Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1067: 1042: Who Is More Backward

Chapter 1042: Who Is Truly Backward?

Calis was absolutely livid after hearing what Ye Chen had to say.

“Boy, what could you possibly understand? This is simply our Western brand of etiquette.”

Ye Chen let out a cold snort: “I don’t give a damn about your etiquette. If you kiss Wanrou’s hand and she permits it, that is one thing, but if she doesn't, you are harassing her. Do you really want me to call the police and have you hauled away?”

Calis’s expression flickered.

The onlookers nearby began to murmur among themselves.

“What an utterly shameless young man.”

“Exactly, acting like a pervert and trying to mask it as refined manners.”

Calis’s face darkened, turning quite foul.

He had initially believed his charade was a brilliant tactical maneuver. He had hoped to use the guise of social etiquette to get close to Lin Wanrou. Regrettably, his scheme was exposed by Ye Chen, forcing him onto the defensive. To make matters worse, he had just moments ago kissed a dreadfully ugly old woman. The thought alone made him feel like he was going to lose his lunch.

While he initially wanted to lash out at Ye Chen, his concern for his own public stature held him back. In his eyes, Ye Chen was nothing more than a delivery driver; lowering himself to squabble with such a person over a woman would be utterly laughable. He decided he had to maintain his gentlemanly façade, regardless of the situation.

Calis took a deep breath, forcing a smile to his lips. “Greetings, I am Calis, the prince of S Country. May I inquire as to who you are?”

Ye Chen offered a faint, dismissive smile: “I am Lin Wanrou’s boyfriend.”

To truly drive the point home, Ye Chen emphasized the word “boyfriend” with deliberate weight.

A warm sensation blossomed in Lin Wanrou’s heart at these words. Even when faced with a prince, Ye Chen showed absolutely no signs of trepidation. This was precisely the kind of man she had been searching for.

Calis’s expression shifted, his composure thinning. He had intended to introduce himself as Lin Wanrou’s fiancé, but he realized he didn't quite have the guts to claim it outright. Yet, this brat had the gall to call himself her boyfriend. How was he supposed to counter that?

Calis sneered, “Boyfriend? Hmph, I suspect you are severely mistaken.” He continued with a condescending tone: “Reflect on your position. I am the prince of S Country and the next in line for the throne. Miss Lin is the daughter of an Earl from Hawk Country, noble-born; whereas you are merely a commoner. Do you really think you are worthy?”

Ye Chen let out a cold laugh: “Whether I am worthy or not is not for you to decide; it is for Lin Wanrou to judge. Furthermore, I couldn’t care less about her pedigree. To me, she has only one title: my girlfriend.”

With that final remark, Ye Chen pulled Lin Wanrou firmly into his arms. Not only did she offer no resistance, she beamed with genuine happiness.

“You!” Calis’s temperament soured instantly.

He never imagined that a lowly commoner would have the audacity to disregard his presence. He was royalty, after all! Where did this peasant find the courage to compete with him? Watching Ye Chen embrace Lin Wanrou made him feel as though his head might explode from pure indignation.

Despite his boiling rage, he kept inhaling deeply, chanting to himself: “I must not lose my temper; I have to stay calm.” He forced his anger down, masking it with a rigid, fake smile.

“Actually, to deepen the bond between our two nations, we are hosting an exclusive exhibition at a private museum soon. We will be displaying the national treasures of S Country. I cordially invite you both to attend.”

Who was Ye Chen? He saw right through Calis’s petty machinations. However, he also understood Lin Wanrou’s character perfectly. While other women might be swayed by the promise of rare treasures, she was not that type of person. Just as Lin Wanrou was about to decline, Ye Chen signaled her to stop.

“We would be happy to go. Since you are so insistent on the invitation, we accept.”

The moment he heard the acceptance, Calis felt a surge of triumph. You trivial commoner, just wait. Once Lin Wanrou lays eyes on those priceless artifacts, she will surely dump you for me.

Calis had no desire to play the third wheel any longer. Watching the woman he desired wrap herself around another man was more than he cared to endure.

Lin Wanrou whispered, sounding apologetic: “Ye Chen, I am so sorry for pulling you into this mess.” She knew Ye Chen preferred a low-key life and generally avoided unnecessary confrontation.

Ye Chen chuckled softly: “I am your boyfriend, remember? Isn’t looking out for you part of the job?”

“Ye Chen, you are the best,” Lin Wanrou replied, happily resting her head against his shoulder.

Back at his residence, Calis’s frustration only grew. He received a phone call shortly after from some friends, and they decided to head out to the bustling commercial districts of Modu.

As they strolled through the streets, Calis began to loudly boast to those within earshot.

“I am the prince of S Country. Compared to our lands, this city is truly far behind.”

He deliberately projected his voice to ensure he caught the attention of the public. Predictably, his posturing worked. Many onlookers recognized him as the “Internet-famous prince” they had seen on social media.

“Isn’t that the famous prince from online?”

“My God, I saw him on TikTok! I never thought I’d actually run into him here!”

“Look at his attire; that must have cost millions.”

“He is truly a tycoon.”

“Your Highness, could we take a photo together?” someone shouted.

“Could I have your autograph?”

Calis soaked up the attention, feeling incredibly smug. “Haha, you peasants truly lack any sense of perspective. Please, kneel and worship me to your heart’s content. You ignorant people of Hua Country are nothing more than a bunch of lap dogs,” he mocked, intentionally using the language of S Country, fully believing that no one in the crowd could understand his vitriol.

However, a local university student, who happened to specialize in the language of S Country, paled as she processed his words.

“Everyone, stop asking for pictures! This bastard just called us peasants, claimed our Hua Country is backwards, and called us all lap dogs!”

The crowd’s demeanor shifted from adoration to cold fury. They had offered him nothing but hospitality, and he had treated them with nothing but contempt. What was so great about this guy? He was just another spoiled, arrogant brat. Using a foreign language to insult them was an unforgivable offense.

“How can this foreigner be so vile?”

“Exactly! We treated him like a distinguished guest, and he treats us like fools.”

“We wanted to show off the warmth of our nation, but he’s this dismissive?”

Calis, blissfully unaware of the shift in the crowd’s mood, continued walking with his friends until he spotted a stall selling traditional hand-crafted goods. He took a liking to a carving and decided he wanted to purchase it.

The merchant signaled the sign: “Please pay via Alipay.”

Calis was caught in a moment of confusion. “Alipay? Is that this QR code on the sign? Can I not just pay with cash?”

“Cash is far too much of a hassle, and we rarely keep change. We don’t accept cash—only Alipay or WeChat is fine.”

Calis stared at the small sign, utterly baffled that such a piece of paper could handle money. The shop owner looked at him with disdain. This man had just claimed to be so advanced, yet he couldn't even grasp a basic digital payment system? He was clearly the one who hailed from a backward nation.

The crowd erupted in laughter.

“The guy was bragging about how advanced his country is, but he can’t even handle a mobile payment?”

“And he had the gall to act all high and mighty!”

“Now that is a true, ignorant peasant right there!”

Hearing the mockery ringing from all sides, Calis’s face burned with humiliation and rage.