E-Scum Gong Chapter 75
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 75
It felt like he had just woken from a long, terrifying dream. The most bizarre part of it all was seeing Gu Jinzhi, who had never cried in front of Lin Xu (except in bed), sobbing so uncontrollably, shaking the heavens.
Although he had always known Gu Jinzhi could be a bit childish, this was the first time he’d seen him so openly vulnerable, with no attempt to hide his emotions.
But at that moment, Lin Xu simply didn’t have the strength to process it. His mind was foggy, making it difficult to even organize his thoughts. He drifted in and out of awareness, unable to fully grasp what was happening.
When his mind finally cleared, the first person that came to his thoughts was, naturally, Gu Jinzhi. He was anxious to know how he was doing now.
When he opened his eyes, a stark white hospital room greeted him. Daylight had already filled the space.
There was a slight ache in his body, and his abdomen felt worse, but he could still bear it. Lin Xu rubbed his temples and sat up from the bed, supporting himself with his hands.
So, it wasn’t a dream after all.
Yesterday, he had come close to danger. Yet, if he were to be honest, it hadn’t felt all that real to him. It didn’t feel as real as the moment he had died in his previous life, for example.
Maybe it was because everything had ended as abruptly as it began. Or maybe it was because he was in a book, making it hard for him to fully equate it with reality. After thinking about it for a while, he could understand why there was such a plot.
He also understood now why his family had been so anxious, constantly reminding him to be careful these past few days.
Surviving the ordeal didn’t leave him feeling afraid. For an ordinary person, encountering such a terrifying event last night might leave them too scared to ever go out alone again.
As Lin Xu lowered his head, he saw a fuzzy head resting by the window. Studying Gu Jinzhi’s profile, he noticed the swollen, red eyes — proof that the heart-wrenching wails he’d heard last night had been real.
Lin Xu felt both amused and heartbroken. Compared to his own calmness, having already faced death once before, Gu Jinzhi’s psychological scar were likely much deeper. With a soft smile, Lin Xu lowered his head and wrapped an arm around Gu Jinzhi, planting a gentle kiss on his hair. His heart melted with tenderness.
His gaze fell on the small cuts scattered across Gu Jinzhi's face, and he noticed that his clothes hadn’t been changed. The memories of last night flooded back. Lin Xu recalled how Gu Jinzhi had tried so hard to comfort him at first, only to fall apart when he saw him wounded. The thought of it brought a sting of emotion to Lin Xu’s nose.
Last night, his mind had been foggy, his words likely incoherent, and he hadn’t been able to fully empathize with Zhizhi’s pain. All the helplessness, the weight of the situation, had fallen on Zhizhi alone to bear.
But for Gu Jinzhi, this was a completely real world — completely real things that happened. He had been too much.
After all, Gu Jinzhi had grown up pampered, a young master shielded from harm. How could he not fear death? But it seemed he feared Lin Xu’s death even more than his own.
Despite staying by his boyfriend’s bedside, Gu Jinzhi remained fast asleep, completely oblivious. Lin Xu had kissed him several times, yet he still hadn’t woken up.
It wasn’t until Lin Xu noticed someone outside the window keeping watch that he considered calling someone to help carry Gu Jinzhi to rest properly. The moment he moved, the people outside took notice.
The first ones Lin Xu saw were his weary-looking parents, followed closely by his older brother. Behind them stood Gu Jinzhi’s older brother.
Multiple pairs of eyes, all filled with concern, were fixed on Lin Xu. Of course, Gu Qi’s gaze was mostly focused on his younger brother.
Lin Xu's parents had a lot they wanted to say, but they didn’t dare disturb him, afraid to wake their resting son. Instead, they silently checked him over multiple times, ensuring that he was truly uninjured, their faces heavy with worry and deep guilt.
Even though the doctor had reassured them there was no danger to Lin Xu’s life and that he only needed to stay in the hospital for a few days, they couldn’t shake the blame they felt. After all, this senseless disaster had ultimately stemmed from their actions.
When they had received Lin Shen’s call, they were just about to enter an important meeting, one that involved a major business partner. But upon hearing that Lin Xu had been in an accident, both of them froze, panic and guilt filling their expressions. Without a second thought or rational consideration, they immediately canceled the meeting and booked the first flight back to the capital.
The journey back had been filled with silence, every second dragging painfully as they anxiously wondered how their son was, whether his life was in danger.
In the past, they had thought sending Lin Xu back to Jiang City was the best way to protect him. They had made that decision on his behalf, believing it would keep him safe. But now they realized that danger couldn’t be avoided that easily. In the world of business, there were always enemies, and their son would have to come back sooner or later. And because they hadn’t prepared him to protect himself, he had ended up in a much more vulnerable position.
Lin Shen and his parents were no strangers to danger themselves, but they were always alert, well-versed in how to protect themselves. For them, it had always been minor skirmishes, nothing they couldn’t handle.
But Lin Xu’s ordeal had been caused by them. The weight of that guilt crushed them. If anything had truly happened to him, they would never be able to forgive themselves.
Now, standing in a room full of people, their hearts ached with remorse.
“Gu-dage, take Zhizhi to bed and let him rest,” Lin Xu said softly to Gu Qi, breaking the silence.
There was a trace of subtle reproach in Lin Xu’s eyes as he looked at Gu Qi. How could he, as Zhizhi’s older brother, not take better care of him? He had actually let him sleep on his bed for half the night. Zhizhi must have been injured last night too.
Sensitive as Gu Qi was, he instantly picked up on Lin Xu’s unspoken criticism... but he had no defense. How could he not care about his younger brother?
He still vividly remembered the scene when he first saw the two of them last night. Thinking about it made him shudder.
Under the glaring car lights, Gu Qi had saw his younger brother, disheveled and exhausted, carrying Lin Xu on his back. Jinzhi’s cries had been so loud, so filled with desperation, that for a moment, Gu Qi had forgotten they had just been through a kidnapping.
Of course, what worried them the most was when Lin Xu lost consciousness completely. When they rushed him to the nearest hospital, everyone feared the worst.
Later, when the police arrived, they had to cooperate with the investigation, which delayed their return to the hospital. The kidnappers had already escaped by then, and a further search was needed.
It wasn’t until the doctor assured them that Lin Xu’s life was not in danger that Gu Qi finally felt relief. He had immediately notified Lin Xu’s family, but during that initial period, it had only been him and Gu Jinzhi waiting anxiously at the hospital. Lin Shen had arrived shortly afterward.
He had originally tried to persuade his younger brother to get a checkup. Even though Jinzhi didn’t appear to be seriously hurt, it would be more reassuring to get examined.
But his younger brother had completely ignored him.
This wasn’t the first time Gu Jinzhi had refused to acknowledge him. In the past, it had always been out of anger — Jinzhi would tilt his chin up, glance at him with disdain, and march past with his nose up in the air, all high and mighty.
This time, however, was very different.
Once they arrived at the hospital, Gu Jinzhi seemed calmer, at least he was no longer wailing uncontrollably. But to Gu Qi, it didn't make much of a difference.
Gu Jinzhi had sat in the corner with his head lowered, and without any effort, every blink brought fresh tears to his hands. It was like an endless stream, his eyes shedding tears as if it would never stop.
It was truly a helpless sight.
“Jinzhi, listen to gege. Lin Xu is fine. The wound isn’t deep, and your boyfriend will wake up tomorrow. The doctor just confirmed it,” Gu Qi tried to comfort him.
But Jinzhi simply looked up at him, his eyes still wet and teary. His eyelids seemed to act like a switch. Gu Qi waited in silence for a while before eventually giving up, too afraid of the next blink that would bring more tears.
In the end, he didn’t dare say anything else. He just sat down next to his younger brother outside the operating room, both of them crouching in silence, lost in their thoughts.
Not long after, Lin Shen arrived, his expression filled with anxiety as he quickly inquired about his younger brother’s condition. Upon learning that Lin Xu was alright, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. But his face soon darkened as he immediately began investigating who was behind the attack, having already formed suspicions. He carried himself with a tense, low-energy aura, busying himself with the situation.
Then, he noticed Gu Jinzhi’s strange behavior and learned that it was him who had saved his younger brother. His emotions became much more complicated.
As an outsider, he naturally couldn’t see anything particularly good about Gu Jinzhi before. But after this incident, Lin Shen had no words to refute the depth of Gu Jinzhi’s feelings for his younger brother.
If Gu Jinzhi hadn’t been there, things might have turned out very differently. Seeing how disheveled Gu Jinzhi was, Lin Shen felt genuinely sorry for him.
Watching him crouch there, silently crying, left Lin Shen uncomfortable. For once, he softly comforted Gu Jinzhi and sincerely thanked him.
But just like Gu Qi, Lin Shen was ignored. Lacking the heart to sit, he joined them and crouched beside Gu Jinzhi.
Lin Xu’s parents, however, didn’t arrive until nearly dawn. They had taken the earliest flight they could.
Before they left, they asked Lin Shen to take good care of his younger brother. Lin Real Estate had recently acquired a piece of land in the west of the city, stirring jealousy among their competitors.
Among them was an old enemy they had made when they first came to the capital more than 20 years ago. In fact, there had been small skirmishes, with the Lin family retaliating each time, causing their enemy to suffer a lot of losses. Over the years, they had almost squeezed them out of the market.
But there was no defense against such underhanded tactics.
Lin Xu had been at the campus most of the time, or with the Gu boy, leaving little opportunity for anything to happen. Lin Shen, caught off guard, hadn’t expected them to leave the city that weekend.
They didn’t blame Lin Shen, but guilt weighed on them the entire journey.
Seeing that Gu Qi was exhausted from running around and that Gu Jinzhi’s condition wasn’t improving, Lin Shen finally stood up and explained the situation to his parents.
“Was it Jinzhi who saved our Xiao Xu? We owe you so much. Without you, we wouldn’t know what to do.” Mommy Lin immediately stepped forward to thank Gu Jinzhi, her face filled with gratitude.
Mommy Lin hadn’t had much interaction with the Gu family's younger son before. Now, after what Gu Jinzhi had done to save her son, she felt indebted. She resolved to maintain a good relationship with the Gu family from here on, helping them in any way she could.
Seeing Gu Jinzhi still immersed in his sadness, and worried that his mother might not understand, Lin Shen quickly added, “Mom, Jinzhi is exhausted right now, and he’s feeling really down.”
Only then did Mommy Lin nod in realization. For a moment, she felt a bit anxious, concerned that she might upset Gu Jinzhi. But she was also a little confused. Just now, they had heard the doctor say that Lin Xu wasn’t in any real danger, which had brought them a great deal of relief.
Though she was still upset and worried, her emotions weren’t nearly as intense as Gu Jinzhi’s. The most she had done was tear up a bit when they first arrived at the hospital.
Watching Gu Jinzhi continue to silently shed tears, Mommy Lin felt a little lost. Her own son wasn’t one to cry often, so she wasn’t used to such emotional displays.
And there was another question — Gu Jinzhi seemed to be worried about her son?
“Jinzhi really has such a kind heart,” she whispered to Lin Shen, deeply moved. She hadn’t heard much about the second son of the Gu family before, but now that she was seeing him for the first time, she felt profoundly touched.
Lin Shen thought for a moment, glanced at Gu Jinzhi, and secretly thought this might be an opportunity.
“Mom, come here. I need to tell you something.” He pulled his mother aside, leaving their father sitting quietly by Lin Xu’s hospital room, his face showing signs of exhaustion and worry.
“What is it?” Mommy Lin asked, dabbing the corner of her eyes.
“Well... Gu Jinzhi and Ah Xu are in a relationship.” That was why his boyfriend was far more emotional than anyone else in the room.
After all, neither Lin Shen nor Lin Xu’s parents were the type to break down in tears, given their age and life experience.
For a brief moment, Mommy Lin looked utterly blank. In the span of a second, she had to process the fact that her son liked men — and that he already had a boyfriend.
Was she against it? She had always imagined Lin Xu marrying a wife and having children, but now she couldn’t muster any objections.
Her son was lying in a hospital bed, and it wasn’t his parents who had saved his life — it was this boyfriend.
“You’ve known about this for a while?” she asked Lin Shen, still a bit dazed.
“I just found out a few days ago... I was trying to figure out how to tell you and Dad, but then all this happened...” Lin Shen carefully distanced himself from the situation.
Thinking of the danger her son had just faced, Mommy Lin grew quieter, her emotions hard to untangle. Just moments ago, she had been deeply grateful to Gu Jinzhi, thinking of how to repay him. There was no way she could start worrying about such trivial things at a time like this, so she nodded absentmindedly.
When they returned to the hallway outside the hospital room, Mommy Lin took another good look at Gu Jinzhi. Seeing the marks on him, she sighed to herself.
After what felt like forever, the doctor finally announced that they could see the patient, as long as they remained quiet and didn’t disturb his rest.
Daddy Lin immediately stood up, eager to go inside. He hadn’t said a word all night, but his pain was no less than anyone else’s.
But he was older now, and his legs weren’t as quick as they used to be. Just as he stood, he saw Gu Jinzhi rush into the room.
For a moment, Daddy Lin stood frozen, only to be gently held back by his wife.
Mommy Lin whispered in her husband’s ear, “Let Jinzhi go in first. He’s very upset.”
Daddy Lin found it reasonable but also felt a strange discomfort. Shouldn’t they, as parents, be the most upset?
Nonetheless, they waited before going in. When they finally saw Lin Xu asleep, their hearts ached. They regretted not being by his side more often, which had left their relationship strained over the years.
But they had to stand aside because Gu Jinzhi was firmly stationed at Lin Xu’s bedside, watching over him with intense focus, as if nothing else existed.
“Thank you both, and thank Jinzhi too,” Daddy Lin said politely to Gu Qi. “But you all must be exhausted. You should go home and rest. We’ll stay with Xiao Xu tonight, and I’ll personally come to thank you another day.”
Gu Qi was also worried about his younger brother, so he cautiously suggested, “Jinzhi, how about we go get you checked out too?”
But Gu Jinzhi ignored him, his recently calmed eyes beginning to water again. Even his breathing became labored as he tried to remain quiet for Lin Xu’s sake.
Daddy and Mommy Lin exchanged glances for a long time. In the end, they conceded, allowing Gu Jinzhi to stay at Lin Xu’s bedside while the rest of the family waited outside. They couldn’t argue against their son’s devoted boyfriend.
Gu Qi could have gone home to rest, but he was equally worried about his younger brother. Torn between understanding and pity, he stayed and waited, feeling like an exhausted fool.
Lin Xu, unaware of the whole situation, assumed that they had focused too much on his injuries and neglected Zhizhi. His heart ached at the thought of Gu Jinzhi sitting there all night. For the first time, he felt a rare spark of anger.
