The Trash A Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 28

WTF

Are you kidding me?

I’d believe Teacher Jiang hasn’t dated, but Yu Yousheng? No way.

Wasn’t Yu Yousheng always some sugar daddy’s caged canary? What, is she here to publicly break up?

Don’t listen to the rumors upstairs, it’s all baseless gossip.

Wow, Teacher Jiang has never been in a relationship? That’s kinda pure??

I! Will be the woman who takes that first time!

Hahahaha Little Bamboo looks like he got struck by lightning—his expression still hasn’t recovered.

Bamboo: Excuse me, are you messing with me?

……

“Sis, you’ve never dated either?” Cheng Shunzhu muttered to himself that his mouth must’ve been cursed. The moment he said it, he felt a gaze lock onto him. When he looked up, it was Jiang Musheng, and he immediately shivered, instinctively moving closer to Yu Yousheng.

Damn, Teacher Jiang’s eyes weren’t even cold, so why did they feel so terrifying?

“Nope,” Yu Yousheng said. “Do I really look like someone with tons of dating experience?”

Wei Xi nodded. “Absolutely.”

Xu Liyu chimed in, “You both give off that vibe.”

Wait.

A thought suddenly flashed through Yu Yousheng’s mind.

If she remembered correctly, Jiang Musheng had once mentioned having a white moonlight.

Yu Yousheng had assumed Jiang Musheng had dated this person and then broken up, which was why she couldn’t let go. But now Jiang Musheng said she’d never been in a relationship—meaning she hadn’t even managed to win over her white moonlight!

Damn, what kind of person could remain unmoved by Jiang Musheng’s face?

At this thought, Yu Yousheng stole a glance at Jiang Musheng.

The reason Jiang Musheng rarely appeared on variety shows was easy to figure out—she wasn’t the type to chase the spotlight. If no one prompted her, she wouldn’t speak, her quiet personality making her a poor fit for the lively atmosphere variety shows demanded.

But her popularity was so high that even if she said nothing, the show still got the engagement it needed.

Yu Yousheng doubted the production team had deliberately paired her with Jiang Musheng for hype. They probably hadn’t even planned to put them in the same show.

She was here because her recent buzz made her a good fit, and she needed this dating show.

But why was Jiang Musheng here? She had fame, acclaimed works, and widespread recognition—she didn’t need this show to boost her profile. Surely she wasn’t actually here to date.

A staff member asked, “Teacher Jiang, how did you end up joining our show? You’re the only one left who hasn’t shared yet.”

Xu Liyu handed her a cup of hot tea, which Jiang Musheng accepted before answering, “My teacher recommended me.”

Xu Liyu: “Old man Li Rongcheng? Oh, I saw that interview where he nagged you about marriage. He moved fast—actually got you onto a dating show.”

The resignation on Jiang Musheng’s face wasn’t faked, and the others realized she’d genuinely been strong-armed into the show by her teacher.

Yu Youqing suppressed the urge to laugh, recalling that there was indeed such an incident. Li Rongcheng had extensive connections in the industry and seemed genuinely concerned about Jiang Musheng’s personal life, much like those elders at home who nag about marriage.

After all, the elderly probably truly believed that dating shows were meant for finding love, which was why they recommended Jiang Musheng to participate.

It seems even someone of Jiang-laoshi’s stature can’t escape the pressure to marry.

Hahahahaha Jiang-laoshi actually getting marriage pressure!

Well, she is at that age—even us fans are anxious about it

Sniff… I know it’s selfish, but I still hope Jiang-laoshi never marries. No one is worthy of her!

Exactly! Especially Yu Youqing—Jiang Musheng must keep her distance from that woman!!!!

Did you see her just smile?

Just fishing for camera time

Yu Youqing pressed her lips together, trying to maintain a neutral expression. After Jiang Musheng finished speaking, not just her but everyone else visibly relaxed to varying degrees. Xu Liyu, being Jiang Musheng’s friend, didn’t hold back and laughed outright.

“Old Man Li must really fear you’ll die alone,” Xu Liyu said, her gaze inexplicably drifting between Yu Youqing and Jiang Musheng before adding with a chuckle, “How come you’re so hopeless? I’d have thought you’d be surrounded by omegas everywhere—living such an ascetic life.”

The others pretended not to hear Xu Liyu’s teasing. Anyone else wouldn’t dare bring up such a topic in front of Jiang Musheng.

But Yu Youqing sensed something different in her words.

The memory of that conversation with Xu Liyu at the bar flashed before her eyes, and Yu Youqing couldn’t shake the feeling that Xu Liyu was hinting at her.

Jiang Musheng subtly stepped forward, shielding most of Yu Youqing’s body, and said quietly, “Now that introductions are done, everyone should go pick their rooms.”

There were six guests in total, with two single rooms, two double rooms, and one triple room upstairs. Earlier, everyone had gathered downstairs, and no one had rushed to claim a room. At Jiang Musheng’s reminder, they all started heading up.

The female guests had brought suitcases packed with belongings. Just as Wei Xi was about to offer to help carry them, Yu Youqing stepped forward past Jiang Musheng: “Wait.”

Yu Youqing noticed Jiang Musheng reaching for a suitcase, but how could she let Jiang Musheng carry it herself? Last time, just catching snow for her had nearly drowned Yu Youqing in fan backlash. Now, with Jiang Musheng standing right in front of her, staying idle would only invite more criticism.

But Yu Youqing also knew that offering to carry Jiang Musheng’s suitcase alone would be seen as clout-chasing by fans. So what could she do? She decided—

“I’m strong!” Yu Youqing grinned, flexing her arm playfully at the group. “And I’ve already rested enough. You all relax—I’ll handle this.”

“No way, let me do it,” Cheng Shunzhu interjected, feeling that as the only male present, it was his duty to carry the luggage. He immediately stepped forward and grabbed the handle of Yu Youqing’s suitcase. “You all go rest. I’ve got this.”

Yu Youqing patted Cheng Shunzhu on the shoulder and placed his hand on Jiang Musheng’s suitcase, saying, “No need for mine. You can help Teacher Jiang carry hers upstairs first. Thanks.”

Cheng Shunzhu: “……?”

Why did he feel like Sister Youqing was subtly rejecting him? Wuwu.

But just as Cheng Shunzhu was about to take Jiang Musheng’s suitcase, she moved faster and picked it up herself.

“Thanks, but no need,” Jiang Musheng said, holding one suitcase in each hand—the other one belonged to—

Yu Youqing hurried forward. “Teacher Jiang!”

She had been standing closer to Jiang Musheng earlier, so their suitcases were nearby. With effortless ease, Jiang Musheng simply reached out and took Yu Youqing’s suitcase as well.

By the time Yu Youqing realized what had happened and gasped, Jiang Musheng was already carrying both suitcases upstairs without breaking a sweat.

Without another thought, Yu Youqing rushed after her. “Teacher Jiang! Wait… This isn’t good…”

Even though Jiang Musheng was an alpha, after what happened in the snow last time—when her hands had gotten frostbitten—Yu Youqing had never assumed Jiang Musheng was particularly strong.

So when Jiang Musheng made her move, Yu Youqing panicked. What if she ended up hurting Teacher Jiang again? But to her surprise, Jiang Musheng carried the suitcases with perfect steadiness, quickly reaching the upstairs room.

Yu Youqing stopped behind her, barely catching her breath before Jiang Musheng turned around. There wasn’t a trace of exhaustion on her face—if anything, her eyes held a faint amusement, and the corner of her lips curled slightly as she asked, “What’s not good?”

Everything wasn’t good.

But Yu Youqing didn’t dare say that.

She had rushed up in such a hurry that momentum nearly sent her crashing into Jiang Musheng. Now, standing just inches away, she was slightly breathless—mostly from the fear of accidentally bumping into her.

Jiang Musheng, who had clearly seen her flustered state, didn’t step back at all. It gave Yu Youqing the strange illusion that even if she did collide with her, Jiang Musheng would catch her without hesitation.

Yu Youqing had packed her own suitcase and knew exactly how heavy it was. Yet Jiang Musheng carried it effortlessly, making Yu Youqing acutely aware of the sheer strength alphas possessed.

So she quickly said, “Thank you, Teacher Jiang.”

Her tone was polite as always, but Jiang Musheng stared at her for two silent seconds, the emotions in her dark eyes receding before she finally spoke, her voice calm. “Which room do you want?”

In front of them were two open doors—one to a single room, the other to a double.

Instinctively, Yu Youqing was about to choose the double. The single room was obviously the best, and in her mind, Jiang Musheng, being the most prominent figure here, would naturally take it.

But just as the words were about to leave her lips, for some inexplicable reason, she asked instead, “Which one are you choosing, Teacher Jiang?”

For a fleeting moment, she feared that if she said she wanted the double, Jiang Musheng might choose to stay in the same room as her. The mere thought of that scenario made her breathless—so she had to eliminate any possibility of it happening.

Yu Youqing stole a glance at Jiang Musheng, only to have her gaze caught red-handed. Her ears burned as their eyes met, feeling as if her little thoughts had been instantly exposed. She gave an awkward, overly deliberate smile and said, “You even helped me with my luggage, so Teacher Jiang should choose first.”

Jiang Musheng couldn’t help but notice how distant this girl always seemed when talking to her. But with cameras rolling, she couldn’t exactly point it out now. Through Yu Youqing’s gaze, Jiang Musheng could clearly sense how intimidated the younger woman was by her.

She sighed inwardly, though her expression remained perfectly composed. Tightening her grip on her suitcase, she looked toward the single room’s door. “I’ll take this one.”

The moment she spoke, she noticed from her peripheral vision how the person beside her visibly relaxed their shoulders.

Yu Youqing immediately said, “Then I won’t disturb Teacher Jiang’s rest.” She quickly retrieved her own suitcase and decisively chose the adjacent double room, waving cheerfully at Jiang Musheng.

Without another word, Jiang Musheng entered her room to unpack.

Only when Jiang Musheng was out of sight did Yu Youqing finally lower her head and exhale slowly, careful to avoid the cameras.

For a fleeting moment, she’d wondered if Jiang Musheng might choose the double room with her. But fear and apprehension had ultimately prevailed. Given her current reputation, any association with Jiang Musheng would only drag the older actress down.

And so.

Yu Youqing reaffirmed her resolution: no matter what, the fact that she was Jiang Musheng’s tenant must remain the most tightly guarded secret of her life.

She began unpacking as soon as she entered the room. Before long, the door opened again to reveal Wei Xi.

“Ah! Teacher Yu,” Wei Xi said, meeting Yu Youqing’s gaze. Apparently surprised to see her, the younger girl shyly tucked her hair behind her ear.

“No need to be so formal,” Yu Youqing smiled, making space by the other bed.

The sound of suitcases being dragged occasionally came from outside as other guests arrived. Yu Youqing casually asked Wei Xi about the room assignments. “After Teacher Jiang helped you with your luggage,” Wei Xi explained, “Cheng Shunzhu insisted on carrying everyone else’s bags… Being the only guy, he naturally took the single room.”

“Xu Liyu and Ji Fu chose the triple room on the far right. Cheng Shunzhu’s in the third-floor single, while us girls are all on the second floor.”

Yu Youqing nodded in understanding.

Her hands never stopped moving as she efficiently unpacked her suitcase.

When she looked up, her eyes met Wei Xi’s, catching the undisguised surprise in the younger girl’s expression. “What’s wrong?”

“I just didn’t expect Teacher Yu to be so… capable with daily life skills,” Wei Xi admitted, having observed how deftly Yu Youqing organized her belongings—the picture of self-sufficiency. This didn’t match the rumors at all.

Moreover, Cheng Shunzhu seemed quite fond of Yu Youqing too, always trying to stick close and addressing her with affectionate familiarity.

Weren’t they saying that Yu Youqing had no friends in the industry, with a bad attitude, acting like a diva and being hard to get along with? But Wei Xi thought about it—she hadn’t even been here long, and Yu Youqing had already smiled at her twice.

When Yu Youqing smiled softly, her face looked completely harmless, making one’s heart melt.

“These are all pretty simple,” Yu Youqing said, noticing Wei Xi standing frozen by her open suitcase, assuming she didn’t know how to organize her things. She naturally walked over and offered, “Let me help you.”

Heavens! Wei Xi practically jumped away from the suitcase, her movements so exaggerated that the flush on her face deepened. “N-no, that’s not what I meant… I can do it myself!”

Even though Wei Xi had worked with plenty of celebrities in the industry, when Yu Youqing’s face got this close, she still couldn’t handle it. It was like staring directly into a blinding light—she couldn’t bear to look.

From the audience’s perspective, the footage was split into multiple angles based on which guest was being followed. Since Yu Youqing wasn’t particularly popular and Wei Xi worked behind the scenes, their segment had the fewest viewers.

Yet, among the flood of negative comments about Yu Youqing, a few stray remarks popped up saying they were shipping it.

I must be really bored if I’m watching Yu Youqing!

The only people still here are those who got stuck watching because of Teacher Jiang and didn’t switch in time. Who in their right mind watches Yu Youqing?

LMAO who watches Yu Youqing +1

Let’s see if she starts acting crazy once she’s in the room

How shameless, making Teacher Jiang carry her suitcase. Unbelievable

……Wait a second????

Why is Yu Youqing so smooth at packing? Did she practice?

She actually helped Wei Xi

No comment on Yu Youqing, but Wei Xi’s blushing face is kinda cute to ship!

OMG, why am I seeing romantic chemistry between Yu Youqing and Wei Xi… I guess I really am weak to pretty faces

Fake fake fake it’s just a show I’ll say it a hundred times

With cameras around, Yu Youqing could totally be faking it

Meanwhile, Yu Youqing herself remained completely unaware. She only noticed when a staff member near the cameraperson held up a sign that read: Audience reaction is positive—Yu Youqing and Wei Xi’s chemistry +1

Since this was a live-recorded show without a script, the production team still wanted to steer the content toward viral moments, so they occasionally gave the guests subtle hints about the audience’s reactions.

Both Yu Youqing and Wei Xi saw the message at the same time.

Yu Youqing, being an actress, kept a straight face. Wei Xi, however, wasn’t as composed—her blush had spread to her ears, and to hide it, she hurriedly finished packing.

A staff member said, “If you two are done, you can head back to the living room.”

“No rush,” Yu Youqing said, noticing Wei Xi speeding up. She made sure not to add any pressure.

Yu Youqing felt that Wei Xi was quite like a younger sister to her. Although the crew had hinted that some people thought there was a couple-like chemistry between them, she personally didn’t feel anything. However, she did recall Tiantian’s advice—that it would be best if she could dominate this dating show.

Of course, that was assuming Jiang Musheng wasn’t among the guests. Now that Jiang Musheng was here, she could almost imagine what Tiantian would say to her, probably every sentence ending with a string of exclamation marks.

The guests weren’t allowed to check their phones during filming.

After finishing her preparations, Wei Xi hurried over to Yu Youqing. As the two walked downstairs, Yu Youqing casually glanced to the side.

The door was still closed—Jiang Musheng hadn’t come out yet.

Yu Youqing walked ahead of Wei Xi. Just then, Cheng Shunzhu also descended from the third floor. Yu Youqing briefly made eye contact with him and was about to continue downstairs when Wei Xi, who had been walking with her head down in a rush, missed a step and stumbled forward.

In the next second, Yu Youqing, who was in front of her, instinctively reached out to steady her, her voice soft in Wei Xi’s ear: “Careful.”

Wei Xi: “!”

“Thank you, Yu—thank you, Youqing-jie,” Wei Xi corrected herself mid-sentence, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks again. Flustered, she locked eyes with Cheng Shunzhu, who grinned and said, “My jiejie has quick reflexes, huh? I wish she’d caught me too.”

Ji Fuzao, who had previously met Wei Xi during filming, approached from the right. “You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

Seeing that most people had arrived, Yu Youqing took the lead and went downstairs first.

Cheng Shunzhu chattered on behind her: “Youqing-jie is actually really nice… right? Did you see that?”

Seeking validation, he turned to Ji Fuzao, whom he wasn’t familiar with.

Ji Fuzao had a cool, mature beauty, her aloof expression making her seem rather haughty when she wasn’t smiling. She looked at Cheng Shunzhu and asked, “Do you have a thing for older sisters?”

Cheng Shunzhu immediately protested, “Hey, don’t go making wild accusations here!”

He wasn’t blind—he knew his place perfectly well. His relationship with Yu Youqing was purely that of siblings. The main reason for his reaction was that he had originally wanted to help Yu Youqing with her luggage, but Jiang Musheng had beaten him to it.

Cheng Shunzhu had a vague feeling that the relationship between Jiang Musheng and Yu Youqing might not be as strained as the rumors suggested. And since this was a dating show, maybe Jiang Musheng had some interest in Youqing-jie… The thought sent a shiver down his spine, though he quickly dismissed it. If there was anything between those two, wouldn’t their fans lose sleep over it?

When Yu Youqing reached the bottom, a crew member gestured to the six cups on the table: “Have something to drink to quench your thirst.”

She nodded, picked up one at random, and sat down on the sofa.

Cheng Shunzhu took another cup and sat beside her. Shortly after Wei Xi and Ji Fuzao arrived, Xu Liyu and Jiang Musheng also came downstairs.

“Now that all six of our guests have gathered, let me welcome everyone once again to our show! We hope you’ll experience the beauty of romance throughout these six episodes.” The assistant director smiled as he stood before the camera, gesturing toward a blackboard in the distance. “Since this is a dating show, we’d like everyone to introduce yourselves first—share why you joined this program and your ideal type. After your introduction, please name who you’d invite to complete the next task with you, should there be one.”

“Who wants to go first?”

After the assistant director’s words, an awkward silence fell over the group seated in the living room. After all, they were still practically strangers.

“I’ll go!” Cheng Shunzhu bravely stepped forward, figuring that as a grown man, he should take the lead. He wore a black-and-white striped sweater, his hair neatly trimmed, giving off the vibe of a big, friendly dog.

“I’m Cheng Shunzhu, a newcomer actor. My purpose for joining this show is simple… just as the assistant director said, to experience the beauty of romance here.” He blinked, appearing to give it serious thought before continuing, “I don’t really have a fixed ideal type. I don’t judge by first impressions, preferring the connection that develops after long-term interaction.”

After introducing himself, he naturally turned to Yu Youqing, passing her the baton. “Sis, of course I’d want to team up with you since we’re most familiar. Why don’t you go next with your introduction?”

Yu Youqing: “…” Thanks a lot.

Several curious gazes immediately focused on Yu Youqing, especially given her widely publicized rumors with Jiang Musheng—such notoriety naturally drew attention.

Left with no choice, Yu Youqing stood up and faced the group.

She could feel a gaze from the front-left settling on her.

Though it was the most subdued among everyone’s stares, it carried the strongest pressure.

Steadying herself, Yu Youqing deliberately avoided looking in that direction.

“I’m Yu Youqing. I joined this show to let everyone see another side of me, hoping we can all have a comfortable and harmonious journey together. If new developments happen, that’d be even better. But honestly… I have quite a few flaws,” she said candidly to the camera with an easy smile. “As for my ideal type—”

She paused briefly.

Then, she glanced toward Jiang Musheng’s direction before casually looking away again.

“As many might know, I used to admire someone like Teacher Jiang—mature, steady, and seemingly perfect in every way.” Yu Youqing met the camera again, speaking each word deliberately. “Now I realize how naive I was back then. Teacher Jiang is like a beam of light—far too perfect for someone like me to stand before. So these days, I prefer someone more lively, someone I can really vibe with.”

Her tone was frank.

Knowing she couldn’t win either way, she openly admitted her past immaturity—acknowledging how those real or fabricated rumors had caused Jiang Musheng trouble.

The latter half of her statement was also meant for Jiang Musheng’s fans: she and Jiang would likely remain separate paths in this show, with no more rumor-mongering.

“As for who I’d like to invite,” Yu Youqing noticed Cheng Shunzhu’s hopeful look but shook her head with a smile, “I’d pick Xu Liyu because her hair left a deep impression on me—it’s stunning.”

She meant it sincerely.

Yet the moment she finished speaking, she accidentally locked eyes with Jiang Musheng. Her throat tightened instantly, an inexplicable sense of wrongdoing creeping up her spine.

Yu Youqing averted her gaze reflexively and hurried back to her seat.

Cheng Shunzhu leaned in and whispered, “Why not pick me?”

Yu Youqing replied, “This is a dating show, not a sibling show. You should pick someone you might actually have potential with.”

“Right.” Cheng Shunzhu was easily convinced, but the next second he added, “Huh? So you’re thinking of pursuing something with Xu Liyu? I thought—”

For some reason, he suddenly stopped talking.

“Not really, I just picked randomly,” Yu Youqing brushed it off, patting Cheng Shunzhu’s shoulder. “Focus on the others’ introductions.”

Apart from briefly crossing paths with Xu Liyu at a bar once, Yu Youqing wasn’t familiar with any of the other participants. As for Jiang Musheng—it wasn’t that they weren’t acquainted, but she was absolutely off-limits as an option, leaving her with no other choice.

When Wei Xi stepped up to introduce herself, Cheng Shunzhu leaned in again and whispered, “Sis, don’t you think something feels off?”

“Hmm?”

“I feel like Teacher Jiang is watching us.” Cheng Shunzhu had initially wanted to move closer, but sensing an intense gaze from behind, he shifted away instead. “Can you check if she’s looking our way?”

The problem was, Yu Youqing didn’t dare to look either.

She had already noticed Jiang Musheng’s gaze directed her way. Thankfully, the cameras weren’t focused on Jiang Musheng at the moment, or she’d never be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

“Come on, sis, take a look. I’m too scared,” Cheng Shunzhu tugged at her wrist. “I feel so awkward sitting like this. Should we switch seats?”

His seat was closer to Jiang Musheng’s.

Yu Youqing naturally refused. Steeling herself, she finally turned to glance back.

In the distance, Jiang Musheng silently shifted her gaze from Yu Youqing to Xu Liyu, then slowly returned it to her. At a pace deliberate enough for Yu Youqing to clearly decipher, she wordlessly mouthed:

“You like her?”