E-Scum Gong Chapter 67
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 67
Gu Jinzhi had booked a hotpot restaurant, his favorite. It was reputed to serve authentic Sichuan cuisine, so naturally, it wasn’t cheap. The place was almost always packed, and securing a private room required advance reservations. Even so, booking was a simple matter for someone like Gu Jinzhi, a VIP member.
Lin Xu wasn’t particularly fond of spicy food, but with his boyfriend and three roommates all insisting, he had no choice but to comply.
"Wow, Second Brother Gu, your sports car is so cool!" Lu Zhe exclaimed, his mouth never seeming to rest once he climbed in. Wei Dong and He Tian were a bit more reserved but equally fascinated.
Not long ago, they had discovered that their roommate was actually the young master of the famous Lin Real Estate empire. Their jaws had dropped in disbelief. Was this a TV series come to life? But apart from the initial disbelief, they were not too shocked. After all, Lin Xu did not act like a rich second generation at all.
It wasn’t that Lin Xu lacked refinement. It was just that his lifestyle was entirely down-to-earth. His habits, attire, and daily routines were as ordinary as anyone else’s. He even awkwardly apologized to them for it.
There was nothing to apologize for. They often joked that no matter which of them became successful in the future, they should never forget their brothers. Now, they had a top-tier rich second generation living in their dorm.
It wasn’t until they met Lin Xu’s boyfriend that they truly grasped the situation.
"Hahaha, you have good taste!" Gu Jinzhi laughed heartily.
Lin Xu, seated in the passenger seat, watched as Zhizhi basked in the compliments about his beloved car. He couldn’t help but smile in amusement.
Lu Zhe and the others soon realized that Lin Xu’s boyfriend was just as down-to-earth as he was, so they warmed up to him quickly.
"Second Young Master Gu, do you know that if you hadn't treated us to this meal, Xu-ge wouldn't have come out at all. Outside of class, he’s either in the library or the lab. His teachers always praise him for studying so hard," they complained.
Lin Xu looked out the window, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Gu Jinzhi followed up with a stern reprimand, "Did you hear that? I’ve been telling you to get more rest. From now on, no more staying at school on weekends." He glanced at Lin Xu, slipping in his own little agenda~
"Exactly!" Lu Zhe agreed, but then realized something was off.
Lin Xu seemed to catch Zhizhi’s meaning, his ears turning a bit red as he murmured in agreement.
Soon, they arrived at their destination and entered briskly, guided by the staff to a quiet private room.
Not long after, Lin Shen and Gu Qi appeared at the entrance.
Lin Shen, worried about potential trouble that evening, had pulled Gu Qi aside. They were both dressed in casual clothes.
Gu Jinzhi didn't even try to hide his whereabouts from his older brother.
Gu Qi cleared his throat, and the next moment, his assistant got out of the passenger seat and followed him. Six people was a bit excessive, but luckily his assistant was pretty tough...
“?” Lin Shen looked at him with furrowed brows.
Gu Qi offered an awkward smile. "Mr. Lin, let’s head inside."
Once they were in, they discovered that Gu Jinzhi and the others were in a private room. Without a reservation or membership, Lin Shen and Gu Qi could only sit in the lobby. They exchanged uncertain looks for a moment.
Gu Qi thought, This brat has his ge wrapped around his finger with all his indulgences.
Reluctantly, they chose a corner on the second floor and held the menu in their hands, hoping to hide their faces if Gu Jinzhi and the others came out. The noise in the lobby was still bothersome, as there were many dinner parties going on.
Gu Jinzhi made very thoughtful arrangements. Though he kept teasing Lin Xu on the way there, saying his mouth would be swollen from the spiciness, he had considerately ordered a yanyuang hotpot. The private room was well-appointed with a TV and a sofa, perfect for lounging when they were tired of eating.
The hotpot was clearly to the roommates’ liking. They eagerly commented on how delicious it was. With the weather cooling down a bit, the hotpot was just right for a cozy dinner.
Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhi was focused on teasing his boyfriend. He placed a piece of spicy beef into Lin Xu’s bowl.
"Ah Xu, try, try, try, try~" His eyes sparkled with excitement, curious to see Lin Xu’s reaction to the spice.
Lin Xu knew that Zhizhi was eagerly anticipating his reaction to the spice. Thus, he didn’t refuse and took a bite, chewing quietly.
In an instant, his mouth was overwhelmed by the intense heat. His lips and tongue felt like they were pulsating.
Lin Xu's lips turned bright red almost immediately, the flush spreading down to his neck. And yet, he didn't find the sensation unpleasant. It was a feeling of being invaded, much like how Gu Jinzhi had forcefully entered his life, stirring up ripples in his calm lake.
"Ah Xu, can you really not handle spicy food? Stop eating and spit it out if it’s too much." Gu Jinzhi, surprised by Lin Xu’s dramatic reaction to just a single bite, felt a pang of regret.
"It’s okay, it’s actually quite good," Lin Xu managed to swallow and smiled, his slightly swollen lips still showing a hint of redness.
He continued to pick up more spicy food, his lips growing redder, but Lin Xu found an odd sense of exhilaration in the heat.
Gu Jinzhi, initially worried, found his gaze drifting to his boyfriend’s lips. As he watched Lin Xu bite into the food, his lips glistening seductively, Gu Jinzhi felt a strange restlessness.
With a dazed glance around at the others, his sweaty palms grasped his thighs. Suddenly, Gu Jinzhi said, “I got some oil on my clothes. I need to go to the restroom to clean it.”
Lin Xu and the roommates nodded in agreement.
Gu Jinzhi grabbed Lin Xu’s arm. “Come with me.”
Lin Xu had just started to enjoy the spicy hotpot. His mouth felt numb and burning, but he still looked up at Gu Jinzhi and said, “Okay.”
As soon as they stepped out of the private room, Lin Shen immediately raised the menu to cover his face, with Gu Qi following suit.
“Where are they going?” Lin Shen asked in confusion.
"Restroom," Gu Qi said, showing no concern.
"They have to hold hands and go to the restroom together?" Lin Shen was even more puzzled, sensing something was fishy.
"Cough... nature calls." Gu Qi also felt it's unnatural, but it was absolutely impossible to say it.
Lin Shen wanted to follow them to check, but was stopped by Gu Qi.
"Is your younger brother okay with you following him around?"
Lin Shen sat back down.
Meanwhile, in one of the restrooms, Gu Jinzhi was kissing Lin Xu passionately. Lin Xu was initially bewildered but soon became deeply engaged, even though he felt the timing might be a bit off.
They had already taken a significant step forward in the car. Now, as they kissed, it didn’t take long for reactions to intensify. Or perhaps after that night, they couldn't help but think about it every time, both wanting to do certain things but hadn’t found another opportunity and had felt too shy to bring it up.
Therefore, Gu Jinzhi couldn't help but feel his heart racing and his body burning with desire as he looked at his boyfriend's red lips.
"Ah Xu... how about coming to my place this weekend?" Gu Jinzhi asked, his voice hoarse, his forehead covered in fine sweat, and his eyelashes wet, as he pressed his nose against Lin Xu's.
Lin Xu hugged his waist, feeling equally hot, and his touch was also burning. His throat bobbed as he tried to process his thoughts, his eyes a bit dazed, while his fingers continued to unconsciously trace Gu Jinzhi’s waist.
"Okay..." Lin Xu agreed, feeling as though his scalp was about to explode. The unfamiliar yet exhilarating sensation was something only Gu Jinzhi could bring him.
They locked eyes for a long while, both feeling shy, their thoughts drifting into anxious anticipation.
After tidying up in front of the mirror, they finally returned. In order to avoid being discovered by others, they waited inside for a long time. In the narrow space, with nothing to do, they couldn't help but kiss again.
Little did Lin Xu know, his older brother had been timing them, and by the time they returned, fifteen minutes had passed.
Upon seeing the two of them again, Lin Shen and Gu Qi could easily sense that the atmosphere between the two was a little different. There was no way they had only gone to the restroom to answer nature's call.
"There’s no rule that says... the restroom can’t..." Gu Qi started to explain, but feeling guilty himself, he quickly went quiet.
He thought to himself, Well, they’re a couple now. Of course, they’ll do what couples do.
But seeing Lin Shen’s dark expression, Gu Qi didn’t dare say more.
Suddenly, the two older brothers noticed Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi walking toward them. Startled, Gu Qi and Lin Shen instinctively turned their heads to avoid eye contact, already thinking of excuses.
However, the pair stopped a couple of tables away. It turned out that someone was greeting Gu Jinzhi.
"Long time no see, Second Young Master Gu." A well-dressed man waved at him, seated among others who looked equally polished.
One of them, who looked gentle and soft, turned around and smiled. "Second Young Master Gu, I’ve heard so much about you. I just returned from abroad and haven’t had the chance to meet you until now."
As the saying goes, there’s always a clique for everyone. These men were all from prominent families. While most of them couldn’t quite compare to the Gu family, they weren’t far behind. With the same sexual orientation as Gu Jinzhi, they were originally in a group together, given their similar family backgrounds and other aspects.
Gu Jinzhi, however, had distanced himself from that crowd. Despite his family’s high status, he found himself mingling with more ordinary gay circles, mostly because things had gone sour between him and the others — or rather, he had single-handedly offended them.
The man who had greeted him earlier had once been friends with Gu Jinzhi in high school. That was around the time Gu Jinzhi had started to realize his own sexual orientation, and rumors quickly spread that he liked this guy. The man took pride in the rumor, seeing it as an advantage to be admired by the young master of the Gu family, especially since he had subtly fueled the gossip himself.
In truth, while Gu Jinzhi had realized he wasn’t attracted to girls, he hadn’t found other men particularly appealing either — they were just friends to him.
Later, when Gu Jinzhi found out about the rumors, he had beaten the guy up. The incident eventually reached the ears of the Gu family, and Gu Jinzhi came out to them as a result.
This was when his reputation really began to sour. Before, he’d only been involved in minor scuffles, nothing serious. But in that circle, very few had officially come out. Most still planned to marry and have children in the future, keeping their preferences private. Gu Jinzhi, on the other hand, was one of the few who came out openly.
After his orientation became public knowledge, many from the circle started to cozy up to him. At that time, Gu Jinzhi was still quite popular — after all, he had good looks and a good family background.
Until later, Gu Jinzhi discovered that some of them had dated each other for a while and even exchanged partners. Feeling disgusted, he directly mocked them a few times in the group. So they wanted to cling to him?
Since then, word had spread that Gu Jinzhi had a few screws loose and naively stupid. To them, the way they played around was perfectly normal, and it had nothing to do with sexual orientation. At least, when they were together, they did genuinely like each other.
After that, Gu Jinzhi had left the group and stopped attending their gatherings. Slowly but surely, he cut all ties with them.
“Want to join us?” one of them asked, extending an invitation to Gu Jinzhi.
“Hah, you all still have such terrible taste? That wine looks awful — how am I supposed to drink that?” Gu Jinzhi mocked, arms crossed, his tone sharp as ever.
The faces around the table darkened slightly, but it wasn’t until the gentle-looking man, Shen Qian, noticed Lin Xu standing behind Gu Jinzhi that the mood shifted.
“And who’s this?” Shen Qian asked, intrigued. He had just returned from abroad and hadn’t caught up with the news. He had to admit, Lin Xu was quite handsome.
“My boyfriend,” Gu Jinzhi said with a casual shrug.
Someone in the group recognized Lin Xu and perked up. “Is that the second young master of the Lin family?” They hadn’t met him yet and were surprised to find out he was gay, let alone dating Gu Jinzhi. Poor guy, they thought. He was in for it now. Breaking up with Gu Jinzhi wouldn’t be easy — it’d be a nightmare.
“Wow, why don’t you join us?” Shen Qian smiled warmly at Lin Xu.
Shen Qian was quite popular himself. Ever since returning to the country, many 1s had pursued him, but he had been picky. Now he thought Lin Xu was quite good in all aspects.
“Do you even know Ah Xu? Who gave you the right to talk to him?” Gu Jinzhi’s irritation flared. He had always despised how people in this circle behaved. Now, right in front of him, they had the nerve to hit on his boyfriend. It was infuriating.
“Apologies,” Shen Qian replied, still smiling. “I thought we were all friends here. I didn’t mean anything by it, Second Young Master Gu. No need to get upset.”
Gu Jinzhi was annoyed just looking at him smile.
Lin Xu pulled Gu Jinzhi's hand in time, preventing him from getting angrier. “Zhizhi, let’s go,” he said quietly, not even sparing the group a glance. He didn’t see the point in acknowledging people like them.
Besides, although their words were polite, it was clear to Lin Xu that they were purposely trying to provoke Gu Jinzhi. It all felt so insincere.
With Lin Xu pulling him away, Gu Jinzhi’s anger melted, and he no longer felt the need to fire back. He obediently followed his boyfriend, much to the silent amazement of those watching.
“Haven’t seen him in almost a year, and he’s still the same.”
“Let’s see how long the Lin kid can last. I tried chasing Gu Jinzhi before, but it was impossible. He treated me worse than a servant, and I never even got close.”
“No idea what he’s thinking. Does he seriously plan to never get married? Sure, it’s fun for now, but it won’t be long before they start fighting. When that happens, we’ll bring Lin Xu out to have some real fun.”
Gu Qi’s face slowly lost its smile as he listened to their words.
Though Lin Shen had always suspected that Gu Jinzhi wasn’t a good match, at this moment, he found himself reconsidering. If his younger brother insisted on liking men, he thought, then maybe Gu Jinzhi wasn’t the worst option.
“What’s the bad blood between your younger brother and these people?” he asked.
Gu Qi briefly explained the situation.
“Your younger brother told you all that himself?” Lin Shen asked, feeling a bit envious of the open communication between the Gu brothers.
“No... I found out on my own,” Gu Qi admitted awkwardly. His younger brother wouldn't complain to him about such things. Even when Gu Jinzhi had come out, it wasn’t by choice — it had reached Gu Qi’s ears first, forcing his younger brother to admit it.
Lin Shen let out a long, drawn-out “oh.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve never spied on your younger brother’s life,” Gu Qi retorted, unwilling to back down.
Lin Shen recalled the times he’d subconsciously eavesdropped on his younger brother and cleared his throat to cover the embarrassment.
By now, Lin Shen had managed to accept the fact that they’d been gone for fifteen minutes. It didn’t seem too bad anymore.
He glanced again at the table of men Gu Jinzhi had just left, recognizing a few familiar faces. I should check if any of them are involved in our business partnerships, he thought. Loose lips could be costly.
“Next time I come here, I’ll just borrow your younger brother’s membership,” Lin Shen said casually, admitting that the hotpot had suited his taste.
“Is Mr. Lin being stingy?” Gu Qi wasn’t even sure he could borrow it himself.
Lin Shen rolled his eyes. “It’s called being thrifty,” he corrected. He still couldn’t stand Gu Jinzhi’s extravagance, but if it meant his younger brother could live more comfortably, he supposed it wasn’t all bad. After all, he noticed that his brother was even more frugal than him.
“How can I trust Gu Jinzhi to treat Xiao Xu well?”
“Borrow, borrow, borrow!” Gu Qi exclaimed, thinking that if that was all it took to get Lin Shen to accept Gu Jinzhi, his pitiful younger brother would’ve pulled out all his membership cards ages ago. He himself, however, would probably have a much harder time getting his hands on one.
“Alright, I’m heading back. Tell your younger brother to go home early. It’s not safe at night.” Lin Shen prepared to leave, eager to avoid bumping into his younger sibling.
“You don't know how to tell your own younger brother to go home?”
Lin Shen gave a fake smile. If he dared, he wouldn't be sitting here right now.
