The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 61

[Tears tears tears tears tears]

[Only because Yu Yousheng is in our camera frame do we know the whole story. From Teacher Jiang’s perspective where she knows nothing, wouldn’t she just find Little Fish’s behavior strange?]

[Damn, that first comment just wrecked me emotionally]

[I declare this scene the highlight of this episode for me!]

[Count me in, after seeing this I genuinely can’t bring myself to hate anymore]

[Help, don’t you all realize? By using the swap option, Yu Yousheng directly took away another guest’s opportunity]

[? Stop hating just for the sake of hating. The winner was President Xu, who’s just good friends with Teacher Jiang there’s no romantic development there. Yu Yousheng used her own chance and actually preserved President Xu’s reward]

[If Yu Yousheng’s feelings for Jiang Musheng are genuine then this is absolutely delicious to ship.]

[She keeps saying nothing will happen between her and Jiang Musheng, yet constantly gets closer to Teacher Jiang, what kind of mixed signals is this?]

[Yeah, these comments are so confusing to read. If you say there’s no paid trolls here, I don’t buy it]

[Or maybe consider this, if you stood in front of Teacher Jiang yourself, could you honestly guarantee you wouldn’t try to get closer? [/laughs]]

“Little Fish, are you sure?” The staff member never expected to hear such a request and called over director Zhao Yang.

Winning first place meant this reward wasn’t something people would casually use. The task swap was extremely valuable. Even Zhao Yang, who usually prioritized show effects, thought Yu Yousheng wouldn’t make this decision given the unresolved misunderstandings between her and Jiang Musheng that viewers didn’t know about yet.

A tidal wave of online hate could easily drown Yu Yousheng for this, yet she chose to do it anyway without hesitation.

“I’m sure.” Yu Yousheng turned back. “Please arrange it, director.”

“We’ll have the camping equipment delivered immediately.” Seeing her resolve, Zhao Yang stopped trying to persuade her.

The moment Yu Yousheng turned around, Jiang Musheng, who theoretically should’ve been focused on packing and unable to hear suddenly looked up as if sensing something, her gaze locking directly with Yu Yousheng’s.

Watching Yu Yousheng walk toward her, the surprise and emotion in Jiang Musheng’s eyes were completely unconcealed.

Yu Yousheng didn’t walk slowly. Her steps were purposeful and resolute.

“Why just stand there? Finish packing so we can go in.” Yu Yousheng naturally took the rope Jiang Musheng was holding and started coiling it. “Let me help.”

“You, why aren’t you leaving?” Jiang Musheng asked, the urgency in her voice unfamiliar even to herself. “Why stay?”

[!]

[She asked! She finally asked!]

[Little Fish, go on say it!]

[I always thought Teacher Jiang wasn’t the type to care about these things.]

[Is curiosity about someone the first step toward liking them? Relationship newbie here, seeking advice from the veterans]

[Forget advice, Little Fish, ANSWER HER!]

[Just say it’s because you wanted to stay with her!!!]

“After finding the clue, I received a reward, a chance to camp at the summit and watch the sunrise. I really want to see it,” Yu Youqing said calmly, completely unaware of how frantic the live-stream audience had become in the comments.

Jiang Musheng stared intently at Yu Youqing, as if trying to detect any hint of deception in her expression, but found none.

She couldn’t tell whether what she felt was disappointment or resignation.

“Let me help you,” Yu Youqing said, shifting slightly when Jiang Musheng reached for the items in her hands. Having watched Jiang Musheng unpack the equipment earlier, she had already memorized the setup and usage methods, so she was confident in handling it herself.

It was too cold outside, and Jiang Musheng had already noticed the staff bringing over another set of camping gear. She knew it would take a while to set up, and since she was here, she wouldn’t let Yu Youqing do it alone. Even if Yu Youqing insisted, she pulled her into her own tent.

“What are you doing? I want to set up my own tent,” Yu Youqing protested, knowing Jiang Musheng had done hers independently too, only offering guidance when absolutely necessary.

“Rest here. I’ll do it for you,” Jiang Musheng replied.

“If I’m going to sleep in it, shouldn’t I set it up myself?” Yu Youqing laughed. “If you’re going to help me with everything, you might as well sleep in my tent too.”

“That could work,” Jiang Musheng mused, meeting Yu Youqing’s gaze before asking, “Would you prefer that?”

If anyone else had teased her like this, Yu Youqing would have taken it as awkward, deliberate flirting. But this was Jiang Musheng her tone was so earnest that Yu Youqing didn’t dare entertain any improper thoughts. It seemed Jiang Musheng was genuinely considering the practicality of the suggestion.

“You didn’t realize I was joking just now?” Yu Youqing asked.

“No, my apologies. I might be, a bit slow,” Jiang Musheng admitted, her expression still sincere. “I’ll go set up the tent.”

She took a few steps before turning back to instruct, “Stay here.”

Yu Youqing couldn’t argue, so she remained inside the warm tent.

It didn’t feel right to just show up and enjoy the camping without contributing. The tent was set up quickly within ten minutes, hers was ready.

Through the gap in the tent flap, Yu Youqing could see strings of small lights hanging outside her tent, which Jiang Musheng had personally arranged. Strangely, Jiang Musheng’s own tent had none.

Why only hers?

Remembering her earpiece was still on, Yu Youqing checked if the staff were still connected. The response came promptly.

An idea that had been brewing in her mind all night suddenly crystallized.

Returning the favor wasn’t that only fair?

That night, Yu Youqing slept in her tent.

It was her first time spending the night outdoors during a show recording, with Jiang Musheng’s tent pitched right beside hers. She lay in her sleeping bag, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Eventually, she got up and unzipped the tent flap.

Even in winter, the forest sky was studded with stars, and the mountaintop offered an even clearer view. As Yu Youqing tilted her head back to gaze at the sky, she heard the sound of Jiang Musheng opening her own tent flap.

“Can’t sleep?” Jiang Musheng’s eyes were alert, not at all like someone who had just woken up. She walked over to Yu Youqing and said, “I heard you come out since we’re close by.”

“Rarely do we get the chance to stargaze in the forest,” Yu Youqing replied, sidestepping the question. “I just came out to look.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jiang Musheng said.

At this point, all the microphones for the show had been turned off, and the cameramen were keeping their distance. Even if there were still viewers in the livestream, they could only see the two figures from afar, unable to hear their conversation.

That was why Yu Youqing finally spoke up: “It’s really dark around here. I was worried you might not be comfortable.”

She began walking slowly forward.

Jiang Musheng asked, “You, knew?”

The two found an open spot near a large rock and sat down. They were close to the entrance of the dense woods, but Yu Youqing didn’t go in, it was too dark inside.

“I could tell,” Yu Youqing said softly, tilting her head up to gaze at the stars. “I used to be afraid of the dark too.”

“Now, it’s not that I’m not afraid anymore, but I try my best to overcome it.” She smiled faintly, memories of this place surfacing from deep within her.

Yu Youqing was looking at the stars, while Jiang Musheng was looking at her.

Jiang Musheng said, “Earlier, during the mission, you seemed very familiar with that little path.”

“That was a long time ago. I used to live here. Back then, Gushan wasn’t even a forest park yet. I’d sometimes come here to hike.” Yu Youqing’s eyes remained fixed on the stars, unwilling to miss even a glimmer of their brilliance. “I thought I knew this place well, but one late night, I took a wrong turn on that path and got lost in the woods.”

Her tone was light, brushing over the panic and fear she had felt at the time. Then, as if recalling something, warmth seeped into her voice.

“I was terrified, but unexpectedly, there was another unlucky soul who had wandered up the mountain in the dark. I couldn’t see their face, but having someone there made it so much better than being alone. I told them I was afraid of the dark, and they said to me, ‘Even the darkest places have light.'” Yu Youqing’s lips curved slightly. “Those words stayed with me for years. Slowly, I learned to face my fears. I wanted to tell you the same thing hoping you, too, can learn not to be afraid.”

After a pause, she added, “Maybe it’s just age, but in recent years, whenever things got tough, I’d remember those words. And it’s true, you have to believe that one day, you’ll see the light. Because even in the deepest night, the stars and moon still shine.”

In fact, that companionship from that night had become a light for her in many moments.

Only after finishing her last sentence did Yu Youqing finally lower her gaze from the sky only to find Jiang Musheng staring at her in silence.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, but it wasn’t disapproval. Instead, beneath that calm surface, there was something deeply moved, a mix of empathy and heartache.

It was complicated. An expression Yu Youqing couldn’t quite decipher.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Yu Youqing chuckled, noticing Jiang Musheng’s silence and trying to lighten the mood with a joke. “Were you shocked by what that unlucky person said? We were all so young back then, who knew she could be so amazing? If I ever get the chance to meet her again, I’ll definitely thank her properly.”

Jiang Musheng hesitated before asking, “Was she, that important to you?”

“In a way, she was my savior,” Yu Youqing murmured.

Only then did Jiang Musheng smile. “Then you really should thank her properly.”

Tiny specks of light began drifting toward them from the depths of the forest. Yu Youqing nudged Jiang Musheng’s shoulder excitedly, urging her to look ahead. “Look over there!”

Jiang Musheng saw a vast swarm of fireflies.

The lights multiplied, converging into what seemed like a brilliant summer galaxy, burning fiercely against the biting winter night as they flew closer, eventually encircling the two in a breathtakingly romantic glow.

“See? I told you, no matter how dark it gets, light will always find its way.” Yu Youqing’s voice carried a sweet, triumphant lilt. Caught in the moment, she stood and twirled amidst the fireflies, her hair shimmering as she softly added, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you now, aren’t I?”

If hearts could measure warmth, Jiang Musheng knew hers would be blazing like molten lava.

An uncontrollable urge surged through her, to pull the girl before her into an embrace.

To hold her tight, until they became one.

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