Until they watched the person enter the hotel, Xiao He and his group finally relaxed.
"Brother Xiao, they have a flight early tomorrow morning. Do we still need to go see them off?"
Xiao Chen turned his head to ask Xiao He.
Xiao He thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Sure. Let's trouble Lao Qi tomorrow to drive them and help see them off."
"Okay."
Lao Qi readily agreed.
However, Xiao Chen proactively raised his hand and asked eagerly, "Brother Xiao, can I go along too?"
Xiao He was surprised. "You want to go too?"
"Mmhmm, Brother Xiao, I heard earlier. They have a very early morning flight, and your shoot tomorrow is at noon. Brother Qi and I can see them off and make it back just in time. It won't affect your work here."
Clearly, Xiao Chen had already thought the situation through.
"That's fine, I can manage alone with the production team. You two go together."
However, Liu Rulan glanced at the young assistant sitting in the front and seemed to think of something, a slight smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
Only after Lao Qi drove them back to the hotel and Xiao Chen ran off to check the rooms did Liu Rulan say to Xiao He, "Aren't you curious why Xiao Chen wants to go along tomorrow?"
"Huh?"
Xiao He looked completely blank. "Why?"
"According to Lao Qi, Xiao Chen has been working very hard lately, studying foreign languages every day."
Liu Rulan chuckled, lifting her chin slightly. "While we were inside eating earlier, it was him and Lao Qi who entertained James's bodyguards."
"So, I suspect the main reason this kid wants to go along to see them off tomorrow is to seize this chance to practice his spoken English."
Liu Rulan's words left Xiao He utterly astonished. "Huh? Really?"
Xiao Chen had been on his phone whenever he had a free moment lately, but Xiao He thought he was just intensely munching on melon seeds online, so he basically never paid it any mind. Who would have thought this kid was secretly studying?!
"Mhm, his listening comprehension is already quite good now. It's just that the environment isn't very suitable for practicing speaking. Wait until we go abroad later and give him more opportunities like this to try."
Xiao He listened in amazement.
Who would have thought! Not long ago, Xiao Chen was just a rookie who only knew "yes" and "no." When abroad, he basically relied entirely on Xiao He to translate, and back then, he even caused some minor misunderstandings because he couldn't understand the language... But the Xiao Chen of today was no longer the same person he was yesterday!
"You've been so busy yourself lately, running around like crazy. Of course you wouldn't know." Liu Rulan shot Xiao He a glance. "Xiao Chen has been quietly studying ever since he returned to the country with you. A while back, when he was self-studying photography and post-production, he even wanted to sign up for an online course, but almost got scammed by a fraudster. Luckily, Lao Qi found him a few learning resource packs, helping him dodge a bullet."
Xiao He: ?
"Wait, wait, when did all this happen? When did it occur? Why didn't I know anything about it?"
Listening to Liu Rulan, Xiao He deeply felt he had been isolated.
In one team, Lao Qi knew, Sister Liu knew, but he was the only one who didn't know!
When did they form a little trio? What about me? What about me?
"It was when you were busy fighting three hundred rounds with Qin Yuezhang," Liu Rulan said.
Xiao He understood. "No wonder..."
To be honest, ever since returning to the country, apart from staying home for a few days, Xiao He had been so busy he barely touched the ground. Especially with some online matters, Xiao He only mentioned a few words to Liu Rulan and couldn't possibly disclose them to Xiao Chen and Lao Qi. So, when busy, he basically never had time to chat idly with his own assistant, let alone ask his assistant about his recent life.
Knowing his assistant was also striving to improve, Xiao He felt surprised but also deeply gratified.
Xiao He's career was developing faster and faster now. Before, it was only limited domestically, but now it was already connecting internationally, slowly beginning to engage with major foreign directors.
As things develop further, Xiao He would definitely need more personnel to expand his team. In the future, flying international routes everywhere might very well become the norm.
Xiao Chen, who didn't speak foreign languages and had no obviously outstanding skills, clearly couldn't keep up with Xiao He's pace anymore.
Initially, when Liu Rulan wanted to arrange two other people for Xiao He, she actually had some intention of replacing Xiao Chen.
It's just that Xiao He and Xiao Chen had always gotten along very happily. Xiao Chen was sharp, very good at reading people, and while he became friends with Xiao He, he also understood boundaries well, never crossing Xiao He's red lines.
Xiao Chen's "Emperor" attribute fell into another metaphysical category, but it also genuinely made Xiao He envious.
So, Xiao He felt that having a lucky guy around, even if just as a lucky charm, was pretty good. He had never thought about replacing Xiao Chen.
And now, seeing Xiao Chen able to improve himself, increasing his competitiveness and value, Xiao He was truly very happy.
Only if the team members could progress alongside him could they walk a longer, more stable path together in the future.
"Then I should properly praise him later."
Xiao He crossed his arms, saying with great amusement.
"Not for now." Liu Rulan suppressed a laugh. "He's waiting to amaze everyone the next time he goes abroad! If you expose him now, how will he show off later?"
Xiao He choked up.
"...Alright, alright, fine. Then I'll look forward to it with great anticipation."
"Mhm, don't worry. Xiao Chen is still a very smart kid."
Just as Xiao He and Liu Rulan were talking, Xiao Chen came running over. "Brother Xiao, Sister Liu, no problems. You can come right in."
"Okay, thanks."
Xiao He thanked him and didn't spoil the mood, instead saying, "Tomorrow's scenes are relatively light. After you and Lao Qi go, just have lunch there before coming back. No need to rush."
"Oh, okay. Thanks, Brother Xiao."
Xiao Chen nodded.
Xiao He and Liu Rulan exchanged a glance, then everyone bid each other goodnight and rested.
A night without dreams.
...
So, by the time Xiao He got up the next morning, Xiao Chen and Lao Qi had already gone to see the guests off.
Xiao He didn't pay it much mind. He quickly washed up, finished breakfast, and went straight to the "Record of Chasing the Wind" production team to prepare for the noon shoot.
The noon scene kept filming until around three in the afternoon before the production team finally took a mid-shoot break, with everyone going to have lunch.
By this time, Xiao Chen and Lao Qi had also returned, and Xiao Chen had already prepared lunch in advance.
However, as Xiao He walked over, he saw Xiao Chen with a dejected face, looking unhappy as he roasted something to Lao Qi. Lao Qi, meanwhile, occasionally fiddled with the cigarette tucked behind his ear. Although his expression didn't show it, his behavior subtly revealed irritation, and he would occasionally nod in agreement with Xiao Chen.
Xiao He was puzzled.
He muttered to himself, perplexed, "What's going on with these two?"
Weren't they fine when they left?
How come in the blink of an eye, both of them were unhappy?
Did something happen with James's side?
He quickly walked over. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"