A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 26

The night covered the vast white snow. In the silent night, the occasional sound of passing traffic resembled distant wind. The restaurant’s lights were bright, and small snowflakes twirled in the beams.

It was cold and quiet.

Shu Yubai’s mind buzzed, and everything went blank.

For a long while, she almost thought she was hearing things. The whole world seemed to blur, with Nan Xue’s words “let’s take some time apart” reverberating in her ears, mixed with the sound of the wind, over and over.

Look.

How clear it was—her so-called “liking” had even caused trouble for others.

Shu Yubai’s fingertips trembled slightly. She covered her frozen face but realized her hands were equally cold.

She felt embarrassed and awkward.

In the past, she thought that even if everyone and everything left her, having Nan Xue would be enough. But now, Nan Xue said she wanted to part ways too.

Why?

Had she really never felt moved at all?

Nan Xue didn’t look at her. She lowered her head and took out her phone from her small black bag.

Then she made a call.

Shu Yubai looked down but kept glancing at her.

She was so beautiful; even at this moment, she still looked appealing.

With her black hair and snowy skin, full lips like ripe, juicy berries. She wore a thick down jacket, with long, white legs, a slim waist, and a slender, model-like figure. Her eyes were clear and bright, yet chillingly indifferent, like melting ice.

Her gaze was so cold, as if she had no emotions at all.

In the next moment, Nan Xue, holding her phone, spoke into it: “… Assistant Xiao, please come pick me up. I’ve sent you the location. I’m standing at the hotel entrance. Thank you.”

Nan Xue ended the call.

Shu Yubai asked her, “Are you leaving?”

Nan Xue avoided Shu Yubai’s gaze, looking away, and said, “Yes. Please calm down, okay?” (TN: This brat! You deserve to be left behind. Did you know I’m shedding tears right now!!)

Shu Yubai stared at her unblinkingly.

Her whole body felt cold.

After a while, a smile appeared at the corners of her lips, her gaze still gentle. She said, “Then, take care of yourself.” (TN: Please don’t smile; it hurts me. I’d rather see you cry 🥹😭.)

Nan Xue didn’t respond.

A short while later, a black Maybach stopped by the roadside, and the car window slowly lowered, revealing her father’s assistant, Xiao He.

Nan Xue’s short boots crunched over the clean snow as she walked to the car. The assistant got out to open the door for her, and she got in.

“Miss Nan, where to?”

The car was warm inside, the heat making everything feel disorienting.

Nan Xue quietly leaned against the back seat. Her reflection in the rearview mirror showed her dark eyes. She rested her chin on her hand, thought for a moment, and said, “Wait a bit.”

Nan Xue looked out the window.

The snow-covered city looked blurry in the night. The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, whipped against the window glass, carrying a harsh, cruel edge.

On the roadside, Shu Yubai still stood under the streetlamp, unmoving, as if frozen.

Nan Xue leaned against the window, her breath fogging up the glass. Shu Yubai’s figure became blurry. She hesitated for a moment, wiped the fog away with her delicate fingers, and looked again.

Shu Yubai slowly bent over.

Her thin coat outlined her figure, her long hair and slender waist. Despite her young age, she seemed to bear an immense weight at this moment, slightly hunched, her back looking weary.

At such a time, looking at her still made her heart ache.

She struggled to suppress her emotions.

Xiao He watched her from the rearview mirror, seeming to want to say something but hesitating.

Nan Xue, however, just looked away, raising an eyebrow, “What are you looking at?”

Xiao He: “…”

Shu Yubai buried her face in her hands, her long hair splayed around her, taking a deep breath.

In the distance, Xiao Yi walked away with another girl, seemingly comforting her.

Shu Yubai followed them as they left.

At the end of the road, Shu Yubai suddenly turned back.

But Nan Xue had already told Xiao He, “Let’s go.”

The car drove away.

Shu Yubai could only see the flickering tail lights.

Quite good.

So heartless.

Nan Xue looked down at her phone, which displayed numerous missed calls, still increasing. Her fingertips trembled in mid-air, and she hadn’t replied to any.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the incoming calls finally stopped.

••••

The city, long weathered by the frost, was covered in white snow, giving it an icy and desolate feel. Ice had formed on the asphalt roads, and snow blanketed the branches, rooftops, and residents’ balconies, creating a serene, almost dreamlike quiet.

Yet this tranquility was unsettling.

As the car drove over a river and onto a bridge, Nan Xue looked into the distance. Their home was across the river.

The river reflected countless lights.

Should she go back?

She didn’t want to. If she went back now, Shu Yubai might think there was still a chance for them. Nan Xue didn’t want her to waste any more feelings on her that weren’t worth it. When something should end, it should end clearly, with a firm rejection if there’s no response. (TN: Tsk, don’t you dare chase after her then!)

Xiao He glanced at Nan Xue through the rearview mirror. She was staring blankly out the window, her indifferent eyes reflecting the moving night lights.

“Miss Nan, we’ve circled this area three times already.”

“Where do you want to go?”

Nan Xue sighed lightly and said, “Where are you staying now? I’ll come see.”

Xiao He took her to a hotel.

Nan Xue had brought nothing with her, but fortunately, her ID was in her wallet. Xiao He took the ID and helped her book a room and check in.

As they entered the room, Xiao He observed her expression and asked quietly, “Have you had a falling out with Miss Shu?”

The shadow that had just been dispelled seemed to have returned.

Nan Xue paused for a moment and then replied coldly, “Don’t mention her to me.”

Oh.

Xiao He glanced at her, thinking that meant there was a conflict.

It was strange. Back then, despite her father’s insistence, she wouldn’t separate from Shu Yubai. Now she was the one leaving.

Xiao He tentatively suggested, “Maybe you could go home in a few days? Mr. Nan misses you.”

Nan Xue shook her head and replied softly, “We’ll see.”

She closed the hotel room’s automatic door, removed her thick down jacket, and hung it on the coat rack, leaving only a thin sweater. She pulled back the covers and settled in.

As she closed her eyes, she wondered what Shu Yubai was doing.

Having dinner with Xiao Yi?

Or had she already gone home?

The blanket was thick and made her somewhat warm. She suddenly recalled the day they had shared a bed at the hot spring hotel.

Nan Xue slowly reached out with her delicate fingers and touched her own lips.

They were warm, still carrying a hint of Shu Yubai’s scent.

Her lips were so soft.

In the next moment, Nan Xue closed her eyes again, turned over, and wrapped the blanket tighter.

Her expression was one of controlled indifference.

••••

Nan Xue stayed at the hotel for a week.

Xiao He was fine, as he was mainly in the city to handle her father’s affairs and took the opportunity to look after Nan Xue. He wasn’t in a hurry, but Nan Xue didn’t understand what she was doing.

She was unwilling to go back to see Shu Yubai.

She couldn’t completely sever ties with Shu Yubai by returning to her father’s place.

So she remained in the hotel.

Perhaps one day, when Shu Yubai moved on, she could return, and they might continue being friends.

In the cold weather, regardless of the hour, the sky was always a gray-blue haze, showing no warmth. The horizon was faintly white, the city gray and shrouded as if trapped in an unawakable old dream.

In the morning.

Nan Xue stood in front of the mirror once again. The reflection in the mirror, not having seen daylight for a long time, showed a pale face with no color, even the veins beneath the skin visible. Nan Xue washed her face, dried it, and, not wanting to wear makeup, just applied lip balm before heading out.

To her surprise, she saw a familiar figure downstairs at breakfast.

It was a young girl, with a sweet smile that made her eyes crescent-shaped when she laughed. She wore a pleated skirt and a short sweater, sitting there eating breakfast, her laughter carefree.

Nan Xue had seen her once before in Xiao Yi’s studio, when Shu Yubai was holding her hand and teaching her to paint.

— Dong Ling.

She was here. But where was Shu Yubai?

Nan Xue thought of Shu Yubai again.

Her face suddenly turned cold, frowning and slightly irritated.

Dong Ling was seated near the buffet bar, surrounded by a few people who seemed to know her, occasionally looking up and chatting.

The conversation was pleasant.

Nan Xue had initially planned to sit by the window on the right but instead paused, then turned around, and took a seat across from Dong Ling with her tray.

“Why are you here?”

Nan Xue asked.

Dong Ling, who was in the middle of slurping her breakfast noodles, paused and looked at her.

Nan Xue, wearing a pure white turtleneck sweater and a black handbag slung over her shoulder, her skin as white as snow, lips like cherries, with long, slim legs and a slender waist, carried her tray without disturbing anyone and observed Dong Ling with a hint of curiosity.

“Don’t you paint anymore?”

Dong Ling, seeing the person in front of her, lost all appetite instantly.

“The art exhibition is on the third floor of the hotel. I came to help.”

“Uh, breakfast is provided by the organizer.”

Nan Xue wasn’t fond of chatting with strangers.

While eating her bread, she made aimless conversation with Dong Ling.

Most of the time, Dong Ling tried to keep the conversation going, searching for topics to discuss, but was met with Nan Xue’s indifferent “Mm” or “Yes.”

She looked at the delicate and beautiful girl across from her and suddenly felt a genuine admiration for Shu Yubai: being with someone like this, who was like a human ice block, for so long was impressive. Not to mention, the gentle and kind Shu Yubai managed it. If it were her, she would have left long ago.

“The weather is quite nice today,” Dong Ling said, looking out the window.

“Mm, minus 3 degrees,” Nan Xue replied without looking up.

“How do you know?” Dong Ling asked.

“I checked the weather forecast this morning,” Nan Xue answered.

••••

Nan Xue found herself about to mention “Shu Yubai” several times, but kept suppressing it.

Finally, Dong Ling finished her breakfast in the long awkward silence.

She picked up her tray and said, “I’ll take my leave then.”

Nan Xue stood up instantly, “Wait.”

Dong Ling looked curious, “Hmm?”

Nan Xue then slowly asked, “Has Shu Yubai been over to your place these days?”

Dong Ling thought for a moment and said, “No. I haven’t seen Sister Yubai for a while.”

“Oh.”

Nan Xue sat back down.

She picked up her napkin with her long, fair fingers and wiped her red lips.

She couldn’t quite describe her feelings.

Disappointed?

How could she be.

She lowered her cold, thin eyelids, wrestling with herself internally.

In the evening, a light snow began to fall from the sky, and the temperature continued to drop.

On the cobbled path, pedestrians were sparse. Some carried umbrellas while others did not. The snow had been trodden down, leaving overlapping footprints that were dirty.

Nan Xue thought, I’ll just go back and check on that little dog.

What if Shu Yubai was in a bad mood and forgot to feed it?

A faint noise.

The key turned in the lock, and Nan Xue stood in the dimly lit hallway as the sensor light came on. She looked inside, and the room was pitch dark and silent. She called out the little dog’s name but didn’t hear the small creature coming to nip at her pant leg.

The entire house was cold and desolate, and she didn’t know how long it had been since anyone had lived there.