The Trash A Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 2

This wasn’t a dream—how could she be seeing Jiang Musheng here?!

Yu Youqing blinked twice, then immediately lowered her head after snapping back to reality, her face burning crimson with embarrassment. She wished she could dig a hole and disappear right then and there.

Under Jiang Musheng’s direct gaze, Yu Youqing found herself completely speechless.

She had no idea how much time had passed until Jiang Musheng put her sunglasses back on. Only then did the suffocating lump in Yu Youqing’s throat ease slightly.

“Professor Jiang, this is a misunderstanding. I was here to see General Manager Lin,” Yu Youqing stammered, quickly taking a step back. She was certain Jiang Musheng must think her utterly presumptuous—a washed-up minor 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 Jiang Musheng, who had just put her sunglasses back on before entering the elevator, allowing the faintest smirk to curl at the corner of her lips.

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, not even having exchanged a single proper conversation. After Yu Youqing’s career declined, she barely attended any events at all. Even though Jiang Musheng frequently appeared on 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 her. Yu Youqing felt a headache coming on.

This time, she carefully confirmed she was in the right place before knocking. Lin Xuqiao turned to look at her and smiled. “You’re very punctual.”

When Yu Youqing removed her mask, Lin Xuqiao studied her face for a moment before nodding approvingly. “There’s no denying this face. A comeback is inevitable.”

After the earlier mishap outside the elevator, Yu Youqing found herself oddly calm now. She nodded. “Hello, General Manager Lin.”

“Take 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, there were no restrictions on how to do it. Lin Xuqiao was quite satisfied with the unconventional strategy she had devised. Wintergreen Entertainment was a new company and needed a top-tier artist to solidify its standing—Yu Youqing just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and all these resources could be hers.

Yu Youqing asked, “General Manager 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 had 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 sighed in relief. “Thank you, General Manager Lin.”

“Don’t thank me. Thank our wealthy investor.” Lin Xuqiao smiled mysteriously. “The company has assigned you a new assistant. If there’s nothing else, you can head out now. 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 young woman with several years of experience as an agent. The moment she saw Yu Youqing, her eyes sparkled.

“Teacher Yu! I’m your fan!”

Yu Youqing said sheepishly, “No need to be so formal. I think I’m slightly older than you.”

“Then I’ll call you Sister Youqing,” Tian Tian promptly changed her address. She got to work quickly, immediately picking up her tablet to make arrangements while scanning the contract. “Director Lin said what you need most right now is an opportunity to return to the public eye and completely revamp your image.”

“For example?”

“You’ll have to embrace the ‘scummy alpha’ persona.” Tian Tian took off Yu Youqing’s hat, letting her long, wavy hair cascade down. With her face now looking smaller than a palm, Tian Tian clicked her tongue. “Right now, you look like a delicate, easily overwhelmed omega.”

Yu Youqing: “…I can act.”

Tian Tian: “Then try acting like a scummy alpha flirting with another woman right in front of your girlfriend.”

Since they had nothing prepared, Yu Youqing couldn’t improvise convincingly out of thin air. Besides, she had never played an alpha role in all these years. After fidgeting for a while, she finally gave up. “I need to observe and learn before I can get into character.”

Tian Tian nodded. “Good, I was thinking the same. We’ll start practicing tonight. At 10:30, I’ll take you somewhere to work on this.”

Just as Yu Youqing was about to ask if this was pushing it too far, a message popped up on her phone.

She put her hat and mask back on. “I have something to take care of. We’ll talk tonight.”

An hour later, Yu Youqing found herself back at her old company.

When she pushed the door open, Zhao Guili sneered at her appearance. “What? Is this the treatment you get after finding a new backer? Did they make you dress like some penniless nobody?”

Yu Youqing smoothed her hair, her expression unchanged. “Well, 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 thought you’d hold out longer, but in the end, you still found yourself a sugar daddy. Millions in breach fees—how could a washed-up star like you afford that on your own? Though I suppose an omega’s body is worth something.”

Yu Youqing lowered her eyes and chuckled softly, her long lashes fluttering. “Not everyone is as shameless as you.”

It was true that Zhao Guili had discovered and propelled her to fame. In her youth, Yu Youqing had been naive and hot-tempered, wearing her likes and dislikes openly. Back then, fans called it authenticity, but now it had become fodder for accusations of diva behavior.

Those who reach the top too easily tend to lose their footing—not just her, but the entire company. Gradually, even scripts Yu Youqing didn’t want to take were accepted on her behalf as long as the pay was good. Later, for better resources and greater profits, Zhao Guili even tried to send her into the suites of big investors.

Yu Youqing refused. So a younger girl got the opportunity instead. Zhao Guili said Yu Youqing needed to be “polished”—that no one should let pride stand in the way of money.

“You don’t know what’s good for you—you’ll never make it big! Look at 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 promoting after her, and her momentum was fierce.

In the past, Yu Youqing would have argued back, but having already died once, she saw no point in it now. She actually preferred staying out of the spotlight to avoid being harassed into quitting before she even earned enough for retirement.

She smiled and nodded. “Sure, thanks for the encouragement.”

Zhao Guili: “???” Did she lose her mind from the shock?

Yu Youqing took a cab home, took a nap, 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 looking at her.

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 told her to meet. Wearing a mask, she kept her head down as she walked in.

She didn’t want fame—after all, that was unpredictable. But Yu Youqing was professional; since she’d agreed to cooperate with the company’s arrangements, she’d follow through.

The moment she stepped inside, the music blasted in her ears. Frowning, she quickened her pace, moving past the gyrating crowd of young men and women, completely out of place.

The bar was in full swing, and no one paid her any attention.

Tiantian was waiting for her by the stairs to the second floor and spotted her immediately, waving. “Sis! Over here!”

The second floor had an entry threshold—ordinary people couldn’t get in, eliminating the risk of paparazzi. It was a spot Tiantian had specifically chosen, as many minor celebrities came here to unwind.

As they walked upstairs, Tiantian said, “The company’s assigned you an alpha archetype. Guess who?”

Yu Youqing shook her head.

“Teacher Jiang.” Tiantian leaned closer, raising her voice so Yu Youqing could hear over the noise. “In the upcoming script, your character is the foil to hers.”

“…So how am I supposed to learn that now?”

Tiantian: “Simple. First, get a feel for Teacher Jiang’s vibe, then do the exact opposite.”

As if she were that familiar with Jiang Musheng to just “get a feel” for her.

Tiantian pulled up a pre-saved video on her phone and showed it to Yu Youqing, then pointed toward the bar. “Know how to hit on someone?”

The video was a clip from one of Jiang Musheng’s past modern dramas, set in a bar, where her character kept getting hit on.

Yu Youqing thought that with Jiang Musheng’s looks, it’d be strange if people didn’t try to flirt with her in real life. But Jiang Musheng herself exuded such an icy, imposing aura that it took courage just to approach her.

Yu Youqing shook her head. “No.”

“That’s why you need practice. What kind of playboy alpha doesn’t know how to flirt?” Tiantian held out her hands. “Give me your jacket. Pick someone and go.”

Before coming, Tiantian had warned her—since they were going to a bar, she had to dress the part. No more hoodies and jeans like in the afternoon.

She had simply grabbed a black backless 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 casually approach one to say hello.

She had never actively hit on anyone in a bar before—she was usually the one being hit on. As Yu Youqing recalled the mannerisms and postures of the alphas who had approached her in the past, she made her way to the bar.

The scenario in the video Tian Tian had shown her was cliché—pickup lines like “Hey, beautiful” or “Can I buy you a drink?”—and if not for Jiang Musong’s face carrying it, it would have been unbearable to watch.

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. As she approached, the redhead turned, revealing a strikingly beautiful and angular face—clearly not purely Asian.

Yu Youqing put on her most charming smile, suppressing her nerves, and spoke softly, “Here alone?”

The bartender conveniently slid a drink her way at that moment. Yu Youqing pushed it forward. “How about a drink with me?”

No one would refuse an invitation from such a stunning woman, and Xu Liyu was no exception. She took the drink without hesitation and asked bluntly, “Are you here alone too?”

Yu Youqing firmly remembered her role—she was playing a scummy alpha with a girlfriend!

So she casually gestured behind her.

“No, I came with my girlfriend. She’s right over there.” Yu Youqing’s heart was practically leaping out of her chest, but she forced herself to stay composed, relying on her shaky acting skills. Just as her arm hovered mid-gesture, a cool touch suddenly wrapped around her wrist.

!!!

Before she could even turn around, that familiar voice was already at her ear, so close she could feel warm breath brush against her skin. The pounding of her heart was deafeningly clear:

“Who exactly are you calling your girlfriend?”