The Trash A Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 14

Yu Youshen, how dare you?

How dare you!

She actually stuttered along with Jiang Musheng’s words: “Ba-ba-ba-baby…?”

Jiang Musheng: “That’s not the right tone.”

When she said this, Jiang Musheng looked at her with a faintly amused expression. Her eyes were dark, but the ample indoor lighting cast a soft glow on her skin, making even her teasing demeanor carry a hint of intimacy and ambiguity.

Yu Youshen opened her mouth, admitting to herself that she was speechless under the overwhelming allure of Jiang Musheng’s beauty.

She took two steps back.

Jiang Musheng added, “Why would she retreat at a moment like this?”

Yu Youshen knew Jiang Musheng was referring to the character in the script.

But right now, she hadn’t even seen the script, let alone knew the character’s name. She couldn’t tell whether Jiang Musheng was toying with her or genuinely offering career guidance. Defeated, she averted her gaze.

“I can’t do it,” Yu Youshen said, almost adding, “Teacher Jiang, what will it take for you to let me off the hook?”

Her eyes betrayed her thoughts, and Jiang Musheng understood. “You might want to consider my proposal.”

Understood. That was a dismissal.

As she left, Yu Youshen pondered—aside from that “baby,” Jiang Musheng’s tone had been surprisingly gentle when discussing this.

Perhaps… it really was a good suggestion?

Since the film was tailored for Jiang Musheng as the female lead, given her status and influence, she could easily handpick her co-star.

Right! Yu Youshen suddenly realized—here was Jiang Musheng, a golden opportunity dangling right in front of her. How could she not seize it?

This would bring her one step closer to her goal: securing a sky-high paycheck, quitting the entertainment industry, and retiring in comfort.

“What mischief are you up to this late at night?”

A mocking voice snapped Yu Youshen back to reality. She looked at Liang Yitang standing before her and replied flatly, “Looking for trouble?”

Liang Yitang had stepped out to fetch some water when she spotted Yu Youshen coming from the direction of Jiang Musheng’s room. Without hesitation, she launched into a tirade: “For a second today, I actually thought you’d changed. But you’re still the same. You’re just trying to climb your way up to Teacher Jiang, aren’t you? I never imagined you’d stoop so low. You already have a sugar daddy, yet you’re still desperate for more?”

She expected Yu Youshen to retort, but instead, Yu Youshen took two steps forward. Half of Yu Youshen’s face was now shadowed in the dim light, her lashes lifting slightly. Liang Yitang felt an inexplicable chill.

“What? Hit a nerve, didn’t I?”

“Liang Yitang, you’re truly stupid.” Yu Youshen let out a soft laugh, her voice clear in the empty living room. “If Zhao Guili can use these tactics against me now, she’ll destroy you just as easily later. Understand?”

Liang Yitang’s heart skipped a beat. She almost thought Yu Youshen would call her an idiot outright, but Yu Youshen said nothing more—just gave her a cool glance before walking away.

“…”

She didn’t even know how to respond.

—

The next day, the guests’ filming focus shifted to an afternoon of skiing.

About two kilometers from the campsite was the ski resort. When everyone gathered on the slopes, Yin Zi quietly approached Yu Youqing and asked, “Why do you seem so preoccupied today? You’ve barely spoken.”

Preoccupied was an understatement—there were faint dark circles under Yu Youqing’s eyes. She hadn’t slept well last night.

Early in the morning, she’d been startled awake by the word “baby” in her dream.

How terrifying.

Jiang Musheng had merely given her a few casual pointers, yet in her dreams, she’d been calling Jiang Musheng “baby” over and over, to the point where she felt utterly flustered.

Thinking Yu Youqing was worried about skiing, Yin Zi reassured her, “Don’t stress if you can’t ski. Even if Teacher Jiang can’t teach us, there are still instructors.”

Teach?

Ah, right. Jiang Musheng picked up a new skill for every film she starred in—skiing was one of her specialties.

Noticing Yangyang among the staff who had tagged along, Yu Youqing figured she must be concerned about Jiang Musheng’s frostbite. Standing one person apart from Jiang Musheng, Yu Youqing discreetly eyed her gloves. Though she was wearing them, they weren’t properly secured—even the Velcro straps at the wrists were left undone.

While the instructor explained the basics, Yu Youqing’s attention was entirely elsewhere.

No one else seemed aware that Jiang Musheng’s hands were bothering her. Yu Youqing reasoned that skiing wasn’t some childish game—how likely was it that her gloves would just slip off? Jiang Musheng wasn’t a kid; surely she knew how to take care of herself?

But then again, if she knew her hands might suffer, why had she still caught that handful of snow for Yu Youqing yesterday? Torn, Yu Youqing wondered if she should at least remind Jiang Musheng to fasten her gloves properly—if only to repay that small kindness.

Yes, she ought to.

While Yin Zi chattered away, Yu Youqing shifted positions, propping herself up with her ski poles as she sidled up to Jiang Musheng. “Teacher Jiang, could you teach me?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Yu Youqing froze in horror. Teaching again?! No, no—she’d only meant to remind Jiang Musheng about the gloves!

“Do you not understand the concept of first come, first served?” Liang Yitang, on Jiang Musheng’s other side, snapped as she adjusted her skis, yanking off her goggles in irritation. “I already asked Teacher Jiang to teach me!”

Yu Youqing’s temper flared. She’d already called Liang Yitang out yesterday—why was she still picking fights? If this had been earlier, she might’ve let it slide, but now she just wanted Jiang Musheng in her group so she could keep her from overexerting herself. In this freezing cold, even gloves might not be enough to prevent frostbite.

With a huff, she retorted, “Teacher Jiang hasn’t agreed to anything yet.”

Then, removing her own goggles, Yu Youqing squinted slightly as she glanced at Jiang Musheng. Her gaze met Jiang Musheng’s for only a second before darting down to her hands. In a hushed voice, she murmured, “Fasten your gloves properly.”

Her tone was nothing like Liang Yitang’s confrontational edge—instead, it softened instantly, like a little animal being gently soothed.

Jiang Musheng paused, then the corners of her eyes crinkled into a faint smile brighter than the winter sun.

“You’re very observant.” Following Yu Youqing’s gaze, she secured the Velcro on her gloves.

Yu Youqing joked offhandedly, “Guess it’s an omega thing.”

Just as Liang Yitang was about to protest again, Li Rongcheng stepped forward. “Are you two fighting over Jiang?”

Liang Yitang snapped, “Yu Youqing is deliberately competing with me!”

“She’s not an object—there’s no need to ‘fight’ over her.” Yu Youqing frowned, correcting Liang Yitang’s phrasing. “I’ll defer to Teacher Jiang’s opinion.”

Jiang Musheng exchanged a helpless glance with Li Rongcheng, who then said, “Xiao Jiang’s skills are indeed at a coaching level, but she can only mentor one person. Arguing like this in front of the cameras puts her in an awkward position… How about this? Each of you explain why you insist on pairing with Xiao Jiang, and I’ll act as the judge to keep things fair.”

Liang Yitang pouted. “I was already paired with Teacher Jiang yesterday.”

“Let me speak first!” Yu Youqing immediately raised her hand, inspiration striking. “I watched Teacher Jiang’s snow mountain film and became a huge fan. If I don’t get to learn from her, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

She delivered the lines with such conviction, like an earnest fan finally meeting their idol, that she might as well have had stars in her eyes when looking at Jiang Musheng.

Jiang Musheng studied her, amusement flickering in her gaze.

This time, her acting was convincing—so much so that even Jiang Musheng momentarily felt the pleasure of being admired.

“Liar! There’s no way you’ve seen it!” Liang Yitang refused to back down, determined to expose Yu Youqing’s pretense in front of Jiang Musheng. Her voice rose. “If you’ve really watched it, then tell us what the most iconic scene was!”

She glared at Yu Youqing triumphantly, certain she had caught her in a bluff.

Not just her—everyone present, including Jiang Musheng, turned their attention to Yu Youqing.

“Of course I know.”

At Yu Youqing’s confident reply, Jiang Musheng, who had been about to intervene, paused in surprise.

“It happens midway through the film. The protagonist Xu Nuo, played by Teacher Jiang, races on a snowboard down a collapsing slope to rescue a girl who hadn’t evacuated in time. She moves so fast it’s like she’s chasing time itself.” Yu Youqing carefully recalled every detail of the film. She hadn’t actually watched it before, but it had been playing on loop during her flight. The scene was so striking that even she could remember it vividly.

“When someone in despair catches even the faintest glimpse of hope, it feels like warmth. So when Xu Nuo appears before the girl, it’s only natural that she falls for her.” Yu Youqing paused, finally daring to let her gaze linger on Jiang Musheng.

Suddenly, the memory of yesterday flashed through her mind—Jiang Musheng cupping snow in her hands to feed her, sunlight glinting off her features, impossibly radiant.

Yu Youqing exhaled softly, murmuring almost to herself, “Who wouldn’t fall for her?”