E-Scum Gong Chapter 73
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 73
In the early morning, everyone gradually awoke. The weather remained gloomy, and the forecast promised similar conditions for the next few days.
Gu Jinzhi had slept excessively the previous day, so he stirred awake at the slightest movement. His mood remained unaffected. Seeing his boyfriend first thing upon opening his eyes made him happy, and they had slept in each other's arms last night, which was great.
"Zhizhi, did I wake you?" Lin Xu, seeing him dazedly blinking his eyes, crouched beside him and apologetically smoothed his tousled hair.
It seemed the hairspray was wasted.
Gu Jinzhi hummed and rolled around twice before shaking his head. "I napped all afternoon yesterday, so I can’t sleep now. I’ll just get up with you." He sat up and took a moment to gather himself.
Despite the harsh conditions, he had slept quite soundly, or perhaps it was more accurate to say he felt very secure.
Lin Xu, already dressed, went to fetch Gu Jinzhi’s mouthwash and prepare breakfast. He was an early riser by habit and, unlike Gu Jinzhi, was full of energy, even if his partner had trouble getting up after a sleepless night.
Lu Zhe and He Tian were in the adjacent tent. They stretched lazily, looking like they hadn’t slept well. After all, both were restless sleepers.
They were not too particular about breakfast, so since they weren’t hungry in the morning, they couldn’t be bothered with it. They watched as Gu Jinzhi, with a blank look, went through his morning routine while Lin Xu busied himself preparing everything. The sight left them a bit stunned, finding it rather astonishing.
They only knew that the two had been together since Lin Xu was in high school. They hadn't seen the couple interact very often, so they assumed that Gu Jinzhi must have used his gentle charm to win Lin Xu over. Now, it seemed like the younger Lin Xu was taking care of Gu Jinzhi, which was surprising and a little awkward for them.
Lin Xu had always been respectful and devoted to his boyfriend, but it was surprising to see him caring for Gu Jinzhi even more when they were together. It truly set a standard for male virtue.
From an outsider's perspective, it sometimes seemed unnecessary. After all, Lin Xu came from a wealthy background and was exceptionally talented himself. Many boys and girls liked him, and many were willing to accommodate him and cater to him. There were plenty of handsome guys in their department who changed partners monthly without needing to serve another man, even if that man was also quite impressive.
Despite these thoughts, they kept their opinions to themselves. These were the reflections of two immature freshmen.
"Ah Xu, I want to go with you today," Gu Jinzhi mumbled through his mouthwash.
"...Alright, but it might be a bit boring," Lin Xu replied.
This was the truth. First of all, Gu Jinzhi didn't understand or care much about their activity. Furthermore, Lin Xu wouldn't have the energy to divide his attention between his work and caring for Gu Jinzhi.
"That’s fine, I’ll just watch you." Gu Jinzhi grinned, not minding the boredom.
As a result, Lu Zhe and He Tian witnessed the affectionate interaction between the two, which was almost too much to bear. Yet, inexplicably, they felt a pang of longing and started considering the idea of being in a relationship themselves.
Their destination was on the shaded side of the mountain. Despite the lack of sunlight, the overall mood was positive due to the large number of people. The interactions between teachers and students were friendly and casual.
Gu Jinzhi was very considerate and never acted out when his boyfriend was focused on work. Just watching Ah Xu diligently working with his head down made him feel quite content.
“He Tian, come over here. There’s an issue with the variables…”
At times like these, Lin Xu was exceptionally strict. His tone was almost serious, or rather, it lacked any personal emotion and was very flat. Gu Jinzhi was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise. Initially, when they first met in person, he had thought Lin Xu was rather cold and aloof, but he had warmed up significantly since then.
Yet, it seemed that even the earlier Lin Xu had never spoken to him like this. Now, whenever Lin Xu spoke to him, his tone would soften, a stark contrast to his current demeanor.
However, Gu Jinzhi didn’t find this jarring. Rather, he felt quite pleased. He often made silly mistakes, and he would say or do tactless things in front of people he was close to, yet Ah Xu never scolded him, which showed how much he liked him.
During breaks, the students gathered in groups to chat. Lin Xu’s demeanor softened considerably, and even when his roommates joked around, he didn’t get upset.
“Hey, how did you and Gu-ge meet? You never mentioned it before,” He Tian asked curiously. Could they have met at a party or something? After all, they were both rich kids.
“We met online,” Lin Xu said, pressing his lips together. He glanced at Gu Jinzhi with a hint of embarrassment.
It wasn’t that he thought there was anything strange about online dating, but he always felt a bit awkward discussing his own romantic history.
“Wow, that’s pretty trendy,” Lu Zhe said, surprised.
They soon learned that, before this year, the two had never met in person and had only discovered each other’s identities after their online relationship turned into a real-life one.
At first glance, such a romantic history seemed rather implausible, but who would have thought it would turn out so perfectly?
“By the way, we're getting engaged. We'll send you invitations,” Gu Jinzhi said with a delighted glance at Lin Xu. He was eager to show off the news to everyone around him.
Lu Zhe and He Tian were stunned into silence, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. It was all so fantastical.
“I didn’t expect Xu-ge to be the first among us to get married...” He Tian remarked, feeling a mix of admiration and concern.
Online dating was one thing, but planning to marry so soon was a bit too rushed. Was Lin Xu really that naive, getting swept up so quickly and thinking about marriage?
As Lin Xu’s roommates, they naturally leaned toward supporting him. Thus, they were a bit worried that Gu Jinzhi might be playing with Lin Xu’s feelings. After all, Gu Jinzhi had a carefree and flirtatious personality.
Nevertheless, they spoke only of envy and congratulations. They genuinely admired Gu Jinzhi. In their eyes, Lin Xu was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime good man.
They were further surprised to learn that Lin Xu had been unaware of his family’s wealth before attending university. This only added to their curiosity and confusion. They couldn’t understand such a family dynamic and wondered if there was an underlying reason. But since even Lin Xu didn't know, they certainly knew even less. They just thought Lin Xu had a really good personality. It was amazing he didn't get arrogant after suddenly finding out he was so wealthy.
Break time was short, and soon everyone returned to their studies. Gu Jinzhi occasionally took photos of Lin Xu, finding his unpretentious appearance quite handsome.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was approaching evening.
Gu Jinzhi felt a bit thirsty during the day and realized his water supply was depleted, so he headed back to the tent to get more. After taking a big gulp of water, he intended to sit down but suddenly remembered the unease he had felt earlier.
For some reason, as he walked back along the path, he couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling brought on by the overcast sky.
Although he knew they would be finishing up soon, his concern prompted him to get up and go find his boyfriend. After all, there was nothing for him to do in the tent.
By the time he arrived back at the area where the experiment was taking place, it was getting dark. He could see everyone advancing ahead, with the teacher leading the group. He Tian and Lu Zhe lagged behind, and Gu Jinzhi could clearly see their faces as he approached.
“Is it over?” he asked.
Lu Zhe responded cheerfully, “Yes, Gu-ge! I’m starving and finally looking forward to eating, even if it’s just some instant food.”
“I’ll treat you all to a meal once we’re back at school,” Gu Jinzhi said with a smile.
Hearing this, Lu Zhe and He Tian recalled the delicious hotpot from their last meal, their mouths watering at the thought. They felt that Gu Jinzhi was simply a thousand times wonderful, and marrying their roommate was the best thing ever!
“Hehe, thanks, Gu-ge~”
“By the way, where’s Ah Xu?” After a few more casual exchanges, Gu Jinzhi scanned the area but didn’t spot Lin Xu. His fingers tightened unconsciously, as if confirming his earlier worries.
“He left something back there and went to get it. He’ll catch up soon,” He Tian said, pointing in a direction, seemingly unconcerned.
“Alright, you all head back. I’ll go look for him.” Gu Jinzhi grabbed his flashlight and quickly headed toward the direction He Tian had indicated. His voice lost its previous lightness and amusement.
Gu Jinzhi had a natural talent for fighting. Along with an innate ability to sense impending danger, he had never been caught off guard in a fight.
The area was thick with forest, and as darkness fell, visibility was poor. Gu Jinzhi couldn’t make out any shapes from afar. He approached the spot where they had been during the day, but Lin Xu was still nowhere to be seen. Gu Jinzhi bit his lip. A living person going missing couldn't possibly be without a trace.
Crouching down, he spotted a syringe, which almost certainly meant Lin Xu was in danger and that the attack had been executed with professional skill.
In that moment, Gu Jinzhi's breath hitched. Images of something terrible happening to Lin Xu flashed through his mind. His eyes turned red with fear and helplessness.
Fortunately, the muddy ground left tracks that Gu Jinzhi could follow. His strong sense of direction, combined with his memory of the area from earlier in the day, helped him navigate the more passable routes.
He glanced back, but he could no longer see the figures of the others.
Not wanting to alert the kidnappers and waste time, he made a quick decision and started running in one direction while dialing his older brother's number urgently.
“Ge, Lin Xu has been kidnapped.” In this crisis, Gu Jinzhi struggled to stay calm, but his teeth chattered uncontrollably, as if he were about to burst into tears.
Gu Qi, upon hearing this for the first time, immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation. He knew it wasn’t a prank. After Gu Jinzhi sent the location, he called the police and immediately mobilized people to help.
However, they were in a remote area far from the city center, so it would take at least a few hours for them to arrive. At this moment, Gu Jinzhi trusted no one but himself. He had no faith that anyone else could reach Lin Xu in time to rescue him — only he could save Lin Xu.
The kidnappers wouldn’t stay on the mountain forever. To avoid detection, they would likely head down and drive away, especially since there were no surveillance cameras in the area.
Realizing this, Gu Jinzhi raced down the mountain, barely aware of the terrain beneath him. He stumbled and fell several times, becoming covered in mud, but immediately got up and continued to run frantically. His palms were scraped, and his face was scratched by small stones, but he felt no pain.
The thought of Ah Xu being in danger made Gu Jinzhi tremble uncontrollably. His heart tightened with each painful beat, and his palms were scratched raw by his own nails.
His Ah Xu was waiting for him. He couldn’t let anything happen to him.
