Cross Lines

By the time Maggie decided to visit the hospital, the troubling but difficult-to-discuss pain that had been tormenting her for months had already caused her a flicker of fear. Taking leave was relatively smooth. Her boss, noticing her hesitation and sensing it was a personal issue, did not press further. Maggie, looking dejected, gathered her things, expressionless, and headed downstairs. An interruption occurred in the hallway as the Group Vice President, Jasmine, was approaching with her secretary. Although Maggie usually avoided contact with higher-ups, she couldn’t ignore someone walking directly toward her. She reluctantly removed her sunglasses and forced a thin smile, " Jasmine." Seeing an employee leaving during work hours with a bag wasn’t ideal for any leader. However, Jasmine had a generally positive impression of Maggie, so she refrained from anger and asked patiently, “Where are you headed?” “Oh, I’m not feeling well and need to see a doctor.” “Sick?” “Mm… yes!” Maggie hesitated and gave a vague reply. She knew she should provide more details to gain understanding but decided it was best not to share personal matters, especially with Secretary Peng Jin standing nearby, who appeared submissive. “If it’s not urgent, could you come by my office first and bring back the design sketches from the recent bid?” Jasmine was clearly dissatisfied with Maggie’s answer and assigned a task with a democratic tone. Maggie rolled her eyes internally at the capitalist indifference but maintained a harmless smile on her face, “Sure, I’ll go get them.” Jasmine smiled and continued walking with a perfect, upright posture. Maggie followed alongside Secretary Peng, who occasionally glanced at her. Maggie felt the glances but pretended not to notice. Jasmine’s office, being part of a furniture company, was modern and stylish, almost like a showroom. Although Maggie had worked there for over six years, she had only visited the office a few times. “Please sit. Peng, bring us two cups of coffee.” Jasmine, after changing into soft leather flats behind the door, returned to her desk, pulled out a file, and said, “I see the design sketches are signed by you?” Maggie sat down on a pristine white half-moon sofa, “Yes, our boss is rushing the designs for the French exhibition later this year, so I’m handling this bid.” “I reviewed them and they’re decent. I’ve sent specific comments to your email. After making revisions, please send me the final version.” “Alright.” Usually, department heads deal directly with senior management, so it was rare for Maggie to be directly addressed. This time, Jasmine seemed to have a sudden whim. After handling the business matter, she sipped from her white porcelain cup and asked softly, “Now, tell me, what’s bothering you?” Maggie’s brow twitched slightly as she nervously played with the delicate beads around her neck. The atmosphere fell into a brief silence. Maggie wondered why the VP was being so nosy today. This question was difficult to answer. “Well… I’ve been experiencing some… chest pain…” “What?!” Jasmine was taken aback and looked at Maggie in surprise. Maggie raised her right hand, scratching her forehead awkwardly to alleviate the embarrassment. “Ahem! I mean… chest pain.” Realizing her surprise, Jasmine composed herself, “Oh… It seems I asked the right question.” The VP’s lips showed a faint smile, though she struggled to maintain a natural expression. To cover up, she grabbed a sticky note and began writing. Maggie, still annoyed internally and hoping to leave quickly, was grateful for the VP’s concern but also felt awkward. “Qiqi has a close friend who is a specialist at the City First Hospital in the thymus department. You can go see her.” Jasmine handed Maggie the sticky note with a phone number. “I… I don’t think that’s necessary…” Maggie was overwhelmed. It was better if fewer people knew about her personal issues. Jasmine’s smile widened genuinely. “You should get checked out if you’re not feeling well. There’s no need to be shy about it.” With a caring tone and sincere attitude, Jasmine maintained her image as a good leader. Maggie’s face twitched. To prove she wasn’t avoiding the offer, she accepted it. “Alright… thank you, Jasmine.” “Go ahead now. Here’s her number. Just say I sent you.” “Okay, I’ll leave now.” Maggie closed the white door behind her, relaxed her expression, and took a deep breath. Seeing Secretary Peng Jin’s scrutinizing gaze, she forced a smile and quickly left, slipping the note into her pocket. She felt even more distressed. The City First Hospital, located in a prime area, was a significant establishment. The grand outpatient building gleamed, with most people’s faces serious, and the hurried doctors and nurses only increased Maggie’s anxiety. After finally parking and entering the lobby, the distinctive smell of medicine hit her. She took a deep breath, surveyed the area, and determined her next step—register. After nearly an hour of waiting, she finally received a tiny, barely legible slip of paper and a beautifully printed medical record. Maggie, feeling dizzy from the crowd, found the thymus department on the hospital map and headed to the elevator, thinking: visiting a top hospital is exhausting even before the actual appointment. The waiting area outside the outpatient room was crowded. Nurses occasionally called out numbers, and only those who were called could anxiously see the doctor. Despite her frustration with special treatment, she took out the sticky note from Jasmine and hesitantly approached the nurse’s station. “Excuse me, do you know this person?” The stern-faced nurse took the note, glanced at it, and said curtly, “What’s the matter?!” Her tone was reminiscent of an elementary school teacher. “Oh… I was referred by one of her friends to see her…” “Go down this corridor! 1819!” The nurse’s sharp command made Maggie realize 1819 was the room number. Following the directions, she approached room 1819, took a deep breath, and knocked gently on the door. After a pause, a pleasant female voice called, “Come in!” Maggie opened the door and entered, not realizing that this moment would open a new chapter in her life. The room, not very large, seemed spacious with a row of bookshelves and two desks. One desk was empty, while at the other, a person was typing away. The nameplate on the desk matched the one on Maggie’s note: Emily Luo. Maggie, feeling nervous, thought: I don’t recognize these characters! “Excuse me… are you…” The person at the desk looked up, her gaze making Maggie shiver. She was stunning. Maggie’s first thought was how young she looked, unlike the middle-aged experts she expected. Then she recalled Jasmine’s comment: Qiqi’s close friend… Qiqi must be Jasmine’s younger sister, from the finance center, who joined the company just two years ago. So, her friend must be similarly young, and it made sense to find someone like her. Lost in thought, Maggie appeared dazed to Emily Luo. The doctor, busy with her report, assessed her appearance—stylish, well-dressed, and slender, not at all like someone from the neurology department. “Is there something you need?” The direct question snapped Maggie back to reality. “Oh… I’m an employee of Yafu Furniture, and we were referred by our Vice President” “Qiqi?” “No… I mean, Jasmine…” The light in Emily Luo’s eyes dimmed slightly. Maggie felt an odd sense of disappointment from the beautiful young doctor. “Okay, then—what seems to be the problem?” “I’m not feeling well…” Maggie felt it was obvious she was here to see a doctor, but the young doctor’s appearance left a strong impression. “Sit down. Where does it hurt?” Emily Luo tilted her head slightly, her expression softening as she stopped her work and pushed the keyboard aside. Maggie, feeling embarrassed, placed her registration slip on the desk and sat down. “My chest…” “How does it hurt?” “It’s painful… especially when touched.” Emily Luo raised an eyebrow slightly, her lips curling into a barely noticeable smile. “Don’t be so nervous. What kind of pain?” “Hmm… a feeling of swelling, and it hurts a lot when touched.” “When did this start?” “Recent months.” “Any lumps?” “Maybe… I’m not sure if it is.” “Have you been to the hospital before?” “No…” As the consultation continued, Maggie’s focus shifted to her symptoms, her anxiety increasing. “Okay.” Emily Luo nodded, “Please remove your clothes and come over here.” Maggie froze. Although she had mentally prepared for the physical examination at the hospital, the reality was still daunting. Better than a male doctor, right? She reasoned as she slowly approached. Emily Luo adjusted her chair and motioned for Maggie to sit. Maggie swallowed, feeling vulnerable, and began to undress. Emily Luo waited, her patience wearing thin, and said, “How can I examine you if you don’t move?” Maggie, blushing intensely, felt like she was being forced into an uncomfortable situation. Eventually, she removed her necklace and began unfastening her buttons. After unbuttoning her sleeveless, light-colored blouse, she revealed a pale-colored bra underneath, but then paused. Dr. Luo, waiting for her, grew a bit impatient. "How am I supposed to examine you if you act like this?" Maggie felt incredibly awkward, hesitating about what to say, her face flushed with embarrassment. Having seen similar situations often, Dr. Luo didn't hesitate and directly reached out, using her index finger to lift the bra up to Maggie's collarbone, revealing her chest entirely. Feeling the chill against her chest, Maggie's face reddened further as she looked away, trying to mentally distance herself from the situation. Dr. Luo glanced at her with a hint of concern, touched her sensitive area, and asked, "Do you not usually wear a bra?" "Not recently because of the pain, but I used to wear one," Maggie responded, her voice quivering. As Dr. Luo's fingers moved, red marks appeared where she had pressed. Noticing Maggie's tender skin and well-shaped chest, Dr. Luo, who had seen many cases, thought nothing of it. "Ouch..." Maggie winced. "Does it hurt here?" "Yes..." Dr. Luo withdrew her hand and stood up, saying, "Put your clothes back on and come with me for a mammogram."