Chapter 450: Have I Offended You?
I have to say, Cecily Taylor was very aware of the cameras. That rude little display just now had perfectly avoided the cameras pointed at the judges’ panel.
Claire Sinclair was a bit baffled, but with the cameras rolling, she couldn’t say anything. So she just sat there quietly, attentively watching each contestant’s initial performance.
Since the first round was a talent showcase, Claire Sinclair didn’t have much to do for the whole segment. Her role was mainly to listen to the other judges’ opinions. Occasionally, the host would call on her to give a few comments, which she always did cooperatively.
They recorded from nine in the morning until noon sharp. Then, the show paused for a 30-minute lunch break.
The four judges had their own private dining area where lunch was already prepared.
Before the meal, Claire Sinclair went into the women’s restroom. After taking care of business, she walked over to the sinks to wash her hands.
Just then, Cecily Taylor suddenly walked in from outside. With her arms crossed and her nose in the air, she said with a condescending look in her eyes, "They really let any riffraff be a mentor these days. You should take a look in the mirror and see if you’re even qualified. Heh heh..."
Claire Sinclair slowly turned to face this arrogant, rude woman, not saying a word.
Cecily Taylor scoffed. "What? Not happy about it? Let me tell you, my dad invested in this show. Even if you have Young Master Quincy backing you, he has no say in the entertainment industry. And as for your screen time... I’m the one who calls the shots."
Claire Sinclair frowned. "Have I offended you somehow?"
As far as she could recall, this was the first time she had ever met Cecily Taylor.
A shadow crossed Cecily Taylor’s eyes, her gaze turning cold. "Are there few people you’ve offended? You wrote that stupid article, and suddenly everyone was bashing me, saying I have no acting skills and just cash in on my looks. And Mimi Fisher, he got bashed too! He’s just too much of a gentleman to give you a hard time about it, but I’m different. In this entire industry, I’m the only one who does whatever she wants."
’So that’s what this is about?’
Claire Sinclair remembered now. She had indeed written an article criticizing "traffic stars." At the time, it had been a trending topic for several days before the buzz finally died down.
’So I really did manage to offend this woman.’
Claire Sinclair didn’t feel awkward at all. In fact, she didn’t think she’d done anything wrong. Her expression remained unchanged as she said, "I’m used to working behind the scenes. Whether you give me screen time or not, I will do my job diligently."
"Hmph. The only reason you’re sitting here as some disposable ’ideological mentor’ is because someone up top pressured the production team. Do you really think anyone takes you seriously?"
"Heh..." Claire Sinclair chuckled. ’This woman keeps trying to walk all over me and clearly has no respect for me at all. What’s the point of saying anything more?’
"Professor Taylor, you should be more careful what you say to me in the future. I’m a journalist, and I have a habit of recording conversations. If you don’t want our private chats to be heard by netizens, it would be best not to say anything... strange. Okay?" After delivering this "friendly reminder," Claire Sinclair walked around Cecily Taylor and left the restroom.
Cecily Taylor stood frozen for a few seconds. ’That damned bitch, Claire Sinclair... Was she just threatening me?’
During lunch, Claire Sinclair happily savored the delicious meal the production team had a chef specially prepare. She was in quite a good mood.
Mimi Fisher and Master were chatting happily about music. Feeling she couldn’t contribute to the conversation, Claire Sinclair didn’t join in.
Before long, Cecily Taylor returned. Putting on a prim and polite act, she sat down across from Claire Sinclair as if nothing had happened.
Mimi Fisher and Master suddenly stopped talking. The atmosphere in the dining hall instantly grew cold.
Cecily Taylor had a few bites of her food when her phone suddenly rang. She answered it. "Bro, I’m eating right now. Yeah, the recording is going smoothly... What?"