E-Scum Gong Chapter 77 (Part 1)
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 77 (1/2)
Lin Xu had stayed in the hospital for over ten days. Naturally, Gu Jinzhi had taken leave to accompany him, enjoying the constant companionship and shared living arrangements.
On the first day, Lin Xu insisted that Gu Jinzhi undergo a thorough physical examination. Though some injuries might not be visible, they could cause significant damage.
However, it was clear that Gu Jinzhi was not in such a situation. He indeed knew his body very well. The results showed that he was in excellent condition.
Even the minor abrasions, after Lin Xu had fussed over them with ointment for two days, had completely vanished, leaving Lin Xu astonished.
Zhizhi was indeed thick-skinned...
During these days, Gu Jinzhi ate heartily and was pampered by his boyfriend. To an outsider, it might seem like he was the one hospitalized, but in reality, he was as robust as a bull.
Of course, this didn’t refer to his appearance. Gu Jinzhi wouldn't like that at all. If his boyfriend viewed him that way, Gu Jinzhi would have immediately locked himself in the bathroom and have a good cry. It was not like he hadn't cried before, so Gu Jinzhi clearly no longer had any idol baggage.
The only thing that bothered Gu Jinzhi was the small hospital bed, which was cramped for two large men. When his boyfriend suggested adding another bed to allow Gu Jinzhi some space to rest alone, Gu Jinzhi firmly refused.
Hell, no! They had agreed to be close, and even a one-centimeter gap would ruin the closeness. Besides, he wasn’t fully recovered yet, and sleeping alone would only lead to nightmares.
So, they continued to squeeze together.
Lin Xu didn’t mind the small bed. After all, even a larger one would have made no difference. Gu Jinzhi wouldn’t have used any extra space on his side. Every morning, Lin Xu would find half of Gu Jinzhi’s body sprawled over his arm.
Despite the constant companionship, it wasn’t all bliss. Tension, anxiety, and excitement filled their minds.
Every night, having two young, fiery men sharing a bed was like a clash of thunder and lightning. Lin Xu’s usual way to cope was to stare at the ceiling, trying to clear his mind on his own.
Gu Jinzhi, on the other hand, was more straightforward. Knowing his boyfriend had injuries and shouldn’t move around too much, he would go straight for the jugular. Occasionally, he would sneak in some playful touches, and, meeting his boyfriend’s resigned warning gaze, Gu Jinzhi would muster up his courage, lifting his chin defiantly, teasing, “What’s the matter, brat? It’s obvious you’re enjoying it!”
However, it still wasn’t quite satisfying.
Gu Qi found it hard to criticize his younger brother for being too obsessed with trivial matters this time, though he was genuinely surprised. In his memory, Gu Jinzhi had never been the patient type, but he wasn’t bored of the sterile hospital room day in and day out.
But with Lin Xu by his side, it seemed reasonable that his silly younger brother wouldn’t get tired of it.
Before this, Gu Qi had never imagined that his playful and quick-tempered younger brother would one day be so empowered by the fear of losing his lover. Gu Qi began to see their relationship in a new light. It was indeed deeper and more meaningful than he had previously thought.
Maybe it wasn't first loves that were immature, but his own perspective.
As for the idea of engagement and marriage, Gu Qi was now able to accept it. Indeed, he couldn't think of anyone else who would be more suitable for his younger brother.
Upon tentatively reaching out to Lin Shen, Gu Qi discovered that Lin Shen had used this opportunity to inform his own parents. Now, the Lin couple felt a strong sense of guilt towards Lin Xu, while they were overwhelmingly grateful to Gu Jinzhi, Lin Xu's savior. As a result, they had no objections to speak of.
It seemed that the Lin family's parents would not be an obstacle.
Gu Qi promptly informed his own parents, who were living abroad, of the recent events, though he omitted details about the danger Gu Jinzhi had faced while saving Lin Xu, to spare them unnecessary worry. He simply said that Lin Xu had fallen ill and that Gu Jinzhi was accompanying him in the hospital.
After Gu Jinzhi started university, their parents had retired early and settled abroad, traveling and living a carefree life, leaving Gu Qi to manage the family business. Though Gu Jinzhi was a bit mischievous, his interests were all within the realm of what money could resolve, and he didn’t cling to his parents, so they were naturally free to enjoy themselves.
Their family was relatively open-minded. Otherwise, Gu Jinzhi’s coming out wouldn’t have been so easy.
“What? Jinzhi has a boyfriend!” Mommy Gu, looking youthful with her healthy, tanned skin, exclaimed in surprise.
“Alright, enough about that. I’ll ask him myself.” With a look of eager curiosity, Mommy Gu abruptly ended her video call with Gu Qi and immediately called her younger son.
Over the years, Mommy Gu had attempted to introduce Gu Jinzhi to various boys. There had been many handsome young men from abroad whom she found very attractive. She was quite the facecon.
Both her sons were handsome by Eastern standards, so her aesthetic sense had become a little desensitized. She thought Western boys were quite nice too, but Gu Jinzhi didn’t show any interest.
“I can’t even tell their ages. The boy you showed me in the photos a while back is only seventeen... Isn’t that underage?”
“And in a few years, they’ll change so much. I have face blindness. I won’t even recognize my own partner on the street.”
“My foreign language skills are poor, and when I hear them calling each other ‘baby,’ it just gives me the creeps...”
These were the reasons Gu Jinzhi had used to turn down his mother’s matchmaking attempts, leaving her speechless. What kind of a quirk is this? So picky! Fine, she wouldn't bother anymore. If her son wanted to be lonely for the rest of his life, so be it.
Mommy Gu couldn’t imagine that one day Gu Jinzhi would bring a boyfriend home to meet the family. Naturally, she was very curious about this boyfriend.
When she called, Gu Jinzhi was being coaxed into putting on an extra sweater. The temperature had dropped rapidly these days, and despite the air conditioning, the heating wasn't very effective. The constant coming and going of medical staff often ventilated the room, so it was better to bundle up.
Gu Jinzhi complained that it was unfashionable and insisted that he was cold-resistant. But once Lin Xu had made up his mind, it was difficult to change it, so he reluctantly put it on and curled up in the blanket like a furry little bear.
“Does my neck look shorter?” Gu Jinzhi asked, frowning as he tugged at the collar.
“No, it fits just right.” Lin Xu adjusted his collar.
Gu Jinzhi was skeptical, but he was lost in his boyfriend’s reassuring gaze. He snuggled up against him, finding that it was indeed quite warm.
Not feeling cold and being comfortably warm seemed like two entirely different concepts. He used to prioritize looking good over staying warm, but now, snuggling in bed felt like heaven.
“How about I ask my big brother to bring me some clothes tomorrow? Should I add a pair of thermal underpants too?” Gu Jinzhi asked Lin Xu, rubbing his hands together.
Wasn't it a bit ugly? Wouldn’t it be a waste for his long, white, and straight legs to be clad in such things? Gu Jinzhi was torn between vanity and indecision.
Lin Xu tucked the blanket around him, warming Gu Jinzhi’s feet, and agreed wholeheartedly, “Sure.”
Gu Jinzhi immediately felt the warmth and found it extremely comforting. Even if it was unattractive, he could wear it. After all, Ah Xu’s sense of style was questionable, so he probably wouldn’t think he looked bad in the outfit.
“Oh, my mom’s calling?” Gu Jinzhi was surprised to see his mother’s video call.
Lin Xu, on the other hand, felt a bit nervous. He hadn’t met Zhizhi’s parents yet. Was he not formal enough in his current state?
“Don’t worry, Ah Xu, my mom is a facecon. She’ll definitely like you.” Gu Jinzhi had no intention of hiding anything. After all, his family had long known he was gay.
Moreover, Lin Xu was the boyfriend Gu Jinzhi was incredibly proud of. He thought his partner was perfect and believed the whole world should like him.
Lin Xu, feeling a bit awkward, bit his lip and didn’t know how to respond to Gu Jinzhi’s confidence.
Gu Jinzhi waved his hand grandly to answer the call, and soon both of them saw Mommy Gu, who was extremely fashionable and confident. At that moment, Lin Xu suddenly understood who Gu Jinzhi had inherited his traits from.
Mommy Gu initially ignored her son and fixated her gaze on the handsome young man beside him.
It had to be said that although her son had his flaws, he had inherited her sense of aesthetics. Lin Xu was truly handsome! After seeing so many mature Western boys, Mommy Gu was pleasantly surprised by Lin Xu's fresh, traditional Chinese look.
“Mom, this is my boyfriend, Lin Xu,” Gu Jinzhi unreservedly introduced Lin Xu.
“Hello, Auntie,” Lin Xu said politely, offering a shy smile.
“Then, aunt will call you Xiao Xu. You’re such a nice young man, but you look pretty young,” Mommy Gu said, scrutinizing the slightly distorted video. Even through the poor quality, she could see Lin Xu’s youthful features, which made him look very much like a student.
Gu Jinzhi scratched the back of his head and grinned. “Mom, Ah Xu is nineteen in Chinese nominal age system.” Maybe this would make him seem a bit older? He didn't care anyway. It wasn't the first or second time he'd been accused of being an older cow eating tender grass.
To this, Gu Jinzhi just wanted to say, "Tender grass is really delicious!"
Taken aback, Mommy Gu gave Gu Jinzhi a sidelong glance. What Chinese nominal age system, wasn't he still just eighteen?
A couple of years ago, Gu Jinzhi had complained about the younger boys she had introduced. She had thought her son preferred mature types. Now, when she calculated, Lin Xu was probably even younger then, probably just starting high school.
“Xiao Xu, don’t be nervous. Auntie really likes you.”
Mommy Gu’s reassurance only made Lin Xu more nervous. He felt a bit uneasy in front of elders.
“Oh, and Mom, we plan to get married right after his graduation,” Gu Jinzhi announced boldly to his mother.
Lin Xu felt a pang of anxiety. Such an important matter should have been formally discussed with both families and given proper attention.
To his surprise, Mommy Gu stared at him intently and readily agreed, “Alright, I’ll come back with your father for the engagement party.”
Lin Xu suddenly understood why Gu Jinzhi was more afraid of his brother and only needed to seek Gu Qi’s approval. Gu Qi was more invested in his role as an elder than Gu Jinzhi’s parents. Daddy Gu and Mommy Gu believed in letting their children do as they pleased, as long as they avoided breaking the law.
Marriage was clearly not a trivial matter to them.
“Auntie, I will treat Zhizhi well,” Lin Xu assured. He was determined to honor the commitment and cherish the relationship, regardless of how easily the engagement had been accepted.
Hearing the young man’s clear, honeyed voice calling her son’s nickname, Mommy Gu felt her heart melt. How could her son possibly resist such charm?
Gu Jinzhi had said he didn't like mushy stuff, but what was the difference between being called Zhizhi and baby?!
After chatting a bit longer, Gu Jinzhi, annoyed by his mother’s incessant questions, declared that he was hanging up. His mother always knew how to be the third wheel!
Nevertheless, both families were now clear about their relationship, which settled a major issue.
Although neither never really cared much about the approval of others.