A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 105

The green light soon turned on.

Cars flowed past.

Shu Yubai let go of Nan Xue and started driving.

Nan Xue remained still, maintaining a side-leaning posture.

The headlights blurredly illuminated the windshield. In the glow, Nan Xue, seated in the passenger seat, turned her head to quietly look at her. Her eyes, black and white, seemed to flicker with a gentle light.

Shu Yubai gripped the steering wheel and drove forward.

The taillights of the traffic ahead shone brightly.

They silently slipped by.

Nan Xue quietly watched her, and after a while, seeming tired, she closed her eyes. A gentle English song played in the car, the night outside the windows sped past, and the flowing light formed lines, silent and serene.

The female singer continued:

Edelweiss, Edelweiss,

Every morning you greet me,

Small and white, clean and bright,

You look happy to meet me.

••••

A warm weight pressed against her shoulder.

She had fallen asleep, lightly resting on Shu Yubai’s shoulder.

Her eyelashes curved, resembling a crescent moon.

So beautiful.

Shu Yubai took a deep breath and smiled softly.

••••

The car parked in a garden-designated spot.

Shu Yubai patted Nan Xue, saying, “Wake up, time to go home.”

But as she patted Nan Xue’s shoulder, Shu Yubai realized a bit too late that she had driven the car home. Wasn’t she supposed to take Nan Xue back? But it was so late; should she drive her back the same way?

Why was she so confused now?

Nan Xue drowsily lifted her eyelashes.

Under the light, Shu Yubai’s soft strands of hair were individually illuminated.

It seemed she was still in a dream, not yet awake, the scene covered in a layer of nostalgic glow.

The woman wore a chiffon blouse paired with a long skirt, the chiffon material very light and thin, a light apricot color with a sprinkling of gentian flowers, very sheer. Underneath was a beige camisole, her collarbone hinting at a soft, white valley.

Nan Xue affectionately leaned in, hugged her waist, and buried her face in her chest, inhaling the familiar light scent.

“Sister.”

“Let’s go.”

Shu Yubai patted her to wake her up.

She got out of the car, walked to the other side, took Nan Xue’s hand, and pulled her out of the seat, carefully catching her.

Hmm.

A bit heavy.

Nan Xue still squinted, looking as if she wanted to sleep, unable to fully wake up. Shu Yubai thought, why not just stay with her in her room for the night?

Would she mind?

It was past ten at night, and the small garden in the community was quiet. Occasionally, a woman pushing a baby stroller would pass by, humming a song softly, or a few elderly people exercising and chatting at the fitness equipment. There were no other people around.

Beep.

Shu Yubai locked the car and went to support Nan Xue’s waist, afraid she might fall.

“Where are we going?” Nan Xue asked, squinting.

“Home,” Shu Yubai replied, hooking her fingers around Nan Xue’s.

A cool breeze blew by, making Nan Xue seem more awake as she stood a bit straighter.

She looked at Shu Yubai in the moonlight. Her features were soft and hazy in the night, her long, silky hair gently lifted by the breeze, flowing like water.

There was also a faint fragrance that was hard to describe.

Nan Xue suddenly leaned in and asked softly, “Sister, am I heavy?”

Shu Yubai was taken aback and said, “No.”

Nan Xue’s lips curved into a smile. She suddenly leaned in, hooking her arm around Shu Yubai’s neck. “Then carry me,” she said.

A cool, soft touch on her neck—it was Nan Xue’s fingers.

Shu Yubai trembled slightly, looking into Nan Xue’s eyes. She was very close, her eyes bright in the night but veiled with drunkenness.

There was a faint scent of alcohol in her breath.

Shu Yubai tentatively wrapped her arms around Nan Xue’s slim waist and tried to lift her, but couldn’t. She thought to herself, surprisingly heavy—then again, Nan Xue was 1.73 meters tall, even if slim, she must weigh around 100 pounds, right?

Shu Yubai gave it a try and then gave up, helplessly saying, “If you’re not afraid of us both falling down, we can try.”

“Sister, are you afraid of falling?” Nan Xue asked.

Shu Yubai nodded, “I’m afraid you’ll fall.”

She glanced at Nan Xue’s shoes, with their thin high heels and delicate ankles, making her worry they were unstable.

Wearing a dress, if she fell, she’d scrape her knees.

Nan Xue shook her head gently and said, “It’s okay, if we fall, you can land on top of me.”

Shu Yubai was stunned, looking at her as if she didn’t recognize her.

“You want to be crushed?” She couldn’t help but chuckle.

Nan Xue’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, “Yes.”

Shu Yubai shook her head, “No, what if I crush your small frame?”

Nan Xue raised an eyebrow, “I’m not small-framed.”

Shu Yubai: “?”

Nan Xue didn’t respond but suddenly hugged her. The girl wore a tight black evening dress, and through the pearl-shimmering fabric, her curvaceous body pressed close, soft and contoured.

She looked down at Shu Yubai, “Hmm?”

Shu Yubai: “…”

Her cheeks instantly felt hot, her ears turning red. Shu Yubai looked down, coughed lightly, and pushed her away.

A street lamp stood nearby, its black iron post casting bright light into the night. Small insects fluttered their transparent wings in the light, and the grass was slightly damp.

“Sister…” Nan Xue hooked her hand again, leaning in softly.

“…”

Shu Yubai had no choice but to support her waist and help this drunken girl home.

There are many mosquitoes in the spring.

In the grass, mosquito repellent lamps glowed, casting a pale blue light with tiny black specks—mosquitoes that unknowingly flew into the light. Occasionally, there were crackling sounds, startling in the quiet night.

Nan Xue stared at Shu Yubai under the light, making her feel embarrassed. Finally, Nan Xue spoke, “Sister, your ears are so red.”

“…”

Shu Yubai said, “Say less. Aren’t you supposed to be aloof?”

Nan Xue: “Heh.”

Shu Yubai supported her into the elevator.

Floor 13.

The elevator ascended slowly.

They leaned against the elevator wall, a smoky mirror reflecting their figures. The condensation from their breath formed a white fog on the mirror. Shu Yubai gently wiped it away with her finger, revealing her reflection.

Nan Xue leaned against her, her jet-black hair covering the side of her face, her jawline pale and delicate.

Nan Xue lowered her eyelashes and said, “Do you like aloof people?”

Shu Yubai casually replied, “Mm-hmm.”

Nan Xue earnestly nodded and said, “Okay.”

Shu Yubai: “?”

After asking this, Nan Xue indeed stopped talking and remained quiet the entire way.

Shu Yubai looked at her, puzzled.

Was it possible that even drunk, Nan Xue could “switch modes”?

Was this the “aloof” mode?

Ding.

The elevator doors opened.

They walked into the hallway, the sensor lights still off. In the darkness, Nan Xue remained silent, making Shu Yubai feel uneasy. She couldn’t help but hug Nan Xue, whispering in her ear, “Stop it. I like you no matter how you are.”

Nan Xue’s cheeks warmed.

She leaned in and pecked Shu Yubai’s earlobe.

With the sound of the kiss, the sensor light turned on.

Shu Yubai: “…”

There were four apartments on the floor.

Shu Yubai led Nan Xue back home. As they stood in front of her door, Nan Xue slowly realized and asked, “Why didn’t you take me home?”

Shu Yubai froze, unable to speak for a moment.

Was Nan Xue sober now?

Why did she suddenly become aware?

Shu Yubai cleared her throat and asked, “Do you want to see the little rabbit?”

Nan Xue chuckled softly and leaned in, whispering in her ear, “Actually, you just wanted to bring me home.”

Nan Xue looked at her and asked, “Isn’t that right, sister?”

Shu Yubai’s face immediately turned red.

Nan Xue said, “Why did you bring me home at night?”

“Your drunk.”

“Is it because sister wants to…”

Not knowing if the walls were soundproof, and thinking of her mother just behind a door, Shu Yubai felt instantly awkward, fearing Nan Xue might be too loud.

How embarrassing if someone heard.

Shu Yubai glanced at her and said, “You’re overthinking it.”

She bent down, rummaged through her bag for a set of keys, and found the one for the door in the dim light. As she gently twisted it open, she said, “Do you think I think about this all the time?”

The door opened, and the living room light was on. Shu Yubai’s mother was watching a TV show, the screen flickering with moving figures whose dialogue was unclear. Li Nian turned to look at them, putting down a small handful of sunflower seeds, her gaze landing on Nan Xue, showing surprise and then delight.

“Xiao Nan is here?”

“Nice.”

She looked at Shu Yubai, smiling.

Thinking, have they reconciled? Probably?

By the coffee table, a little white rabbit hopped over, nudging Nan Xue’s slippers with its nose. Nan Xue crouched down to gently stroke it, and the rabbit closed its eyes, curling up comfortably with a very docile expression.

Li Nian raised both children and animals with a free-range approach. The little rabbit ran around the house all day, very lively, occasionally getting into fights with the blue-eyed ragdoll cat.

Soon, this little white rabbit named “Moon” learned to use the bathroom at specific spots, nudge doors open with its nose, and perform a series of affectionate behaviors.

“It still remembers you.”

Shu Yubai crouched down.

They had bought the rabbit from a small vendor by the lake. They had intended to keep it together, but after breaking up, the rabbit was fostered with Shu Yubai’s mother.

It had been well taken care of.

Many feelings, once broken, could be reconnected.

Animals were the same.

“Let’s go.”

Shu Yubai hugged her waist and said, “Let’s wash up and sleep, okay?”

Li Nian hesitated, looking at her.

Shu Yubai said, “She’s drunk.”

Saying this, she led Nan Xue to her room.

Shu Yubai’s mother nodded and got up to make some sobering soup. Shu Yubai helped Nan Xue into her room.

The bedroom window faced north. There was wind, the sound of leaves rustling and branches swaying continuously. It was a bit chilly in the evening. Nan Xue, seeming cold, hugged her arms and shivered, so Shu Yubai closed the window.

The room warmed up a bit.

It also blocked out the wind, making it quieter.

The bedroom had only a 1.5-meter bed.

They would sleep together at night.

Shu Yubai turned on the bathroom light and said, “Wash up, you’ll feel better.”

Nan Xue said, “Help me.”

Shu Yubai’s eyes widened slightly: “Help you wash?”

“Really?”

Nan Xue nodded, “Mm.”

This couldn’t be.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but Shu Yubai was worried she wouldn’t be able to control herself.

Not knowing if the walls were soundproof, and with her mother sleeping next door, Nan Xue drunk, if anything happened in bed, it would be too embarrassing if there was any noise.

“No.”

Shu Yubai said softly.

Nan Xue leaned in, hugging her waist, and pressed close, saying, “Why?”

The bathroom was spacious. Once the door closed, the quiet enclosed space was left with just the two of them. Shu Yubai’s gaze fell on the mirror opposite, reflecting their ambiguous pose, motionless.

Shu Yubai whispered in her ear, “I’m afraid, I won’t be able to resist… eating you.”

Nan Xue blinked in confusion.

She seemed to understand, yet not.

“Do it yourself.”

Shu Yubai turned to leave, “You’re not so drunk that you can’t bathe… right?”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the clumsy woman.

The zipper of her evening dress was on the side. Nan Xue, apparently not fully sober, was reaching around her back searching for it. Her pale fingers groped around as she asked, “Hmm? Where did the zipper go?”

Seeing her confused expression, it felt like something tugged at a string in Shu Yubai’s heart.

She swallowed.

Suddenly, she said, “Let me help you.”