During the morning shift, Lan Chu arrived at the Coffee Shop, wiping down the coffee machine while pondering: What other jobs could she do? Cook Chinese food? But her cooking was primarily hygienic and awful... Tutor? But who knows me... Sigh... Am I really going to be serving coffee here for an entire TV series... "Hello there, beautiful."
Lan Chu was immersed in her thoughts and didn't notice the handsome, blue-eyed blonde man who had approached the counter, dressed in a brown trench coat, exuding a cool British demeanor.
"Beautiful?"
Lan Chu finally snapped back to reality.
"I'm sorry, sir, what would you like to drink?"
"Will you be the one serving my coffee?" He narrowed his eyes slightly, releasing a captivating charm.
Lan Chu managed a small smile. He's... so handsome... but his flirting technique is a little cheesy... "Unless something unexpected happens, yes, it will be me."
"I'll have two cappuccinos." The handsome man said.
"Two cups, but you're only one person."
"I bought one for you too."
"I can't drink while I'm working." Lan Chu gave an awkward laugh.
"Oh? Then, how about I treat you to dinner tonight instead?"
Being treated to dinner piqued Lan Chu's interest—it meant saving money on a meal!
"Sounds good. Here's my number, call me." Lan Chu immediately wrote her number down on a sticky note.
"Ella Lan, a Chinese surname. Girls from your country are all very cute."
"Thank you. Here is your coffee." Lan Chu handed the coffee over.
The man smiled in acknowledgment, took his coffee, and sat down by the window.
Lan Chu couldn't suppress a smile and continued working. The man occasionally cast gentle glances her way, filling Lan Chu with a small sense of delight.
Around noon, Rachel stormed in, spotted Lan Chu, and walked straight over.
"Ella, I'm so glad to see you. I have something important, and I need your support." Rachel said, sounding wronged.
Immediately afterward, Monica rushed in and exclaimed, "Rachel! You can't let Ella support you, she doesn't know what happened between you and Ross!"
Lan Chu pressed down the corners of her mouth. Know? She knew too well.
"Why not? I can just tell her." Rachel sat down.
"Do you think I don't know you'll exaggerate things?" Monica retorted without backing down.
"Let me guess, Rachel, you want me to support you so you can tell Ross: 'I still love you, Ross.' Right?" Lan Chu asked, blinking her large eyes.
"How did you know?" Rachel asked in surprise.
"Rachel, I support you! Hurry up and tell Ross. Make him divorce Emily quickly, then you two get back together, get married, and have babies. Can you two R's please stop tormenting us viewers? Get together already! I sincerely wish you happiness..." Lan Chu spoke from the bottom of her heart.
"Uh... what?" Rachel was stunned, momentarily speechless.
"Wait, Ella, you can't support her. Ross loves Emily now. Rachel won't get the response she wants." Monica turned to persuade me to retract my statement.
"I think the fact that Ross called out the wrong name at the wedding means he still has feelings for Rachel; he just doesn't want another divorce. If he truly didn't care about Rachel, even if Rachel genuinely said 'I love you,' Ross wouldn't have called out the wrong name." Lan Chu explained her analysis from watching the show.
"That's exactly what I was thinking..." Rachel said, scratching her head.
Monica also sat down.
"I still don't think this is a good idea, Rachel, sweetie. I don't want you to get hurt again..."
"I know, sweetie, but you know me. If I don't ask, I won't feel better. If I ask, at least I won't have regrets." Rachel said, gently stroking Monica's arm.
"But you might lose Ross as a friend." Monica said.
Rachel smiled.
"I won't lose Ross."
Monica parted her lips, intending to say something more, but seeing Rachel's determined expression, she stopped.
"OK, fine." Monica finally relented... Soon it was time to clock out, and the handsome man arrived as promised.
"Hi, Ella, lovely Oriental girl."
"Hi... What's... what's your name?" Lan Chu suddenly realized she hadn't asked his name.
"James Bailey."
"Hi, James."
"What would you like to eat?" James asked.
"I'm not picky. Since you're treating, I'll eat whatever you take me to."
"Then come with me. I must reiterate, I'm not some bad guy who tricks girls." James joked.
"I know, you don't look like one." Lan Chu replied.
James took Lan Chu to a star-rated restaurant. Lan Chu recognized the restaurant—Jiawu Restaurant—where Monica would be the future head chef.
"I eat here often. The food is great. Order anything." James said.
Lan Chu took the menu. The names were all fancy and without pictures, so she didn't know what they were and just pointed to one randomly.
"The usual for me." James told the waiter.
Lan Chu rested her chin in her hands and, imitating Rachel, asked softly.
"So, what do you do for work?"
"I'm a doctor."
"What kind of doctor?" Lan Chu asked curiously.
"Why don't you guess?"
"A dentist?"
James shook his head.
"An optometrist?"
James still shook his head.
"Orthopedics? Internal medicine? Oh, you're an OB/GYN!" Lan Chu exclaimed.
"Haha, you're hilarious. I'm a neurologist." James said.
"That must be very difficult."
"Once you get used to it, it's fine. Aren't you the same? Dealing with so many customers every day, each with different needs—that's not easy either."
"You're right, once you get used to it..."
The two chatted back and forth, and Lan Chu gradually developed a favorable impression of the man.