E-Scum Gong Chapter 85
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 85
"How about we assign dinner duties each night?" Liang Chi, now dressed in his casual home clothes, spoke with an air of authority.
The guest participants had all come out of their rooms after freshening up and were seated on the sofa.
Their rooms were arranged in a 3-pair-3 layout, separated by a corridor. Gu Jinzhi and Lin Xu's rooms happened to be opposite each other, so they naturally walked together and sat down.
Online viewers seemed to have caught on to something about the room arrangements.
“Actually, I've always been worried that if the guests' attributes aren't differentiated, it would make the show hard to produce. Now I'm wondering if the attributes are related to the room assignments? Maybe one side is more 1 and the other side is more 0.”
“Although reality might not be so clear-cut, they must have checked beforehand. It's impossible for everyone to be 0.5.”
“Whoa, that makes sense! In that case, Guest 1 must be a 1, since everyone on his side leans towards 1.”
“Wait a minute, does that mean Guest 6 is 0? So exciting! A 0 who's both handsome and beautiful is amazing. Honestly, I'm really shipping Guest 1 and Guest 6. Such a contrast!”
“I don’t think it’s gonna work. Their personalities are polar opposites. They won’t get along.”
Everyone in person seemed down-to-earth and approachable. They all gave off a simple, easygoing vibe — except for Guest 6, Gu Jinzhi. Even in his casual wear, he looked extremely luxurious. He didn't seem like a low-key person.
Especially in front of the live stream cameras, Gu Jinzhi made no effort to hide his expression. He looked completely sleep-deprived. He sprawled out lazily on one end of the sofa, his long limbs taking up nearly half of it, listening groggily to the others as they talked.
Next to him, Lin Xu, Guest 1, sat in the small remaining space, his posture stiff and proper. He had no other choice in such cramped conditions!
"Hahahahaha, what's up with Guest 6? After all that rest, he's still not refreshed. Is he the type who can’t sleep well in new places?"
"I'm dying, Guest 1 looks so helpless sitting next to him."
"Lin Xu's inner monologue: Please, don't come any closer..."
"Sorry to Guest 1, but I'm really looking forward to seeing our cool and aloof little ge get caught!"
"Is anyone else watching the live stream during dinner? It feels so lively with all these viewers."
"I can cook a bit, so I’ll go first today." Liang Chi quickly volunteered after bringing up the dinner plan.
"I know how to make some simple home-cooked dishes," Luo Zihang said, raising his hand quietly after Liang Chi.
No one else spoke up after that. It seemed the rest weren’t very skilled in the kitchen. Naturally, they couldn’t have both of the capable cooks taking the same day, so Liang Chi invited Yao Mengchen to join him for the first night.
In this situation, Yao Mengchen had no choice but to agree, especially since the person he was interested in hadn’t offered to cook.
"Lin Xu, how about we pair up?" Luo Zihang turned to him.
Luo Zihang hadn’t made much of an impression throughout the day. His personality and appearance weren’t particularly striking among the group, but like the others, he had joined the show hoping to find a partner.
After all, it was hard for him to find someone compatible in real life. The few guys he did meet often weren’t a good match for him, so he really wanted to seize this opportunity.
Although Lin Xu tended to be more reserved, his appearance and aura made it impossible for him to fade into the background completely.
“Sorry, I might be back late tomorrow. There’s something I need to take care of at school,” Lin Xu said quietly, adjusting his glasses.
With that, Luo Zihang had no choice but to partner with Tan Hao for the cooking duty the next day. It wasn’t a big deal, really. Everyone was still getting to know each other, so there was nothing to be dissatisfied with.
During their break, the guests had been informed about their attributes.
“Ahhh! CP fans are ecstatic! Is the universe trying to bring my cp together?”
“Am I the only one worried about what’ll happen if neither Guest 1 nor Guest 6 can cook? Are they going to blow up the kitchen together? Hahaha!”
“Wait, did Guest 1 just mention school? He really is a student after all!”
Once the tasks were assigned, Liang Chi and Yao Mengchen headed to the kitchen to start dinner preparations.
Gu Jinzhi, having snapped out of his earlier daze, stretched his arms wide and yawned, looking much more cheerful.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Lin Xu, propped a foot on his knee, and casually struck up a conversation. “So, are we starting to vote for our heartthrob guest tonight?”
Lin Xu finally turned to look at him and nodded. "It seems so."
“How are we supposed to vote after just one day?” Gu Jinzhi grumbled, clearly dissatisfied with the system.
Lin Xu couldn’t help but smile at his exaggerated reaction. Of course, the viewers had no idea what he was smiling about, thinking he was just amused by Gu Jinzhi’s bluntness.
Before his smile could fade, Gu Jinzhi leaned in and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “So, who are you planning to vote for?”
Lin Xu was momentarily caught off guard, then pressed his lips together and glanced at him. “I’m not sure yet.”
He had spent a decent amount of time with Zhizhi today. It was probably enough to warrant a vote. After all, neither of them planned to stick around for the entire season. They just needed to get through one episode. Lin Xu figured he’d done his best, and if their cover got blown, so be it.
“Oh,” Gu Jinzhi shrugged, seemingly lost in thought himself.
"Ahhhh! Can the director do something about Guest 6? Are they really allowed to just ask this question outright? Hahahahaha!"
"Look at how shocked Guest 1 is. He probably hasn’t encountered someone this direct before. Poor brother, fresh out of school and already taking major hits."
"Now I’m really curious. Who are they going to vote for? I won’t be able to sleep tonight without knowing the results!"
Meanwhile, Liang Chi and Yao Mengchen had gotten to know each other a bit better while cooking, whereas Luo Zihang and Tan Hao each kept to themselves, exploring the house. But what had the viewers most entertained were Gu Jinzhi and Lin Xu — two people who seemed like they had nothing in common, yet managed to chat away the entire evening with their random conversations.
“I don’t really know how to cook. At home, the housekeeper usually does it,” Gu Jinzhi explained.
“I usually eat at home too, but once things get busy, I’ll be eating at the school cafeteria more often,” Lin Xu replied with a polite smile.
“When my housekeeper is busy, I eat at the office, but it ruins my whole day. I can’t focus on work.” Gu Jinzhi frowned as he looked at him.
“Eating at home is definitely cozier,” Lin Xu conceded in the end. Housekeeper or not, he had no choice but to go along with the conversation.
“I'm dying of laughter. How are they chatting so casually? It's clearly a gap between the rich second generation and ordinary people.”
“Do you think the food cooked by Guest 6’s housekeeper must be amazing? He can’t handle a day without it! Is this really what the life of the wealthy is like? I’m crying!”
“Guest 1 is the total opposite. He's just a simple college student. I bet his head is spinning from this conversation with Guest 6. Why must we hurt our relatable student like this? But look at how well he’s handling it, totally going with the flow!”
“Guest 1 and Guest 6 are so adorable~~~I hope they get together and become a couple!”
“Does anyone remember we still have to find the hidden couple for the lottery?”
As for dinner, Liang Chi’s cooking skills were indeed impressive. He grilled steaks and made pasta, and the atmosphere at the table was warm and friendly. Everyone complimented the chef several times over the course of the meal.
Liang Chi’s smile deepened as he felt genuinely pleased with himself. Good cooking skills were a bonus, helping him stand out among the 1s.
What made him even more satisfied with the day was having spent a long time alone with Yao Mengchen.
“Look at Liang’s expression. He’s seriously happy! It looks like he’s genuinely here to find a partner. This show is getting more and more intriguing.”
After dinner, the guests had time to go to the Love Space to cast their votes. There was no set order, and they could go whenever they had a moment.
Naturally, Liang Chi went first, walking in with a confident stride. He voted quickly and left with a look of certainty on his face.
The others followed one by one, though each seemed to hesitate for a bit before exiting.
When it was Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi’s turn to enter the Love Space, it became the moment viewers were most eager to see.
“Hahahahahaha, I’m seriously dying. Guest 1 is so pitiful! After everything, including all the chatting and the direct questioning from Guest 6, he probably feels too guilty not to vote for him.”
“I actually think Guest 6 might have a thing for Guest 1. I mean, out of all the people here, why else would he keep chatting with him non-stop? It’s like he’s picked Guest 1 as his little target!”
“Guest 1 went in and came out pretty quickly. He must’ve voted for Guest 6, right? Hahahahaha!”
“Guest 6 was fast too with his vote.”
“Guest 6, Gu Jinzhi, must have voted for Guest 1, I bet.”
“Not necessarily. From how actively he ate during dinner, he might see Guest 1 as a younger brother and actually have a thing for Guest 5, Liang Chi. This kind of thing happens often. It feels like there's not such a big generation gap.”
“I’m so excited! When will they announce the results?”
The director, reviewing the data backstage, couldn’t hide his delight. The numbers were significantly higher than those from previous premieres. If this season kept up the momentum, he would secure his place as a top director in the field of dating shows.
“Guests, please note that there will be no live broadcast during the rest period tonight. Get some good rest and prepare for tomorrow’s activities!” The announcement echoed through the speakers around ten o’clock.
Of course, at that hour, no young person was likely to fall asleep easily. Most were simply lying in bed, picking up their phones to share their feelings with family and friends.
However, there were some confidential details about the show that could not be shared publicly. Everyone had signed a NDA before joining.
Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi, separated by only a corridor, ended up chatting online.
“I’m worried I won’t be able to sleep tonight,” Gu Jinzhi said softly, his voice coming through the speaker.
Gu Jinzhi hadn’t slept well in the afternoon either. The unfamiliar bed and the lack of comforting, familiar surroundings made the night even more restless.
After many years of marriage, the couple rarely slept apart. Normally, Gu Jinzhi prioritized family and seldom traveled, so he would often be teased by his older brother for his domestic habits.
Lin Xu often had to travel for work, and Gu Jinzhi would take time off to accompany him. They were quite attached, always together.
“Let’s keep chatting until you fall asleep,” Lin Xu said softly as he settled into bed. It was like returning to the way things used to be years ago.
“Do you think anyone has figured us out? Have we slipped up?” Gu Jinzhi asked.
Lin Xu wasn’t sure. They hadn’t been following the live comments closely. “Maybe?”
“So, who did you vote for?” Gu Jinzhi pressed.
He seemed to know, but also unsure, and also curious. After all, to keep up the act, he might have voted for someone else.
“Guest 6,” Lin Xu answered simply.
“Oh no, that means we’re definitely exposed. I voted for Guest 1.” Gu Jinzhi’s voice didn’t sound disappointed but rather quite cheerful. Even after many years of marriage, such outcomes were still enjoyable.
“It’s fine. We just need to keep up the act for a few more days and complete our tasks,” Lin Xu reassured him. After all, they weren’t the main guests.
“Okay, but I’m a bit hungry. I didn’t eat enough at dinner...” Gu Jinzhi’s stomach growled unexpectedly.
“Do you want to eat noodles? Since there are no cameras right now, we can pretend we bumped into each other outside,” Lin Xu suggested. Even though they were pretending, they still had to follow the process.
“Eat!”
What they didn’t expect was that the viewers had a completely different understanding of their relationship. Instead of seeing them as a long-term married couple, the audience was still cheering for them to fall in love.