Big Shot Ch.163.2

Chapter 163.2: Basat Award Ceremony

At Basat’s only international airport—

Just after the group finished taking photos and started walking out of the terminal together, they saw a car door open not far away, and a large group of bodyguards in black surrounded them.

Thinking about the situation in Basat, Xuan Yushu frowned slightly in concern and looked at Shi Yu. “Are these bodyguards sent by the organizers?”

There were so many of them, and they looked downright fierce! Definitely not the kind of people you want to mess with.

Shi Yu: “…Maybe…? I’ll make a call and find out.”

While taking out his phone, Shi Yu told the Storm team, “Everyone, hold on for a moment.”

When he had communicated with the Teles organizers earlier, the number of bodyguards they promised didn’t seem to match what they were now seeing.

Basat International Airport — a place tacitly agreed upon by all local forces as neutral ground where no one makes a move.

If you didn’t know who the other party was, the airport was the safest place to be.

But still, that was just a rumor. Who knew what the reality was like? After all, they had already arrived, and the airport security showed no intention of intervening.

Seeing the aggressive-looking bodyguards, Xiang Yueting, who had been walking in front, instantly darted behind Shen Xiu.

“Captain Xiu, don’t you feel like they’re looking right at us?”

Song Chengwang took off his sunglasses and looked at the group heading their way.

“What do you guys think—if I raise my phone now and record this to show Shang Yu, would they arrest me?”

Xia Wenhao shot back without mercy: “If you’ve got a death wish, don’t drag us into it.”

Jiang Yanxi directly grabbed Song Chengwang’s arm to stop him from actually pulling out his phone.

“Brother Song, cool it—cool it by a billion points!”

Ning Sinian muttered to himself, “Are the organizers really going this big? Do we really need this many bodyguards for protection?”

Shen Xiu: “…”

Everyone was talking non-stop, one line after another, not giving him the slightest chance to speak!

And also…

There were so many of them! If something did go wrong, where would be the safest place to run?

Shen Xiu kept a wary eye on the approaching group. Using the reflections in their sunglasses, he carefully scanned the surroundings for possible escape points.

Right as Ning Sinian finished speaking, Shi Yu ended his phone call and looked toward the group.

“They…”

Before Shi Yu could finish his sentence, the man in the lead—his features carrying a hint of menace—strode straight toward Shen Xiu.

Stopping two steps away, he first removed his sunglasses, then lowered his head slightly and spoke in a respectful tone.

“Mr. Shen, Mr. Qin sent us to pick you up. My name is Fang Mo. If you need anything, I will do everything in my power to make it happen.”

Facing this stranger, Shen Xiu tensed up, momentarily speechless: “…”

Shi Yu quietly finished the sentence he hadn’t gotten to say earlier: “…They’re not from the organizers.”

Thinking back on the man’s words, Shi Yu rubbed his chin awkwardly and muttered, “But I guess that doesn’t really matter anymore.”

Qin Mo?

In that instant, Shen Xiu recalled what the system had told him—and immediately understood.

He’d heard that Basat was full of danger. Since he was the system’s outward “substitute,” of course his safety needed to be ensured.

Shen Xiu mentally thanked the system: [Thank you!]

Ever since it had advised Shen Xiu to go to the hospital—and was basically implying that something was wrong with him—the system hadn’t logged in once. It had been hiding inside its own database ever since, trembling in fear as it ran daily diagnostics to make sure it hadn’t been damaged. It never wanted to experience another crash.

And since it wasn’t online, the system couldn’t hear Shen Xiu’s thanks.

With no reply from the system, Shen Xiu didn’t think much of it—he simply assumed the system was busy handling its endless responsibilities and had no time to respond.

He looked at the man in front of him and managed to force out a stiff syllable: “…Okay.”

The Storm crew, seeing how calmly Shen Xiu interacted with the man—who had introduced himself as “Fang Mo”—finally realized that Shen Xiu’s detached gaze, when the man first appeared, had seemed to recognize him and know why he was here.

One by one, they instinctively moved closer to Shen Xiu.

In this unfamiliar and potentially dangerous country, Shen Xiu was their only sense of security.

Xiang Yueting had been right all along—Captain Xiu is reliable!

Hearing Shen Xiu’s cold, one-word response, Fang Mo thought to himself—just as big bro said, Mr. Shen is cold and aloof, quiet and reserved, and hates people who talk too much. If someone talks too much and Mr. Shen frowns, that’s the first sign he’s getting annoyed and about to get angry.

Fang Mo stood up even straighter, not daring to say another unnecessary word, fearing he might irritate Shen Xiu. Following Qin Mo and his brother’s instructions, he got straight to the point: “Mr. Shen, please get in the car.”

Even if the other party was connected to Qin Mo—in other words, sent by the system—Shen Xiu still felt uneasy without hearing confirmation from the system itself.

With that lingering fear in his heart, Shen Xiu preferred to stay with his group of teammates. But he didn’t know how to refuse directly.

So, subconsciously seeking help, Shen Xiu glanced toward the Storm production team members.

Fang Mo didn’t hear Shen Xiu say anything, but when he saw that look in Shen Xiu’s eyes, he immediately understood.

Big bro was right—Mr. Shen doesn’t need words. Just a single glance is an absolute command that no one can defy.

Fang Mo immediately spoke up with perfect timing: “Mr. Shen, please rest assured—we will also ensure the safety of your companions.”

Xuan Yushu understood the meaning behind Shen Xiu’s glance as well, and smoothly followed up: “Then we’ll trouble you.”

Fang Mo: “No trouble at all—it’s our duty.”

Shen Xiu slowly typed a question mark in his mind, frowning slightly in confusion. His cool gaze drifted away from Xuan Yushu and landed on Fang Mo.

The moment Fang Mo met Shen Xiu’s frosty eyes and noticed the slight frown on his face, he instantly felt the cold, oppressive aura radiating from Shen Xiu—his posture tensing even more.

Was Mr. Shen about to get angry because he was being too slow?

Fang Mo didn’t dare delay another second. He quickly turned around and barked at the bodyguards behind him: “What are you standing around for? Hurry up and load everyone’s luggage into the car!”

At Fang Mo’s command, the bodyguards moved in an orderly fashion, carrying the Storm production team’s luggage and loading it into the cars.

Fang Mo personally took Shen Xiu’s suitcase.

“Mr. Shen, this way please.”

Shen Xiu: “…”

Seeing that Shen Xiu wasn’t moving, Xuan Yushu quickly spoke up, assuming Shen Xiu was hesitant because he didn’t want to seem rude by separating from them.

“It’s fine, Shen Xiu—we’ll take the car behind.”

The car Fang Mo had opened for Shen Xiu was clearly different from theirs—how would they dare to get in?

Besides, in a situation like this, sitting with Shen Xiu would be way too much pressure. They were all kind of panicking inside.

Everyone chimed in:

“Really, it’s fine, Captain Xiu—go ahead.”

“We don’t mind sitting in the back.”

“Don’t worry about us, Captain Xiu. Seriously.”

…

Shen Xiu: “!”

‘No! I want to sit with my friends! Sitting with you—I-I’m scared!’

Even saying that in his mind, he stuttered—saying it out loud would’ve been worse. Sometimes, dying socially in front of people you know is even more unbearable than doing it in front of strangers!

And clearly, everyone else had politely turned down sitting with Fang Mo—obviously because the guy gave off so much pressure. If Shen Xiu, after all that, still insisted on dragging them into this “fire pit” with him, wouldn’t that be completely immoral?

His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously, his throat dry and tight. He couldn’t get a word of refusal out. Under Fang Mo’s expectant (and intimidating) gaze, Shen Xiu moved like a man going to his execution.

Step by step, stiff as a board, he climbed into the waiting car—and sat down like a robot.

Thud…

As the soft thud of the car door closing echoed, Shen Xiu caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye—Fang Mo hadn’t gotten into the backseat with him, but had instead taken the front passenger seat.

He let out a huge sigh of relief.

He was afraid Fang Mo might try to talk to him, or that they’d have to meet each other’s gaze—which would just be awkward for both of them. To avoid any chance of that happening, Shen Xiu deliberately kept his eyes trained on the window, pretending to be focused on the passing view.

The Storm production team, seeing Shen Xiu calmly and smoothly get into the car with Fang Mo, felt both surprised and reassured.

Shen Xiu had already done more than enough by finding people to protect them in a place like this—if they still insisted on riding in the same car, wouldn’t that just interrupt any potential conversation between Shen Xiu and Fang Mo? That would be like repaying kindness with ingratitude!

They were people who knew their place.

The staff sent by the Teles organizers to pick up the Storm crew saw this scene, then turned to look at their own group of people—and didn’t even dare approach.

They only dared to quietly call Shi Yu: “Mr. Shi, um… were you picked up by someone?”

Sitting in the car, Shi Yu smiled cheerfully and nodded.

“Yes, someone’s already come for us. No need to trouble yourselves this time.”

“Oh, alright then! No problem.”

…

In Basat, K Corp had its own territory. Fang Mo assumed Shen Xiu naturally knew this already, so there was no need to report it again—he didn’t want to risk being seen as overly talkative and annoying Shen Xiu.

But the rest of the group didn’t know this.

So, sitting in the front seat, Fang Mo didn’t dare make a phone call for fear of disturbing the icy, window-gazing Shen Xiu in the back. Instead, he lowered his head and sent a message to have someone relay the information to the rest of the Storm team.

The bodyguard sitting in the passenger seat of the Storm crew’s vehicle received Fang Mo’s message and spoke up:

“Captain Fang says that, for Mr. Shen’s safety, you will not be staying at the hotel arranged by the Teles organizers. Instead, you’ll be moving into a villa we’ve prepared. Does anyone mind?”

“Of course. Please rest assured—your safety at the villa is absolutely guaranteed. After all, Mr. Shen would never allow anything to happen to his friends while you’re here.”

Between a hotel and a villa, naturally, they’d choose the absolutely safe villa!

“No problem at all!”

“I’m totally fine with that!”

The convoy headed toward the area controlled by K Corp.

The whole way there, Fang Mo kept wanting to speak with Shen Xiu—but every time he sneaked a glance at Shen Xiu’s cold and indifferent side profile, he didn’t dare interrupt.

Not until they got out of the car—when everyone else was still behind—did Fang Mo quickly follow behind Shen Xiu and lower his voice so only the two of them could hear: “Mr. Shen, my older brother deeply regrets not being able to personally ensure your safety upon your arrival. He hopes you can forgive him.”

His older brother?

Shen Xiu turned to look at Fang Mo, puzzled. His curiosity got the better of him, and he spoke: “…Who?”

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