Cross Lines

Chapter 15: Getting Along

Emily Luo glanced at her phone, remaining silent and still. The atmosphere in the car felt a bit stuffy. Maggie, however, was not overly concerned. She slowed down, waited a moment, and seeing no response, she confidently shifted gears and accelerated towards her place.

Upon exiting the elevator, Maggie walked in front at a moderate pace while Emily Luo followed, keeping her head down. Neither of them spoke. When they reached Maggie’s apartment, Maggie took out her keys to unlock the door. At that moment, the door across from them made a clicking sound and slowly opened a c***k. Ryan Ding’s yellow head peeked out. Maggie turned to look at him and saw Dr. Luo standing behind her. Emily Luo felt she was blocking their view and quickly stepped aside.

“Miss Man, the property management says you need to go over there for parking registration.”

After saying this, Ryan Ding glanced sideways at Emily Luo with a mischievous grin. Emily Luo sensed the discomfort and kept her head down, avoiding eye contact.

Maggie shot Ryan Ding a sharp look. “I know!”

With that, she opened the door, ushered Emily Luo inside, and followed her in, shutting the door with a decisive thud.

“Tsk tsk,” Ryan Ding clicked his tongue. “Truly forgetful when it comes to appearances.”

Once inside, Maggie turned on the lights, crouched down to retrieve a pair of new slippers from the bottom shelf of the shoe rack, and placed them neatly on the floor.

“New, unworn.”

After changing into her own slippers, Maggie went straight to the adjacent bathroom. The light from the bathroom door blazed through with a strong beam.

Emily Luo stood there, looking around. The entrance area had a low ceiling typical of a duplex, and the space was not very large. One wall was painted a dark color, and besides a rustic wooden shoe rack, there was a clean mountain bike leaning against the wall. In the corner, a large-leafed plant grew lush and green.

After changing shoes, Dr. Luo slowly walked further in, just as Maggie emerged from the bathroom.

“Wear my shower slippers. The water heater is the basic kind; you should be able to use it?”

Emily Luo nodded, avoiding Maggie’s gaze. Maggie smiled.

“Take off your wet clothes first. I’ll get a bathrobe for you.”

Maggie went back into the bathroom and soon reappeared holding a stack of soft, light-green bathrobes, towels, and washcloths.

“I’ve washed these, and they’ve not been used.”

She then placed them on a rack in the bathroom.

“Alright, you can shower now. If you need anything, talk to me after your shower. Otherwise, you might catch a cold. All the cleaning supplies are here, so use whatever you need.”

Emily Luo offered a faint smile. “Thank you.”

Maggie exited the bathroom. “You’re welcome.”

With the door closed, Emily Luo stood in this completely unfamiliar space, feeling a bit disoriented. She glanced at the mirror, her pale face reflecting her unease. Her hair, no longer dripping, clung wetly to her forehead and temples, and her damp clothes felt heavy and cold. But these physical sensations were nothing compared to the emotional turmoil. She blinked, and Qiqi’s impatient expression reappeared in her mind.

“Don’t make me nauseous!”

“I don’t want this!”

“Neither before nor after is possible!”

“……”

These words, spoken in Qiqi’s piercing voice, always cut deep. Each time she heard them, it felt like another stab, bleeding profusely. Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Emily Luo tried to ease the sharp, twisting pain in her chest, hoping to relax her taut nerves.

“Is something wrong?”

Maggie’s soft voice came from outside the door, startling Emily Luo, who quickly replied,

“Oh, no.”

“Well, if you need anything, just call me.”

With that, Maggie walked away. Emily Luo gathered her thoughts, approached the door, clicked the lock, and began to undress slowly, surveying her surroundings.

The space was simple and the color scheme and layout were comfortable. In the not-so-large area, there was a faint, pleasant scent. The heater on the ceiling provided some warmth.

In the open kitchen, just a wall away, Maggie was cooking porridge. She first paused when she heard the click of the lock and then heard the sound of running water from the bathroom, shaking her head in relief.

Half an hour later, Emily Luo emerged from the bathroom with damp hair, wrapped tightly in a bathrobe, and clutching her arms.

The room was warm with the air conditioner on. Emily Luo looked around the room, noting its spacious and pleasant atmosphere. Maggie, now wearing an apron and preparing porridge, glanced up as she saw Emily Luo. Her eyes lit up, and she said,

“The hairdryer is in the second drawer of the cabinet.”

“Oh…” Emily Luo hesitated, responding slowly, “No need… it’ll dry soon…”

“Alright then. Perfect timing, let’s eat something. I haven’t had dinner yet, so join me.”

Maggie quickly served the porridge on the bar counter, which doubled as a dining table. On the white stone countertop were dishes of tomato scrambled eggs, celery with dried shrimp, sauced beef slices, and two small bunny-shaped buns. The steaming porridge looked quite inviting under the warm light.

Emily Luo didn’t move, looking at Maggie. Maggie tilted her head, a relaxed expression on her face.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“Last time—”

“Let’s discuss last time after we eat, okay?”

Maggie extended a pair of chopsticks towards Emily Luo.

Perhaps it was genuine hunger or the chill from the cold wind and unkind hearts outside, but Dr. Luo did not hesitate any further. She took the chopsticks, sat down, and started eating.

Despite her elegant demeanor, Dr. Luo ate with gusto, quickly finishing most of the dishes, including the buns and the porridge. Maggie, while eating, tried to suppress a smile but couldn’t completely hide it. It was surprising to see how well Dr. Luo could eat despite her thin appearance.

“Do you want more? There’s more.”

Maggie swallowed her food and asked Emily Luo, who was sitting across from her. For a first visit, it was important to be well-fed. Emily Luo seemed to sense a hint of teasing in Maggie’s tone and rolled her eyes while keeping her head down.

At this, Maggie couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into laughter. Emily Luo pouted.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing, it’s fine.”

Maggie suppressed her laughter, cleared her throat, and asked, “All done?”

Emily Luo stacked her bowl and replied,

“Hmm, I’ll wash the dishes.”

Maggie was surprised, staring at Dr. Luo with her mouth slightly open. Emily Luo, seeing Maggie’s gaze, responded naturally.

“What’s wrong? It’s normal to wash dishes after eating, isn’t it?”

Realizing Maggie’s amusement, she added, “Well, don’t handle the cold water. I’ll do it.”

Maggie couldn’t let Emily Luo wash the dishes, but her attitude was quite interesting. Dr. Luo, in her fluffy bathrobe, seemed uncomfortable moving around too much and obediently took a seat on the sofa.

Maggie placed the dishes in the sink and began washing them, occasionally glancing at the person sitting on the sofa.

“The remote control is on the coffee table.”

“I don’t watch TV.”

Emily Luo, looking much better, was now exploring Maggie’s home with interest. The décor, with its brown and beige tones, was complemented by simple and appropriate soft furnishings and several green plants. The large floor-to-ceiling windows, the crystal chandelier hanging in the high-ceiling space, and the modern staircase made the place feel very comfortable.

This really is a designer’s home, Emily Luo thought to herself.

Maggie finished washing the dishes and brought over some fruit and pomelo tea.

“What’s up?”

“Hmm? Your place is quite special, and it feels nice.”

Emily Luo raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed.

“Really?” Maggie asked, sitting on the opposite side of the sofa and taking a bite of an apple.

Emily Luo lowered her gaze, then lifted it to look at Maggie again.

“Today… thank you.”

Maggie swallowed her apple, leaned back on the sofa, and met her gaze.

“Today or yesterday, don’t overthink it. A new day starts after a good night’s sleep.”

“Hmm.”

Dr. Luo nodded obediently. Maggie smiled as she bit into the apple.

“So, how about it? Are you… willing to stay here tonight?”

Emily Luo looked at her with wide eyes, puzzled.

“Willing? What do you mean…”

“I remember mentioning last time that we…” Maggie gestured between them but left the sentence unfinished.

Emily Luo realized.

“Are you suggesting that staying here might be dangerous?”

Maggie, with her legs crossed and chewing the apple noisily, smiled without speaking. Emily Luo stared at her, determined to find an answer.

“Women should have an instinct for danger. Dr. Luo, do you feel anything?”

Emily Luo blinked, maintaining her gaze. “No.”

“Well, that’s good.”

Maggie nodded seriously, and then both of them laughed. The unpleasant experience from before faded away in the lighthearted atmosphere.

That evening, with warm lighting and the sweet aroma of tea and fruit, Emily Luo snuggled on the sofa, flipping through a photo album, while Maggie, holding a PAD, scrolled through it. They chatted casually, avoiding mention of the earlier conflict or future plans, as if they had known each other for years. Maggie was relaxed, and Emily Luo felt at ease. They subtly avoided certain topics but caught glimpses of each other’s lives through their conversation.

The rain continued outside, and this year’s autumn ended with this persistent downpour.