A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 15

[I’ll see if I can find any teachers to visit in Beijing.]

Nan Xue opened her phone to read Shu Yubai’s message. The sky was getting brighter, and she emerged from her blanket, drew back the curtains, and saw the white expanse outside with a few cars rushing by.

After changing clothes, she went to the living room where a note from Shu Yubai was stuck to the refrigerator.

— “The porridge is in the clay pot. Remember to reheat it if it gets cold.”

— “The vegetables are washed. Just stir-fry them.”

Her handwriting was very neat, even on notes. Nan Xue tore off the note, the last sentence was written prominently, with delicate small characters but a firm stroke.

— “Your stomach isn’t good. Don’t skip breakfast.”

A cute smiley face was drawn afterward.

Nan Xue looked down, her lips curved up slightly.

The porridge was still warm. Nan Xue turned on the low heat, watching the white porridge bubble and emit a faint fragrance. She scooped a spoonful and blew on it.

After a moment, the phone rang.

She answered it.

“Hello?”

It was her father’s voice, sounding resigned.

“Why do you need your uncle’s contact information?”

Nan Xue took a tissue to wipe her fingertips and replied, “I need to contact him about something.”

“What is it?”

“It’s important.”

There was silence on the other end for a long time, only the sound of breathing.

“Ying Ran is a painter. Are you looking for him regarding Xiao Shu?”

Nan Xue lowered her head and replied softly, “Yes.”

There was a pause on the other end, then her father asked, “What’s going on between you and Xiao Shu?”

Nan Xue frowned, not understanding the question.

After a while, her father asked slowly, “I heard that Xiao Shu likes women?”

Nan Xue was slightly surprised and wondered how her father knew. Some things are probably hard to hide.

She hesitated for a moment and then said, “Yes.”

Her father raised his voice slightly, asking, “So what about you and her—”

“Friends.”

Nan Xue replied calmly, “I don’t like women.”

Her father responded with a doubtful “Oh,” and Nan Xue was silent for a moment before continuing, “If we could be together, we would have been.”

“…”

Her father was silent for a moment and then asked, “Does she have a girlfriend?”

Nan Xue frowned, “Yes.”

Her father seemed relieved and vaguely said, “If she’s lacking a partner, we can introduce someone. Since she’s such a close friend, we should make sure she’s doing well.”

There was silence.

After a while, Nan Xue said, “What’s uncle’s number?”

Her father quickly said, “Okay, okay, I’ll send it to you.”

After hanging up, Nan Xue tugged at her collar, no longer able to eat the porridge.

The room was warm with the heating, making her feel a bit stuffy and irritated.

••••

It had been some time since she had been in contact with her uncle.

In fact, since her parents’ divorce, there had been very little contact with her mother and her side of the family.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried to reach her mother.

But on her 10th birthday, she saw through the floor-to-ceiling window of her mother’s villa, her mother playing with another child. She kissed the other child’s forehead and played with building blocks, completely ignoring Nan Xue, who was standing outside the window. That day, Nan Xue realized her mother no longer wanted her.

She could only rely on her father.

As for her previously beloved uncle, this was the first time in many years that she had taken the initiative to contact him.

Outside the car window was the winter cityscape.

After some winding, the car stopped by a frozen lake.

In the middle of the lake was a long wooden bridge, surrounded by icy blue snow-capped mountains. There were artists sketching and tourists taking photos; the lake shore was lined with white-walled, dark-tiled lodgings.

Under the snowy daylight, the falling snow reflected a cold, clear light. Nan Xue got out of the car, closed the door, and looked at the grayish-blue buildings by the lake. It was a gated garden with castle-like architecture, marble walls, half on the shore and half extending into the lake.

It was quite tall, about five or six floors.

As Nan Xue approached, the camera turned towards her, and soon, the iron gate opened. A middle-aged man came out with a friendly smile.

“Xiao Nan, you’re here?”

“Uncle.” Nan Xue greeted him, and her father’s assistant, Xiao He, immediately took out several rolls of paintings from the trunk.

“It’s been a long time. You’ve grown into a charming young lady.”

Nan Xue took the paintings and handed them to the man across from her.

“What’s this for?”

Ying Ran scratched his head. Sending paintings? Was that necessary?

Nan Xue looked down and softly said, “These are from a friend. Can you help look at them?”

Ying Ran glanced at her. Nan Xue seemed not used to asking for help, her eyes slightly lowered, and her pale face was a bit flushed.

Still a child.

He smiled and said, “Sure, no problem.”

••••

After leaving Ying Ran, the driver took her away.

The main road was getting crowded with tourists, making it prone to traffic jams. The driver turned onto a small road.

The small road passed many lodgings, with beautiful scenery. The white-walled, dark-tiled courtyards were covered in withered vines, paper lanterns glowing, and thick snow on the eaves.

Nan Xue gazed quietly out the window.

Icicles hanging from the eaves melted, dripping onto the flagstone path below.

She gently curved the corner of her lips, lowered her head, and shared her uncle’s WeChat contact with Shu Yubai.

[Sister, would you like to learn from him?]

With a beep, the message was sent successfully.

Some cars were parked in front of the lodgings, and the alley became narrow. The driver, cautious of hitting other vehicles, carefully watched the rearview mirror and drove very slowly.

A small building with a garden appeared nearby, looking quite exquisite at first glance.

It seemed to be an art studio.

Nan Xue looked up, her gaze pausing. The car parked in front of the door, with its silver body covered in dust, looked very familiar.

It seemed to be…

She quickly tapped the window. “Stop for a moment.”

The driver braked, glancing at the rearview mirror with curiosity. Assistant Xiao He turned around from the passenger seat. “Miss Nan?”

Nan Xue ignored him, got out of the car, and walked around to check the license plate of the car. It was identical to the one Shu Yubai drove.

The driver looked at her, puzzled.

Nan Xue’s expression turned cold. “You go first.”

••••

Meanwhile.

Dong Ling held the cicada-winged rice paper and meticulously outlined a bunch of orchids with a fine-tipped pen. She occasionally turned to ask Shu Yubai for her opinion. Shu Yubai, with her gentle temperament, patiently sat beside her, correcting her mistakes as needed.

The room was quiet.

Smoke gently rose from the ice-blue incense burner.

A faint creak was heard.

The door opened.

Dong Ling turned around and saw a tall girl standing on the cold stone-paved path. Backlit, her expression was unclear, but her gaze seemed fixed on the hands of the two people overlapping.

“Sister.”

The soft voice carried a hint of emotion.

Shu Yubai turned around, her hand trembling slightly, leaving a long mark on the paper with the brush.

Nan Xue?

“Why are you here?” Shu Yubai asked.

Dong Ling immediately sensed something special about this girl.

As soon as she entered, Shu Yubai’s attention seemed to be solely on her, even subconsciously lifting a lock of long hair with her pinky and sitting up straighter.

Who was she?

Dong Ling was curious and followed Shu Yubai’s gaze.

The person at the door wore a white short down jacket and shook the snow off her boots on the carpet before standing up straight.

She took a step inside.

The soft orange light illuminated the tip of her nose.

Tall and with a cold demeanor.

Very young.

Her short black hair shimmered with a cool luster, gently falling on her collarbone. Her skin was as white as snow, her lips cherry-red, as if she had just come from the snow, with her nose slightly red from the cold.

She took off her hat, which had snowflakes on the white down brim, bringing a chill with her.

Her eyes were also very beautiful.

Her pupils were very dark, with a clean gaze, brightened by the reflection of the snow.

“Who is she?”

Nan Xue glanced at Dong Ling and walked over slowly.

“Are you talking about Dong Ling?”

Shu Yubai said, “She is Xiao Yi’s student, and she’s outlining.”

Dong Ling shyly smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons when she smiled. Her smile was warm and straightforward, typical of her age.

Shu Yubai ruffled Dong Ling’s hair and introduced her.

“This is Nan Xue, my friend.”

Dong Ling, having her head gently patted, smiled with embarrassment.

Nan Xue stopped.

She didn’t look at the two of them and directly walked over to sit on a fabric sofa. After a while, she raised her gaze and glanced at Dong Ling.

Her pitch-black eyes carried a moment of hostility.

Just a fleeting moment, almost like an illusion.

Dong Ling shivered and quietly said, “Sister Yubai, you’re busy. I can manage on my own.”

Dong Ling lowered her head and continued drawing. Shu Yubai stood up and observed for a while, noting that the drawing was quite good.

She then walked over and sat next to Nan Xue.

Aunt Xu, who was clearing the snow outside, came in and, seeing another guest, quickly made tea for both of them. The porcelain cups were slightly hot, filled with high-quality Longjing tea, emitting a fresh fragrance in the white mist.

“Weren’t you supposed to find a teacher?”

Nan Xue lowered her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her fair profile and cherry-like lips, with a cold expression.

Her fingertips trembled slightly as she opened the screen and tapped on the chat box where Shu Yubai’s message was still displayed.

[I was looking for a teacher.]

Shu Yubai, not in a hurry, picked up her teacup and took a sip. “Xiao Yi is currently teaching. That teacher is familiar with her. I’ll wait for her and go together later.”

Nan Xue glanced at her, her eyes flashing with some emotion.

Nan Xue glanced at her, her eyes flashing with some emotion.

“Why didn’t you ask me?”

Nan Xue lowered her head and said softly, “Why didn’t you go with me?”

“With you?”

Shu Yubai was taken aback.

Nan Xue continued, “You didn’t even look at the messages I sent you.”

“I didn’t really check my phone…”

Before Shu Yubai could finish, Nan Xue suddenly stood up and took a deep breath.

“Forget it.”

She picked up her shoulder bag, turned around, and said, “You keep waiting for her. I’m leaving now.”

It seemed she was genuinely angry.

Shu Yubai quickly stood up and reached for her hand. With the temperature dropping today, Nan Xue, who was sensitive to the cold, had cold, pale fingers.

Shu Yubai pinched her fingertips and said, “Your hands are so cold.”

Nan Xue paused.

Her dark hair fell over her face, and her long lashes drooped.

Her indifferent eyelids were thin, but her lips, like cherries, looked somewhat childish and delicate, giving her a rather charming appearance rather than intimidating.

“In such cold weather, you’re wearing a skirt.”

Shu Yubai glanced at her dress and gently tugged at it.

From the stairs came the sound of someone carefully peeking down.

Shu Yubai: “…”

The small building was made of wood and wasn’t very soundproof. A single word caused a buzzing noise for a while. To avoid disturbing Xiao Yi’s class, she led Nan Xue out of the room.

Outside, fine snowflakes drifted gently.

The two stood in the garden beside the small building. Everything was silent. An orchid was buried under the snow, its long leaves sparse.

The wintersweet bloomed quietly.

The northern wind howled, carrying snowflakes. Shu Yubai held Nan Xue close to shield her from the wind and snow, standing at the corner of the southern wall.

Nan Xue’s hand in Shu Yubai’s palm was cool but soft. As Shu Yubai looked at Nan Xue’s profile, she felt that their interaction like this seemed quite nice.

Shu Yubai asked, “Are you cold?”

Nan Xue nodded.

Nan Xue’s slender, pale hand was very cold. Shu Yubai looked at her and, not knowing how long she had been in the snow, felt an inexplicable pang of tenderness.

“It’s below freezing today, of course it’s cold.”

Shu Yubai said, then, thinking for a moment, she unfastened the horn buttons of her coat and said, “Come here.”

Nan Xue was slightly stunned.

With the beige wool coat open, Nan Xue was dressed thinly underneath—just a close-fitting white cashmere sweater with a slight fuzz, like a plush toy. In the snow, a delicate silver chain on her collarbone was somewhat cold.

Yet the warmth from her chest was so inviting.

Nan Xue hesitated and then tentatively reached her arm inside Shu Yubai’s coat, gently wrapping it around her waist.

Her waist was slim and soft. Her dark hair fell loose, with two strands draping over the soft, white curve of her chest.

Nan Xue’s hands were cold, but Shu Yubai was warm.

She hesitated for a moment before moving a bit closer.

Through the thin fabric, their heartbeats seemed to synchronize, thumping, thumping, thumping.

Nan Xue lowered her eyes and, resting near Shu Yubai’s ear, gently exhaled, “I found a teacher for you.”

“Hmm?”

Shu Yubai looked up in surprise.

Her long eyelashes and beautiful eyes brightened slightly, like a satisfied little animal.

Nan Xue watched her quietly.

Her eyes were clear, with dark pupils, and when she looked at someone, her expression was focused and somewhat affectionate.

Shu Yubai’s long lashes fluttered.

Her half-closed eyes lost their sparkle, with a hint of red at the corners. In the frigid cold, with her long hair scattered and her expression softened by the moist mist of her breath, she looked a bit tender and enchanting.

“It’s your uncle, right?”

Shu Yubai asked gently, “Did you go to see him just now?”

“Yes. He’s here too.”

Shu Yubai pinched Nan Xue’s fingertips, unsure of what to say, feeling a bit achy inside. She leaned closer and whispered, “Thank you.”

They hadn’t talked much, just embraced for a while. Nan Xue was no longer angry. Passersby occasionally glanced over from outside the fence. Shu Yubai’s cheeks warmed slightly as she said, “Let’s go.”

Nan Xue nodded, squatting down to help Shu Yubai fasten each horn button of her coat, from her thigh up to her abdomen, and then to her chest.

“You don’t have to…”

Shu Yubai looked down.

Nan Xue happened to look up at that moment.

Her breath was light, and her gaze was tenderly focused.

Shu Yubai held her hand.

Her heart raced, but she spoke in a tone so soft it was almost inaudible:

“Just now, my heart was beating very fast.”