The Trash A Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 4

“?”

What did she mean by coming over? Coming where?

Yu Youqing’s mind hadn’t even processed it yet, but the cameras were already on her.

Even though Jiang Musheng’s glance lasted only two seconds, how could the media photographers capturing her every move miss such a detail? Immediately, some turned their heads in surprise, so startled they didn’t even have time to raise their cameras.

“It’s actually Yu Youqing!”

“How long has it been since she last appeared at an event? And she still looks this good?”

“What’s the use of looking good? Have you forgotten all the scandals swirling around her? Watch out—she might throw another diva tantrum and slap you twice…”

“How did she even get invited to this appreciation banquet? I didn’t see her name on the donor list.”

“Why bother about her? Isn’t this exactly what desperate has-beens do—cling to any red carpet they can?”

“These people really love running their mouths, don’t they?” Tian Tian hadn’t noticed Jiang Musheng’s glance but heard the sudden surge of murmurs around them. Worried it might affect Yu Youqing’s mood, she was about to offer some comforting words when she realized Yu Youqing seemed ready to step out.

Facing the challenge head-on?

Tian Tian’s eyes welled up with tears—was Sister Youqing finally ready to stand tall again?

Good, very good.

That one glance from Jiang Musheng had instantly amplified the spotlight on Yu Youqing.

With photographers already rushing over with their equipment, Yu Youqing had no choice but to step out now.

With so many cars dropping off guests outside, she couldn’t fathom how Jiang Musheng had spotted her in this sea of people. Her company had told her to grab some attention here, and now she didn’t even have to lift a finger.

The moment Yu Youqing’s feet touched the ground, before she could even steady herself and strike a poised pose for the cameras, she noticed the lenses shifting direction.

From the left, a female star arrived with an entourage in tow—three bodyguards flanking her, making a grand entrance.

When Yu Youqing turned and their eyes met, the temperature in her gaze instantly dropped.

“Oh?” Liang Yitang quickly closed the distance with a bright smile, cozying up to Yu Youqing for the cameras. “Sister Youqing, you’re here too! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you at the company. What have you been busy with?”

Liang Yitang’s smile was picture-perfect.

Ever since Yu Youqing’s fallout with Zhao Guili that day, Zhao had been determined to make Yu Youqing’s life difficult. Leaking minor scandals was one of Zhao’s usual tactics. By now, everyone knew Yu Youqing as an arrogant, difficult ingrate who had broken her contract with the very company that discovered her.

Add to that the baseless rumors about Yu Youqing having a sugar daddy, and with Liang Yitang casually alluding to it now, the narrative seemed all the more credible.

The reporters’ eyes gleamed with a mix of disdain and excitement—this would make for juicy tabloid headlines.

Yu Youqing heard the insinuation in her words but couldn’t be bothered to engage. She subtly shifted away. “The wind’s so strong—aren’t you cold just standing there?”

“?” Liang Yitang was momentarily thrown off by the non-answer. Wasn’t Yu Youqing supposed to snap back or at least glare at her like before?

Yu Youqing hadn’t moved far from the car, so she simply reached through the window and pulled out her cashmere coat.

Liang Yitang knew someone as selfish as Yu Youqing must have planned this move to rub her lack of warmth in her face. But she wouldn’t give Yu Youqing the satisfaction—

When the warm, soft touch reached her, every camera captured the startled look in Liang Yitang’s eyes before she could hide it.

Yu Youqing smiled sweetly and whispered in Liang Yitang’s ear, “You’re welcome.”

The flashes of cameras went wild, and even though Liang Yitang was seething with hatred for Yu Youqing at that moment, she had no choice but to play along.

Damn that woman—she must have planned this from the start!

Meanwhile, Jiang Musheng, watching from a distance, saw Yu Youqing drape her coat over someone else.

From her angle, Yu Youqing’s smile looked tender and affectionate, the warmth of her concern palpable even from afar.

…How nice.

The host had initially wanted to step forward and try to persuade Jiang Musheng to stay for more photos with the fans. But before they could even approach, Jiang Musheng set down the signed pen on the tray and walked away without a word.

Being an alpha, even the slightest shift in her gaze made the host shiver—

Why did the atmosphere suddenly feel even colder than before?

Glancing further away, the host realized—Yu Youqing, whom they hadn’t seen in ages, had just arrived!

Could it be… that Jiang Musheng disliked Yu Youqing?

The appreciation banquet was a public event, so fans of various celebrities had long gathered outside to show their support, with Jiang Musheng’s fans being the most numerous. When Yu Youqing stepped out, both those who recognized her and those who didn’t took notice.

“Who’s that? I don’t remember her, but she looks so familiar?”

“Yu… Yu Youqing? Didn’t I hear she got blacklisted by her company?”

“Damn, sis’s visuals are truly unmatched. I just saw Jiang Musheng glance at her twice—stunning beauty, straight-up lethal.”

“Don’t let her being an omega fool you. Rumor has it she’s more troublesome than an alpha. Just the other day, I heard she ditched the agent who discovered her. Now she’s here trying to ride the hype for a comeback—better not latch onto my idol for clout.”

“Your idol wasn’t even famous when she was at her peak, lol.”

“So what if she was popular? With that kind of character, she’s washed up now, reduced to clinging onto red carpets… Tsk, what’s she even trying to do?”

“Yu-jie! Wait up!”

Tiantian hurried after Yu Youqing, overhearing the fans’ gossip along the way. She wanted to argue back but knew she couldn’t cause trouble for Yu Youqing right now, so she bit her tongue and called out to her instead.

They did need the publicity, but some fans were downright vicious, kicking someone when they were down without knowing the full story.

Yet, Yu Youqing seemed completely unfazed.

“Yu-jie, there’s a group photo at the end of the banquet. The studio needs a decent shot for press releases.” Tiantian scratched her head, choosing her words carefully. “If possible… try to stand closer to Jiang Musheng.”

Yu Youqing understood and nodded with a faint smile. “Got it. I’ll do my best.”

Right now, she couldn’t even spot where Jiang Musheng had gone. Jiang Musheng had just given her a boost in attention—she had wanted to thank her in person.

Once inside the venue, it finally warmed up.

Her seat was easy to find—predictably far off, at the outermost table. Meanwhile, Jiang Musheng sat at the very front, at the main table.

Although Yu Youqing was no longer popular, she still knew the right people in the entertainment industry. Some exchanged polite words with her—after all, they would all be moving in the same circles, and basic courtesy was expected. Yu Youqing handled these interactions with ease.

Just then, a girl hurried past from behind her. When she caught sight of Yu Youqing, her eyes gleamed, and as she brushed past, she knocked into a nearby chair, spilling the wine in her hand all over Yu Youqing’s dress.

The cold, sticky sensation slid down her shoulder, and Yu Youqing instinctively stood up, her dress now a mess.

Before Yu Youqing could even look up, the girl immediately began stammering apologies, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to! I—I was rushing to deliver Liang Yitang’s clutch…”

So, she was Liang Yitang’s assistant.

Even if one didn’t respect the person, they had to respect their connections. Since the girl had already dropped Liang Yitang’s name, Yu Youqing barely had time to turn around before Liang Yitang herself arrived to collect her assistant.

“Sorry about that, sis.” To Liang Yitang, Yu Youqing looked utterly humiliated, her calm expression nothing more than a forced front. Secretly delighted, Liang Yitang softened her tone, “Luckily, the organizers are considerate—there’s a dressing room backstage. You should have your assistant bring you a change of clothes soon, or you might catch a cold in this weather.”

After delivering her insincere remarks, Liang Yitang left, leaving Yu Youqing so furious she almost laughed.

It was obvious Liang Yitang was still holding a grudge over Yu Youqing’s earlier comment about the cold. Now, she had deliberately provoked her and thrown those words right back at her.

There was still the photo session later, and Yu Youqing couldn’t possibly attend in this state—she had to change.

Tiantian rushed into the dressing room, frantic. “What happened, sis? That Liang Yitang is targeting you again! I bet she told her assistant to spill wine on your dress on purpose. And after you even lent her your coat outside—talk about biting the hand that feeds you…”

“Alright, don’t get worked up,” Yu Youqing chuckled at Tiantian’s indignation. “Where’s the dress?”

Tiantian’s face fell, on the verge of tears. “It was too sudden—we don’t have a backup outfit. Even if I call someone to bring one now, the banquet will be over by the time it arrives. What do we do?”

Yu Youqing sighed. “Then forget it. It’s warm enough in here—we can just dry the dress and leave early.”

“No way! Actually, I already thought of a solution on the way here.” Tiantian leaned in and whispered, “Even though our team isn’t big enough to have backup gowns on standby, I heard that someone like Teacher Jiang definitely does. People say she’s a bit cold but really kind-hearted. Maybe we could ask her for help…”

“No.”

Yu Youqing refused without hesitation.

There was no way Jiang Musheng’s first impression of her was good—she probably thought Yu Youqing was just another clout-chaser like everyone else. Why would she lend her a dress?

She wasn’t about to humiliate herself.

“Why not? It’s worth a try—you never know!”

Tiantian’s optimism was naive, but Yu Youqing, having already suffered two embarrassing encounters with Jiang Musheng, knew better. “I… just don’t feel comfortable facing Teacher Jiang.”

Tiantian frowned. “Why not?”

Yu Youqing thought carefully and said earnestly, “She’s too beautiful. Just looking into her eyes makes my heart race and leaves me speechless. Teacher Jiang is also an alpha. The moment I’m in her presence, I can’t pretend to be a tough alpha anymore—I have to face the fact that I’m just a delicate, easily overwhelmed omega.”

Just as Tiantian burst into laughter, Jiang Musheng, who happened to overhear every word outside the door, froze. Her fingers, about to touch the doorknob, immediately withdrew.

Her assistant Yangyang, following behind, wasn’t as sharp-eared. She only noticed Jiang Musheng’s lips suddenly curving upward, as if her mood had brightened in an instant.

“What’s wrong?”

Being a celebrity’s assistant these days was no easy task.

Yangyang had been Jiang Musheng’s assistant for two years. While Jiang was a good boss, sometimes her thoughts were hard to decipher. For instance, when Jiang had asked her to come along to deliver the gown earlier, she’d seemed rather cold—so why was she smiling now?

Jiang Musheng lowered her gaze to glance at the bag in Yangyang’s hands. “You go deliver it. No need to mention I came.”

Yangyang: “?”