Previously on New Yorkers in China, Lelle and Jessie were facing Darla's challenges on the ship. After the final confrontation, Darla redeemed herself, but an accident caused her to slip down the ship. Once they were on the shore, Zuri found a note stating that Darla was NOT one of the frenemies.
Hospital in Hong Kong, it was crowded at night. Thanks to Lelle, who had brought his dad to this very hospital when they were at Hong Kong eight years ago, so everyone could send Darla to the doctors as soon as they can. Actually there were nothing too much to fix, because the fact that no one got hurt. The worst case scenario would be Darla having excessive water in her lungs, in this case the water needed to be out without making the heart stop, then she could safely cross the danger zone.
Jessie was waiting anxiously outside. No matter what Darla did to them this time, their bond as sisters could never be erased. Jessie never wanted everything to develop as the way it was now. Also, the note that Darla left to them, "I'm not the real frenemy". What did that even mean? If Darla is not the real frenemy, then who was the one that constantly giving the group such a hard time during this trip? No matter what, the one with the red stamp must be the last frenemy.
Just as Lelle and Jessie was still tangling on these questions, the doctor came out from the emergency room. "Your friend has survived. But now she's still in a coma, so if you want to go in feel free, but please make it brief, okay?" He glanced at Jessie beside him and asked, "Aren't you a caring friend for the patient. May I ask if you're her relatives?" The doctor seemed to also notice this confusing relationship between the frenemies.
"We're… sisters." Jessie hesitated a bit and answered. This was the first time in years that she had admitted her relationship with Darla as siblings. No matter how that wedding had turned out, this had become an unchangeable fact.
Once they entered the room, everyone saw Darla was lying on the bed, sleeping peacefully. Jessie came closer, got a tight grip on Darla's hand, tear drops about to fall down. "You may not hear this, Darla. But I really appreciate the bond between us two. And all these years of fighting, that's what makes this bond tighter. Friendship is something that takes time to make it work, isn't it? I hope that after this, we are still frenemies."
Lelle took the siblings relationship between Jessie and Darla very seriously, "I'll let you two have some alone time. Just call me later once you're ready to leave. Oh, and, if you want to stay up by her side for the night, I understand. Actually…" He pulled a lily from the vase beside him, placed it on Darla's bed. "I owe her an apology, too." Then he turned around and left.
Lelle walked across the halls, trying to get outside for some fresh air. However, as he passed by one of the rooms, he spotted a familiar face. Pink cardigan, brunette hair. It was without doubt that Riley Matthews was waving to Lelle from her room.
"Riley?" Lelle was quite surprised, "What are you doing here? Are you worrying about me?"
"The whole world is worrying about you, Lelle. You became the headline of the news!" Riley pointed at the TV on top, reporters were all retelling the story of what is now well-known "Victoria Harbour" incident. "Auggie needs a role model, although he got me, and mom and dad by his side. When he saw you, I saw that stare of excitement in him. I know, you're a hero in his eyes. If the heroes are destroyed, then what hopes does he have?"
"So, you're here in the hospital just to make sure that I'm okay? If that's the case, tell your family that we're alive and well." Lelle tapped Riley's head, there hadn't been a single new friend who is as concerned as her.
"Yes, but also for this." Riley first flipped her cushion, showing her right foot in cast. "When I was rushing out to find you, I sprinted my ankle. So here I am, staying overnight for a check-up. Also, I want to give you this. You won!" She went through her pocket and brought out a red plum blossom stamp and handed it in to Lelle.
Lelle suddenly realized something, but got confused at the same time, "You're the fourth frenemy?! But how?"
"Let me explain," Riley spotted Lelle's look of surprise, "Your friend, Jessie, she had an ex-boyfriend name Tony, right?" Lelle nodded.
Riley moved her pillow a little bit to the side, then continued, "My friend Maya lived across the street by Tony's apartment, the noise cancelling system was terrible, so we heard their break-up a year ago. In the next year, Tony couldn't sleep at night, so he picked up his guitar, with the word 'Jessie, Jessie' hanging around his mouth. Under his effects, Maya came to our house more often in the past year, because she knew that her home is not the best place to be. Her mom heard Tony's hear every evening and decided to take acting as an interest, but it didn't go all that well."
Lelle sat down and discovered that Tony still could not let Jessie go from the inside, and he moved so far away just to escape from his parents. (Seriously, it is an eighteen minute ride from Greenwich Village, the place that Riley and Maya are in, to Manhattan, where Fairfield residence is located). "Let me guess, you can't stand Tony's broken heart every night, right? This is how I feel!"
"That poor guy. I don't know much about the inner meaning of relationships, but what I do know is how hard it is to chase after someone you love. I have a crush on Lucas, one of the guys in my school, but I don't know if he likes me or not. I figure, the best way to fix a broken bond is to create a scene, where both of them can work together to get through the challenge. Darla is just one of the puppets. Thanks to out resourceful Farkle, he called in a few people from all over the states, and formed 'The Four Frenemies". Trust me, Lelle. I meant no harm. Of course, I did tell Darla to dial it down a little, if I wasn't the one who's in charge of this team, who knows what diabolical scheme she could be up to!"
"You know what, Riley?" Lelle laughed a little and said, "You're so like me at this point. We are doing something unusual from the same starting point. I feel like sometimes, I'm just overrated for helping others."
"Yeah." Riley also showed signs of agreement, "I really admire you, because after I read the break-up report that you wrote, I know that you're like me, you have the nerves to stand up to your friends. There was one time when Farkle got bullied, I led the whole class to find their flaws inside, and led them all onto the rightful path. I have always felt insecure, but just as when I walked up to get my spirit award, I have confidence in myself."
"Wait, you won spirit award, too? Told you we're alike!" Lelle was so excited that he did not realized he was crushing right on top of Riley's feet, so he let it loose quickly. "I feel that with your help, Riley, Tessie's reunion will happen someday. Keep in touch, let's be partners, okay?" Lelle led out his hand, wanting to shake things out with Riley. Riley also agreed in unison with a smile on her face.
Before Lelle left the room, Riley asked once more, "Will I see you again in the next few days?"
Lelle did the same thing as he did in Darla's room, pulling out a lily from the vase and placed it in Riley's palms, "Sure you will. The little chat between us is not yet finished. But, first you need to get your feet cured, you'll need it. Before then, good night, Miss Matthews!" Lelle had no idea how to thank Riley, he also realized the true purpose of the Four Frenemies is not to tear everyone apart, but instead bringing everyone closer together through difficult situations.
Riley smiled, eyeing at the lily in her hand, knowing that from now on she had one more friend that she could depend on, and falling into her dreams without notice, that was the best sleep she ever had in a year. And what she did not know was, so did Lelle. The hallway in this hospital was now falling into silence.
Three days later, Darla was on her way back to Forthood secured. And that night some witness sued Darla on court. But thanks to the helps from Jessie and Lelle, Darla was now pardoned from all crimes, and she was ready to go home and continue her life as a flight attendant.
Riley's feet had cured slowly. She told everyone the fact that she was the leader of the Four Frenemies. Cory and Topanga were surprised when hearing that. But when they realized Riley did this for the good of the others, they did not spill another word about this.
On the afternoon before they left, everyone gathered together once again, continuing with the unfinished party. Lucas and Farkle, Riley and Maya's friends in school, also came to Hong Kong after hearing that the Matthews were over there.
"And finally, everyone backed to their normal routine. I guess everyone learned something meaningful during this trip." Lelle raised his cup and proposing his final speech before leaving China, "Luke learned how to help his brother in terms of sports in Beijing. Zuri realized sometimes something appears to be scary is not that scary after all in Shanghai. Emma found her helping hand by saving a person's life in Qian Tang River, Hang Zhou. Ravi's idea got accepted for the first time in Szechuan. Bertram won the contest for disgusting food with his recipe in Kunming. Tony witnessed the fine thin line between good and evil on court in Guangzhou. And Jessie, she had a new discovery about her frenemy, Darla, in Hong Kong."
"Then what did you learn from all this, Captain?" Auggie just could not wait to jump to the next question.
"Well…" Lelle gave a little thought about this, then answered, "I learned something from everyone. I saw the bravery, courage, and mercy from the Rosses. Even though I had witness all the traits that they must have before, but they allowed me to see the other side of the New York traveling group. This let me discover something new about the kids. I can promise you, Luke. You will get into a good university, you can have my word!" After Lelle was finished, everyone was moved by this exciting speech, so they all gave a round of applause.
Cory began another of his life lessons, "The funny thing about history is that, you can always apply what you have learned in class into your day to day life. Just like the Victoria Harbour incident that took place a few days ago, this trip to China allows Lelle to discover one of the most important lessons in a person's life: he is everyone's role model, but he also takes everyone here as his role models."
"The false truth." Lelle suddenly realized his theory was connected with Cory's history lesson, "Not everyone knows that they are the role models to each other, that's what I was trying to tell Darla the other day."
Cory got all confused, "The false truth, what does that mean?"
Lelle laughed out loud, "It's my turn to give everyone history lessons now, Mr. Matthews."
Everything goes after a party. The following day, Lelle and Rita said their goodbye with the Ross kids, Jessie and Tony, they all went back to their normal lives. Lelle noticed that in the airport, Jessie and Tony chatted joyfully, it was obvious that the two of them had mended their relationship as friends. But, Lelle knew that, what he wants is far beyond that.
"Bye, Lelle! We'll miss you!"
"Thank you for touring us all around China!"
"Say hello to your friends for me!"
Lelle went on the plane back to Canada with Rita in the sounds of farewell from the kids. Even though the story of this trip to China was now over. But the story of Lelle's attempt trying to reform Jessie had just begun.
Fun fact: I began my own trip to China yesterday. My first stop: Hangzhou. (Well, it's actually Shanghai since they do not offer direct flight from Toronto to Hangzhou.
This is the end of Part 8. The ninth and final part will begin in two weeks. I STRONGLY recommend you to review Chapters 11, 14 and 21 before going on to the next chapter or else you'll get realy confused. :) See you soon!