Cross Lines

Chapter 56: Reconciliation

At this time, there was still some time before the evening rush hour, and the roads were relatively clear. The sun had mellowed, stretching shadows long. Compared to the morning's hustle, the hospital now had a more relaxed atmosphere. Family members strolled with patients in the green spaces, and ambulances quietly stood by.

Maggie parked the car and wandered around the parking lot a few times before locating Emily Luo’s vehicle. With several entrances to the outpatient building, she stayed near the car to avoid missing her.

As off-duty time approached, doctors changed into casual clothes, leaving in groups, and with few visitors at this hour, the parking lot was half-empty. After a while, Maggie saw Dr. Luo walking along the tiled path. With her head down, her hair loose, and wearing a silk blouse and a skirt, her legs were elegantly highlighted by jeweled high-heeled sandals.

Against the setting sun, Maggie squinted, feeling quite pleased with her own perceptiveness.

However, there seemed to be an annoying presence beside Emily Luo—a man was walking alongside her, talking as he went. He sported a neatly trimmed buzz cut, and his fitted V-neck sweater accentuated his well-built physique, appearing both refined and clean.

Maggie tilted her head, a semblance of a smile playing on her lips.

When Dr. Luo saw Maggie, she seemed a bit surprised, stopping in her tracks. The man next to her glanced at Maggie curiously. Maggie smiled at her without speaking.

Emily Luo appeared uneasy, avoiding eye contact. She hadn’t expected Maggie to arrive so quickly and had anticipated a longer period of tension. Relieved, she turned to the man beside her and said, “My friend has arrived. You should go back now.”

The man, showing good manners, glanced at Maggie, smiled, and nodded. Although still somewhat puzzled, he said his goodbyes and left quickly.

Dr. Luo’s gaze remained distant. After last night's awkwardness, she had spent the entire night brooding, leaving her feeling low all day. She was still trying to grasp Maggie’s feelings and regretted the impulsive words spoken. But she also felt it was necessary to voice them, so she tossed and turned in bed, sighing…

Maggie’s eyes stayed fixed on Emily Luo’s face while she examined the trees, grass, pedestrians, and the sparse vehicles in the parking lot, but avoided looking directly at Maggie.

Patient as ever, Maggie stood by Emily Luo’s car, her expression soft, waiting for her to come over.

Feeling that prolonging the awkwardness wasn’t ideal, Emily Luo, though seemingly aloof, wasn’t one to create unnecessary drama. Besides, she wasn’t aiming to make a big deal out of it. She approached Maggie, but only gave her a brief glance before remaining silent.

Maggie, being generous, immediately brightened up and asked, “Are you free this evening?”

Dr. Luo paused, then responded with a simple, “Why?”

“Let’s go on a date. We haven’t had a proper date yet,” Maggie said with an air of nonchalance, as if nothing had happened previously.

Emily Luo gave her another look, said nothing, and got into the car. Maggie, not bothering with any pretense, quickly took the passenger seat.

Dr. Luo didn’t look at her, focusing instead on fastening her seatbelt. Maggie opened a long box she had been carrying and handed it to Dr. Luo.

Inside was a box full of vibrant roses, their fresh red color striking. Emily Luo was taken aback.

Though she had received flowers before—her office was a hotspot for them every Valentine’s Day—this was the first time receiving them from a romantic partner. Her past emotional experiences were not fond memories, and this kind of gesture, so common among couples, felt somewhat foreign.

After a moment of surprise, Dr. Luo turned to look at Maggie.

Maggie’s face was relaxed, reflecting that this should be a pleasant experience. Understanding Emily Luo’s hesitation, she responded with a smile.

As Dr. Luo slowly accepted the box, her expression softened considerably. Her usual strict demeanor seemed to melt away, replaced by a contented glow. Forget the spying and grilled squid; nothing could compare to the warmth of the person beside her. The feeling of being in love seemed really nice, and last night's worries seemed to fade away.

If Dr. Luo hadn't been so attractive, Maggie might have regretted bringing her to a sushi conveyor belt. Watching the salmon, Arctic shellfish, and cheese shrimp pass by, she would reach out for them only to find Emily Luo staring blankly at her, prompting Maggie to pretend she was getting them for her. So, she ended up quietly taking a cucumber roll for herself…

Dr. Luo, whether intentionally or not, ate heartily. Maggie’s favorite squid balls were consumed by Dr. Luo, who didn’t seem to care about Maggie’s envious glances. Maggie, disheartened, had to content herself with cucumber, corn, eggs, and tofu skin, relying on her girlfriend’s beauty to make the meal bearable.

Emily Luo didn’t bring up the previous night’s events but asked about Maggie’s allergy situation and chatted about various topics. They discussed which movie to watch later, and the atmosphere became quite natural. When Emily Luo was nearly finished eating, Maggie turned and wiped a bit of soy sauce from the corner of her mouth, gently holding Dr. Luo’s chin.

This seemingly frivolous gesture was done with intimacy, and Dr. Luo, true to her nature, showed little reaction. She didn’t shy away from Maggie’s touch but glanced over and cleaned her mouth with the napkin herself.

“Dr. Luo, why do you feel uneasy?” Maggie suddenly asked.

Emily Luo, caught off guard, responded with a simple, “Hmm?”

Maggie pulled back, sat up straight, rested her arms on the table, and sipped her water slowly.

“I understand what you meant by what you said last night.”

She turned to face Emily Luo. “But I don’t think this is a matter of principle, nor is there a right or wrong.”

Dr. Luo, realizing what Maggie was referring to, stopped her actions and listened calmly.

“You feel I am very composed, which makes you think I don’t value you or the relationship very much, right?”

After a pause, Emily Luo gave a slight nod.

“It’s my personality and way of expressing myself that give you this impression. I assure you, it is just an impression.”

Maggie’s gaze was sincere, her eyes warm and inviting. Even a blind person could see the affection in them, let alone someone as perceptive as Emily Luo. She pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

“I value the relationship a lot, so I don’t want to settle for less. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have waited all these years for someone I liked at first sight. Now that I’ve finally found this person, how could I not care? But since I’ve waited this long, I don’t mind waiting a bit longer for this person to like me back.”

Maggie’s expression softened, dropping the earlier seriousness for her usual endearing look.

“Dr. Luo, do you like me now?”

Emily Luo listened attentively, blinking only once, “A little more than before.”

Maggie’s smile widened, “So, I think our relationship can flow gently and deeply, okay?”

Unconsciously, Emily Luo followed Maggie’s lead. It felt quite pleasant, and she thought there was no need to be conflicted. So, she solemnly nodded, “Okay.”

“How about coming over to my place tonight?” Maggie suggested, employing the tactic of mixing things up.

“Why?” Unfortunately, the opponent was too clever.

“You agreed a few days ago…”

The serious tone from earlier immediately vanished as Maggie tugged at Dr. Luo’s hand playfully. Emily Luo ignored her, sipping her drink.

“Oh, by the way, the person you were talking to earlier—was it Lucas Lee?”

Emily Luo’s eyes widened in surprise, “How did you know?”

“Just a hunch,” Maggie said with a touch of pride. “He and Dr. Dexter both have good taste.”

“You’re getting more self-centered,” Dr. Luo said disdainfully.

“I was just complimenting you.”

“While you were at it, you complimented yourself too.”

Emily Luo didn’t want to engage further. Her phone buzzed, and she picked it up to check the message, tapping a few times on the screen. Maggie deliberately turned her head away, not looking!

Dr. Luo glanced at her, noting her odd behavior, and said, “It’s Qiqi. She’s planning a trip to Australia and wants me to go with her. She was just telling me about it yesterday.”

Maggie’s face fell immediately, “Oh??”

“What oh? I didn’t say I was going,” Emily Luo continued to focus on her phone, not noticing Maggie’s dramatic change in expression.

“Really? That’s great! I’ll buy a big bucket of popcorn to reward you later!”

Emily Luo stopped what she was doing and looked up at Maggie, seeing her smug face, and couldn’t help but feel disgusted, “Stay away from me!”