Cross Lines

Chapter 3: Chance Encounter

"Here, this is the deputy manager of the design department, Maggie! She's our company's beauty!" Lily introduced with a sugary, envious tone.

Maggie stretched her neck, feeling as though her throat was being scraped. She stood up, forced a smile, and said, "Hello."

She was met with a pair of clear eyes, a light smile, and a direct gaze.

"This is Lola, the new addition to the translation department, responsible for English, Japanese, and Korean translations for the chairman," Lily continued, and Maggie was momentarily stunned. However, Lola extended her hand, saying, "Hello, please take care of me."

True to the Japanese style, Maggie thought as she gently shook the pale, delicate hand.

"If you have anything you can't understand in the design department, you can ask Lola for help," Lily said, maintaining the cordial atmosphere. The design department members, however, remained indifferent, making the scene somewhat awkward.

"Okay, we'll definitely need your help in the future," Maggie replied, playing the role of the senior sister to ease the awkwardness. Lola simply said, "It's an honor."

Soon, Lola left with Lily for the next department. Maggie took a sip of water to soothe her throat and turned to Zachary, asking, "What’s the background of this girl?"

"Hmm? Lola?" Zachary, still engrossed in his drawings, looked at Maggie with confusion.

"Yes, a newcomer in the translation department doesn't need the whole building to welcome her, does she?"

"I don't know... maybe she's a focus for training..."

Neither of them was particularly interested in gossip, and their conversation ended quickly. Maggie then sternly criticized Poppy, "What kind of cookies are these? My throat feels like it's been cut!"

The next day, before Maggie’s design draft was finalized, she received a summons from Jasmine. Kevin formally announced over the phone, "Maggie, Jasmine wants you to come to her office."

Maggie hesitated, "The design draft isn't ready yet..."

"It's not about the design draft. Anyway, please come over. Jasmine has a meeting at 10, so please hurry."

"Okay... I understand."

Reluctantly agreeing, Maggie still felt agitated, muttering to herself, "Why is she calling me now? Is the vice president so idle lately?"

Despite her irritation, she had no choice but to respond to the BOSS’s call. She put on a bright face before the elevator doors opened. Kevin saw her and picked up the phone, "Jasmine, Maggie has arrived."

The office door was open, and Maggie heard Jasmine's voice inside, "Let her in."

Maggie nodded to Kevin and entered the vice president’s office. Jasmine, in a suit with her hair up, sat behind her desk, her eyes on the computer screen, one arm bent, lightly touching her chin.

Maggie waited a moment before taking the initiative, "Jasmine, you called for me?"

Jasmine finally looked at her, "Yes, have a seat."

Maggie chose a sofa near her and waited silently. Jasmine, with a smile that seemed neither here nor there, asked, "Have you been to the hospital?"

After a moment of awkward silence, Maggie felt as though Jasmine was eyeing a specific part of her, causing her face to twitch before she replied, "Yes, I’ve been."

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, it’s fine..."

Jasmine then genuinely smiled, "So what happened?"

Maggie, no longer willing to endure, said with a touch of grievance, "Jasmine—"

"Alright, alright, I won’t ask," Jasmine said, pulling out a string of delicate pearls from her drawer, "Is this yours?"

Maggie looked and realized it was indeed her pearl necklace, which she had bought and strung herself during a seaside trip. How did it end up with Jasmine? She recalled having taken it off during a check-up and accidentally left it on the desk, forgetting it later.

"Uh... yes..."

Jasmine placed the necklace on the desk and said lightly, "If it’s yours, take it back. It’s not a waste of Emily’s trouble."

Maggie, aware of her self-awareness, thought the doctor didn’t seem like someone so warm-hearted. "Thank you, Jasmine."

"Don’t thank me. It was Emily who said you left the necklace with her. She gave it to Qiqi to bring to you, but Qiqi isn’t familiar with people in the company, so it ended up with me."

"Ah..."

Maggie suspected that Jasmine didn’t know her well, but since Jasmine said so, she had no choice but to comply. "Please thank Qiqi and Dr. Luo for me."

Jasmine laughed, "Maggie, why are you acting like a student treating me like a homeroom teacher?"

Maggie chuckled awkwardly, "Jasmine, you’re joking, right—"

"Alright, enough teasing. Go back to work and finish the design draft as soon as possible," Jasmine said seriously.

The change in attitude was swift, and Maggie thought to herself, but she quickly agreed and took her necklace, reflecting on the events at the hospital with Dr. Luo...

Meanwhile, Peng Secretary had been watching her all along.

After Maggie’s design draft was completed, the bidding went exceptionally smoothly. Although the order wasn’t significant, as it was for public facilities, the advertising impact was substantial, which was why Yafu decided to accept it. Since they got it, it was a good thing. According to company policy, designers received a commission for successful bids. Some lively colleagues in the department began urging her to host a celebration, which Maggie agreed to.

The bar street near the city center square was bustling in the evening. A bar called "Topology" in the middle of the street wasn’t large but was stylishly decorated. The crowd was mostly white-collar workers, with fewer young people with red hair and blue eyes.

Maggie led a group of colleagues, smoothly pushing open the door of "Topology." As it wasn’t the weekend, it wasn’t too crowded, so they picked a good spot. Maggie knew the bar’s owner, so she often came to help out, leading to a familiar relationship. The owner, who happened to be there that day, greeted Maggie with a knowing smile from behind the bar.

Maggie smiled back and went over to the bar, sitting on a stool and looking around. "It’s not busy today. How come you’re here?"

"Fewer people make it quieter."

Eva had a natural, refined demeanor, having been in the bar industry for years, she maintained a graceful elegance despite her frequent association with smoke and alcohol. Maggie had only heard about her background and never delved into it.

Maggie nodded, ordered a juice from the bartender, and ignored her already rowdy colleagues. Eva took out a small box from below the counter and pushed it toward Maggie, "A gift with the alcohol purchase."

Maggie’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly opened it. Inside was a set of exquisite glass coffee cups and saucers with the manufacturer’s logo, just to her liking. "Wow! This is great!" she exclaimed and leaned over the bar, "How should I thank you?"

Eva blew out a smoke ring and patted Maggie’s head. "Don’t act like a pet, okay?"

Maggie straightened up, feigning dissatisfaction, but her eyes caught a familiar figure.

Emily Luo was sitting alone in a corner of the bar, looking forlorn, with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice on her table, lost in thought.

Maggie blinked, turned to Eva, and asked, "The person over there in the gray shirt, do you know her?"

Eva glanced over and then looked at Maggie, "What are you planning to do?"

"Just asking."

Maggie gave an innocent look.

"Stop it," Eva sneered, "Few people in all these years have made you ask."

Maggie didn’t mind and continued to look. "I know her. She’s a doctor and treated me before."

"Then go over," Eva extinguished her cigarette, "Turn acquaintance into friendship."

"Alright," Maggie nodded seriously, "She even returned my necklace, so I should at least say hello."

With that, Maggie gathered her courage and walked over. Standing in front of Emily Luo, she said, "Dr. Luo?"

Startled, Emily Luo looked up. Maggie was worried that she might not remember her.

"Maggie."

Fortunately, Emily Luo remembered her name correctly, which made Maggie happy. She naturally took a seat on the half-round chair opposite.

"Are you alone? No friends with you?"

Emily Luo managed a forced smile, "Yes."

Noticing her mood was low, Maggie spoke more cautiously, "Thank you for the necklace last time."

Emily Luo didn’t respond but nodded. Then she asked a difficult question, "Does your chest still hurt?"

"Uh... it's better now..."

"Are you still doing the massage?"

"Yes—well, somewhat..."

"Somewhat or definitely?"

Her tone wasn’t harsh, but her attitude was serious. Maggie suddenly felt that approaching the doctor might not have been a wise choice.