After finalizing the contract with the young Robert Downey Jr., Laila was finally able to let go of one major concern in her heart, allowing her to celebrate the holiday with Roy and Abel in New York without any worries.
To her surprise, as soon as she arrived in New York, she encountered someone unexpected—Jia Xiaoming.
More accurately, it was the original Jia Xiao Ming, the same appearance he had when Laila first met him, without any magical transformations.
He was carrying a large makeup case and had a suitcase by his feet. His clean-shaven face still had that friendly and approachable smile, just standing naturally at the Moran family's gate.
"How did you come here?" Laila rolled down the car window, looking at him in surprise.
Since sending his companions back by plane two months ago, they hadn't been in contact. She hadn't expected to see him standing here. Moreover, judging by his appearance, it didn't look like he had come just to see her.
Jia Xiaoming chuckled and patted the large makeup case in his hand. "From now on, I'll be sharing meals with you. You can't abandon me."
Roy raised an eyebrow, his eyes inadvertently twitching. "Are you out of a job?"
"Yeah," Jia Xiaoming extended his empty hand, making a helpless gesture. "I have a talent for makeup artistry, whether it's turning someone into a monster or a fairy, there's nothing I can't do. I wonder if the talented director Moran is interested in taking me in?"
Laila glanced at her car door and opened it. "Get in."
"Heh heh, thanks, boss." Jia Xiaoming didn't hesitate to pick up his suitcase and entered the car. The path from the main gate to the house was quite a distance. If he had walked, it would have taken at least ten minutes, so having a ride was undoubtedly the best option.
"What happened?" Once they were in the car and no one else was around, Laila inquired. "How are your friends?"
"They're fine, don't worry," Jia Xiaoming smiled. "They're safe. I'm just here to apologize for putting you in danger. If I had come out earlier, I would have apologized to you."
"It's okay, it's not your fault."
Before Laila could finish her sentence, Roy was already unhappy. "What do you mean it's not his fault? If it wasn't for him asking you to go there, and if it weren't for your plane having to send people, you might have died. You should have been more careful with him."
"Sorry," Jia Xiaoming bent down inside the car since he couldn't bow. He expressed his apology, "I know that no matter how much I say, I can't make up for my mistakes, so now my life is in your hands. Whether you want me as a makeup artist or a body double in the future, I'm at your service."
Roy coldly snorted, "No need! The farther you stay from her, the better. No matter what happens in the future, please keep at least 500 meters away from her."
"Don't make a scene." Laila reached out to push Roy's face away. It was just a joke. Jia Xiaoming was incredibly talented in makeup artistry, and there was no reason to push him away. Furthermore, if he had to make up for the danger they encountered, she would rather have him on her team.
"I'm not joking!" Roy grabbed her hand. "I admit he's skilled in makeup, but Laila, don't forget his true identity. Do you really want to get entangled with someone like him? It was just luck that we survived this time. Who knows what might happen next time? I absolutely won't allow such a threat to be by your side. Do you understand?"
He had been genuinely frightened by what had happened the last time. He couldn't imagine what might have happened if they hadn't been so lucky. He didn't know if he would have the same luck in the future if they encountered danger again.
"Don't worry; I'm no longer affiliated with them," Jia Xiaoming interjected, his innocent smile full of assurance. "I violated their rules in the previous incident, and now I've been expelled. If you choose not to accept me, I'll have to find another way to make a living."
"Expelled? What did you do?" Laila thought he might have done something after the rescue mission.
Jia Xiaoming shrugged. "I contacted you without permission. Although I saved those people, it nearly exposed our relationship. If something had happened to you because of me, it would have put immense pressure on the higher-ups."
Laila understood and asked, "So, they kicked you out because of this trouble you caused?"
"Yep," Jia Xiaoming, said with a mix of sincerity and playfulness. "Boss, please take me in; I'm begging you."
Laila didn't feel the need to delve into more details, as she believed there were many things she couldn't know. Perhaps the recent incident had indeed put a lot of pressure on them, and they decided to send her the person she had always wanted.
As for whether he still had any ongoing tasks from that side, she honestly didn't care. If she did care, she wouldn't have dragged him to her film crew without really knowing what was going on.
"If you're willing to be my full-time makeup artist, of course, you're welcome. How about this: when the holiday is over, come to the company and sign a contract."
Jia Xiaoming smiled, revealing eight pearly white teeth, and extended his hand to her. "Thanks, Boss."
He added as if remembering something, "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Xiao Ye. Xiao Yue Xiao. Swaying like the wind, 'Ye' means 'sway.'"
"Ye? Nocturnal snack?" Roy had never quite understood the rules of naming in the East, always finding their names difficult to pronounce. If he remembered correctly, a nocturnal snack should be something eaten after dinner in Eastern culture, right?
"It's Xiao Ye! Thank you!" Xiao Ye's face turned dark after hearing Roy's pronunciation. "That's why I don't like being called by you Westerners. Why do you have to put my last name at the back for no reason?"
Laila couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. "Welcome to Dragon Soul, Nocturnal snack(Xiao Yue)."
"Xiao Ye!" He frowned again, insisting on the right pronunciation of his name. Roy might be excused for not knowing better, but she had no excuse. How could she pretend to be ignorant of his name in front of him?
With his formal addition to the team, Laila felt like she had gained a valuable asset. His makeup skills were extraordinary, and he was no stranger to special effects makeup. She was confident that with more opportunities, he could secure an Oscar. Sometimes, it wasn't just about having the skills; it was having a stage to showcase them. Just look at those makeup artists who won Oscars – which one of them wasn't associated with famous films?