From A Producer To A Global Superstar-Chapter 381: A suprise for Shino

The house had grown quiet by the time most of Lagos had begun settling into the slower rhythm of evening. Outside the tall windows the city lights stretched across the horizon, glowing through the warm night air while distant traffic hummed somewhere beyond the gated compound.

Inside the living room, Dayo leaned back slightly on the couch while Sharon sat across from him with her tablet resting on her lap. The screen cast a soft blue glow across her face as she scrolled through a list of messages and confirmations.

After a moment she looked up.

"Everything has been set," she said. "Davido confirmed earlier. He’ll be expecting us tomorrow."

Dayo nodded slowly.

"Good."

He didn’t sound overly excited, but Sharon knew that tone by now. Whenever Dayo spoke like that it meant the pieces had already been arranged in his head long before anyone else even realized what he was planning.

She locked the tablet screen.

"So tomorrow afternoon works for him," she added. "We’ll head there from here."

Dayo leaned forward slightly and rested his elbows on his knees.

"We’ll take Shina with us."

Sharon nodded at first.

Then she paused.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"You mean... as the videographer?"

Dayo shook his head slowly.

"Yes."

Then he added another sentence.

"But don’t tell him."

Sharon blinked in surprise.

"You want to surprise him?"

Dayo’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Yeah."

She leaned back in her seat, folding her arms.

"Why?"

The question wasn’t skeptical. It was genuine curiosity.

Dayo looked toward the window for a moment, watching the faint movement of headlights beyond the gate before answering.

"I’ve been watching him."

Sharon raised an eyebrow.

Dayo continued calmly.

"Most people who suddenly get close to someone in my position start acting differently. They become overly excited, clingy, or they forget why they’re there in the first place."

He paused briefly.

"But Shina didn’t."

Sharon listened quietly.

"He followed me from the beginning," Dayo said. "He was already filming before anyone paid attention to him. Now the situation around him has changed, the opportunities are bigger, the pressure is higher... but he’s adapting without losing focus."

Sharon tilted her head slightly.

"He tries very hard not to act like a fan."

Dayo nodded.

"And that’s exactly why I respect him."

The room stayed quiet for a moment.

"He has what it takes to become a great videographer," Dayo added. "Maybe even more than that."

Sharon studied him.

"You really think he’ll go far in this industry?"

Dayo’s voice carried quiet certainty.

"Yes."

Then he leaned back again. The reason he was so sure was because he had checked Shina through the system, and what he saw made him realize how valuable it would be to have someone like Shina by his side. Shina had an SS+ talent in videography, another SS- in blogging, and several other impressive traits. That hidden potential was something Dayo had noticed immediately.

The young Nigerian man didn’t even realize what he possessed yet, but Dayo did. That was why he decided to bring him closer for now. Eventually Shina would grow and might even leave to pursue his own path, but he would always remember who gave him his first real chance.

"And if someone has that kind of potential, the least I can do is give them the right experiences."

Sharon slowly shook her head, amused.

"Even after working with you for more than four years, your way of thinking still surprises me."

Dayo looked at her.

"You think four steps ahead of everyone else," she continued. "Sometimes I genuinely wonder how your brain works."

Dayo only smiled.

He didn’t answer. After all, if scientists ever discovered the existence of the system or the way his mind processed things now, he might end up in a laboratory somewhere being dissected.

—

A few minutes later Dayo picked up his phone.

He opened his messages and typed quickly.

Dayo: "Are you free tomorrow?"

The reply came almost immediately.

Shina: "Free ke? If you call me now I go show immediately. Na you be my helper."

Dayo chuckled quietly.

Dayo: "Good. There’s an occasion tomorrow."

Another message appeared instantly.

Shina: "Occasion? Where?"

Dayo smiled at the screen.

Dayo: "You’ll see."

The typing bubble appeared again.

Shina: "Ah ah. Why you dey do like this?"

Dayo leaned back on the couch.

Dayo: "Just come. Then we’ll talk."

A moment later Shina replied.

Shina: "No problem. I go dey there."

Dayo placed the phone down.

Sharon looked at him knowingly.

"You’re enjoying this."

Dayo only smiled again. Of course he was, but he would never admit it.

Later that evening the house was filled with warm conversation.

The family had gathered in the dining area, and the television across the room quietly played clips from the viral video that had spread across the internet earlier that day.

The moment when Dayo helped the young footballer had already begun circulating everywhere.

And also the video of Dayo helping that young boy and his aunt.

His mother sat watching the screen with quiet emotion.

When the clip reached the part where the boy’s mother had prayed for Dayo, she covered her mouth briefly and wiped her eyes.

"That woman’s prayer touched my heart," she said softly. As a mother she felt both proud and pained. She could understand the kind of pain that woman must have gone through to kneel and pray for Dayo like that.

After all, her life had not always been rosy either. She had seen the darker side of life when she was younger.

Everyone around the table looked at her.

"She was praying from deep inside her soul," she continued. "A mother praying like that... that kind of blessing stays with a person."

Dayo smiled gently.

"I just did what anyone should do."

His mother shook her head. As a woman who grew up in Yoruba land, she knew exactly what it meant to receive such heartfelt prayers from another mother.

"Not everyone would."

She reached across the table and touched his hand.

"You helped that boy chase his dream and fulfilled both a mother’s and a son’s dream."

Then she added quietly,

"I’m proud of you."

Dayo looked at her warmly.

"It’s because I had a wonderful mother to teach me."

Before the moment could become too sentimental, his father leaned back in his chair and raised an eyebrow.

"So, I didn’t contribute anything?"

The room burst into laughter.

His brother nearly dropped his fork.

His sister laughed loudly.

Sharon covered her mouth trying to hold it in while Deborah giggled beside her.

Dayo raised both hands.

"Okay okay! Both of you!"

His mother gave him a playful glare.

"Better," his father said with a grin on his face.

Everyone continued laughing.

The warm energy of the moment filled the room as they continued chatting and eating together. Dayo had barely been home recently, so moments like this felt rare.

The next afternoon Shina arrived at the house.

He carried his camera bag over his shoulder and greeted everyone politely as he stepped inside.

"Good afternoon sir. Good afternoon ma."

Dayo’s mother greeted him warmly.

Shina had already become familiar with the family over the past few weeks and was always respectful toward them, which had earned him plenty of praise from Dayo’s mother.

He soon joined Dayo near the living room as they prepared to leave.

The vehicles were already waiting outside.

Shina adjusted his camera strap.

"So... where exactly are we going?"

Dayo looked at him calmly.

"You’ll see."

Shina frowned slightly.

"Ah ah. Why all this suspense?"

Dayo simply smiled.

Shina stepped closer.

"Seriously, where are we going?"

Dayo tilted his head slightly and said in smooth, fluent Pidgin,

"Shey you dey fear say I wan sell you ni?"

Shina froze for a moment.

Then he burst into laughter.

"Ah! Omo!"

He pointed at Dayo.

"I know say you sabi speak Pidgin online, but hearing am like this live... your Pidgin strong well. If I didn’t know you grew up in the United States I would think you’re from Lagos. But I’m still curious."

Dayo smirked.

"You will see when you get there."

Shina shook his head, still smiling.

"Alright. I trust you."

They both stepped outside toward the waiting vehicles.

Shina still had no idea what was coming.

Across Lagos, another conversation was happening.

Davido sat comfortably in a private lounge with a few close friends and members of his management team.

Music played quietly in the background while the group talked casually about upcoming projects.

One of the managers looked up.

"So why you call all of us today?"

Davido leaned back in his seat.

He smiled slightly.

"Someone is coming tomorrow."

A friend sitting across from him raised an eyebrow.

"Who?"

Davido answered casually.

"JD."

The room went silent.

"Which JD?"

Davido chuckled.

"Dayo."

The reaction was immediate.

"Wait."

"Dayo?"

"JD JD?"

One of them paused and repeated,

"Like the JD that has the record for the most sold album in a week?"

Several voices spoke at once.

One of them leaned forward.

"How did that even happen?"

Davido laughed.

"We talked recently."

Another person shook his head.

"Guy that one big oh."

Someone else added excitedly.

"If JD and you cook something together Nigeria go scatter."

Davido smiled but didn’t respond immediately.

He had thought about that possibility, but he didn’t want to think too deeply about it yet. Otherwise he might raise his own expectations too high. It was already surprising enough that Dayo had agreed to meet him.

The room buzzed with anticipation.

Finally he spoke again with a smile as keeping a straight face was not like him.

"Just be ready sha."

One of the producers grinned.

"Tomorrow go be interesting."

Davido leaned back in his chair.

A confident smile rested on his face.8

"Yes."

He looked around the room.

"Tomorrow go be very interesting."