The news spread across the Hangzhou beverage market within two days.
A major brand was entering the city.
Golden Leaf Tea.
The company already operated more than eighty stores across several provinces.
Their arrival meant aggressive expansion, heavy advertising, and powerful supply chains.
Most small shop owners were nervous.
But Zhang Rui felt something else.
Opportunity.
If Sweet Time Milk Tea could cooperate with a large brand, their business might grow even faster.
Still… he couldn't shake the strange feeling that the market was changing in ways he didn't understand.
Across campus, Chen Mo opened the system interface again.
A new notification blinked on the screen.
[Market Event Detected]
Golden Leaf Tea — Regional Expansion.
Strategic Insight activated automatically.
Several analysis windows appeared.
Supply routes.
Distribution dependencies.
Investment weaknesses.
Chen Mo scanned the data calmly.
Golden Leaf Tea relied heavily on two distribution partners in Hangzhou.
One of them was already partially influenced by Chen Mo's network.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Interesting.
This company looked powerful on the surface.
But its supply chain was surprisingly fragile.
Chen Mo checked his daily quota.
Capital Authority Lv2
Daily Quota: ¥800,000
He didn't rush to invest.
Instead, he observed.
Large companies created large emotional waves.
Fear from competitors.
Envy from smaller stores.
Pressure from employees.
The system would harvest all of it.
And once those emotions peaked...
That would be the perfect moment to move.
Meanwhile, Zhang Rui read the news again on his phone.
Golden Leaf Tea was opening three stores in Hangzhou next month.
Right near the university district.
Right near his shop.
His expression darkened slightly.
Competition was coming.
Serious competition.