Cross Lines

Chapter 46: New Window

Maggie’s lips slowly curved into a smile. Although she knew there was a long and difficult road ahead before the person in front of her could truly belong to her, the fact that she was willing to walk that road with her made it the happiest thing for Maggie.

Thinking this, Maggie moved closer, but Emily Luo leaned back and avoided her.

"Hey? What are you trying to do?" Emily asked.

Maggie lowered her eyebrows and feigned innocence as she sat back up straight. "Nothing~~"

Dr. Luo gave her a sidelong glance, not bothering to argue, took a sip of water from her cup, and patted Maggie on the knee.

"Alright, I’m not going to argue with you. I’m heading out for my night shift now. I have a seminar in S City tomorrow, a noon flight, and I’ll be gone for about ten days. Take good care of Stop, and we can talk about other things when I get back."

As she spoke, she stood up and began putting on her coat, giving detailed instructions. Maggie rested her chin on her hand, looking at her ailing dog and then at the woman who had just agreed to be her girlfriend, finding the future painted with an inexplicable absurdity.

With a long sigh, Maggie was still very happy!

If not for important matters, going to the riverside café every afternoon had become a habit for Eva. This time was leisurely, and no matter the weather, there was always a unique view.

Grace had never acknowledged her, whether busy or free, she was always focused on her own tasks, not even casting a stray glance. Eva had accepted this from initial bitterness to calm acceptance. She would always find a corner to sit, watch from a distance, and then quietly leave.

Grace was slowly working to reintegrate into her new life. Years of high walls had cut her off from the outside world; knowing about things was one thing, experiencing them firsthand was another. The café was a good avenue; she could see all kinds of people and things, and learn a lot.

She had, of course, seen Eva. The feeling of someone once so familiar now seemed painfully complex, so she chose to ignore it. But what else could she do? The past experiences now seemed like a mockery. Love was perhaps the most unreliable thing.

One day, Grace’s shift ended early, and Eva was still sitting there. Grace had already changed and was ready to leave. Eva instinctively stood up and went to stop her.

"Jing."

Grace stopped but did not raise her head or speak. She frowned slightly, showing some impatience. Eva noticed this and didn’t mind. She smiled lightly.

"I want to talk to you. Is that okay?"

After a pause, Grace turned her head away and continued not to look at her. "I don’t want to talk to you."

As if she had expected this, Eva didn’t react much. Her face still wore a gentle smile.

"Alright, we’ll talk another time. You need to…"

Before she could finish, Grace moved aside and quickly left. Eva watched her retreating figure, lost in thought for a long while, then slowly suppressed her sadness.

Shaking her head, some things were just meant to be endured.

Once Emily Luo left, Maggie became a fully wound-up top. The company’s urgent matters took precedence, and dealing with the leaked design was pushed back. The priority was to get the new series out before the original release date. Even if the sample prototypes were delayed, Seymour Gao couldn't be empty-handed at the new product launch. Thus, the design department became one of the 24-hour operations within Yafu Tower.

The trash can was filled with takeout boxes, the large office desk cluttered with leftover coffee, and design drafts scattered across the sofa and floor. Everyone in the department had bloodshot eyes and disheveled hair. Anyone walking in would think they were filming a zombie apocalypse.

Maggie couldn’t bear to leave her dog at the vet’s, so she brought a basket every day. She stayed at the office, treating the dog as a baby, and though it was still in poor condition, it kept breathing and tried to swallow the food Maggie fed it with a syringe. This small comfort was a slight relief amidst her overwhelming stress.

Jasmine came by daily to finalize plans, push progress, and occasionally offer comfort, such as bringing in expensive but truly delicious overtime meals from high-end restaurants. The department staff had mixed feelings about her—resenting her relentless pressure yet appreciating her touch of human warmth amidst her coldness. Despite the busyness, Maggie was in good spirits. She was pleased with the results of the most important things.

In the evening, with darkness fallen, Maggie held a hamburger in one hand and was adjusting design drafts on the computer with the other, hardly pausing to drink water, her neck stretched out as she swallowed. She needed to finish her work quickly; Stop was still waiting for her to take to the vet for an injection.

Suddenly, a hand gently rested on her shoulder. Maggie looked back to see Lola standing close behind her, smiling softly. Maggie also smiled, her cheeks full as she spoke through her food.

"What brings you here?"

"My work is done for now."

Maggie was taken aback and glanced at Lola’s eyes. Lola's expression was normal, without anything particularly unusual. Maggie blinked and didn’t think much of it. She continued eating, while Lola turned to look at the dog and asked,

"Are you going for the injection?"

Maggie answered vaguely, "Just a bit more to finish, then we’ll go."

"I’ll go with you. I’m free today anyway."

Maggie thought for a moment and replied, "Sure, that works."

On the way, Maggie drove while Lola held the basket containing Stop, gently stroking its little head. The road was less congested at this time, and the drive was smooth. Though Maggie sensed Lola's unusual demeanor, she chose not to say anything and focused on driving.

"How much longer until your new design drafts are ready?"

Maggie didn’t answer right away, turning to look at Lola with a vaguely ambiguous expression. "Our design department is now in a state of 'once bitten, twice shy.' Don’t ask us about company matters. We can’t handle the responsibility. Last time, the issue wasn’t resolved, so I’m hesitant to say anything this time."

Lola smiled, looking out the window, her tone somewhat elusive. "Is that so?"

Shaking her head, Maggie had a self-deprecating smile. "We’re the primary victims of the design leak, and the company is second. But now, it feels like we’re being made to atone for it by working ourselves to the bone."

"I know it’s not your fault."

Lola looked back with certainty. Maggie paused, taking advantage of a red light to glance at Lola again. The atmosphere became somewhat tense, and Maggie wondered if there had been any investigation results. However, she hesitated and remained silent, not asking.

The light turned green, Maggie shifted gears, and the car moved forward. After a moment of thought, she chose a more cautious response.

"Thank you for believing in us, but what does that matter?"

"It matters."

Lola’s tone remained serious. Maggie did not pursue the topic further. She had said her piece, and now it was up to Lola.

"Maggie, do you know why the chairman asked me to investigate this matter?"

Lola’s tone was calm, and she spoke slowly. Maggie shook her head honestly, not speaking. She still had doubts about the matter. While she did not believe the rumors within the company, attributing it to Lola’s personal ability was completely nonsensical.

Lola seemed to sense Maggie’s thoughts. "Right now, the chairman trusts only me within the company."

Maggie frowned; this statement was somewhat puzzling. However, she remained silent and waited for Lola to continue.

"Because I am his daughter."

Lola said this with remarkable calmness, but for Maggie, it was like a thunderbolt. The shock was so great that she didn’t know how to react. Consequently, she remained motionless, driving the car to the vet’s clinic.

When the car stopped, Maggie turned to Lola and said, "That joke isn’t funny at all."

Lola raised an eyebrow. "I’m not joking; it’s the truth."

Maggie seemed to be processing this information, remaining frozen for a while. Lola watched her and then said, "Also, I’m preparing to take over Yafu. So, this matter must be investigated by me and only me."

"Have you found out anything?" Maggie blinked.

"Yes," Lola nodded. "All I can tell you now is that it has nothing to do with you."

Maggie’s lips curled into a faint smile. After a pause, she blurted out, "Can you not tell the chairman about my complaints about the company?"

This time, Lola was taken aback. When she recovered, she laughed and nudged Maggie playfully.

"Alright, let’s get out of the car."

After Stop’s injection was finished, a young staff member from the vet clinic came over and asked Maggie, "Where’s the beautiful lady who was with you?"

Maggie was annoyed that someone was paying attention to her new girlfriend and pouted. "You remember her quite well."

The staff member looked a bit embarrassed and laughed as he walked away. Lola heard this and asked, "Was Dr. Luo usually the one who accompanied you?"

"Yes, she usually gave the subcutaneous injections. She’s on a business trip these days, so I had to come by myself."

"Oh…"

Lola replied hesitantly, and then fell silent.