The Trash A Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 24

Huh?

Yu Youqing never expected such a response. Who exactly was this investor? Her curiosity was piqued immensely.

The shock was so great that Yu Youqing froze for a long moment without reacting.

She asked, “Just that one sentence?”

“Yep, just that.” Lin Xuqiao put her phone away with a smile. “As long as you don’t go too far, the company can handle it for you. And even if you do make some big headlines… wouldn’t that just help you skyrocket to fame overnight?”

Yu Youqing had rushed to see Lin Xuqiao precisely because she feared her actions might affect the company. But judging by Lin Xuqiao’s tone, the company didn’t seem worried at all.

She felt relieved.

“Can I meet the investor?” Yu Youqing hesitated.

Lin Xuqiao smiled. “She’s very busy. You’ll have your chance later.”

Yu Youqing thought this investor was being overly kind.

First, they rescued her from her previous agency. Then, they seemed unconcerned about returns and even encouraged her to stir up trouble. Yu Youqing found it hard to believe there were purely good people in this industry—she felt more at ease with straightforward transactional relationships.

But since Lin Xuqiao had said so, she didn’t press further and left.

Lin Xuqiao’s phone buzzed with Jiang Musheng’s name. She answered, hearing a calm voice ask, “What happened?”

“Nothing serious—no real conflict with Ye Jibai.” Lin Xuqiao found it amusing. “Since when do you care so much? You seem pretty invested in my artist.”

Jiang Musheng ignored her teasing and continued, “Ye Miaoyi from the Ye family is her friend. Miaoyi founded Wind, but the Ye family handed it over to Ye Jibai.”

“Oh, I see… Wait, what? That’s not right. How did you even know about this?”

After a pause, Jiang Musheng said, “That’s all for now,” and hung up.

Lin Xuqiao was baffled. She thought Jiang Musheng, who was usually absorbed in work, wouldn’t know anything—yet it seemed she knew everything.

When Yu Youqing returned, she saw Wind’s official announcement naming Cheng Shunzhu as their new ambassador.

She glanced at it casually. The swift announcement made her suspect that the earlier dinner invitation had just been a formality.

Still, she had expected this outcome after openly disregarding Ye Jibai’s authority when leaving.

Before she could put her phone down, Cheng Shunzhu messaged her. His nervous tone amused her. Fresh in the industry, he carried an endearing naivety that Yu Youqing recognized as genuine.

He reminded her of herself when she first started, which was why she had interacted with him more on set.

Cheng Shunzhu:

Sis! I really didn’t expect it to be me… I was called to that dinner last minute by my manager. I swear I wasn’t trying to steal your endorsement!

Sis, what are you doing?

Are you mad? crying

Peeking in.jpg

Yu Youqing replied:

“It’s fine, I know it wasn’t you. Congrats on the new gig.”

She was thinking about Ye Miaoyi’s situation. Although Ye Miaoyi had said she could just abandon the brand and start over, it was clear she was deeply reluctant to let it go.

Wanting to help Ye Miaoyi was partly for her own sake as well. If the brand returned to Ye Miaoyi’s hands, it would also secure a path for herself. There was no doubt that Wind had excellent growth potential—it might even become a top-tier brand someday. Such resources weren’t something just anyone could easily access.

Right now, what they needed was to find a top-notch lawyer to wrest Wind from the Ye family’s control.

Unfortunately, given the Ye family’s influence, few lawyers dared to challenge them, and those who did came with hefty fees. Ye Miaoyi had poured all her liquid assets into the brand, leaving her in an awkward financial bind.

Yu Youqing checked her bank balance and counted her savings.

Everything she had earned recently was right there.

It was enough to cover the initial fees for a top-tier lawyer, but spending all her hard-earned savings would mean starting from scratch again if she left the entertainment industry.

No matter, Yu Youqing comforted herself. It was all for greater future gains—and for her best friend. What was a little sacrifice?

She transferred the money to Ye Miaoyi.

That evening, Ye Miaoyi arranged to meet Yu Youqing at the same bar.

Yu Youqing had initially wanted to suggest a different place—after all, it was where she had suffered that mortifying encounter in front of Jiang Musheng. But since that bar had the best privacy measures, she agreed.

As soon as she met Ye Miaoyi in the pulsating rhythm of the bar, Yu Youqing exhaled deeply and removed her mask, revealing her fair, makeup-free face.

Even under the dim lighting, her features carried a subtle, alluring charm.

They were in a small private booth on the second floor, so there was no need to worry about their conversation being overheard.

“Why did you transfer so much at once? I know how hard you worked for this money. Let me send it back—we can figure something else out.” Ye Miaoyi pushed a cocktail toward Yu Youqing, her brows furrowed. “You’re emptying your savings just to help me.”

Yu Youqing downed half the glass in one go, her gaze steady. “Didn’t you do the same for me before?”

Before Yu Youqing had been scouted into the entertainment industry, her family had been in a tough spot, and Ye Miaoyi had always stood by her.

Ye Miaoyi shook her head. “That was different.”

“It’s the same. Keep the money. You will get Wind back, and once you’re officially the boss, won’t I have free rein to snag endorsements?” Yu Youqing grinned, clinking her glass against Ye Miaoyi’s. “No need for formalities between us.”

Ye Miaoyi’s eyes glistened briefly before hardening with resolve. “You’re right! So what if it’s Ye Jibai? We beat him up as kids—we can still make him piss his pants now.”

Seeing Ye Miaoyi regain her fighting spirit, Yu Youqing relaxed. Then Ye Miaoyi added, “Guess what? Ye Jibai is here at the bar tonight. He invited some actress to hang out.”

Judging from Ye Miaoyi’s expression, Yu Youqing sensed that this female celebrity might be someone she knew, so she followed up with a question, “Who is it?”

“Liang Yitang.”

Ye Miaoyi scoffed. “I only found out about it today when I overheard Ye Jibai’s secretary reporting Liang Yitang’s schedule to him after work. Since I know this woman has a grudge against you, I kept an eye out.”

“Wind only signed Cheng Shunzhu as a seasonal brand ambassador, but his popularity has skyrocketed, and the brand’s value is set to double soon. So Liang Yitang’s team is eager to get in touch. Ye Jibai wants to sign her for the next season.”

Yu Youqing frowned. “Ye Jibai invited her to this kind of place to discuss a contract?”

“It’s just an excuse for him to mess around with female celebrities. My parents have spoiled him rotten—he’s completely lawless, rotten to the core. Summoning her here late at night… Liang Yitang’s an omega, right? He has plenty of ways to make her comply.”

Yu Youqing thought for a moment before asking, “Which private room? Is she already here?”

“You’re not thinking of stepping in to help Liang Yitang, are you?” Ye Miaoyi looked surprised. “Even if this blows up, it won’t be a good look. The Ye family will just sweep it under the rug.”

“I’m not that charitable. But I do have a way to turn this to our advantage—maybe even save us a lot of money. Come here.” Yu Youqing leaned in and whispered into Ye Miaoyi’s ear. As she listened, Ye Miaoyi’s expression gradually shifted from shock to disbelief before she finally stared at Yu Youqing and said, “You’re something else!”

“Then let’s go.” Yu Youqing’s smile didn’t waver. “If I could beat him up as a kid, I can still do it now.”

–

Outside the VIP entrance of the bar, a low-key van pulled up.

But the person who stepped out was anything but low-key. Ignoring the cold, she strode forward in high heels, the hem of her dress swaying with each step, leaving a trail of perfume in her wake.

Liang Yitang’s face was mostly hidden behind oversized sunglasses, but her entire appearance was meticulously polished.

Her assistant trailed behind, carrying her expensive coat, looking uneasy. “Yitang, is this really okay? If Manager Zhao finds out—”

“Shut up! How would she know unless you blab?” Liang Yitang scoffed. “And even if she does, so what? I’m just seizing an opportunity for myself. Don’t you get it?”

The assistant hesitated. “But I still feel like this might be risky… Don’t you think? We don’t even know what President Ye’s deal is, and we didn’t bring any security.”

Though Liang Yitang wasn’t exactly a small-time celebrity, President Ye was still part of the investor circle—the kind of man who could easily exploit his power.

“What’s there to be afraid of? We have a backup plan.” Liang Yitang wasn’t stupid. She lowered her voice. “I didn’t come here discreetly. This bar is always crawling with celebrities—you think there aren’t paparazzi lurking around? If anything happens, let them take all the pictures they want!”

Too engrossed in their conversation, neither Liang Yitang nor her assistant noticed someone approaching.

Just as Liang Yitang was about to ascend the stairs, a lazy voice called out from behind.

“You really shouldn’t go in.”

The voice was all too familiar. Liang Yitang whipped around and came face-to-face with someone she recognized. Her expression twisted with irritation, not bothering to hide her disdain. “What are you doing here?!”

“…” Yu Youqing couldn’t be bothered to say more to Liang Yitang at this point. She was just here to give a warning. “Believe it or not, it’s up to you.”

“You’re deliberately trying to provoke me, aren’t you?” Seeing Yu Youqing drop this cryptic remark and turn to leave, Liang Yitang immediately felt irritated. Having climbed the stairs together, she knew Yu Youqing was also here for entertainment and followed her, demanding, “What do you mean? Explain yourself clearly!”

Yu Youqing shot her a glance. “I’ve already told you—it’s best if you don’t go.”

From the tone, Liang Yitang could tell Yu Youqing probably knew why she was here. After all, resources in this industry were never a secret—those with the means got them, regardless of the methods.

“You’re just afraid that if I land this endorsement, things will get even harder for you, aren’t you?” Provoked by Yu Youqing, Liang Yitang became even more determined to secure the deal. “Let me tell you, you can’t compete with me!”

Yu Youqing shrugged. “I know Ye Jibai better than you do. If you won’t listen, suit yourself.”

She quickly walked toward another private room.

Liang Yitang was in a foul mood. Yu Youqing’s interference had left her deeply unsettled. But between Yu Youqing’s words and her assistant’s earlier warning, a sliver of unease crept into her heart.

She texted her assistant to wait outside with backup, ready to intervene if anything went wrong, before pushing the door open.

–

Ye Miaoyi immediately approached when she saw Yu Youqing return. “How did it go?”

“Smoothly. As expected, she didn’t listen to me.” Yu Youqing exchanged a knowing look with Ye Miaoyi. “But she did take some of it to heart—she had her assistant and paparazzi on standby. The rest is up to your financial prowess.”

“No problem, leave it to me. I guarantee Ye Jibai won’t slip away this time.” A glint of excitement flickered in Ye Miaoyi’s eyes as she checked her phone. “Just thinking about that brat’s priceless expression makes me want to laugh.”

Yu Youqing smirked but said nothing.

After about twenty minutes, Ye Miaoyi looked up from her phone. “Let’s go!”

Yu Youqing stood. “He’s that impatient? Only twenty minutes… How ungentlemanly.”

“He’s the kind of alpha who’s just plain pathetic—utter trash.” Ye Miaoyi walked out with Yu Youqing. Though the private rooms weren’t far apart and the soundproofing was decent, the noise from inside was still audible as they approached.

The sound of a glass shattering on the floor echoed out.

When Yu Youqing pushed the door open, she saw Liang Yitang’s wrist being roughly yanked back by Ye Jibai—

Damn, you’re resorting to force already?

Liang Yitang had knocked over the drink Ye Jibai handed her, and he snapped, “Don’t you dare disrespect me!”

The cold liquid splashed onto her feet. Liang Yitang knew full well that drinking it would have led to irreversible consequences. Under the table, she sent a message on her phone.

But even if she gathered evidence and exposed him, what then? Given the Ye family’s influence, suppressing such a scandal would be child’s play, wouldn’t it?

Ye Jibai sneered as he approached Liang Yitang: “Miss Liang, didn’t you want to be the spokesperson? Since you’re so eager to get these things, naturally you’ll have to pay some price.”

“Stay back! President Ye, aren’t you afraid I’ll expose all this?” Liang Yitang retreated step by step.

Ye Jibai strode forward and grabbed Liang Yitang’s shoulder. His previously refined face had lost all gentleness, now looking at her like an ant struggling in vain. He said leisurely, “Expose me? Go ahead and try. You’re not the first naive woman to say such things to me.”

Panic surged through Liang Yitang’s heart like tidal waves. Suddenly, she remembered Yu Youqing’s warning when they’d met—why hadn’t she listened when that damned woman told her not to come?

Wait—in that flash of realization, Liang Yitang also recalled Yu Youqing saying, “I know what kind of person Ye Jibai is better than you.” This wasn’t his first time? Had he done this to Yu Youqing before too?

She couldn’t help wondering—was Yu Youqing’s current miserable state because she’d offended the Ye family before?

Countless thoughts raced through Liang Yitang’s mind, but regret dominated them all. Since her debut, everything had gone smoothly for her—she’d always been the one making others bow to her whims, never imagining she’d be the one suffering.

When Ye Jibai reached out to grab her, his alpha pheromones overwhelmed her at close range, leaving Liang Yitang completely immobilized.

It’s over…

Then the door opened.

Liang Yitang saw Yu Youqing’s face.

Had she come to laugh at her? What kind of joke was this?

But the next second, Yu Youqing charged forward without hesitation and delivered a powerful punch straight to Ye Jibai’s nose, sending him stumbling back two steps. Clutching his nose in disbelief, he shouted, “Yu Youqing! How dare you hit me!”

As Ye Jibai retreated, his people moved to intervene—only for three paparazzi with camera equipment to burst in behind them. The flashbulbs went off simultaneously while Ye Miaoyi perfectly timed closing the private room’s door behind them.

Yu Youqing took two steps forward and delivered another resounding slap across Ye Jibai’s face, smiling as she said, “What’s wrong with hitting you? It’s not like it’s my first time.”