The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 43

When Yu Youqing stepped outside, she saw a line of parked vans. No one was standing around, so she couldn’t tell which one Jiang Musheng was in.

“Teacher Jiang!” Yu Youqing called out, hearing the urgency in her own voice.

The surroundings were noisy, so her shout didn’t stand out. The trunks of the vans were open as crew members diligently loaded luggage. She had rushed out in such a hurry that anyone watching might have thought she had lost something precious.

The weather had turned gloomy, unlike when they had arrived, and it looked like rain was imminent.

As she ran closer, two vans sped past her.

“…” Yu Youqing stared blankly for a moment, not recognizing any familiar license plates. She wasn’t sure if Jiang Musheng had already left, she had taken a while to pack upstairs.

Just as she was about to turn back, dejected, a fine mist of rain began to fall, lightly dampening her hair.

It was winter, after all. Yu Youqing shivered, then laughed at herself, wondering why she had acted so impulsively.

She took a step back toward the villa when a van finally pulled up slowly behind her.

The sound of a door opening reached her ears.

Yu Youqing turned around instinctively, only to see the broad edge of an umbrella unfurling before her. The person who had stepped out tilted the handle deliberately in her direction, shielding her from the drizzle and creating a warm, sheltered space. As her gaze followed the umbrella upward, it revealed Jiang Musheng’s striking, peach-blossom eyes, bright and fixed on her.

The woman in the long coat, heels adding to her already towering height, held the umbrella with one hand. Yet she adjusted her stance to match Yu Youqing’s position, as if afraid she might get wet, extending the handle further to envelop her completely beneath its cover.

A faint surprise flickered in Jiang Musheng’s dark eyes, she hadn’t expected Yu Youqing to come looking for her.

“You…”

Jiang Musheng only managed a single word before falling silent, unsure what else to say.

The show was over.

During filming, she had pretended not to care when Yu Youqing chose someone else, still confident that the name she had written remained unchanged.

After Yu Youqing went upstairs to pack, Jiang Musheng had sat in the van for a long time before telling the driver to leave.

There was no denying the disappointment. She hadn’t wanted to show it on camera and make things awkward, so she chose to swallow it privately. Jiang Musheng had instructed the driver to wait until all the other vans had departed before setting off, some part of her was still holding out hope.

And against all odds, that tiny sliver of hope had materialized.

“Are you leaving?” Yu Youqing had meant to call her “Teacher Jiang,” but the words didn’t come out. Instead, she asked this simple question.

Jiang Musheng nodded. “But there’s no rush.”

The driver, who had initially leaned out to urge Jiang Musheng to hurry to the airport, immediately withdrew his head and rolled up the window, understanding the unspoken cue.

“Something on your mind?” Jiang Musheng noticed the hesitation in Yu Yousheng’s expression and took the initiative to ask.

Jiang Musheng’s gaze was as serene as moonlight, making Yu Yousheng feel as though her thoughts were completely transparent before her. Slightly flustered, Yu Yousheng lowered her eyes, staring at her toes while blinking nervously several times. In her mind, she kept replaying the words Wei Xi had shared with her earlier.

It was as if the scenes were already etched into her memory especially Jiang Musheng’s two choices during this episode.

The first time might not have meant much, but the second time, she had written the same name again.

Could this mean she was being firmly chosen?

Her heart was restless, yet she knew all too well her own shortcomings whenever she stood before Jiang Musheng, she could never articulate her thoughts properly. She had rehearsed what to say before coming out to find Jiang Musheng, but the moment she faced her, her mind went blank.

Yu Yousheng deeply realized she had to overcome this habit of turning foolish the instant she saw Jiang Musheng.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about writing my name as your crush tonight. I came to thank you for choosing me.” Fortunately, they weren’t on camera now, so Yu Yousheng could speak about eighty percent of the truth in her heart. “I’m really happy, but also sorry.”

“Why sorry?” Jiang Musheng seemed puzzled by the response. The umbrella she held was large, so she maintained a polite distance between them, not standing too close. Yet her gaze never left Yu Yousheng’s face as she asked softly, “Are you cold?”

“Huh? Oh! no, I’m not.” Yu Yousheng didn’t understand why Jiang Musheng asked that. Perhaps because her emotions were too turbulent, she didn’t feel the slightest chill. But as she spoke, faint white mist rose from her lips, briefly obscuring Jiang Musheng’s face and softening the expression in her eyes. It made Yu Yousheng feel something akin to warmth concern, perhaps.

“I’m sorry because you chose me twice, and I ignored it. And the next day, even though it was because I was worried about dragging you into trouble and causing more backlash, I made the decision without discussing it with you.”

Jiang Musheng sensed Yu Yousheng hadn’t finished and waited quietly for her to continue.

Taking the silence as encouragement, Yu Yousheng felt some of her tension ease under Jiang Musheng’s gentle gaze.

Her voice was so soft Jiang Musheng had to lean in slightly to hear.

“I’ve been too cautious, and I might have let you down with your choice. That’s why I feel guilty.” Sincere regret tinged her words. “Jiang-laoshi, you know this is a show. We’re here for the fans.”

Jiang Musheng paused, ensuring Yu Yousheng had said all she wanted, before responding slowly, “I don’t agree with that.”

“Whether it’s for fan service depends on the nature and purpose of your show. If appearing on the program is simply to show your true self, then there’s no need to fear potential slander because falsehoods will eventually crumble before your sincerity, understand?” Jiang Musheng paused for a few seconds before continuing, “Being constrained by others’ gazes more easily becomes shackles. You clearly know you’re an upright person, yet you exhaust yourself trying to prove it to those who don’t understand your nature that shouldn’t be necessary.”

Outside, the rain grew heavier, drop by drop striking the umbrella’s surface before swiftly sliding off the smooth fabric to the ground.

And pounding against Yu Youqing’s heart.

You clearly know you’re an upright person.

She had to admit, hearing Jiang Musheng say those words at this moment made her unbearably sad, to the point of tears.

Logically, Jiang Musheng, the person her former company had constantly arranged to exploit for clout should have been the one who despised Ziaji the most. Yet amidst countless strangers condemning her without even knowing her circumstances, it was Jiang Musheng who remained steadfast in believing in her.

So firm, as if never wavering this was someone who had long seen clearly into her own heart.

Yu Youqing looked up at Jiang Musheng and suddenly felt cold, yet her heart was warm. Her body shivered in the winter wind, instinctively drawing her toward Jiang Musheng’s warmth was this human nature?

“As for the rest, you needn’t apologize to me. This is a dating show if you’re interested in someone, you leave them a message. The production team said to follow your heart, and I didn’t want to waste the opportunity.” Jiang Musheng said, “This brings us back to our earlier question. I said you don’t need to feel sorry because the choices I made were to express myself to you, not to force you to reciprocate. That can’t be forced.”

It was rare for Jiang Musheng to speak so much at once to anyone almost unheard of. Yet she seemed delighted to talk with Yu Youqing, to chat, as if she could never tire of it no matter how much or how often they spoke.

Jiang Musheng asked, “Is there anything else you want to say to me?”

Truthfully, she did need that tiny bit of response. Earlier in the car, Jiang Musheng had felt disappointed too. But seeing Yu Youqing come to her for her, that alone was the response she’d wanted.

Yu Youqing wanted to say that her choice hadn’t been entirely from the heart either, but her thoughts were still tangled now.

“Then, I’ll go,” Yu Youqing said after a pause, knowing Jiang Musheng must be heading to the airport and not wanting to take up too much of her time.

She’d said all she needed to say. What had she come here for originally? She’d forgotten, only remembering the impulse that had surged in her after listening to Wei Xi, the feeling that she couldn’t let Jiang Musheng leave without saying something.

Fate had been kind to her in this moment, at least allowing her to see Jiang Musheng one last time.

Humans were such easily satisfied creatures just one meeting could bring such contentment.

As she turned to leave, Jiang Musheng’s umbrella followed.

“Has your manager and the car picking you up not arrived yet?” Jiang Musheng asked.

Yu Youqing said, “We’ll be there soon. You go ahead first, I’ll wait here.”

Just as she finished speaking, a staff member brought out Yu Youqing’s suitcase, and Jiang Musheng naturally took it.

“I’ll wait with you.”

Yu Youqing watched Jiang Musheng’s slender fingers rest on the handle of her suitcase and stayed silent. After a few seconds, Jiang Musheng asked, “Do you really like someone like Li Yu?”

“?” Yu Youqing looked up and immediately replied, “No!”

She felt a little awkward. “I already explained my reasons for choosing CEO Xu. It’s not what you think.”

Silence fell between them again.

The pickup lane opened, and Jiang Musheng saw a car slowly approaching behind hers likely the one here for Yu Youqing.

In a low voice, she called out, “Yu Youqing.”

Jiang Musheng continued, “If you have any troubles, you don’t have to shoulder them alone.”

She carefully chose her words, knowing Yu Youqing would understand but still wanting to be as clear as possible. “You can try to trust!”

But Yu Youqing interrupted, “Not carrying burdens alone is something only those with confidence can afford to do. In our industry, very few can truly act without restraint.”

“Confidence.” Jiang Musheng repeated the word softly.

Yu Youqing nodded. “Thank you for believing in me, Teacher Jiang. I’m surprised you’d say that. I always thought you’d be the last person to trust me. Earlier, during filming, CEO Xu also mentioned these things. Maybe you’ve heard something about my past with my former company, but I can handle it myself.”

“Owing others is never a good thing.” On this point, Yu Youqing was very rational. She didn’t just refuse help, she also didn’t want her issues to affect those who tried to assist her.

Thinking of this, Yu Youqing recalled the mysterious investor Lin Xuqiao had mentioned someone who had poured so much money into her yet had never even met her. Occasionally, the thought made her uneasy, as she had no idea who this investor was or whether their intentions were good or bad.

Yu Youqing realized that, without noticing, she had gotten much closer to Jiang Musheng. Jiang Musheng didn’t seem to notice, which meant Yu Youqing had hidden her little thoughts well.

Jiang Musheng asked, “When you say ‘confidence,’ you mean someone or some support you can fully trust, obtained through no improper means, right?”

“Yes. I don’t have that. I’m just an ordinary artist with no special background, that’s all.” Compared to others, she considered herself lucky to have gotten a second chance, to sign with a new company. But as for connections? She had none. The online rumors painted her as someone with endless sugar daddies, switching between them exaggerations so wild even she found them absurd.

Jiang Musheng’s fingers gripping the umbrella handle turned slightly white.

As if steeling herself, just as Yu Youqing’s ride pulled up right beside them, Jiang Musheng finally spoke:

“Can I be that person?”

Yu Youqing’s pupils constricted slightly at that moment. “What?”

“I’m asking, can I? If you’re willing to trust me just once.” Jiang Musheng spoke each word deliberately slow, “I’m not saying I’ll use my connections to handle everything for you, I know you wouldn’t want that. All I want is, when you feel troubled, or even just slightly wish to lean on someone!”

“Think of me.” Though spoken gently, the words bloomed like fireworks by her ear, “I’ll be there, holding the safety net so you can fearlessly chase what you desire.”

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