A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 106

In the bathroom, a bright yellow light illuminated the small space, where even the slightest rustling sound could be heard. It was somewhat cramped, with a faint, cold fragrance lingering in the air, barely noticeable.

It was from Nan Xue.

Shu Yubai’s heartbeat quickened.

“The zipper is on your waist.”

Shu Yubai said gently, “Raise your arm, yes.”

Nan Xue slightly closed her thick eyelashes, lifting her pale arm. Shu Yubai lowered her head a bit, searching for the zipper under her armpit. The area was warm and soft, and when she accidentally touched a sensitive spot, Nan Xue flinched lightly as if tickled.

Shu Yubai’s fingertips grasped the small metal piece, pulling down to unzip Nan Xue’s evening dress.

With a soft squeak.

As the zipper was pulled down from under her arm, it revealed a slim waist and a slightly rounded, firm curve of her body, partially hidden beneath the thin, black, pearl-glinting fabric. Her skin was white and warm, with a faint fragrance.

Her skin was very smooth, like soft jade, though it was an icy white, with veins slightly visible.

“All done.”

Shu Yubai suppressed her desire to get closer and touch, and turned around.

If things continued like this, she feared she wouldn’t be able to stop.

“Sister.”

A voice called out to her.

Shu Yubai’s heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to leave, Nan Xue gently tugged at her sleeve. In the next moment, Nan Xue moved closer, wrapping her arms around Shu Yubai’s waist and hooking her neck with the other hand.

She slightly lowered her chin, her breath warm.

“Are you leaving already?”

Nan Xue asked softly, “Didn’t you say you’d help me bathe?”

“Mm?” Shu Yubai, her voice tinged with a nasal tone, asked.

Nan Xue’s voice was very soft, with a warm mist that seemed to flutter around her ears, almost seductive.

“Not…”

Shu Yubai explained, “I meant to help you unzip the dress.”

She looked up, her long lashes fluttering.

But as she lifted her head, Nan Xue happened to lower hers. Her lips were soft, inadvertently brushing over Shu Yubai’s forehead and between her brows in a shivering touch.

Nan Xue nestled against her, burying her porcelain-white chin in Shu Yubai’s shoulder, and murmured in her ear with a nasal tone, “I missed you.”

It was almost like a sigh.

She then asked, “Doesn’t my sister miss me?”

Her expression held a hint of sadness.

Her soft red lips once again lightly grazed the edge of Shu Yubai’s ear, softly pressing against the tip with a light breath.

Shu Yubai, unable to control herself, reached up to her shoulder, leaning in to gently peck at her profile, followed by her lips. She held Nan Xue’s neck, indulging in a passionate yet gentle kiss.

The two kissed tenderly, their bodies gradually warming up, shivering with the intensity.

Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted them.

Knock, knock, knock.

Shu Yubai: “…”

Nan Xue: “…”

Shu Yubai’s mother called from outside the door, “Does Xiao Nan eat scallions?”

Shu Yubai helplessly turned her head in the bathroom and answered loudly, “No.”

Mother: “Alright.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Footsteps gradually faded.

Shu Yubai relaxed slightly, still holding Nan Xue’s waist, and couldn’t help but continue kissing.

The girl, soft and intoxicated, with clear eyes filled with confusion, seemed to be at the mercy of others. Her cherry-like lips glistened with a touch of moisture, flushed red from the kisses.

“Mm…”

Her evening dress was half unzipped, hanging loosely on her body.

Nan Xue pushed Shu Yubai, saying, “Hot… Sister, take off the clothes.”

The room felt stifling. After a short time of heated kissing, sweat began to bead on their bodies. Nan Xue’s dark hair clung to her white neck, with a drop of water sliding down her neck and into the soft cleavage of her chest.

“Okay… will you do it yourself?”

“No.”

Nan Xue held her hand, pulling it towards her shoulder. “Sister, help me.”

Shu Yubai’s gaze was a bit dazed.

The evening dress was almost slipping off, revealing Nan Xue’s lingerie underneath, with transparent straps clinging to her collarbone. She was drunk, her snow-white cheeks flushed red, her eyes hazy, with a glistening look.

“Come.”

Nan Xue gently said, “Let’s… take a bath together.”

Not far away was a porcelain bathtub. Shu Yubai liked to soak in it during her leisure time. It was narrow enough for one person, but if two were to use it, it would be a bit cramped.

Nan Xue said this and turned to fill the bathtub with water.

The water level gradually rose.

Hot steam misted up, and the bathroom walls and floor were covered with tiny droplets of moisture, condensing on the white tiles.

After a while, there was another knock on the door.

“I’ll… go open it.”

But the next moment, Nan Xue, as if to hold her back, grabbed her hand. Unintentionally, Shu Yubai suddenly slipped, falling backward, and Nan Xue hurried to hold her waist. With a splash, both of them fell into the bathtub.

Splash!

Water splashed everywhere.

Nan Xue was pinned beneath her, soaking wet, the thin fabric clinging to her body, her chest heaving slightly as she gasped.

Her clothes were drenched.

How would she face her mother later?

Shu Yubai stood up, wrung out the water from her clothes, and said, “I’m coming.”

She went to open the door. Her mother stood there with a bowl of hangover soup, looking at Shu Yubai’s wet clothes, hesitant to speak.

“What happened?”

Shu Yubai cleared her throat and said, “Just… fell into the bathtub.”

“Bathtub?”

Li Nian raised her eyebrows, her eyes filled with a smile, and remained silent.

In the silence, Shu Yubai’s face turned bright red.

“I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Li Nian closed the door.

“…”

Meanwhile, Nan Xue peeked her head out from the bathroom door, watching her expression.

Shu Yubai carefully carried the soup to the bedside table.

When she turned around, she met a pair of dark, moist eyes.

They looked at her like a little animal.

Nan Xue’s short black hair was wet, dripping continuously. She pursed her lips slightly, seeming to want more.

Her evening dress clung to her wet body, and one strap of her lingerie had slipped down her shoulder, hanging on her arm, revealing half of her soft white curve, very tempting.

“Sister.”

Nan Xue called softly with watery eyes.

Shu Yubai was burning with desire but couldn’t express it. She closed her eyes and said, “Wash yourself!”

Nan Xue was taken aback by her harsh tone.

She shivered.

Reluctantly, she closed the door and took a shower by herself.

The small window was slightly open. Next to the bed was a narrow bedside table with a fabric lamp on it. The hangover soup that her mother brought was placed under the lamp, in a white porcelain cup, still steaming with condensation and white mist.

The bed was not very wide, just 1.5 meters, barely enough for two people to lie down.

Shu Yubai lifted the light gray quilt, turned around, tiptoed, opened the wardrobe door, and pulled out a thick pillow from the top of the wardrobe, placing it by the bed.

After finishing, Shu Yubai leaned back on the bed and closed her eyes.

Nan Xue came out of the bedroom, closed the door, and the faint scent of body wash lingered in the mist, from her.

“Drink some soup?”

Shu Yubai leaned against the head of the bed, holding the bowl of hangover soup, “Here, it’s still hot.”

Nan Xue murmured in acknowledgment and went to drink it.

She sat on the edge of the bed, holding the cup with her delicate white fingers.

The soup was slightly sour, with a refreshing taste. The clear liquid contained a few green plums and some white lotus seeds floating on top.

“Is it good?” Shu Yubai asked softly.

Nan Xue nodded and said, “Yes, it’s good.”

She was wearing Shu Yubai’s old T-shirt, which was quite long and draped over her thighs. Her calves were fair and beautiful, with water droplets continuously sliding down, not yet dried.

After falling into the bathtub, her hair was soaked. With the evening breeze, Shu Yubai worried she might catch a cold. She rummaged through the drawer of the bedside table, found a hairdryer, and helped Nan Xue dry her hair, running her fingers through it.

Around eleven o’clock, the lights were turned off.

After finishing the soup, the two of them lay in bed, snuggled under the same quilt, holding each other warmly. Perhaps genuinely tired, under the moonlight and the cool night breeze outside, they fell asleep quickly.

••••

The next day.

When Shu Yubai opened her eyes, she saw a fair, beautiful back in a hazy state, the soft white curve briefly passing by.

Nan Xue was changing clothes.

Her cheeks were slightly warm, so she closed her eyes again.

The thoughts from last night resurfaced in her mind.

She really wanted…

Nan Xue, unaware that she was awake, got up and carefully lifted the quilt.

She groggily searched for her shoes, stepping on a warm, soft, and fluffy object, which startled her.

“Ah!!”

Nan Xue was startled awake:

“What’s that?”

“You stepped on it.”

Shu Yubai helplessly looked under the bed. The little rabbit was nestled by the bed, gnawing on her plastic slippers. The little rabbit huddled into a ball, remaining still.

“Moon” was very friendly.

Especially fond of disturbing people’s sleep early in the morning.

Shu Yubai was accustomed to being woken up by the little rabbit’s nibbling sounds. It was “Moon” gnawing on things and grinding its teeth.

“Sister.”

Nan Xue leaned closer and said, “You’re awake too?”

“Hmm.”

Shu Yubai kissed her cheek and said, “Get up.”

They both got up and freshened up.

“We’re going to work later…”

Nan Xue hugged her neck and said, “Sister, see you in the evening.”

After washing her face, Nan Xue left some water on her face, her curly and beautiful eyelashes were wet, and her clear eyes were very bright. Water droplets covered her icy white skin, dripping down her chin.

“Alright.”

Shu Yubai took a towel and helped her dry her face.

“There are still some things to do in the evening.”

Nan Xue said reluctantly, “It might be a little late before we can meet.”

“Okay.”

Shu Yubai nodded, thinking that it worked out well since she also had some things to attend to.

“Xiao Nan, get up.”

Li Nian, watching them from the living room with a smile, said, “The porridge is on the table. Drink it while it’s hot.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

Nan Xue took Shu Yubai’s hand and moved to drink the porridge.

After breakfast, Nan Xue walked around the living room, searching for her small handbag, with a little tail following her. The rabbit bounced behind her, following her heels. Nan Xue turned around and almost stepped on it again.

“…”

Shu Yubai came out of the bedroom, her eyes smiling, “It really likes you.”

Nan Xue then squatted down and gently patted the little rabbit’s head.

“Moon” curled up into a ball, obediently closing its eyes.

“I’m leaving now.”

“Bye.”

Shu Yubai kissed her cheek at the door.

••••

The next evening, it was time for the scheduled cocktail party.

The driver was waiting downstairs.

In the early spring, flowers were blooming along the roadside, with branches full of light pink and white flowers pointing towards the clear blue sky. The gentle breeze carried a faint fragrance.

She got into the car.

“Aunt?”

A woman in the back seat of the car looked at her and smiled, “I’m coming with you.”

Qian Qian was also there.

She wore a moon-white dress, her long hair styled up, exposing her delicate and fair neck.

“Why are you here too?” Nan Xue asked from the back seat, a bit surprised.

“Hmm…”

Qian Qian rested her head on her hand and remembered You Fu: “I heard that a friend is coming too.”

“I just came to see… and to meet more people.”

A friend?

Nan Xue, not familiar with Qian Qian’s friends, didn’t pay much attention.

The cocktail party was attended by people from the art world, a field Nan Xue wasn’t very familiar with. A few days ago, with Shu Yubai’s guidance, she had begun to understand more about it. Nan Xue had even sought someone to teach her about art for this occasion.

At six in the evening.

Shu Yubai was in the car, messaging her senior sister.

[Senior Sister, are you going too?]

[Yes, the one we talked about before.]

You Fu quickly replied:

[Yes.]

[Where are you? Let’s go together.]

[Send me your location.]

Shu Yubai paused for a moment, followed the navigation route, and drove to You Fu’s location. She was waiting by the roadside and waved when they met.

You Fu got into the car, and they went together.

As evening approached.

The winery was by the lake, a medium-sized Western-style house with a small courtyard. The courtyard walls were covered in green ivy, with a somewhat vintage decor.

A layer of steam covered the window glass, and outside, the lake sparkled under the setting sun. The willow branches on the lake shore swayed gently in the breeze. It was dusk, with the sun setting in the west.

Dim lights illuminated the dark entrance.

The driver parked the car in the designated spot, got out, and opened the door. Nan Xue and her aunt got out of the car and walked inside.

Qian Qian habitually linked arms with Nan Xue.

“Aunt.”

Nan Xue said, “Can you walk by yourself?”

Qian Qian smiled apologetically, “Sorry—I’m used to linking arms with someone when I walk; it feels more comfortable.”

“…”

Nan Xue had no choice but to let her.

On the other side, the senior sister and Shu Yubai got out of the car.

The two walked shoulder to shoulder toward the entrance.

The next moment, at the entrance, the four of them stared at each other in disbelief.

Nan Xue & Qian Qian & You Fu & Shu Yubai: “…”

In the silence, the atmosphere grew awkward.

“Welcome.”

A waiter at the door bowed, “Do you have a reservation?”

Shu Yubai looked at Nan Xue with a pale face.

She was holding onto a woman who was slender and delicate, with a pale white face and black hair styled into a bun. A pearl dangled from her earlobe, her lips were softly red, and she wore a crescent white dress.

Graceful and elegant.

Nan Xue: “…”

She met Shu Yubai’s gaze, quickly shook off her aunt’s hand, and stood a good distance away in an instant.