E-Scum Gong Chapter 66
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 66
The family of four sat down at the table, enjoying a simple meal of home-cooked dishes for a while.
Suddenly, Lin Rui spoke up. “Your mother and I are going on a business trip in a couple of days. Lin Shen, please look after your younger brother.”
This kind of thing wouldn't have been mentioned in the past. Lin Rui and his wife were workaholics, and Lin Shen understood that well enough. But now that they have to separate again shortly after reuniting, they had to let Lin Xu know, so he wouldn’t worry.
Lin Shen opened his mouth, thinking to himself that he hadn't been taking good care of his younger brother as it was...
Feeling somewhat weary, he thought it would be better if he didn’t know about such secrets.
Looking over at his younger brother, he saw Lin Xu nodding immediately. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself. If anything comes up, I’ll contact my big brother.”
He didn't seem to have any self-awareness about his relationship with Gu Jinzhi. How could he claim he would take care of himself?
Lin Shen could only respond with a resigned, “Okay.”
“Xiao Xu, from now on, the driver will pick you up and drop you off at school. If you need to go anywhere else, have your big brother arrange for someone to look after you,” their mother added.
This was actually the main point they wanted to make today. Xiao Xu had only just arrived and wasn’t familiar with everything yet. They didn’t want to scare him by stating things outright, so they chose to be cautious.
Lin Shen also turned serious. Concerned that Lin Xu might think they were overreacting, he turned to Lin Xu and said, “Xiao Xu, let me know where you’re going from now on. The Lin family is well-known, so we're bound to attract some unwanted attention.”
Lin Xu was not oblivious to their concerns. He said, “It's a bit of a hassle to apply for a daily commute from school, but Mom, Dad, and ge, you don't need to worry. I usually don't go out when I'm at school.”
Lin Shen rolled his eyes inwardly, not believing a word. While his younger brother preferred quiet, didn't he still go out with Gu Jinzhi every day?
But he had heard of Gu Jinzhi’s reputation... Even though the guy was frivolous, his younger brother’s safety was likely guaranteed. Lin Shen even doubted whether his own bodyguards could handle Gu Jinzhi... which was why he was targeting Gu Qi.
So, Lin Shen decided to keep quiet.
Lin Rui and his wife also felt that staying at school might be the safest option and didn’t raise any further objections.
Before returning to school, Lin Xu was packing his bags in his room when Lin Shen, as usual, passed by his door, straightening his collar and pricking up his ears. He overheard the excited voice on the phone, “Ah Xu, it’s great that you’re staying at school! Otherwise, I’d be waiting downstairs at your place every day. Thinking about your big brother makes me nervous.”
Every word he heard made Lin Shen want to punch a wall. What kind of person was this, always hanging around his younger brother instead of dealing with serious matters? His patience was wearing thin.
It was said that all things that flourish eventually decline, but the Mheart boy group had barely made its debut and was already on the decline.
The most popular member, Yan Yang, had fallen from grace.
While earlier events had only diminished his appeal among casual fans, recent revelations had caused a massive loss of followers.
When the news of Yan Yang being gay broke, it didn’t have a particularly harsh impact. In fact, some cp fans felt it might mean the cp they had been shipping had a chance of being real.
It wasn’t until a victim came forward that the truth emerged — Yan Yang was just another phoenix man. To debut, he had dumped his boyfriend of several years, even cheating on him during their relationship and forcing his boyfriend to quit his job.
That victim was, of course, Yu Song himself.
From the moment he returned to the company, he had been determined to reveal the truth. Despite many unexpected twists, he had finally managed to get his revenge!
As Yan Yang’s former lover, Yu Song had ample evidence, all of which he had secretly kept after he started to feel something was wrong.
In a single night, the entire fanbase learned about this former “sister-in-law.” Strangely enough, they couldn’t bring themselves to dislike him because his situation was so pitiful.
“Anyone could tell from the start that Yan’s face was far from trustworthy. And on top of that, he’s a scumbag — disgusting.”
“It must have been tough for the teammates to be shipped with such a repulsive man.”
“To sacrifice years of feelings for a career — it’s truly disheartening. Yan Yang screwed my trust!”
With his endorsements already gone, Yan Yang realized that he could even sink lower.
To evade the paparazzi, he had been hiding out in Zhao Tao’s villa. But when the scandal broke, he lost his final bargaining chip.
Seeing the disheveled, dejected man slumped on the sofa, Zhao Tao stormed over and delivered a hard kick, sending him sprawling to the floor. He had rushed back from the company as soon as he heard the news.
To be honest, his affection for Yan Yang had dwindled long ago. He had only been investing so much time, money, and effort into cleaning up Yan Yang's image because he thought Yan Yang could potentially bring in business for his company. But now, Yan Yang's reputation was completely ruined, and Zhao Tao couldn’t bear the thought of continuing to associate with him.
“Tao-ge, you have to listen to my explanation.” Yan Yang clung to Zhao Tao’s legs, his eyes filled with desperation.
But businesspeople weren’t known for their compassion. Zhao Tao had only liked having Yan Yang around because it made him look good.
“You’re finished,” Zhao Tao said coldly, his voice dripping with disdain.
Zhao Tao had also discovered that Yan Yang had offended some significant figures. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t handle this hot potato.
In just two hours, the housekeeper packed up Yan Yang’s belongings and unceremoniously threw them out the door, slamming it shut behind him. The housekeeper had clearly done this many times before, judging by the blank expression on her face.
Yan Yang, in despair, clutched his hair. He had a contract with the company, but if they chose to freeze his career, there was nothing he could do. The breach of contract would be too costly for him to afford.
Although he had briefly enjoyed some popularity recently, he hadn't taken on many endorsements, and according to the contract, the initial profits belonged to the company. After all, the company had invested money in training him, so he was now penniless.
Suddenly struck by an idea, Yan Yang put on a mask and left the villa. Given his current disheveled state, the paparazzi might not even recognize him.
Meanwhile, with their relationship out in the open, Gu Jinzhi had let loose and was no longer hiding his true self. No matter what, Lin Shen had to help them keep it a secret.
After listening to the work reports from all departments, Gu Jinzhi found himself with nothing to do.
When Yu Song came to the office to report, Gu Jinzhi noticed that he seemed to be in much better spirits than when he first returned to the company. Perhaps something good had happened to him.
As a boss, Gu Jinzhi was pleased to see all his employees in a stable and positive state of mind. It made his job easier.
Regarding Yu Song’s success in taking down the rival company's boy group and then quickly launching a new girl group, Gu Jinzhi glanced at the data, offered a few sincere compliments, and paid little attention beyond that.
Currently, netizens have developed a bit of PTSD towards boy groups because so many of them had been involved in scandals recently. As a result, their interest has shifted to the hardworking and beautiful girl groups.
The scandal involving Yan Yang seemed like a matter of the past. When he saw Yan Yang's name again, Gu Jinzhi couldn't even remember who the person was. In any case, it had nothing to do with him.
Gu Jinzhi was somewhat forgetful. Now, he felt that even if he developed dementia when he was old, the only person he'd still remember, besides his family, was Lin Xu.
His perfect and happy life had begun at the age of twenty-four.
“This project is very well done. You'll receive a project bonus at the end of the year,” Gu Jinzhi said with a smile to Yu Song.
This was one of Gu Jinzhi’s policies since taking over the company. He placed great importance on employee performance, rewarding those who excelled.
Yu Song smiled back gratefully. In his heart, he felt very fortunate. If he hadn't joined this company after graduation and hadn't met a boss like Gu Jinzhi, he didn't know what he would have become because of his wrong choices at the time.
The failure of his previous relationship had helped him grow a lot. To him now, Yan Yang seemed like a distant memory.
After leaving the office, Yu Song was invited by a colleague to a dinner party, which he declined with a smile.
Recently, he had met a man close to his age who was also quite successful. Although a bit reserved, he seemed pleasant enough. Yu Song was considering getting to know him better.
Yu Song realized now that sexual orientation wasn't such a big deal. It didn't mean that he couldn't have a long-lasting relationship, or that he had to sacrifice his self-worth to maintain it. The real issue lay on the person. He should stop being pessimistic and embrace a new life.
Gu Jinzhi, humming a tune and jingling his car keys, was heading to the underground parking garage when he once again overheard voices.
He stopped, wondering if this was becoming a regular spot for company employees’ rendezvous. People were always whispering here, and he had caught them so many times. He really didn't want to hear gossip!
This time, the two people didn’t immediately fall silent, as Yu Song didn't feel any need to keep quiet.
Although Yan Yang felt embarrassed, he had no choice but to abandon his pride given the circumstances.
After all, Gu Jinzhi was someone he could never reach. Initially, he had envied Lin Xu for being involved with Gu Jinzhi, but after learning more about Lin Xu’s background, he understood why he had lost.
It turned out that he had been a clown all along. People like Gu Jinzhi would never regard someone like him as significant. They would only seek out those on their own level.
While unwilling to accept his fate, Yan Yang had no choice but to resign himself to it. Now, even though he resented Yu Song for the exposé, he was eager to make amends.
“Song-ge, I know I was wrong. I was young and blinded by my own desires. I promise I’ll never do it again. Let’s live a good life together, okay?”
He added, “I don’t even care about the exposé anymore. As long as I can make things right with you, I’m fine with anything.”
Yu Song seemed to ponder this.
Curious, Gu Jinzhi listened in from around the corner, intrigued by the unfolding situation.
“Then kneel down and apologize to me,” Yu Song said, adjusting his glasses with a composed tone.
After hesitating for a moment, Yan Yang decided to take the chance and knelt down with a thud. A man should be able to bend and stretch.
But Yu Song burst out laughing and slowly extended his leg to step on Yan Yang's thigh, giving it a slight twist.
“What makes you think you can set conditions? Right now, you’re nothing but a washed-up celebrity who can’t get back into the entertainment industry. What else can you do?” Yu Song asked, his gaze filled with disdain.
“You...” Yan Yang was left speechless. Indeed, his reputation was ruined and he could no longer be a top star. But if Yu Song liked him, he could easily support him.
“You used to have some charm when you were younger, but now with your current state, you won’t find any big sponsors.” Thinking about it, Yu Song laughed even harder. He thought of it as paying himself back for the few years he'd been Yan Yang's boyfriend.
“You’re not embarrassed, but I am... If you follow me any further, I'm calling security,” Yu Song said with disgust, wiping his shoes on the ground. He then stepped out to greet Gu Jinzhi and drove away with a flourish.
Gu Jinzhi, feeling no shame about eavesdropping, put on his sunglasses and slipped away. He had promised to take Ah Xu’s roommates out for a meal, and he didn’t want to be late for their first meeting.
Later, Yan Yang had to slink back to his hometown because he couldn't find a job in the capital. He had been somewhat of a celebrity in the local gay community, after all. Who else could so easily frame a wealthy young master and force him out of the group? He was truly quite scheming.
Indeed, the blame for everything fell squarely on Zoe, also known as Yan Yang, as he had originally instigated the situation. Others in the circle were merely following his lead.
Gu Jinzhi leaned lazily against a tree near the dormitory building, waiting for his boyfriend. Occasionally, he would pluck a leaf. He felt safer waiting here, not worrying about the Lin family suddenly driving back.
Even the dormitory supervisor recognized him now. She greeted him from the window, commenting on his handsome looks.
Gu Jinzhi waved back, then spotted several boys walking out with Lin Xu at the front. Lin Xu still wore his white T-shirt and black pants. If their dorm uniforms hadn’t been so flashy, he might have just worn his usual outfit out.
Seeing Zhizhi’s wave, Lin Xu thought he was being greeted and smiled back, waving his hand.
Gu Jinzhi, pleased to see Lin Xu smile, couldn’t help but lift his chin and whistle at him, displaying even more enthusiasm than a high school boy flirting with girls at the school gate.
The roommates were initially curious and somewhat embarrassed upon seeing Gu Jinzhi. They all had a bit of a complex about stylish men... They were surprised to see that the seemingly demure and shy Lin Xu was with someone so exuberantly fashionable, with wrists and neck adorned with all sorts of accessories.
Seeing Gu Jinzhi whistle made Lin Xu blush even more, and even Lu Zhe, the tall and dark figure, awkwardly scratched his head, understanding why Lin Xu was so captivated. He had initially thought there was nothing special about two grown men being affectionate, but now it seemed that as soon as the two of them met, their eyes would be glued together.
“This is my boyfriend, Gu Jinzhi,” Lin Xu said naturally, holding Gu Jinzhi’s hand as he introduced him to his three roommates. He then introduced his roommates to Gu Jinzhi.
“Let’s go, everyone. I’ll take you to some great food,” Gu Jinzhi said warmly, showing no sign of shyness. The three roommates, feeling a bit like third wheels, moved ahead to give the couple some space.
Gu Jinzhi glanced at Lin Xu’s hand, which was well-defined and warm. The falling leaves and the setting sun made the campus scene even more beautiful. Inspired by the moment, he took a photo of their entwined hands and posted it on his Moments.
After some time, his Moments had another addition: a daily snapshot of his boyfriend, with no need to block anyone.
The caption read: “Went to the dorm building to pick up my boyfriend again!”
Meanwhile, Lin Shen was working late, and his assistant shared some gossip with him. Since Lin Shen had previously expressed his interest in such updates, the assistant thought he would enjoy it, especially since she herself was a fan.
She particularly remembered the posts from Second Young Master Gu.
“Boss! Second Young Master Gu posted again. Is his boyfriend still in school?” The assistant eagerly awaited more gossip, feeling a pang of envy as she hadn’t seen a college guy in ages.
Lin Shen gritted his teeth in frustration. Despite himself, he couldn’t resist getting up to check.
The assistant waited, only to see Lin Shen’s face darkening with displeasure. She thought something was off. This wasn’t how it went last time. Hadn’t they shared a moment of camaraderie? She had assumed there was a sense of shared interest.
After reviewing the post, Lin Shen couldn't continue working overtime anymore. His mind automatically filled in the entire picture, and he felt compelled to express his thoughts to someone’s older brother.
“When Xiao Xu stays at home, he’s always loitering outside my building. When he goes to school, he just hangs around the dorm. Your younger brother really doesn’t do anything productive, does he?”
Gu Qi, caught in the crossfire, awkwardly responded, “Then, why don’t you ask your younger brother to be more proactive next time?”
Lin Shen: ????
Is that what I mean?