Cross Lines

Chapter 59: Reenactment

When the knock on the door came, Emily Luo was just about to take a shower. Seeing Maggie appear outside the door with a secretive expression, Emily opened the door with an unsurprised look.

“What’s with the sneaky behavior?” she asked.

Maggie’s eyes darted around the room, a mischievous smirk on her face.

Dr. Luo shot her a glance and asked, “Aren’t you the one with the strange look? What’s going on?”

Maggie chuckled, clearly pleased with herself, as she slipped inside, took off her shoes, and stood barefoot on the floor.

“Is it dirty?” Emily Luo naturally removed her own slippers for Maggie and went to get a new pair for herself.

Maggie, following like a puppy, asked, “What have you two been up to these days? Why didn’t you go out? The hot air balloon ride was so much fun.”

Dr. Luo rummaged through a pile of bottles and jars, retrieving three of various sizes. “We went shopping. I even bought you a shirt. I’ll give it to you when we get back.”

Maggie’s eyes sparkled. “Really? Is it pretty?”

“I’m going to take a shower. You wait here for a while,” Emily Luo said, not engaging further. She patted Maggie’s head and went into the bathroom.

Maggie, feeling content, wandered around the room and then lay down on Dr. Luo’s bed, taking a deep breath. It felt so good.

As soon as the bathroom door made a sound, Maggie sat up, stretching her long legs and craning her neck toward the bathroom. Dr. Luo emerged with a towel in hand, her hair still wet.

“So beautiful~” Maggie nearly had hearts in her eyes. “Do you want me to dry your hair?”

Emily Luo brushed her hair back. “No need.”

“How about a hug?” Maggie opened her arms, her face full of childlike joy.

Dr. Luo, infected by Maggie’s enthusiasm, smiled and walked over, wrapping her arms around Maggie’s neck and pinching her face.

“Look at you all sunburned. Where’s your sunscreen?”

“I used it, don’t worry.” Maggie wasn’t very concerned about that. Her attention was entirely on Emily Luo. The physical closeness brought a fulfilling sense of satisfaction, especially with Dr. Luo’s recent attitude making her even happier.

“Can I kiss you?”

Without thinking much, Maggie made the request, lost in the moment and the person in front of her.

Dr. Luo didn’t hesitate either. She naturally lowered her head and placed a light kiss on Maggie’s lips.

Maggie was not satisfied with such a fleeting kiss. Adults, come on! This was more suited for preschoolers.

She wrapped her arms around Dr. Luo’s waist, stood up, and kissed her lips, as if savoring a long-awaited candy, tasting it with impatience.

Having just showered, Emily Luo carried a fresh, faint fragrance and had a slightly moist, delicate skin texture. It was indescribably wonderful. The more Maggie kissed her, the deeper she fell into the experience, as if lying in a pile of pink cotton candy, with her whole body relaxed.

In vacation mode, Emily Luo was very relaxed, even now, while being kissed by Maggie. Her long hair, still damp, draped over her shoulders, exuding a pleasant mixed scent of body fragrance. The sensory stimulation was irresistible, making Maggie a bit excited.

The kiss deepened, and Maggie’s embrace tightened. Dr. Luo was pushed back step by step until she was stopped by the edge of the desk.

The air in the room grew intoxicating and sentimental. Maggie became somewhat absorbed, her mind seeming to selectively forget things. Her hands moved from behind Dr. Luo, untying the bathrobe’s belt. The loosened binding seemed to awaken the slightly dazed Emily Luo. At this moment, Maggie’s hands were about to continue, but Dr. Luo, almost reflexively, pushed Maggie away.

The force was not strong, but it was enough for Maggie to feel it. Momentarily lost in indulgence, Maggie halted all movements, letting her hands drop and her head bow.

Dr. Luo’s cheeks were flushed, her expression changing several times. The scene was familiar, but this reenactment was… unsettling for Maggie.

It was hard to describe, but it was a feeling of dull pain. All the excitement, all the growing affection, and all the clarity had suddenly made her realize it was all self-delusion, leaving her hurt from the bottom of her heart. Was she too impatient? But…

Maggie kept her head down, silent, and took a step sideways.

“Maggie!” Dr. Luo, breathless, grabbed one of Maggie’s wrists, still trying to calm her breathing. She sensed that Maggie’s mood had drastically plummeted, making her anxious. If Maggie left like this, their relationship might end differently, which Dr. Luo clearly did not want. But she didn’t know how to explain her actions.

Maggie kept her head down, so Emily Luo couldn’t see her expression. However, from the slight trembling in Emily Luo’s grasp, she sensed Maggie’s distress.

With a soft sigh, Maggie lifted her head. Her smile was forced, but it was still visible. “It’s okay, I’m fine.”

“Maggie, I—” Emily Luo hesitated, unsure of what to say. Maggie thought for a moment, then reached up to stroke Dr. Luo’s hair with her free hand.

“I hope that all the time we spend together makes you happy. When we’re old and look back, it will be filled with sweetness.”

Emily Luo looked at her, somewhat stunned.

“So, even though I’m looking forward to some things, I’m willing to wait, so they can have a beautiful and memorable process. Is that okay?”

Dr. Luo still didn’t respond. Besides the surprise, she felt an indescribable mix of emotions swelling in her heart, a feeling that was neither sweet nor sour but something entirely new.

Before she could act further, there was a knock on the door that instantly shattered Maggie’s calm, accompanied by Qiqi’s voice.

“Emily, open the door.”

Maggie’s eyes widened in panic, her face reflecting the terror of being caught red-handed. Emily Luo looked at her, confused, and instinctively moved to open the door. Maggie, more anxious, quickly grabbed the doctor, making exaggerated gestures toward the door.

“Don’t let her see me here!”

Emily Luo pursed her lips, blinked, and seemed to understand, though she didn’t look particularly urgent. She held onto Maggie and led her toward the bathroom.

“Hide me in the bathroom? What if she needs to use the toilet or take a shower?”

Maggie, puzzled and anxious, appeared agitated. Dr. Luo remained noticeably calm, leading Maggie into the bathroom, closing the door softly, then twisting the handle firmly, shouting toward the door.

“I’m taking a shower! Could you get me some food while you’re at it?”

“Why not have them bring it up?”

Qiqi outside sounded reluctant. “How would they know what I want to eat? Hurry up, I’ll be done with the shower soon.”

“Oh, honestly, the service at this lousy hotel is terrible…”

The sound of Qiqi’s grumbling grew distant. Maggie exhaled in relief. “Phew—close call. You’re the best. I’ll go now. She should be back in a few minutes.”

Maggie started to leave, but Emily Luo still didn’t let go. Looking down at Dr. Luo’s hand gripping hers, Maggie was puzzled. Dr. Luo raised her other hand to circle Maggie’s neck, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek before releasing her and pushing her out of the bathroom.

Maggie was unsure whether to feel disappointed or content, feeling dazed as she was pushed out of the bathroom and out the door, stumbling back to her room. She sat there, lost in thought, until Lola came back and opened the door.

Lola looked normal, with a calm expression and a gentle voice. “Oh, you’re back? I thought you’d be gone longer. Are you going out again?”

“Huh?” Maggie, as if just realizing, said, “Oh, no… not going out.”

Lola smiled and walked over, quickly lifting Maggie’s chin. “What’s wrong with you? Spaced out?”

Maggie looked up at her. From this angle, Lola had a reassuring expression. Smiling, Lola said, “It’s fine. I’m sorry for leaving you alone in the bar.”

“Huh?” Lola’s eyebrows raised. “It’s no big deal. I had a good time. I even met a handsome guy from Singapore.”

After saying that, she seemed to be waiting for Maggie’s response, watching her quietly.

Maggie blinked and smiled, “Really? An encounter, huh?”

“Hehe.” Lola chuckled, going to the fridge to get a bottle of water. “What about you?”

Maggie took a deep breath, her expression nonchalant. “It’s fine.”

When both had finished showering and were lying in bed, Maggie didn’t chat with Lola as she had the previous nights but lay quietly with her eyes closed. Lola turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness.

Suddenly, in the prolonged silence, Lola’s low but clear voice broke through.

“Maggie, do you like Dr. Luo?”

Maggie, though awake, did not respond, remaining silent as if asleep. Lola said nothing more, and the two remained in the silent room, their breathing the only sound, until they eventually fell asleep.