The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 60

Yu Youqing never expected she could be this impulsive.

She was someone who always considered how her actions might be interpreted, yet she couldn’t stop herself this time. The cold wind in the car did nothing to cool the feverish heat in her head.

Jiang Musheng was like a cure and an intoxicant so close yet so far, drawing her in recklessly, regardless of consequences.

When she told the driver to turn back, even the production crew was stunned.

“Xiaoyu, you!” Someone instinctively started to ask, but then remembered the nature of this show. In hindsight, this move wasn’t entirely unexpected.

The moment Yu Youqing made her decision to return, the barrage of comments flooded with question marks before the tone quickly shifted.

[Who’s crying? Oh, it’s me.]

[Earlier, fans were asking why no one questioned why the show was putting the guests through this. Then Yu Youqing went and asked. If not for her past scandals, I’d genuinely believe she’s a die-hard Jiang Musheng fan.]

[Ugh, someone tell me they get it, I’m almost falling for her!]

[Can someone confirm that Yu Youqing’s past scandals were fake? So I can stan her guilt-free.]

[What’s up with Yu Youqing? The second she said she was going back, I felt this tragic heroism.]

[This season’s Yu Yu is seriously winning people over.]

[Why isn’t anyone calling her out for clout-chasing now? You fake fans are hilarious, putting on this act.]

[So stating facts is acting now? Use some common sense. Yu Youqing’s performance these two episodes speaks for itself, it’s not forced praise.]

[There’s this sense of unwavering determination. I can’t even bring myself to think it’s just a calculated move. Feels like it’d ruin the mood.]

[Xiaoyu’s going back to keep Jiang Musheng company, no hesitation.]

Yu Youqing had been anxious at first, but as she got closer, her heartbeat gradually steadied.

A crew member handed her a mini mic, saying, “If you need anything, just let us know through this.”

Since Jiang Musheng’s mountaintop camping was part of the punishment task, the crew kept their distance, staying far enough that the shot would make it seem like Jiang Musheng was alone.

The car stopped, and a cold gust of wind rushed in.

Yu Youqing had already put on her windbreaker, pulling the collar up high to cover most of her face, her hood drawn tight. Only her eyes were visible as she followed the crew’s directions.

At the mountaintop campsite, beside a dense forest, the area ahead was wide open, with no obstructions behind like standing at the edge of a cliff. The production team must have booked the entire place, as only one tent was in sight. Jiang Musheng wasn’t immediately visible, possibly setting something up behind it.

A bright lantern hung in front of the tent, casting light over a small patch of ground.

Just as Yu Youqing approached, Jiang Musheng emerged from behind the tent.

The moment their eyes met, Jiang Musheng froze in surprise.

“Teacher Jiang,” Yu Youqing spoke first, then added into her headset mic for the staff, “I’ve reached the mountain peak.”

Jiang Musheng was still holding a small hammer she’d used to reinforce the tent stakes. Yu Youqing noticed she was bundled up thickly, but couldn’t tell how warm it actually was inside the tent whether it was truly as cozy as the staff had claimed.

“What brings you here?” Jiang Musheng walked toward Yu Youqing step by step. Though she felt her pace was deliberately slow, she couldn’t seem to quicken it, making each step appear solemn and deliberate.

“I came for the clue,” Yu Youqing replied, slipping her hands into her pockets to shield them from the cold wind. It wasn’t entirely untrue.

Jiang Musheng stood motionless before her. Only when Yu Youqing reached for the zipper again did she seem to snap out of her daze. Without another thought, she grasped Yu Youqing’s wrist.

“Are you cold?” Yu Youqing immediately noticed how icy Jiang Musheng’s palm was. Before she could ask more, Jiang Musheng pulled her into the tent.

Warm air rushed over them. Yu Youqing stared in surprise at the heating equipment inside.

It actually works?

“Did you walk all the way up?” Once inside, Jiang Musheng became uncharacteristically talkative, firing off questions. “I heard Wei Xi went back, I thought you’d gone down together. Are you cold? You’ll warm up soon if you stay here. Do you need a hot water bottle?”

“I’m not cold. You already asked me that,” Yu Youqing said with a blink.

The tent was brightly lit, as if sealing them off into a safe little world.

Only then did Jiang Musheng realize she was still holding Yu Youqing’s wrist. It would be impolite to keep doing so on camera, so she let go. The joy of seeing Yu Youqing had nearly burst from her chest; she paused for two seconds to steady herself before asking again, “What brings you here?”

Amusement flickered in Yu Youqing’s eyes. “Didn’t you just ask me that?” But she humored her anyway: “I came for the clue.”

The mountain nights were cold, and mornings heavy with dew. Those with weaker constitutions could easily fall ill. Jiang Musheng didn’t know how Yu Youqing had made it up here, but she knew staying too long wouldn’t do her any good.

Yet Yu Youqing showed no intention of leaving. Her eyes darted around, inspecting the tent’s interior.

“Teacher Jiang, do you still have work outside? Let me help,” she offered.

“No need.” Jiang Musheng didn’t want her going out into the cold.

“Can people really stay here overnight?” Yu Youqing circled the heater curiously. “Is this thing enough? What if it stops working suddenly at night? Wouldn’t it get unbearably cold?”

“It won’t. It’ll last through the night,” Jiang Musheng assured. “Once everything’s set up, the conditions are decent. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried,” Yu Youqing said. “Just curious.”

She was talking more, and so was Jiang Musheng. But with her own emotions in turmoil, Jiang Musheng couldn’t tell if Yu Youqing’s chatter stemmed from the same reason.

After looking around inside, Yu Youqing zipped up her jacket tighter, ready to step out.

“It’s cold outside,” Jiang Musheng stopped her.

“You were just outside earlier, weren’t you? It’s not like I’m going out naked, I won’t freeze.” Yu Youqing ignored Jiang Musheng’s protests. Before lifting the tent flap to step out, she turned to the approaching Jiang Musheng and said firmly, “Clothes! Don’t you dare follow me without putting your jacket on!”

In her haste, Jiang Musheng had forgotten she’d already taken off her coat after coming inside.

Truthfully, Yu Youqing knew little about camping precautions. She simply assumed that since this was a site chosen by the production crew, the basics would already be taken care of.

She wandered aimlessly outside, not entirely sure what she was looking for. Jiang Musheng followed at a leisurely pace behind her, gradually realizing something this girl seemed worried she might go hungry.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Yu Youqing called ahead, “What will you do if you get hungry tonight? What can you even eat here? Surely not just instant noodles, do you even have hot water for that?”

Then came another question: “The temperature will drop even more at night. Are you really going to be okay?”

First it was concern about food, now it was warmth and sleep quality.

Each word flowed like warm currents through Jiang Musheng’s heart.

“Everything’s taken care of here,” Jiang Musheng patiently showed Yu Youqing each piece of equipment she’d just packed away, retrieving them one by one without the slightest impatience, explaining their uses in detail. “I’ll be perfectly fine staying here tonight.”

But it’s so dark out here and you’re afraid of the dark.

The words swirled in Yu Youqing’s throat before she swallowed them down, glancing around instead. The campsite had lights, and staff members were visible in the distance beyond the perimeter by all accounts, decent conditions.

Yet Yu Youqing couldn’t shake the feeling that this was no place to spend the night. Beyond the campsite lights, wasn’t it pitch black? And this wind wasn’t it bitingly cold?

Won’t you be lonely here,  all by yourself?

Jiang Musheng noticed Yu Youqing’s pressed lips, wondering which of her words had suddenly caused displeasure.

“Head back early and have the staff take you down the mountain. It’s cold up here.” Amidst the scattered gear, Jiang Musheng rose without hurry to stand before Yu Youqing, her tone gentle yet firm. “It’s late now, let me know when you get back.”

Jiang Musheng never revealed even a hint of vulnerability to the outside world her fears, her weaknesses.

Not even before Yu Youqing.

This realization stirred indescribable emotions in Yu Youqing’s chest. Logically, she held no special position in Jiang Musheng’s life, yet discovering how truly equal her standing was to everyone else’s brought an unexpectedly sharp discomfort.

She responded with a muted sound and turned to leave though her steps were deliberately slow.

The night was so quiet Yu Youqing could hear Jiang Musheng’s footsteps retreating, then the sounds of her reorganizing the scattered equipment.

So many things can one person really manage all that alone?

From this angle, Jiang Musheng would be facing her retreating back was she watching her leave?

Suddenly, Yu Youqing’s earpiece crackled to life: “Xiaoyu, the other guests at the villa decided to come keep Jiang Musheng company for the camping. After some competitive games, Xu Liyu won and is about to set out.”

Yu Youqing’s footsteps froze mid-stride.

“What?” Yu Yousheng lightly touched her earpiece. “I can go with Teacher Jiang?”

“You can request it, but you’ll need to negotiate terms with the production team,” the staff member explained. “Xu Liyu’s team came in second place during the mountain climbing challenge and originally won the reward of being able to request meals with their crush anytime. But since she chose to accompany Teacher Jiang instead, that reward is now forfeited.”

“So it’s an equivalent exchange, I can use my own reward to swap places, right?”

Staff: “That’s correct.”

After a long silence, though Yu Yousheng knew she’d made her decision the moment she heard the option. The remaining time was spent wondering would Teacher Jiang find her presence bothersome?

“Then I’ll use my swap reward,” she enunciated each word clearly and firmly. “Replace whoever was going to accompany Teacher Jiang with me.”

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