I Really Didn't Mean to Make Money

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Make Money C326by MarineTL

Taking the folder, Yao Beiguo opened it with curiosity.

After a while, a flicker of doubt appeared in his eyes. As someone who had served in management for four different gaming clubs, he knew without a doubt that he would never hire the people listed in this document.

He wanted to say something, but then suddenly realized—wasn’t he also one of the names on this list?

If he rejected the people on this list, wouldn’t that be the same as rejecting himself?

Still, if the club really went ahead and brought all these people in, it would be incredibly difficult to achieve any results.

After thinking it over, he looked up at President Chen sitting across from him. He figured it was best to speak honestly.

“President Chen, if we recruit the people on this list, I’m afraid the club won’t be able to achieve any real success.”

“Why not?”

Chen Mo looked at Yao Beiguo calmly. He had expected this objection.

Yao Beiguo paused in thought before slowly replying.

“President Chen, take these retired pro players for example. Their current skill levels can’t compare to the younger generation of professional players. If we bring them back into the club, it’ll be very difficult for them to perform in the pro scene.”

“That’s where your thinking is wrong. Sure, achieving results is important for a gaming club, but what’s lacking in today’s clubs is a sense of humanity. Once someone gets older and their skills decline, they’re forced into retirement. How is that any different from using someone and then discarding them?”

Chen Mo shook his head slightly, his tone filled with emotion.

“These retired pro players once fought hard for their clubs. Some of them even led their teams to championship titles. And now, just because their skills have declined, we’re supposed to abandon them?”

“Giving up so easily on a player who once brought glory to the club is far too cruel. That’s why I’ve decided to give these retired pro players another chance to stand on the stage.”

Yao Beiguo fell silent as he listened to President Chen’s words.

He didn’t know how to respond. In the world of esports, this was often how things worked—when your skills declined, it was your time to be eliminated.

It was cold, but it was the truth.

To put it bluntly, which club owner wasn’t in it for the money?

And if a club wanted to make money, its pro team had to perform well in tournaments.

But those retired players had clearly declined in skill, making it hard for them to place in competitions. That’s why no club was willing to bring them back.

Yet, President Chen’s words struck a chord in him.

It was true—those retired pro players, how many of them had actually wanted to retire?

Most of them had been forced out because the club no longer saw value in them.

After a moment of thought, he finally spoke.

“President Chen, I still think it’s best to recruit some strong professional players. As for the retired ones, we could bring them in as substitutes. If something urgent comes up, they could step in.”

“No.”

Chen Mo shook his head firmly.

“We can’t do that. If we’re bringing these pro players back, then we have a responsibility to let them play. If you recruit retired players only to bench them as substitutes, that’s nothing short of an insult. It’s unacceptable.”

“Besides, who says retired pro players can’t achieve results? I don’t believe that. In fact, I think they have many advantages over the new generation.”

“These veterans have a wealth of match experience. On the field, they’re calmer and better equipped to handle unexpected situations.”

“And another thing—have their skills really declined? I don’t think so. Their game mechanics are still solid. At most, their reaction times might be a bit slower due to age.”

“But slower reactions can be compensated for in other ways—experience, game sense, teamwork…”

“And as long as these veterans remain in the club, they become part of its foundation. New players can learn from them and grow under their guidance.”

“So don’t treat these retired players as useless. They’re incredibly valuable. Just do as I’ve said.”

Chen Mo thought for a moment, realizing he didn’t need to come up with any other justification. He simply made the decision then and there.

Yao Beiguo remained silent as he listened to President Chen.

What he said wasn’t wrong, but some things only worked in theory.

For example, could a retired pro player really make a comeback and win a championship?

In theory, yes. But in reality, the chances were slim to none.

No club owner would ever make such a cost-ineffective decision. With so many talented newcomers to choose from, who would willingly pick retired professional players?

But this was something President Chen had already decided on, and judging by his demeanor, he was fully committed. There was no point in arguing further.

“Understood, President Chen. I’ll do my best to handle it,” Yao Beiguo said with a nod.

“Good. I trust you. Just go ahead and take care of it,” Chen Mo replied with a satisfied smile.

This was exactly the kind of employee he needed—someone who would follow instructions without hesitation. That kind of reliability was what he valued most.

Yao Beiguo looked down at the thick stack of profiles on the table and took a deep breath.

Trying to get results from this list of people… that was going to be a serious challenge.

Then a thought struck him. He looked up at President Chen.

“President Chen, may I ask what the budget for this club is?”

The budget was a critical issue. The main reason the four clubs he had managed before had failed was because the owners had stopped investing money.

Now, with this club recruiting retired professional players—already a tough path to success—if funding was also tight, then this might very well become the fifth failed gaming club under his management.

The thought made Yao Beiguo uneasy.

“The budget?” Chen Mo looked up at him, then slowly raised one finger.

“Ten million?” Yao Beiguo asked cautiously, trying to guess.

He couldn’t help but start calculating in his head. Would ten million be enough to cover a club’s expenses?

But before he could finish his mental math, he saw President Chen shake his head, then gently wave the finger he had raised.

His lips parted, and he slowly spoke four words.

“One hundred million.”

One hundred million!

Yao Beiguo’s eyes widened at the number.

He never imagined President Chen would allocate such a massive budget.

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