Free Web NovelChapter 41: Confidence Against the Odds
Monica Harper had always had a soft spot for Liam. He had stepped in when she needed help the most, asking for nothing in return. People like that were rare, and she wasn’t the type to forget a favor.
Alright,"Let’s drop by tomorrow.""I’ll call Victoria too. Since we’re all rooting for Liam, we should congratulate him properly. A grand reopening only happens once."
Claire smiled and nodded. "Sounds good."Yet the thought of seeing Victoria again stirred something she couldn’t quite explain.
The two women had once been close friends. Now, an invisible line seemed to separate them. Neither had ever acknowledged it, but they both felt it.
Just as Claire was about to end the call, Monica suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. There’s one more thing."
Claire paused. "What is it?"Monica sighed. "The café Liam bought isn’t exactly in a prime location. The previous owner barely managed to stay afloat before finally selling it." She hesitated before continuing.
Victoria has been asking around for someone with experience in the internet café business. She’s worried Liam might lose his investment.
Claire’s brows knitted together. "So she’s already helping him.
A strange feeling settled in Claire’s chest. She told herself it was simple concern.
Yet one thought refused to leave. Why did Victoria know before I did? The question lingered long after the call ended.
Later that evening, Claire stood alone on the balcony outside her bedroom. The city lights shimmered in the distance while a cool breeze brushed against her face. Her phone rested quietly in her hand.
She looked at Liam’s number several times before finally pressing the call button.
"Hey, Claire." He sounded dull.Did I wake you?
A soft chuckle came from the other end. No I was just taking a break."
Claire smiled. "I heard you bought an internet café.I did.You never mentioned it.
There was a brief silence. Then Liam laughed. "I never really got the chance."She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Victoria seemed to know before everyone else." Liam immediately understood where the misunderstanding had come from. "It wasn’t like that.
The previous owner happens to be Victoria’s cousin. She was there when I signed the papers. I didn’t tell her beforehand."
Claire blinked. "So that’s what happened..." The faint knot in her chest quietly loosened. She had been overthinking things.
I also heard the location isn’t very good.It isn’t." His answer came without hesitation. "But I knew that before I bought it.You still went through with it?
Claire frowned slightly. Are you not worried?A business doesn’t succeed because of its address," Liam said. "It succeeds because people decide it’s worth coming back to.
I already have a plan." Mhm I hope your plan works."It will." The certainty in his answer made her laugh softly."I’ll come by tomorrow."
"You should. I’d like to hear your opinion after you see everything."I’ll hold you to that.
After ending the call, Claire remained on the balcony for a long while.Yet her thoughts never left Liam.Every conversation with him left her discovering another side she hadn’t seen before.
The next morning, Liam arrived at Rage Quit Café before sunrise. The streets were still quiet as he unlocked the front doors. The moment he stepped inside, a familiar blue screen materialized before him.
[Business Advancement Mission]
Objective: Establish Rage Quit Café as the premier gaming destination around Westbridge University.
[Requirements:]
• Reach full occupancy before noon.
• Earn the recognition of an industry veteran.
[Reward: $20,000]
Bonus Rewards:
• Business Reputation +1
• Business Management Module (Unlocked)
Liam read the notification twice before a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. A real challenge. Now this... was more like it. He closed the interface with a thought.
Inside the café, Ethan was already pacing behind the counter. The worry on his face was impossible to miss."We’ve got a problem."
Liam grabbed a bottle of Coke from the refrigerator. "What happened?"
Ethan pointed toward the nearly empty café. "Look around. Best computers in town. Brand-new renovation. And we’ve had almost nobody walk through that door all morning." He forced a laugh, but it sounded strained. "If this keeps up, payroll alone is going to bury us."
"Relax. The marketing campaign has already started."Ethan looked confused. "What marketing?"
"The university gaming forums. Campus Discord servers. Referral bonuses. Membership rewards." Liam leaned casually against the counter.
"I didn’t spend money trying to attract everyone. I only needed to convince the first few players. They’ll bring everyone else."
Ethan stared at him. "...You’re really that confident?"Liam smiled. "I wouldn’t have bought this place if I wasn’t."
Ethan simply looked at him. Then the tension slowly disappeared from his face. He laughed. "You know what? I have absolutely no idea what you’re planning. But somehow, I believe you."
Liam picked up a controller. "Good. Then let’s kill some terrorists while we wait."Ethan burst into laughter. "Now that’s something I’m good at."
At nine o’clock, a black Audi A6 glided to a stop outside an upscale café downtown. Claire stepped out from the driver’s seat. Monica was already waiting beside the entrance, they walked toward the meeting point.
A silver Mercedes-Benz was already waiting. Victoria stood beside it.standing beside her was Charles. Dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, Another man stood beside him.
He appeared to be in his early forties, wearing a navy blazer over a simple dress shirt. Unlike Charles, there wasn’t a trace of arrogance in his expression. Instead, his eyes quietly observed everything around him.
Charles smiled. "Everyone’s here." He turned toward the man beside him. "Allow me to introduce Mr. Harlan. He owns several successful gaming cafés across Riverside Falls. I invited him because I thought Liam might benefit from a professional opinion."
Mr. Harlan extended his hand first. "It’s a pleasure. I’ve been in this business for nearly fifteen years. If the young man is willing to listen, I’d be happy to offer a few suggestions."
Victoria smiled politely. "I’m sure Liam will appreciate that."The group entered their cars before heading toward Rage Quit Café.
Ten minutes later, the convoy pulled into the café parking lot. Claire’s eyes instinctively searched the building. Almost immediately, she spotted Liam.
He was standing outside with Ethan, sleeves casually rolled up as they chatted while unpacking several boxes of drinks. He looked relaxed. Completely at ease.
For just a second, Claire’s thoughts drifted back beneath the willow tree. That unexpected kiss. His steady gaze. The warmth she still couldn’t quite forget. She quietly pushed the memory aside.Liam!
He looked up. A warm smile appeared almost instantly. "Victoria. Claire. I’m glad you all came."
Victoria stepped forward first. "I couldn’t show up empty-handed." She handed over a thick crimson envelope tied with a gold ribbon. A little opening gift. I hope the business flourishes.
Thank you."
Claire came forward.I brought one too. Her envelope was even thicker. "It isn’t much. But consider it an investment."
Liam couldn’t help smiling. "I’ll make sure it earns a good return."Claire laughed softly. "I’ll remember that."
Monica walked over next. "You’ve helped me before. Now it’s my turn." She handed Liam another red envelope before lightly patting his shoulder. "I’m expecting great things from you."
Charles and Mr. Harlan each offered their congratulations as well. After thanking everyone, Liam invited them inside.
The moment they entered, Mr. Harlan slowed his pace. He didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he quietly examined the café.
His eyes moved from the hardware, to the lighting, the ventilation, the seating layout, the cable management, even the spacing between each gaming station. Several moments passed before he finally nodded.
"The renovation is excellent. The equipment is top-tier. The layout is comfortable." He glanced toward Liam. "You clearly invested a lot."
Victoria’s expression brightened. Even Claire looked pleasantly surprised. Praise from someone with fifteen years of experience wasn’t easy to earn.
Then Mr. Harlan turned toward the front windows. His smile gradually faded. "But this location. It’s your biggest problem."
Everyone instinctively looked outside. The road was quiet. Very few pedestrians passed by. There wasn’t a subway entrance nearby. No shopping mall. No busy commercial district.
Mr. Harlan folded his arms. "A great café in the wrong location can still fail. Hardware attracts gamers." He looked back at Liam. "But hardware doesn’t bring them through the door."
Charles slipped both hands into his pockets. "Exactly. I’ve seen plenty of young entrepreneurs make this mistake. They fall in love with the business, and forget the numbers."
His gaze settled on Liam. "You enjoy gaming, so you bought a gaming café. Understandable. But enjoying a business and running one profitably are two completely different things."
Silence settled over the room. Even Ethan looked uneasy. Victoria unconsciously tightened her grip around her handbag.
Instead, Liam smiled, unbothered. "I appreciate both of your opinions. But I think you’re judging this place a little too early." He glanced toward the entrance.
Charles raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"Liam checked the time on the wall clock. "It won’t be long now."
Mr. Harlan looked intrigued. You seem very confident.Liam slipped both hands into his pockets. "I trust my customers."
