The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 57

[What the hell!]

[What’s going on????]

[I genuinely had no idea I’d see this when I clicked in!]

[Ahhhh why is there such subtle tension between them?!]

[Those little stolen glances are seriously hitting me right in the feels]

[But Teacher Jiang and Xiaoyu aren’t in the same group this time…]

[Production team, you’re something else—first you tease us with those sweet moments, then you split them up]

[Dammit, I swore I’d never ship this pair, but now I think I’m falling for it]

[Why did I have to see Jiang Musheng and Yu Youqing with this damn chemistry?]

When the groups were finalized, Yu Youqing exchanged a glance with Ji Fuzao and even smiled. Since she had been placed in the same group as Ji Fuzao, she naturally stood up from beside Jiang Musheng to join her.

The production team turned off the surveillance footage they had been showing. “Everyone can take a break now. We’ll gather outside at 8 PM.”

Yu Youqing decided to pretend she hadn’t noticed being caught staring.

After all, Teacher Jiang had looked at her too!

If this had happened before, Yu Youqing wouldn’t have thought much of it. But now, after Jiang Musheng had said those things to her—

She had to admit, the fact that her furtive glances had been noticed and reciprocated made her feel inexplicably happy.

Yet, the thought of Jiang Musheng being paired with someone else left Yu Youqing with a faint sense of unease.

Jiang Musheng was teamed up with Cheng Shunzhu.

She had nothing against Cheng Shunzhu, but suddenly, her desire to win first place burned fiercer than ever.

After the announcement, everyone headed upstairs to rest. Since they were still in the same house, they returned to the rooms they had occupied during the first episode.

Yu Youqing lifted her suitcase to climb the stairs, but before she could take a step, the weight in her hands vanished.

She turned to see Jiang Musheng behind her. Before Jiang Musheng could say anything, Yu Youqing swiftly reached out and grabbed both her own and Jiang Musheng’s suitcases, hauling them upstairs. “I’ve got it! There’s no way I’d let you carry my suitcase, Teacher Jiang. It’s not heavy anyway.”

Afraid Jiang Musheng might try to take them back, Yu Youqing bolted up the stairs with the luggage in tow. Jiang Musheng was momentarily stunned by her speed.

Xu Liyu remarked from behind, “This omega’s got some skills.”

Yu Youqing placed Jiang Musheng’s suitcase by the door and waved. “Teacher Jiang, I’ve left your suitcase here!”

With that, she ducked into her room.

Jiang Musheng: “…”

“Seems like Xiaoyu’s been avoiding you,” Xu Liyu added. “Maybe she thinks you’re not alpha enough for her.”

Jiang Musheng replied flatly, “You can stop talking now.”

Once inside her room, Yu Youqing finally let out a relieved sigh—only for Wei Xi and Cheng Shunzhu to suddenly appear.

Wei Xi dropped her luggage and immediately blurted, “Xiaoyu, I saw Teacher Jiang sneaking glances at you!”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Does Teacher Jiang have a thing for you…?”

“Hold on,” Yu Youqing reached out to stop Wei Xi, sighing, “Why does everyone keep pairing me up with Teacher Jiang?”

“Because you two just have that chemistry, seriously!” Cheng Shunzhu picked up where Wei Xi left off. “And I’ve seen online discussions calling you and Teacher Jiang a ‘crack ship’—no one ever expected you two to be paired together, but the unexpected chemistry actually works surprisingly well.”

Yu Youqing said, “If it’s already such a crack ship, then you really shouldn’t be shipping it.”

“I just came to ask—how should I talk to Teacher Jiang without her thinking I’m weird? After all, she’s our senior, so teaming up with her for a dating show mission feels… awkward.” Cheng Shunzhu scratched his head and added, “Wait, I could just talk to her about you! She’d definitely be willing.”

Yu Youqing: “Cheng Shunzhu!”

She had no idea how it happened, but it seemed like overnight, everyone had accepted the idea of her being tied to Jiang Musheng.

Wei Xi chimed in, “When the production team announced it, I thought the same. I even checked out Teacher Jiang. Xiao Yu, you should aim for first place—then you can ‘steal’ Teacher Jiang back for a second solo date.”

Yu Youqing: “…”

Stop talking, or I might actually start believing it.

Cheng Shunzhu kept rambling about random things, refusing to leave. But since all his worries revolved around how to interact with Jiang Musheng during the mission, Yu Youqing finally opened the door and pushed him out. “If you’re so worried about whether Teacher Jiang will scold you, just go ask her yourself!”

Cheng Shunzhu’s playful grin froze when he saw the person outside the door. “Tea… Teacher Jiang?”

Yu Youqing: “???”

Still standing behind Cheng Shunzhu, Yu Youqing stiffened at his words. Through the gaps not blocked by the back of his head, she caught a glimpse of familiar clothing.

Then she heard Jiang Musheng’s voice: “Ask me what?”

“Then I’ll ask,” Cheng Shunzhu suddenly became oddly obedient. Yu Youqing’s heart sank—this was bad. Before she could cover his mouth to stop him, Cheng Shunzhu blurted, “Youqing-jie told me to ask you directly—if I don’t know how to talk to you later, would you be willing to just chat about her instead?”

The air turned palpably awkward the moment those words left his mouth.

Yu Youqing wanted to step forward and explain, but her feet felt rooted to the spot. She had no idea how to react.

The two seconds of silence stretched into what felt like an eternity—until Jiang Musheng finally spoke.

“Sure.”

…Sure? What did she mean by “sure”?!

And why did Jiang Musheng’s voice sound like she was… amused?

Cheng Shunzhu, knowing Jiang Musheng wasn’t here for him, stepped aside to clear the doorway.

Yu Youqing, now as timid as a quail, looked up at Jiang Musheng and asked in a small voice, “Teacher Jiang… is there something you need?”

“It’s fine, I just happened to hear my name mentioned and came over to check.” Jiang Musheng stood at the doorway, making no move to enter. “Good luck tonight.”

“Okay.” Yu Youqing replied softly.

Her hand rested on the doorknob as she blinked. “Then… I’ll close the door and rest?”

Jiang Musheng: “Mm, get some good rest. The night hike might be tiring.”

As she turned to leave, she took something out and placed it in Yu Youqing’s hand.

Yu Youqing sat on the bed and unwrapped it—it was a small packet of foot soak powder, labeled to relieve fatigue and soreness.

Was this a precaution, meant for her to use after the hike?

Even Yu Youqing herself didn’t notice the small, unstoppable smile that had curled at the corners of her lips when she saw it.

That evening, all the guests gathered in the living room.

Everyone had changed into more comfortable sportswear, buzzing with anticipation before setting off.

Yu Youqing remained calm. When she opened her door to head downstairs, Jiang Musheng had coincidentally stepped out as well, so they walked down together.

Standing beside Jiang Musheng, Yu Youqing asked quietly, “Did you prepare some for yourself too?”

“I did,” Jiang Musheng replied.

“Good.” Yu Youqing hesitated but couldn’t hold back. “Thank you.”

Then she added, “I’ll use it when I get back.”

The night had fully darkened. This time, Yu Youqing was paired with Wei Xi, so after exchanging a few words with Jiang Musheng, she moved to stand with her teammate.

The production team announced, “Everyone can set off now.”

Wei Xi and Yu Youqing walked out together, trailing slightly behind. As they exited, the directors reiterated the rules for the challenges along the way.

During the hike, there would be three team tasks to complete in exchange for corresponding clues. Of course, as per the show’s requirements, poor performance would result in penalties—though the specifics remained a mystery, deliberately kept hidden from the guests.

“This is kind of scary. Who knows how the production team plans to mess with us?” Cheng Shunzhu, well aware of the show’s tendency to pit guests against the directors—even in a dating show—recalled how last episode, Xu Liyu and two others had been sent to a haunted house.

“Teacher Jiang, if I don’t do well, will you blame me?” Cheng Shunzhu had a clear understanding of his own limitations, so he decided to give Jiang Musheng a heads-up. “I’ve always been a gaming disaster. I’m afraid I’ll hold you back.”

“It’s fine. It’s just a game.” Jiang Musheng wasn’t too concerned. Having been in the industry long enough, she knew that despite being a dating show, it was still entertainment at its core. What mattered wasn’t winning or losing, but capturing screen time and providing value for the audience.

“That’s a relief, Teacher Jiang. Youqing-jie said you were easy to get along with—seems like she was right.”

Jiang Musheng had remained expressionless throughout, merely responding to Cheng Shunzhu’s questions with measured politeness—neither cold nor overly warm, maintaining just the right distance. It wasn’t until Cheng Shunzhu inadvertently mentioned Yu Youqing’s name that Jiang Musheng finally followed up with a question for the first time: “Oh?”

Cheng Shunzhu quickly nodded. “Yeah, yeah, right before you arrived.”

He scratched his head sheepishly. “Since it was my first time teaming up with you, Teacher Jiang, I got nervous… so I asked Sister Youqing, and she told me.”

Teacher Jiang asked casually, “Did she mention anything else to you?”

“Nothing else,” Cheng Shunzhu replied. “After that… you came over right away.”

Jiang Musheng and Cheng Shunzhu walked ahead, being the first to leave the villa.

“Little Bamboo seems to be getting along well with Teacher Jiang. No need to worry, Little Fish,” Wei Xi remarked, glancing forward.

Yu Youqing smiled. “Who said I was worried?”

“Then let’s hurry up.” Wei Xi didn’t press further, trying to lead Yu Youqing to catch up.

They lagged at the back, walking slowly. When Ji Fuzao and Xu Liyu passed by, they urged them to speed up, but Yu Youqing didn’t seem in any rush.

“Are you trying to catch up with Fuzao’s team?” Yu Youqing teased.

“Not at all!” A suspicious blush crept onto Wei Xi’s face. Aware of the cameras, she lowered her head slightly. “I just don’t want to be last and risk punishment from the production team.”

Yu Youqing shook her head. “We won’t be. Falling behind now doesn’t mean anything. Don’t you know? Hiking is like running a marathon—starting too fast makes it hard to last till the end.”

“Little Fish, are you planning to reach the summit?” Wei Xi’s shock was instantaneous. “Looks like being with you might accidentally get me a win.”

Yu Youqing stayed silent.

She just hoped her identity wouldn’t be exposed. Who knew if the production team might drop a hint—like drawing a fish—and give her away instantly?

Her stamina wasn’t great, which was why she was taking it slow.

Walking at the back also allowed her to steal occasional glances at Jiang Musheng and Cheng Shunzhu ahead. They seemed to be getting along well, chatting nonstop.

But then again, Teacher Jiang got along with everyone—it wasn’t just her.

As the winter night grew colder, each camera crew was accompanied by an assistant carrying thick coats in case the guests got too cold on the mountain.

From her position at the rear, Yu Youqing noticed some staff not only carried coats but also lugged enormous backpacks filled with professional outdoor gear.

Finally, as they started ascending from the foot of the mountain, she couldn’t resist pulling aside a nearby staff member. “What are they carrying? Isn’t it exhausting to hike with all that?”

The staffer looked surprised. “Teacher Yu, you’re very observant… Don’t worry, they’re professional outdoor guides. Their stamina is excellent.”

It was the first time a celebrity had shown concern for the crew, and the staffer’s impression of Yu Youqing couldn’t help but improve.

Seeing Yu Youqing walking behind, a staff member couldn’t help but say, “Teacher Yu, you’d better put in some effort to complete the mission, because there will be punishments today.”

Yu Youqing smiled, “Thank you, I will.”

She picked up her pace a bit, but still wasn’t moving very fast.

“Are Teacher Jiang and Xiao Zhuzi aiming for first place? They haven’t slowed down at all. Teacher Jiang truly lives up to being an alpha, their stamina is really impressive.”

“Stamina?” Yu Youqing suddenly recalled how Jiang Musheng had looked when drunk—sitting on the sofa, complaining of dizziness like she was acting spoiled.

Saying she couldn’t get up.

That Jiang Musheng hadn’t seemed to have any stamina at all.

“I’ve seen fans praising Jiang Musheng for having great stamina… everywhere,” Wei Xi, who had been browsing fan discussions at night, whispered to Yu Youqing with some embarrassment. “That’s why Teacher Jiang has been ranked first on the omega marriage poll for so long.”

Great stamina everywhere.

Good at everything?

Yu Youqing caught the implication. “…You young people really know how to enjoy yourselves.”

Wei Xi giggled, “But from what the staff said, tonight’s punishment sounds pretty serious. Who are they trying to scare? It’s not like they’d actually leave someone stranded on the mountain.”

“…” Yu Youqing paused, then quickened her steps. “Let’s hurry up.”

“Teacher Jiang, I can’t keep up anymore.” Although Cheng Shunzhu was a grown man, he was still an omega. He’d thought that as the only male in the group, he should have the best stamina. But as the slope steepened, he realized he’d miscalculated.

He’d started too fast, and now his stamina was failing him midway.

Yet Jiang Musheng seemed completely unchanged, as composed as ever, as if walking on flat ground.

This made Cheng Shunzhu deeply aware of either his own weakness or the vast gap between alphas and omegas.

Before reaching the first checkpoint, seeing Cheng Shunzhu truly struggling, Jiang Musheng said, “Let me take you a shortcut.”

Deciding to speed up, Yu Youqing grabbed Wei Xi’s hand at a fork in the path. “This way.”

“A shortcut?” Wei Xi was surprised. Though there were lights ahead, it was different from the main path and unfamiliar territory. She felt a bit scared. “Is this passable?”

“Yes.” Yu Youqing seemed very familiar with it, already leading the way.

Wei Xi had no choice but to follow. “Xiao Yu, you seem to know this place well.”

“I spent a lot of time here as a child and still remember some of it.” To reassure Wei Xi, Yu Youqing explained further, pushing aside some bushes. “Plus, I can see cameras hidden here, meaning the crew has scouted this path already. No need to worry.”

“You’re amazing, Xiao Yu!” Wei Xi was utterly impressed by Yu Youqing’s analysis and followed her confidently through the shortcut.

Though slightly dimmer compared to the brightly lit main road outside, the area was illuminated by lights set up in advance by the production crew, so it wasn’t frightening at all.

After walking about halfway, Yu Youshen spotted a figure ahead.

And a familiar voice.

“Wait for me there! I’ll grab the balloon and come right down, Teacher Jiang!”

It was Cheng Shunzhu’s voice, but he wasn’t standing beside Jiang Musheng. The sound came from a nearby tree.

Yu Youshen: “?”

Wei Xi: “How did they end up taking this route too? Let’s go check it out.”

As Yu Youshen approached, she saw a balloon tied to the tree, and Cheng Shunzhu was already scrambling up to retrieve it.

Jiang Musheng stood alone to the side.

For some reason—perhaps because the lighting where Jiang Musheng stood wasn’t as bright—Yu Youshen caught a hint of loneliness emanating from her.

She looked so solitary.

Yu Youshen’s brows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t slow her steps.

Wei Xi had already jogged ahead to assess the situation, looking up at Cheng Shunzhu in the tree with exasperation. “What are you doing up there? How could you just leave Teacher Jiang alone like this?”

Cheng Shunzhu shouted down from above, “No! There’s a camera tied to this balloon—it’s definitely important, so I’m getting it down!”

When Yu Youshen reached Jiang Musheng, she noticed that the woman hadn’t moved an inch since she first spotted her.

Only after getting closer did Yu Youshen realize Jiang Musheng’s shoulders seemed tenser than usual.

“Teacher Jiang?” Yu Youshen stopped beside her. The view ahead was dim—the production crew hadn’t set up lights there, leaving the area darker than the rest.

“Hm.” Jiang Musheng’s response was noticeably shorter than usual, and Yu Youshen could clearly sense it.

Though Jiang Musheng’s gaze was fixed ahead, Yu Youshen detected a trace of forced composure beneath her calm.

Could it be…?

Yu Youshen pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a couple of times, then patted Jiang Musheng’s shoulder. “Teacher Jiang, look.”

Jiang Musheng turned and saw Yu Youshen using her phone’s flashlight to illuminate the small stretch of night path before them. The person holding the light, however, had eyes brighter and softer than the beam itself, imprinting themselves firmly in Jiang Musheng’s heart.

“Not dark anymore,” Yu Youshen said softly. “I’ll light the way for you.”

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