E-Scum Gong Chapter 79
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 79
Outside the window, a light drizzle tapped against the vibrant green leaves, its soft rhythm filling the air. It didn't last long, and soon the sky cleared, leaving only the damp leaves swaying merrily in the breeze.
Time passed very quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the end of spring. The truly warm season arrived, and it was also the eve of the agreed-upon engagement banquet.
To make a lifelong promise in such a season felt like a symbol of eternity.
Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi both looked different from their usual selves. Even though there were still more than twenty hours left, they found themselves idle at home, unable to focus on anything.
In a rare moment, Gu Jinzhi picked up a mop and began cleaning, his nervousness and anticipation barely hidden beneath his actions.
His birthday fell on Valentine's Day — quite a fitting coincidence. Gu Jinzhi had already turned twenty-five, adding another year to his age. How had he spent his twenty-fifth birthday? Undoubtedly, it had been a wonderful double celebration.
Of course, whether in Lin Xu’s eyes or even in Gu Jinzhi’s, he hadn’t changed at all. It was as if he’d only aged in number, not in personality.
He still clung to Lin Xu like a koala as soon as he got off work.
No, there was one change, Lin Xu thought. Now, Zhizhi was even better at playing the elder. Despite being so young, he would frequently order Lin Xu to massage his legs or rub his back, reminding him to respect his elders.
But Lin Xu didn’t mind at all. After all, such things had become a regular part of their routine. From an objective point of view, he wasn’t at a loss. And subjectively, taking care of his boyfriend was a sweet task that he enjoyed every bit of.
Right now, Lin Xu couldn't help but watch Gu Jinzhi sweeping back and forth across the room. His shirt hem fluttered like a breeze, offering brief glimpses of his thighs, enough to stir anyone's heart.
"Zhizhi, stop spinning. It's already spotless," Lin Xu sighed, pulling him into his arms and settling them both onto the sofa.
After a year of university life, Gu Jinzhi felt that his boyfriend had grown even more mature. Not to mention, they'd been living together for over half a year now. Their relationship had fully transitioned into an old-married-couple dynamic, at least to the point where they no longer blushed at every little thing.
"We're really getting engaged," Gu Jinzhi said, still finding it hard to believe. After tomorrow, he would officially be a man with a fiance.
It wasn’t like dating, where they could break up at any time. Once engaged, if they ever wanted to separate, it would involve calling off the engagement — a much messier affair.
"This means I’ll have to avoid even looking at the trainees in my company. If word gets out, my reputation would be ruined. But what can I do? I have to be responsible for you now," Gu Jinzhi added, feigning a troubled expression.
Heaven knows, every time he went to the practice room to evaluate new trainees, it felt like being trapped. He was full of disdain, completely unable to understand what was supposed to be so appealing about them.
Lin Xu couldn’t stand his smug attitude, yet found it irresistibly cute.
After all, while Gu Jinzhi liked to joke around, his body was always quick to betray him, making him an easy target for teasing.
"It’s fine, I don’t mind," Lin Xu replied with a quiet laugh, gently squeezing his fingers.
Seeing that he hadn’t managed to make his boyfriend — his future husband — jealous, Gu Jinzhi scrunched up his face in frustration, but he wasn’t capable of doing anything too outrageous.
Now, Gu Jinzhi lay comfortably draped over Lin Xu, feeling utterly content in his arms. He had no desire to get up.
After all, every day as soon as work ended, Gu Jinzhi was always the first to rush home. In fact, he was even more eager than his employees. Before this, he had never been such a homebody. During his teenage years, he would barely come home before midnight, always out causing trouble with Xu Zhou and a bunch of other bad influences.
But since this was the last night before his engagement, that rascal Xu Zhou insisted on throwing Gu Jinzhi a bachelor party.
"After all, once you’ve settled down, you won’t be able to party without a care like you used to," Xu Zhou declared. Ever since this guy got a boyfriend, he couldn't spare them any time. He had been completely domesticated.
Gu Jinzhi wasn’t interested in the idea at all. He’d rather spend his last night with his boyfriend in quiet intimacy. But it had been ages since he'd hung out with his friends in ages, so he felt a bit guilty about it. After a few rounds of persuasion from Xu Zhou, Gu Jinzhi finally gave in.
"Alright, you pick the place. I’ll cover the bill," Gu Jinzhi said generously.
He’d heard that Xu Zhou had been arguing with his family lately over blind dates. As a result, his parents had frozen all his credit cards. Although Xu Zhou, once the pampered rich kid, still had some personal funds stashed away, he’d been living in "hardship" for a while now.
In his view, this so-called bachelor party was just an excuse for Xu Zhou to have some wild fun.
"Don’t worry, we’ll throw Second Young Master Gu the best party ever. Just make sure to keep it from your boyfriend — or better yet, have him hang out with his friends so it doesn’t affect your relationship. It is your last night of freedom, after all," Xu Zhou whispered mischievously. His main concern was that Lin Xu might hold it against him if he found out it was Xu Zhou who had stirred things up. He just wanted to have some fun, nothing more.
Gu Jinzhi glanced at Lin Xu beside him and winked.
“Remember to come alone tonight. Just us brothers catching up,” Xu Zhou said before hanging up excitedly. He wasted no time inviting people, pulling in every single and attractive guy and girl he knew.
After all, who would turn down an invitation for Gu Jinzhi?
But Xu Zhou was being too naive. He thought that even though Gu Jinzhi and Lin Xu were madly in love, it wouldn’t stop him from coming out for one last wild night. What he didn’t realize was that his once like-minded partner-in-crime had become a fully devoted, homebody boyfriend, no longer interested in late-night thrills.
“Come home early,” Lin Xu simply said, patting Gu Jinzhi’s head affectionately. Since Zhizhi was just sitting around the house, feeling nervous for no reason, he figured it wouldn’t hurt for him to go out and relax.
But this was far from the reaction Gu Jinzhi had hoped for. What was wrong with this guy? Why wasn’t he jealous at all?
“Why aren’t you trying to stop me? What if there’s some single guy there who’s exactly my type?” Gu Jinzhi asked, wide-eyed. Was his boyfriend really this unconcerned? He couldn’t help but feel a bit deflated.
“Well, the timing is perfect,” Lin Xu replied seriously, though there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. “We’re not engaged until tomorrow, so you can still change your mind in time.”
Sure enough, Gu Jinzhi panicked instantly, his face flushing all the way to his neck. Realizing Ah Xu was teasing him, he punched him hard in the chest.
“Bastard,” Gu Jinzhi muttered through gritted teeth, his voice still tinged with frustration. For a moment, he’d actually believed Ah Xu was having second thoughts about the engagement — that he wanted him to be the one to bring it up. The frustration hit him right in the chest.
Riling Zhizhi up was far too easy. Lin Xu resigned himself to soothing him with kisses and apologies. This was definitely not how a 25-year-old was supposed to behave.
Gu Jinzhi had a habit of teasing Lin Xu, always trying to provoke a little jealousy. His tricks were so obvious that Lin Xu couldn’t even get upset.
"I’ll go with you. I’ll tell them I just can’t bear to be apart from you and had to tag along," Lin Xu said, knowing exactly what Gu Jinzhi wanted to hear.
“Hmph.” Gu Jinzhi pouted but looked quite pleased.
This way, he’d save face and avoid breaking any promises to Xu Zhou. After all, it wasn’t his fault that his boyfriend was too clingy. Xu Zhou would understand, and on the bright side, he wouldn’t be bored. There were even some games he could play with Ah Xu, which made everything better.
That night arrived.
Gu Jinzhi looked stunning as always. With his sharp, almost devilishly handsome features and the air of a spoiled rich second-generation young master, he exuded the carefree aura of someone born into luxury. Until he opened his mouth, revealing his true nature.
Lin Xu, on the other hand, seemed like he didn’t quite belong in this setting. He carried an innocent, clean-cut student vibe, soft yet polished. Having studied in the UK for a few years in his previous life, there was an understated elegance to him, a blend of reserved grace and quiet confidence that gave him a unique presence.
This was something that couldn’t be faked, though many rich kids tried. Plenty of attractive men at the party attempted to emulate that kind of charm, but unlike them, Lin Xu was the one being admired.
Gu Jinzhi glanced around, arms crossed, and clicked his tongue. “I thought he’d have better taste. These people are nothing special.” His tone made it clear that none of the faces impressed him.
Lin Xu, less interested in the party’s social buzz than Gu Jinzhi, didn’t pay much attention to the crowd. But the moment the two of them entered, they caught everyone’s eye. People couldn’t help but take a second look.
"I heard this is Second Young Master Gu's party. I’ve never met him before. What a rare chance to sneak in."
"Forget about Second Young Master Gu. Anyone over there could be worth cozying up to." These were just the party fillers, brought in to boost the atmosphere, but they were all attractive nonetheless.
Xu Zhou was chatting with a girl when he spotted Gu Jinzhi entering. He flashed a mischievous smile, greeted him, and quickly excused himself.
However, when he noticed Lin Xu by Gu Jinzhi’s side, his smile froze. That traitor. Hadn't he promised not to bring any plus-ones?
Xu Zhou led them to a quiet corner, a place where they could sip drinks in peace and join the dance floor if they got bored. His face, though, carried a hint of betrayal.
"This has nothing to do with me. It’s Ah Xu who can’t bear to be apart from me. You know how clingy younger boys can be," Gu Jinzhi said, spreading his hands in defense, though the happiness on his face was impossible to hide.
Lin Xu played along, nodding in agreement. In their relationship, Zhizhi’s image always came first.
Xu Zhou wasn’t buying it for a second. He knew Lin Xu well enough. He was the epitome of a gentleman. If Gu Jinzhi hadn’t insisted, Lin Xu wouldn’t have intruded. Hell, he’d probably have waited until the end of the party to pick him up. Gu Jinzhi’s the one who couldn’t let go.
"Haha, just joking! I’m so envious of how close you two are," Xu Zhou said with a forced laugh.
He was sick of Gu Jinzhi flaunting his relationship like that. But Xu Zhou knew the honeymoon phase wouldn’t last forever. Once they were married, there’d be times when Gu Jinzhi craved his freedom, and by then, it’d be too late. Xu Zhou could only bide his time, waiting to laugh at him when that day came.
For now, Xu Zhou was content to enjoy his own carefree life.
Xu Zhou chatted for a bit before slipping away to find the girl from earlier. Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhi and Lin Xu remained seated on the sofa in a quiet corner, untouched by the party's chaos. Since no one could get close to Gu Jinzhi, meeting others seemed like the next best thing.
The music was pounding. Despite being tone-deaf, Gu Jinzhi had a naturally graceful body. His casual swaying still managed to look incredibly sexy. After all, he had been clubbing from a young age. With his fair skin and fit physique, combined with those hazy, half-lidded eyes, he exuded an irresistible allure.
However, he rarely let his guard down in front of strangers. Only around his closest friends did he reveal his true self.
And no matter how much his friends praised him for being hot and captivating, hoping to snap photos or record videos to show off, Gu Jinzhi had a strict no-camera policy. He was surprisingly conservative about that sort of thing.
But in front of Lin Xu, he turned clumsy and bashful. Gu Jinzhi definitely didn’t want Ah Xu thinking he was like Xu Zhou, someone who flirted around recklessly.
There were things Gu Jinzhi would only dare to do with Ah Xu. Even in this wild environment, all he wanted was to lounge lazily on Ah Xu’s chest, cheeks flushed as he fed him sips of alcohol.
It was almost laughable. Here he was, at his own bachelor party, too busy being affectionate with his fiance to care about anything else.
Lin Xu was careful to keep his arms around Gu Jinzhi’s waist, worried he might slide off the sofa. After all, Gu Jinzhi had a penchant for lounging on him.
Gu Jinzhi was drinking freely, and both of them were feeling a bit tipsy, enjoying themselves thoroughly.
Suddenly, Gu Jinzhi noticed some commotion nearby. As he focused, he saw a young man in a white T-shirt dancing provocatively. The guy was strikingly handsome, with a delicate, refined look.
Lin Xu noticed him watching for a while and, out of curiosity, was about to turn his head, but Gu Jinzhi pushed him back, bringing his blushing face close to his.
“Nothing worth looking at,” Gu Jinzhi muttered grumpily.
“Hmm?” The music was loud, and Lin Xu didn’t catch his words clearly. He leaned in closer, puzzled.
Gu Jinzhi pouted and, feeling unreasonably embarrassed, shouted into Lin Xu’s ear, “Don’t look. If you want to see, I’ll dance for you when we get home.”
Lin Xu covered his almost deafened ears and quickly agreed. He didn’t dare turn his head again. Though he wasn’t sure what was going on, it seemed best to just follow along for now.
