E-Scum Gong Chapter 53
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 53
Lin Xu’s dormitory was a four-person room with decent conditions. When he first arrived, his tuition and accommodation were fully covered, and he also received an additional scholarship. He could have opted for a single room, but because the campus was quite old and a few of the dormitory buildings were under renovation, he could only make do with a shared room.
For Lin Xu, other than those few days during the college entrance exams when he shared a dorm room with his classmates, this experience was rare and novel. Although he felt a little awkward, he was no longer as resistant as he used to be.
When Gu Jinzhi called to say he was on his way, Lin Xu replied with an acknowledgment. By the time Gu Jinzhi arrived at his dormitory building, Lin Xu was already leaning against a tree waiting for him.
“You’re here already? I thought it would take you a long time to settle in since you just arrived on campus.” Gu Jinzhi took off his sunglasses and hung them around his neck, leaning in curiously. His boyfriend still looked handsome even after a day apart.
Gu Jinzhi had initially planned to visit the dorm and check out Lin Xu’s roommates to see what kind of people they were and whether there were any potential safety concerns.
Lin Xu briefly explained, “There’s a new roommate who’s… quite chatty.”
Chatty was an understatement. Lin Xu could constantly feel his roommate's spray of saliva even while sitting at his desk, the rapid-fire chatter causing his head to ache.
Especially since Lin Xu had already been recognized as the top scorer in the entire department just after one day, his roommates were particularly enthusiastic and had a lot to say.
Of course, Lin Xu had no complaints about his roommates. He simply wasn’t used to the constant attention.
When Lin Xu received Gu Jinzhi’s call, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly used his boyfriend as a scapegoat.
Indeed, Lin Xu didn't shy away from admitting he had a boyfriend, but his comment caught his three single dorm mates off guard. After all, based on their first impression of Lin Xu, he didn't seem like someone who was good at dating, or someone who was interested in dating.
Yet, looking at his face again, it seemed it wasn’t entirely out of the question…
The two walked side by side through the campus.
Lin Xu felt something was off, only to realize that Gu Jinzhi had muted himself.
Gu Jinzhi had been holding back all the way, but when he heard Lin Xu say that his roommate was quite chatty, he couldn't help but reflect on himself. He seemed to be quite chatty too... His older brother often said he was noisy.
He hadn't realized that Lin Xu didn't like people who talked a lot. Now that he was aware, he started to feel guilty.
His older brother made sense. Gu Jinzhi needed to make some changes.
So he tried to play the cool guy for the entire walk until Lin Xu finally asked, “Zhizhi, why aren’t you talking?”
Pretending to be a deep person, Gu Jinzhi replied, “I've always been a man of few words.”
Lin Xu gave him a knowing look, as if seeing straight through him.
“You’re different from others,” Lin Xu said with a smile. Another day, another bit of happiness brought to him by Zhizhi.
Lin Xu enjoyed listening to Gu Jinzhi’s endless ramblings. It felt wonderfully strange and reassuring. He knew that Gu Jinzhi wouldn’t behave this way in front of others and would instead turn into a domineering CEO.
It seemed that only he could glimpse the true essence of Zhizhi’s eighteen-year-old soul.
With that reassurance, Gu Jinzhi felt at ease. He knew it! His boyfriend was different from others, and unlike his older brother, who saw certain traits as flaws, Lin Xu didn’t think like that.
So Gu Jinzhi continued to chatter, recounting about how he had outwitted his older brother at home, describing his own intelligence as unmatched in heaven or on earth.
“Fortunately, there’s Xu Zhou. In the future, if my big brother doubts me, I can use him as a scapegoat.”
Lin Xu smiled and nodded, amused by Zhizhi’s sly expression. Suddenly remembering how often he mentioned being twenty-four, Lin Xu found it amusing. Which twenty-four-year-old CEO would worry so much about dating and hide it from his older brother?
“What are we doing now?” Gu Jinzhi asked curiously.
“Let’s go buy some books,” Lin Xu suggested after a moment of thought.
“Huh? Has your teacher already given out the reading list?” Gu Jinzhi was surprised. Military training had not even began, so the list wasn’t likely out yet.
Lin Xu hadn’t considered that question. He shrugged and replied, “It’s fine. I know them.”
Gu Jinzhi hadn’t realized that his boyfriend’s knowledge was already at a level fit for teaching. He simply trusted his academic god boyfriend without question.
The two of them headed to a nearby specialized bookstore, which had a wide variety of books and was conveniently close to the campus. Lin Xu quickly found everything he needed.
Gu Jinzhi, unfamiliar with any of these topics — he wasn’t in the same field — sat off to the side, simply enjoying the sight of Lin Xu browsing the shelves. Every move Lin Xu made seemed pleasing to the eye.
As he thought about Lin Xu’s major, his simple mind wandered. Does my boyfriend like plants and animals? Maybe we can go to the zoo or botanical garden together sometime!
He was practically the king of knowing what people like!
Gu Jinzhi thought of installing a huge bookshelf at home, filled with books that his boyfriend was interested in. That way, when he played games, his boyfriend could sit beside him and read.
He had never imagined himself falling for a man like this. He used to find business elites boring and shallow, and his circle of friends all shared his views. Yet, being with Lin Xu never felt dull. Anything they did together was enjoyable.
After buying the books, it was time for lunch.
Having eaten only a pig’s trotters for breakfast, Gu Jinzhi’s stomach growled again.
“Let’s grab something to eat,” Lin Xu said, always considerate.
Gu Jinzhi wasn’t embarrassed. Lin Xu had probably already seen through him anyway.
As adults, and now outside the territory of Gu Qi's control, they naturally held hands, not at all hiding their status as a couple.
Before lunch, Lin Xu accompanied Gu Jinzhi to a coffee shop to grab a latte.
It was lunchtime, so the coffee shop was packed with people, including many couples. The place was noisy with chatter and the hum of activity.
After placing their order, the two found a seat in the most secluded corner. Perhaps emboldened by the crowd, Gu Jinzhi leaned against Lin Xu and stole a quick kiss from the corner of Lin Xu’s mouth, thinking that no one would notice them.
He didn't know why, but Gu Jinzhi found himself captivated by Lin Xu’s calm, almost indifferent expression. Even when Lin Xu was simply glancing down at their order slip to check the number, Gu Jinzhi felt like his boyfriend was subtly seducing him.
Inevitably, Lin Xu was affected by him, his usually cool face now tinged with a faint blush. He hadn’t expected Zhizhi to be so bold in public.
“It’s fine! No one’s watching us,” Gu Jinzhi whispered in his ear, before sneaking another kiss on Lin Xu’s neck. Of course, he didn’t dare leave a mark, worried it might embarrass his boyfriend.
Lin Xu could only feel the ticklish sensation of Gu Jinzhi’s soft hair brushing against his shoulder and neck. Unable to push him away, he just convinced himself that no one could see them.
But suddenly, Lin Xu sensed a few glances being thrown in their direction. At first, he thought it was just strangers noticing them and taking a curious look.
However, when he turned to check, he realized the men who had just walked in weren’t merely glancing over. They were whispering to each other, looking in at their direction, and there was actually a hint of surprise in their eyes as they stared at Lin Xu.
Lin Xu thought for a moment and realized something wasn’t right.
Just then, their order number was called. Gu Jinzhi began to lean forward to grab the coffees, but Lin Xu stopped him, pressing him back down.
Gu Jinzhi was confused, thinking to himself, Is this my lucky day? But then he heard Lin Xu speak.
“Zhizhi, don’t move. I think there are some acquaintances,” Lin Xu said, uncertain if his hunch was correct. With quick reflexes, he grabbed the sunglasses hanging from Gu Jinzhi’s jacket and placed them on his boyfriend’s face, followed by pulling up his hoodie before standing to retrieve the coffee.
As Lin Xu passed by the group of men, he could almost make out their lips forming his name. They didn’t call out to him, likely because they hadn’t met in person and felt awkward.
Lin Xu acted as if nothing had happened and quietly left.
Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhi, following Lin Xu’s instructions, had fully disguised himself and slipped out of the coffee shop unnoticed. None of the men saw his face.
“What? Such a coincidence? Are they from our group chat?” Gu Jinzhi tried to sneak a glance back into the coffee shop, wondering if any familiar faces were among them. After all, the more active members in the group had posted countless photos.
Lin Xu hadn’t paid attention to the photos, but something just didn’t feel right.
“Don’t look back,” Lin Xu said helplessly as he pulled him away.
His own picture had already circulated in the group, and now he’d been recognized again. But Zhizhi hadn’t been seen yet — he was still just a display name to them. Lin Xu didn’t want Zhizhi to become a topic of conversation, especially since he was the general manager of a company.
“I’m not sure. Maybe.” Lin Xu shook his head.
Gu Jinzhi immediately started checking the group chat, and sure enough, someone had already posted.
“Holy sh*t! A few of us just had an offline meet-up, and I think we saw Lin Xu-didi in person. He walked right past us, and he’s ridiculously handsome!”
“Those eyes, that nose, those eyelashes could literally kill someone.”
“And he actually does have a boyfriend! We didn’t see the guy’s face, but he was super close with Lin Xu. I’m dying of jealousy! That should be me! I’m so envious I can’t live anymore!”
Someone else tagged Zhizhi Mangmang and asked if that person was him, urging him not to mislead everyone if it wasn’t.
“I think so. What are the odds, right?”
Gu Jinzhi hadn’t directly replied because he didn’t want to tarnish Lin Xu’s reputation. After all, his playful posts in the past were mostly just to show off and weren’t meant to be taken seriously.
But he hadn’t expected this to actually happen today. While he wasn’t too concerned for himself, Lin Xu had now been publicly outed as gay. In hindsight, if he had just sat still and behaved, none of this would’ve happened.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Gu Jinzhi realized that Lin Xu had always had a good reputation in the group, and this was his real identity that was now on display.
“I’ll clear it up in the group. I’ll say it’s all fake and that I was lying,” Gu Jinzhi said, looking at Lin Xu with a worried expression. His appetite was gone, and his heart felt heavy. If he didn’t explain, the group members would surely figure it out.
If Gu Jinzhi explained, then at least Lin Xu would remain a distant figure, someone unattached to the group in any way.
Seeing Gu Jinzhi’s panicked expression, Lin Xu couldn’t help but pull him closer, draping an arm over his shoulders.
“If you do that, wouldn’t the group admin lose face?” Lin Xu asked with a teasing smile.
Wasn’t Zhizhi the one most afraid of losing face? Even online, he cared about his image, and for him to admit he lied would be far worse than death.
“I brought this on myself,” Gu Jinzhi muttered, regretting ever showing off in the first place.
“It’s fine. So what if we admit it? I’m not a public figure. Is there anything wrong with having a boyfriend?” Lin Xu reassured him. He was just an ordinary student, and being gay didn’t affect anyone else. There was no need for Zhizhi to worry so much.
With that, Lin Xu did something rare — he posted in the group chat: “Sorry, I didn't realize it was you guys just now, but yes, that was me and Zhizhi.”
The group exploded immediately.
No one had expected that the quiet guy who had been lurking for so long was actually the one they’d all been curious about, and they couldn’t believe he was so close by.
“Damn!!! I’m speechless. If I had known I could run into the admin and Lin Xu, I would’ve taken the day off to join the meet-up!”
“I’m so jealous of the admin! How did you land a boyfriend like him?!”
“What does the admin look like? For those who saw him, spill the beans! I need to know what I’m up against!”
"You’re overthinking. His boyfriend shielded him, so we didn’t saw his face. Maybe that’s exactly why you lost, boohoohoo..."
“At first, I was really jealous, and had some mean things ready to say, but since my didi is protecting the group admin, I can only offer my blessings!”
“Though, to be honest, admin, your taste hasn’t always been great. You even fell for that scammer Amour, but hey, at least dumb luck worked out for you this time! @Zhizhi Mangmang.”
“My didi is really brave. Even though he has a super topic now, he's not afraid to talk about his relationship status. He's much better than you know who.”
And just like that, Gu Jinzhi became the group’s most mysterious and envied figure — a twist neither of them had anticipated.
Gu Jinzhi had fully expected the group to tear him apart.
Of course, his face fell when he saw the flood of friend requests on Lin Xu’s phone. Gu Jinzhi began rejecting each one with a blank expression. No wonder everyone was being so kind — they all just wanted to steal his boyfriend! They all wanted to kiss him, right?!
“Hmph! I’m posting a picture of myself! Let them see that I’m not ugly either!” Gu Jinzhi grumbled. No one was going to compete with him for Lin Xu’s attention.
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
Lin Xu had long suspected that Zhizhi came from a well-off family, likely with some public standing. That was why he had been careful earlier to ensure no one saw them together.
“Forget it…” Gu Jinzhi scratched his head. It wouldn't matter if other people knew, anyway his reputation in the circle was already not that good. The main problem was if his older brother found out, then he'd be finished. His older brother would definitely break them up.
They wandered around campus for the rest of the day, only heading back when curfew was approaching.
As they stood outside the dormitory, under the dark sky, Gu Jinzhi felt another urge to get handsy. However, remembering what had happened earlier, he hesitated and glanced around nervously, making sure the coast was clear before wrapping his arms around Lin Xu’s neck.
He kissed him for what felt like forever, and to his delight, Lin Xu didn’t pull away or act embarrassed. He even kissed back. Gu Jinzhi was deeply touched.
“Crap, I think I left a mark. That might not be good...” Gu Jinzhi touched Lin Xu’s Adam’s apple, suddenly worried. This was new to him, and the excitement of it all had gotten the better of him. He’d never experienced this kind of joy before, but now he was regretting it a little.
After all, Lin Xu still had to face his dormmates. Having such an affectionate boyfriend might make him the subject of teasing.
“It’s fine, we’ll be starting military training soon,” Lin Xu said, his voice a little hoarse. He gently tugged on Gu Jinzhi’s chubby earlobe, finding it irresistibly cute. The implication was that, Gu Jinzhi only had today to indulge, because once military training started, Lin Xu was sure he’d be as dark as charcoal. He was being lenient today, knowing that afterward, his neck probably wouldn’t be as tempting to Zhizhi.
