E-Scum Gong Chapter 78
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 78
For Gu Jinzhi, living together with his younger boyfriend was a heaven of pure ecstasy and bliss. It felt like a dream come true.
In an instant, he became the envy of his peers.
While Xu Zhou and the others were still worrying and stressing over blind dates and arranged marriages, Gu Jinzhi had already slipped the ring bought by Lin Xu onto his left ring finger. It carried the air of someone already spoken for, giving him the aura of a man enjoying a head start on married life.
On the other hand, Gu Jinzhi was also considered quite successful in his career. After all, he ran a massive entertainment company, and those in the industry knew him as a domineering CEO.
Of course, the most important thing of all was that his boyfriend was simply perfect — charming, responsible, and still so young.
Because of this, Gu Jinzhi was riding high at work, brimming with energy and confidence. His mood was so elevated that he strutted around the office like a king.
At home, though, things were different. He’d change into Lin Xu’s white shirt, wandering around with bare legs, enjoying the fully cranked air conditioning.
Gu Jinzhi had developed a habit of wearing his boyfriend’s clothes — except for the school uniform.
“Ah Xu, why did you even bring your high school uniform?” Gu Jinzhi called out loudly from the bedroom, sitting cross-legged on the bed as he sorted through the closet, shocked at the sight of the uniform. Did Lin Xu have to be this frugal?
Compared to the flashy Gu Jinzhi, Lin Xu always kept it simple at home, wearing the casual clothes Gu Jinzhi bought for him.
“I thought I could wear it casually...” Lin Xu, summoned over, appeared in front of Gu Jinzhi, scratching his head awkwardly.
Since there was no obvious logo on it, it could easily pass for a plain white polo shirt.
Gu Jinzhi pouted. After thinking it over for a moment, he decided to keep it. Maybe they could use it for cosplay later. After all, he hadn’t yet experienced Lin Xu as a high school student. He was sure that would be even more exciting.
After making his boyfriend help him sort through his various suits and then going through the clothes he had bought for Lin Xu, Gu Jinzhi finally stretched lazily. He draped his arms around Lin Xu’s neck and buried his head in his boyfriend's shoulder.
Feeling Lin Xu’s strong fingers gently gripping his thighs to steady him, Gu Jinzhi's heart fluttered. He adored Lin Xu’s side profile. He truly couldn't get enough of him.
He truly was so lucky!
If his company’s employees were here, they definitely wouldn’t recognize this as their boss.
That small moment of affection led to something more, and once again, the two found themselves wrapped up in each other in the study. By the end, the glass table’s edge had left several red marks on Gu Jinzhi’s ankles.
At first, Lin Xu hadn’t intended for things to go that far, but Gu Jinzhi’s enthusiasm always pulled him in. Lately, they’d been indulging a bit too much.
Especially now, when Lin Xu’s roommate had just started dating and was only holding hands, Lin Xu often found himself reflecting late at night. Was he going overboard? No one else around him seemed to be this way.
But before he could think too much, Gu Jinzhi would pull him in again.
In short, he had fallen. Lin Xu often furrowed his brows, unable to stop himself from silently despising his own downfall. Ever since moving in with Zhizhi, he felt like he had lost his principles, becoming the kind of man who indulged in pleasure.
However, none of these emotions ever showed on his face. The inner corruption he felt was invisible to others, which often led to misconceptions about him.
Even though Lin Xu had been living with his boyfriend since his freshman year, engaging in physical intimacy more times than he could count, to the outside world, he was still seen as the innocent and pure top student who needed his parents' care.
Take, for example, their downstairs neighbor, Mrs. Zhang.
At this moment, Lin Xu had just finished his classes. Braving through the snow and wind, he entered the building with a package of books he had just picked up from the mailroom. Unfortunately, he bumped into the old lady again.
Mrs. Zhang was a kind, gentle woman, and since she lived in this upscale building, it was clear her family was well-off. Warm and friendly, she had become acquainted with both Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi, despite living on a different floor.
But she only knew them as two separate tenants...
Knowing that Mrs. Zhang was a devout Christian, Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi had chosen to keep their relationship a secret in order to spare the old lady any distress and avoid unnecessary complications.
“Ah, Xu, just finished class?” Mrs. Zhang called out to him from the elevator entrance.
In front of elders, Lin Xu really did act like a student. He nodded obediently.
Today, he was dressed in a long Korean-style down coat. The whole outfit was picked out by Gu Jinzhi, making him look both fashionable and youthful, perfectly complementing his face. As Gu Jinzhi liked to say, he looked even more handsome than the male leads in Korean dramas.
"When are your parents coming back? It’s not right for them to leave you home alone all the time," Mrs. Zhang asked with concern. In her eyes, someone like Lin Xu — such a diligent, studious boy — couldn’t possibly take care of himself properly. And since she was so fond of him, her worry grew.
"They’re rarely home. It’s no big deal," Lin Xu replied awkwardly, nervously scratching his foot. He wanted to say he wasn’t a child, but it was obviously a case of protesting too much.
He had long since resigned himself to the fact that people saw him as younger than he was.
“Is the academic pressure too much for you? I’ve heard Q University has such a strict atmosphere. It must be exhausting,” Mrs. Zhang said, her heart aching for him.
“Auntie Zhang, it’s really not that bad,” Lin Xu answered, his posture stiff as he tried to continue the conversation, feeling more than a little uncomfortable.
“The elevator’s here. Let’s get in,” Mrs. Zhang said, her attention momentarily shifting as the elevator arrived. Lin Xu quickly followed her inside.
Just as the elevator door was about to close, a figure suddenly appeared and pushed the door open. When Lin Xu met the other person's gaze, he pursed his lips in mild frustration.
Of course, Zhizhi would arrive at the exact moment his school day ended, perfectly in sync with his own schedule.
Gu Jinzhi, dressed in a black overcoat with a sharp, professional suit underneath, looked every bit the part of a successful businessman. Mrs. Zhang had a strong impression of him as well.
After all, he was the young CEO who lived in the penthouse, another resident who had clearly made something of himself.
But unlike Lin Xu, Gu Jinzhi didn’t feel awkward at all. He flashed a confident smile, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he glanced at Lin Xu. Casually stepping up beside him, he discreetly gave Lin Xu’s fingers a playful squeeze.
“Jinzhi, doesn’t your wife mind that you’re always staying in hotels?” Mrs. Zhang asked, her concern showing again. After all, there were too many young couples with marital problems nowadays. If she could, she wanted to give some good advice.
Gu Jinzhi was wearing his wedding ring so openly that it was clear he was a married man. As for the ring on Lin Xu’s finger, no one assumed it meant anything serious. Most people probably thought he was just a kid wearing it for fun, without understanding the significance of wearing it on his left ring finger.
“He understands me well. Our relationship is great,” Gu Jinzhi said, purposely looking at Lin Xu as he spoke.
Lin Xu turned his head, embarrassed, his earlobes tinged with red. He felt guilty for lying, but he also knew that if Mrs. Zhang found out they were a gay couple, with such a difference in their social statuses, it would be hard for her to accept. She’d probably lose sleep over it for nights.
Thankfully, they didn’t run into her often, and Mrs. Zhang was only visiting her son for the holiday season, so it was manageable.
“By the way, aren’t you two going to press the button? Don’t get so caught up in talking,” Mrs. Zhang kindly reminded them.
Both of their hands reached out at the same time, touching the button for the 22nd floor together. Gu Jinzhi suddenly remembered and nonchalantly moved his finger to press the button for the penthouse. Mrs. Zhang lived on one of the mid-level floors, so she would get off before them anyway.
Still, that brief touch felt like a shock of electricity passing through their fingers. Even though they were an open, legitimate couple, it somehow felt as if they were sneaking around.
“Sorry,” Gu Jinzhi whispered softly in Lin Xu’s ear, his tone laced with an intimate tease, their heads nearly touching. In that instant, Lin Xu’s grip on his books tightened.
Mrs. Zhang continued chatting away, expressing her concern for the two young men’s lives and even suggesting they get to know each other better. Even though one was a student and the other a CEO, she was sure they could find some common ground.
The two of them responded politely to Mrs. Zhang, as if they had just met. But the moment the elevator doors closed and it was just the two of them, the atmosphere shifted completely.
"Why are you still holding on to me, top student? Be careful, or I might tell your parents," Gu Jinzhi teased, clearly enjoying himself.
Lin Xu shot him a glance. This wasn’t the first time Zhizhi played the role of the older, authoritative one, and as usual, it was both annoying and tempting. He raised his eyebrows and made a show of trying to pull his hand away, but Gu Jinzhi only tightened his grip.
“Mr. Gu, you’re the one harassing me,” Lin Xu replied with a calm smile.
The playful tension between them filled the air like smoke from a standoff. When the elevator finally stopped at the 22nd floor, they exchanged a quick glance, then strode into the apartment, still locked in silent combat.
As soon as the door slammed shut behind them, Gu Jinzhi grabbed the books from Lin Xu’s arms and tossed them onto the carpet without a second thought. He pulled Lin Xu into a bear hug, throwing him down onto the couch with force.
They kissed fiercely, moving from the sofa to the space behind the door, Gu Jinzhi’s suit jacket discarded somewhere along the way.
After the heated kiss, Gu Jinzhi, still using his hands to explore, casually asked, “What did Mrs. Zhang ask you earlier?”
Lin Xu, catching his breath, answered seriously, “She thinks I need my parents to take care of me.”
Gu Jinzhi clicked his tongue and grinned, “Isn’t that what I’m here for? I’m basically your guardian.” His tone was teasing, as if Lin Xu really was just a kid in need of protection.
Lin Xu smirked slightly, thinking about how he could show Gu Jinzhi just how grown up he was.
Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door, freezing them both. Gu Jinzhi slumped back onto the sofa, looking dazed and confused. It was Lin Xu who reacted first, quickly fixing his clothes as he went to open the door. His lips still carried a suspicious redness.
Fortunately, the knock came from a young boy.
"Gege, my grandma sent me to give you a cake we made," the boy said sweetly.
Lin Xu recognized him as Mrs. Zhang’s grandson. Smiling, he accepted the cake. "Thank you and thank your grandma for me." He then turned and went to the room to grab a small toy for the boy.
The boy happily ran back to the elevator and headed downstairs.
Gu Jinzhi, having overheard the exchange, lazily pouted. "He calls you gege but calls me uncle."
Mrs. Zhang assumed Gu Jinzhi was married, so “uncle” seemed more appropriate. But he was still young, wasn’t he?
Lin Xu placed the cake on the table. "Mrs. Zhang is really worried I can’t take care of myself.” She even sent food, which touched him but also made him feel a little helpless.
As Lin Xu sat back on the couch, the “uncle” in question, Gu Jinzhi, draped himself dramatically across his lap, acting far from the adult he claimed to be.
"Since you like sweets, you should have it," Lin Xu offered, trying to feed the cake to Zhizhi. He always shared the good food with him, since he had little interest in it himself.
Gu Jinzhi thought for a moment, glancing at Lin Xu’s face. He could tell Lin Xu still hadn’t fully calmed down from earlier. With a mischievous grin, he held up a finger, stopping him.
"Wait. You’ll eat it later," Gu Jinzhi said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips as he licked them.
Lin Xu had no idea what he was plotting, but soon enough, he was pulled into the bathroom.
Later, that small cake served a very different purpose. Lin Xu, with trembling eyelashes, finished it, though by the end, he could barely tell what he was eating or how it tasted.
Still, it seemed the dessert had been delicious, carrying a faintly sweet and fragrant flavor.