The Trending Topic Herself: The Villainess is the Superstar!

Chapter 288 - 289: The Exceptionally Patient Hunter

[Miles: Senior Maya, I’ve seen the news, and I really apologize for the trouble it has caused you.]

[Miles: I will definitely resolve this matter.]

Maya leisurely typed a response:

[It’s okay, my team is also working to mitigate the impact of the rumors.]

Maya played a few rounds of games and still hadn’t received a reply from Miles. She decided not to wait any longer and directly called Ryan to discuss this matter.

Ryan suggested that she shouldn’t go out randomly and should wait until the situation is resolved before going out. He assured her that he’d plan out the rest.

Maya was happy to be free and even happier to have a reduced work schedule. She readily agreed and went home to relax that afternoon.

*

The "scandal incident" broke out, leaving Claire overwhelmed with stress. The online furor was intense, coupled with the pressure from fans that needed to be addressed.

As a male artist with many "girlfriend fans," the impact of a scandal was predictable, and mishandling it could lead to disastrous consequences.

With a major award selection taking place, Claire couldn’t allow Miles’s popularity to decline or his reputation to suffer.

"Miles, you’ve been way too careless. How many times have I emphasized that the most important thing for an artist is to be cautious with their words? One wrong statement and you won’t know what hit you!"

Claire tossed the papers in her hand onto the table. "Marketing accounts are undeniably annoying, but how could they stir up matters without material you gave them? Do you know how intolerant the fans are online? Take a look at what you’ve done?"

Claire laid it out one by one for him: "Every time something happens with Maya, you’re always the first to clarify things for her, but I haven’t seen you this proactive with others. And can’t you add a few more female artists to your follow list to avoid suspicion? What’s the deal with only following her?!"

Claire became increasingly irritated: "Look at the mess you’ve got yourself into lately. Do you want to join the ranks of those who’ve fallen from grace? Countless fans view you as the ’best boyfriend’ figure; a scandal could be fatal!"

Miles remained silent, allowing Claire to vent her anger until she finished, at which point he finally spoke: "I’m sorry..."

Most of Claire’s anger dissipated, and seeing Miles’s downcast, compliant demeanor evoked some pity, though her demeanor remained stern and serious: "What do you propose to do now?"

Miles picked up on the underlying message. Claire had already devised a solution, and she was merely asking for his input.

"Hold a press conference."

"And then?"

"Then..." he paused, "clarify some of the rumors."

Claire felt her temples throb as none of her artists allowed her to have any peace.

"What do you mean by ’some of the rumors’? What does ’some’ mean? Miles, I need you to explain this to me."

Claire crossed her arms, her gaze sharp as a blade.

"The rumors about being overly close are false, but my feelings for her... that’s not a rumor."

Miles’s eyes were calm and clear, the bright blue of his eyes resembling shimmering precious gems. His serious expression confirmed that he wasn’t joking.

"You... like Maya?" Even though she was somewhat prepared, hearing Miles admit it caught Claire off guard.

His gaze met hers steadily, without any hint of avoidance, and he said, "Yes."

"You..." Claire organized her thoughts: "Firstly, you’re an adult, and I know you have your own ideas. But I hope you can distinguish your feelings clearly. Frankly speaking, throwing away a bright future for a transient sense of novelty is truly not worth it!"

"I’ve been through this; you have to understand that you’re only twenty years old. Ending your career over a relationship rumor..." She lowered her tone, "really isn’t worth it!"

"This isn’t just a momentary infatuation," he replied slowly. "I never saw myself as an idol or someone to be put on a pedestal. I just want to pursue my love for music. I don’t care how fans judge me or how many are left... To me, admitting my feelings is no big deal; I never intended to deceive or hide anything from the start."

Claire remained silent for a long time. She found Miles’s words oddly unreasonable, but from his perspective, there was nothing wrong.

Miles refused to conform, advocating for personal style, a refreshing presence in the entertainment industry. His uniqueness made him successful but also caused irreversible negative impacts in some areas.

"You’re not concerned, but are you going to drag Maya down with you? It took her so much to regain her popularity. You should know how hard it is to make it in the entertainment industry. So..."

Claire looked at him, her tone unruffled, "Are you intending to drag her down too?"

Miles tightened his lips, his eyelashes trembled unintentionally, and this time he didn’t have an answer.

Claire chuckled knowingly, "You’re a smart kid. Think it over; I’ll give you some time."

*

Since the incident happened, the commentary around Maya hadn’t died down, mostly angry Miles fans trying to gain attention. Maya didn’t bother with them, as Ryan said he would handle it; these matters naturally weren’t for her to deal with.

Moments later, she saw another piece of "black news" being highlighted, claiming she had a wealthy patron and a chaotic personal life...

The "patron" list included many names, most of whom were unfamiliar executives to Maya.

What surprised her most was that Ian was also mentioned, listed as one of the "patrons." However, the comment section was filled with skeptical voices, asserting that there was no way they were connected, especially given Ian’s well-known aloof "reputation."

Maya watched with interest for a while, commenting, "What a bunch of talent."

Maya received another call from Ryan, this time a video call, and his tired appearance showed through.

"Ryan, why the video this time?" She wasn’t quite used to it.

Ryan ran a hand through his noticeably thinning hair, "After all I’ve done for you, I figured I should let you see how exhausted I am."

Maya laughed, seemingly unfazed.

"Heartless," Ryan scolded playfully, then sobered up, "This time, it’s to talk about serious business. You probably know by now there are quite a few new bad rumors about you, including things like being kept..."

"These all cropped up after the scandal, and we can’t rule out the possibility that it’s the result of some extreme fans on Miles’s side lashing out in anger. To really resolve this and keep people’s mouths shut, this issue has to be addressed."

"I have a solution to discuss with you, which is also my personal suggestion."