A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 13

The night was completely silent.

Had she woken up?

Nan Xue’s fingertip hovered in the air, frozen. In an instant, her cheeks felt like they were burning with obvious warmth. After a moment, she heard a soft creak as Shu Yubai turned over gently, her breathing steady, but she was still deeply asleep.

“……”

Nan Xue hesitated for a moment, placing her slender fingers on her lips.

The warmth didn’t diminish.

Warm, hot, with a moist rhythm of breathing.

Snowy nights are always exceptionally quiet. She stood on the slightly raised edge of the old wooden floor for a while, her fingertips feeling cold.

Her heartbeat had gradually calmed.

She glanced once more at the sleeping woman, raised her eyebrows slightly, turned, and left briskly.

••••

The next day was a weekend. It was supposed to be like before, with both of them going out shopping and strolling together, but Nan Xue didn’t get to see Shu Yubai.

Xiao Yi had arranged for Shu Yubai to go to the art museum.

“Morandi’s exhibition. The museum opens at ten in the morning.”

Xiao Yi’s slender fingers gripped the steering wheel as she glanced at the rearview mirror. Shu Yubai, with her long hair spread out, sat in the back seat.

She was lowering her head, her delicate brows furrowed, looking very serious.

It seemed she was replying to an important message.

“Mm.” Shu Yubai, sitting in the back seat, responded with a quiet sound, her gaze fixed on her phone with Nan Xue’s message displayed in the chat box.

[Where are you?]

[When will you be home?]

Her delicate fingers trembled slightly as she prepared to reply.

She typed out a string of text, then deleted it.

Xiao Yi glanced at her through the rearview mirror and smiled, “Listen to me, don’t reply to her messages.”

“Hmm?” Shu Yubai looked up, her eyes reflected in the mirror, holding a question.

“You don’t have much experience.”

Xiao Yi smiled gently, “With someone like her, you need to ignore her for a while.”

Shu Yubai lowered her head, looking conflicted.

The distance was short, just about a ten-minute drive.

The white building stood against the backdrop of pine trees and the sky, simple and clean, with an interesting design.

“We’ve arrived.”

Xiao Yi applied the brakes and parked steadily.

As soon as the car door opened, a gust of cold air swept in, accompanied by fine snowflakes.

“It’s below zero today.”

Xiao Yi adjusted Shu Yubai’s scarf and watched her close the car door.

The street was sparsely populated.

Only the entrance of the art museum was crowded.

Shu Yubai stood at a distance, surveying the peculiar building under the daylight. The white spire, a low window on the north side, and the smoky glass emitting a dim light. On the south side was a row of green pines, their branches covered with snow, merging with the blue sky above.

The pure white pebble path led across the lawn in a zigzag pattern.

“Ying Ran’s private art museum.”

“……”

Ying Ran was Nan Xue’s somewhat unfamiliar uncle.

As an art enthusiast, he had a rich collection of paintings, both Western and Eastern. The main focus of this exhibition was Morandi’s works.

Xiao Yi stood at the entrance, frowning as she glanced at the long line, and smiled helplessly. “We’re still late.”

Most of the people in line were engaged in artistic professions, such as students or teachers. World-renowned paintings are worth half a city’s worth. Only in such occasions can one appreciate them.

Xiao Yi led Shu Yubai to join the queue.

Feeling a slight jostle on her shoulder, Shu Yubai turned around and glimpsed a man.

Following the man’s gaze, she spotted a familiar figure and her heart skipped a beat.

A white Porsche was parked by the roadside. A woman, carrying a bag, got out of the car.

In the middle of winter, the woman, dressed in a black checkered skirt, long legs, and red lips curled into a smile, looked calm as a lake.

Xiao Yi glanced over and said, “You Fu?”

It was clearly a former senior. However, she seemed to belong to a different world from them.

Previously, the mentor’s favorites were Shu Yubai and You Fu.

You Fu and Shu Yubai had different styles; Shu Yubai leaned towards elegant and subtle classicalism, while You Fu preferred vibrant, high-contrast post-impressionism with strong colors.

“My students, besides the two of you, there’s no other regret in my teaching life.”

— The mentor once expressed such sentiment.

Now, Shu Yubai had almost withdrawn from this stage, leaving only You Fu.

Yet she still shone brightly.

You Fu walked in high heels, not queuing but simply removing her sunglasses beside the long line, exchanging a glance with the security guard, and was let in.

She didn’t need to queue?

Xiao Yi raised her eyebrows.

You Fu was quite proud.

When she passed Shu Yubai, she merely gave a brief glance.

Like a stranger.

A gentle touch on her shoulder brought Shu Yubai out of her long reminiscence, and she met a pair of tender eyes.

Xiao Yi looked at her and said, “She’s still the same, the senior sister always was like this.”

Her tone was meant to soothe her.

Shu Yubai merely smiled lightly and sighed, “It’s okay.”

She had long since grown accustomed to it over the years.

The paintings in the exhibition were small, hanging high on the white walls.

Shu Yubai looked at the paintings, with their low saturation and similar brightness, so faint and quiet, as if entering a soothing, tranquil piano piece, everything was hazy, and the real world seemed shrouded in mist.

It was a complete stillness.

Real and unreal, like a lingering dream.

Xiao Yi observed the paintings on the wall and said, “It’s indeed very interesting.”

Shu Yubai snapped out of her thoughts and said simply, “Let’s go.”

“Finished looking?” Xiao Yi asked, twirling a curl of hair with her fingertip, playfully suggesting, “Want to try again next month?”

“Try what?”

Shu Yubai’s eyes held a hint of confusion.

“There’s an art exhibition next month. At the National Academy of Painting.”

Shu Yubai’s eyelids drooped slightly, her long eyelashes curling under the exhibition lights, revealing an indescribable aura. She was deep in thought.

After pondering for a while, she finally said, “Let’s see.”

The problem with her hand made painting painful when she exerted pressure, which was minor; the key issue was her fear.

She was afraid.

Afraid that her paintings wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny, that they wouldn’t make it to the exhibition, making all past efforts seem like self-deceiving dreams, fragile and easily shattered by a slight denial.

“Why not go?” Xiao Yi said softly, “I just think it’s a pity. Your paintings are clearly so good.”

Shu Yubai didn’t answer, only looked at her.

In her heart, she thought, that was the past, not the present.

A moment later, a notification pinged on her phone. Xiao Yi had sent her a location.

“This is my studio in Beijing. If you have time, come visit.”

Her eyes were smiling, her brown pupils warm.

••••

By the time she got home, it was already dark outside.

The lights were on inside, and the fog on the glass windows was illuminated, looking like it was encrusted with tiny diamonds.

Shu Yubai fumbled with the keys, opened the door, and, while tucking her hair behind her ear and changing into her slippers, called out, “Nan Xue?”

There was no response.

The little dog, however, greeted her joyfully, wagging its tail eagerly.

Nan Xue was sitting on the sofa on the second floor, seemingly waiting for someone. She was wearing sleep pants, her long legs crossed, and her small face in her dark hair looked especially aloof. She had a magazine on her lap, flipping through the pages without speaking to Shu Yubai.

Shu Yubai was puzzled. She glanced at Nan Xue, who still ignored her.

So she went to her room alone.

As she passed by Nan Xue, Nan Xue suddenly spoke up:

“Where did you go?”

Shu Yubai turned to look at her. “To an exhibition.”

“Who did you go with?”

Nan Xue continued to ask.

Her gaze never lifted, still focused on the travel magazine, her slender fingers pinching the edge of the pages, turning them over and over.

When did she become interested in travel?

Shu Yubai sighed, pulling her long hair up to reveal her slender neck, and poured herself a cup of hot water.

Wearing a V-neck knitted sweater, the outline of her collarbone was visible, and the skin on her chest was slightly flushed from the warmth of the room, appearing pink and translucent. Her chest was soft and swayed slightly with her movement.

“I went with Xiao Yi,” Shu Yubai said, carrying the water and cautiously sitting down beside Nan Xue.

She offered the cup of water to Nan Xue, who glanced at it and then turned away.

“No need.”

The response was very cold.

Hmm.

Shu Yubai set the cup down and propped her head on her hand, looking at Nan Xue.

Had she gotten upset because Shu Yubai hadn’t replied all day?

She had wanted to respond but had promised Xiao Yi to follow her advice and not reply. Xiao Yi said she had experience and suggested giving Nan Xue some space.

She felt a pang of reluctance.

The delicate, faint fragrance of the girl’s hair spread out.

The room was warm enough, and Nan Xue was only wearing a white top, with her ankles exposed. Her white and clean feet were tucked into fluffy slippers. She seemed to have just taken a shower, with damp hair ends dripping slightly, leaving a water stain on her translucent collarbone.

Shu Yubai’s longing grew like creeping vines in her heart.

She put down the water cup and gently embraced Nan Xue.

Nan Xue closed the magazine and finally lifted her gaze.

“Just the exhibition?”

Shu Yubai hesitated for a moment before answering, “Not just that.”

Not just that?

There seemed to be some emotion flickering in Nan Xue’s eyes, though it was hard to discern. She looked at Shu Yubai, but after a while, she fell silent again and lowered her head to read.

“What’s wrong? Hmm?”

Shu Yubai continued to hold her gently.

It was snowing outside, and Shu Yubai, dressed warmly, felt hot as soon as she entered the house and had already removed her coat. This close embrace was very intimate. Nan Xue’s slender waist fit perfectly in her hands, her cool hair and warm neck were so close.

Shu Yubai’s breath lightly brushed against Nan Xue’s ear.

In no time, the cool earlobe had turned red.

Nan Xue’s ears were sensitive, and she felt slightly uncomfortable. She lifted her gaze and glanced at Shu Yubai.

Her gaze lingered.

Her long, black hair was pinned up, and the curve of her snow-white neck resembled a swan. The room was warm, but her collarbone still had a slight red tinge from the snow. Her thin sweater clung to her body, accentuating her curves. She had a naturally voluptuous figure, with a slim waist and a short skirt.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes seeming to glisten with water, with the same patient and gentle expression as before.

They were close.

Their breaths mingled.

The moment of eye contact was intimate, and Nan Xue lowered her thick lashes, her gaze sliding to Shu Yubai’s lips.

Full, glossy, and soft.

After a pause, she suddenly stood up and asked, “Are you like this with others too?