A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 10

“Xiao Shu?”

The tense silence was broken by Lin Lan.

“Weren’t you going to work? Why are you back?”

She turned around in confusion, sensing something was off, but unable to pinpoint exactly what.

Shu Yubai quietly looked at Nan Xue.

Her gaze was frighteningly still, like a gloomy, oppressive sky, making it hard to breathe. Nan Xue’s chest heaved slightly, her fingertips clenched and then relaxed. For a while, she couldn’t meet Shu Yubai’s eyes.

What had she just said?

Marriage.

Shu Yubai was unhappy about her getting married.

Is that it? Because she didn’t tell her about the marriage right away? But that marriage was a fabrication; it wasn’t true. Her father had been urging her to return and had suggested many times to find someone for her, but Nan Xue ignored him.

Shu Yubai let out a small “ah,” and said, “Sorry, I just got scared.”

She bent down, took a tissue from her bag, and slowly wiped the scattered soil on the steps, one step at a time. When she reached the last step, she straightened up, tucked her long hair behind her ear, picked up a dustpan, and cleaned the remaining soil. She then placed the cactus pot on the windowsill.

“I haven’t officially quit yet, so I’m bringing some things back from my desk.”

Shu Yubai avoided Nan Xue’s gaze, looking only at Lin Lan, and explained, “The company is quiet right now, so I have some free time. You guys carry on; I’ll go get some more things.”

Nan Xue sensed something was particularly wrong with her, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. She felt it was wrong not to tell her best friend about her wedding.

But the problem was, she wasn’t getting married.

How to explain? The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

Watching her back, Nan Xue softly said, “I didn’t have the chance to tell you before—”

Before she could finish, Shu Yubai turned around, pursed her lips, and smiled slightly, saying, “It’s okay, congratulations.”

That smile was very faint, but there was an emotion in her eyes that Nan Xue couldn’t understand. With a gentle click, the door closed, and Shu Yubai’s figure disappeared from the entrance.

Lin Lan, still excited, kept asking, “Who’s the person you’re marrying? Are they handsome? Can you introduce them?”

“I never expected this, I never expected you to get married. It’s like a miracle.”

“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything?”

••••

Nan Xue ran to the window and looked down, only to see Shu Yubai wrapped in her coat against the north wind, her long hair blown into disarray, making it hard for her to move.

Nan Xue reached out and gently touched the window, encircling Shu Yubai’s figure in her palm.

But then, Shu Yubai got into her car and quickly drove away.

By the time Shu Yubai returned, it was already evening.

The sky was very dark. She brought back the remaining small potted plants in bags. The snow on the road was heavy, and as she walked, Shu Yubai felt colder and colder. After a while, she ducked under an eave and took out her phone.

Beep, beep.

After a moment, a woman’s voice came through.

“Hello?”

The woman seemed to be in a good mood. “Xiao Shu?”

“Yes.”

Shu Yubai said softly, “Do you have some time? I’d like to talk.”

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Yi’s voice was filled with concern. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Shu Yubai sighed lightly. “Yes, I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable.”

They arranged to meet at the same café they had first gone to.

Inside, as soon as Shu Yubai sat down, she buried her face in her hands. Her long hair fell around her, and she seemed very tired.

“So exhausted.”

Shu Yubai sighed:

“I’ve been with her for so many years, and it’s always been like this.”

“What do you plan to do next?” Xiao Yi asked her.

Shu Yubai shook her head.

A silence fell between them.

The woman across from her propped her chin on her hand, looking at her patiently. “Why don’t I help you one more time? After all, there’s only one month left.”

“…”

“If it really doesn’t work out, you should just give up.”

Nan Xue and Lin Lan sat at the dining table in unusual silence. Nan Xue was slowly eating porridge with a small metal spoon, leaving a grey shadow under the light. She looked very beautiful with her slender waist and long legs.

The door opened, and Shu Yubai bent down to change her shoes, feeling eyes on her from upstairs.

Lin Lan called to her, “Come on, the food is getting cold.”

“You start eating first.”

Shu Yubai smiled gently, speaking with her usual good temper.

Nan Xue turned to look at her.

It was a very particular look, as if waiting for her to say something.

But Shu Yubai didn’t look at her again. She placed the potted plants by the window, watching the last rays of the setting sun shine on the flowers, and then went upstairs.

Nan Xue’s eyes darkened for a moment, as if it were a trick of the light.

Shu Yubai hesitated by the dining table for a moment, then sat down next to Lin Lan, leaving an empty seat between herself and Nan Xue. This deliberate distancing seemed intentional.

Nan Xue’s face paled for a moment.

But she continued eating as if nothing had happened.

Shu Yubai picked up her chopsticks, and as she held them, she felt a sudden sharp pain in her palm.

She looked down, opening her hand carefully.

A cactus thorn had pricked her when it fell earlier. She had seen a doctor to get it removed. Although the injury was minor, it left a small scar in her palm, like a tiny red dot.

She rubbed it gently, feeling the lingering pain.

Even a slight touch seemed to tug at her heart.

A piece of green vegetable was placed in her bowl with red chopsticks.

Shu Yubai looked up to see Nan Xue watching her, her beautiful eyes filled with some emotion, as if she wanted to say something.

“Are you in a bad mood?”

She asked.

“No.”

Shu Yubai explained lightly, “Just tired from moving things.”

“What are your plans next?”

Lin Lan had talked with Nan Xue and knew about Shu Yubai’s hand injury from an accident, which prevented her from painting like she used to. She had been working at an auction house for a while, but recently, she planned to return to her old profession.

Lin Lan looked at her with a hint of pity. “I heard from Nan Xue that you want to quit your job and start painting again.”

“Yes.” Shu Yubai thought for a moment and explained, “I still prefer creating on my own. I’m not used to this place, and I want to go somewhere further away.”

“Where are you going?”

“To the south. The south is nice and warm.”

“What about your girlfriend? Is she going too?”

“Yes.”

“When did you start dating her?” Lin Lan asked with curiosity. “How far have you two gone? Kissing? Or something else?”

Shu Yubai didn’t respond, her long hair falling down to her waist. She sat next to Nan Xue, showing only a profile, with a faint smile on her lips and a light blush on her cheeks. She quietly lowered her head, the porcelain spoon clinking softly against the small bowl. “Don’t ask.”

Lin Lan laughed and started eating.

Nan Xue merely lifted her eyelids and watched her for a while without saying much.

After a while, Nan Xue suddenly stood up and left the dining table.

At night, Lin Lan slept in Nan Xue’s bed, and Shu Yubai and Nan Xue were once again forced to share a bed.

The small light was on, casting an ambiguous glow.

Nan Xue looked at Shu Yubai, quietly leaning against the headboard, and asked, “Are you angry today?”

“I’m not angry.”

Shu Yubai turned towards her, very quiet, and even gentle. “You haven’t done anything wrong. Why would I be angry?”

Nan Xue didn’t answer.

Shu Yubai picked up her phone and typed quickly with her slender fingers, chatting with someone.

The air was filled with a faint, warm fragrance.

The woman beside her wore a cotton checkered nightgown, with one button undone and water stains on her collarbone. In the orange light, her delicate eyebrows radiated an indescribable tenderness.

Nan Xue adjusted the covers.

For a moment, her ankle touched something soft—Shu Yubai’s calf.

Nan Xue looked up.

Their eyes met briefly.

“Go to sleep.”

Shu Yubai pulled up the covers.

The next day, a little later, Nan Xue went to the office to find her.

Passing by a shop downstairs, Nan Xue paused, went in to buy a chocolate bar, and then continued upstairs.

Shu Yubai was still working in the office and looked quite busy. Nan Xue leaned against her desk and waited. Shu Yubai seemed tired, stretching and showing signs of fatigue.

Nan Xue took a chocolate bar from her bag and handed it to her. “Here.”

Shu Yubai shook her head. “Thank you, but no need.”

“You’re not going to eat it?”

“Mm.” Shu Yubai smiled and returned the chocolate to Nan Xue. “Hide it quickly; it’s not good if she sees it.”

“Who?”

“Xiao Yi.”

Shu Yubai lowered her head and smiled slightly. “She has said many times that sweet foods are bad for the stomach and I should cut back.”

In the past, Shu Yubai used to enjoy unwrapping chocolate when she was tired. She used to say that sweet foods were good for the mood and eating more sweets made her happy.

Back then, they were in the back row of the classroom, and Shu Yubai would peel off the metallic foil and feed her a small, fragrant piece.

Now, she refused to eat it.

Nan Xue held the chocolate, silent, and left.

When she got home, she found that the chocolate had melted.

She tossed the deformed chocolate wrapper into the trash can and sat on the sofa, taking a sip from the steaming cup of water.

Her eyes were fixed on the window.

The night was deep, and Shu Yubai’s figure appeared downstairs as usual.

She opened the car door, adjusted her long hair, and stepped out with her legs in black boots. She was neither tall nor short, with a slim waist and long legs, standing in the snow with her dark hair flowing, wearing a thin winter dress that outlined her beautiful figure. Her skin was snowy white, and she looked strikingly beautiful. Nan Xue watched as she got out of the car, seemingly waiting for someone.

Soon, the passenger door opened.

Another woman got out of the car.

With long, curly hair and wearing a long coat, she looked very pretty. Shu Yubai smiled gently at her, looking very intimate.

Even from a distance, Nan Xue could see clearly.

The two stood together, looking very well-matched.

Xiao Yi held Shu Yubai’s hand, and they seemed to be saying something downstairs. Shu Yubai smiled again, and Xiao Yi reached up to hold Shu Yubai’s face.

Gently stroking.

Nan Xue suddenly stood up and went outside.

In the past, when she walked past the dormitory building, couples would often stand downstairs, hugging and talking.

Back then, Nan Xue thought that one day, she and Shu Yubai might be like that. (TN: You thought like that? Why the heck do you always hurt her with such words? You’re the one who keeps pushing her away! So don’t you dare regret it later!)

But it turned out to be Xiao Yi.

“Are you cold?”

Xiao Yi laughed. “Wearing a dress in winter, if you don’t catch a cold, who will?”

She wore a thick wool coat, while Shu Yubai only had a winter dress. Indoor heating in the north can sometimes be very warm, and wearing too much could be uncomfortable.

Shu Yubai usually didn’t care and wore relatively little. Earlier, she had felt a bit uncomfortable in her throat and coughed lightly, but Xiao Yi noticed.

“It’s actually not too bad,” she said with a smile. “Thanks for your concern.”

Xiao Yi looked at her and suddenly started unbuttoning her coat, intending to drape it over Shu Yubai.

“No need, thank you—”

Shu Yubai quickly waved her hand to refuse, feeling a bit unworthy of such kindness.

After she spoke, Xiao Yi’s actions paused slightly.

It wasn’t because of Shu Yubai’s refusal.

Xiao Yi’s gaze fell behind Shu Yubai, her expression one of surprise or something else.

Shu Yubai followed her gaze and turned to look.

Nan Xue was standing behind her, slowly taking off the scarf from her neck and walking over.

Shu Yubai suddenly felt a warmth on her neck, a soft touch. It was Nan Xue wrapping the scarf around her, gently, once, twice. The checkered scarf warmed from her body’s temperature, feeling very cozy with a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance.

Shu Yubai looked up in surprise.

Nan Xue held Shu Yubai’s hand and pulled her close, patiently adjusting the scarf for her, then lightly wrapping her arm around Shu Yubai’s waist.

“Let’s go back, sister.”

“Wait.”

Xiao Yi seemed to remember something and smiled lightly. “Yubai, your house keys are in my coat pocket.”

Nan Xue’s steps paused.