"Ella, believe me, I told everyone I know, but I didn't dare tell you. I truly, truly... like you very much," James said softly.
"I don't know what to say... You... you really are a very good person. You helped me find a new job, and that means a lot to me... Oh... I also like you very, very much. Now you tell me you're leaving... So what about us, the feelings between us..."
Before Lan Chu could finish, James kissed her. His kiss was dominant and deep, as if he wanted to devour all her emotions. Lan Chu was startled by this sudden passion, but she quickly became immersed in the fervent kiss, her hands involuntarily wrapping around James's neck.
At this moment, Chandler and Joey were about to go home to watch TV, but when they opened the door, they saw such a passionate scene. Both of them widened their eyes simultaneously, then quickly closed the door.
After a moment, the two reluctantly let go of each other. James held Lan Chu tightly, letting her feel his strong heartbeat.
"I can't believe our beginning is our end," James looked at Lan Chu deeply, his voice low and hoarse. His eyes were full of longing and reluctance, as if he wanted to freeze this moment in memory forever.
"Then... can you not go? For me... stay..." Lan Chu's voice trembled slightly with a plea. She leaned gently on James's broad shoulder, her eyes full of anticipation and reluctance.
"Okay... I won't go..." James closed his eyes and nodded heavily.
Their eyes met, and their lips intertwined once more.
"I want to ask... if things done in dreams or ideological states don't carry over to the real world, right?" Lan Chu asked.
"Perhaps," James didn't understand Lan Chu's words, but he answered anyway.
Lan Chu picked up the sweet potato mash again and pulled James back to her Apartment.
Closing the door and drawing the curtains... The moonlight swayed, a fleeting spring night... The next day, Lan Chu woke up early, and James beside her also woke up. Both were only covered by the quilt, with no other clothes on.
"That was truly wonderful..." Lan Chu leaned her head against James.
"Yes, it was truly wonderful..." James was equally immersed.
"I don't think I've ever asked you, why do you want to be a doctor?" Lan Chu asked.
"Well... a doctor needs to sacrifice their own time, devote themselves wholeheartedly to patients, and seeing one patient after another recover because of their efforts is a very meaningful thing..." He paused for a few seconds, then spoke again.
"Actually... the reason I chose to go to Africa before was also because I knew the medical conditions there were backward, and many people would... I genuinely wanted to do something for them, to help more people..." James said.
After hearing this, Lan Chu moved her head away from James. She felt uneasy and conflicted, wanting him to stay but also not wanting him to stay. Finally, she made a choice.
"James."
"Hmm?"
"I believe your luggage is all packed," Lan Chu said.
"That's right, I'm sorry I only told you at the last minute. I really hesitated for a long time. I didn't know how to bring it up to you, because I knew that once I told you, I wouldn't want to leave," James said.
"No... James, I think you should go," Lan Chu said.
"What?"
"Go. That's what you truly want to do. I don't want you to give up because of me. You know, I came here precisely because I was always forced to do things I didn't like."
"Ella, but then we can't be together. You have to understand, I'm not going abroad for tourism; I'm moving to another country to live."
"I know, but I don't want to be your stumbling block. You should do what you want to do; that's when you'll truly be happy. As for us, if it's meant to be, we'll meet again. Maybe when you come back, I still haven't moved on from you, and then we can hold hands and walk together for a lifetime." Lan Chu forced a smile.
"Thank you, Ella." James pulled Lan Chu into his arms and gently kissed her forehead.
"Africa is so hot... don't get heatstroke," Lan Chu said.
"Of course I won't..."
...After saying goodbye at the airport, Lan Chu watched James's retreating back for a long while... Returning here, she naturally entered Monica's Apartment. This time, Ross was eating marshmallows dejectedly.
"Can I join?" Lan Chu walked over and asked.
"Of course." Ross handed her one, and Lan Chu plopped onto the sofa, also starting to eat dejectedly.
"What's wrong?" Ross asked curiously.
"James left, my beloved, my benefactor, has left..." Lan Chu said.
"Where's Monica?" Lan Chu asked.
"She went to another place to participate in a cooking competition, and Chandler too, but he's not going to a cooking competition."
"Oh~" Lan Chu understood... "So we're in the same boat now. Do you want to eat fried eggs?" Ross asked.
"You should never touch fried eggs," Lan Chu said.
"Then should we do something? We can't just keep eating marshmallows, or maybe we can..." Ross looked at Lan Chu.
Lan Chu thought for a moment... A moment later, a Chinese song, taught by Lan Chu to Ross, played in the Apartment.
"Long live loneliness~ Guiltless in Love Lost~ Who guarantees someone will be there when you wake up..."
Until they heard a strange voice join in... out of tune... They looked up and realized it was Phoebe.
"Interesting! You guys continue, I'll continue to harmonize for you!"