E-Scum Gong Chapter 87
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 87
Soon came the second round of the heartthrob voting.
Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi were in a state of utter nonchalance. In fact, they had secretly communicated late into the night, each believing that the audience had already figured out their relationship. Thus, their pretense was half-hearted, with enthusiasm as intermittent as fishing for three days and drying nets for two.
Many of the small details in the show had escaped their notice.
For the second vote, they openly cast their votes for each other.
Because of this, the netizens were even shipping them hard. They speculated passionately about whether these two might have already fallen in love.
Meanwhile, the romantic connections of the other guests became a tangled mess. Yao Mengchen shifted his interest to Tan Hao, while Luo Zihang courteously voted for Liang Chi. Overall, the situation remained highly ambiguous.
At this crucial moment, a significant event approached: the career reveal.
Everyone had already formed an initial impression of each other, but it's also very possible that their professions would reverse other people's impressions of them.
For instance, in past seasons, male guests with careers as doctors had seen a noticeable increase in votes once their professions were revealed. Conversely, those who appeared to be successful individuals but were exposed as ordinary workers saw a drop in popularity. After all, the guests were all mature adults, so it was only natural to consider practical issues.
This shift in perception was one reason why other guests' interest in Lin Xu waned. The profession of student offered no advantages beyond youth and, most importantly, provided no opportunity for deeper connections.
"We've been waiting a long time for this segment! I'm so curious about what occupation Guest 6 has!"
"Liang Chi must be a CEO. His attire is always so refined. He even wears a vest and suit indoors."
"Tan Hao looks like a cool guy who might be into street dancing."
"Could Guest 1 be a trainee? Has anyone looked it up? With that look, he must be a trainee."
"Wait, did anyone notice that the lottery channel is about to close? Are they about to reveal the hidden couple?"
"Crap, I've been so caught up in my cp that I forgot! I need to quickly pick an answer."
While the comments buzzed with excitement, the guests grew a bit nervous. They were also curious about each other's professions.
In fact, Gu Jinzhi and Lin Xu's roles were nearing their end. Once their professions were revealed, the situation would become quite apparent.
The first person, chosen by drawing lots, would then nominate the next person.
Yao Mengchen drew the short straw.
"Let me guess," Liang Chi, seated next to him, said with a smile. "Mengchen, you must be a student, right?"
The others nodded in agreement. "Mengchen does give off a student vibe. Seems like Liang Chi's guess was spot on."
Yao Mengchen smiled wryly. "Yes, you're right. It wasn't exactly a tough guess!"
He was a sophomore this year at a prestigious 211 university in China. He was actually quite famous on campus because of his short videos, which was why he had been invited to participate.
"So, the next person should be... Jinzhi. I’m sure everyone is curious," Yao Mengchen said, glancing at Gu Jinzhi.
Although their interactions had been limited, Yao Mengchen had recently found himself observing Gu Jinzhi. Perhaps deep down, he was still a little unwilling that Lin Xu was more attracted to Gu Jinzhi, even though they didn't seem like the same type of people.
Gu Jinzhi raised an eyebrow and spread his hands. "Take a guess."
"Are you in the fashion industry? A fashion editor, perhaps?" Luo Zihang suggested.
Gu Jinzhi smiled and shook his head, though he was quite proud of his own aesthetic sense.
"Entertainment industry? A model?" Tan Hao ventured.
Given Gu Jinzhi’s height, figure, and overall stylish appearance, this guess seemed reasonable.
Gu Jinzhi pondered for a moment. "You’re close, but not quite."
"It’s really hard to guess. Lin Xu, what do you think?" Yao Mengchen turned to Lin Xu.
Lin Xu took off his black-rimmed glasses and rubbed his nose, which felt uncomfortable after wearing them for a while.
"Maybe he’s some sort of a boss," he replied vaguely.
Gu Jinzhi glanced at Lin Xu with admiration and nodded.
The group then watched the VCR about Gu Jinzhi on the screen, their jaws dropping in disbelief. It turned out that not only was he a boss, but he was also the head of Gu Media.
The room fell silent, with everyone wondering if this information should even be broadcast. After all, the show was produced by Gu Media, a company well-known in the industry, with many award-winning actors under its banner.
Instantly, the way everyone looked at Gu Jinzhi changed from seeing him as a peer to viewing him as a powerful boss.
This realization made everyone wonder if Lin Xu was indeed a trainee or a newly signed artist with Gu Media. It seemed like quite an impressive situation.
Meanwhile, the comments exploded online.
"Wow! I was just thinking whether Xiao Gu was a rich second generation by day and a hairdresser by night! His hair is always on point."
"Is it really possible for such a young and handsome CEO to exist? And he even came on his own company's show? And... and... he's so open about being a 0? Such bravery, little cutie."
"Lin Xu is so lucky to catch the eye of a wealthy guy. He’s on the fast track to the top now."
They then announced the careers of Liang Chi, Tan Hao, and Luo Zihang.
Liang Chi was also a company president, which was impressive in its own right. However, after Gu Jinzhi, it seemed rather insignificant, and it was hard for the others to feel much excitement.
Tan Hao was a street dance choreographer, also involved in the entertainment industry, having contributed to many dance routines. His initial interest in Gu Jinzhi made sense now, though it didn’t matter much anymore.
Luo Zihang was an artist, which was not difficult to guess since it matched his demeanor perfectly.
Lin Xu was saved for last because everyone assumed his profession was straightforward.
"A student?"
Lin Xu shook his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. After all, he had carefully crafted the student persona, often mentioning school, which led people to make assumptions.
"Oh? Trainee?" Yao Mengchen asked, surprised.
The comments exploded with speculation.
"Ah, I’m feeling a bit let down. Could it be true that Gu Jinzhi brought one of his company’s trainees just to make an appearance?"
"If this is all scripted, it’s a real waste of my feelings."
"At his age, he can’t just be a student. Maybe he’s been aiming for the entertainment industry for a long time and has a low level of education..."
Soon, Lin Xu shook his head again.
"?"
Everyone was completely puzzled. If he wasn’t a student or a trainee and spent his time at school, what could his profession be?
Lin Xu awkwardly added, "Actually, I don’t look as young as a student." He had just removed his glasses on purpose.
The group refocused on his face... He still looked quite young.
Gu Jinzhi, lying beside him with a mysterious smile, was clearly enjoying the show.
"I’m twenty-eight this year," Lin Xu offered another hint.
"!!! What? At that age, he looks so young!"
"Wait... why does something feel off? Have I been forgetting something?"
"...That age is quite suspicious."
Unable to guess further, everyone had to wait for the VCR to reveal the answer.
When the camera showed the gates of Q University, everyone was momentarily stunned. As one of the top institutions, it was a dream school for many.
"Graduate student? Doctoral student? I guess those still count as students..." the comments continued to speculate.
It wasn’t until the VCR showed Lin Xu in a suit standing at a podium, with the on-screen introduction clearly stating his role, that the mystery was finally solved.
"A professor from the Department of Bioengineering?!!"
"A professor at that age? Damn, that’s impressive."
The other guests were also stunned. They had spent a week living with a professor from Q University?
Instantly, Lin Xu’s image shifted. He was far from the immature young man many netizens had imagined.
Given this, the standout guests of the season were clearly Lin Xu and Gu Jinzhi — one rich, the other cultured.
Yao Mengchen glanced at Lin Xu again. What had been a tangled mess of thoughts now seemed much clearer.
Many netizens, upon seeing Lin Xu’s profile, immediately began searching for more information online.
As expected, they found his details on the Q University website, where such information could not be falsified.
Furthermore, several obscure media outlets had published tweets about him. Though unverified and considered rumors, many were generally accurate.
It turned out that Professor Lin Xu's family was indeed affluent.
Consequently, netizens buzzed with a mix of true and false information.
By the time his profession was revealed, it became impossible to hide his relationship status. After all, the fact that Professor Lin was married wasn’t exactly a secret.
Just after the professions were revealed, an announcement came through.
"Tonight, we are unveiling the hidden couple among the six guests. We thank them for participating in this episode."
Yao Mengchen and the others suddenly remembered there was a hidden couple among them.
The comments section also quickened with anticipation.
"Oh my god... Could it be the pair I’ve been thinking about? I’m so nervous!"
"One of them has to be Lin Xu. There are even Q University students commenting that he’s married."
"So, the other one? Must be Guest 6, right?"
"I can’t believe it. They were so obvious, and I still didn’t figure it out. How dumb of me."
"Looking back, they always seemed a bit distant from the other guests. That must be the aura of a married couple!"
On screen, Lin Xu shyly took Gu Jinzhi’s hand.
"Sorry, everyone, for keeping it a secret. Actually, Zhizhi and I are the hidden couple."
Gu Jinzhi’s face lit up with pride. He clearly enjoyed the hand-holding event. After all, if nothing else, they hadn't had much physical contact this week, and he had been craving it.
Only Liang Chi breathed a sigh of relief. The others seemed to only smile on the surface, while inwardly feeling a pang of sadness. In their circles, the best people had already found each other.
Throughout this episode, everyone’s attention had been drawn to these two, only to find out that there was no possibility for them.
"I thought with a professor looking so handsome, he must be a trainee," Yao Mengchen joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Lin Xu blushed. "I’m too uncoordinated for that... I really don’t have the qualifications to be a trainee."
At this point, as they prepared to leave the Love Cabin the next day, the final night was left to this couple to cook dinner.
It soon became clear that Lin Xu had been completely putting on an act. His cooking skills were quite proficient, and his homemade dishes were delicious.
Meanwhile, Gu Jinzhi’s help in the kitchen was smooth and efficient.
"How long have you two been together?" the others asked with curiosity.
The group genuinely liked them. Despite their high status, they showed no airs. After the initial awe and respect, they had settled into a more relaxed attitude.
"You tell them," Gu Jinzhi passed the question to Lin Xu, curious to see if he would slip up.
After all, the year they met was at Lin Xu’s prime, and he would never forget it.
"We’ve been together for ten years and married for six," Lin Xu replied without hesitation.
Lin Xu had a great memory, always preparing gifts in advance for anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays.
"Wow!!!" The group was truly astonished, even more so than by the revelation of their identities.
It turned out that for Lin Xu, essentially every day since adulthood had been dedicated to his partner.
It was hard to imagine what kind of steadfast love would lead to such an early decision to marry. It was truly enviable.
"Huhuhu, I’m so touched. It’s been ten years, yet it feels like they’re still in the throes of a passionate romance. Every time they look at each other, I feel like there are hormones flying around."
"I always thought Guest 6 ate a lot, but now I realize he eats even more when his husband cooks. His appetite is surprising."
"Now that they’re married, I hope they reach their golden wedding anniversary!"
"I need to rewatch the show from the beginning. I don’t know how I missed it the first time. I was so clueless and just happily watching!"
"Even though this is the end of the first episode and we won’t see them on screen again, I’ll keep shipping them forever!"
The next day, as the pair departed, everyone watched their figures fading into the distance and finally realized how unmistakably obvious it was — they were indeed a married couple.
"Are you really that uncoordinated?" Gu Jinzhi nudged the man beside him with his elbow.
"Hmm." Lin Xu had practiced his middle school radio exercises at home countless times.
"But you seem to have a great sense of rhythm!" Gu Jinzhi teased him with a mischievous wink.
Lin Xu instantly understood what he was implying. Feeling both love and helplessness, he could only turn in the car, pull Gu Jinzhi into his arms, and firmly grip his shoulder before planting a kiss on him.
"Behave yourself in public."
Lin Xu sighed. He couldn’t help but think that when they got older, Zhizhi’s bold and carefree nature might eventually lead to them losing their dignity in their final years. The thought was truly troubling.
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TL: It's really the end! Thanks for choosing to read here and sticking with me! For all of you patient people, you'll be granted with a longer life, so you can keep up with all the amazing bl novels out there 🧚✨✨✨✨
I hope you have also enjoyed this as much as I did. This is the end huhu. Bye! If you have spare time, feel free to check out my other projects!
Goodbye for now ‹𝟹
