A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 55

On the other side of the crosswalk, the green light began to flash. The asphalt road was very wide, and it would take a while to cross from one side to the other. People around them were hurrying by, wrapped in winter coats.

“Be careful.”

Nan Xue looked down and gently reminded her.

The car that suddenly drove by was making a right turn and didn’t run a red light. Shu Yubai’s steps momentarily slowed, and in that instant, Nan Xue supported her waist, gently protecting her.

“……”

She glanced at Nan Xue from the corner of her eye.

The person remained calm and seemed to have no other intentions.

The car drove away, but the hand on her waist did not move.

Shu Yubai’s cheeks warmed slightly, and many thoughts crossed her mind in an instant.

The warmth at her waist was palpable. With her coat draped over one wrist and only a thin layer of clothing at her waist, the sensation felt almost like being burned, causing her to shiver slightly.

They walked a few more steps.

Was it enough now?

Why didn’t she let go of her hand?

This position made her quite nervous. It was hard to pinpoint what was off, but it felt unusually intimate. Was Nan Xue being unintentional? She should be… She was straight, so she probably wasn’t thinking too much. Casual touches between straight people are quite normal, just guiding someone across the street, how could that be?

Perhaps it really was unintentional.

Thinking this, she felt a bit disappointed.

As Shu Yubai was half-held, she saw a familiar car on the other side of the road, and through the car window, Nan Xue’s driver looked over.

Making eye contact with the driver, Shu Yubai suddenly felt a strange panic, as if she had been seen through. She touched the white hand at her waist: “Stop…”

Nan Xue was momentarily taken aback, and after a moment, she let go of her hand.

A fleeting look of hurt passed through her eyes.

Shu Yubai didn’t like her touch.

Nan Xue silently recalled the tips she had secretly researched.

It was said that if you like someone, you would enjoy physical contact, not avoid it.

Shu Yubai didn’t like her touch.

Shu Yubai didn’t like her.

Nan Xue’s fingertips grew cold, and her mood fell to the lowest point. She bowed her head and quietly walked beside Shu Yubai, keeping a respectful distance.

She seemed like a child who had suddenly suffered a blow.

Shu Yubai glanced at her from the corner of her eye, not understanding. Was her momentary sadness an illusion?

After hesitating for a moment, she waited for Nan Xue to come closer and gently reached for her hand.

— Holding hands shouldn’t be too much, right?

Her fingertips touched a bit of warmth, very soft. Nan Xue looked up, the woman leaned in to hold her hand, with a faint fragrance among her soft, long hair. Dressed in warm colors, she looked especially gentle against the winter street scene.

Shu Yubai turned back, her eyes glistening slightly, and her lips curved into a smile.

Nan Xue’s heart raced suddenly.

Unexpectedly.

••••

Later, as the temperature dropped again, Shu Yubai put on a layer of down before heading out, still shivering in the cold wind. Nan Xue’s door opened, and she handed her a heat pack.

“Where did you get this?”

Shu Yubai smiled. It was rare to see Nan Xue carrying such a practical item.

“Bought it.”

Nan Xue said quietly: “I remember your period is coming soon.”

With a creak, the door to the room against the wall opened.

Ying Ran’s assistant passed by without a glance.

Shu Yubai: “…”

She said: “Thank you.”

“Come in.”

Nan Xue said.

She turned and entered Nan Xue’s room. Her suitcase was open, and it seemed that the small item had been searched for a long time in the suitcase. The curtains were drawn, and the room was warm. Shu Yubai lifted her shirt slightly to reveal her pale belly and put the heat pack on.

“Done.”

She opened the door.

Nan Xue replied with an “Mm,” turned to grab her bag, and was about to leave. The driver was already waiting outside.

With the door closed, it was cold today. Shu Yubai went to open the wooden partition door. Ying Ran was sitting behind the screen, with a pile of practice drawings on the table. He was propping up his head, looking as if he were deep in thought.

Shu Yubai, worried about disturbing him, sat down quietly.

After a moment of silence, Ying Ran asked abruptly: “How do you feel about the time?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean, the time for preparing for the exhibition. Is it enough?”

A total of three paintings need to be completed.

The two smaller paintings don’t require much time; the main focus is the large painting.

“Enough.”

Shu Yubai had calculated it. Over the past few days, her hand had indeed improved a lot; it had rarely flared up again, only occasionally aching, which was manageable.

The National Exhibition is the largest and most prestigious exhibition in the country. The professors and artists eligible to judge are all authoritative figures in the industry. Getting into this exhibition can significantly elevate one’s status.

Therefore, participating in the exhibition is very important for Shu Yubai.

“Alright.”

Ying Ran hesitated for a moment, picked up a small cup of tea from the table, took a sip, then put it down. She said slowly: “In a few days, there’s an international youth live painting competition, the second edition. I’d like you and your senior brother to go.”

Live painting competitions are rare in the art world because creation is time-consuming, and without enough time, space, and materials, it’s hard to organize. Previous live competitions were mostly for children.

Competitions for professional artists have only recently started emerging.

“Live competition?”

Shu Yubai frowned slightly, sitting on the stool, and after a moment of thought, she said doubtfully: “I’ve never been to a live competition before.”

“It’s fine, it’s a good chance for practice.”

Ying Ran said calmly.

“And I’m not sure if there’s enough time; I still have to prepare for the National Exhibition.”

Shu Yubai said, nervously fiddling with the hem of her clothes.

“Time isn’t an issue.” Ying Ran looked up and explained slowly: “It’s only three days round trip. How long can it delay you? This competition isn’t much weaker than the National Exhibition; many big names have participated in recent years.”

“You need to see the world.”

That was true. For a professional artist, each competition or exhibition is an opportunity to see the level of peers, compare, and better understand one’s own abilities.

“Alright.”

Shu Yubai agreed, lowering her gaze, feeling it was not a problem. Her senior brother, sitting on the side, did not express any opinions. Most of the time, he remained silent unless asked by the teacher.

“You think so?”

Ying Ran turned her head.

“I think it’s fine.”

The senior brother replied, continuing to paint without looking up.

••••

That evening, Nan Xue got off work early, had no plans, and relaxed by washing her hair and taking a shower. She sat with her wet hair blowing dry.

After a while, she slightly paused.

There was a faint sound at the door.

The bedroom was dimly lit by a single wall lamp, casting a warm, yellow light with distinct shadows. The room was warm and misty.

“Sister?”

She turned to look.

At the door stood a woman with her long hair up, closing the door quietly.

“I came to take a shower.”

Shu Yubai said, feeling a slight tension.

After a busy day, Shu Yubai arrived late.

In winter, the frequency of showers can be reduced due to dryness, and she hadn’t come for the past few days. Today, she wanted to clean up and relax.

Shu Yubai, holding a towel and clothes, saw Nan Xue blowing her hair.

Nan Xue was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing a thin cotton shirt and loose pajama pants, holding a white bath towel over her shoulder with one hand and a hairdryer with the other.

The warm air blew.

She had just washed her hair, and her hair was wet and shiny at the ends. Her red lips were moist, contrasting with her fair and slightly pink cheeks. Water kept dripping from her damp hair onto her shoulders. Shu Yubai glanced at her and softly said, “I’ll do it.”

She took the hairdryer from Nan Xue and naturally began to dry her hair.

Her fingers passed through Nan Xue’s hair, which was not long, cool, and damp, slipping off halfway like a short note.

Nan Xue sat there, feeling Shu Yubai’s gentle touch on her scalp.

Shu Yubai took the towel from her shoulders to dry her hair. Nan Xue’s thin garment had become soaked, and the color of her bra straps was visible… white. Shu Yubai noticed it.

Actually, it didn’t matter now since it would need to be taken off before bed anyway.

The feeling was subtle.

A long time ago, when there were fewer thoughts, they could even lie together without wearing bras, not avoiding anything.

Later, things seemed different.

Privacy increased.

For instance, now, knowing that the other person would come later, everything was hidden carefully, sensitive and cautiously avoiding certain kinds of contact.

The black hair in her hands was warm and soft.

Shu Yubai turned off the hairdryer and put it aside, saying, “It’s done.”

She, as usual, placed her clothes on the bed, changed into slippers, and went to take a shower.

Nan Xue lay on the bed with her back to her.

The sound of water filled the room, which stopped after a while, followed by the sound of applying shower gel and the slippery feeling… Nan Xue’s face felt slightly hot, and the outline she imagined seemed impossible to dispel.

She closed her eyes, enduring it.

After a moment, she picked up the remote control and turned on the TV.

The volume was loud enough to cover the sound of the shower. She glanced at it disinterestedly; it was a soap opera.

In the drama, the male lead was lounging on the bed while the female lead walked out of the bathroom wearing a very sexy camisole.

Nan Xue was slightly dazed and somehow, the female lead’s face automatically replaced with Shu Yubai’s.

“……”

It went on endlessly.

Shu Yubai pushed open the glass door of the bathroom.

Her body was covered in water, wrapped in a towel, walking out. Nan Xue lay on her side, not looking at her, engrossed in the TV. Shu Yubai, while drying herself, glanced at the screen on the wall and was surprised to see it was a drama.

Nan Xue also watched such things?

And she watched without blinking.

Shu Yubai put on her pajamas just as the male lead on the show appeared. He was a popular star, tall, with long legs, and very handsome.

She looked at Nan Xue again.

Feeling a bit sour, she thought, did she like this type?

“What kind of person do you like?”

Shu Yubai asked casually, putting on her underwear.

“Someone gentle and good-looking.”

Nan Xue replied.

This answer was different from the first time she was asked.

Back then, when Shu Yubai asked, Nan Xue had answered: “I don’t know, I’ll know when I meet them.”

So, did she meet someone?

Shu Yubai looked at the idol drama’s male lead again—where was the gentleness, where was the attractiveness?

She was confused, put on her pajama pants, and said, “I’m done changing.”

Nan Xue turned around and suddenly pulled back the edge of the blanket. The bed was one meter fifty wide, enough for two people. Nan Xue looked at her and said, “Come.”

Come for what?

Noticing her confusion, Nan Xue patted the bedding and said softly, “Sister, let’s sleep together tonight?”

Her dark eyes were filled with longing.

The room was warm, and Nan Xue’s snow-white face turned a faint pink. It was delicate and light, and curled up in the blanket like this, it looked endearing and irresistible.

Shu Yubai’s heart trembled slightly.

“No, I… it’s not convenient.”

She meant that since she had confessed her feelings to Nan Xue and was rejected, they should maintain some distance. Being so intimate now felt inappropriate.

However, Nan Xue misunderstood her intention. “Why? Is it because of your period?”

Shu Yubai: “…”

Nan Xue generously shook her head. “It’s okay. If it gets dirty, I’ll help you wash it. I don’t mind.”

Shu Yubai was speechless and, after a moment of silence, climbed into bed and nestled under the covers.

In the end, she couldn’t resist the temptation.

Nan Xue seemed to instantly cheer up, gently leaning toward her, their bodies almost touching.

“Let’s sleep. Stop watching.”

Shu Yubai picked up the TV remote.

The next moment, Nan Xue propped herself up, suddenly leaning close, and kissed her on the forehead. Her red lips touched Shu Yubai’s skin, her hair brushing lightly against her face, tickling her with the scent of shampoo and a bit of dampness.

Nan Xue kissed for a long time.

The warm, fragrant breath was gentle and light.

Shu Yubai’s heart tightened abruptly; she suddenly widened her eyes, not understanding what was happening. Her heartbeat quickened, and she could even hear the vibrations in her ears.

Nan Xue pulled away and softly said, “Good night, sister.”

The blanket in Shu Yubai’s hand was crumpled into a ball. Her cheeks were frighteningly hot, and it took a long time for her to slowly relax.

She panted slightly.

She thought, slowly:

Just now, did Nan Xue kiss me?!