The morning sunlight poured through the blinds, painting golden stripes across Steven Blake's bedroom. He sat at his desk, staring at the glowing numbers on his phone's banking app.
$2.5 million.
For a long while, he just let that figure sink in. It wasn't a dream. It wasn't some prank. It was real—the fruit of sleepless nights coding, designing, testing, and selling his games.
But more than numbers on a screen, it was freedom.
He could finally silence doubts, erase worries, and turn vague promises into solid proof. He could finally give his parents the life they deserved.
After breakfast, Steven called them into the living room. His father, Morris, wiped his hands on his apron after finishing the morning prep at the restaurant. His mother, Natalie, carried a half-finished basket of laundry. Both looked curious when they saw the stack of papers Steven had prepared.
"Sit down," Steven said, his voice steady. "I need to show you something important."
Natalie frowned, setting aside the clothes. "Steven, you're scaring me."
"It's nothing bad." He handed over the printed legal documents—statements from the platform where his games had sold, along with tax records and receipts. "This is everything. Proof of income. Proof of legitimacy. No scams, no tricks. Just hard work."
Morris squinted at the numbers. His hands trembled slightly. "Two point… five million?"
"All from games?" Natalie gasped, covering her mouth.
Steven nodded. "Yes. Game development and sales. My own projects."
They sat in stunned silence. Natalie blinked, still processing. Morris rubbed his temple, as though afraid the numbers would vanish if he looked away.
Finally, Morris managed, "But… what are you planning to do with all that?"
Steven took a deep breath. Here came the hard part. "I want to move the restaurant. Give it a new life. A better location, bigger kitchen, proper visibility. A place worthy of your cooking—and our family's name."
Natalie's eyes immediately darkened with worry. "Steven, that's risky. You've seen what happens when people try to go too big, too fast. The debts eat them alive."
"And this restaurant…" Morris gestured around. "This place holds our memories. I built it with my own hands. You grew up here, Steven. Are you saying we should abandon it?"
Steven shook his head gently. "Not abandon—evolve. Think of it as moving from a sapling pot into open soil. It won't kill the tree. It'll help it grow."
But the hesitation in their eyes didn't vanish easily. Over the next hour, he explained everything—his market research, projected costs, possible returns. He highlighted how their current location's declining foot traffic meant stagnation, maybe even slow death. He reminded them of the back-breaking hours they worked with little reward.
Finally, he softened his voice. "Mom, Dad… you've given me everything. Let me give something back. Trust me, just this once."
Natalie's lips quivered. "You sound so sure of yourself…"
"I am." Steven held their gaze with quiet determination.
At last, Morris let out a long sigh. He looked at Natalie, who slowly nodded, and then back at his son. "Alright, Steven. Show us what you can do."
What followed was a blur of scouting and searching.
Steven toured cramped lots on crowded alleys, glossy spaces tucked too far from real traffic, overpriced properties in flashy districts. Each had its flaw—bad ventilation, outdated licenses, greedy landlords.
And yet, with every step, Steven wasn't just walking as himself. The System whispered quietly, offering subtle boosts. [Observation Skill Activated]. Floor tiles cracked beneath polished surfaces, water stains hidden behind wallpaper, electric panels nearing expiry—nothing escaped his eye.
It was during one late afternoon that he stumbled across a particular listing. A spacious, well-lit three-story building, positioned near a bustling supermarket. Foot traffic surged past the entrance at all hours, and it was within walking distance of his school.
And the price? Laughably low.
"Why is it so affordable?" Steven muttered, narrowing his eyes.
The System flickered with a soft hum. [Suspicion Detected. Possible foul play.]
He began digging. Newspaper archives. Online gossip. Property records. It didn't take long before the truth surfaced: a rival restaurateur had been spreading poisonous rumors. Tales of zoning issues, health code violations, even supposed fire hazards. None of it was true, but the damage was enough to scare off potential buyers.
Where others saw a cursed property, Steven saw opportunity.
He contacted the owner and negotiated swiftly. For $800,000, the building was his—snatched up before anyone else could blink. That left $700,000 for renovations and launch expenses.
The following weeks became a storm of activity.
Steven managed contractors with an authority that belied his age. He sketched interior designs late into the night, optimizing every inch of space. He poured over catalogues for lighting, furniture, kitchen equipment. Where his parents would have hesitated, Steven drove forward, calculating budgets with near-mechanical precision.
$200,000 later, the once-dusty property had transformed into a palace of culinary promise. Warm amber lights spilled across polished wooden floors. Modern wall décor balanced tradition with elegance. Plush seating invited comfort, while the air itself carried the subtle aroma of freshly polished oak and anticipation.
At the entrance, a beautifully carved wooden sign gleamed under the lights.
Heavenly Dine.
The day his parents first stepped inside, Natalie's hands flew to her mouth. Tears spilled freely. "Steven… this is beyond anything I ever dreamed."
Morris placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder, voice thick. "You've given us a fresh start."
But Steven knew: presentation alone was only the shell. The true test was food.
For weeks, Steven plunged himself into research. The System became his greatest tutor. He unlocked cooking skills, studied culinary textbooks at accelerated pace, and devoured hours of tutorials in mere nights. He failed often—over-salted soups, burnt pastries, collapsed soufflés. But each failure stacked into progress.
[Skill Progression: Culinary Arts 37% → 78% → 100% (Advanced)]
Soon, his kitchen experiments began producing magic.
The ground floor blossomed into a café and bakery, glass counters shimmering with croissants, muffins, cheesecakes, and colorful macarons. Coffee machines hissed with the fragrance of freshly roasted beans.
The second floor became a fusion paradise. One section radiated Italy—pizzas crackling with wood-fired crusts, ravioli smothered in sauces. Another thrummed with American energy—juicy burgers and crispy fried chicken. The third corner sang with Asia's warmth—noodles, dumplings, soups fragrant with ginger and spice, honoring their old specialty.
The third floor offered global feasts. Indian biryani and butter chicken alongside Western steak and lobster rolls, with desserts like caviar-topped canapés and key lime pie.
The menu was vast, but every dish bore Steven's seal of quality.
And customers noticed.
Social media became Steven's next battlefield. With his eye for aesthetics and System-enhanced timing, he photographed food in perfect lighting, paired posts with trending hashtags, and responded to every comment with witty charm.
Within weeks, Heavenly Dine's Instagram boomed. Locals shared snapshots, influencers tagged the restaurant in glowing stories. Lines began forming outside before opening hours.
And then trouble came.
One afternoon, a sharply dressed man entered, arrogance dripping from every movement. He scanned the décor as though already measuring it for himself.
"I'm the owner of a popular clothing franchise," he announced to Steven. "I want this location. Two million. Cash."
Steven raised an eyebrow. "Thanks, but no."
The man's smile vanished. "You don't know who you're dealing with. I can shut this little place down in no time."
Steven didn't flinch. "We'll see about that."
Back in his office, he turned to the System.
[Option Available: Learn Hacking Skills. Discover and exploit opponent's secrets.][Cost: 50 System Points.]
Steven purchased without hesitation. Knowledge crashed into his mind—programming, cybersecurity, digital warfare.
Hours later, he breached the man's digital walls. The findings? Ugly. Tax fraud. Bribery. Falsified certifications. He gathered everything and anonymously tipped the authorities.
Days later, the man was arrested. His clothing brand collapsed under scandal.
Steven didn't blink. He simply moved on, unveiling new menu additions: medicinal cuisine inspired by ancient Chinese culinary arts, and intricate knife-carved sculptures from fruits and vegetables.
He filmed the process, posted online, and went viral overnight.
With crowds swelling, his parents could no longer manage alone. Steven hired chefs, trained them personally, hired waiters and a security guard. Every floor hummed with professional rhythm, yet carried the Blake family warmth.
Heavenly Dine wasn't just a restaurant now. It was a phenomenon.
One quiet evening, Steven sat in a corner booth, watching the three floors bustle with life. Families laughed over biryani upstairs. Couples shared cheesecakes on the ground floor. Students snapped selfies with pizzas. The air buzzed with joy.
And then the familiar voice echoed.
[Rich Lord Task Completed: Transform 'Heavenly Dine' into a Five-Star Luxury Restaurant.][Reward: $5 million + Ownership of Rosewood Hotel.]
Steven's lips curved into a smile.
There had been skepticism, tears, obstacles, even threats. But he had taken his family's humble eatery, carried it on his shoulders, and built something magnificent.
This was only the beginning.