"Silence is consent." With both Taylor White and her agency maintaining a stony silence, the rumor mill spun wildly out of control. Taylor White dominated the news cycle. Television, newspapers, radio, the internet—wherever there were people, there was Taylor.
The world had gone mad. For the pristine, untouchable diva, six years into her career without a single whisper of scandal, to be caught in a clandestine meeting with a mystery man in WestMoon City—it seemed inconceivable.
Some cried publicity stunt, a familiar tactic in the entertainment industry. What movie premiere or album launch didn't involve a bit of manufactured drama? After all, Taylor's sixth album was due for release any day now. Others, however, believed the story, citing its detailed account and accompanying photographs as evidence. Besides, did Taylor White even need such publicity? Each of her albums sold over a million copies without fail. This scandal could only damage her image, not bolster album sales. Both believers and those clinging to their illusions united online, unleashing a torrent of vitriol.
The story originated in a small-time WestMoon City entertainment rag, but the mainstream media quickly jumped on the bandwagon.
First, "Entertainment 100%," the hottest entertainment program at the time, dedicated a special episode to the incident, inviting Taylor Swift, a close friend and fellow A-lister, to discuss the situation with the studio audience.
Next, the mainland's most popular show, "Stars on the Move," hit the streets for impromptu public opinions on the Taylor White affair.
Over fifty top-tier media outlets clamored for reprint rights from the previously obscure "WestMoon Entertainment," leaving smaller publications to rely on their own imagination, churning out sensational headlines that screamed from front pages:
"Taylor White, Billionaire's Mistress, One Hundred Million Yuan Annual Fee!"
"Taylor White Kept as Mistress by Real Estate Tycoon"
"Revealed: Taylor White's Secret Lover, Son of High-Ranking Official"
"Shotgun Wedding Imminent: Taylor White Pregnant Before Marriage"
"Wedding Photos Leaked: Taylor White's Baby Bump Visible"
…
Maxwell leaned back comfortably in his plush office chair, feet propped up on his desk, a triumphant grin plastered across his face. He'd finally climbed the ladder. Eight years of toiling as a journalist, a graduate of a no-name journalism school, living without a car or a house, even resorting to a month-long diet of tofu because pork prices had skyrocketed.
He owed it all to Taylor White. Thanks to her WestMoon City rendezvous, he'd been promoted to Deputy Chief Editor of the News Department. The title was secondary—his salary had tripled! Add to that the bonus from his boss, the reprint fees from other media outlets... and his name finally graced the front pages of those prestigious national publications. He recalled their previous arrogance, dismissing his submissions and rejecting his job applications. Now they were calling him, begging for information.
Inside scoop? Insider knowledge? Hmph, they could have it all. What was he left with?
A knock interrupted his reverie. Maxwell lowered his feet, massaging the muscles strained from his persistent grin, and called out, "Come in."
Ah, the joys of having his own office! He'd thought such a luxury was at least seven years away. But this incident had expedited his ascent.
The boss's beautiful secretary entered, her face beaming. "Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Joe would like to see you."
"Oh, sure, I'll be right there." Maxwell nodded, noting the change in her demeanor. When had she ever looked at him directly before? Now she was all smiles, even addressing him with a respectful "Mr." He gathered his notebook and headed towards his boss's office.
"Mr. Joe, you wanted to see me?" he asked in a measured tone.
"Yes, yes, come in, Maxwell, have a seat." Mr. Joe, a slightly portly Taiwanese businessman in his forties, rose warmly and ushered Maxwell to the sofa in the reception area. His Mandarin was far from perfect, but his business acumen was razor-sharp.
"What can I do for you? Newspaper sales are looking good, aren't they?" Maxwell feigned ignorance.
"Mm, sales are booming, advertising revenue has multiplied several times over. Maxwell, I know you've been having some housing difficulties. Once this busy period passes, you choose an apartment, the company will cover your down payment, and you can pay off the rest slowly." Mr. Joe was aware of Maxwell's struggles in the run-down, soon-to-be-demolished neighborhood he lived in. The government compensation wouldn't be enough for a new place, and he'd been agonizing over his options. Now, his worries seemed to vanish.
"Thank you, Mr. Joe," Maxwell expressed his gratitude sincerely.
"No need for thanks. You've made a significant contribution to the company. It's only right that you be rewarded." Mr. Joe pulled out cigarettes, offering one to Maxwell and lighting it for him first. The two chain-smokers enveloped themselves in a hazy cloud.
"Should we push this further?"
Maxwell flicked the ash from his cigarette, contemplating for a moment. "I don't think that's necessary at the moment. Every media outlet is already milking this story. Any more from us would be like adding a cup of water to the ocean, lost in the vastness. We'd be wasting our most valuable material."
"Then what's our next step? This scandal is what's grabbing attention. Everyone's covering it. Should we just sit it out?"
"Of course we'll cover it. But, we won't focus on Taylor White." Maxwell's grin seemed to waver in the smoke-filled room.
"Oh? Who then?" Mr. Joe's eyes gleamed with interest.
"We'll focus on Taylor's mystery man, the man at the heart of the scandal." Maxwell considered his words carefully. He wasn't about to reveal all his cards just yet. He suspected he was the only one who knew Ethan Wraith was the mystery man. But if he told his boss now, how would he keep his advantage?
A smart player revealed their hand one card at a time, not all at once.
"Do you have leads?" Mr. Joe asked, his smile returning.
"Not yet." Maxwell shook his head.
"Oh." Mr. Joe's fleeting disappointment was evident. "You're the only one who's seen the man... Can you find a way to dig him out?"
"Of course, I'll do my best." Maxwell agreed with a smile, his heart soaring. Did he need to 'dig him out'? He could write the man's biography right now! What exactly was the nature of Taylor White and Ethan Wraith's relationship? They were together when they came downstairs that day, but they hadn't seemed particularly intimate…
Maxwell resolved to delve deeper.
Before the public could even formulate a coherent conclusion from their speculations, another bombshell dropped—Taylor White's sixth album, "Splendor of Time," was released.
The title track, "Fleeting Years," immediately shot to the top of major music charts, and the album itself crossed the million-sales mark within a week. At the celebratory press conference, the woman at the center of the storm, Taylor White, addressed the swirling rumors.
Her response was simple: "We're friends."