Cross Lines

Chapter 34: Sharing a Pillow

The veterinarian’s diagnosis was that the puppy only had abrasions, with no broken bones. After a quick treatment to clean the wounds and remove the dirt and water, the vet provided some medication and let them take the puppy home. Maggie also bought a bag of puppy food.

Emily Luo felt anxious until the young vet, who seemed very kind, reassured her that there wasn’t anything serious. On the way back, the puppy, held in Maggie’s arms, looked a bit down. Dr. Luo glanced at Maggie with concern.

“Do you think it will be okay?”

Maggie smiled, “You’re the doctor, why are you asking me?”

“I’m not a vet...” The doctor replied awkwardly.

“Well, the principle is the same for humans and animals. It’s just a superficial wound. As long as it doesn’t get infected, it should be fine. Don’t worry, with good care, it will recover soon.”

Emily Luo took a turn and sighed with relief, “That’s a relief. If you hadn’t come today, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.”

She didn’t mention what had happened earlier. Although Maggie was pleased internally, she wisely chose not to bring it up. Both of them seemed to be focused on the injured puppy, and they had no room for other concerns.

The rain grew heavier, and even the fastest windshield wipers struggled to clear the blurred vision. There was no point in discussing it; Dr. Luo carefully drove to Maggie’s home. They parked the car and went upstairs, where Maggie found a cardboard box, laid out two old clothes, and made a makeshift bed for the puppy.

“Do you want to take a shower? Your hair is wet.”

As Maggie opened the fridge to get some milk, she asked Emily Luo. Dr. Luo placed the money Maggie had given her on the table, took off her coat, and received the plate from Maggie. She put the milk in the microwave to warm it, then crouched down and placed it in front of the puppy, without looking up.

“I’ll deal with it later.”

She half-knelt and stared intently at the puppy. The little one sniffed the milk but showed no interest in drinking it. It looked up at the doctor with its dark eyes, then lay back down motionless.

Emily Luo looked disappointed and, just like the puppy, innocently gazed at Maggie.

Maggie found the scene somewhat amusing and crouched down, dipping a finger in the milk and spreading it on the puppy’s nose. The little one licked its nose, seemed to like the taste, and began to chase Maggie’s milk-coated finger. Maggie guided it to the plate, and the puppy tentatively licked the milk, eventually drinking it slowly.

Maggie opened the dog food and mixed a little into the milk, and the puppy ate it too. Dr. Luo watched and finally smiled.

“You really know how to handle this.”

Maggie glanced toward the window; the rain was still pouring heavily. Turning back to face Dr. Luo, she asked, “It’s quite unusual for such heavy rain in the spring. Are you still planning to go back?”

Emily Luo blinked, her gaze a bit lost. Maggie, with a gentle smile, waited for her to answer.

“Maggie...”

“Dr. Luo, do you really like Qiqi?”

The question came abruptly, and Maggie herself wasn’t very confident. Surprisingly, Emily Luo didn’t avoid the question. “My relationship with Qiqi is not as simple as liking or disliking.”

She stood up and sat on the sofa, turning her head to look at Maggie. “We’ve been through some things, and there’s also time.”

Maggie hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “There are many rumors about Qiqi in the company. Her romantic life seems quite complicated...”

She didn’t speak too directly, but her meaning was clear.

Emily Luo lowered her eyes, not with anger but a deep sense of helplessness. “I know...”

“So, those rumors are true?”

Dr. Luo remained silent, only offering a bitter smile.

“Can you accept that?”

“Our relationship isn’t that pure. It’s somewhere between friendship, love, and familial affection, mixed with many things…”

“Friendship and familial affection are understandable, but love, how can it be so calm like you are now?”

Emily Luo was speechless. She couldn’t explain it herself; for Qiqi’s open personal life, she felt a mix of dissatisfaction and pity, not strong jealousy. It didn’t hurt as sharply as when Qiqi had rejected her.

Maggie didn’t press further, lowering her head to gently stroke the puppy’s little head. The little one looked up at her, with milk still on its chin and bright, dark eyes.

“Dr. Luo,” Maggie stood up, took a tissue to wipe her hands, and said, “Emotions are one thing, and love is another. They can coexist but not replace each other.”

Her tone was calm, not looking at Dr. Luo. Emily Luo had heard similar things many times before, but the impact was different when said by different people.

“I...”

“It’s late, you should stay here.” Maggie gently changed the subject.

Emily Luo looked at her for a while, then said softly, “I haven’t eaten yet.”

So, Maggie prepared some porridge and dinner while Dr. Luo went to take a shower. This scene felt familiar but seemed different. There was now a new addition, a small creature, and many things that were hard to explain.

Since it was already very late when they returned, after cleaning up, it was time to sleep. Maggie changed the bed linens for Emily Luo and prepared her own bedding on the sofa. Dr. Luo, after a moment’s glance at the already-sleeping puppy, simply wished Maggie goodnight and went upstairs. Maggie, feeling a bit tired herself, turned off the lights, leaving the house in complete darkness and silence.

Half an hour later, just as Emily Luo was about to fall asleep, she was awoken by the puppy’s urgent whining. She quickly got up and went downstairs, using the faint light from the nightlight to see Maggie also sitting up on the sofa, rubbing her eyes.

“It’s...”

“Shh—” Maggie interrupted her, speaking very softly. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just adjusting to a new place. If you attend to it now, it will cry every night.”

“Could it be the wound is hurting...?”

Dr. Luo moved a bit closer, lowering her voice, showing obvious concern.

“It might be a bit, but we can’t let it get used to being comforted every time it cries.”

“Okay.” Dr. Luo nodded, the puppy’s cries still continuing and sounding pitiful.

“You should go back to sleep. It’s fine.” Maggie stood up.

Emily Luo hesitated, “But... how can you sleep like this? Why don’t... you come up and sleep too?”

Maggie was about to say she was almost asleep before Emily came down, but she couldn’t pass up such a good opportunity. She asked, “Do you mind?”

Dr. Luo paused for a moment. In the darkness, Maggie couldn’t see her expression but felt her own heart racing, the distinct scent of a woman filling her senses, making her breathing more cautious.

Emily Luo didn’t think for long and simply said, “Come up.”

After saying this, she turned and slowly went upstairs. Maggie let out a breath she had been holding and quietly took her pillow and blanket, following her.

Sharing a bed was something neither of them had anticipated. When they lay down, both of them intentionally kept their distance. However, a bed isn’t very large, and the presence of another person felt real and vivid.

Sleepiness had long faded, and Maggie, after a moment of silence, spoke softly, “Did you go abroad because of Qiqi?”

Emily Luo’s response was calm, without much emotion, “Sort of.”

“To escape?”

A light sigh followed, “It wasn’t the right decision. I was in a chaotic state, with mixed emotions. After going abroad, I lived through a very unworthy period.”

Maggie recalled what Emily Luo had told her in the bar.

“Did you try to force yourself to forget?”

“Alcohol, drugs, and s*x are the most direct ways to numb the nerves. Moreover, there are many dark elements in that circle, making it very easy to fall into depravity.”

Maggie smiled slightly, “Yes, I’ve seen something like that in a famous TV show.”

“It’s basically like that...”

Emily Luo’s voice sounded somewhat subdued, perhaps affected by the unpleasant memories.

“How did you get through it?”

“One day, I entered the operating room, and when I picked up the scalpel, I found my hands trembling uncontrollably. I didn’t perform that surgery and spent the whole day lying down. I knew clearly that if I continued like this...”

Dr. Luo didn’t continue, but Maggie understood what she meant.

“Who was with you?”

“No one.” Emily Luo’s calm tone revealed no trace of sorrow. “Such things can only rely on oneself. Fortunately, I didn’t sink further.”

Maggie felt a pang of pain in her heart. She could hardly imagine how a fragile woman like Emily Luo had endured those dark times alone.

“No matter the reason, hurting oneself is never a good choice.”

Dr. Luo paused, “I won’t do it again.”

“Then let the past remain in the past.” Maggie’s voice was gentle, “You can remember, but don’t let it weigh on your heart.”

After a long pause, Emily Luo finally responded softly, “Mm.”

The puppy's barking had stopped at some point, and fatigue set in. Without saying another word or exchanging goodnights, the two of them fell asleep, oblivious to everything.