I Married the President

Chapter 495: Chapter 495: What About My Dignity?

The article aptly stated that no law forces anyone to do charity work, nor does any rule require celebrities to have low-key birthdays. However, an ostentatious and extravagant birthday party like the one Cecily Taylor threw last night was a veiled promotion of materialism—an act that would inevitably draw public condemnation.

The article concluded with Claire Sinclair urging some celebrities to better uphold their public image as idols and spread positive energy to every dark corner, instead of single-mindedly chasing fame and fortune. It also called on netizens to be rational fans—to pursue the spirit of positive energy rather than vanity and materialism.

As soon as the article was published, it shot into the top three on the trending charts, and netizens went wild.

[Star Reporter Sinclair is truly Star Reporter Sinclair. So awesome!]

[When has an article by our Molly Sinclair ever disappointed us? Every single one is so deep, right?!]

[This is disgusting. They’re deliberately targeting our Cece, writing this kind of article at a time like this!]

[When my goddess lifts her pen to fight injustice, all corruption is exposed.]

[Cecily Taylor: Don’t I get to have any dignity?!]

...

Underneath Cecily Taylor’s Weibo post, there was a sea of criticism. Even when her fans came out to defend her, they couldn’t overcome the condemnation from netizens with a strong moral compass.

As the netizens’ condemnation grew more intense, Cecily Taylor finally caved to the pressure. She issued a statement through her personal studio, claiming that she recognized her mistake, had been a negative influence, and had corrupted social morals. She promised she would change her ways and, as a sign of her sincerity, would donate all the birthday gifts she had received.

After seeing the statement, many netizens expressed their satisfaction, but many others didn’t buy it. Those who felt Cecily Taylor had been wronged, in particular, flooded Claire Sinclair’s Weibo page and left tens of thousands of hateful comments.

Of course, Claire Sinclair paid no mind to the cyberbullying. She even posted a single sentence on her own Weibo: I only clash with negative energy. Positive energy and I are good friends.

She couldn’t be bothered to read whatever else the netizens were writing after that.

While the internet was in an uproar, Claire Sinclair’s private life was completely unaffected.

Because Mimi Fisher was having an allergic reaction and Master had persistent diarrhea, the ”Shining Star” show couldn’t continue recording as normal, and the contestants were all panicking.

The production team called Claire Sinclair and Cecily Taylor first thing in the morning, summoning them to the camp.

Before they met with the contestants, the director gathered the two female mentors in a meeting room for a brief talk.

The director looked at the two women who were stirring up a storm online and said helplessly, ”Ladies, you’re really having a blast on the internet, huh? Have you given any thought to our show?”

Cecily Taylor said coldly, her face impassive, ”She’s the one who wrote the article. Don’t blame me.”

Claire Sinclair was perfectly calm. ”Director, I was assigned to be a mentor here by my superiors. I’m a social issues reporter, not a gossip columnist. It’s my job to promote positive energy and dispel negative energy. Asking me to turn a blind eye is something I can’t do.”

The director was suffering inwardly but couldn’t say it aloud. He pleaded, ”So what do you two suggest? How are we supposed to move forward with the show? The news that you two don’t get along is all over the internet. When it’s time to choose the Center, should I pick your choice, or your choice?”

He directed the last question first to Claire Sinclair, and then to Cecily Taylor.

Cecily Taylor said lukewarmly, ”I’m already considered an artist with questionable ethics. Director, just let her choose.”