The Trash A Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 21

Huh?

Could such good fortune really exist in this world—a brand endorsement falling straight from the sky?

But she also knew Ye Miaoyi had that capability. Unlike herself, Ye came from a wealthy family, one of the prominent clans in Songcheng.

“What’s the catch?” Yu Youqing asked.

“What catch could there possibly be between us? This jewelry brand was my creation, though it operates under my family’s enterprise. You might’ve heard of it—Wind.”

Wind? Yu Youqing was familiar. It was a mid-tier endorsement, sitting comfortably in the third echelon. During their performance reviews, Tiantian had emphasized how ideal this deal would be for her.

Ye Miaoyi continued, “I hadn’t heard from you in years. If not for your variety show trending, I wouldn’t have noticed… That Jiang Musheng—you like her?”

Yu Youqing nearly choked on her words, immediately denying, “No.”

She then asked, “Has your family not appointed a spokesperson yet?”

“You know how my family is… Still the same after all these years.” Ye’s voice dipped, her tone subdued. “They… Never mind, it’s not worth discussing. Anyway, the sheer number of anti-fans you have online is staggering. They talk as if they know you personally.”

Yu Youqing shrugged it off. “I’m used to it.”

“Ugh, these people spread rumors with just their mouths. Sometimes I even argue with them online—it’s kind of fun. But I saw that old interview of yours they dug up.” Ye teased, “You mentioned liking Jiang Musheng’s type. I know you, and I bet you still do.”

A crack appeared in Yu Youqing’s calm facade. Thank goodness Ye wasn’t here in person, or all her little secrets would be laid bare.

She replied nonchalantly, “Stop talking nonsense. Teacher Jiang is my senior in the industry.”

“Come on, too scared to make a move?” Ye saw right through her. “A few years back when Jiang was working overseas, I saw her once at a family dinner—didn’t speak though. Someone tried setting her up with an omega, and I happened to overhear her say she already had someone in mind.”

Yu Youqing’s heart skipped a beat, an indescribable complexity creeping up from within.

Ye continued, “She’s an alpha, and such an outstanding one at that, so I paid extra attention. That didn’t sound like an excuse to me—she doesn’t seem the type. If you’re serious about pursuing her, you’d better clarify that first.”

“…I’m not pursuing her.”

“Really? After watching the show? When Jiang cupped that snow for you, your expression was textbook smitten.” Ye laughed. “All jokes aside, I think you’d make a great match. You might seem carefree, but you’re actually deeply insecure. When you fall for someone, you’d never make the first move. Don’t you want to fight for your own happiness?”

Yu Youqing changed the subject. “Is that all you called to talk about?”

“Ah, look at you, refusing to talk again.” Ye Miaoyi clicked her tongue. “I’ll be moving my company to your area in a couple of days after wrapping things up here. I’ll contact you then—this is my number. Oh, and regarding the endorsement deal, I’ll have my team reach out to your assistant.”

Yu Youqing memorized the number and added Ye Miaoyi on WeChat before they finally wrapped up.

In her past life, she never had the chance to reconnect with Ye Miaoyi, nor had she heard about Wind expanding its business back to China.

It was only because she signed with the new company this time and later appeared on the variety show that she ended up trending—prompting Ye Miaoyi to notice and rekindle their friendship.

This confirmed her earlier suspicion. The turning point in her life had truly shifted the moment she signed that contract.

7:50 PM.

The livestream was scheduled for 9:00 PM. She and Cheng Shunzhu would each broadcast from their own homes, with their streams displayed side by side on the same screen to interact with fans. There was still time, so Yu Youqing watched a movie to pass the time. When she finally looked up, her head felt heavy and groggy.

On her tablet screen, a woman’s silhouette stood by the seaside at sunset, gazing into the distance. The golden light enveloped her entire figure, casting a lonely, desolate glow over her and her hair as the rolling English credits appeared beside her.

The cast list included Jiang Musheng’s name in pinyin.

That silhouette was Jiang Musheng.

The movie Yu Youqing had watched was called Sunset, one of the artistic films Jiang Musheng had shot while abroad. Her time overseas was less about career advancement and more about learning and relaxation—she took on roles purely based on interest, regardless of whether they were leads. In this film, she played the third female lead.

Though the story centered on the third lead, it revolved around unrequited love. Her character harbored feelings for the protagonist but never ended up with them—a long, fruitless affection from her perspective.

Yu Youqing had randomly picked it to watch and even stumbled upon an interview with Jiang Musheng that had been uploaded online after the premiere.

The host asked a question perfectly aligned with the film’s theme: “If you were to develop feelings for someone, would you keep it hidden like your character, or would you take the initiative?”

Jiang Musheng replied, “Of course, I’d go for it.”

The host laughed. “A textbook alpha answer! I’m sure no one could resist you if you made the first move!”

The audience erupted in laughter, and the topic moved on.

Yu Youqing turned off her tablet, rubbing her tired eyes. She felt the urgent need to step outside.

With the livestream coming up, she wanted to be in good shape, so she decided to grab a coffee.

Still cautious, Yu Youqing knew she might not be as inconspicuous after appearing on the show. She covered herself thoroughly before heading out.

She placed her order on her phone in advance and went to pick it up at the café outside her neighborhood.

Two people were ahead of her in line. Yu Youqing pulled her cap lower, moving naturally. No one recognized her as the much-criticized actress from online discussions.

“How does she even deserve this? With such a minor role, is she really trying to ride the coattails of the sibling dynamic now? Xiaoyi, should we take action tonight?”

The other girl said, “Of course, I’m all prepared. She’s so arrogant, thinking our ‘Muddy Fish Squad’ is just for show? Hmph.”

The words “Muddy Fish Squad” caught Yu Youqing’s attention.

Wasn’t that her anti-fan group?

She glanced ahead and saw that the two girls looked like they had just started college. They were deep in discussion, oblivious to their surroundings.

“Your Cheng gege is so pitiful, being forced by the company to do a livestream with her. Tonight, we’ll see what tricks Yu Youqing can pull. We’ll record the whole thing—with her terrible temper, she definitely won’t cooperate with the host’s questions,” the one called Xiao Yi said.

“So, what’s your group planning to do?”

Xiao Yi: “We’re going to confront her about her relationship with Sheng Sheng! Someone like her would definitely seize the chance to stir up drama, claiming she’s close with Teacher Jiang. But that contradicts her previous statement—we’ll expose her true colors!”

“…What if she doesn’t say that?”

Xiao Yi clenched her fists and snorted. “We’ve got a backup plan. After the statement came out, Sheng Sheng’s fans made it clear that her hands can’t touch anything cold in this freezing weather. She knows that now, so apologizing isn’t too much to ask, right? But Yu Youqing has a terrible temper—there’s no way she’d lower her head to anyone.”

“Alright, let’s do it.”

Just then, Xiao Yi took the coffee her friend handed her and turned to leave, unaware of the person standing behind her. The coffee cup collided with the other’s hoodie, and Xiao Yi stumbled back, losing her balance.

The person in front immediately reached out, gripping her arm to steady her, but the coffee splashed violently, spilling all over the hoodie.

Once Xiao Yi regained her footing, she stammered an apology, “S-sorry! I wasn’t paying attention—”

Yu Youqing, hidden behind her mask and hat, wasn’t worried about being recognized but still kept her voice low. “It’s fine.”

Their eyes met briefly before Yu Youqing quickly looked away, took her coffee, and turned to leave.

Xiao Yi froze for half a second, then hurried after her. “Miss! I ruined your clothes—let me pay for them!”

“As long as you didn’t fall,” Yu Youqing paused mid-step. “Go get another coffee before the line gets long.”

Watching the tall figure walk away, Xiao Yi touched her cheek, her gaze lingering on the arm that had just been steadied.

For a split second when their eyes met, she’d felt an odd sense of familiarity—though she couldn’t explain why.

“Xiao Yi, are you okay?” Her friend caught up. “Was that woman an alpha? The way she caught you was so cool.”

Xiao Yi shook her head. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”

……

Yu Youqing carried her coffee home, swiftly changed her clothes, and removed her disguise.

“That was close,” she murmured, tossing the stained hoodie into the washing machine.

She had no intention of clashing with people like Xiao Yi. In fact, she didn’t even mind the things they’d said about her.

Younger people are more easily swayed by online comments. Clearly, Xiao Yi had no real interaction with me, nor was she inherently unpleasant—otherwise, she wouldn’t have apologized so quickly. She simply disliked me based on one-sided information from the internet.

At 8:40, Yu Youqing opened the livestream platform and came face-to-face with Cheng Shunzhu on the other end.

The livestream wouldn’t go public until 9 o’clock. For now, it was mainly for the two of them to go over the rundown.

Cheng Shunzhu was at the company, dressed formally, so the host and stage manager there would take the lead. Yu Youqing just needed to follow their cues.

“Uh, sis… you look so cozy,” Cheng Shunzhu remarked, eyeing Yu Youqing’s fluffy loungewear that looked incredibly warm, then glancing down at his own stiff suit, feeling oddly out of place.

Yu Youqing replied, “No need to be so particular at home. What are we supposed to do?”

She tucked her hands in slightly and pushed her coffee further away.

The host explained, “Mainly, you two will chat with fans and promote the show. There’ll be some small interactions in between, and it’ll wrap up by 10.”

Yu Youqing nodded. “Got it.”

Thinking back to the comments she overheard while buying coffee, she hesitated before asking, “Xiao Zhu, if what happened to me the other day affects the livestream, would that be bad?”

Cheng Shunzhu had also been struggling with how to bring this up.

His manager had made it clear—this livestream with Yu Youqing at such a critical moment wasn’t primarily for fan interaction. It was to capitalize on Yu Youqing’s sudden surge in popularity and boost his own exposure.

The manager had even instructed him not to filter out any questions or comments about Jiang Musheng in the chat, letting Yu Youqing handle them.

As a newcomer to the industry, Cheng Shunzhu quickly realized—this was just using her for clout.

He refused outright. “If we’re really going to do this, we should at least get Youqing-jie’s consent. Not like this.”

His manager scoffed. “You think this is some game of make-believe? Calling her ‘jie’ doesn’t actually make her your sister. Yu Youqing’s just another clout-chaser herself—what’s wrong with us taking advantage? Besides, you’re way more popular than her. She should be grateful.”

Cheng Shunzhu had once been put off by Yu Youqing’s rumors too. But during their week on set, she was the only one who bothered teaching him how to act.

Everyone else, including the director, had told him, “Just wing it. You’ve got fans, you’ve got the numbers. The faster you finish, the sooner we can wrap up.”

But Cheng Shunzhu believed someone who took their work so seriously couldn’t be a bad person. Even though Yu Youqing played his older sister in the drama, off-screen, he genuinely saw her as one.

Now, hearing her worry about affecting him, guilt crashed over him. But his manager’s warning glare kept him from speaking his mind.

Frowning, he slowly said, “It won’t be a problem, jie.”

Seizing a moment before the livestream started, he quickly sent Yu Youqing a private message explaining the situation.

Yu Youqing lowered her head.

Cheng Shunzhu: Sorry sis, you need to be prepared for the livestream. There might be anti-fans attacking you, and our moderators might not be able to control it well.

With his words, Yu Youqing understood everything.

She looked up and nodded at the visibly nervous Cheng Shunzhu on the screen, flashing a knowing smile.

At nine o’clock, the livestream began, and fans flooded in.

Cheng Shunzhu’s fans took the lead, filling the chat with endless praise. Apart from the occasional comment asking why Yu Youqing was there, her name was barely mentioned—the presence of her fans was surprisingly scarce.

It wasn’t until Yu Youqing and Cheng Shunzhu greeted everyone on camera that the number of viewers in the livestream tripled. The host followed the script, asking questions about the drama, with Cheng Shunzhu handling most of the answers as the male lead.

Yu Youqing occasionally stepped off-camera to sip her coffee before returning, never once trying to steal the spotlight.

Feeling guilty, Cheng Shunzhu carefully included Yu Youqing in every answer, doing his best to give her more opportunities to speak. The fans, sharp as ever, immediately noticed something was off.

? Yu Youqing isn’t trying to hog the spotlight today? That’s not normal!

I actually see a bit of a sibling-like relationship between Brother Zhuzi and her…

Brother Cheng, are you being forced? Why are you taking care of this woman?

Yu Youqing is acting so convincingly, not fighting for attention. If I were new, I’d really think she’s like this.

Why does she keep stepping off-camera? Is there another phone off-screen where she’s sending herself comments?

That makes sense. She’s always been scheming, hasn’t she?

……

Yu Youqing skimmed through the rapidly increasing comments and sighed helplessly. She was just stepping out to drink some coffee.

It was an official livestream, and since the coffee wasn’t sponsored, it couldn’t be shown on camera. Simple as that.

After more than half an hour, the host said, “Now that we’ve covered most of the questions about the drama, does anyone have any personal questions for Cheng Shunzhu and Yu Youqing?”

Here it comes.

Cheng Shunzhu tensed up immediately, instinctively glancing at Yu Youqing across from him—only to see her calmly picking lint off her pajamas, looking completely unbothered.

The fans’ questions were all over the place, but this round was aimed squarely at Yu Youqing, so the host only picked those directed at her.

Yu Youqing glanced at them too and noticed most were about her incident with Jiang Musheng.

The host spoke up: “The top-liked question is from a fan named ‘IKEA Isn’t Home.’ She mainly wants to ask Yu Youqing: Are you and Teacher Jiang very close, which is why she gave you her scarf?”

Given what had happened while buying coffee, Yu Youqing felt this was her anti-fans ganging up on her.

Even though she was just sitting in front of the camera, she could practically feel how many people off-screen were waiting for her to embarrass herself.

But how could she fall into such an obvious trap?

Yu Youqing smiled and cleared her throat lightly. “Everyone’s misunderstood.”

“You’ve liked Teacher Jiang for so many years, surely you know what kind of person she is?” Yu Youqing’s smile remained unchanged as she continued, “Teacher Jiang and I are just ordinary friends. Her kindness toward me is merely the consideration one shows to a junior. I deeply regret causing her such trouble and have already apologized to her privately.”

After a brief pause, she added, “I understand the concern of Teacher Jiang’s fans. You all have her best interests at heart, and I get that.”

????????

Wait, why does her tone sound like she’s the victim here?

Well, she just preemptively addressed everything I was about to say…

She’s not even trying to ride the hype? Is this intentional or has she changed tactics?

The host pressed on: “Another question from fans—did you know about Teacher Jiang’s old injury from filming that causes frostbite in winter?”

Yu Youqing nodded: “I wasn’t aware before.”

“During the show, whenever you asked for water, Teacher Jiang would remove her gloves. You must have noticed this,” the host said rapidly, eyes darting between the live chat and screen. “Fans hope you’ll apologize for this too.”

Yu Youqing immediately faced the camera with sincerity: “Teacher Jiang, I’m truly sorry. I apologize.”

The host suggested: “Since you claim to be friends, wouldn’t it be better to apologize directly? Could you call Teacher Jiang now?”

Cheng Shunzhu’s heart raced with apprehension. Before Yu Youqing could respond, he intervened: “Teacher Jiang’s schedule is packed—she wouldn’t have time to answer. Please don’t put my sister in this difficult position.”

Yu Youqing seemed thoughtful.

Jiang Musheng was undoubtedly busy now, her phone likely with her manager. The chance of her answering was negligible. Making this call on live broadcast would perfectly demonstrate their lack of closeness when Jiang didn’t pick up. This would maintain Yu Youqing’s public image as a fame-seeking celebrity with no special connection to Jiang Musheng.

“No problem,” Yu Youqing said during the brief silence, retrieving her phone. “But Teacher Jiang and I really are just ordinary friends—she probably won’t answer.”

Hahaha this is hilarious—she’s preemptively making excuses! Since when is she qualified to call herself Teacher Jiang’s friend?

We all know the truth, no need to spell it out

Playing both sides is just too much! First acting like they’re not close, now making excuses for the call failing

Actually I think she’s just trying not to disturb Teacher Jiang…

Are you insane? This woman actually has defenders now?

Just waiting for her humiliation—Teacher Jiang will definitely hang up immediately!

Yu Youqing opened her chat with Jiang Musheng, fully expecting no response as she casually initiated a video call.

The call connected after just one ring.

Jiang Musheng appeared on screen.

“Hello?”