E-Scum Gong Chapter 84 (Part 1)
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 84 (1/2)
"Do we have to leave separately from two different houses?" Lin Xu asked, pausing with his suitcase. He looked over at the cameraman, who was holding a camera at their front door. Gu Jinzhi also glanced towards the door.
Two different faces, but together they looked increasingly alike.
The filming had already begun.
Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi had been squatting in the living room, sorting through their clothes and personal items, and packing them into two completely different suitcases. This simple task had occupied them for two hours.
After all, they had so many matching items that it was difficult to keep track.
As Lin Xu thought about it, he got up and took off his watch.
It was another couple’s model...
“Uh, no need. These shots will be included in the behind-the-scenes footage,” the cameraman replied succinctly.
The couple breathed a sigh of relief. It would have been difficult to find another house that looked convincingly lived-in for a staged reappearance.
Before long, the two of them got into separate cars arranged by the production team and headed to the location for the latest episode of the dating reality show.
The show, titled Love Melody, was a web variety show produced by Gu Media. Now in its third season, it was presented in a live and recorded format.
The first and second seasons of the show respectively featured BG and GL couples. Naturally, the third season was a BL dating show.
The current season had generated a lot of anticipation since the previews were released.
Moreover, the production quality of a major entertainment company always promised excellence. Compared to other dating shows, the previous seasons had more eye-catching guests and rules, leading them to rank first in viewership, far surpassing the second place.
This season, the show introduced a new twist. It was rumored that among the ordinary contestants, there was a hidden couple who had been married for over three years. During the broadcast of the first episode, the official account would launch a lottery program, where three lucky viewers who answered correctly would win prizes worth a hundred thousand yuan.
Fans were naturally eager, though no one could have guessed that the hidden couple was actually the domineering CEO and his husband.
Since the last online class had exposed Lin Xu’s family background, it was no longer a secret in the academic circle. Therefore, before the show aired, he had requested his students to keep it confidential, partly to support Gu Jinzhi’s career.
Originally, Lin Xu was not interested in participating in such shows. However, after his experiences with social deaths over the years, he had grown more relaxed. He could live normally even after moments of shame.
If Zhizhi wanted to have fun, then he would join in.
“Once you’re in the Love Cabin, you won’t be able to use your own phone during the live broadcast, okay~” the accompanying director reminded. This was to avoid any uncontrollable situations.
Lin Xu nodded knowingly. He surfed the net too.
Over the past few days at home, Lin Xu had done a bit of research and watched several episodes of similar shows to prepare.
The more he watched, the more puzzled he became. He couldn’t quite grasp what made these shows so appealing and popular. Even though he sped through and skipped parts, the content seemed no different from everyday life.
However, he knew what to expect. He could only consider it a change of scenery for a week. Outside of working hours, he would follow the production team’s arrangements and socialize with everyone, focusing on keeping his relationship with Zhizhi discreet.
That part was going to be the real challenge.
He was familiar with the basic process.
As he thought about it, Lin Xu took a moment to check his phone before arriving. As expected, Gu Jinzhi had sent him several messages, clearly already in a nervous and excited state. For the next week, their only chance to chat would be at night when he could hide in bed and use his phone.
Seeing some of the messages made Lin Xu’s ears turn slightly red. He quietly dimmed the screen to reply.
“Just pretend we don’t know each other for a week. It’ll be fine,” Lin Xu reassured him.
“Mm! You mustn’t slip up,” Gu Jinzhi cautioned.
Lin Xu fell silent. Something was not quite right.
Gu Jinzhi found the situation both frustrating and exhilarating. Despite not being able to share the same bed, the thrill of the situation was fueling his desire to perform.
Lin Xu was the first to arrive. As soon as he stepped into the small cabin, he noticed the cameras and realized that the show was live. He pressed his lips together in response.
He wore a simple outfit of a white t-shirt and black jeans, his short hair neatly styled. To disguise his identity, he sported a pair of black-rimmed glasses, which made him look youthful and bookish — like an outstanding, reserved student from university.
No one would think of him as a married man.
Lin Xu first dragged his suitcase to the designated room and then returned to the living area to wait for the others.
He was satisfied to be the first one there. Based on his observations from previous seasons, those who spoke less often ended up as background figures, which suited him just fine.
Moreover, Lin Xu felt his current outfit was rather dull and wouldn’t attract much attention.
A few years ago, in his younger days, he might have considered himself fairly attractive. Back then, he often attracted attention from people who didn’t know he was already taken.
However, after getting married, such encounters became increasingly rare. Over time, Lin Xu's self-perception shifted. He now thought of himself as average among his peers. Having seen his own reflection for so many years, he’d long stopped giving it much thought.
As for Zhizhi’s unfiltered compliments, he knew they stemmed purely from love.
Unable to disclose his occupation, Lin Xu couldn’t use his laptop to sort data. Instead, he lay down in a corner of the sofa, closed his eyes, and tried to rest. For several minutes, the screen remained completely still, as if the stream had frozen.
What he didn’t know was that the live stream’s popularity was already rising rapidly.
“Wow, the production team this season is on fire! The first male guest is so exceptionally good-looking! When he first walked in, I thought I’d tuned into a celebrity dating show by mistake!”
“Is little gege not sleeping well? It’s so heart-wrenching. Is he stressed with schoolwork? He looks so cute even when sleeping!”
“Wait a minute, could this be a contracted artist using the show to launch his career? His calmness is a bit unsettling...”
Such situations were common. Popular dating shows often invited attractive guests who weren’t necessarily eager to find a partner but were rather aiming to boost their visibility. Audiences generally disliked this approach.
Soon, two more guests arrived: Yao Mengchen and Luo Zihang.
Yao Mengchen looked like a student. However, his appearance was more refined than Lin Xu’s. He had a sweet look with very noticeable 0 vibes.
Luo Zihang, on the other hand, exuded elegance and warmth, looking at least twenty-five or twenty-six. Dressed in a black shirt, he had a sophisticated air, and it was hard to discern whether he was 0 or 1.
Perhaps to keep Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi from standing out too much and making it too obvious, the quality of this season's guests was exceptionally high, with each guest’s appearance surpassing even the most popular male guest from the first season.
At first, there was no comparison. The audience only knew that, despite Lin Xu’s simple attire, he was inexplicably handsome. Now, with the comparison, it was clear that his looks were truly exceptional, not just an issue of style but of raw attractiveness.
“Sure enough, Guest 1 must be the peak of this season’s looks!”
“Both Guests 1 and 2 look like students, but Guest 1 looks like he just came from his own garden, completely unadorned. At least he didn’t wear flip-flops.”
“Just wondering, is Guest 1 a 1? With his looks, he could be either top or bottom.”
Not only were the audience’s conversations centered around Lin Xu, but the two new arrivals also took immediate notice of him.
“Hello, I’m Lin Xu,” Lin Xu said, sitting up straight as he adjusted his glasses. Following the protocol, he introduced himself and felt that there was nothing more to add.
“I’m Yao Mengchen.”
“Luo Zihang.”
Yao Mengchen and Luo Zihang entered the cabin one after the other. Yao Mengchen, without hesitation, naturally sat down beside Lin Xu, while Luo Zihang took a seat on the other sofa.
Unlike the audience, who were hoping for even more handsome guests, Yao Mengchen and Luo Zihang were very aware of the industry’s dynamics. With Lin Xu’s appearance and build, it was clear he was a top-tier catch.
“I heard there’s a couple among us who have been together for over three years,” Yao Mengchen started the conversation, glancing at Lin Xu before looking over at Luo Zihang.
Lin Xu hadn’t expected the conversation to continue. He could only nod in response.
“It’s not me, but that’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?” Yao Mengchen joked, spreading his hands with a charming laugh. His laughter was pleasant, fitting his youthful appearance.
Luo Zihang also smiled briefly, casting a few glances at Lin Xu.
Lin Xu nodded slowly, unsure how to respond. Since Luo Zihang remained silent, Lin Xu figured it was fine not to say anything further.
“Wow! Guest 2 is impressive! I think he’s showing interest in Guest 1. He's deliberately making his position clear!”
“Seriously, Guest 3 must be a 0! He clearly didn’t engage with Yao Mengchen’s comment, indicating he’s indifferent.”
“So what’s up with Guest 1? He looks so reserved. Could it be he’s actually interested in Guest 2?”
“I think Guest 1 looks a bit confused, probably thinking, ‘Why is this my problem?’”
“Guest 1 is definitely here for a debut. But this time, I’m willing to be a fan just for his courage to appear without makeup!”
