A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 58

Nan Xue gently embraced her, lowering her head.

Her hair lifted, red lips and snowy skin, her jawline appearing as if it had a layer of pale glaze under the light.

In the deep night, she was so close, her breath warm and moist. Just an inch closer, and her lips would touch Shu Yubai’s brow. Under the quiet gaze, Shu Yubai’s panic and nervousness seemed exposed, easily seen through.

Yes.

She felt a lot.

But if she admitted it, would Nan Xue be scared?

She hadn’t let go.

Still liked her.

The two stood face to face, their thin shadows falling on the black streetlight pole beside them, like a folded exclamation mark.

Shu Yubai worried.

She feared that if she admitted it so openly, Nan Xue would feel awkward. Straight girls don’t bend so quickly; she might not show any expression but still feel scared and avoidant inside.

So she had to suppress her momentary heartache.

Nan Xue said it was revenge, just a playful kiss.

How could she take it seriously?

Nan Xue’s breath created a light mist, slightly warm, dispersing in the cold air filled with snowflakes.

But her gaze was so serious.

Serious enough that Shu Yubai almost overthought it again.

“Sister, how did it feel just now?”

Nan Xue lowered her head to look at her, her voice very light, asking again by her ear.

Denying it and saying she felt nothing would be lying to herself, let alone Nan Xue.

So, it was better to admit it openly.

“Yes.”

Shu Yubai brushed aside the long hair on her cheek and said, “My heart raced, very normal, since I like girls.”

“Really.”

Nan Xue felt a bit down for a moment. She looked at Shu Yubai and asked, “If any girl kissed you, would you feel something?”

Shu Yubai was slightly stunned, lowered her head, and said, “I don’t know.”

Nan Xue fell silent for a moment.

She walked while thinking, if You Fu kissed you, would you feel something?

Would it feel more with her or with me?

Just imagining that scene, Nan Xue felt a dull pain in her heart. She instinctively tightened her grip on Shu Yubai’s fingertips.

“You don’t know?”

Nan Xue asked back, “If any person kissed you, would you feel something?”

“I haven’t been kissed by others, so how would I know if I’d feel something?” Suddenly, Shu Yubai found herself convinced by her own logic. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed reasonable. She added, “Maybe if I try it with a few more people, I’ll know if I feel something with everyone.”

Nan Xue’s fingertips tightened suddenly. She grabbed Shu Yubai’s hand, moved closer, and said word by word into her ear, “No.”

“Hmm?”

Shu Yubai looked up at her.

“No one else can kiss you. Absolutely not.”

Her eyes were deep, unfathomable, and looking at her like this, she even exuded a sense of pressure.

“Why not?”

Shu Yubai’s heart pounded wildly under her gaze, feeling inexplicable. She joked, “If I’m in a relationship with someone else, hugging and kissing would be very normal.”

“You still want to find someone else?”

Nan Xue squeezed her fingertips, her eyes deep.

Shu Yubai was stunned, a strange feeling of sourness swelling in her heart. She lowered her head and joked, “If not someone else, then you?”

“Why not me?”

Nan Xue looked at her and asked softly.

She was dressed thinly, and her figure was slender, resembling a black and white sketch, fragile in the snowy landscape.

“Forget it.”

Shu Yubai’s heart skipped a beat, unable to bear it.

In that instant, she had many more fantasies.

Since that failed confession, a line had been drawn between them, maintaining a close but not overstepping distance. This distance was good, at least stable.

But Nan Xue was breaking this delicate balance.

Shu Yubai couldn’t help but wonder:

Could it be that she actually likes me?

Shu Yubai’s body suddenly felt hot, her fingers lightly curling, her cheeks warming, her heart pounding like a drum.

This idea was bold, and she even fantasized about the scene, kissing, hugging, and even… certain unspeakable things. If Nan Xue really liked her too, how wonderful would that be?

“Is it really not okay with me?”

After Nan Xue said this, it suddenly became quiet.

“……”

They didn’t talk much along the way, walking side by side on the gravel path. Snowflakes fell under the light, the temperature dropped at night, and it started snowing again, the cold air rushing to their heads.

The wind was strong, constantly blowing.

Shu Yubai had a headache and glanced at Nan Xue out of the corner of her eye.

She was quiet, showing no expression.

Under the eaves, they realized that the snow wasn’t heavy and had already stopped.

“Sister, sleep well.”

Nan Xue closed the black umbrella under the eaves, spun it on the steps, shaking off a thin layer of snow.

Her tone was like a light sigh.

“……”

Shu Yubai stopped at the door, slightly nervous, unsure of what to say. After a moment, she turned and entered the door. “Good night, then.”

Nan Xue watched her back, slightly dazed.

She hadn’t expected any results from these questions. That day, in a moment of impulse, she had told her she wanted to try being together, and after being rejected, Nan Xue became more cautious, only slowly testing Shu Yubai’s feelings.

Feelings are strange, coming and going without reason.

Did Shu Yubai still like her?

Nan Xue had no idea.

As Lin Lan said: if she still liked her, why would she reject her?

Nan Xue burrowed into her blanket.

She closed her eyes, thinking again: if You Fu kissed her, would she feel something? She wanted to ask Shu Yubai directly but couldn’t: what if she really tried?

If they kissed…

Would she also show that shy expression?

Would she also enjoy and be immersed in it?

Nan Xue was tortured by her own imagined scenarios for half the night, feeling both angry and wronged.

She had no right to be angry.

••••

The next day, Nan Xue went to the office.

In the winter morning, few pedestrians were out, a few small birds pecked at seeds on the grass, and on the paths, people hurried by, heads down, bundled in thick coats.

Nan Xue’s driver parked the car below the office building.

She got out, adjusted her scarf.

She took the elevator, walked down a long corridor, arriving at her desk where her assistant had opened the window to let in fresh air. The wind was strong and cold on the high floor.

Looking down, people seemed like ants.

Nan Xue reached out and closed the window.

She planned out her work for the next few days in advance and told her assistant, “Please book a flight to Tokyo for the 9th in the morning. Thank you.”

The assistant fiddled for a while and said, “Only an 8 a.m. flight is available.”

Eight o’clock?

Maybe the same flight as Shu Yubai.

“Alright.”

Nan Xue noted the flight number and texted:

[Sister, what’s your flight number?]

Shu Yubai replied:

[Why are you asking? Are you going too?]

It seemed she wasn’t welcome.

Nan Xue paused, then replied:

[No, just asking.]

Shu Yubai didn’t reply again.

Nan Xue waited a long time, checked once, no reply; after work, checked again, still no reply.

Nan Xue: “……”

In making her angry, Shu Yubai had quite a talent.

••••

In the morning, outside the tall glass windows of the departure lounge, everything was covered in a blanket of white, glinting with golden light under the bright rays. Sparse streams of people, carrying their luggage, moved back and forth.

Nearby, a few breakfast shops were open, all serving fast food.

“Two coffees and two croissants, please.”

The clerk handed her the paper bags, glancing at her a little longer:

The customer looked familiar.

Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, red lips, and bright eyes.

She wore a loose white turtleneck sweater and light blue jeans. Her legs were very long and straight, her waist very slim, and black hair fell over her slender shoulders. Her delicate ankles were beautifully pale.

She seemed to be the daughter of some wealthy businessman and had even appeared on TV?

The clerk pondered, but couldn’t quite recall.

Just watching Nan Xue’s figure walking away into the distance.

Nan Xue wasn’t sure if Shu Yubai had already had breakfast, so she brought an extra portion for her.

When they met later, what expression would Shu Yubai have?

Would she be happy?

Nan Xue lowered her gaze and smiled lightly in the bustling crowd, a smile that she quickly suppressed. No, Shu Yubai clearly didn’t welcome her.

Instantly, she felt dejected again.

With a small bag slung over her shoulder, Nan Xue’s boots clicked on the cold floor, click-click-click.

She looked into the distance.

In the departure lounge, a few rows of seats were near the boarding gate, where the sunlight was thin but bright, casting shadows of the glass windows on the floor.

Her gaze traveled through the sea of people and fixed on a certain spot.

The corners of her lips lifted slightly.

There, by the tall floor-to-ceiling windows, was a familiar figure.

She was looking down at a screen, unaware of Nan Xue’s presence.

She was sitting with her back to Nan Xue, her hair cascading over her shoulders, her silhouette soft and warm. The woman wore a cream-colored cardigan over a nude-colored long dress, and as she bowed her head, the smooth, pale skin from her neck to her shoulders looked delicate and gentle.

Nan Xue’s eyes brightened, instinctively wanting to go over and sit with her.

But the next second, someone else arrived.

Only then did Shu Yubai look up.

Her red lips curved into a smile, showing a moment of surprise, and then she smiled slightly at the person, as if seeing them put her in a good mood.

Nan Xue saw the person and stopped.

Then she calmly sat in the row behind Shu Yubai.

Holding a cup of coffee, Nan Xue took a sip and casually glanced at them.

The person next to Shu Yubai was You Fu.

She was dressed in black, with short, slightly curled hair brushing her collarbone, naturally sitting down and starting to chat with Shu Yubai as if no one else was around.