Cross Lines

Chapter 39: Business Trip

After Emily Luo finished her meal, she cleaned the lunch box at the sink and packed everything back into the thermal bag. Maggie, not feeling the need to be formal, watched her with a smile.

"Do you know who I saw today?" Maggie asked.

"Who?" Emily Luo turned around, her lashes fluttering.

"Grace."

Emily Luo seemed a bit surprised. "Where?"

"At the riverside plaza. She’s working as a waitress in a coffee shop. I ran into her this afternoon."

"Oh." Dr. Luo nodded. "How is she?"

"She looks better and healthier, but still not quite there." Maggie omitted some details.

"Recovery takes time. I wonder if Eva knows," Emily Luo murmured to herself.

"I think you should visit Eva yourself," Maggie suggested. "I’ve already met Grace, so it might seem too deliberate if I go with you. Although she’ll probably suspect I informed you, your visit would be more natural."

Emily Luo nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, that makes sense. I haven’t had direct contact with her yet, so she probably won’t have a strong reaction. I’ll visit her during my vacation."

Emily Luo’s phone rang, interrupting Maggie’s train of thought. Emily answered the call, exchanged a few words, and then hung up.

"Maggie, do you have any plans later?" Emily Luo asked.

Maggie blinked. "No."

"Then... would you like to go singing?"

Maggie surprised Emily Luo by declining with a smile. "I won’t be going."

Dr. Luo looked momentarily surprised and slightly disappointed but didn’t express it.

"Is it Manager Gao?" Maggie asked neutrally.

"Yes," Emily Luo acknowledged, sensing the tension between Maggie and Qiqi. "Did something happen between you two at the company?"

"You might want to ask her about that," Maggie replied with a faint smile. Emily Luo fell silent for a moment.

"Maggie, Qiqi can be a bit spoiled, but she means no harm. Please, for my sake, don’t hold it against her too much."

With a tender tone, Emily Luo’s request made Maggie smile and look at her thoughtfully. Then, standing close, Maggie said, "Dr. Luo, I’ve told you before that I like you."

This unexpected confession left Emily Luo visibly flustered, her face flushing as she looked up in surprise. Maggie leaned in, resting her hands on the table, her gaze unwavering.

"I hope that if you ever come to like me, it’s because of who I am, not just because of what I do for you."

The air was filled with a subtle tension as Emily Luo struggled to process Maggie’s words. Maggie remained calm, picked up her thermal bag, and waved goodbye.

"I’m heading out now. Enjoy your evening."

With the door closing behind her, Emily Luo stayed still for a while, eventually smiling as she watched Maggie leave.

That night, Emily Luo skipped Qiqi’s gathering and went home alone. Though her actions seemed normal, they were overshadowed by the emotional turmoil inside her. Lying in bed later, she found herself replaying Maggie’s words and expressions repeatedly, struggling to concentrate on her book.

The next Monday at work, the scandal over the stolen product designs had become a hot topic. During the meeting, Zachary reported that the scene was chaotic, with departments arguing and some adding fuel to the fire, complicating the situation further.

Despite the upheaval, the design department seemed outwardly calm. Maggie, in her quiet corner of the office, focused on her design sketches.

Lola, in her new role, was the subject of gossip, with people speculating on when she would face reprimand from the chairwoman. Amidst the routine, Maggie and Lola had lunch together, choosing to ignore the distractions around them.

As the day neared its end, Maggie received a sudden notification from the CEO’s office: she was to accompany Jasmine on a business trip the next morning for a home furnishings exhibition. Surprised, Maggie packed her bags, noticing that her usually lively dog, Stop, was now calm and playful.

Maggie sent a quick text to Dr. Luo about her plans. The reply came back promptly: "Okay."

With a smile, Maggie told Stop goodbye, promising to return soon. At the airport the next morning, Maggie met Jasmine and noted her somber demeanor. Kevin, accompanying her, seemed preoccupied with work, and Jasmine’s brief farewell was polite but distant.

On the plane, Jasmine seemed uninterested in conversation, preferring to rest. Maggie quietly read a magazine during the flight.

Upon arrival, Jasmine checked on the company and then went directly to the hotel. To Maggie’s surprise, their reservation was for a single bedroom with one large bed. Jasmine walked past her into the bathroom without comment.