A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 109

In the morning, sunlight streamed through the window, and many small birds hopped among the branches, their chirping constant.

The bedding was tangled, and the two lay entwined, with a slight sheen of sweat on them. Footsteps echoed up the stairs, followed by a gentle knock on the door, as if to avoid disturbing them.

When no one answered, the footsteps retreated and the sound went downstairs.

After experiencing it seven times in one night, there was no sensation in the evening, but in the morning, Nan Xue felt an excessive fatigue, as if her bones were all loose, curled up in the blanket feeling soft and unwilling to get out of bed.

“Nan Xue.”

A gentle, lazy voice called out.

“Hmm.”

The girl’s snow-white face was buried in the soft pillow, looking as if it had turned red. Warm color suffused her cheeks. Tiny drops of red fell from her moist chest. The kiss marks were startling.

She responded lazily, sleeping unconsciously.

Her curled eyelashes lay still, with a bright spot of light falling on her collarbone.

Shu Yubai lowered her lashes, gently stroking Nan Xue’s hair.

It felt like holding smooth, soft silk, she caressed slowly, afraid of pulling at the threads. Gradually, the softness absorbed her warmth.

Nan Xue’s hair had a light sweat.

It must be hot.

Shu Yubai lifted a corner of the blanket.

Her fair arm was exposed.

The room was filled with traces of their night together.

The door was locked, and they had looked at the stars by the window and at their reflections in the vanity mirror. Nan Xue had passively endured, with fine sweat on her back, as if it had not dried overnight.

Shu Yubai got up and opened the window. A cool breeze swept in, waking the girl on the bed as the breeze made her arm, covered in fine sweat, feel cool.

“Are you awake?”

Shu Yubai approached.

She sat by Nan Xue’s bed, her white, smooth fingertips gently caressing her cheek, as tender as if touching the freshly opened petals of a flower, afraid of crushing them.

“……”

Nan Xue opened her eyes, her gaze clear as if the icy snow had melted, looking at her quietly. After a moment, her thick lashes fluttered down, shyly avoiding her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

Shu Yubai leaned closer, gently massaging her hair, and kissed her, saying, “Is anything uncomfortable, hmm?”

They had gone too far last night, something Nan Xue had never experienced before. Was she having trouble handling it?

“No.”

Nan Xue shielded her eyes with her hand, taking a moment to recover, still somewhat disoriented.

She paused and asked, “Sister.”

“Hmm?”

Shu Yubai looked at her.

Nan Xue turned to face her, with a hint of moisture in her eyes. She moved closer, lightly wrapping her arms around Shu Yubai’s slender waist, resting her head on her warm, soft belly, and asked, “So… should you be responsible for me now?”

“……”

Shu Yubai almost choked, unable to help but laugh lightly.

“Responsible for what?”

“I’m thinking.”

Nan Xue lowered her lashes, and after a while, looked up, “First, you can’t look at other girls.”

“Not even look?”

Shu Yubai raised an eyebrow.

“Not at pretty ones.”

Nan Xue pointed at her nose, saying, “Especially not for too long.”

“Okay.”

Shu Yubai agreed with a gentle smile in her eyes.

“Second, you can’t spend time alone with others.”

“Others refer to?”

Shu Yubai looked at her patiently.

Nan Xue thought for a moment and added, “Like those people you knew before… You or something, and Xiao something, oh, and there’s one more, Dong Ling, right?”

“You remember so clearly?”

Shu Yubai’s lips curved slightly, asking, “Did you start paying attention to these things back then? Hmm?”

Nan Xue looked down, silent, and then suddenly remembered something, looked up, and said somewhat awkwardly, “Sister, I’ll handle it from now on.”

“Why?”

Shu Yubai looked at her, confused, “Is something wrong?”

“It’s not that.”

Nan Xue seriously took Shu Yubai’s hand.

Her hand was white and soft, almost boneless, with a hint of light pink at the tips of her slender fingers. Her nails had healthy half-moon arcs, and there were thin calluses on her index and middle finger joints, giving a slightly hard touch.

Nan Xue placed her left hand against Shu Yubai’s right palm, comparing them. Nan Xue’s fingers extended one joint longer, her hand pale and slender, with distinct bones. (TN: 🫣)

“You see.”

Nan Xue lifted her eyelashes and looked at her, a hint of an almost imperceptible smile flickering in her clear eyes.

Shu Yubai: “……”

In that moment, she suddenly lowered her gaze, her ears turning pink, immediately understanding Nan Xue’s meaning. With a mix of embarrassment and irritation, she patted Nan Xue’s shoulder and said, “That’s too much!”

“Sister, you promised to be responsible for me.”

“I will be yours from now on, okay?”

Nan Xue reached out to her, her bright eyes full of subtle expectation.

“Okay.”

Shu Yubai embraced her shoulder and kissed her forehead, saying, “Get up.”

Nan Xue lifted the blanket, emerging from the bed in her nightgown. As she got out of bed, her legs went weak, and she nearly fell to the floor.

In the next moment, she felt a warm touch on her waist. Turning around, she met a pair of gentle eyes.

Shu Yubai supported her, saying, “Take it slow, no rush.”

Her red lips held a faint smile.

Nan Xue: “……”

She brushed aside Shu Yubai’s hand to show she could still walk, slowly making her way to the staircase and holding onto the wooden handrail.

Shu Yubai followed, concerned she might fall.

The two of them moved slowly, one in front and one behind, and made their way to the first floor.

Downstairs, Aunt Zhang was sitting at the dining table. She looked at the two of them, pausing briefly on Nan Xue before shifting her gaze to Shu Yubai and suddenly smiling. “Hungry? Breakfast is still warm.” (TN: Hahahaha…. She knows)

Nan Xue & Shu Yubai: “……”

•••••

At 10 a.m., Shu Yubai and Nan Xue went to a nearby mall together and bought some fruits and vegetables.

At the fruit stand, there were plump green grapes. Shu Yubai picked up a plastic bag and carefully selected a bunch of grapes with green stems and beads of water, and took it to the checkout to be weighed.

Nan Xue picked up a bag of kiwis from the other side.

She still loved sour fruits.

“Sister. Here.”

Nan Xue handed the bag to her and stood beside her in line.

“Come a bit closer; you’re blocking others.”

Shu Yubai hooked her finger at Nan Xue.

Nan Xue was wearing a short black t-shirt, showing a slim white waist and long, straight, fair legs. Standing behind Shu Yubai, she seemed relaxed, like a model.

“Xiao Shu?”

A woman from a distance waved at them.

During their outing, they unexpectedly ran into Shi Chu. Nan Xue was tall, and Shi Chu spotted her right away.

Shi Chu: “Hi.”

She naturally approached to greet them.

“What a coincidence.”

Shu Yubai smiled gently.

“Long time no see.”

“Yeah.”

Nan Xue didn’t know her, so she lazily bent down, hugged Shu Yubai from behind, and rested her head on her shoulder, closing her eyes.

“What’s wrong with Nan Xue?”

Shi Chu asked, noticing her tired appearance.

“She… was exhausted last night.”

Shu Yubai said softly.

“Hmm?”

Shi Chu’s tone became slightly nuanced, her gaze shifting slowly between the two.

She leaned in and whispered in Shu Yubai’s ear:

“Did you do it?”

Shu Yubai nodded gently without speaking.

“Xiao Shu, you’re quite the hidden gem.”

Shi Chu praised with a click of her tongue.

Nan Xue: “……”

Lowering her voice was useless, she heard everything.

Shu Yu Bai’s face turned hot for a moment, she lowered her head, and gave a subtle, light laugh.

••••

That day, Nan Xue went to work, and her assistant was surprised to find that her hand was shaking as she signed her name, and she couldn’t straighten her back.