The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 14
Yu Youqing, how dare you?
How dare you!
She actually stuttered along with Jiang Musheng’s words: “Ba-ba-ba-ba… baby?”
Jiang Musheng: “That’s not the right tone.”
When she said this, Jiang Musheng looked at her with a faintly amused expression. Her eyes were dark, but the ample indoor lighting cast a soft glow on her skin, making even her teasing demeanor seem tender and ambiguous.
Yu Youqing opened her mouth but found herself speechless under the overwhelming allure of Jiang Musheng’s beauty.
She took two steps back.
Jiang Musheng added, “Why would she retreat at this moment?”
Yu Youqing knew Jiang Musheng was referring to the character in the script.
But right now, she hadn’t even seen the script, let alone knew the character’s name. She couldn’t tell whether Jiang Musheng was toying with her or genuinely offering career guidance. Defeated, she averted her gaze.
“I can’t do it,” Yu Youqing said, almost adding, “Teacher Jiang, what will it take for you to let me off the hook?”
Her eyes betrayed her thoughts, and Jiang Musheng understood. “You might want to consider my proposal.”
Message received, this was a dismissal.
As Yu Youqing walked out, she couldn’t help but reflect that, apart from the “baby” remark, Jiang Musheng’s tone had been surprisingly gentle.
Perhaps, this really was a good suggestion?
Since the film was being tailored for Jiang Musheng as the female lead, given her status and influence, she could easily handpick her co-star.
Exactly! Yu Youqing had an epiphany. With such a golden opportunity right in front of her, how could she not seize it?
This would bring her one step closer to her goal securing a sky-high paycheck and retiring from the entertainment industry.
“What mischief are you up to this late at night?”
A mocking voice snapped Yu Youqing back to reality. She looked at Liang Yitang standing before her and replied flatly, “Looking for trouble?”
Liang Yitang had stepped out to get some water when she spotted Yu Youqing coming from the direction of Jiang Musheng’s room. Without hesitation, she launched into a tirade: “For a moment today, I actually thought you’d changed. But you’re still the same. You’re just trying to latch onto Teacher Jiang, aren’t you? I never imagined you’d stoop so low. Even with a sugar daddy, you’re still clawing your way up.”
She expected Yu Youqing to retaliate, but instead, Yu Youqing took two steps forward. Half of Yu Youqing’s face was now shadowed in the dim light, her lashes lifting slightly. Liang Yitang felt an inexplicable chill.
“What? Hit a nerve, didn’t I?”
“Liang Yitang, you’re truly foolish,” Yu Youqing chuckled softly, her voice clear in the empty living room. “If Zhao Guili can use these tactics against me now, she’ll destroy you just as easily later. Understand?”
Liang Yitang’s heart skipped a beat, almost as if she could hear Yu Youqing call her an idiot. But Yu Youqing said nothing more, merely giving her a cool glance before walking away.
“…”
Liang Yitang didn’t even know how to respond.
The next day, the guests’ filming focus shifted to the afternoon’s skiing activity.
About two kilometers from the campsite was the ski resort. When everyone gathered on the slopes, Yin Zi quietly moved closer to Yu Youqing and asked, “Why do you seem so preoccupied today? You’ve barely spoken.”
Preoccupied was an understatement, Yu Youqing even had faint dark circles under her eyes. She hadn’t slept well last night.
Early in the morning, she had been jolted awake by the word “baby” echoing in her dream.
It was terrifying.
Jiang Musheng had merely given her a few casual pointers, yet in her dream, Yu Youqing had been calling her “baby” over and over again, to the point where she felt utterly flustered.
Thinking Yu Youqing was worried about skiing, Yin Zi reassured her, “Don’t stress if you don’t know how. Even if we can’t get Teacher Jiang to teach us, there are still instructors.”
Teach?
Ah, right. Jiang Musheng was the type to master a new skill for every film she starred in skiing was one of her specialties.
Yu Youqing spotted Yang Yang among the staff who had tagged along, clearly concerned about Jiang Musheng’s frostbite. Though separated by one person, Yu Youqing discreetly studied Jiang Musheng’s gloves. They were on, but not properly secured even the Velcro straps around the wrists were left loose.
While the instructor explained key techniques, Yu Youqing’s attention was elsewhere.
No one else seemed aware that Jiang Musheng’s hands were bothering her. Yu Youqing thought to herself, Skiing is skiing, it’s not some childish game. How likely is it that gloves would just fall off? Jiang Musheng isn’t a kid; surely she knows how to take care of herself?
But then again, if she knew her hands might suffer, why had she still caught that handful of snow for Yu Youqing yesterday? Torn, Yu Youqing wondered if she should at least remind Jiang Musheng to fasten her gloves properly, if only to repay that small kindness.
Yes, she should.
While Yin Zi chattered away, Yu Youqing shifted positions, planting her ski poles as she sidled up to Jiang Musheng. “Teacher Jiang, could you teach me?”
The moment the words left her mouth, Yu Youqing froze in horror. Teaching again?! No, no, I just wanted to remind her about the gloves!
“Do you not understand the concept of first come, first served?” Liang Yitang, standing on the other side of Jiang Musheng with her skis on, angrily pulled off her goggles. “I already asked Teacher Jiang to teach me!”
Yu Youqing wasn’t having it. She had already called Liang Yitang out yesterday, why was she still picking fights? If this had been earlier, she might’ve let it slide, but now she just wanted Jiang Musheng to pair up with her so she could encourage her to rest. In this freezing cold, even gloves might not be enough to prevent frostbite.
She scoffed, “Teacher Jiang hasn’t agreed to you yet.”
Then Yu Youqing also removed her goggles, squinting slightly as she turned to Jiang Musheng. Her gaze met Jiang Musheng’s for only a second before darting down to her hands. In a hushed voice, she said, “Fasten your gloves properly.”
Her tone was a far cry from the confrontational one she’d used with Liang Yitang more like a little animal instantly soothed by a gentle touch.
Jiang Musheng paused, then the corners of her eyes crinkled slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile brighter than the winter sun.
“You’re very observant.” Following Yu Youqing’s gaze, Jiang Musheng tightened the Velcro straps on her gloves.
Yu Youqing joked offhandedly, “Guess all omegas are observant.”
Just as Liang Yitang was about to protest again, Li Rongcheng stepped forward. “Are you two fighting over Jiang?”
Liang Yitang snapped, “Yu Youqing is deliberately trying to steal her from me!”
“She’s not an object to be fought over,” Yu Youqing corrected with a frown. “I’ll defer to Teacher Jiang’s opinion.”
Jiang Musheng exchanged a helpless glance with Li Rongcheng, who then said, “Jiang’s skills are indeed at coaching level, but she can only mentor one person. It’s inappropriate to put her on the spot like this in front of the cameras. Let’s do this each of you state your reasons for wanting to pair with Jiang, and I’ll be the impartial judge.”
Liang Yitang pouted, “I was paired with Teacher Jiang yesterday.”
“Let me speak!” Yu Youqing immediately raised her hand, inspiration striking. “After watching Teacher Jiang’s snow mountain film, I became such a fan that I’d regret it for life if I didn’t learn from her.” She delivered the lines with perfect earnestness, mimicking an awestruck fan meeting their idol, complete with barely restrained starry eyes.
Jiang Musheng watched her, amusement flickering in her gaze. This performance was far more convincing for a moment, even she felt the genuine pleasure of being admired.
“Liar! You’ve never seen it!” Liang Yitang refused to back down, determined to expose Yu Youqing’s pretense in front of Jiang. Her voice rose sharply, “If you’ve really watched it, name the most iconic scene!”
She glared triumphantly at Yu Youqing, certain the other woman was bluffing. Everyone present including Jiang Musheng turned to Yu Youqing expectantly.
“Of course I know.”
At these words, Jiang Musheng, who’d been about to intervene paused in surprise.
“In the film’s midpoint, the protagonist Xu Nuo, played by Teacher Jiang rides a snowboard at breakneck speed down an avalanche to rescue a stranded girl. The velocity was such that it seemed she could outrun time itself.” Yu Youqing meticulously recalled every detail. Though she hadn’t seen it before, the in-flight movie had been on loop, the scene was so iconic it had seared into her memory.
“When someone in despair sees even a glimmer of hope, they’ll cling to its warmth. So of course the girl fell for Xu Nuo the moment she appeared.” Yu Youqing hesitated, then finally dared to meet Jiang Musheng’s gaze.
Suddenly, yesterday’s memory flashed unbidden, Jiang feeding her snowflakes, sunlight gilding her features into breathtaking radiance.
With a soft sigh that seemed meant for herself alone, Yu Youqing murmured, “Who could possibly resist falling for her?”