Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1068: 1043: Can He Afford It?

Initially, Calis was merely putting on a performance.

Quite unexpectedly, he found himself viewed as an absolute fool by those around him.

The humiliation was unbearable.

This situation was simply unacceptable.

Suddenly, his eyes sparked with a new idea.

“Hmph, the most stunning woman in all of Hua Country is my girlfriend,” he declared.

He pulled out a photograph of Lin Wanrou.

“Recognize her? She is the president of Yashi Group, familiar with that name? It is one of the top 100 enterprises in Hua Country,” Calis boasted extravagantly.

At that moment, a wave of disappointment washed over the crowd.

“Such a beautiful girl from Hua Country, just to be ruined by a pig like him.”

“It is a tragedy, why are the women of Hua Country so infatuated with foreigners?”

“Honestly, she is quite mediocre. Even if she begged for my attention, I wouldn't bother,” he claimed, emboldened by Lin Wanrou's absence.

Basking in the envious stares of the crowd, he felt like he had reached the summit of his life, radiating the aura of a total show-off.

Just then, Wang Congcong happened to stroll over.

Having dined with Calis on a few occasions, he had been invited along.

As he glanced at the photo, Wang Congcong paused, confused.

The girl looked strangely familiar.

Wait, wasn't that Ye Chen’s girlfriend?

“Are you absolutely certain that she is your girlfriend?” Wang Congcong asked.

“Of course, why do you ask?” Calis retorted.

Having been annoyed by Calis’s earlier insults toward those from Hua Country, Wang Congcong smirked.

“I am quite well-acquainted with Miss Lin, and from what I gather, she already has a boyfriend—and it is definitely not you.”

Calis flushed a deep shade of red. “You are babbling nonsense, we are already engaged!”

“Look! Is that not the same girl from his photo?”

“Wow, her boyfriend looks dashing.”

“They look so affectionate, holding hands like that.”

“Look, they are about to kiss!”

…

As Calis turned to follow the commotion, he was left stunned.

What on earth? How was Lin Wanrou actually there?

To make matters worse, she and Ye Chen were sharing an intimate moment.

Calis’s face turned scarlet, his eyes stinging with tears of shame.

He had just been finished boasting, only to find his supposed girlfriend being romantic with another man.

The metaphorical slap to his face was loud and undeniable.

Seething, Calis realized that if he confessed now, it would be publicly admitting he had been wearing a green hat. He had to deny it, no matter what.

“You must be mistaken,” Calis stammered, taking a shaky breath. “That cannot be my girlfriend, she simply bears a resemblance.”

“How could that be? She looks identical to the woman on your phone.”

“Precisely, she is wearing the exact same attire; how could we be wrong?”

The people from Hua Country, already disgusted by the arrogant foreigner, seized the opportunity to corner him.

“Haha, so you were just trying to save face with someone else’s photo!”

“I knew it, a high-class lady from Hua Country wouldn't waste her time with someone like you.”

“Did your girlfriend end up cuckolding you?”

“What a spectacular backfire.”

Calis panicked, stammering, “I told you, you are clearly mistaken!”

At that moment, Ye Chen and Lin Wanrou approached the group.

They hadn't expected to run into the nuisance again while enjoying their day.

“Why do we keep crossing paths with you?” Ye Chen sighed.

“Calis, you are incredibly irritating,” Lin Wanrou added with a cold snort. “Why do you keep stalking me?”

Calis stood frozen in place.

His previous denial had just been completely dismantled.

His own companions could barely hold back their laughter. The realization that he had attempted to show off using a photograph, only to meet the subject in person, was hilarious.

“Didn't you claim it wasn't her? Why is she addressing you then?” someone sneered.

“And the girl clearly loathes you; so much for being a girlfriend!”

Seeing the phone in Calis’s hand with her image displayed, Lin Wanrou was incensed.

“Who gave you permission to keep my photo? And taking secret pictures of me? You have gone too far!”

“Wanrou, please, it is not how it looks!” Calis tried to justify.

“Listen, Calis,” she interrupted coldly, “I do not care about your background or your status. Let me be perfectly clear: I have zero feelings for you, and quite frankly, I detest your presence.”

With that, she snatched the phone and deleted the photos in front of everyone.

She then retreated to Ye Chen’s side, clinging to him affectionately.

The audience finally understood the truth.

“What an embarrassment,” someone laughed. “He was just pretending.”

“Calling her a ‘girlfriend’—this guy’s ego is truly massive.”

“She clearly has a partner, so his was nothing but unrequited love.”

“Utterly shameful.”

“Ye Chen,” Lin Wanrou said dismissively, “let’s go. Don't waste your energy on this trash.”

The pair walked off, hand in hand.

Calis’s face burned. He noticed even his friends were eyeing him with evident contempt.

Despite the public humiliation, he refused to let it go.

He glared at Lin Wanrou’s retreating back with bitter jealousy.

“It does not matter how much you dislike me, Lin Wanrou,” he muttered to himself. “Your family has already agreed to the marriage. When you finally belong to me, I will make sure to exact my revenge.”

Lin Wanrou and Ye Chen entered a high-end store. Seeing they had walked into Adton Jewelry, a world-famous brand known for its exquisite diamond collections, Calis’s eyes lit up.

He saw an opportunity to finally redeem himself.

“Ye Chen, I absolutely adore this piece,” Lin Wanrou noted, pointing to a sparkling item.

As Ye Chen smiled and went to reach for his payment, Calis rushed forward.

“Wanrou,” Calis sneered, “you might not realize this, but this man is nothing more than a delivery driver. How could he possibly afford a piece of this caliber?”

He gestured at Ye Chen with mock pity. “Don’t be deceived by his designer wardrobe; I’d bet anything they are high-quality knockoffs. Adton is a global luxury house; every piece costs over a million. You really expect a delivery boy to pay that kind of money?”

The onlookers murmured in agreement, shaking their heads.

“What a shame, he’s just a delivery person.”

“Indeed, and the other man is a prince from Country S, rumored to be overflowing with oil money.”

“I had hoped he was successful, but a delivery driver? There’s no chance he can afford that.”

Calis looked smug, convinced he had exposed Ye Chen’s poverty.

However, Ye Chen simply pulled out a black gold card with an air of complete indifference. “Clerk, please process the payment.”