The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 2
She wasn’t dreaming so how was Jiang Musheng standing right here?!
Yu Youqing blinked twice, then immediately lowered her head, her face burning crimson with embarrassment. She wished she could dig a hole and disappear on the spot.
Under Jiang Musheng’s direct gaze, Yu Youqing found herself utterly speechless.
She had no idea how much time had passed before Jiang Musheng finally put her sunglasses back on. Only then did the suffocating tightness in Yu Youqing’s throat ease slightly.
“Ms. Jiang, this is a misunderstanding. I was here to see President Lin,” Yu Youqing stammered, hastily taking a step back. She was certain Jiang Musheng must think her utterly presumptuous, a washed-up actress daring to get in her way.
Without lifting her head, Yu Youqing hurried toward the general manager’s office, but she could still feel Jiang Musheng’s piercing gaze lingering on her, sending chills down her spine.
What she didn’t see was the faint curl at the corner of Jiang Musheng’s lips as she put her sunglasses back on before stepping into the elevator.
Truly the overwhelming aura of an alpha, impossible to resist.
Yu Youqing wasn’t unfamiliar with Jiang Musheng running into each other at industry events was normal but they weren’t close, never having even exchanged a proper conversation. After her own career decline, she barely attended any events at all. Even though Jiang Musheng frequently graced magazine covers, seeing her in person was an entirely different experience.
So breathtaking it was almost unbelievable.
And now, before even getting a chance to work with Jiang Musheng, she had already offended the woman herself. Yu Youqing felt a headache coming on.
This time, she double-checked she had the right door before knocking. Lin Xuqiao turned and smiled at the sight of her. “You’re very punctual.”
When Yu Youqing removed her mask, Lin Xuqiao studied her face for a moment before nodding approvingly. “No complaints about this face. A comeback is guaranteed.”
After the earlier fiasco outside the elevator, Yu Youqing found herself oddly calm now. She nodded. “Hello, President Lin.”
“Have a seat.” Lin Xuqiao had a favorable impression of Yu Youqing and got straight to the point. “Just do well here. The company’s plans are all geared toward making you successful—we won’t do anything to harm you. Once you reach the heights you want, you’ll realize a little criticism doesn’t matter.”
Though a friend had asked her to mentor Yu Youqing, Lin Xuqiao had full rein over the approach. She was quite satisfied with the unconventional strategy she’d devised. Wintergreen Entertainment was a new company in need of a star to solidify its standing, and Yu Youqing had arrived at just the right time all these resources could be hers.
Yu Youqing asked, “President Lin, why did you sign me? Everyone knows I’m no longer popular.”
She hadn’t even been aiming for a comeback. With such a high-risk strategy, she’d probably drown in the backlash. The only reason she’d accepted the contract was to earn enough money to live comfortably.
Lin Xuqiao said, “We have the funds, we’ll absolutely make you a star.”
The boss didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives?
Yu Youqing exhaled in relief. “Thank you, President Lin.”
“Don’t thank me. Thank our investor for having deep pockets.” Lin Xuqiao smiled mysteriously. “The company has assigned you a new assistant. You can head out now if there’s nothing else specific arrangements will be communicated to you later.”
Yu Youqing hadn’t expected things to wrap up so quickly. Her new assistant, Tiantian, was a bright-eyed young woman with several years of experience as an agent. The moment she saw Yu Youqing, she beamed.
“Ms. Yu! I’m your biggest fan!”
Yu Youqing said sheepishly, “No need to be so formal. I think I’m slightly older than you.”
“Sister Youqing, then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Sweetie promptly changed her address. She got to work quickly, immediately picking up her tablet to make arrangements while cross-referencing the contract. “Director Lin said what you need most right now is an opportunity to return to the public eye and completely change your image.”
“For example?”
“You’ll need to adapt to the ‘scumbag alpha’ persona.” Sweetie removed Yu Youqing’s hat, letting her long curls cascade down. With her face now fully visible, it looked smaller than a palm. Sweetie clicked her tongue twice, “Right now, you look exactly like a delicate, fragile omega who could be easily overpowered.”
Yu Youqing: “I can act the part.”
Sweetie: “Try acting out a scene where a scumbag alpha flirts with another woman right in front of her girlfriend.”
With nothing prepared and having to perform to thin air, Yu Youqing wasn’t that quick on her feet. Besides, she’d never played an alpha role in all these years. After fidgeting awkwardly for a while, she gave up: “I need to observe and learn before I can get into character.”
Sweetie nodded: “Good, I was thinking the same. We’ll start practicing tonight. At 10:30, I’ll take you somewhere to work on this exact scenario.”
Just as Yu Youqing was about to say this might be too much, a message came through on her phone.
She put her hat and mask back on. “I have something to attend to. We’ll talk tonight.”
An hour later, Yu Youqing found herself back at her old company.
When she pushed the door open, Zhao Guili looked her up and down and sneered: “What? Is this the treatment you get after finding new backing? They let you go out dressed like some pauper?”
Yu Youqing smoothed her hair, expression unchanged: “Indeed. I didn’t ask for much, but you wouldn’t even give me that, Sister Li.”
Zhao Guili slammed the table and stood up: “If I hadn’t promoted you back then, do you think you’d be where you are today? Ungrateful wretch. I wondered how long you’d hold out, but you found a sugar daddy after all. Millions in breach fees, how could a washed-up entertainer like you afford that on your own? Though an omega’s body is valuable, that much I know.”
Yu Youqing lowered her eyes with a light laugh, long lashes fluttering: “Not everyone is as shameless as you.”
It was true that Zhao Guili had discovered and promoted her. In her youth, Yu Youqing had been immature, with a proud and temperamental nature, wearing her likes and dislikes plainly on her face. Back then, fans called it authenticity, but now those same traits had become black marks of diva behavior for which she was reviled.
Those who reach the summit too easily tend to lose their footing not just her, but the entire company. Gradually, even scripts Yu Youqing didn’t want to do were accepted by Zhao Guili as long as the price was right. Later, for better resources and greater profits, Zhao Guili even tried to send her to a major investor’s suite.
Yu Youqing refused. So a younger girl got that opportunity instead. Zhao Guili said Yu Youqing’s attitude needed tempering, no one should turn their nose up at money.
“You don’t know what’s good for you, you’ll never make it big! Look at Liang Yitang, she’s already a top-tier actress now. And you?” Zhao Guili sneered, her eyes filled with disdain. “No matter who you’ve found, as long as you’re still in this industry, our company’s artists will always overshadow you. You’ll never rise to fame again!”
Liang Yitang was the newcomer Zhao Guili had been aggressively promoting after Yu Youqing, and her momentum was fierce.
In the past, Yu Youqing might have argued back, but having already died once, she now saw no point. She’d rather stay obscure to avoid being harassed into quitting the industry before she even saved enough for retirement.
She smiled and nodded. “Sure, thanks for the blessing.”
Zhao Guili: “???” Did she lose her mind from the shock?
Yu Youqing took a cab home, slept for a while, and even had a brief dream. In it, she kept seeing Jiang Musheng’s fair instep swaying before her eyes, along with those distant peach-blossom eyes.
When she woke up, she was still dazed for a moment.
Jiang Musheng.
There was no way someone like her would leave an impression on Jiang Musheng.
At 10:30 p.m., Yu Youqing arrived punctually at the bar entrance where Tiantian had instructed her to go. Wearing a mask, she kept her head down as she entered.
She had no desire for fame after all, it was unpredictable. But Yu Youqing still had a strong sense of professionalism. Since she’d agreed to follow the company’s arrangements, she would comply.
The moment she stepped inside, the blaring music assaulted her ears. Frowning, she quickened her pace, moving past the gyrating crowd of young men and women, completely out of place.
The bar was at its peak energy, and no one paid her any attention.
Tiantian was waiting for her by the second-floor stairs and spotted her immediately, waving. “Sis! Over here!”
The bar’s second floor had entry restrictions, keeping out ordinary patrons and preventing unwanted photos. Many minor celebrities frequented the place, exactly why Tiantian had chosen it.
As they walked upstairs, Tiantian said, “The company assigned you an alpha archetype. Know who it is?”
Yu Youqing shook her head.
“Teacher Jiang.” Tiantian leaned closer, raising her voice so Yu Youqing could hear. “In the upcoming script, you’re the foil to her character.”
“So how am I supposed to learn from her now?”
Tiantian: “Simple. First, get a feel for Teacher Jiang’s vibe, then do the exact opposite.”
As if she were so familiar with Jiang Musheng that she could just “get a feel” for her.
Tiantian pulled up a pre-saved video on her phone and pointed toward the bar. “Know how to flirt?”
The clip showed a modern drama scene where Jiang Musheng’s character was constantly being hit on in a bar.
Yu Youqing thought that with Jiang Musheng’s looks, anyone in real life would be tempted to approach her. But her icy demeanor and commanding presence made it daunting to strike up a conversation.
Yu Youqing shook her head. “No.”
“That’s why you need practice. What kind of scummy alpha can’t pick up girls?” Tiantian held out her hands. “Give me your jacket, pick someone, and go.”
Before coming, Tiantian had warned her to dress appropriately for a bar no more hoodies and jeans like in the afternoon.
She had just casually grabbed a backless black dress from her closet to wear underneath. Now, as she removed her coat, her voluminous long curls cascaded down. The black dress clung to her curves perfectly, every inch of her skin exuding charm like a bewitching enchantress.
Tian Tian was stunned for a moment. “Oh my god, my eyes have been blessed!”
Yu Youqing curled her lips into a smile, the dazzling light reflecting in her eyes. Scanning the room, she spotted a few people scattered around the bar and decided to approach one for a casual greeting.
She had never actively hit on anyone in a bar before usually, she was the one being approached. As she walked toward the counter, Yu Youqing tried to recall the mannerisms and postures of the alphas who had flirted with her in the past.
The scenario in the video Tian Tian had shown her was cliché, pickup lines like “Hey, beautiful” or “Can I buy you a drink?” something that would have been unbearable if not for Jiang Musheng’s face carrying it.
And now, she had to add a devilish twist: a scummy alpha flirting with another woman right in front of her girlfriend.
Yu Youqing rubbed her temples. Where was she supposed to conjure up a girlfriend?
The girl beside her had striking red hair, impossible to miss. Yu Youqing couldn’t tell if she was an alpha or an omega. When she got closer, the redhead turned, revealing a strikingly beautiful and angular face clearly not purely Asian in features.
Putting on her most charming smile and suppressing her nerves, Yu Youqing leaned in and whispered, “Here alone?”
As if on cue, the bartender slid a drink toward her. Yu Youqing pushed it forward. “How about a drink with me?”
No one would refuse an invitation from such a stunning woman, Xu Liyu was no exception. She took the glass without hesitation and asked bluntly, “Are you here alone too?”
Yu Youqing firmly remembered her role, a scummy alpha with a girlfriend!
So, she casually gestured behind her.
“Nope, I came with my girlfriend. She’s right over there.” Her heart was practically pounding out of her chest, but she forced herself to stay composed. Just as her arm hovered mid-air, pointing backward, a cool touch suddenly wrapped around her wrist.
!!!
Before she could even turn around, that familiar voice was already at her ear so close that Yu Youqing could feel the warmth of breath brushing against her skin. The sound of her own frantic heartbeat was deafeningly clear:
“Who exactly are you calling your girlfriend?”