A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 45

The door was closed, and the curtains were drawn. Nan Xue seemed to be holding a very serious secret conversation, speaking in a lowered voice in the dim light.

“Who do you like?” Lin Lan asked.

“Shu Yubai.”

“!!!”

Lin Lan’s phone dropped with a thud. She bent down to pick it up, holding it to her ear, and could still hear Nan Xue’s breathing, soft and not having hung up.

“You like her?”

Lin Lan confirmed once more, still shaken.

Nan Xue admitted softly, “Yes. Didn’t you always say that I liked her? How did you figure it out?” (TN: This silly brat 🤦🏻‍♀️😆)

Lin Lan: “…”

That was just a guess.

It took her about five minutes to piece together the story from Nan Xue: Shu Yubai had confessed to her, but Nan Xue had rejected her decisively, leaving no hope at all. Then, after a month, Nan Xue realized she actually liked Shu Yubai… but it was too late, as Shu Yubai was now surrounded by a group of people who also had feelings for her.

Now she wanted to try to win her back.

“I don’t know how to pursue a girl either.”

Lin Lan thought for a moment. “The methods for pursuing someone are pretty standard: invite her to a movie, go on dates, create opportunities… and confess when the time is right.”

“Okay.”

Nan Xue made a mental note.

Lin Lan asked from the other end of the phone, “Why is your voice so quiet?”

Nan Xue replied, “Shu Yubai is outside. I’m afraid she’ll overhear.” She then glanced through the gap in the curtains.

Lin Lan: “…”

After a moment, Lin Lan asked Nan Xue, “Do you think she still likes you?”

Does she still like me?

Nan Xue looked out through the light beige curtain. In the snowy weather, she saw the woman with her back to her, holding a pencil and still drawing, not paying any attention to her.

Nan Xue: “Hard to say.”

Lin Lan paused, then asked, “So there’s a chance she might still like you?”

Nan Xue: “I don’t know.”

Lin Lan: “But if she still likes you, why wouldn’t she agree to be with you?”

Nan Xue’s fingertips whitened and she stiffened.

If she still likes me, why wouldn’t she agree?

Nan Xue’s mind raced with many thoughts, and for a moment, she felt a bit timid.

Lin Lan thought for a while and said on the phone, “How about this: I’ll ask Shu Yubai what she’s thinking now.”

“Okay, thank you,” Nan Xue said, looking down and reminding her, “Don’t say I asked you to ask.” After a moment, Lin Lan was about to hang up, and Nan Xue blushed and added, “Don’t say I like her.”

Lin Lan: “I know, I know.”

Then she ended the call.

On the other side.

Approaching lunchtime, Shu Yubai got up, organized her paintings, and walked through the snow-covered courtyard into her room. She pushed open the door, and the phone rang.

She placed the paintings on the table and saw that the call was from Lin Lan.

“Hello?”

Shu Yubai answered the phone.

“Nan Xue just told me she likes you,” Lin Lan asked, “What do you think?”

Why did Nan Xue tell her that?

Shu Yubai looked down at a corner of the drawing paper that had rolled up on the wooden table. She gently smoothed it out and cleared her throat awkwardly. “She mentioned it once before, but I didn’t take it seriously.”

“She… might be possessive.”

“Or she might be confusing fondness with romantic love.”

“I see.”

Lin Lan murmured, “That could be it.”

Shu Yubai leaned by the window, looking at the tall tree in the courtyard, slightly lost in thought. A certain image resurfaced in her mind.

If she really liked me, why was she so repulsed by my kiss?

The look on Nan Xue’s face after the kiss that day lingered in her mind.

••••

Her delicate white fingers wiped away the trace of moisture from her lips.

Her expression turned unfamiliar.

Fear, a momentary coldness and detachment, such rejection.

As if she had been kissed and sullied.

Shu Yubai lowered her head, a strand of hair covering her profile. She didn’t want to delve further into the issue with Lin Lan, only saying, “Sometimes, friends are better than lovers.”

“For the long term.”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

Shu Yubai glanced outside again.

••••

The two talked for a bit more. Outside, Ying Ran’s assistant was waving at her from the courtyard, calling her for lunch, and Nan Xue had also come out. Shu Yubai checked the time; it was past twelve, so she hurriedly ended the conversation. “I’m going to eat now.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

Lin Lan hung up the phone.

On the other side, Nan Xue received a message from Lin Lan:

Lin Lan: [Maybe she doesn’t believe you like her?]

Nan Xue: [Why wouldn’t she believe it?]

Lin Lan: […]

Lin Lan: [How would I know.]

Nan Xue felt a bit lost.

She put her phone into her bag and waited quietly at the door for Shu Yubai. When Shu Yubai happened to open the door, their eyes met.

Nan Xue looked at her, feeling that the blush from her earlier confession to Lin Lan hadn’t faded yet.

However, Shu Yubai seemed somewhat evasive and didn’t look at her.

A few days ago, Shu Yubai seemed a bit less resistant, but after Lin Lan’s phone call, she seemed somewhat distant again. Nan Xue felt a bit frustrated and didn’t understand what was going on.

Nan Xue asked, “Shall we eat?”

Shu Yubai nodded, “Sure.”

They maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

The courtyard was empty; Ying Ran’s assistant had left earlier, leaving only the two of them. A small sparrow hopped down from the treetop and searched for food in the snow, hopping around.

Shu Yubai was still wearing a white fur-trimmed dress. Her waist was slim, and her long hair fell softly and smoothly over her shoulders, carrying a faint fragrance.

Nan Xue walked over and gently took her hand, feeling its warm touch.

Shu Yubai was momentarily surprised and looked back at her.

The girl’s shoulder-length hair was jet black and gleamed with a cool sheen, lifted slightly by the wind. Her jawline was as white as ice.

“Let’s go,” Nan Xue said.

Shu Yubai gave her a slight push, but not too forcefully. “How old are you?”

Holding hands while eating, like they were in kindergarten?

Is that appropriate?

Nan Xue smiled at her, her cherry-like lips curving up slightly, and her dark eyes reflecting the fragmented light of the snow.

Shu Yubai was momentarily stunned.

She looked down, her long lashes curling, her eyes showing a hint of warmth, not very obvious, but like the melting of ice and snow.

••••

Later, Ying Ran called her over for the routine check of the day’s paintings. They reviewed the marks on the paper, made some corrections, and did a few demonstrations. After finishing, he looked up at Shu Yubai and said, “The landscape paintings are almost done. Next, we can start with portraiture.”

“Have you drawn portraits before?” Ying Ran asked her.

Shu Yubai took out her phone and enlarged a few pictures from her album, showing them one by one—these were all antique-style paintings of women.

“What about oil painting figures?” Ying Ran asked.

“Oil painting figures… I’m not very good at them,” Shu Yubai explained softly, looking down.

Figures were Ying Ran’s specialty, but a weak area for Shu Yubai.

She had studied traditional Chinese painting in college, focusing on figures that were often copies of ancient maidens or recluses, emphasizing spirit rather than proportion or realism.

Later, she switched to oil painting, mainly focusing on landscapes.

Western-style figure painting was almost a blind spot in her knowledge.

“It’s okay, just practice more,” Ying Ran said, handing the painting back to her and ending the day’s practice.

At night, it was very quiet. Outside the floor-to-ceiling window was a vast expanse of white. In the distance, the lake rippled gently, accompanied by the sound of a faint, cold breeze.

A few people gathered around the dining table for dinner. Nan Xue was sitting next to Shu Yubai, and opposite them was Ying Ran. Besides Shu Yubai, Ying Ran had also brought an apprentice, who had been studying with him for six years and still followed him.

Compared to him, Shu Yubai’s foundation was much weaker.

By seniority, she should address him as “Senior Brother.”

The Senior Brother was a taciturn person. Since Shu Yubai arrived, he hadn’t spoken a word. During meals, he kept his head down and only occasionally served food to Ying Ran respectfully, calling him “Teacher.”

After dinner, the Senior Brother suddenly looked up.

“I have two tickets here. They were originally for me and my girlfriend,” he said, holding his phone. He took a screenshot of the two tickets and sent them to Shu Yubai: “Take them and go see a movie.”

Shu Yubai looked at Nan Xue, then at herself.

Realizing that “you” referred to her and Nan Xue.

“Why?” Shu Yubai asked him.

“Just broke up,” the Senior Brother said without looking up, continuing to scoop rice. Ying Ran glanced at him and patted his head: “It’s fine, even after a breakup, you still need to finish tonight’s painting.”

The Senior Brother: “…”

Nan Xue, sitting there, turned to Shu Yubai and asked, “Sister, what tickets?”

Shu Yubai lowered her head and swiped on her phone: “Movie tickets.”

Nan Xue put down her chopsticks, feeling a subtle sense of anticipation. She discreetly dabbed her lips with a napkin and suggested, “Then you should go after you finish eating?”

Shu Yubai shook her head, calm and composed, picking up a piece of vegetable with her chopsticks: “I still need to paint.”

Nan Xue hesitated a bit, looked down, and decided to let it go.

Painting was the most important…

She thought about when Shu Yubai might have time to go out with her… on a date.

Nan Xue looked up, her dark, moist eyes turning to Ying Ran.

“Uncle, when does she have time off?”

Ying Ran glanced at them and waved his hand: “Shu Yubai has the night off. You two go to the movie.”

The Senior Brother looked at him with a hint of dissatisfaction.

••••

“How are we getting there?”

“I don’t know. I’m flexible,” Nan Xue said.

Shu Yubai walked outside. Her car hadn’t arrived, and Nan Xue hadn’t driven either. Should they call a driver? Never mind, in this era of shared economy… maybe they should call a car? Nan Xue looked down and opened a carpooling app, but Shu Yubai pulled her in another direction.

“Sister?”

Shu Yubai led her to the bus stop where a row of shared bicycles were parked. Nan Xue glanced at them, thinking, is it really practical to ride a bike in this cold?

Shu Yubai said, “I checked the map. The cinema is very close. It’s just a short walk. Let’s be a bit more eco-friendly… Nan Xue?”

During her explanation, Nan Xue had already walked over and started scanning the code. The bike unlocked with a beep.

Shu Yubai: “…”

She looked down, took out a pair of gloves from her bag, and handed them to Nan Xue. Riding a bike in winter is cold, but it has its charm—the slightly chilly feeling, riding past the lake in the night, is indescribably wonderful.

Nan Xue pushed the bike to the bike lane, and Shu Yubai touched her hand: “Is it cold?”

Nan Xue replied, “It’s okay.”

Her hands were already very cold. Shu Yubai asked again, “Do you have gloves?” Even though it was obvious she hadn’t brought any, Nan Xue still looked into her bag, then looked up: “No.”

Shu Yubai handed her one of her own gloves: “Put this on your right hand. I’m afraid you might freeze and not be able to hold the brake lever later.”

“What about you?” Nan Xue asked.

“I’ll wear the left one on my right hand,” Shu Yubai said.

Nan Xue smiled and handed the glove back to her: “Sister, I’m resistant to the cold.”

Shu Yubai glanced at her with no expression: “If you fall later, don’t blame me for not warning you.”

They rode slowly around the bike path by the lake. There were rows of sycamore trees along the roadside, their white trunks standing out clearly in the night. Through the branches, you could see the lake reflecting the city lights, shimmering and seemingly endless.

Nan Xue followed behind her. Shu Yubai had added a short down jacket over her dress, but her slender waist was still visible, swaying slightly like a young willow by the lake.

Her long hair gently lifted in the breeze.

A gentle lake breeze met them. At this time, there were few tourists. The surroundings were silent, with only the distant roar of passing vehicles on the asphalt road, bringing a distant wind sound. Nan Xue watched Shu Yubai’s back, feeling a wonderful sensation in her heart.

Almost as if by telepathy, Shu Yubai turned back to look at her. The moonlight illuminated her eyes, soft and beautiful, her red lips curving slightly.

Nan Xue’s heart skipped a beat.

…And then she bumped into a stone post in front of her.