A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 48

Nan Xue stood still for a moment.

Her gaze seemed to have been scalded, unsure where to settle.

The woman locked eyes with her, and a hint of panic flashed in her moist eyes. She instinctively tightened the towel around her.

But the towel wasn’t enough to cover her.

She was wrapped in a beige towel, her dark hair pinned up at the back of her head, the ends hanging damp. Her smooth, white legs were exposed, and the towel was too short, barely covering her rounded hips.

Water droplets ran from her neck, falling into the deep, white crevice.

The towel was a bit wet, and with the door open, a chill breeze blew in. Shu Yubai glanced at her and said softly, “Close the door, it’s cold.”

Nan Xue then reacted, stepping into the room and turning to close the door.

A click.

The door was locked.

The glass door of the bathroom was open, and a hint of warm steam drifted out. The air was filled with a faintly sweet scent of shower gel, like dried roses.

Nan Xue stood at the door, seemingly unsure of what to do next.

Given their complicated relationship and the moment’s ambiguity, everything felt amplified.

“I… will change clothes.”

Shu Yubai looked up at her, her cheeks slightly flushed, perhaps from the hot water.

She felt somewhat uncomfortable under Nan Xue’s gaze.

Nan Xue murmured “Mm,” turned, and sat on the edge of the bed, obediently turning her back to her and slightly lowering her head. Her dark hair swayed gently, revealing a bit of white skin, and her ears were tinged with a noticeable flush.

The curtains were drawn tight, and the room was completely sealed off. Shu Yubai removed the towel and gently dried the water droplets from her neck, chest, waist, and hips, then further down. While dressing in her underwear, her thoughts wandered aimlessly: Did Nan Xue like her?

If she really did, as Lin Lan suggested, then could she accept an intimate relationship with a woman?

Or did she want to…

Want to do those things with her?

Straight women generally reject such things, right?

That day, when she kissed Nan Xue, Nan Xue had reacted with such aversion.

Shu Yubai looked at her by the bedside.

A slender waist, the pale neck covered by dark hair, and long fingers resting on her chin… The thoughts made her nervous.

The light was still on, glaringly bright. It seemed inappropriate to think such things in broad daylight. She hurriedly put on her pajamas and suppressed these chaotic thoughts.

But the next moment, she began to agonize:

It is said that when a girl who is attracted to women sees her wrapped in a towel like this, the usual reaction is to stare for a while, rather than avoid eye contact like Nan Xue. What did she really think?

Shu Yubai sat by the bed and softly said, “All done.”

The little bear pajamas from a few days ago had been washed and were still drying outside. Shu Yubai found a large white T-shirt in the box, made of pure cotton, which was comfortable enough to use as sleepwear.

The hem of the shirt rested on her thighs, soft with a faint scent of sunlight.

Nan Xue turned around and looked at her, her heart tightening.

Shu Yubai let her long hair down. The clip had left a slight curve in her hair, the ends damp. The T-shirt had a patch of translucent moisture, clinging to her skin and faintly revealing warm veins.

She moved closer, sitting beside Nan Xue, bent over, and rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head to ask, “Have you eaten?”

Nan Xue shook her head.

In winter, it gets dark quickly. Outside was pitch black, and it was barely past seven. Shu Yubai stood up, wrapped the thick cotton coat from the bed around herself, and looked at Nan Xue. “Shall we go together?”

Nan Xue glanced at her.

Under the cotton coat, Shu Yubai’s smooth, white legs were exposed, her ankles damp. Changing clothes would take a while, so Nan Xue thought for a moment and said, “You stay here; I’ll pack and bring it over.”

Nan Xue left the room.

Her statement was made with a sense of entitlement, like a command.

Shu Yubai had no resistance to such commands. She simply waited in the room, picking up a book and leaning against the headboard to read. Feeling a bit drowsy, she slightly closed her eyes.

When Nan Xue returned, Shu Yubai was still sitting there, motionless, with a book resting on her lap, her head slightly bowed and her long eyelashes casting a shadow.

“Sister?”

Nan Xue called her name, but Shu Yubai did not respond.

Nan Xue placed the food box on the table, walked over, and leaned in slightly to look at her closely.

Shu Yubai had fallen asleep.

Her curled lashes had tiny water droplets on them, her forehead was smooth, and her body was warm with a faint scent, very tempting. Nan Xue quietly observed her, her gaze sliding from her nose to her red lips.

Unable to control herself, she gently leaned in.

A long breath.

The woman’s head dipped slightly for a moment, their lips touched, with a hint of moistness.

In that fleeting moment of closeness.

So soft.

So fragrant.

Nan Xue straightened up instantly, breathing heavily, her heart pounding wildly.

Had she woken up?

Did she notice?

Nan Xue’s mind raced with many thoughts, feeling ashamed, her ears burning red like jade. She gently wiped the cool hair.

She quickly took a deep breath, coming up with many justifications for herself, but Shu Yubai remained asleep, deeply.

There was no sign of waking up.

Nan Xue: “……”

She slightly relaxed her tense back, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite describe.

She gently tapped Shu Yubai: “Sister. It’s time to eat.”

Shu Yubai then woke up, rubbing her eyes, looking at her drowsily: “Hmm… What time is it?”

“Almost eight.”

Nan Xue pointed to the lunch box on the small round table: “The packed box is over there. Eat.”

“Hmm.”

Shu Yubai set the book aside, a book on figure painting in color ink, and said to herself: “I need to paint figures tomorrow, so I looked at the book in advance.”

“And then fell asleep?”

Nan Xue’s lips curved into a smile.

“Hmm.”

Shu Yubai nodded, not feeling anything unusual, and fumbled for her slippers, heading to the small round table.

Her long hair was loose, and she wore the thin white T-shirt.

Still groggy from sleep.

Nan Xue watched her back, suddenly feeling an impulse to hug her waist from behind and kiss her.

The thought came abruptly.

She was momentarily stunned, then looked down and smiled.

••••

In the past few days, frequent painting practice had caused her hand to ache again. Shu Yubai thought of Tang Ruoyan, whom she had met a few days ago, and decided to visit her for a check-up. She informed Ying Ran of her situation and took a half-day leave.

It was morning when she left, and Nan Xue was already at work. Shu Yubai called a taxi and headed to the address Tang Ruoyan had given her.

The clinic was located in a residential area, surrounded by apartment buildings, and there were quite a few people downstairs. The driver parked under the shade of a tree, and Shu Yubai got out of the car, closing the door behind her, and looked across.

The clinic had a traditional Chinese medicine feel.

It seemed quaint and antique—an odd way to describe it.

Shu Yubai carried her bag and walked towards the entrance. A young girl she didn’t know greeted her, asking, “Hello, do you have an appointment?”

Even a private clinic needed an appointment?

Shu Yubai looked puzzled for a moment, then someone walked out from the dark shadow—flaxen curly hair, fair skin, and thin red lips. Tang Ruoyan had arrived, and Shu Yubai’s eyes flashed with a smile.

“Here?”

Tang Ruoyan introduced her to the young girl at the door: “This is my friend.”

The young girl nodded repeatedly: “Sorry, I don’t know her.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Shu Yubai waved her hand and followed Tang Ruoyan inside.

The traditional Chinese medicine clinic was quite spacious. Tang Ruoyan had her own treatment room. The two of them turned a few corners and went inside. There was a wooden table, arranged similarly to a hospital’s, and Shu Yubai sat in the chair opposite the table, feeling somewhat nervous.

“How have you been feeling these days?”

Tang Ruoyan looked at her: “Extend your hand.”

Shu Yubai rolled up her sleeve and extended her hand: “It might be from over-practicing; it still hurts.”

“Does it hurt at night or during the day?”

“During the day.”

“That’s not a big deal.”

“Mm, it doesn’t affect my sleep.”

Tang Ruoyan placed her delicate white fingers on Shu Yubai’s wrist. The area was a pale, tender white, like jade, with visible blue veins.

She silently took the pulse for a while, then looked up: “I’ll prescribe some medicine for you. You’ll need to take it long-term.” After saying this, Tang Ruoyan lowered her head, picked up a prescription form, and wrote some things in elegant calligraphy that Shu Yubai couldn’t understand.

She handed the prescription to Shu Yubai.

Shu Yubai looked down at it: “Thank you.”

She picked up her bag, ready to go settle the bill.

“Wait.”

Tang Ruoyan seemed to have more to say, hesitated for a moment. Shu Yubai turned around and waited for her to speak.

Tang Ruoyan tentatively asked, “Are you afraid of needles?”

“Mm?”

Shu Yubai blinked in confusion: “What needles?”

Tang Ruoyan sighed lightly: “Some people faint at the sight of needles. I don’t know if you’re afraid.”

Shu Yubai smiled and shook her head: “I’m not afraid. I had poor health as a child and often had injections.”

“That’s good.”

Tang Ruoyan sighed in relief: “Well, I’d like to give you acupuncture.”

Shu Yubai: “……”

Her face turned pale.

Injections and acupuncture were not the same thing, Shu Yubai thought silently. Acupuncture was too scary; having a back full of silver needles was like a porcupine.

It looked painful.

She glanced at Tang Ruoyan, who appeared gentle, but her methods seemed… intense.

“Do you want acupuncture?”

Tang Ruoyan looked at her with a hint of expectation: “Our family has been practicing traditional Chinese medicine for generations. My father, my grandfather… all of them are TCM practitioners. I’m especially skilled at acupuncture.”

“If you want, we can start right now…”

Shu Yubai quickly shook her head: “Not yet. Maybe the medicine will help.”

She looked somewhat scared, and Tang Ruoyan smiled, thinking it was no rush. She said, “Then take the medicine first.”

Shu Yubai sighed in relief.

She took the prescription to the young girl at the counter, which included both medicines to be taken orally and ones for body massage.

“How do I use this packet?”

Tang Ruoyan leaned against the doorframe and explained: “This is for massaging your back acupoints. I checked, and you have poor blood circulation, which is probably caused by sitting and painting for long hours with a lack of exercise.”

“Mm… that’s true.”

Shu Yubai lowered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. Although she worked hard on her painting, she really didn’t like exercising, so it was normal for her to have a weak body.

“Take it back and have someone help you with the massage.”

Tang Ruoyan instructed.

Shu Yubai thanked her again, and they parted ways.

In the car, a WeChat notification pinged—Tang Ruoyan had sent a message.

[Do you have someone you like?]

Shu Yubai replied: [Yes.]

Another ping.

[Do I still have a chance?]

Shu Yubai smiled faintly. She liked dealing with people like this—straightforward and without pretense.

She responded simply:

[No chance.]

She closed her phone as the car drove past a snowy street. The white snow covered the sycamore trees, and in the distance, the lake and sky seemed to merge.

••••

Meanwhile, after work, Nan Xue put her small bag on her slim shoulder and walked out.

During the rush hour, the elevator was crowded. Nan Xue squeezed her way down, and the driver had parked by the roadside. The shadow of the sycamore trees fell softly on the white car.

As she approached, the driver opened the car door, and Nan Xue ducked inside.

A warm breeze greeted her, and the glass was fogged up.

“Where to today?”

The driver asked, “Still going to your uncle’s?”

“Not today.”

Nan Xue sat in the back seat and instructed the driver, “I need to pick up something first.”

The driver followed the GPS and drove for a while before stopping in a bustling area. Nan Xue got out and went into a jewelry store, not staying long before coming out with an exquisite paper bag.

From the bag’s outline, it looked like a box.

Did Xiao Nan buy jewelry?

A necklace… or something else.

Girls do like these delicate ornaments. She was still young, so buying these wasn’t surprising. The driver withdrew his gaze.

Nan Xue got back in the car and took out the box from the bag, opening it.

Inside the white velvet were two delicate bracelets and a diamond ring.

The rose gold bracelets and ring were engraved with letters.

One said “Bai,” and the other said “Xue.” (Note: Bai means ‘white’ and Xue means ‘snow’)

Her dark eyes briefly flickered with a smile, quickly disappearing, and her cherry-like lips curved slightly, as if in illusion.

When Nan Xue arrived at the courtyard, Shu Yubai was there painting. The wall lamp in front of the door was lit, casting a bright light that illuminated the darkening sky.

Shu Yubai was sitting on a low stool, back facing Nan Xue, and appeared focused and busy.

Still painting?

In front of Shu Yubai was a stone sculpture, depicting a naked woman, likely borrowed from the art academy next door. She held a drawing board in one hand while glancing at the statue and sketching on paper.

“Sister.”

Nan Xue called from behind her.

Shu Yubai turned her head.

Nan Xue had her hands behind her back, hiding something, and her eyes flashed with a moment of nervousness.