A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 75

In the distance, the street lamps were on, the black iron lamps illuminating the rooftops, covered with a thin layer of white snow, glittering and fragmented. A wild cat lightly walked across the rooftop, leapt onto the plane tree, and disappeared into the distance.

As the night deepened, on the other side of the hill, the lake shimmered under the moonlight.

Shu Yubai felt as if she was soaked in warm water, her cheeks clearly hot. The things Nan Xue said were even more embarrassing than the faint touches.

“What exactly does it feel like, hmm?”

Nan Xue asked her, her voice lightly vibrating against her spine.

Shu Yubai’s cheeks were slightly hot. Not knowing how to describe it, she could only ask in return, “So curious? Next time, let me try it on you. Then you’ll understand.”

“Mm… okay.”

Nan Xue didn’t refuse, holding her waist under the covers, comfortably pressing her cheek against her. The fabric was soft, and in the warm and humid air, she murmured, “So comfortable, I just want to hold you forever.”

The moonlight fell, the skin cool and smooth, their outlines clearly defined. The blanket had shallow rises, like two small hills on a plain.

“When is next time?”

Nan Xue started planning.

“Depends on my mood.”

Shu Yubai closed her eyes, helplessly.

“Okay.”

Nan Xue kissed her neck again.

After a while, they both drifted off to sleep, like two porcelain spoons nestled together.

Their first attempt, brief but leaving them wanting more. Few knew about their secret relationship, adding a forbidden thrill. In the coming days, they’d still face Senior Brother and her uncle together. Shu Yubai felt a bit nervous.

Would their relationship be discovered?

What would they face if it was?

It felt like walking through a pitch-black fog, unable to see the road ahead. Each step forward caused the path behind to disappear. The future was unclear, and retreating was not an option.

This relationship was like a blooming night-blooming cereus.

So beautiful it was worrisome, as if it might wither at any moment.

Shu Yubai closed her eyes, her mind sinking into chaos.

••••

After that day, Nan Xue and Shu Yubai didn’t take any further steps.

They behaved like many couples in the throes of early love, gazing at each other with sticky, affectionate eyes. Occasionally, they would sneak kisses under the trees in the quiet courtyard, stopping abruptly if they heard footsteps, feeling like they were having an affair.

They would also sleep in each other’s arms.

But Nan Xue was no longer as easily satisfied as before. Mere touches through clothing gradually became insufficient.

As the temperature rose, the snow on the ground melted away, revealing patches of brown soil. The low rooftops basked in the warm sun, while the branches of the plane trees swayed in the breeze, enveloping the entire courtyard in a cocoon of tranquility and warmth.

Around noon, when it got warmer, Shu Yubai took off her thick cotton jacket and left it indoors, wearing only a thin woolen sweater that was still warm.

She had developed early and had a mature figure, like a ripe, soft, and sweet peach. Though her figure was good, it made dressing tricky. Slightly loose clothes made her look fat, while tight clothes seemed too revealing and attracted unwanted attention.

Thus, she habitually wore loose but slightly fitted knitwear.

When Nan Xue entered the courtyard, the sunlight was perfect.

Seeing Shu Yubai’s profile, she walked over and gently hugged her waist.

With no one around, Nan Xue kissed her face, a light kiss that left Shu Yubai’s heart trembling. She put down her drawing board, turned around, and hugged Nan Xue’s waist, kissing her back, their noses brushing intimately, breaths mingling in a tender and lingering embrace.

“I want to touch.”

Nan Xue whispered, kissing her earlobe sweetly.

“Just touch?” Shu Yubai was skeptical.

After a moment of hesitation, Nan Xue said, “And maybe rub it a little.”

Through a layer of clothing, with another layer of underwear beneath, she couldn’t really touch much. But Shu Yubai was easily embarrassed, always covering up and never letting her hand slip inside, always saying it was too fast.

Nan Xue, recalling Lin Lan’s advice to “not act like a pervert,” had always been very mindful of her image around Shu Yubai, fearing she wouldn’t like it. She was restrained and polite, and when Shu Yubai said no, she would comply and not touch her.

But occasionally, a thought crossed her mind.

If she disobeyed every now and then, given Shu Yubai’s gentle nature, she probably wouldn’t get angry, right?

But it was just a thought, nothing more.

To her, Shu Yubai seemed even more beautiful.

Sometimes, Nan Xue would see her painting by the window. The shadows of branches lightly fell around her, her black hair softly cascading down, and her slender waist and graceful silhouette contrasted against the blue sky outside. In the serene and cold air, her softness stood out.

There was no rush; they had plenty of time.

Slowly but surely, she had time and patience.

Nan Xue slowed her pace a bit and focused on improving her “knowledge and skills.”

Shu Yubai, on the other hand, studied how to best capture the girl she adored in her paintings. She gradually got into the zone, blending the semi-transparent paints. The girl in the painting stood in the snow, her cheeks seemingly covered in a cherry blossom-like veil, her black eyes sparkling.

Her shoulders, her lips, and those eyes—each stroke of the brush captured her essence, with the paint blending into a translucent mist, going from dense to faint, almost ethereal.

The more she painted, the more intense her feelings grew.

The snow in the courtyard melted quickly. Unidentified small birds flew and hopped around, pecking at seeds and insects in the grass, their long tails hinting at the coming of spring.

The weather was warm, and Shu Yubai received good news from You Fu: “You won a prize in the last competition, a silver medal.”

The results were announced today. Shu Yubai hadn’t paid much attention to that competition, focusing more on the upcoming national exhibition.

You Fu sent her a link, and when Shu Yubai clicked it, she saw her senior brother and sister had won gold, and she had won silver.

Bei Zhen didn’t make it to the finals.

“Nan Xue.”

Shu Yubai called out in the courtyard.

With a small achievement, the first person she thought to share it with was Nan Xue, even before her mother. Shu Yubai chuckled, finding it amusing.

The door creaked open.

She turned to look.

Nan Xue stepped out, draped in a light blue scarf, wearing a white fitted sweater that highlighted her slender waist and delicate shoulders. Though thin and cold, she exuded an elegant presence.

As she looked at Shu Yubai, a subtle smile flickered in her eyes.

“Sister.” She walked over briskly.

Shu Yubai watched her, her red lips curving up. “I won a prize in the last competition.”

“Really?”

A hint of light flashed in Nan Xue’s eyes.

“Yes.”

Shu Yubai nodded.

“Actually, I’m not surprised at all,” Nan Xue said softly. “I’d be more surprised if you didn’t win.”

The girl’s eyes were fixed on her, filled with focus. Being looked at like that made Shu Yubai’s heart swell with unfamiliar emotions. Her fingers curled slightly, and she asked, “Really?”

Nan Xue leaned in and kissed her cheek, whispering, “Yes. That’s your reward.” She hugged Shu Yubai from behind, resting her porcelain-white chin on her shoulder, her lips curving. “Sister, is your hand better?”

Shu Yubai, reminded by her question, moved her hand and turned her head in surprise. “It seems… it doesn’t hurt at all.”