The Trash A Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 3

The music in the bar continued to assault her eardrums. Yu Youqing couldn’t tell whether what she was hearing was the beat of the drums or the pounding of her own heart. All she could see was the figure approaching her, carrying with them a faint, cool fragrance that soothed her senses.

Jiang Musheng’s eyelids were thin, her features sharp. Even with the allure of peach blossom eyes, what struck people first wasn’t charm but an icy detachment that kept others at bay. She was tall, and under the dim, flickering lights, her gaze held a trace of ambiguous warmth.

I must be going crazy.

That was the only thought running through Yu Youqing’s mind.

The bar was warm, despite it being early winter. Some people still dressed boldly, flaunting their figures.

Jiang Musheng, on the other hand, was dressed modestly—just a slightly unbuttoned V-neck shirt revealing a hint of collarbone.

Yet, the more restrained someone appeared, the more alluring they became. Yu Youqing didn’t dare look at her directly.

“Holy—” Even though Tian Tian wasn’t a rookie agent anymore, she still couldn’t control her reaction when she saw who was standing beside Yu Youqing.

Her phone was still recording the scene—originally meant for Yu Youqing to review later.

Now, her hands were trembling slightly.

Yu Youqing desperately wanted to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. She could only watch as Jiang Musheng approached her. Was the world really this small? To have her embarrass herself twice in front of Jiang Musheng in a single day.

“J-Jiang… Teacher, it’s a misunderstanding,” Yu Youqing stammered, offering an excuse that even she found flimsy.

The next second, the drink in front of her was taken away.

“Hahaha, why are you so nervous?” Xu Liyu took a sip, exchanging an amused glance with Jiang Musheng before grinning. “Since when did you have such a gorgeous girlfriend? Not very friendly of you to keep it from me.”

Yu Youqing’s expression froze for a second before realization dawned—this red-haired girl actually knew Jiang Musheng!

What the hell was I even trying to pull earlier…

She wanted to cry but had no tears left.

Would it still work if I told Jiang Musheng I was just acting?

Jiang Musheng took in every shift in Yu Youqing’s expression.

The girl seemed flustered. Under the slightly brighter lights, the tips of her ears were tinged with a faint red. Yu Youqing’s beauty was undeniable. Even in an industry overflowing with stunning faces, she stood out uniquely. The black dress she wore only accentuated her striking features—she looked like the kind of enchantress who could get away with anything just by being beautiful. Yet, in front of Jiang Musheng, she had repeatedly shown signs of panic.

Am I some kind of monster? Why is she always so afraid?

Instead of responding to Xu Liyu, Jiang Musheng looked at Yu Youqing and asked, “What misunderstanding?”

“I didn’t mean to. I just pointed randomly earlier, I really didn’t expect…” Yu Youqing’s voice grew quieter. She wanted to stay composed, but Jiang Musheng’s gaze was too overwhelming. They were standing so close that Yu Youqing didn’t dare move, frozen in place.

Jiang Musheng tilted her head slightly, her tone unreadable.

Despite the deafening noise of the bar, her voice somehow cut through clearly.

She asked, “Then which one is your girlfriend?”

If Yu Youqing hadn’t misheard, she had claimed to be here with her girlfriend.

Coming with your girlfriend and still handing drinks to other women, even casually pointing around.

You’re playing quite the wild game.

“Do you two know each other?” Xu Liyu, who had just returned from abroad, wasn’t familiar with people in the entertainment industry. She looked at Yu Youqing curiously, “I’ve never been hit on by such a big celebrity before.”

Yu Youqing was still nervous, but after this moment, she had at least steadied herself. She forced a smile back on her face. Though she felt her image in Jiang Musheng’s eyes was already ruined beyond repair, she still had to keep up appearances.

“I don’t have a girlfriend—I was just shamelessly boasting. Please don’t mind me, Teacher Jiang.” She then turned to Xu Liyu, “Everyone knows Teacher Jiang. I’m just a small-time entertainer, someone Teacher Jiang will forget after a glance.”

Yu Youqing’s heart was pounding. She had just signed with a new company, and when reviewing the contract, she already knew that later on, to boost her popularity enough to secure that coveted role alongside Jiang Musheng, the company would push her to “reach for the moon”—creating opportunities for her to stir up publicity with Jiang Musheng.

And here she was, having already crossed paths with Jiang Musheng twice before any of that could even begin—both times leaving a less-than-favorable impression.

By the time the publicity stunts started, Jiang Musheng would probably despise her even more.

But compared to the bleak future of fading into obscurity and poverty, Yu Youqing figured she could handle this for now.

Before Jiang Musheng could even speak, Yu Youqing had already lowered her head, muttered a quick “Goodbye, Teacher Jiang,” and swiftly turned to leave.

“That girl seems pretty interesting. Introduce her to me sometime,” Xu Liyu couldn’t help but watch as Yu Youqing disappeared down the stairs in an instant.

When she turned back, she noticed Jiang Musheng’s brows slightly furrowed, her gaze distant. Teasingly, she asked, “Lost in thought?”

Jiang Musheng tapped her slender fingers against Xu Liyu’s now-empty glass. “Something came up. I’m leaving.”

“Holy sh1t, holy sh1t, holy sh1t!!!”

By now, Yu Youqing was already in the car on her way back, but her ears were being assaulted by Tiantian’s excited squealing, along with the video shoved right in front of her face.

The video clearly showed her standing next to Jiang Musheng.

“Look at how Teacher Jiang moved from behind you to right in front of you! I thought she was going to wrap her arm around your waist! Doesn’t it look like it? We hit the jackpot tonight running into Teacher Jiang!”

And clearly, Jiang Musheng had been at a private gathering with friends—since they were on the second floor, she had been relaxed, which was why she hadn’t caused much of a stir.

Yu Youqing’s drowsiness was completely shattered by Tiantian’s voice. She yawned, “I don’t think so…”

“You do! It’s just—I kinda feel like Teacher Jiang was the one acting like the smooth-talking playboy. The way she spoke near your ear was so flirty, and you were like a delicate little white flower.” Tiantian clicked her tongue, rewatching the video before suddenly having an epiphany. “You should learn from Teacher Jiang.”

No, absolutely not.

With Jiang Musheng’s overwhelming presence, Yu Youqing was terrified.

“In front of Teacher Jiang, I have no acting skills,” Yu Youqing sighed, admitting her shortcomings.

She had been in the industry for a long time, and her acting was passable at best. But compared to Jiang Musheng—an award-winning actress whose talent had been recognized by countless accolades—she was just embarrassing herself.

“So you need to interact more with Teacher Jiang!” Tiantian urged earnestly. “The news that the script has been finalized with Teacher Jiang as the lead is insider information. If we want to secure the role of the scumbag Alpha, we’ll need to make extensive preparations and can’t just parachute in unprepared.”

The movie was actually still in its preparatory stages, but Lin Xuqiao’s side had already obtained the information early. The director who wrote this script had long confirmed Jiang Musheng for the role. One could easily imagine how many offers would flood in for the remaining roles once this news was officially announced.

Simply sharing scenes with Jiang Musheng would already be the first step to stardom.

And at this moment, Yu Youqing was the least advantaged.

To ensure she secured the role without any suspense, the company would spend the next few months repackaging her image and rearranging her schedule.

Yu Youqing watched the cityscape rapidly recede outside the car window and murmured softly, “I understand.”

–

Yu Youqing rested at home for three days before the company finally notified her to prepare for a charity gala appreciation banquet tomorrow evening in the city.

Though the event started at eight, Tiantian arrived at Yu Youqing’s home with a makeup artist at three in the afternoon, only to discover that Yu Youqing’s wardrobe didn’t contain a single show-stopping evening gown.

Tiantian’s eyes widened in disbelief: “Sis, haven’t any brands sent you dresses over the years?”

“They did. I sold them,” Yu Youqing replied, keeping her eyes closed as the makeup artist applied her foundation.

Tiantian: “??”

She had been famous before and owned all the expected luxuries. But after being reborn, Yu Youqing looked at her empty bank account balance and decided all those were just worldly possessions, so she sold them.

Clothes couldn’t compare to cold hard cash. Having walked through life and death once, she’d returned with a truly zen attitude—first priority was survival, second was earning and saving money.

Yu Youqing: “It doesn’t have to be designer. I’ll just grab any dress to wear.”

Borrowing one at such short notice was indeed impossible now.

Besides, Yu Youqing was only going to make a brief appearance this time—her seat was already arranged in an obscure corner. She hadn’t donated anything; her invitation came through the company’s connections, so she wasn’t about to push for the spotlight.

Tiantian had no choice. She sensed Yu Youqing seemed somewhat indifferent to fame now. Fortunately, Yu Youqing was a natural clothes hanger. Even in a simple white fringed dress paired with a light cashmere coat, the soft fur collar fluffing beneath her jawline made her look radiant and elegant.

As they approached the hotel entrance, Yu Youqing took a moment to adjust before removing her cashmere coat, her snow-white shoulders giving a slight shiver.

The weather was freezing, but a female celebrity couldn’t show fear of cold. The red carpet from the car to the entrance was the first battlefield. It had been so long since she’d appeared in public—she had no idea what awaited her after stepping out.

It was five minutes to eight; she’d arrived slightly early. Just as Yu Youqing’s hand touched the car door, uncontrollable commotion erupted outside as all the media waiting in the bitter cold surged forward.

Jiang Musheng had arrived.

She walked briskly after exiting her car, showing none of the usual red carpet lingering typical of other actresses. Only slowing for fans’ cheers, she paused briefly for media photos.

The tinted windows cast a dark, hazy filter over the outside view. Wanting a clearer look, Yu Youqing waited for Jiang Musheng to finish signing before making her move, rolling down the window.

A gust of cold wind rushed in, sending a shiver down one’s spine. But it also gave Yu Youqing a clearer view of Jiang Musheng—this woman was truly beautiful.

With looks that could captivate the world, she inexplicably carried the dignified aura unique to an alpha.

All the dazzling lights outside paled in comparison to the radiant starlight Jiang Musheng herself exuded. Just standing there, she effortlessly stole everyone’s attention.

Yu Youqing stared absentmindedly in that direction. She had to admit, the feeling of returning to the spotlight was somewhat alluring.

Now that all the media had swarmed around Jiang Musheng, Yu Youqing actually felt a hint of relief. Maybe she could slip away quietly later, quickly make her way inside and sit down to avoid any potential ridicule.

She had asked Tiantian earlier and learned that Liang Yitang would also be attending. As someone personally mentored by Zhao Guili, Liang naturally wouldn’t give her an easy time now that she was making a comeback.

Yu Youqing wasn’t afraid of trouble, but she couldn’t be bothered to deal with it. Perhaps because she hadn’t attended events in so long, she couldn’t ignore the faint unease in her heart.

After lying low for so long, it turned out fear still crept in when it was time to be afraid. But right now, as she watched Jiang Musheng, admiration filled her mind, leaving no room for other thoughts.

Who would have thought that amidst the deafening screams of fans, Jiang Musheng, standing far away, would suddenly look over?

Yu Youqing could feel it—Jiang Musheng’s gaze pierced through the air without hesitation, locking onto hers.

Her own eyes had already been fixed in that direction, so she saw it clearly. Jiang Musheng silently mouthed two words to her:

Come here.