Now, as long as Pei Qian was spending money on anything vaguely related to work, he could report the expenses to the System. However, what he really needed to spend money on had nothing to do with work. He just wanted to enjoy and improve his home.
Incurring a loss of six or seven hundred thousand yuan would be way faster than sticking to a plan and earning about a hundred thousand yuan each month.
Now, there was five million yuan in the System Funds’ starting sum. Next time, it might increase. Logically, with such a huge base to work with, it should not be difficult for Pei Qian to lose six or seven hundred thousand yuan.
Still, he could not incur that loss! He was furious!
“Must I really depend on my profits and work with a conversion ratio of 100:1? That’s pathetic, isn’t it? I’m not going to give up!”
Pei Qian struggled in his heart as the System’s screen lit up automatically.
Pei Qian was speechless.
After working so hard for two months, he only managed to convert over twenty thousand yuan. That was worse than the last time.
Painful!
Seeing his pathetic Personal Wealth, Pei Qian could not help but develop another thought.
“Why not take a break? I should laze around for a week.
“The few games have been earning money during this period. Other things aside, Ocean Stronghold’s monthly gross alone is an eight-figure sum. Including the profits that the official games; platform gave us, we would earn about seven to eight million each month.
“Even Fish-Catching Internet Cafe’s flagship store is making money now. Although the other branches are incurring losses, they are not incurring as much loss as they were before.
“According to my calculations, if I don’t do anything or casually invest in low-investment projects that offer low-reward, even if I maintain my current expenses; I could easily earn about five or six million yuan each month.”
Pei Qian did not think about cutting down expenses. He could not bring himself to take away his employees’ benefits for the sake of increasing his own wealth.
On the one hand, it would be utterly embarrassing. On the other hand, it would be ineffective.
Getting rid of four hundred thousand yuan worth of employee benefits would only earn him about four thousand yuan. Would he still be human if he did that?
Yet, even if he maintained his expenses, he would continue to make a profit.
“Imagine if the next settlement cycle lasted two months. If I earn five million per month, I would have earned about ten million yuan by the settlement date. Wouldn’t it be more worth it than working so hard to lose money, only to convert twenty thousand yuan?”
Pei Qian suddenly felt like being a slacker was a rather decent option!
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