Cross Lines

Chapter 50: Preparation

After dinner, Maggie was washing the dishes. Dr. Luo was washing and cutting the fruits she had brought, preparing a large bowl of salad. Maggie placed the last bowl on the drying rack, dried her hands, and looked at Emily Luo.

“Feeling pretty good, huh?”

Dr. Luo could tell Maggie was teasing and gave her a sideways glance before moving to the sofa with her bowl. Maggie eagerly followed, looking up at her expectantly.

“You can’t eat this,” Emily Luo said, setting the bowl on the coffee table and looking at Maggie. “Hurry up?”

Maggie applied some hand cream and asked, “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing much, just need to finalize my thesis tonight. I don’t know how late I’ll be working.”

“Hmm?” Maggie blinked. “Then you should get started.”

“Then why did I come over?” Dr. Luo pulled her feet up onto the sofa, getting comfortable. “Get on with your thing, come on.”

Maggie finished applying the hand cream and skipped over to Dr. Luo, pouncing on her. “I’m here~~”

Caught off guard, Emily Luo found herself pinned on the sofa, and pushed at Maggie.

“What’s this? Get up~~”

“You asked me to come,” Maggie said, not letting go.

Dr. Luo couldn’t push her off, so she stopped trying and looked at her with a blank expression.

“Give me a reward,” Maggie said, blinking.

“What reward? You haven’t even left yet,” Dr. Luo glanced at Maggie, who was resting her chin on her chest and looking up with a hopeful expression.

“Then encouragement,” Maggie continued, seeing that Emily Luo didn’t seem upset, and persisted.

Dr. Luo looked at her for a long time, lost in thought. After a while, she reluctantly gave Maggie a quick peck on the corner of her mouth.

Maggie’s face immediately brightened with a smile, but she knew when to stop, quickly climbing off Emily Luo. Emily Luo sat up, brushing the hair that had fallen on her forehead, and kept her lips sealed.

“Let’s get started.”

Maggie turned off the main light, turned on the spotlight in front of the TV to create a simple spotlight effect, and opened her presentation on her tablet, handing it to Emily Luo.

“Hello everyone, I’m Maggie from the Design Department of Yafu Group’s R&D Center. This is not my first time at a Yafu product launch, but it is my first time presenting Yafu’s new products as the chief designer. The works we are bringing this time might surprise you because we’ve taken a path contrary to the current trends in the home furnishings industry…”

Maggie stood in front of the sofa, showcasing the results of her practice over the past few days. Although she was still wearing a kung fu panda apron, which made her look a bit funny, her serious demeanor under the spotlight was quite charming.

Dr. Luo initially found it amusing, but as Maggie continued her presentation, she became more focused and attentive. Despite being an outsider, she grasped the general idea of Maggie’s speech and felt a significant sense of anticipation for her performance.

“That’s my introduction. Thank you, everyone!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Maggie changed her expression.

“So, how was it? Any areas for improvement?” She moved to the side of the sofa and sat next to Dr. Luo, picking up a piece of apple with a fork and putting it in her mouth, her eyes still on Emily Luo.

“That’s it?”

Dr. Luo glanced at her watch. “It’s only been a few minutes.”

Maggie swallowed her food. “The introduction is done by the senior management. It used to be our boss, but I heard this year it might be Jasmine.”

“Hmm,” Emily Luo nodded. “And then it’s your turn?”

“Yeah, Jasmine might hint at Yimei Home Furnishings. There are already rumors outside, so we can’t let them get too smug. Also, there will be a Q&A session afterward where Jasmine and I will answer some questions from clients.”

Dr. Luo looked at the pictures and text description in her hand without looking up. “This sofa looks quite nice.”

Maggie was amused by this simple comment from someone who wasn’t familiar with the field, but it did reflect some real market reaction.

After reviewing everything, Emily Luo turned to Maggie. “I feel you’re a bit stiff. As a designer presenting your own work, you can be a bit more relaxed. Your gestures and movements should be more natural.”

Maggie nodded. “Okay.”

“The content is good, but I don’t know much about it. By the way, do you have any foreign clients?”

“Yes,” Maggie replied, holding up the small dog and placing it on her lap. “About a third of our clients are international.”

“How’s your English?”

“Listening is fine, but speaking is a bit rusty. However… there should be a translator on-site.” Maggie almost mentioned Lola but caught herself in time.

Dr. Luo paused, tilting her head and asking Maggie, “Jasmine probably won’t use a translator. You’ll be using one. Don’t you think that’s a bit awkward?”

Maggie stroked the small dog’s head. “It’s definitely not ideal.”

“Then let’s practice a bit. It’s not like you have no foundation. Give me your speech draft, and I’ll write a text version for you. Once you’ve memorized it, I’ll help correct your pronunciation. You can use it as a basis, and if needed, you can add extra points. If not, it’s fine.”

When Dr. Luo spoke seriously, there was a unique aura about her. Maggie’s eyes lit up, and she nodded firmly. “Okay!”

That night, Maggie and Emily Luo stayed up together for the first time. Dr. Luo worked on her thesis while listening to Maggie practice her English, occasionally correcting her. Maggie paced around the living room, reciting her lines, and would occasionally disturb Emily Luo for help, who patiently explained things to her.

Near midnight, Maggie brewed a pot of coffee. They took a short break at the bar, enjoying the aroma of coffee and each other’s gentle smiles.

The little dog, tired, retreated to its little doghouse, yawning and closing its eyes. Unable to keep up, it decided to sleep first.

Yafu Group valued this product launch highly. Not only had they booked the entire exhibition center, but the guest list was also significantly expanded compared to previous years. They even sent an invitation to Yimei Home Furnishings.

Seymour Gao personally encouraged Maggie, promising a reward for the design department regardless of the outcome. Jasmine had also put aside other tasks to work with Maggie, even doing several rehearsals on-site.

Maggie was a bit nervous but mostly excited. Apart from the confidence she had in herself, she was in a positive state regarding her age, experience, and mindset. She took her preparations seriously, seizing the opportunity to advance toward her ideal future.

On the day of the launch, Emily Luo, after finishing her rounds, received a photo from Maggie before she even got to the office. In the morning sunlight, Maggie looked stunning in a burgundy shirt, gray and white plaid pants, and retro brogue shoes with a thin leather strap on her shoulder. She looked like a model in a fashion magazine ad. Behind her was a Mercedes-Benz van, seemingly just arrived, with Jasmine’s back visible in the shot.

Dr. Luo stared at her phone, feeling an inexplicable sense of unreality.

Since the day she agreed to Maggie’s request, she hadn’t really adjusted to the change in their relationship. Compared to before, there were just a few intimate gestures she didn’t mind and felt more at ease. Besides, Dr. Luo hadn’t really experienced the intense spark or the passion of constantly wanting to be together.

In reality, Emily Luo had never had a true romantic relationship, so she was somewhat puzzled. The feelings Maggie brought her were always a subtle joy. Being around her was relaxing and comfortable, and missing her after a few days apart felt a bit nostalgic. This sensation was delicate but not overwhelming. Was this what love was? Emily Luo wasn’t sure, though she still wanted to continue her relationship with Maggie.

But now, things felt a bit different. Was this wonderful person really hers?

Without much thought, she called Maggie, and it was answered quickly. Maggie’s voice was deliberately low.

“Hmm?”

“Is it inconvenient?” Dr. Luo remembered that this was likely the most tense moment for Maggie.

“Not really, I’m in the hallway.”

“You look… very pretty today.”

“Hehe,” Maggie’s soft laughter came through. “Really?”

“Good luck later.”

“Okay.”

“And…”

“Hmm, what?”

“Don’t change your clothes before I see you today. Just wait for my good news. Bye-bye.”

Dr. Luo hurriedly finished, not waiting for a response, and hung up. She felt her heart racing and her face warming up.

Suddenly, a lazy voice came from behind.

“Having a romance? So bashful.”

Dr. Luo jumped, turning around to see a short-haired woman in a similar doctor’s coat, leaning against the door frame with a teasing expression.

Relieved, Emily Luo shot her a glance. “Is dermatology so slow that you have time to gossip in the outpatient building?”

The other doctor raised an eyebrow. “Just passing by while getting some X-rays. Seeing Dr. Luo’s expression, I had to stop and enjoy it.”

Emily Luo chose to ignore her, walking back to her office. The doctor, left in the hallway, shrugged, waved her papers, and walked towards the elevator with a smile.