The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 49

If not for the distinct sensation of the coat draped over her shoulders, Yu Youqing might have truly believed she was dreaming.

She counted silently in her heart, though by now, she had lost track of how many seconds had passed.

While Yu Youqing remained silent, Jiang Musheng simply watched her quietly. The rooftop wind no longer felt cold—instead, a flame seemed to burn within Yu Youqing’s chest, scorching her heart. The air around them grew so still it felt frozen, and only then did Yu Youqing realize the scent permeating the space was like a vast forest blanketed by snow.

A forest veiled in cold, distant snow, its frigid exterior unable to suppress the warmth and vitality hidden beneath.

So this was the scent of Jiang Musheng’s pheromones—just like the woman herself.

Jiang Musheng had controlled the intensity perfectly, keeping it within a range that was neither overwhelming nor unsettling for an omega. In fact, it even created a safe bubble around Yu Youqing, shielding her from the cold.

How strange—she actually felt safe and warm within the embrace of a snowy forest’s scent.

After a long pause, Yu Youqing lowered her head and smiled.

The rooftop lights flickered on at that moment, enveloping the two of them in a glow that dimmed everything else around them.

“Not late,” Yu Youqing lifted her gaze, her eyes startlingly bright as she murmured, “As long as you came, it’s never late.”

Jiang Musheng clenched her fists, restraining the urge to pull Yu Youqing into her arms.

She had just used a suppressant last night, and now her self-control around Yu Youqing was hanging by a thread. If they made any more contact, she feared she might lose all restraint and act on some primal instinct.

She didn’t know whether her arrival had given Yu Youqing any certainty, but in those brief minutes, Jiang Musheng had seen it clearly—the way Yu Youqing’s eyes had lit up the moment she appeared.

That was enough, she thought.

As long as Yu Youqing could look at her with that brightness and warmth in her eyes, it was enough. She wouldn’t ask for more—that would be too greedy.

Yu Youqing spoke first. “I heard from the organizers that you couldn’t make it.”

It was true—Jiang Musheng hadn’t originally planned to come.

She had a press conference earlier in the day, and after a packed schedule, the event ran two hours late due to the fans’ overwhelming enthusiasm. By the time she could leave, making it to the awards ceremony would require crossing the entire city, and she’d already miss the red carpet.

Since she was initially on the guest list, she was still in the internal group chat.

She had seen Tiantian ask in the group if anyone had seen where Yu Youqing went.

Jiang Musheng had a sharp memory—she recognized the name as Yu Youqing’s assistant and manager. Logically, this was the time when everyone should be mingling, yet Yu Youqing was nowhere to be found.

Others might not understand, but how could she not? Yu Youqing probably disliked such social settings. Unsure if something had upset her, Jiang Musheng thought it wouldn’t hurt to check in.

Her team had already informed the organizers of her cancellation due to the delay, so her arrival now was purely personal. The hosts had no idea she was coming—she was here under a different identity.

“You… didn’t come for the red carpet,” Yu Youqing noticed Jiang Musheng wasn’t wearing formal attire, yet she was here. “Why did you come?”

She should have asked earlier—the moment Jiang Musheng appeared. But at the sight of her, Yu Youqing had forgotten everything.

Before Jiang Musheng could answer, Yu Youqing’s coat, draped over her shoulders, slipped slightly as she took a step forward, revealing a glimpse of her fair, delicate shoulder. Perhaps the earlier warmth had been too comforting, because Yu Youqing shivered involuntarily. Jiang Musheng reacted faster, pulling the coat tightly around her. The motion was a bit abrupt, tugging Yu Youqing two steps closer, nearly sending her crashing into Jiang Musheng’s arms.

With one hand securing the coat and the other steadying Yu Youqing’s shoulder to prevent a fall, Jiang Musheng seemed to encircle her.

The proximity intensified the effect of their pheromones. Yu Youqing’s ears and the tip of her nose flushed pink, her breath growing uneven as she stared at Jiang Musheng in a daze.

She wasn’t in heat—why was she reacting so strongly to Jiang Musheng’s scent?

Jiang Musheng immediately realized it too and stepped back politely, though she kept one hand on Yu Youqing’s coat to hold it in place.

Once Jiang Musheng withdrew her pheromones completely, Yu Youqing felt an unexpected pang of longing, wishing she could catch that scent again.

“Xu Qiao called me over,” Jiang Musheng said smoothly, fabricating an excuse. “She’s one of the investors and wanted me to look into potential projects.”

Yu Youqing nodded in understanding.

Wrapped in Jiang Musheng’s coat, she knew she should return to the event, but she didn’t want to leave.

“So, you’re not walking the red carpet?”

Jiang Musheng hummed in agreement. “I’ll be leaving soon.”

“Alright,” Yu Youqing murmured. “I should head back. Thank you for the coat.”

Neither asked why the other was there—Yu Youqing didn’t question how Jiang Musheng had found her, and Jiang Musheng didn’t probe Yu Youqing’s reasons for staying outside. A delicate, unspoken understanding lingered between them, undisturbed.

“Still cold?” Jiang Musheng asked as they walked toward the elevator, now back in the warmth of the indoors. Yu Youqing wasn’t cold anymore. She handed the coat back, her lips parting before she blurted out, almost involuntarily, “Are you going home tonight?”

“Yes,” Jiang Musheng replied.

“Right after this?” Yu Youqing pressed.

That had been the plan, but at the hesitation in Yu Youqing’s finger hovering over the elevator button, Jiang Musheng reconsidered. “Not sure yet. If there’s more to discuss, I might stay longer.”

Only then did Yu Youqing press the button, feigning nonchalance. “It’ll probably run late. If President Lin has business to discuss, won’t you have to escort a lot of partners afterward?”

“Possibly. It’s not the easiest place to leave from,” Jiang Musheng continued the charade effortlessly, pausing as if in thought. “We’re heading the same way. If timing allows, could I catch a ride with you?”

Yu Youqing couldn’t help but smile, her fingers brushing against her flushed cheeks. When she touched her ears, they were even hotter. She tried to suppress it, but couldn’t—even knowing Jiang Musheng was right beside her. She could only barely manage to flatten the curve of her lips:

“If you’re still here when it’s over, come with me.”

Jiang Musheng replied, “Okay.”

Though they had exited on the same floor, Yu Youqing and Jiang Musheng headed in different directions. Before entering, in the quiet hallway devoid of anyone else, Yu Youqing could feel the restless thrum of impulse in her chest.

Jiang Musheng followed behind her like a bodyguard escorting a star. Neither spoke, and an inexplicable silence settled between them.

On one side was the artificial glitz and glamour she was about to face, and on the other was Jiang Musheng standing behind her. Yu Youqing greedily drew strength from Jiang Musheng’s presence, treating her like a protective shield.

At the door, Yu Youqing paused.

From the moment she had seen Jiang Musheng until now, they had spent less than half an hour alone together. Yet, perhaps because of the unusual time, place, and atmosphere, she felt an unwillingness to part—along with a strange, inexplicable sense of anticipation.

She knew asking now would seem abrupt and even a little conceited, but when she turned and saw Jiang Musheng looking at her, she still asked.

“Teacher Jiang,” Yu Youqing said, “did you come here specially today?”

She didn’t ask who Jiang Musheng had come for—that would have been too obvious.

Jiang Musheng wasn’t sure how to answer. Though she knew the answer in her heart, she didn’t want to burden Yu Youqing with it. In truth, she didn’t realize that she wasn’t the only one who needed certainty.

“I happened to be able to help,” Jiang Musheng replied, sidestepping the question.

Yu Youqing nodded, a fleeting sense of loss and melancholy vanishing as she turned away.

She stepped back inside, once again surrounded by flashing lights. The red carpet segment had just begun, and Tiantian rushed over as soon as she saw her, sounding frantic. “Where did you go? I checked the backstage schedule, and you just disappeared! I couldn’t find you anywhere!”

Yu Youqing shook her head. “I stepped out for some air.”

Tiantian pointed upstairs. “Look up there. Manager Lin told me all the big-shot investors are sitting up there, with the directors keeping them company. They say if someone catches their eye and the investors agree, they’ll sign them on the spot.”

She then whispered in Yu Youqing’s ear, “Be impressive. I heard Liang Yitang made a quick appearance here, and already an investor agreed to fund her new project.”

“Sounds like a casting couch,” Yu Youqing murmured absentmindedly, her gaze drifting upstairs. If she wasn’t mistaken, Jiang Musheng was probably up there with Lin Xuqiao.

“At Teacher Jiang’s level, of course, it’s the actors who pick the scripts. We don’t have that luxury yet,” Tiantian sighed.

Yu Youqing suddenly asked, “After I finish the red carpet, can I leave?”

“If you don’t want to go, you can stay longer. But this is such a rare opportunity—so many people are waiting to greet the director and investors. You’re really not going?” Tiantian felt it was a pity, but knowing Yu Youqing seemed weary of such events, she didn’t dare push further.

Yu Youqing replied, “That’s why our schedule isn’t aligned with theirs.”

She asked because she realized that if she still had this engagement, she wouldn’t be able to leave with Jiang Musheng.

Tiantian: “Yeah… Why do you ask?”

“Hand me your phone for a second. I need to send a message.” Yu Youqing thought it would be better to inform Jiang Musheng in advance.

After all, Jiang Musheng hadn’t come for her sake. Why was she even concerned?

As she took the phone and opened Jiang Musheng’s chat, typing out “Teacher Jiang,” she overheard Tiantian muttering beside her.

“Speaking of which, it’s really strange. Teacher Jiang couldn’t make it today. Her fan pages are buzzing about how she left in a hurry after her schedule ended—something she’s never done before. Everyone’s speculating if something happened.”

Yu Youqing’s ears perked up. “What?”

She rarely showed interest in Jiang Musheng’s affairs in front of Tiantian. Hearing Yu Youqing respond, Tiantian pulled up a fan-recorded video on her phone and showed it to her. “Look at this. Normally, if fans are waiting, Teacher Jiang would patiently interact with them, letting them take more photos before leaving. But today, she was clearly in a rush.”

In the video, Jiang Musheng walked briskly, wearing the same outfit she had on when they met on the rooftop. The coat draped over Yu Youqing’s shoulders just ten minutes earlier was now back on Jiang Musheng.

As she boarded her van, she was still holding her phone.

The screen was lit, but the shaky footage from the excited fan made it impossible to read the chat content or the contact name—only a blurry profile picture flashed by.

Yu Youqing silently glanced at her own profile picture.

It looked… familiar.

Tiantian continued, “Teacher Jiang has never been like this before. Some are even speculating—could she be in a relationship? She never used to pull out her phone like this. Are you even listening?”

Yu Youqing wasn’t just listening—she was fully absorbed.

After double-checking the blurry image, the cloud of uncertainty in her heart seemed to dissolve, sweetened by a trickle of honey, settling into something solid.

In the chat box, she deleted the word “not” from her original message and sent it.

[Teacher Jiang, I’ll wait for you so we can leave together, okay?]

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