Cross Lines

Chapter 65: A Visit

If the car hadn’t stopped in front of a modest, standalone Japanese house, Maggie might have thought she was about to face a scenario straight out of a movie: that Lola had some mysterious connection with the Japanese underworld. However, the reality was that this small house was home to Lola’s grandparents and mother, a typical Chinese family. They were met by Lola’s uncle, who, needing to return to work, left after dropping them off.

After getting out of the car, Maggie followed Lola through the front gate with curiosity. The yard was small but meticulously maintained, with some flowers blooming vibrantly and a bicycle leaning against the wall, spotless. There were two steps leading up to the door, which had been lightly sprayed with water.

A woman in her fifties, slender and wearing a simple floral dress, greeted them with a warm smile. Maggie, who had lost her mother, felt an immediate sense of comfort from the woman’s gentle demeanor. She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to say "Good morning" or not.

“Hello,” Maggie finally said, overthinking the greeting.

Inside, the house featured traditional Japanese wooden architecture. The living room was small and somewhat cramped. Two elderly people, both with white hair, were engaged in their own activities—one watching TV, the other folding clothes. They greeted Lola with happy smiles.

Lola set down her luggage and ran to embrace them, clinging to her grandmother and rubbing her face against the elder’s cheek, saying, “I missed you so much.”

Maggie smiled and waited for Lola to finish her affectionate greetings before introducing her to the family. The aroma of food wafted from the small kitchen. Lola’s mother invited Maggie to sit and quickly brought out a small spread of delicious dishes. Maggie, seeing the food, eagerly joined the table.

The meal was simple but had a comforting, home-cooked flavor. Everyone was smiling warmly, creating a pleasant atmosphere that Maggie enjoyed immensely. She even had a few cups of sake with Lola’s grandfather.

After dinner, it got dark. Maggie took a shower and spent time with the elderly watching a TV drama about the Kangxi Emperor. Lola and her mother disappeared into a room for a while and emerged later, suggesting it was time to sleep since they had many plans for the next day.

Maggie, having struggled to stay awake listening to the elder’s discussions, quickly said goodnight and followed Lola to their room. The bedroom was small and had tatami mats. Maggie lay down on the futon with a content sigh, “This is so comfortable!”

She received a message on her phone from Dr. Luo, who seemed to have just finished work, asking about her dinner and where she was staying.

— “Have you had dinner? Which hotel are you staying at?”

Maggie hesitated, unsure how to respond. If she mentioned staying at Lola’s house, Emily Luo would likely ask for more details, complicating things with Lola’s identity. Lying about a hotel was risky if discovered. After some thought, she replied:

— “We’re not staying at a hotel. We’re at a guesthouse.”

— “Guesthouse? Why there?”

— “I’m not sure. Lola made the arrangements.”

— “Are you sharing a room?”

— “Yes… to save on expenses; otherwise, it might be difficult to get reimbursed.”

Dr. Luo’s response was a knife emoji, followed by silence. Maggie had to spend some time soothing her, only for Dr. Luo to reply with an eye-roll emoji.

“Maggie, are you hot?”

Lola, as she opened the window, asked.

“Huh? Oh, no, I’m fine,” Maggie replied distractedly while holding her phone.

“What are you so troubled about?”

“Just trying to convince Dr. Luo…”

“Convincing Dr. Luo?”

Lola’s neutral tone made Maggie stop in her tracks. Hesitant, she looked up at her.

“Yeah.”

“I figured as much.” Lola’s expression remained calm, which momentarily left Maggie speechless.

“Uh—”

“Why?” Lola raised an eyebrow. “Do you think I’d discriminate against you?”

“No, no, if I thought that, I wouldn’t have admitted it to you. I trust you,” Maggie replied sincerely with a smile.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know if you didn’t admit it?”

“Alright, you win,” Maggie said, looking particularly docile.

Lola smiled, her expression complex. Maggie sensed something but chose not to probe further. Perhaps, from the moment she appeared, this girl had been shrouded in an enigmatic aura.

“Maggie, I hope you find happiness.”

“I feel very happy!”

“Is it because of Dr. Luo?”

“Not entirely, but she is definitely a significant reason.”

Lola nodded, not pressing further. Maggie tilted her head, asking:

“And you? Do you feel happy?”

“My happiness is in the process of pursuing it.”

“You mean Yafu?” Maggie asked naturally. Lola hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Yes.”

“I initially thought you wanted to become Yafu’s chairman because of some hardships. But now, it seems your living environment is quite warm.”

Maggie expressed her confusion directly. Lola shook her head.

“Many feelings are not as simple as they appear. I returned to China to prepare to take over Yafu according to my father’s wishes. My uncle and mother opposed it, preferring I stay in Japan and maintain my current life.”

Maggie nodded, indicating she was listening carefully.

“But I don’t like this feeling of being hidden away. Perhaps in Chinese culture, there’s a value of paternal recognition. To my father, my mother and I are hidden away, existing in secrecy. This feeling cannot be replaced by companionship or support. So, my goal is to assert my presence.”

Maggie blinked, beginning to understand.

“Our family moved to Japan because my uncle was studying here, married a Japanese woman, and settled down. My mother believed leaving the previous environment would reduce harm to me, and she didn’t obstruct my relationship with my father. But to me, it felt like we were hidden away by my father, and I hate that feeling.”

Maggie found this reasoning reasonable, reflecting her own feelings. Lola’s sharing felt like a friend’s trust, similar to how Maggie trusted Lola wouldn’t judge her s****l orientation. This made the relationship feel more relaxed compared to the pressure she felt around Jasmine.

“Did the chairman choose you as a successor to compensate you?”

Maggie asked a sensitive question.

Lola considered, “I don’t think so.”

“Then it must be due to your abilities!” Maggie realized her question might have been inappropriate and quickly flattered her. Lola’s small smile indicated she wasn’t offended, and she chose not to elaborate further.

The conversation concluded for the night. Maggie, who was more focused on buying a gift to please her girlfriend, was less interested in the family drama. Lola, meanwhile, seemed to have laid aside some concerns and slept more peacefully than usual.

Emily Luo, having some free time due to Maggie’s business trip, went to see Eva. She guessed that if Maggie revealed more about their relationship to the boss, it would lead to some petty satisfaction. Better to address it herself.

Eva, however, was unsurprised and merely smiled faintly, not even making a teasing comment.

“Emily, cherish what you have while you can.”

Eva’s detached, worldly-wise demeanor left Dr. Luo feeling uneasy. She recognized that Eva and Grace’s relationship had reached a deadlock. While they appeared to be amicable, it was clear they had become distant strangers.

“Eva, isn’t this unfair?”

“What’s unfair?” Eva seemed puzzled.

“Is this the result you’ve waited for all these years? If this is the final outcome, perhaps it’s better to let go and move on. Continuing to endure this way—when will it end?”

Eva looked thoughtful and somewhat evasive.

“Grace has probably let go of me completely. It’s just that I’m still unwilling to accept it, and it’s unrelated to anyone else.”

“Since you’ve waited long enough and the result is final, why not start afresh?”

Eva looked at Dr. Luo with a gentle smile.

“Emily, you may not yet understand what it feels like to be with someone for a lifetime.”

Dr. Luo felt a bit embarrassed at being the subject of Eva’s insight.

“Sorry, Eva.”

“There’s no need to apologize. It’s clear that you and Maggie are still just beginning and have a long journey ahead.”

Dr. Luo was unsettled by Eva’s clear-sighted observation. She had to admit Eva had an uncanny ability to see through things.

“I like her and am willing to try for her. But to say it’s deeply profound...” Dr. Luo shook her head, leaving the thought unfinished.

Eva’s wise, knowing gaze reflected the experience of someone who had seen it all.

“Did you think I fell in love with Jing at first sight? Love is partly affection, partly cultivation. It’s only when you feel it’s essential that it becomes a natural outcome.”

Dr. Luo’s head nodded in agreement, her usual aloof demeanor replaced by earnest curiosity.

“Do you hope for such a day?”

Her smile was a mix of shyness and seriousness.

“Of course.”