Chapter Nineteen: The Fruit

Shen An escorted Chu Yuxi and her group into the prepared backstage area.

“Thank you,” Chu Yuxi said to Shen An.

“Why thank him? He’s just doing his job,” the assistant replied with a laugh.

Clearly, she was joking, so Shen An didn’t take offense. Now that he realized Chu Yuxi was in some danger, Shen An grew more vigilant.

He extended his senses, keeping track of every movement around him. However, this method wasn’t particularly effective. If someone was absorbing elemental oxygen, Shen An could detect it. But what if it was someone else? Or just an ordinary person, perhaps with ill intentions?

That was what worried Shen An most. In moments of peril, people were capable of anything. With thousands gathered in this plaza, a single misstep could lead to a major incident. He hoped to quietly resolve any trouble before it escalated.

On stage, the host was already announcing the opening. It seemed the event was beginning, and backstage, everyone was busy with makeup.

Shen An couldn’t understand why such a grand production was needed for a mere food show.

Suddenly, he spotted a group of people in black clothing transporting something nearby. They looked like ordinary workers, but what they carried gave off a strong, enticing aroma.

It was the scent of elemental oxygen.

Shen An frowned.

“What’s that?” he asked, pointing to the items the black-clad group were moving.

One person seemed to know some internal information. “Those are prizes for the event. I’m not sure what exactly, but I hear it’s something edible.”

“Something to eat?” Shen An recalled the meat of mutated beasts.

But what he sensed didn’t seem to be meat. Apart from the aroma of elemental oxygen, there was nothing particularly unpleasant about it.

“What exactly is it?”

“No idea, but I heard someone say it’s a kind of fruit.”

“Fruit?” Shen An was surprised.

“Yeah, supposedly brought from a mountain,” the man replied, a skeptical look on his face. “These rich folks always do this. I bet it’s just wild berries from the hills, packaged as prizes to fool people.”

Shen An didn’t quite agree, but he stopped asking, instead forming a theory in his mind.

After the second tremor, the increase of elemental oxygen in the air was evident. He thought, if one paid attention, it would be noticeable. The air quality outside had improved, and people were feeling more energetic.

These prizes might be fruits formed by absorbing elemental oxygen. But whether there was just one or many was unclear. If they came from a single tree, that would be remarkable.

With this reasoning, Shen An suspected the warning he’d given to Chu Yuxi might be connected to a group targeting these fruits. What he couldn’t yet explain was why they were focused on Chu Yuxi.

This was intriguing.

As Shen An pondered, he continued to observe everything around him.

Suddenly, enthusiastic applause erupted in the venue. The host was skilled at stirring up excitement, and soon the audience was fully engaged.

The first to appear on stage were Zhuzhu and her group of streamers.

Though Shen An was a bodyguard, he didn’t follow them; his responsibility was solely to protect Chu Yuxi.

Only Chu Yuxi enjoyed the privilege of a personal bodyguard.

After Zhuzhu and her group went on stage, there was a wave of excitement. Though they weren’t major celebrities, as internet personalities most were quite attractive. Tigerfish had been wise in their selection; nearly everyone was handsome or beautiful, impressing the audience.

Yet the focus remained on food. The event promoted culinary delights, with plenty of introductions to various dishes.

Shen An watched the screen with mild boredom. There was a backstage monitor showing everything happening on stage.

“So, a bit bored?” Chu Yuxi unexpectedly initiated conversation with him.

“No, just didn’t sleep well last night.” With a famous beauty before him, Shen An wouldn’t admit to boredom. Any man sitting beside Chu Yuxi would say the same, unless he was immune to women.

He was simply exhausted from overextending his senses. When he withdrew them, his mind had briefly grown hazy.

This made him realize that, at his current strength, he couldn’t constantly monitor his surroundings. So Shen An abandoned his sensory vigilance and focused on protecting Chu Yuxi directly.

Since their target was Chu Yuxi, he only needed to keep close watch on her.

Soon, someone came to notify them.

Shen An stood up first.

Seeing Chu Yuxi preparing to go on stage, he said, “Don’t stray too far from me.”

“Hm?” Chu Yuxi looked back curiously, finding Shen An already clearing a path for her.

This bodyguard had suddenly become so diligent—Chu Yuxi was intrigued, but didn’t ask.

As Chu Yuxi stepped onto the stage, the audience’s cheers grew louder.

Most of them had come for Chu Yuxi—not for the food, nor the prizes. Gaining her favor would be reward enough.

Fans were exhilarated. Chu Yuxi gracefully approached the microphone, her voice clear and pleasant.

The audience fell silent as she spoke.

“Hello everyone, I’m Chu Yuxi. I’m delighted to see you all again…”

But she hadn’t finished her introduction.

Suddenly, a man broke through the security barricade and rushed onto the stage.

The crowd was thrown into panic.

He moved swiftly. Several bodyguards, including Han Feng, moved to intercept him.

Unexpectedly, not only did he break through their defense, he knocked Han Feng to the ground in one blow, charging straight at Chu Yuxi.

“Chu Yuxi, I love you!” he shouted, like a frenzied fan storming the stage.

Chu Yuxi’s face went pale with fright; she hadn’t expected such chaos so soon after appearing.

As the man surged forward, a figure appeared before Chu Yuxi.

Shen An kicked the supposed fan hard.

Before Shen An acted, he noticed a cold smirk on the man’s lips. But the smirk barely formed before Shen An’s boot struck his chest, surprise flashing across his face.

“What tremendous force…”

He hadn’t expected such strength from an ordinary person and was sent flying to the ground by Shen An’s kick.