The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 33

Yu Youqing’s hand, which had been about to remove her headphones, froze mid-air, forgotten in place.

She would never mistake Jiang Musheng’s voice, even though Jiang Musheng hadn’t mentioned her name.

No one else had that same tone and cadence. Yu Youqing lowered her head, swallowing quietly, noticeably more tense than when she had listened to the previous voice message.

She truly hadn’t expected to receive a message from Jiang Musheng. For a moment, she was completely stunned, her usual professionalism crumbling into awkwardness.

The only thing Yu Youqing could control now was resisting the urge to immediately look at Jiang Musheng, lest her momentary loss of composure be laid bare.

Everything around her fell silent, leaving only the pleasant, melodic voice in her headphones.

There was the sound of wind, followed by a two-second pause before Jiang Musheng continued.

“The meal you made today was delicious. Thank you.” Jiang Musheng’s gratitude carried a weight of sincerity, her breathing even and soft. “What I want to say to you is you don’t have to take care of others out of fear. Understand?”

“That’s all I wanted to say. No questions to ask. Mm.”

Just when Yu Youqing thought it was over, Jiang Musheng’s voice reappeared in the final seconds.

“And you don’t have to be so afraid of me.”

The last syllable lifted slightly, enough for Yu Youqing to imagine the speaker’s lips curving into a smile, infusing the words with warmth.

Even after the voice in the headphones faded, Yu Youqing remained motionless in her seat.

You don’t have to take care of others out of fear.

The moment she heard those words, the sting in her nose became impossible to ignore. The façade she had deliberately maintained for the cameras had been effortlessly peeled back by Jiang Musheng, leaving her utterly disoriented.

How could Jiang Musheng be so perceptive?

This had nothing to do with what happened earlier in the kitchen. It traced back to the first time the show had asked the guests to describe their ideal types.

Indeed, Yu Youqing’s response had been entirely for Jiang Musheng’s fans. She had listed her imperfections, her shortcomings, all to highlight Jiang Musheng’s flawlessness and gentleness, how she hadn’t held Yu Youqing’s past against her, and how Yu Youqing would obediently stay out of her way from then on.

So Jiang Musheng had understood. Back then, when questioned about her past with Jiang Musheng, Yu Youqing had swiftly admitted her former immaturity.

It had been a way to protect herself, but in doing so, she had also placed herself in the lowest possible position.

She was afraid but Jiang Musheng thought she was afraid of being disliked by everyone again.

That wasn’t it.

Yu Youqing had never cared about everyone.

Jiang Musheng knew these words would be heard by the audience watching the show, yet she had still left this message for her. The thought made Yu Youqing’s heartbeat quicken uncontrollably, as if she had been lifted into a weightless cloud, surrounded by sweet little bubbles that rushed to envelop her.

[Holy shit holy shit holy shit! My prediction was wrong!]

[Jiang Musheng actually left a message for Yu Youqing, I’m shook. The power of one meal is truly immense.]

[“Seems to be the only guest who received two messages. I wouldn’t have dared to guess this in a million years.”]

[“But what did Jiang Musheng mean by that? I don’t get it.”]

[“Regardless, who could resist Teacher Jiang’s voice? Just imagining it makes my heart stop.”]

[“Yu Youqing was completely stunned probably didn’t expect it either.”]

[“Ah, Teacher Jiang was just being polite, right? They interacted earlier, and she might not have known who else to message.”]

[“Exactly! And Teacher Jiang didn’t even ask a question, just thanked Yu Youqing for the meal. No need to overthink it.”]

[“Huh, who do you think Yu Youqing’s message was for?”]

[“First, definitely not Jiang Musheng. With their current dynamic, messaging her would just be another attempt to cling to fame.”]

[“Right! Anyone with self-respect wouldn’t do that.”]

[“No one’s talking about CEO Xu mentioning feeding water? Does that mean Yu Youqing has to feed Teacher Jiang?”]

[“Now I wish I were Yu Youqing again.”]

“Xiao Yu? Xiao Yu? Done listening?”

Yu Youqing snapped back to the recording set, her cheeks tinged pink as she hurriedly removed her headphones. When she stood up, her fingers curled nervously at her sides.

After that, she received no more messages, while Jiang Musheng became the second person to leave her one. Now, she had to follow Xu Liyu’s request to feed Jiang Musheng a sip of water.

It was absurd, but there was no way out.

Under everyone’s gaze, she picked up the water cup.

Only Xu Liyu laughed, no one else knew what Yu Youqing was about to do, but she did.

Xu Liyu was seated beside Jiang Musheng. Seeing Yu Youqing with the water, she knew exactly who she was heading toward.

“Did you leave her a message?” Xu Liyu asked.

Jiang Musheng didn’t hide it. “Yes.”

“Oh dear, that complicates things. Seems your crush got more than one message. And with her holding water, is she interacting with someone else?” Xu Liyu studied Jiang Musheng’s expression but found it unreadable.

Having been abroad for years, Xu Liyu wasn’t familiar with Yu Youqing’s controversial reputation online. All she saw was Jiang Musheng’s unusual interest in Yu Youqing, and she wanted to help spark something.

Yu Youqing forced herself toward Jiang Musheng, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Of all tasks, it had to pair her with Jiang Musheng again.

Cheng Shunzhu watched Yu Youqing intently. “What’s she doing?”

“Yu Yu probably got multiple messages. Someone must’ve given her a task,” Wei Xi mused, blinking as Yu Youqing walked past. “Is she taking the water to Xu Liyu? Maybe!”

At that moment, Yu Youqing stopped in front of Jiang Musheng.

“Teacher Jiang, are you thirsty?” Her voice sounded a bit dry as she handed over her own cup. Afraid that Jiang Musheng might find her strange, her free hand fidgeted awkwardly. Her gaze met Jiang Musheng’s for only a second before she looked away, pressing her lips together, already prepared to be rejected.

Xu Liyu nudged Jiang Musheng’s arm. “Take it already.”

Jiang Musheng simply accepted Yu Youqing’s cup with polite courtesy. “Thank you.”

But Xu Liyu insisted that taking a sip was necessary to complete the task. So Yu Youqing lingered, staring expectantly at Jiang Musheng.

Xu Liyu was barely containing her laughter, knowing full well Jiang Musheng had no idea what Yu Youqing’s task entailed. She teased, “Aren’t you going to take a sip? Maybe the task requires you to go on a date with whoever made the request if you don’t drink it?”

Jiang Musheng lifted her gaze to Yu Youqing. “Is that so?”

Yu Youqing was at a loss for words. She shot Xu Liyu a pleading look, silently begging her to stop adding fuel to the fire.

To Jiang Musheng, however, that glance seemed like Yu Youqing had been caught in the act her task exposed but too embarrassed to admit it.

Who would come up with such a bizarre task requirement?

Jiang Musheng took the cup from Yu Youqing and took a sip. Yu Youqing exhaled in relief, murmuring, “Thank you.”

Finally, she could return to her seat.

Next up to listen to the messages was Wei Xi.

Yu Youqing had received two messages, meaning someone was inevitably left without one today.

As Wei Xi sat down, she stole a glance at Xu Liyu. But seeing Xu Liyu smiling at Yu Youqing, a pang of disappointment flickered through her heart.

But Yu Youqing was so lovely, it was only natural she’d win everyone’s affection.

Naturally, Wei Xi had left no message.

She quickly removed the headphones, smiled at the group, and returned to her seat.

Last was Jiang Musheng.

All eyes were now on her.

With the cover of everyone else’s attention, Yu Youqing finally dared to look openly at the woman seated there.

Jiang Musheng had already put on the headphones.

[I’m getting nervous now.]

[I thought Teacher Jiang would be the MVP, but now I’m worried she might not get any messages at all.]

[I get it. If I were a guest, I wouldn’t dare leave her a message either.]

[Exactly! It’s not that we don’t want to, it’s that we don’t dare. Sheng Sheng is just too perfect.]

[So whoever left her a message in the first episode deserves a medal for bravery.]

[What if it was Yu Youqing?]

[Goodbye.]

[Get lost. How shameless can you be?]

Yu Youqing’s heart leaped into her throat. She wished she had a high-powered magnifying glass to catch every subtle shift in Jiang Musheng’s expression.

Jiang Musheng hadn’t been expecting much.

But her keen observational skills didn’t fail her just as she put on the headphones, she noticed Yu Youqing finally looking her way.

Could it be from her? Jiang Musheng pressed play.

“Teacher Jiang, it’s Yu Youqing.” The voice, slightly distorted by static, made Jiang Musheng unconsciously relax her shoulders.

“I don’t know if my message will disturb you, but when you came to the kitchen today to help me clean up the broken pieces, I felt I had to leave my heartfelt message for you, to thank you for your kindness.” The woman’s voice inside chuckled, pausing thoughtfully before continuing, “Hmm… Teacher Jiang, my question is: what kind of person do you imagine your future partner to be?”

Jiang Musheng received only this one message.

Yu Youshen was stunned.

What? How was she the only one who left a message for Jiang Musheng? She had assumed Jiang Musheng would be the most sought-after person here, yet it seemed she was the only one who received two messages?

Damn it, she shouldn’t have let herself get carried away and followed her heart to leave Jiang Musheng a message.

She lowered her head, her toes fidgeting nervously.

“I’ll answer the question,” Jiang Musheng removed her earphones, her tone calm. “I don’t imagine anything.”

An expected response, yet Yu Youshen couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. What had she been thinking when she asked that question? At that moment, she had wondered, what kind of person could Jiang Musheng’s unrequited love be, to make someone as aloof and distant as her hold on so tightly?

But then Jiang Musheng continued.

“The reason I don’t imagine my future partner is, ” Jiang Musheng’s soft voice flowed through the quiet living room, and everyone listened intently to her next words.

“When she appears, I’ll know it’s her. So, I’ve never needed to imagine.” It was rare for Jiang Musheng to speak so much, and even the director signaled to focus all cameras on her.

Her voice lowered, carrying a trace of imperceptible tenderness: “Liking and loving someone always come unexpectedly. Preconceived rules and imaginations are powerless against such intense emotions. When that moment arrives, we’re just motionless targets, waiting to surrender.”

And waiting for the bullet called “heartbeat” to strike the bullsey perfectly, unerringly.

She no longer needed to imagine.

Because that person was already by her side, right before her eyes.

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