The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 17

Yu Youqing got into Jiang Musheng’s car. Though she’d cursed the unreliable driver a thousand times in her heart during the ride, she didn’t dare say it out loud not with Jiang Musheng sitting right beside her.

Having Jiang Musheng personally drive her to the airport was something she’d never even dreamed of.

Literally the kind of thing she wouldn’t dare fantasize about, holy crap.

She had no idea what to talk about with Jiang Musheng, so she stayed quiet. But in such a confined space, even if her mouth wasn’t moving, all her other senses were hyper-focused on Jiang Musheng. Her gaze drifted downward, landing on Jiang Musheng’s motionless grip on her phone.

Jiang Musheng didn’t seem to be in the best mood. The tips of her fingers pressing against the phone had turned slightly white, clearly applying unconscious pressure.

Yu Youqing guessed it was because of what Liang Yitang had mentioned about compatibility. That naturally led her thoughts to Li Rongcheng urging Jiang Musheng to settle down earlier. Was Jiang Musheng troubled by the lack of a suitable partner?

After some hesitation, Yu Youqing spoke up awkwardly, “Ms. Jiang, I don’t think you need to worry.”

Jiang Musheng looked up, confusion in her eyes.

“Someone highly compatible with you will definitely come along,” Yu Youqing said, though she wasn’t great at comforting people never had much practice. She was nervous just looking at Jiang Musheng.

In her past life, right up until her death, she’d never heard any news about Jiang Musheng having a girlfriend. But then again… she also hadn’t heard anything about Jiang Musheng having a white moonlight either.

Maybe she just hadn’t paid enough attention back then and missed that interview.

Jiang Musheng didn’t respond, her expression contemplative, as if weighing Yu Youqing’s words. Sensing she’d been heard, Yu Youqing added, “Someone like you plenty of girls would be into you.”

“Really?” Jiang Musheng’s gaze finally settled on Yu Youqing. She smiled faintly, without much emotion. “I don’t care about compatibility.”

“Huh? But you just said—” Yu Youqing abruptly shut her mouth, then hastily amended, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I just… accidentally overheard.”

“That was just an offhand remark.” Jiang Musheng didn’t seem bothered. Noticing Yu Youqing’s flustered state, her tone softened slightly. “It’s about the person, not the circumstances.”

Yu Youqing didn’t quite understand, but she nodded blankly anyway, mostly out of fear that Jiang Musheng might think she had ulterior motives. She fell silent again.

After a brief pause, Jiang Musheng asked, “Plenty of girls would like someone like me?”

“Yeah.” Yu Youqing thought about it if she’d been in her teens, someone like Jiang Musheng would’ve made her swoon. Ambitious, successful, mature, considerate that type would’ve had her head over heels.

Jiang Musheng seemed curious. “What do you mean by ‘someone like me’?”

Yu Youqing repeated the adjectives she’d just thought of, feeling a bit like a sycophant. But after she finished, Jiang Musheng actually seemed in better spirits at least she’d stopped strangling her poor phone. Instead, she asked with interest, “And what age range are these ‘girls’ you’re talking about?”

“From teens to twenties?” Yu Youqing had no idea Jiang Musheng would ask this, so she gave a rough estimate. “Anyway, I guarantee that girls from twelve or thirteen to twenty-two or three wouldn’t be able to resist Teacher Jiang’s charm.”

She was actually underselling it. Given Jiang Musheng’s nationwide popularity, even grandmothers in their seventies and eighties adored her.

When they arrived outside the airport, to avoid causing a commotion, Jiang Musheng naturally only escorted her to the VIP terminal entrance.

Just as Yu Youqing was about to get out of the car, Jiang Musheng stopped her with a faintly amused smile and asked, “How old are you?”

“Twenty-four.” Yu Youqing had just celebrated her birthday not long ago. After answering, she noticed Jiang Musheng pause and asked, “What’s wrong, Teacher Jiang?”

“Nothing.”

“Then I’ll head out first. Thank you.” Their schedules didn’t align, so Yu Youqing blinked and politely added, “When we’re back, I’ll treat you to a meal if there’s a chance.”

By the time Yu Youqing had disappeared from sight, Jiang Musheng, still sitting in the car, pulled out her phone.

The screen lit up, still displaying her QR code from earlier, untouched. She stared at it for a long while before murmuring meaningfully, “No wonder.”

So once they’re older, they don’t like this kind of thing anymore?

–

After returning to Yuncheng, Yu Youqing was swamped with work for a while. Her company assigned her some short dramas to film, and she even spent a week on set, barely finding time to go home. The episode from their snow mountain shoot wasn’t scheduled to air until New Year’s Eve, so she didn’t pay it much mind. It wasn’t until her busy period ended and she returned to her apartment that she belatedly realized how empty it felt.

With the year-end approaching, even a low-profile artist like her was busy, let alone Jiang Musheng, who must have been swamped. The apartment remained exactly as it was before the shoot, clearly untouched by Jiang Musheng.

It was Saturday, and Yu Youqing had the day off to rest and watch the variety show episode. She turned on the TV and went to take a shower, then curled up comfortably on the sofa, waiting for the ads to finish. Maybe it was the intensity of her recent workload, or maybe it was the warmth of the apartment, but she dozed off before the show even started.

She slept straight through until the next morning.

A phone call woke her up.

Groggily answering, she heard an urgent voice on the other end:

“Where are you, sis? Have you seen what’s happening? Did you watch the show yesterday? Have you seen what people are saying?”

Yu Youqing was still half-asleep, yawning lazily.

Tiantian nearly choked. “You’re still sleeping?!” How could she still be sleeping with something this big going on?

“What’s going on?”

“That scarf remember it?” Tiantian rattled off like a machine gun. “The one in your selfie! When the show aired and they did the unboxing, didn’t Yin Zi have the exact same one? She said you gave it to her, and now fans are tearing into you for riding on Jiang Musheng’s coattails. Oh my god, you!”

“Wait.” Yu Youqing’s drowsiness instantly faded by half as she mumbled, “How am I riding on her coattails again?”

“You didn’t notice the logo on the scarf in your selfie? That logo has Jiang Musheng’s initials. This scarf was specially made for Jiang Musheng by the brand there’s only one in existence. So of course fans are accusing you of clout-chasing. If you were going to buy a knockoff, why give it to Yin Zi? The backlash is insane right now. President Lin wants you at the company immediately.”

Yu Youqing paused before saying, “Has no one considered that Teacher Jiang might have given this to me?”

“Of course not! That’s impossible.” Sweetie sighed deeply before hanging up, adding as an afterthought, “Sis, where’d you get that fake? The replica’s scarily accurate.”

“…”

–

On her way to the company, Yu Youqing instinctively felt she should first explain things to Jiang Musheng. But when she pulled out her phone, she realized she didn’t even have Jiang Musheng’s number.

Sweetie had advised against checking social media, and Yu Youqing could easily imagine the toxic mess awaiting there. She obediently only checked WeChat messages during the ride, knowing this qualified as a full-blown PR crisis, no wonder Lin Xuqiao had summoned her for an emergency meeting.

The absurdity of the situation struck her. What could she possibly do now? Post a public statement saying “You’ve got it all wrong, this scarf was actually gifted by Teacher Jiang because—”

Because Teacher Jiang is kind?

Yeah right. No fan would believe that.

Any statement would just fuel more clout-chasing accusations. With the situation this severe, the company would have to decide the response. Yu Youqing just hoped Jiang Musheng wouldn’t misunderstand… She recalled their first meeting when Jiang Musheng had come to see Lin Xuqiao.

That meant Jiang Musheng and Lin Xuqiao were acquainted. Maybe…

Could she ask Lin Xuqiao for Jiang Musheng’s contact? Regardless of how this played out, she’d caused Jiang Musheng trouble and owed her an apology.

When she knocked on the conference room door, the composed expression she’d maintained throughout the journey shattered completely.

Far more people filled the room than expected. Beyond the PR team and Sweetie, three figures sat at the head table.

Alongside Lin Xuqiao sat someone she hadn’t seen in over half a month, Jiang Musheng.

“You’re here? Sit.” Lin Xuqiao gestured to the seat facing Jiang Musheng, her expression unexpectedly mild. “We’ve been waiting.”

“…”

Yu Youqing took her seat without daring to meet Jiang Musheng’s gaze. Why was Jiang Musheng here?

Her controversial selfie remained displayed on the large screen, alongside a split-screen showing the tens of thousands of comments it had garnered.

Lin Xuqiao prompted, “Aren’t you going to say hello? Don’t you recognize her?”

“T-Teacher Jiang… hello.” Guilt made her voice small. Yu Youqing scrambled for words, barely settled in her seat before blurting out with her eyes squeezed shut, “Teacher Jiang, I’m so sorry!”

“Do I frighten you that much?” The other woman seemed to chuckle, her tone as gentle as ever. “Look up.”

“Why are you so scared?” Lin Xuqiao found it amusing. “I didn’t call you here to make you apologize. I invited Musheng over to discuss how to handle this. She’s not even angry this matter could be big or small. Look how terrified you are. Did you cry on the way here?”

“Cried?” Jiang Musheng frowned, scrutinizing the girl across from her. She only noticed the slight trembling of the girl’s eyelashes. She wanted to stand up but felt that approaching now would only make Yu Youqing more nervous. She shot a glance at the still-smirking Lin Xuqiao. “Why are you being so harsh? You scared her.”

Lin Xuqiao: “…” When was I harsh?

She pressed the remote, pulling up a comment on the large screen:

[“Let me just say it! Yu Youqing is clearly using our ShengSheng for clout. This video proves she’s had ulterior motives toward her all along. Does she really think this kind of stunt would get ShengSheng’s attention? Hilarious. Let’s all take a look.”]

Lin Xuqiao then played the video.

The pixelated footage clearly wasn’t recent. The Yu Youqing on screen looked much younger, probably just in her early twenties.

The host asked her: “Have you ever thought about what type of person you’d like to be with?”

“Type…”

Hearing that all-too-familiar voice, Yu Youqing jerked her head up. Her face flushed crimson when she saw her younger self on screen. It was an interview from years ago, back when she was at the peak of her popularity, immature and brimming with arrogance, radiating an obnoxious “I’m the most beautiful omega in the world” vibe.

Nothing was more mortifying than watching your cringeworthy younger self.

And then.

She heard her past self say: “Definitely someone mature, steady, gentle yet aloof, an alpha who keeps a bit of distance. Preferably older than me.”

With a haughty sniff, she added, “People my age are all so childish.”

Yu Youqing wanted to dig a hole and disappear.

Who’s childish?! You were the childish one!!!

Lin Xuqiao paused the video, her expression shifting between Yu Youqing and Jiang Musheng several times before letting out an intrigued “Huh.” She turned to Jiang Musheng. “Isn’t that just you?”

Yu Youqing’s heart leapt into her throat.

“Is it?” Jiang Musheng’s response was directed at Lin Xuqiao, but then her gaze settled on Yu Youqing as she repeated, slow and gentle, “Is it?”

Support The Scumbag A Really Doesn’t Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle]