Chapter 151.1: The Qingzhu Awards Ceremony
Fang Chengxing’s name made Shen Xiu instinctively pause in his steps.
Shen Xiu: “…”
Talking bad about someone and then being overheard by that person’s friend—what kind of miserable luck was this?
Even from a distance, Shen Xiu couldn’t help but feel secondhand embarrassment for the stranger nearby.
Normally, he was the one experiencing embarrassment himself, not watching others go through it. Seeing someone else embarrassed up close was a novel experience—it made him look a few seconds longer out of curiosity.
He couldn’t clearly make out what the other person looked like, which left him slightly regretful.
The driver, noticing Shen Xiu had stopped walking, instinctively did the same. His gaze followed Shen Xiu’s line of sight and landed on the two people not far away.
One of them was wearing a face mask, making it difficult to see his face under the dim lighting. But judging by the hairstyle and the formal outfit, he was probably a celebrity. The person beside him was likely his manager.
Fang Chengxing? Wasn’t he the lead actor who had filmed Immortal Path with Shen Xiu before?
The driver recalled this and finally understood why the usually indifferent Shen Xiu had stopped on purpose and was now staring coldly at the person—clearly warning him to stop gossiping.
Jian Jiayu: “…”
Under Shen Xiu’s icy stare, Jian Jiayu immediately choked on the words he hadn’t finished saying. The complaints about Fang Chengxing stuck in his throat, and he didn’t dare to say another word.
His manager also noticed Shen Xiu and froze in place. Just like Jian Jiayu, they had been chattering nonstop a moment ago, but now it was as if someone had poured poison down their throats—completely silenced.
Four eyes met—wide eyes staring at narrow ones—and no one said a word. The atmosphere turned heavy in an instant.
After Shen Xiu realized that his curiosity-driven glance had caused the other party to fall silent upon noticing him, he belatedly sensed that the mood had become slightly awkward.
But since the people across from him were gossiping about his friend, even though their eyes met, Shen Xiu really had no intention of greeting them.
Not wanting to acknowledge strangers who were secretly badmouthing someone, Shen Xiu thickened his skin, pretended not to notice their gazes, and forcibly looked away.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, Shen Xiu said to the driver, “Let’s go.”
Hearing Shen Xiu’s calm voice, the driver nodded. “Alright.”
Shen Xiu must have used an ice-cold glare like a blade to sternly warn the two people across from him, only deciding to move on once he’d successfully silenced them.
The rumors were true—Shen Xiu might seem cold and distant, but when it came to people he considered friends, he’d “draw his sword at injustice.” He was incredibly loyal.
Hearing the driver’s reply, Shen Xiu instinctively stepped forward and followed behind him.
After walking two steps, Shen Xiu suddenly realized—he and the driver were headed in the exact direction where those two strangers were still standing.
Shen Xiu: “…”
Serves him right—eavesdropping on other people gossiping behind someone’s back never ends well.
Just earlier he’d thought that guy would be embarrassed for getting caught badmouthing Fang Chengxing in front of one of Fang’s friends.
Now look—there was no less awkwardness, just that it had shifted to him, the one about to walk right past them.
To avoid making eye contact and sparing them both further embarrassment, Shen Xiu kept his gaze straight ahead as he passed by, pretending he and the driver were the only ones on this road.
A dozen seconds later, Shen Xiu safely walked past the two.
He wasn’t stopped, nor did they say something like “Don’t tell Fang Chengxing.” His overly tense heart finally calmed down.
After making it past them, Shen Xiu reflected: if he were the one being gossiped about behind his back, he definitely wouldn’t want anyone to tell him, either.
After all, if he didn’t know, he could pretend nothing had happened—he could be cowardly with a clear conscience.
Shen Xiu looked at the driver ahead of him, hesitated for a few seconds, then mustered up the courage to speak: “What we just overheard… don’t tell Fang Chengxing, but—”
Before Shen Xiu could finish, the driver hurriedly said, “Of course, of course! I didn’t hear anything just now!”
Shen Xiu said gratefully, “Thank you!”
The driver replied, “You’re too polite!”
With that cold, aloof face that screamed “don’t get close, I love no one,” Shen Xiu was still out here doing things like taking a knife to the ribs for a friend. Honestly—he was so moved by himself he could cry!
—
Jian Jiayu: “…”
After Shen Xiu passed by without even glancing his way, Jian Jiayu stared at the tall figure disappearing ahead and muttered bitterly,
“Shen Xiu definitely just gave me a warning. That look he gave me was on purpose! He totally meant to ignore me before walking off—wasn’t it?”
Manager: “…”
As the saying goes—don’t poke at a man’s sore spot—he decided it was best not to salt Jian Jiayu’s emotional wounds any further.
The manager tried to console him:
“Try not to overthink it. What if it wasn’t Shen Xiu? After all, the red carpet hasn’t even started yet. Everyone’s all covered up—it’s totally normal to mistake someone for someone else.”
But Jian Jiayu didn’t realize the manager was trying to comfort him. He turned to glare at him, frowning.
“Are you blind? That presence, that aura—one of a kind! I’ve never seen a man with such a powerful aura in the entire entertainment industry. Even when I’ve attended banquets in the business world, no one had the air Shen Xiu has. If that wasn’t Shen Xiu just now, I’ll wash my hair standing on my head!”
Manager: “…”
Alright then. If he couldn’t tell good advice from bad, the manager would just shut up.
Jian Jiayu didn’t get a response from his manager, but he didn’t care. He continued grumbling irritably:
“No idea what he eats—he’s so tall, so good-looking, and the key thing is, he’s got that damn amazing aura too. So annoying! He’s a perfectly good rich young master—why barge into the entertainment industry and take food out of our mouths?”
“He’s nuts. Why wasn’t I the one acting alongside Shen Xiu?!”
“Fang Chengxing really stepped in dog crap with that luck!”
“Shen Xiu already has such a strong background, why is he still so hardworking? And his acting is amazing too. Why is someone like that still pushing himself so hard? I’ve never seen anyone like him in my whole life!”
The manager could do nothing to stop Jian Jiayu’s stream of complaints. All he could do was keep a careful eye on their surroundings, standing watch like a sentry—just in case something like earlier happened again.
And also… why did it seem like, between the lines, Jian Jiayu kind of… admired Shen Xiu?
—
The Immortal Path crew had parked their vehicle in a pitch-dark, secluded area—there weren’t even streetlights nearby.
If the driver hadn’t been there before, he wouldn’t have found the place at all.
It was dark, sure, but there were still people around.
While Shen Xiu was still outside the car, no one inside dared call his name. They were afraid someone would overhear and come over to bother him. Shen Xiu was clearly not the kind of person who enjoyed crowds or being disturbed without reason.
Most people in this industry might take such moments as opportunities to chat with bigger stars or peers at the same level to expand their network.
But Shen Xiu had no need for that.
Only after Shen Xiu got into the car did the people inside finally let loose the words they had been holding back:
“Shen Xiu! You look so handsome today!”
“It’s been a while, Shen Xiu—Liang Cheng was right, you look amazing today!”
“Captain Xiu! Who styled you today? This look is so classy and expensive!”
When he heard Liang Cheng and Fang Chengxing’s compliments, Shen Xiu was already used to it. But when the last “Captain Xiu” came out of Xuan Ji’s mouth, Shen Xiu couldn’t help but glance sideways at him.
Xuan Ji wasn’t a member of The Galaxy, so hearing him say that out of the blue caught Shen Xiu a little off guard.
Xuan Ji blinked innocently, clearly regretting not joining that idol survival show back then—if he had, maybe he’d have a place by Shen Xiu’s side today.
“Captain Xiu, I just wanted to call you that for fun.”
Shen Xiu: “…Alright.”
So Xuan Ji had an idol’s heart after all—who would’ve thought?
Shen Xiu looked at Liang Cheng and said sincerely, “Thank you, Liang Cheng. You’re as beautiful as ever.”
Everyone likes to hear compliments. Liang Cheng raised her hand and gently touched her cheek, clearly pleased.
Shen Xiu then turned to Fang Chengxing. The moment their eyes met, Shen Xiu couldn’t help but recall what he’d overheard earlier. That thought made him feel a twinge of sympathy for Fang Chengxing.
“You’re very handsome too,” Shen Xiu said.
After replying to Fang Chengxing, Shen Xiu finally looked at Xuan Ji.
Although Shen Xiu’s time filming Immortal Path hadn’t been very long, they’d still spent a good amount of time together. The two lead actors, Director Xuan, and even the assistant director Zhao Heng had long since gotten used to how Shen Xiu always answered people in order—thorough and methodical, even in casual conversation.
Liang Cheng and Fang Chengxing were also curious. Shen Xiu’s look was simple, yet somehow captivating—you couldn’t take your eyes off him. Who was behind it?
Under everyone’s gaze, Shen Xiu answered honestly, “The suit is from the brand partner. The styling… I did it myself.”
Everyone in the car: “?”
The always-busy Shen Xiu styled himself?!
Was he serious?!
With a background as deep and mysterious as his, Shen Xiu still went around doing odd jobs. He’d ridden shared bikes and used electric scooters so many times he’d lost count. When he joined a wilderness reality show, he moved through forest trails like he was walking on flat ground—light-footed and agile.
And now he was telling them that he didn’t even hire a professional stylist—he did all his styling himself at home.
That alone would’ve been impressive enough… but the key thing was, he made himself look that good!
Just how many surprises was Captain Xiu still hiding from them?
Xuan Ji awkwardly scratched his head. “Haha… looks like I really can’t afford him.”
Shen Xiu: “If you ever need help, I can style you.”
Xuan Ji thought Shen Xiu was just being polite and didn’t take it seriously.
After all, Shen Xiu was so busy—how could he possibly have the time to help someone else with styling?
Even if Shen Xiu was serious, Xuan Ji wouldn’t dare take him up on it. What had he done to deserve that?!
Liang Cheng, curious, asked, “Captain Xiu, when is Storm premiering? I’ll definitely bring my whole group of girlfriends to support you! Don’t ask Xuan Ji—he doesn’t know anything.”
Xuan Ji raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry, sorry. Even though the director’s my dad, I’ve been studying abroad all this time. I really don’t know how the filming’s going. My dad’s been so busy lately he can’t even be bothered to talk to me.”
Shen Xiu shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t know either.”
He remembered that as lead actors, they’d be able to get free tickets once the film released.
And if it’s free, why not take them?
