The Trash A Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 17

Yu Youqing got into Jiang Musheng’s car. Though she had cursed the unreliable driver a thousand times in her heart for breaking their agreement, she didn’t dare say a word out loud—not with Jiang Musheng sitting right beside her.

Having Jiang Musheng drive her to the airport was something she had never even dreamed of.

Literally the kind of thing she wouldn’t dare fantasize about, even in her wildest dreams.

She had no idea what to talk about with Jiang Musheng, so she stayed silent. But in the confined space of the car, even though her mouth wasn’t moving, all her other senses were hyper-focused on Jiang Musheng. Her gaze drifted downward, landing on Jiang Musheng’s unmoving grip on her phone.

Jiang Musheng didn’t seem to be in the best mood. The way her fingers pressed against the phone, the tips slightly whitened, betrayed an unconscious tension.

Yu Youqing guessed it had something to do with what Liang Yitang had mentioned about compatibility. Naturally, this led her thoughts back to Li Rongcheng urging Jiang Musheng to settle down. Was Jiang Musheng troubled because she hadn’t found the right person?

After some hesitation, Yu Youqing awkwardly spoke up, “Ms. Jiang, I don’t think you need to worry.”

Jiang Musheng looked up, confusion flickering in her eyes.

“Someone with high compatibility will definitely come along,” Yu Youqing reassured, though she wasn’t particularly skilled at comforting people. She hadn’t had much practice. Even now, she felt nervous under Jiang Musheng’s gaze.

In her past life, by the time she passed away, she had never heard any news about Jiang Musheng having a girlfriend. Suddenly, Yu Youqing realized something—had she ever even heard Jiang Musheng mention a “white moonlight” in her previous life?

Maybe she just hadn’t paid enough attention back then and missed that interview.

Jiang Musheng didn’t respond, her expression thoughtful as if considering Yu Youqing’s words. Sensing that she was listening, Yu Youqing added, “Someone like you—plenty of girls would adore you.”

“Really?” Jiang Musheng’s gaze finally settled on Yu Youqing. She smiled faintly, though her tone remained indifferent. “I don’t care much about compatibility.”

“Huh? But you just said—” Yu Youqing abruptly shut her mouth, then hastily corrected herself, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. It was an accident.”

“That was just a casual remark.” Jiang Musheng didn’t seem bothered. Noticing Yu Youqing’s flustered state, her voice softened slightly. “I judge people, not circumstances.”

Yu Youqing didn’t quite understand what Jiang Musheng meant, but she nodded blankly anyway, afraid Jiang Musheng might think she had ulterior motives. She decided not to say anything else.

After another stretch of silence, Jiang Musheng asked, “Plenty of girls would like someone like me?”

“Yeah.” Yu Youqing thought about it. If she had been in her teens, someone like Jiang Musheng—driven, accomplished, mature, and caring—would have completely swept her off her feet.

Jiang Musheng seemed mildly curious. “What exactly is ‘someone like me’?”

Yu Youqing repeated the adjectives she had just thought of, feeling a bit like a sycophant. But after she finished, Jiang Musheng’s mood seemed to improve—at least enough to set aside her poor phone. With a hint of amusement, she asked, “And what age range are these ‘girls’ you’re talking about?”

“From teens to twenties?” Yu Youqing had no idea Jiang Musheng would ask such a question, so she gave a vague estimate. “Anyway, I guarantee that girls from twelve or thirteen to twenty-two or three can’t resist Teacher Jiang’s charm.”

If anything, Yu Youqing was underselling it. Given Jiang Musheng’s nationwide popularity, even grandmothers in their seventies and eighties adored her.

When they reached the airport exterior, to avoid causing a commotion, Jiang Musheng naturally only escorted her to the VIP passage exit.

Just as Yu Youqing was about to get out of the car, Jiang Musheng stopped her and asked with a faint smile, “How old are you?”

“Twenty-four.” Yu Youqing had just celebrated her birthday not long ago. After answering, she noticed Jiang Musheng’s momentary pause and asked, “What’s wrong, Teacher Jiang?”

“Nothing.”

“Then I’ll be going. Thank you.” Since their schedules didn’t align, Yu Youqing blinked and politely added, “When we’re back, I’ll treat you to a meal if there’s a chance.”

By the time Yu Youqing had disappeared from sight, Jiang Musheng, still seated in the car, finally pulled out her phone.

The screen lit up, still displaying the QR code interface she had pulled up earlier. She stared at it for a long while before murmuring meaningfully, “No wonder.”

So when they’re older, they don’t like this kind of thing anymore?

–

After returning to Yuncheng, Yu Youqing was swamped with work for a solid stretch. Her company assigned her some short drama shoots, and in between, she spent a week on set, barely finding time to go home. The episode filmed at the snowy mountain was scheduled to air right before New Year’s Eve, but she didn’t pay it much mind. It wasn’t until her busy period ended and she returned to her apartment that she belatedly realized how empty it felt.

With the year-end approaching, even a low-profile artist like her was busy—let alone Jiang Musheng. The apartment remained exactly as it was before the show’s recording, clearly untouched by Jiang Musheng since then.

It was Saturday, and Yu Youqing had come back for a day of rest, just in time to catch the variety show’s broadcast. She turned on the TV and went to take a shower, then cozied up on the sofa, waiting for the commercials to end. Perhaps due to the intense workload recently and the warmth of the apartment, she dozed off before the show even started.

She slept straight through until the next morning.

A phone call woke her up.

Groggily answering, she heard an urgent voice on the other end:

“Where are you, sis? Have you seen what’s happening? Did you watch the show yesterday? Have you seen what everyone’s saying after it aired?”

Yu Youqing was still half-asleep, yawning lazily.

Tiantian nearly choked. “You’re still sleeping?!” How could she still be sleeping at a time like this?

“What’s going on?”

“That scarf—remember it?” Tiantian rattled off like a machine gun. “The one from your selfie! When the show aired and they did the unboxing, didn’t Yin Zi have the exact same one? She said you gave it to her, and now fans are tearing into you for riding Jiang Musheng’s coattails. Oh my god, you—”

“Hold on.” Yu Youqing’s drowsiness instantly faded by half as she mumbled, “How am I riding coattails again?”

“You didn’t notice the logo on the scarf in your selfie? It has Jiang Musheng’s initials. This scarf was specially made for Jiang Musheng by the brand—there’s only one in existence. So of course fans are accusing you of riding her coattails. If you were going to buy a knockoff, why give it to Yin Zi? The backlash is insane right now. Director Lin wants you at the company immediately.”

Yu Youqing paused before saying, “Has no one considered that Teacher Jiang might have given this to me?”

“Of course not! That’s impossible.” Tian Tian sighed deeply before hanging up, adding as an afterthought, “Sis, where’d you get that fake? The replica looks so real.”

“…”

–

On her way to the company, Yu Youqing instinctively felt she should first explain things to Jiang Musheng. But when she pulled out her phone, she realized she didn’t even have Jiang Musheng’s contact number.

Tian Tian had warned her not to check social media, and she could easily imagine the toxic mess awaiting there. Yu Youqing obediently only checked WeChat messages during the ride, knowing this qualified as a full-blown PR crisis—no wonder Director Lin Qiao had summoned her for an emergency meeting.

The absurdity of the situation struck her. What could she possibly do now? Post a public statement saying “You’ve all misunderstood—this scarf was actually gifted by Teacher Jiang because…”

Because Teacher Jiang is kind?

Yeah right. No fan would believe that.

Any such statement would only fuel accusations of clout-chasing. With the situation this severe, the company would have to decide the official response. Yu Youqing just hoped Jiang Musheng wouldn’t misunderstand… She remembered their first meeting, when Jiang Musheng had come to see Lin Qiao.

So Jiang Musheng knew Lin Qiao. Maybe she could…

Ask Lin Qiao for Jiang Musheng’s number? Regardless of how this got resolved, she’d caused Jiang Musheng trouble and owed her an apology.

When she knocked on the conference room door, the composed expression she’d maintained throughout the journey shattered completely.

Far more people awaited inside than she’d anticipated. Beyond the PR team and Tian Tian, three figures sat at the head of the table.

Alongside Lin Qiao sat someone she hadn’t seen in over half a month—Jiang Musheng.

“You’re here? Sit.” Lin Qiao gestured to the seat opposite Jiang Musheng, her expression unexpectedly mild. “We were waiting for you.”

“…”

Yu Youqing took her seat without daring to look at Jiang Musheng’s expression. Why were they meeting like this?

Her controversial selfie remained displayed on the large screen, alongside a split-screen showing the tens of thousands of comments beneath it.

Lin Qiao said, “Aren’t you going to say hello? Don’t you recognize her?”

“T-Teacher Jiang… hello.” Guilt made her voice small. Yu Youqing struggled to find appropriate words, perching uneasily on the edge of her seat. Before anyone could respond, she squeezed her eyes shut and blurted, “Teacher Jiang, I’m so sorry!”

“Do I frighten you that much?” The other woman seemed to laugh, her voice as gentle as ever. “Look up.”

“Why are you so scared?” Lin Xuqiao found it amusing. “I didn’t call you here to make you apologize. I brought Musheng over to discuss how to handle this. She’s not even angry—this matter could be big or small, but look how terrified you are. Did you cry on the way here?”

“Cried?” Jiang Musheng frowned, scrutinizing the girl across from her. She only noticed the slight trembling of the girl’s eyelashes. She wanted to stand up but felt that approaching now would only make Yu Youqing more flustered. She shot a glance at the still-smirking Lin Xuqiao. “Why are you being so harsh? You scared her.”

Lin Xuqiao: “…” Harsh? Me?

She pressed the remote, and a comment appeared on the large screen:

“Let me just say it! Yu Youqing is clearly using our ShengSheng for clout. This video proves she’s had ulterior motives all along. Did she really think this would get ShengSheng’s attention? Hilarious. Let’s all take a look.”

Lin Xuqiao then played the video.

The footage was grainy, clearly not from a recent interview. The Yu Youqing in the video looked much younger, probably just in her early twenties.

The host asked her, “What type of person do you like?”

“Type…”

Hearing that unmistakably familiar voice, Yu Youqing jerked her head up. Her face burned crimson when she saw her past self on screen. It was an interview from years ago—back when she was at the peak of her popularity, immature and brimming with arrogance, radiating an air of “I’m the most beautiful omega in the world.”

Nothing was more mortifying than watching your own cringeworthy past self.

And then.

She heard her on-screen self say, “Definitely someone mature, steady, gentle but with a cool, distant vibe—an alpha, preferably older than me.”

She even scoffed, “People my age are just so childish.”

Yu Youqing wanted to dig a hole and disappear.

Childish? YOU were the childish one!!!

Lin Xuqiao paused the video, her expression priceless as she glanced between Yu Youqing and Jiang Musheng. “Huh,” she said to Jiang Musheng, “Isn’t that just you?”

Yu Youqing’s heart leaped into her throat.

“Is it?” Jiang Musheng’s response was directed at Lin Xuqiao, but then her gaze settled on Yu Youqing, repeating softly and deliberately, “Is it?”