A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 50

“Why are you here?”

Shu Yubai looked at her. This was the umpteenth time she had been called away from viewing paintings at You Fu’s place by Nan Xue.

“I’m off work.”

Nan Xue gently tugged at a corner of her scarf.

“Mm.” Shu Yubai smiled. “I can tell.”

Nan Xue’s eyelashes drooped, her fair fingers curling into her palm. “You said yesterday you’d come to see Senior Sister. I came to pick you up.”

Shu Yubai was surprised that Nan Xue remembered her casual mention of the plan. She looked at Nan Xue again as Nan Xue gently took her hand, their slender fingers intertwining.

The bracelets on their wrists clinked together.

A soft chime sounded.

On the stairs, You Fu slowly descended, dressed casually yet exuding a relaxed yet commanding presence. She supported herself on the banister and glanced at Nan Xue.

Her gaze fell on the bracelets.

Not bad.

She looked at Nan Xue again.

This person seemed to have some feelings for Shu Yubai, perhaps even developing into something more.

Childhood friends?

Who’s she kidding? Only Shu Yubai would believe that.

“Senior Sister, I’m leaving now.”

Shu Yubai looked down at her watch; the silver hands pointed gently at twelve.

“Alright.”

You Fu stood at the top of the stairs, watching her from afar. “Come by again when you have time, Junior Sister.”

Her figure was graceful, her slightly curled hair brushing against her pale collarbone, and her red lips curved into a smile.

Nan Xue gave her a meaningful glance.

Then she turned and led Shu Yubai away.

The car was parked outside the residential area, by the roadside.

It was a dark gray Maybach, a model not quite suited for slender women.

Shu Yubai initially thought she had driven herself but realized upon opening the door that there was a driver in the front seat. She closed the passenger door and went to the back seat. If Nan Xue was driving, she would sit in the passenger seat, but since there was a driver, the passenger seat was unnecessary.

Nan Xue got into the car from the other side.

The car doors closed.

The world outside became very quiet, almost isolated. Outside the window, the branches of the sycamore trees cast shadows on the car window, passing by in a blur.

Nan Xue held her hand, Shu Yubai’s slender wrist felt soft and warm to the touch. Nan Xue’s grip was gentle, and her touch was warm.

The wrists side by side were both very white. Shu Yubai’s had a lively rosy hue, while Nan Xue’s was a distinct cool white. Nan Xue looked slender, and her wrist was more bony. Shu Yubai glanced at her and couldn’t help but pinch her wrist: “You’re so skinny.”

“Really?”

Nan Xue didn’t think so. “Maybe it’s just a bigger frame.”

The bracelets looked particularly pleasing. Shu Yubai looked down and felt a moment of embarrassment. Wearing matching bracelets, with engravings, gave the impression of being in a romantic relationship.

White Snow. (Note: Bai and Xue)

She smiled as she looked down, her thoughts fleeting.

The feeling was quickly suppressed.

“Has You Fu given you anything?” Nan Xue looked at the bracelet and asked, “Did you receive something as well?”

“It seems not… wait, there was something.”

Shu Yubai recalled slowly.

“Hmm?”

Nan Xue looked at her, waiting.

Shu Yubai thought for a moment and said:

“Previously, when going out to play, there were small bells on a red string given as gifts.”

“And some other things.”

“Has anyone else given you gifts?” Nan Xue asked.

Shu Yubai thought for a moment: “…Yes.”

Nan Xue was a bit confused:

“But yesterday you said it was the first time you received a gift. Were you just saying that to make me happy?”

Shu Yubai felt guilty for a moment.

The distinction was subtle and hard to explain. Essentially, a gift from someone you like feels special, while a gift from someone you don’t have feelings for is just a gift, though you might not remember it.

“…”

Shu Yubai looked down, not explaining.

Nan Xue, however, began to doubt herself:

So she had received gifts from others before, making it ordinary to give her a pair of bracelets. Perhaps she had been overly happy too soon.

••••

After lunch, Shu Yubai returned to the courtyard. With the sun shining these days, the courtyard felt warm and cozy. Shu Yubai took out the traditional Chinese medicine she had prepared earlier and put it into a small pot in the room to boil. After about ten minutes, the distinctive slightly bitter smell of the medicine gently dispersed.

“Wow, what’s that smell? It’s so strong.”

The assistant of Ying Ran, who had just finished eating, walked into the courtyard, wrinkling her nose. “Who’s taking medicine? It smells like strong traditional Chinese medicine.”

The smell of traditional Chinese medicine is somewhat bitter but also faint, and after a while, it has a unique, refreshing fragrance.

Shu Yubai came out from inside, her black hair draped over her shoulders, her fair skin, and her eyes slightly moist. She was carrying a bag of medicine packets—seen from afar, she had a somewhat sickly, beautiful appearance.

“Sister Yubai?”

She exclaimed in concern, “Are you okay? Why are you taking medicine?”

Shu Yubai smiled. “My hand hurts, it’s nothing.”

A click came from the adjacent room, the door opened a crack, then fully opened after a while. Nan Xue had already finished eating, and after returning with Shu Yubai, she had begun her afternoon nap. Now she was awake again.

“Traditional Chinese medicine?”

Nan Xue tightened her coat and walked over to take a look. “Sister, can you drink it? Should I add some sugar?”

On the wooden table in the room was a white porcelain bowl with brownish soup in it. Something like a small stick was submerged inside, making it hard to tell what it was.

Nan Xue gently picked up the bowl, and the bitter taste was noticeable.

Shu Yubai shook her head. “No need. I’m not afraid of the bitterness.”

She took the bowl from Nan Xue and drank it all in a few gulps, then put the bowl back down.

On the table were several packets of medicine. Two packets had been opened, and one packet was still tightly wrapped in brown kraft paper, sealed firmly.

“What’s this?”

Shu Yubai paused for a moment. “Medicine.”

“What kind of medicine?”

Nan Xue picked it up to look. “Is it different from the other two packets?”

“This is for massage.”

Shu Yubai looked down, a few strands of hair falling on her forehead. She thought for a moment and said, “This isn’t urgent. When I get home in a few days, I’ll have my mom help. Her hands are stronger.”

Nan Xue put down the packet of medicine and went outside.

But the next moment, she turned back.

“It’s too troublesome.”

Nan Xue frowned, holding the thin string tied around the medicine packet. Her expression was serious. “It’s inconvenient for Auntie since she lives far away. You can’t be running home every day. If you trust me, I can help you.”

“But…” Shu Yubai looked at her. “Can you do it?”

“Yes.”

Nan Xue smiled gently. “It’s not that difficult, just massaging the acupoints.”

She said it quite casually, so Shu Yubai felt relieved.

Here, if she wanted someone to help with the massage, besides Nan Xue, the only other option was Ying Ran’s assistant. However, Shu Yubai’s nature made her uncomfortable asking unfamiliar people for help; she felt it was too much of an imposition. After thinking it over, Nan Xue was her only choice.

“Alright, thank you.”

She looked down, a hint of moisture in her eyes.

Nan Xue took the medicine and went to prepare it.

Massage isn’t really a big deal; the main acupoints are on the back, which isn’t considered private. Moreover, Nan Xue didn’t have any particular feelings toward her—she was straight, and from any perspective, there was nothing to be too concerned about.

She did a lot of mental preparation.

But when Shu Yubai saw Nan Xue place the bowl of medicine on the nightstand, she still felt a bit nervous.

“Should we pull the curtains?”

“Yes.”

Nan Xue walked over and gently drew the curtains.

The light filtered through the thin, light-colored fabric into the room. The air was slightly warm and humid, with dim lighting that made everything look warm-toned.

“Sister, how should I do the massage?”

Nan Xue held a small damp cloth.

Shu Yubai opened WeChat and looked at the image Tang Ruoyan had sent her—a chart of acupoints.

All on the back.

“Here,” Shu Yubai pointed out. “This chart is enlarged. There are just a few acupoints, just massage them.”

“Okay.”

Nan Xue glanced at it.

The room was hot, so Shu Yubai took off her thick outer coat and hung it on the coat rack by the bed, revealing a sea-blue sweater that stretched over her body. She lifted her shirt and removed the sweater as well.

Her black hair was a bit disheveled. Shu Yubai shook her head slightly, and for some reason, couldn’t bring herself to look directly at Nan Xue.

She looked down, feeling a bit flushed, and said, “It’s fine. I’ll lie down, and you can help me.”

“Alright.”

Nan Xue gently lifted the hem of her shirt, revealing a portion of her slender, white waist. Her back and abdomen were soft and pale, with a slight chill from the breeze. Shu Yubai looked at Nan Xue and asked her to close the door. She then lowered her head, her black hair falling to her waist, the ends brushing against her back.

She lay on the bed.

The cool, smooth fingertips touched her skin gently, and Shu Yubai shivered slightly, instinctively pulling back. The fingertips applied gentle pressure to a small area of her skin, and she couldn’t help but lift her chin, making a soft sound.

Shu Yubai’s body was soft from lack of exercise, her abdomen smooth and white. Though she was slim, her skin felt soft and slightly jelly-like to the touch, not firm at all, with her palms feeling warm and soft.

Shu Yubai had a faint scent, not like perfume but rather a natural body scent, warm like a sunlit blanket.

Nan Xue looked down, one hand resting on the edge of the bed. Her black hair fell, lightly brushing against Shu Yubai’s smooth back. The cool sensation sent a tingle up her spine.

After a while, Nan Xue’s fingertips grew slightly warm from the massage, sending a gentle heat from the spine upward.

The hem of the t-shirt was lifted, revealing Shu Yubai’s smooth, jade-like back. Her slim waist had no excess flesh, and from the spine to the rounded buttocks, there was a deep lumbar curve, almost like a small well. Her waist-to-hip ratio was very prominent, and lying there with her buttocks raised, it looked quite alluring.

Her neck was a bit damp, with a fine strand of hair sticking to it, indicating she was sweating. The cotton fabric on her chest was soaked with sweat, making it hard to breathe.

Nan Xue’s hands, damp with herbal juice, gently pressed on her back. Suddenly, she applied more pressure, causing Shu Yubai to make a soft sound, fearing the pain.