Su Ran browsed for a while longer.
He really wanted to try the actual effects of these facilities and equipment, but unfortunately, building them also required Contribution Points.
Even the cheapest started at 100 Contribution Points.
Today, by guiding players and converting Internet Cafe fees, he had earned nearly 300 Contribution Points.
He had initially felt quite good about it.
Because he couldn't easily go out, Su Ran didn't really care about the gold coins of this world, but now it seemed that Contribution Points were his personal currency.
The System Mall required Contribution Points, and Internet Cafe construction also required Contribution Points. He felt like he wanted to buy everything, but couldn't afford anything. He was simply too poor.
"No choice, I can only accumulate them slowly and find ways to earn more Contribution Points!"
At this point, Su Ran had understood all the newly opened functions of the system.
Afterward, he explored for a while longer and gained an even clearer understanding.
Internet Cafe Scale: Currently, this refers to the number of computers within the Internet Cafe and the size of the storefront.
Internet Cafe Construction: This refers to the internal environment of the Internet Cafe, various equipment and facilities, comfort, aesthetics, entertainment, etc.
Internet Cafe Reputation: Closely related to the Internet Cafe's popularity value, it also includes the outside world's understanding, perception, and evaluation of the Internet Cafe, and the Internet Cafe's influence on the outside world.
However, even after clarifying these, just as the system had always said, what Su Ran had to do remained unchanged: there was only one thing, to properly manage the Internet Cafe.
"So, in order to focus more on managing the Internet Cafe tomorrow, I've decided to…"
Su Ran closed the system panel, glanced at the time, and smiled slightly: "Play some games first!"
After watching other players play all day, his hands had been itching for a long time.
Moreover, during the day, all those players looked like they wanted to surpass his game progress, although he didn't care at all whether he was the first to clear the game, after all, this wasn't an online game, and there were no first-clear rewards.
But as an Internet Cafe owner, maintaining a master image was necessary. Otherwise, who would seek his guidance in games, and how would he continue to earn Contribution Points?
"I remember after Extinction Dragon comes Steel Dragon, Vaal Hazak, Flame King Dragon, and the final boss Minglei Dragon, as well as the somewhat hidden Kulve Taroth. As for the Iceborne expansion, it doesn't seem to be included yet, and I don't know if the system will add it later."
"But if that's the case, clearing the game shouldn't be far off. Let's begin…"
…
The next day.
Early morning.
Su Ran woke up at seven.
He had played games until four in the morning last night, so he had only slept for just over three hours, but at this moment, he didn't feel tired at all and was still very energetic.
He ate something before heading downstairs.
At exactly eight o'clock, when Su Ran opened the Internet Cafe door on time, he saw many people already standing at the entrance. Seeing him open the door, they all smiled.
"Boss, you're quite early today!"
"Yeah, I was about to call you!"
"Boss, if you're this punctual every day, I'll be satisfied!"
"Damn it, I can finally continue playing games! Last night, I even dreamt of fighting Extinction Dragon!"
"Let's do this, let's do this!"
Cold Condensation Moon also winked at Su Ran: "Boss, did you miss me? Hehe, I heard something interesting happened here yesterday. It's such a pity I wasn't here!"
General Feng, with his broken arm, also greeted softly: "Boss, I'm here again!"
Then these people streamed into the Internet Cafe, eager to get on a computer and enter the game.
However, this group of people had just entered not long ago.
When another group of people came running in a hurry from outside the alley.
"I say, we have classes this morning, are we really okay not going?"
"I don't know if it's okay, I only know that if we come after class, there definitely won't be any good spots left!"
"What are you afraid of? Even His Highness and Senior Sister Cold Condensation Moon, these core students, skip class every day. What are we, ordinary and elite students?"
"Exactly, and playing games is also a form of cultivation!"
"Now the old players have already reached the High Rank difficulty, and are even close to Ancient Dragon. We need to speed up!"
"Right, hurry and grab a spot!"
As they talked, this group of people rushed into the Internet Cafe again.
Of course, that wasn't all. In the following time, similar incidents happened repeatedly.
Nine Heavens Internet Cafe is located in an alley at the end of Commercial Street. Although it is still within the Commercial Street area, it is also the most remote and secluded location.
Such frequent entries naturally attracted a lot of attention.
…
Spring Breeze Pavilion.
Located in the most bustling area of Commercial Street.
It is a five-story Chinese classical building with a red main tone, surrounded by bamboo forests and a sea of flowers.
Although it is a place of entertainment, it differs from ordinary vulgar establishments. The girls inside only perform song and dance, and only sell their talents.
The interior decoration, while appropriately luxurious, is not overly extravagant, showcasing an elegant and fresh style.
Moreover, Spring Breeze Pavilion seems to have its own procurement channels and has not been affected by the famine. It has an abundance of fine wine and delicious food, even better than ordinary restaurants.
Therefore, as soon as it opened, it was sought after by many people, and its doors were constantly crowded.
Especially Liu Shiwan, the top courtesan of Spring Breeze Pavilion, possessed a captivating beauty, excelled in both singing and dancing, was proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and even had an impressive alcohol tolerance, never getting drunk.
Many children of wealthy families would spend a fortune just to win her a smile.
However, these past two days, the people at Spring Breeze Pavilion were a bit dispirited.
"Why has the flow of money in the pavilion decreased by half these past few days?"
"That makes no sense, it was fine before!"
In front of Spring Breeze Pavilion, a beautiful woman in red looked at the ledger in her hand, her brows tightly furrowed.
She was called Sister Hong, not the owner, but the one in charge.
The revenue of Spring Breeze Pavilion had indeed plummeted in the past two days, but strangely, the number of customers had not decreased.
That's why she came to investigate.
After carefully reviewing the ledger, Sister Hong understood. Although the number of customers at Spring Breeze Pavilion hadn't decreased, the portion of people who spent the most money had disappeared.
Now that she thought about it carefully, it seemed that she hadn't seen any of those wealthy noble family scions these past few days.
Sister Hong couldn't help but look puzzled.
But just then, not far away, a slightly chubby young man came running in a hurry from a distance.
Sister Hong's heart lit up. Seeing that a "big customer" had finally arrived, she proactively greeted him with a smile: "Isn't this Young Master Ouyang? You've finally come! The girls in the pavilion have missed you so much. Also, Shiwan is here today. Where are Young Master Wu and Young Master Ming? Didn't they come with you?"
Ouyang Qing was a bit annoyed to be suddenly blocked: "Um, excuse me, please step aside. I'm not coming to your establishment today!"
"Ah?"
Sister Hong subconsciously moved aside: "Then… where are you going?"
"Internet Cafe!"
Ouyang Qing said, and with a push of his foot, he ran towards the other side, muttering to himself as he ran: "Damn it, I woke up late again tonight. I wonder if there are any spots left?"
Only Sister Hong remained, staring blankly at Ouyang Qing's quickly disappearing back.
"Internet Cafe?"
She had only heard these two words from Ouyang Qing, but she didn't know what they meant.
Afterward, she waited until she saw several more wealthy patrons pass by. She initially thought they would definitely come to her establishment this time.
But to her surprise, their situation was exactly the same as Ouyang Qing's. They had no interest at all and all said they were going to some Internet Cafe.
Sister Hong was a bit bewildered.
However, this time, she finally managed to inquire from them: an Internet Cafe was a place where one could play games.
When she brought this news back and told the others in the pavilion.
The expressions of the others were not much better than hers; they all looked surprised and puzzled.
Not long after, in a boudoir on the fifth floor of Spring Breeze Pavilion.
"Internet Cafe?"
Listening to her personal maid's narration, Liu Shiwan asked with a strange expression: "Are you saying they all ran to that Internet Cafe to play games?"
"Yes, Sister Hong said that almost all the wealthy young masters in Feiyun City went there. I really don't know what magic it cast. Could it be more attractive than you, Miss?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Shiwan's delicate brows slightly furrowed.
If one were to say who was most affected by this, it was undoubtedly her.
Because she was the top courtesan of Spring Breeze Pavilion, her appearance fee was very high. Ordinary people simply couldn't afford her, and those who could afford her had mostly run off to that Internet Cafe.
So, in fact, her work had decreased by more than half these past few days; she basically had nothing to do.
Although she didn't dislike such a leisurely life, now that she heard her business had been snatched, while not particularly angry, she was still somewhat puzzled and curious.
"I'll find some time to go and take a look!"
Liu Shiwan's beautiful eyes gently shifted, seemingly having made up her mind.