E-Scum Gong Chapter 80
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 80
The two of them had gone wild for half the night. Lin Xu was utterly bewildered by Gu Jinzhi's reactions and could only attribute them to Zhizhi being drunk.
Before this, he had never imagined that alcohol could actually have its benefits.
Because the following day was an important one, Lin Xu managed to regain his composure in time and held Gu Jinzhi tightly until they both fell into a deep sleep.
Gu Jinzhi struggled for a while but, after some coaxing, he fell into a deep sleep in his boyfriend’s arms.
Although Zhizhi had been thoroughly cleaned, Lin Xu could still smell a faint hint of alcohol when he buried his face in Zhizhi's neck. His skin was warm and fair, making the scent even more intoxicating.
Lin Xu sometimes felt that he might become drunk on this very scent. After Zhizhi fell asleep, he obsessively kissed him for a long time. Lost in the moment, he accidentally reddened his collarbone with the bridge of his nose.
He hadn't consumed much alcohol at the party, so his mind was quite clear. However, the thought of tomorrow's engagement kept him awake.
During the day, Lin Xu showed no sign of losing control of his emotions. To him, the engagement was no different from any other day, unlike Zhizhi, who couldn't stop talking about it.
It was simply that Lin Xu kept it in his heart.
Reserved by nature, he sometimes found it hard to express his feelings. Occasionally, when he couldn’t hold back any longer, he would, as Zhizhi wished, utter something sweet and cheesy.
But no one knew that inside, he was facing a raging storm.
Therefore, most of the time, Lin Xu expressed his feelings through kisses. It was simple yet effective.
Occasionally, when Gu Jinzhi had to work late, just seeing his boyfriend lean closer to the screen with a slightly flushed face and give him a kiss would make him bubble over with a pink, romantic aura, prompting him to shamelessly ask for a few more kisses.
After all, his handsome young boyfriend had an irresistible charm, and seeing his face magnified up close sent delightful shivers down his spine, making his heart race.
Just like now, Lin Xu lay awake, his deep eyes open as he intermittently kissed the sleeping Zhizhi — from his shoulders to his back. This act slightly soothed his restless mood.
Besides, Zhizhi never woke up from his kisses or disturbances. His sleep was always deep. Lin Xu was not worried at all, as his touches were gentle and left no marks.
If Zhizhi knew that Lin Xu had such a habit to relieve stress, he would surely stay awake just to see it.
Thinking about the engagement and even marriage made Lin Xu’s heart soften. They were truly about to form a little family of their own. Time had flown by so quickly.
Lin Xu couldn’t help but reminisce about their cohabitation over the past half-year. During this period, many amusing things had happened.
For instance, during one of his online classes, just as Lin Xu was about to speak, Zhizhi happened to be on a call, furrowing his brows as he questioned a subordinate about their negligence. The entire class fell silent, and Lin Xu was as quiet as a mouse.
Another example was the frequent debate over which home to have dinner at every weekend. More often than not, they'd skip out on family plans and opt for a quiet meal alone, leaving their older brothers quite unsettled. After all, one was a bit socially phobic, and the other was carefree.
Sometimes, when time was tight, clothes were thrown on haphazardly. Gu Jinzhi, shorter than Lin Xu by several centimeters, once wore his boyfriend’s suit pants by mistake. One time, he accidentally wore Lin Xu's suit pants, which were a bit loose. In the middle of the day, he complained to his boyfriend in a blunt and funny manner.
“Ah Xu, I’ve decided to organize my closet when I get back! I wore your pants today and while walking around the office, I kept feeling like my butt might be exposed at any moment (crying).”
Lin Xu felt a bit embarrassed but couldn’t help but laugh.
“It couldn't be that bad.” They might be a little loose, but it was not that bad. Zhizhi was just being playful.
“No! You don’t care about me anymore, and you’re not afraid I’ll be seen by others!” Gu Jinzhi responded with mock indignation.
Soon after, Lin Xu arranged for a belt to be delivered by a courier.
“Please fasten your belt properly, or I won’t be able to concentrate on my studies.” Lin Xu sent a photo of himself reading during the break, with a serious and focused expression, playing along with the joke.
“Got it!” Gu Jinzhi happily fastened the belt and then, then cheekily lifted his suit jacket in the restroom, sending a photo with a slight pout, signaling that the package was well-received and that his boyfriend’s service was impeccable.
Alright, Lin Xu conceded defeat...
After mulling it over half the night, Lin Xu finally fell asleep. The next morning, he still woke up early. Since it was an important day, Gu Jinzhi also woke up with the help of his alarm.
“So warm and cozy~” Gu Jinzhi stretched lazily. Despite their little fun twice last night, the post-massage relaxation made him feel completely at ease.
As he gazed into Lin Xu’s eyes, his thoughts wandered. Noticing Lin Xu’s sensual, thin lips, he seized the opportunity to kiss him passionately. His enthusiasm was enough to almost leave Lin Xu breathless.
However, despite Lin Xu’s regular workouts, he was still no match for Zhizhi, who had been energetically active for over a decade.
Lin Xu’s hair was tousled, making him look even more enticing. Gu Jinzhi, insatiable, wanted to kiss him again but was eventually interrupted.
“Zhizhi, we have important things to do today.” Lin Xu sat up and ended their kissing session to check his messages.
All close friends and family had been invited, and the engagement party would be held at the Lin family’s hotel. It was mainly managed by his two older brothers, and everything was running smoothly except for the two of them.
Given the families’ connections, it was impossible to host a small, private event. Both the engagement and wedding were major affairs.
Before this, there had been almost a brawl between Gu Qi and Lin Shen over who would provide the dowry and who would offer the wedding gifts. Each men tried to outdo the other, like a comedic struggle for superiority in securing the best future for their younger brother.
Lin Xu helplessly rubbed his temples, noting how his older brothers' traditional attitudes were on full display.
The dynamics of their relationship remained a mystery to Lin Shen. So, Gu Qi, who was in the know, acted confidently, but Lin Shen was not one to back down. Ultimately, all the benefits were enjoyed by the young couple.
With their older brothers too busy to pick them up, Zhizhi became the family’s driver, since Lin Xu hadn’t yet found the time to get his driver’s license.
The car he was driving was bought by his older brother, so all his salary was saved in a small money box. Gu Jinzhi had a financial plan: for big expenses, he'd go to his older brother's house to fleece him, while he'd kept their own money for themselves. As long as he had enough to eat, Ah Xu would never go hungry.
The suits were custom-made long ago, one white and one black, looking very well-matched. Of course, Gu Jinzhi wore white, and Lin Xu wore black. Because of their age difference, Gu Jinzhi naturally wanted to look younger, while Lin Xu looked much more mature in a black tuxedo. They made a striking pair.
Although a six-year age gap wasn’t significant, it was still noticeable. For example, when he was twenty, Lin Xu was only fourteen...
“Ah Xu, I’m nervous,” Gu Jinzhi said, elegantly leaning close to his ear, a hint of unease in his eyes. It was, after all, his first engagement... well, it would definitely be the only one.
Lin Xu had already mentally rehearsed the process last night, so he was no longer nervous. Now he had the energy to put his arm around his shoulder and comfort him. “It’s okay, I’m here.”
This reassurance helped Gu Jinzhi gradually relax.
The event was not only attended by close friends and family but also by many business partners and commercial tycoons.
After completing the formalities, Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi stepped off the stage to toast their friends and family. At the moment they descended the steps, Gu Jinzhi’s legs felt weak.
“We’re officially betrothed now! We have an engagement contract.” This contract was so extraordinary. It let him secure his boyfriend in advance, which was just wonderful.
Lin Xu was also a bit excited inside. If Zhizhi hadn’t been awake, he probably would have held him close and kissed him for a long time.
In the end, he simply muttered a supportive, “Hmm!”
Glancing around, Gu Jinzhi noticed their close family and friends smiling and offering their blessings. Gu Qi and Lin Shen were seated at one table, the parents at another, and Xu Zhou and Lin Xu's roommates at yet another.
The two of them made their rounds, toasting each table.
“Take good care of each other, and get married when Ah Xu is old enough,” Mommy Lin said as she shook their hands, feeling a bit sentimental. She never thought that just a few years after reconnecting with her son, Lin Xu would be getting married and moving out. But how could this not be a good outcome? They owed Lin Xu a lot, and now they had even less reason to interfere in his life.
On the other hand, Mommy Gu examined Lin Xu for a long time. Indeed, he was even more handsome in person than in the videos.
“Be good to Xiao Xu. Don't bully him, or I'll make you pay,” Mommy Gu warned her son.
After all, his son was a little devil who caused all sorts of trouble when he was young.
“Got it, Mom…” Gu Jinzhi said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
After quickly toasting the family, they moved on to toast their older brothers.
Gu Qi, as direct as ever, said, “Nurture your relationship well, and avoid arguments. If you end up breaking off the engagement, dividing assets will be complicated.” His smile was faint, but he was clearly pleased to see his younger brother achieve his wish.
Lin Shen, on the other hand, watched Gu Jinzhi in silence. “You drink on his behalf,” he said. Since his younger brother hadn’t yet turned twenty, he shouldn’t drink too much. Gu Jinzhi, known to frequent bars and nightclubs, was evidently accustomed to handling alcohol.
Gu Jinzhi rolled his eyes at him but drank it anyway. For his new fiance, it was definitely worth it!
This was the first time Lin Xu’s roommates had attended such an event, especially one as significant as a friend’s engagement party. From being chauffeured in a private car to sitting here now, it all felt like a dream to them.
It seemed that the lives of wealthy families were truly different. Their engagement was far more extravagant than most people's weddings, and even some tabloid reporters had tried to sneak in.
They hadn’t realized it before, since Lin Xu always seemed so ordinary around them, but now that they were experiencing it firsthand, the difference was strikingly clear.
“Gu-ge, you both look wonderful. Oh, and Xu-ge, don't forget about us!” they said, each downing a glass of wine.
With time, there might be many opportunities for interaction between Lu Zhe and Lin Xu, given that Lu Zhe came from a scholarly family and would likely follow a similar path.
Xu Zhou offered his heartfelt congratulations, as if he hadn’t been the one who had encouraged Gu Jinzhi to have a bachelor’s party the previous night.
“If he ever acts up, we will help you deal with him, though he probably won’t,” Xu Zhou said to Gu Jinzhi, unafraid of offending Lin Xu.
While most assumed Gu Jinzhi was the dominant one in their relationship and that Lin Xu couldn’t possibly mistreat him, Xu Zhou thought otherwise. From their initial online romance to meeting in person until now, Xu Zhou had always felt that Gu Jinzhi was the one whose emotions were being swayed. If they ever broke up, he suspected it would be because Lin Xu no longer felt the same.
Although Gu Jinzhi was strong-willed, what would truly hurt him was no longer being loved. Lin Xu appeared cold and distant, which worried Xu Zhou. If Lin Xu ever lost interest, he might resort to polite indifference, leaving Gu Jinzhi lost and uncertain.
Lin Xu, of course, understood Gu Jinzhi the best, otherwise he wouldn't have gone from pitying him at the beginning to loving him later. He just appeared cold on the outside, but his heart was actually warm. That was why he didn't like the original male lead who was seemingly enthusiastic but actually cold-blooded.
Explanations were not Lin Xu’s style, so he simply tightened his grip on Gu Jinzhi’s hand. He wouldn’t let anyone else interfere.
Gu Jinzhi, sandwiched between them, felt no sense of danger and was oblivious to Xu Zhou’s concerns. He was entirely enveloped in the bliss of his happiness.
“What nonsense. Don’t worry about it. Besides, I won’t let anyone else discipline Ah Xu,” Gu Jinzhi said firmly. He himself would never do such a thing. His greatest trauma had been witnessing Ah Xu’s injury, a memory that still made his back shiver.
“Forget it, you two lovebirds. Go away.” Xu Zhou gave Gu Jinzhi a middle finger in jest. What an idiot.
After a round of toasts, Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi finally had a chance to breathe. The two of them were whispering to each other by the fence outside.
“You’re holding me so tightly,” Gu Jinzhi said, turning his head to look at his fiance, his lashes fluttering and lips curved into a smile.
At this moment, he could feel that Ah Xu was just as happy as he was, that they were both eagerly looking forward to the future.
Lin Xu couldn’t resist planting a kiss on Gu Jinzhi’s cheek.
Due to health reasons, his grandparents couldn’t travel, so Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi set up a video call.
“Grandma, do you remember Zhizhi?” Lin Xu asked, knowing that his grandmother’s memory had been faltering. Although the family had been explaining Gu Jinzhi’s role repeatedly, to them, he was still somewhat of a stranger from the capital.
Lin Shen and the others hadn’t anticipated that they had actually met him.
“Let me see,” Grandma Lin said, peering at the screen for a long while before it clicked. “Oh, you mean the boy who took you to school, the very handsome one.” Indeed, Gu Jinzhi’s face was unforgettable.
Gu Jinzhi, usually talkative, now looked unusually bashful and well-behaved as he watched Ah Xu seriously introduce him to the elderly.
“Grandpa and Grandma, from now on, we’ll be family,” Lin Xu said. To him, the two elderly figures from Jiang City were the closest family he had after transmigrating into the book world, especially since he had been unfamiliar with everything at that time.
As his grandparents still didn’t fully understand who Gu Jinzhi was, Lin Xu felt a strong desire to explain.
He was not marrying just anyone. They had known each other for a long time and would continue to be together forever.
