Chapter 51 Forced to Kiss

Lin Chen naturally knew of An Zhongzhou, the chairman of Zenith Entertainment and a household name in Moonsea City.

Seeing the other man extend his hand, Lin Chen politely shook it and smiled, "You are too kind, Mr. An."

Standing beside them, Zhang Rongkai could not comprehend why An Zhongzhou was treating this punk dressed in cheap street-market clothes with such courtesy.

Feeling his heart sink slightly, Zhang Rongkai took out a gold-plated business card and handed it to Lin Chen with a smile. "Mr. Lin, I am Zhang Rongkai, the general manager of Huarong Group. Shall we get acquainted?"

Lin Chen glanced at Zhang Rongkai, and at just a single look, he took a disliking to the man.

Although Zhang Rongkai appeared to be smiling amiably, his eyes carried a condescending air of superiority, as if flashing a smile at someone was a supreme favor for which they should be eternally grateful.

With such deep-seated arrogance in his bones, it was no wonder An Xueyao disliked him.

Lin Chen casually accepted the card and said indifferently, "Hello, Mr. Zhang, my name is Lin Chen." With that, he said no more.

The corners of Zhang Rongkai’s mouth twitched. Did this guy not even know the basic etiquette of exchanging business cards? True to his appearance, he was clearly just some good-for-nothing parasite from the dregs of society!

A trace of disdain flashed through Zhang Rongkai's heart, though he kept the smile on his face. "Mr. Lin, may I ask where you are employed? Could I trouble you for a business card? You look quite young—have you even graduated from university yet? And what does your father do?"

Lin Chen replied calmly, "Why are you so concerned about my business? Surely these matters have nothing to do with you, do they?"

Zhang Rongkai chuckled. "Mr. Lin jokes. Indeed, it has nothing to do with me, but more friends mean more paths—I merely wish to get acquainted. You are still young, Mr. Lin, and do not understand that society ultimately runs on connections. I believe that once you mature a bit, you will come to understand. Haha. However, if Mr. Lin is unwilling to reveal his identity, could it be that you are too embarrassed to speak of it? Or perhaps someone like me is simply not qualified to know who you are?"

Lin Chen smiled. "That's right, you aren't qualified."

Zhang Rongkai was taken aback for a moment, and then his expression darkened, completely unexpected that Lin Chen would care so little about giving him face.

"Pfft!"

An Xueyao couldn't help but let out a giggle nearby.

Could this hopeless scoundrel really not tell that the man's words were merely polite modesty?

***

Seeing Zhang Rongkai's face turn ashen with suppressed rage, An Zhongzhou stepped in to smooth things over. "Alright, alright, Rongkai, don't take it to heart. Lin Chen meant no malice, let's not argue. Lin Chen is currently Yaoyao's bodyguard, and he even saved her life previously. He is the benefactor of our family."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Rongkai quickly chimed in, "So Mr. Lin previously saved Yaoyao's life! A lifesaver for Yaoyao is a lifesaver for Zhang Rongkai as well. If there is ever anything you need from me in the future, just—"

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by An Xueyao.

"Stop calling me Yaoyao so intimately. We are not that close, and what my savior does is none of your concern. Besides, Lin Chen is my boyfriend; it was only natural for him to save me." An Xueyao said, linking her arm through Lin Chen's.

An Zhongzhou froze, completely shocked. "Yaoyao, what did you say? Lin Chen is your boyfriend?"

"A... a boyfriend?"

Zhang Rongkai wore a bewildered expression, followed by a sudden burst of laughter. "Alright, Yaoyao, I know you hold some resentment toward me, but one day you will understand my true feelings. There is really no need for you to play such jokes. Haha."

An Xueyao said angrily, "I am not joking! He is my boyfriend—I only just agreed to his pursuit yesterday. What makes you think I am spouting nonsense?"

Without answering, Zhang Rongkai cast a disdainful glance at Lin Chen, a look that clearly communicated: because a wretch like him could never, and would never be worthy of becoming your boyfriend.

Seeing the utter contempt Zhang Rongkai directed at Lin Chen, An Xueyao felt a sudden surge of annoyance in her chest. Indignant, she snapped, "You don't believe me? Then I'll prove it to you!"

With that, she stood slightly on tiptoes and planted a direct kiss right on Lin Chen's cheek.

*Whoa, did I just get aggressively kissed?* Lin Chen felt somewhat dazed.

Her face flushed crimson, An Xueyao glared at Zhang Rongkai and said, "Hmph! Do you believe it now?"

"You..." Zhang Rongkai's face turned livid, veins bulging on his forehead. "Yaoyao, how could you do this? Aren't you going too far?!"

An Xueyao gave a cold huff. "My affairs are none of your business. I like him, so what does it have to do with you? Give up on that pipe dream of yours once and for all!"

The gaze Zhang Rongkai directed at Lin Chen made him look as though he wanted to tear the young man apart alive. He felt as if a metaphorical green hat had just been firmly placed upon his head.

*Vile wench, just you wait! The day I finally get my hands on you, I will make sure to make you pay!*

***

Steadying his composure, Zhang Rongkai assumed an earnest expression and said, "Yaoyao, you are still young and going through a rebellious phase, which is why you make mistakes. I don't blame you for any of this. You have never suffered a day in your life, so it is understandable that you might develop a temporary fondness for a pauper—I don't hold that against you either.

"However, I believe there will come a day when you finally mature. When that day arrives, you will realize that our world and the world of these wretched parasites are worlds apart. Whatever you desire, someone like him can never provide!

"It's not that I look down on the poor, but people of his stripe are inherently cheap. For money, they are capable of any vile and despicable act; I have seen far too many of their kind!

"In our world, some people enjoy playing the piano, others—like myself and Uncle An—enjoy a game of chess, some collect precious gems, and others appreciate antique artifacts. We pursue spiritual and intellectual fulfillment. But these lowly creatures? Their eyes hold nothing but money; they are no different from dumb pigs whose only purpose is eating, drinking, and excreting!

"They possess no dignity, no ambitions, and are utterly cowardly. Just take this so-called boyfriend of yours—when trouble strikes, he will only cower behind you. He is no man at all! One day, you will realize that he is utterly unworthy of you."

Projecting the air of someone worldly and deeply versed in human nature, Zhang Rongkai looked at Lin Chen with absolute contempt, as though Lin Chen truly were nothing more than a swine driven only by base instincts.

An Zhongzhou frowned slightly, though he remained silent.

An Xueyao desperately wanted to retort, yet within the confines of her sheltered life experience, she had indeed never interacted with anyone from an impoverished background. While she firmly believed Lin Chen was nothing like the cowardly, despicable, and ambitionless person Zhang Rongkai painted him to be, she found herself at a loss for how to refute the argument.

At that moment, Lin Chen finally spoke.

Looking at Zhang Rongkai, Lin Chen smiled faintly. "Do you think you understand the poor?"

"Of course! I hold dual doctoral degrees in Economics and Psychology from Washington University. Did you really think I could be mistaken?" Zhang Rongkai sneered.

Infuriated by An Xueyao kissing Lin Chen, he had dropped all pretenses, his expression twisting into something quite hideous.

"Do you have any friends who are poor?" Lin Chen asked again.

Zhang Rongkai laughed derisively. "My friends are high-ranking officials and wealthy tycoons—of course I don't have poor friends! I know what you're trying to imply. You want to say that since I haven't personally brushed shoulders with poverty, I don't truly understand the poor, right? How utterly laughable! The moment I step out my front door every day, countless impoverished wretches desperately grovel to curry favor with me. How dare you claim I don't understand them?"