E-Scum Gong Chapter 62 (Part 2)
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 62 (2/2)
“Hello, Lin-ge,” everyone greeted in unison. Xu Zhou had already made the introductions. Despite Lin Xu being younger, no one acted presumptuously in his presence.
The coordinated greeting exacerbated Lin Xu’s social phobia, leaving him with only an awkward smile in response.
Lin Xu realized that Gu Jinzhi had brought him here to showcase his status in the social scene. It was just like Zhizhi to flaunt his connections.
Soon, a well-dressed and charismatic waiter named Xiao Zhe arrived to attend to them. Of course, he didn't get near Lin Xu because Gu Jinzhi was holding him close, giving Lin Xu a strange feeling that he was the dominant one in their relationship...
“Today, you just enjoy yourself while I watch,” Gu Jinzhi murmured, resting his head on Lin Xu’s shoulder in a relaxed manner. “I’ll handle exchanging bets and snacks.” It was all about unwinding. Winning or losing didn’t matter.
The people at their table were surprised. In their minds, Second Brother Gu was like a fierce tigress, but why was he so different in front of his boyfriend? And his boyfriend looked so young too. Love really was scary.
“I don’t know how to play. You should handle it. I’ll just watch,” Lin Xu said, straightening his posture.
“Lin-ge, the rules are quite simple,” a boy named Douzi, sitting on Lin Xu’s left, eagerly explained the game. He could tell that Gu Jinzhi’s boyfriend seemed innocent and probably inexperienced with card games.
“Explain it in more detail,” Gu Jinzhi requested, tilting his head to ensure Lin Xu understood. He himself didn’t fully grasp the rules and usually played by luck.
“It’s okay, I get it now,” Lin Xu replied with a smile.
“Second Brother Gu, how did you two meet?” asked a girl named Jingjing. Though she appeared gentle, she had a strong personality.
“They met online,” Xu Zhou quickly answered for them.
“But this guy is quite lucky. Do you know who he is~” Since they were all friends and familiar with each other, social hierarchies were not a big deal among them.
“He’s the youngest son of the Lin family, but this needs to be kept secret,” Xu Zhou said, glancing at Gu Jinzhi. Noting Gu Jinzhi’s eye roll and Lin Xu’s polite smile, he knew he hadn’t offended anyone.
“Wow…” Douzi and Jingjing were both shocked. After all, who didn't know about the Lin family? They had only heard rumors that the youngest son of the Lin family had been made public, but they never expected it to be this mild-mannered young man before them.
Such a pairing was indeed intriguing, and strangely fitting.
“And it gets even more interesting. At first, Second Gu and I thought he was a scammer. I mean, he had to photoshop fake pictures of Jiashang Hotel, claiming it was his family’s property, hahahahaha! I even told him to break up, but it turns out it really was his family’s property...”
“That’s enough. I never thought Ah Xu was a scammer...” Gu Jinzhi retorted loudly, glancing nervously at Lin Xu. This pain in the ass really had a loose tongue. Was this something he should say?
However, Lin Xu wasn’t upset, just slightly helpless. Did Zhizhi think he still had an image to maintain in front of him?
“Don’t be nervous,” Lin Xu said, patting Gu Jinzhi’s back reassuringly.
“I don't think you're a scammer anymore... But you did deceive me! You said you were twenty-five or twenty-six, and there you are, still in high school...” Making him bear the reputation of an older cow eating tender grass!
Douzi, Jingjing, and even the nearby waiter listened with great interest.
Was this how people in the capital city have fun? Honestly, who wouldn’t dream of dating a rich high schooler in secret? Instead of being upset about being tricked, one would be thrilled.
“Hurry up, don’t get distracted by gossip. It’s time to play cards,” Gu Jinzhi urged, noticing their slow pace. Listening to gossip couldn't delay the game. But he was still quite proud. In the past, no one thought he could find a suitable partner. His reputation as a bit of a playboy was a joke to many, but fate had its own plans.
If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't yet dealt with Ah Xu's older brother, Gu Jinzhi would definitely want to brag about it to the whole city!
Lin Xu let Gu Jinzhi take the lead while he played a supporting role.
“I’m not very lucky. I might actually lose everything!” Gu Jinzhi shook his head. Plus, that way, Ah Xu wouldn't have any fun!
“This weirdo is right. He's our fortune magnet charm,” Xu Zhou joked.
Lin Xu observed the pile of snacks Gu Jinzhi had accumulated and wondered if losing it all was even possible. It certainly required some skill.
He leaned in and whispered, “Don’t worry, just play. I’ll give you occasional advice.”
“Then I’ll listen to you!” Gu Jinzhi agreed.
The handsome waiter nearby was very perceptive, maintaining a graceful smile and attending to their needs without missing a beat. At the same time, he kept an ear out for the rich guests’ gossip. In his line of work, this was one of the more interesting aspects of the job.
The presence of a gay couple piqued his curiosity even more.
In their world, it seemed that even gay couples could find high-quality partners. He could tell that this couple was the most admired among the group and also the most attractive.
They were playing a game of □□, which was indeed a game of chance, and the rules were relatively simple.
Thriving on the adrenaline rush, Gu Jinzhi’s personal habit was to to go all-in when he had a pair or high cards.
“So, in this situation, do you think we should call?” Xu Zhou asked the waiter casually.
The waiter had been working here for half a year, so of course he knew the rules of the game. The current round was quite tricky. Xu Zhou had the 5, 6, 7, and 8 of spades in the open, while Gu Jinzhi had the 5, 6, 7, and 8 of hearts, making it a very tense situation. As it stood, Xu Zhou had a better chance of winning.
“Still asking others? Coward,” Gu Jinzhi teased with a smirk.
“Why can you ask but I can't?” Xu Zhou retorted, looking at Lin Xu, who remained calm. It was quite unusual. After several rounds, it seemed Gu Jinzhi had a surprisingly good chance of winning, which was a stark contrast to their usual games where Gu Jinzhi would end up losing all his snacks to Xu Zhou.
Now, as Xu Zhou looked at Lin Xu, who occasionally smoothed Gu Jinzhi's hair, he felt an unexpected pang of anxiety.
Had he really never played before?
“Usually...” The waiter hesitated, glancing over at Gu Jinzhi and then meeting Lin Xu’s steady gaze, causing his heart to skip a beat.
“Usually, I’d call,” he finally said, gritting his teeth. He was curious to see how the opponent would respond.
Gu Jinzhi, bored of waiting, asked Lin Xu, "Should we call?" His mood was relaxed. With the other two already having folded, it was down to him and Xu Zhou.
After winning several rounds, the pile of snacks in front of Gu Jinzhi was nearly as high as a mountain. Both Douzi and Jingjing looked at him as if they were about to breathe fire. Gu Jinzhi had never imagined that winning could feel this exhilarating!
“Call,” Lin Xu said softly after a moment of consideration.
“Is it okay to bet this much?” Gu Jinzhi pushed a large handful of snacks forward.
Feeling reassured when Lin Xu nodded, Gu Jinzhi relaxed.
At the final moment, the hidden cards were revealed.
The other two burst into laughter, their mirth echoing through the room. They hadn’t expected Xu Zhou to lose today. There was a hint of schadenfreude in their reactions. Xu Zhou had always claimed to be the king of gambling.
Xu Zhou, irritated, scratched his head. The waiter nearby nervously clenched his fingers. Given how much money was involved, he was worried that Xu Zhou’s loss could negatively impact his job.
It turned out Gu Jinzhi’s final card was exactly the nine of hearts, while Xu Zhou’s was a card of a different suit and number.
“Seriously? Has your boyfriend really never played before?” Xu Zhou asked in disbelief, clearly identifying Lin Xu as the culprit.
“Yes, we’ve won so many times tonight,” Gu Jinzhi said, feeling a bit dazed. He glanced curiously at Ah Xu, who had only recently learned the rules.
Lin Xu wanted to explain but thought that Zhizhi wouldn't understand. In the end, he simply said, “It’s a matter of probability.”
It wasn’t a 100% guarantee, but the odds of winning make it worth a try.
Gu Jinzhi happily gathered up the snacks on the table, his smile never fading. His parents and older brother hadn’t misled him. A brain was indeed a great asset! Even though he didn’t have that talent himself, having a smart boyfriend was still a big win!
Gu Jinzhi felt like Lin Xu had a halo around his head. The brilliance was making him dizzy!
“Here, take the tip. Since Xu Zhou lost his entire wad of cash today, he won’t be able to give you anything, hahahaha.” Gu Jinzhi, ever generous, waved at Xiao Zhe while mocking Xu Zhou.
Xiao Zhe, pleasantly surprised, accepted the tip. Gu Jinzhi’s generosity was far more than most patrons’, and this stack of bills was likely around twenty notes.
As a gay man, his radar was always accurate. Although this slightly fashionable and playful young man seemed quite domineering, he could keenly sense that the other party was actually paying attention to the reactions of the guy next to him all the time.
That guy must be a 1. For some reason, he looked familiar. Perhaps he had seen him somewhere before, maybe in the news?
Overall, he had a favorable impression of the two patrons.
“Today, I think I did pretty good!” Gu Jinzhi beamed as he held Lin Xu’s face.
“Very good. I know more about your past now, Zhizhi.” Lin Xu raised an eyebrow playfully. He wasn’t truly unfeeling. A bit of small gambling for relaxation was harmless, and besides, Zhizhi had only been cheerfully flipping cards, showing no real addiction.
“I only come here to meet people. I don’t come here often... The buffet here is pretty good!” Gu Jinzhi laughed awkwardly, quickly changing the subject, and pulled Lin Xu to go eat at the buffet.
In his mind, he was already planning for the future, imagining bringing Lin Xu home to meet everyone.
And Lin Shen would never know that one day, his seemingly obedient younger brother would use his brain for such a crooked purpose...
