The Scumbag A Really Doesn't Want to Become Famous [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 3
The music in the bar continued to assault her eardrums. Yu Youqing couldn’t tell whether what she was hearing was the beat of the drums or the pounding of her own heart. All she saw was the figure approaching her, carrying with them a faint, cool fragrance that was inexplicably soothing.
Jiang Musheng’s eyelids were thin, her features sharp. Even with the allure of peach-blossom eyes, the first thing one sensed from her gaze wasn’t warmth but an icy detachment that kept people at arm’s length. She was tall, and the dim, flickering lights reflected in her eyes, lending them an unexpectedly ambiguous warmth.
I must be going crazy.
That was the only thought running through Yu Youqing’s mind.
The bar was warm, even though early winter had arrived. Those who wanted to dress provocatively still did so without hesitation.
Jiang Musheng, on the other hand, was dressed rather conservatively just a slightly unbuttoned V-neck shirt revealing nothing more than a hint of collarbone.
But the more restrained someone appeared, the more magnetic they became. Yu Youqing didn’t even dare look at her properly.
“Holy,” Even though Tian Tian was no rookie agent, she still couldn’t control her reaction when she got a clear look at the person standing beside Yu Youqing.
Her phone was still recording originally meant for Yu Youqing to review later but now her hands were trembling slightly.
Yu Youqing desperately wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. She could only watch as Jiang Musheng stopped right in front of her. Was the world really this small? Twice in one day, she had managed to embarrass herself in front of Jiang Musheng.
“J-Jiang… Teacher, it’s a misunderstanding,” Yu Youqing stammered, scrambling for an excuse that even she found flimsy.
The next second, the drink in front of her was taken away.
“Hahaha, why are you so nervous?” Xu Liyu took a sip, exchanging an amused glance with Jiang Musheng before grinning. “Since when did you have such a gorgeous girlfriend? Not very friendly of you to keep it from me.”
Yu Yousheng’s expression froze for a split second before realization dawned this red-haired girl actually knew Jiang Musheng!
What the hell was I even trying to pull.
She wanted to cry but had no tears left.
Would it still work if I told Jiang Musheng right now that I was just acting?
Jiang Musheng took in every subtle shift in Yu Youqing’s expression.
The girl was clearly flustered. As the lights brightened slightly, the faint blush on her earlobes became visible. Yu Youqing’s beauty was undeniable even in an industry overflowing with stunning faces, she stood out as one of a kind. The black dress she wore only accentuated the delicate allure of her features. She looked like the kind of enchantress who could get away with anything just by batting her lashes, yet in front of Jiang Musheng, she kept revealing moments of panic.
Am I some kind of monster? Why does she always seem so afraid?
Instead of responding to Xu Liyu, Jiang Musheng kept her eyes on Yu Youqing and asked, “What misunderstanding?”
“I didn’t mean to. I just pointed randomly, I really didn’t expect.” Yu Youqing’s voice grew quieter as she spoke. She wanted to stay composed, but Jiang Musheng’s gaze was too intense. Since Jiang Musheng wasn’t moving, she didn’t dare budge either, standing stiffly in place.
Jiang Musheng tilted her head slightly, her tone unreadable.
Despite the deafening noise of the bar, her voice somehow cut through clearly.
She asked, “Then which one is your girlfriend?”
If she hadn’t misheard, Yu Youqing had claimed to be here with her girlfriend.
Coming with your girlfriend yet still handing drinks to other women and pointing around casually.
You sure play a wild game.
“You two know each other?” Xu Liyu, having just returned from abroad, wasn’t familiar with people in the entertainment industry. She looked at Yu Youqing curiously, “I’ve never been hit on by such a big celebrity before.”
Yu Youqing was still nervous, but after this brief moment, she had at least steadied herself. She forced a smile back onto her face. Though she felt her image in Jiang Musheng’s eyes was already ruined beyond repair, she still had to keep up appearances.
“I don’t have a girlfriend just shamelessly flattering myself. Please don’t mind me, Teacher Jiang.” She then turned to Xu Liyu, “Everyone knows Teacher Jiang. I’m just a minor celebrity, someone Teacher Jiang will forget after a glance.”
Yu Youqing’s heart was pounding. She had just signed with a new company, and when reviewing the contract, she already knew that later on, to boost her popularity enough to secure the script co-starring Jiang Musheng, the company would push her to “reach for the moon” creating opportunities for her to be linked with Jiang Musheng in gossip.
And now, before any of that had even started, she had already crossed paths with Jiang Musheng twice both times leaving a less-than-favorable impression.
By the time the publicity stunts began, Jiang Musheng would probably despise her even more.
But compared to the downward spiral into poverty after her career tanked, Yu Youqing figured she could still handle this.
Before Jiang Musheng could even speak, Yu Youqing had already lowered her head, muttered a quick “Goodbye, Teacher Jiang,” and hurriedly turned to leave.
“That girl seems pretty interesting. Introduce her to me sometime,” Xu Liyu couldn’t help but watch as Yu Youqing disappeared down the stairs in a flash.
When she turned back, she noticed Jiang Musheng’s brows slightly furrowed, her gaze distant. Teasingly, she asked, “Lost in thought?”
Jiang Musheng tapped her slender fingers against Xu Liyu’s empty glass. “Got things to do. I’m leaving.”
“Holy sh1t, holy sh1t, holy sh1t!!!”
By now, Yu Youqing was already in the car on her way back, but her ears were being assaulted by Tiantian’s relentless squealing, along with the video shoved right in front of her face.
The video clearly showed her standing next to Jiang Musheng.
“Look at how Teacher Jiang moved from behind you to right in front of you! I thought she was going to wrap her arm around your waist! Doesn’t it look like it? Doesn’t it? We hit the jackpot tonight running into Teacher Jiang!”
And clearly, Jiang Musheng had been there for a private gathering with friends. Since they were on the second floor, she had been relaxed, which was why she hadn’t caused much of a stir.
Yu Youqing’s drowsiness was instantly shattered by Tiantian’s voice. She yawned, “Not really!”
“Yes, really! Though I kinda feel like Teacher Jiang was the one acting like the domineering alpha so flirty when she whispered in your ear, while you were like a delicate little flower.” Tiantian clicked her tongue twice, still scrutinizing the video, then suddenly had an epiphany. “You should learn from Teacher Jiang.”
No, absolutely not.
With Jiang Musheng’s overwhelming presence, Yu Youqing was terrified.
“In front of Teacher Jiang, I have no acting skills,” Yu Youqing sighed, admitting her shortcomings.
She had been in the industry for a long time, and her acting was passable just enough to scrape by. But compared to Jiang Musheng, an award-winning actress recognized by major film festivals, she was embarrassingly out of her depth.
“So you need to interact more with Teacher Jiang!” Tiantian urged earnestly. “The news about Jiang Munsheng being cast in that script is insider information. If we want to secure the role of the scumbag Alpha, we’ll need to make extensive preparations and can’t just parachute in casually.”
The movie was still in its preparatory stages, but Lin Xuqiao’s side had already obtained the information early. The director who wrote this script had long confirmed Jiang Munsheng for the role. It was easy to imagine how many offers would pour in for the remaining roles once this news was officially announced.
Simply sharing scenes with Jiang Munsheng would already be the first step to fame.
And Yu Youqing was currently at the greatest disadvantage.
To ensure she secured the role without any suspense, the company would spend the next few months rebranding her and rearranging her work schedule.
Yu Youqing watched the cityscape rapidly recede outside the car window and murmured, “I understand.”
–
Yu Youqing rested at home for three days before the company finally notified her to prepare for a charity gala appreciation banquet tomorrow evening in the city.
Though the event started at eight, Tiantian arrived at Yu Youqing’s home with a makeup artist at three in the afternoon, only to discover that Yu Youqing’s wardrobe didn’t contain a single show-stopping evening gown.
Tiantian’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Sis, haven’t any brands sent you dresses over the years?”
“They did. I sold them,” Yu Youqing replied, keeping her eyes closed as the makeup artist applied her makeup.
Tiantian: “??”
She had been famous before and owned all the expected luxuries. But after being reborn, Yu Youqing looked at her nearly empty bank account and decided all those possessions were just worldly attachments, so she sold them.
Clothes were nowhere as reliable as money. Having walked the line between life and death, she returned with a truly zen attitude. Her priorities now were simple: first, survival, and second, earning and saving money.
Yu Youqing: “It doesn’t have to be designer. I can just wear any dress.”
Borrowing one at such short notice was impossible now.
Besides, Yu Youqing was only attending to make an appearance her seat was even placed in an obscure spot. She hadn’t donated anything; her invitation came solely through the company’s connections. There was no need to push for the spotlight.
Tiantian had no choice. She sensed Yu Youqing seemed somewhat indifferent to fame and fortune now. Fortunately, Yu Youqing was a natural clothes hanger. A simple white fringed dress paired with a light cashmere coat, its soft fur collar fluffing beneath her jawline, made her look radiant and elegant.
As they neared the hotel entrance, Yu Youqing hesitated briefly before removing her cashmere coat, her snow-white shoulders trembling slightly from the cold.
The weather was freezing, but a female celebrity couldn’t afford to show weakness. The red carpet from the car to the entrance was the first battlefield. It had been a long time since she last appeared in public, and she had no idea what awaited her once she stepped out.
It was five minutes to eight, she had arrived slightly early. Just as Yu Youqing’s hand touched the car door, an unmistakable commotion erupted outside. All the media waiting in the bitter cold surged forward.
Jiang Munsheng had arrived.
She stepped out and moved briskly, unlike other actresses who lingered on the red carpet. Only the fans’ cheers made her slow her pace, pausing briefly for the photographers.
The tinted car windows cast a hazy, darkened filter over the outside world. Yu Youqing wanted a clearer look, she would wait until Jiang Munsheng finished signing before exiting so she rolled down the window.
A gust of cold wind rushed in, sending a shiver down one’s spine. But it also allowed Yu Youqing to see Jiang Musheng more clearly this person was truly beautiful.
With looks that could captivate the masses, yet carrying an inexplicable, uniquely alpha-like aura of heroism.
All the dazzling lights outside paled in comparison to the radiant starlight Jiang Musheng alone exuded. Just standing there, she effortlessly stole everyone’s attention.
Yu Youqing stared absentmindedly in that direction. She had to admit, the feeling of stepping back into the spotlight was somewhat alluring.
Now that all the media had swarmed around Jiang Musheng, Yu Youqing actually felt a hint of relief. Maybe she could slip away quietly later, hurry inside and take her seat to avoid any potential ridicule.
She had asked Tiantian and learned that Liang Yitang was also coming. As someone personally groomed by Zhao Guili, Liang naturally wouldn’t give her an easy time now that she was making a comeback.
Yu Youqing wasn’t afraid of trouble, she just couldn’t be bothered to deal with it. Perhaps it was because she hadn’t attended events in so long, but she couldn’t ignore the faint unease in her heart.
After lying low for so long, it turned out fear still crept in when it was time. But right now, as she watched Jiang Musheng, her mind was too occupied with admiration to dwell on much else.
Who would’ve thought that amidst the deafening screams of fans, Jiang Musheng, standing far away, would suddenly look straight in her direction?
Yu Youqing could feel it, Jiang Musheng’s gaze pierced through the air without hesitation, locking onto hers.
Her eyes had already been fixed in that direction, so she saw it clearly. Jiang Musheng silently mouthed two words to her:
“Come here.”