A Moment Too Late (GL) - Chapter 80

The stairwell door was closed, and in the dim light, Shu Yubai hooked her arm around Nan Xue’s slender, delicate neck, kissing her deeply and softly. Her warm, wet tongue licked across her lips.

Nan Xue trembled slightly. As she took the initiative, it was incredibly arousing.

Their breaths were warm and slightly moist.

Shu Yubai gently opened and closed her lips, sucking on Nan Xue’s plump lower lip, savoring the taste.

Their lips pressed together, kissing for a while. Nan Xue, however, slowly sensed Shu Yubai’s distraction.

“What’s wrong?” Nan Xue asked, looking at her with concern. “Sister, what are you thinking about?”

Shu Yubai released her, her eyes slowly refocusing. She pursed her red lips and looked out of the stairwell.

The stairwell was dimly lit. The two iron doors with clear glass windows were closed. People coming out of the elevator wouldn’t notice this hidden corner unless they looked closely.

Was that light just a hallucination?

Shu Yubai felt uneasy. She asked Nan Xue, “Did you feel like someone just took a picture with a flash?”

“No,” Nan Xue said, lowering her head and smiling. She shook her head. “You’re overthinking it. How could anyone take a photo with the flash on, practically asking to be caught?”

That made sense.

If someone were to take a secret photo, using a flash would be too conspicuous.

Shu Yubai shook her head. As she walked out the door, she glanced back through the glass of the stairwell door.

The glass seemed old and a bit dark. In contrast, the lobby was well-lit, and the stairwell was dim, with only a sensor light. This area was like an emergency exit in such a tall building. Unless there was a power outage, people rarely took the stairs. The lighting was always in a half-on, half-off state.

In the next second, she started to worry again.

Could it be that the stairwell was too dark, and the photo wouldn’t come out well without a flash?

Her heartbeat quickened slightly. Even in the cold, a thin layer of sweat appeared on her back.

No, that didn’t make sense.

No matter what, taking secret photos with a flash was too risky.

“Let’s go,” Nan Xue said, supporting her waist. They walked out of the lobby. Shu Yubai seemed still preoccupied, but Nan Xue lowered her head and whispered, “Even if we were photographed, I don’t think it’s a big deal. We’re just dating. What’s the big deal?”

“……”

Shu Yubai stopped, looking at her silently.

“I even want to get married,” Nan Xue said with a smile, looking intently into her eyes. “Sister, our relationship will be public one day. It’s just a matter of time.”

Shu Yubai was touched and yet found it funny.

She always thought of Nan Xue as a sheltered, naïve little creature, tall in stature but with a heart still in a fledgling state, often overly innocent.

But because of that, she was sincerely adorable.

Unable to resist, she leaned in, hugging Nan Xue’s slender waist, kissing her ear lobe. “Okay, I’ll wait.”

“Until one day, we go public.”

On a cold night between winter and spring, they stepped out of the lobby. The wind blew, and a dense line of traffic formed outside the building. Green lights flashed, and taillights flickered as cars moved back and forth. People queued up at the coffee shop downstairs, illuminated by warm orange lights; countless billboards shone brightly in the dark, very eye-catching.

A cold wind blew, and Nan Xue walked beside her, shoulder to shoulder, holding hands.

Shu Yubai drove while Nan Xue sat in the passenger seat.

Just like in the days when they wandered around, they found a nice restaurant, had dinner, and then drove around the familiar city. Shu Yubai said, “It’s been a long time since we went out to relax.”

“Yes,” Nan Xue replied, looking at her with a mix of complaint and teasing, “Sister, you’re so busy that you don’t even have time to go on a date with me.”

The corners of Shu Yubai’s lips curved slightly. Her gentle eyes reflected the city lights as cars passed by in the night, the city’s illumination quickly flickering past.

She looked at the familiar sights outside the window: “Look over there, that’s our old elementary school. When we were kids, it seemed so beautiful. Looking back now, it feels so old and shabby.”

“I always thought it was shabby,” Nan Xue said with a laugh.

Their elementary school had a sign that read “XX Primary School.” The security guard, dressed in a thick coat, stood at the gate as a group of children rushed out. It was the end of the school day, and many parents were waiting outside.

“There used to be street food vendors outside the school,” Shu Yubai recalled. “They sold things like fried skewers. I wonder if they’re still there.”

“They are,” Nan Xue said, looking out the window. “Sister, look.”

Coincidentally, the light turned red, and the car stopped. Shu Yubai looked out through the tinted windows.

Outside the school gate, a fragile-looking cart had a small lamp hanging from it, casting a weak light over an assortment of food: chives, breaded skewers, and other unidentifiable items.

“It seems like the same old lady,” Shu Yubai said with a smile. “Doesn’t she look the same?”

“Maybe it’s her daughter,” Nan Xue murmured. “It’s been so long. She was already old back then, with white hair. It’s been over ten years, so she might have already…”

Passed away.

“Stop,” Shu Yubai said, giving her a helpless look. “Why not think of something positive?”

Nan Xue lowered her head without saying anything.

Suddenly, she remembered something and turned to Shu Yubai, “Everyone has to leave someday, right?”

“Yes,” Shu Yubai replied softly. “Relatives, parents, friends, lovers—everyone will leave at some point. Life is only so long, and partings are inevitable.”

Shu Yubai glanced down, then gently said, “But don’t be so melancholic all of a sudden.”

Her fair hand gripped the steering wheel as she turned to Nan Xue with a smile. “We’re on a date, understand?”

They parked by the lakeside.

Finding a parking spot took a while, but they eventually found an empty one.

In the evening, a cool, damp breeze blew gently. Despite the darkness, the lakeside was bustling with life. Locals and tourists alike were walking their dogs or carrying bird cages, gathering in the lively area.

They got out of the car and walked hand in hand through the crowd without a care. At one moment, Shu Yubai looked at Nan Xue’s profile, her short hair blown by the wind, her tall and slender figure. Seeing her eyes and pale nose tip, Shu Yubai felt a sense of happiness and contentment.

It felt like this moment could last forever.

“Sister, they’re selling pets over there.”

Nan Xue tugged at her sleeve. “Shall we take a look?”

In a crowded area, there was a small shop with an outdoor stall. The owner sat on a small stool at the entrance, and the stall was filled with colorful cages containing kittens, puppies, and rabbits.

There were also parrots and turtles crawling around.

“So cute.”

Nan Xue squeezed through the crowd and squatted down, staring without blinking. “Sister, come and look.”

Shu Yubai squeezed through as well and squatted next to her.

In the cage in front of them were many little rabbits, huddled together. They were very small, with eyes barely open, likely still young and possibly not yet weaned.

“Do you like them?”

Shu Yubai glanced at her, eyes filled with affection. Nan Xue nodded. Shu Yubai then looked up and asked the shop owner, “If we buy one of these rabbits, will it be easy to take care of?”

“Very easy.”

The shop owner said as he opened the cage door. “Which one do you like? Little girl, pick one yourself.”

Nan Xue pointed to a lively rabbit.

The little creature was very energetic, hopping around in the crowded cage, stepping on the other rabbits’ backs, with long ears flicking and a pink nose twitching. It had a three-lobed mouth and was entirely white.

The shop owner grabbed it by the ears. The rabbit kicked its legs but was still lifted and placed into a separate cage. “150 yuan.”

Nan Xue started to search for her phone in her bag, but Shu Yubai paid first and handed the cage to Nan Xue. “Here you go.”

“Thank you, sister.”

Nan Xue, holding the cage, leaned over and kissed Shu Yubai on the cheek.

The shop owner looked at the two pretty girls walking away hand in hand, sensing something subtly off yet intriguing.

“Shall we go back?” Shu Yubai asked softly. “Or do you want to walk around a bit more?”

Nan Xue replied, “Let’s walk around a bit more.”

By the lakeside, there were small tables with lamps, creating an atmosphere with small candle lanterns flickering in the night. Each table had a sign, indicating it was a spot for passersby to have tea.

The lotus leaves and seed pods in the lake had withered, but in summer, they would bloom beautifully.

“Let’s sit for a while.”

Shu Yubai took Nan Xue’s hand, walked over, and sat down to look at the menu.

Nan Xue sat beside her, placing the cage on a small bamboo chair next to them.

The rabbit hopped around inside. Nan Xue propped her chin, which was as fair as jade, on her hand, and gently teased the rabbit with her delicate fingers.

Shu Yubai glanced at her and couldn’t help but smile.

She ordered two freshly squeezed kiwi juices and two grilled croissants. After a while, the waiter brought them over: grass-green juice in tall glasses with long straws.

The night was perfect, and their shadows were lightly cast on the table.

Feeling a flutter in her heart, Shu Yubai wanted to take a selfie with Nan Xue, but her phone suddenly rang.

“Teacher Su?”

Shu Yubai swiped her finger across the screen to answer the call. She lowered her voice as she held the phone.

The caller was her former mentor, Su Hanting. Shu Yubai didn’t know what she wanted and listened with slight nervousness.

Nan Xue paused her juice drinking and looked up at her.

The voice on the other end was soft and patient:

“I’m going abroad for further studies in a while, and there’s an extra spot. After considering it, I think you, who are still striving to improve yourself, might be interested.”

Su Hanting asked softly, “Xiao Shu, do you want to go? If so, I can recommend you.”

Further studies?

She was quite interested, but if it was too far away, what about Nan Xue? They had just gotten together not long ago. Could she take her along?

Impossible. At least, her father wouldn’t agree.

Thinking of Nan Xue, she decided against it.

“Should I sign you up? Think of it as pursuing a PhD.” Su Hanting asked.

In the night, Shu Yubai brushed her long hair behind her ear and curled her fingers on the cold table, feeling uneasy. She cautiously and gratefully said, “Thank you, teacher. I’ll think about it.”

“Where would the studies be?”

“Europe. I haven’t decided on a specific school yet, still working on the applications.”

Shu Yubai sighed silently in her heart. It was too far. She lowered her head and said softly, “Teacher, thank you for thinking of me. But it’s too far, and my mother needs care here, so I…”

“You’re not going?”

Su Hanting chuckled, “It’s okay. I just wanted to mention it to you. But not going… is a bit of a pity.”

She didn’t elaborate on why it was a pity.

Shu Yubai declined, thanked her repeatedly, and after a few more words, ended the call.

“What was it about?” Nan Xue looked at her.

“My teacher asked if I wanted to go for further studies. I said no.”

Shu Yubai’s lips pressed against the straw as she took a sip of the juice, her black hair ruffled by the wind. She lifted her gentle eyes to look at her. “I can’t bear to leave you.”

Nan Xue’s heart fluttered.

She propped her face on her hand and asked softly, “Sister, you should go.”

“Really?”

Shu Yubai raised her eyebrows at her.

Nan Xue was silent.

She lowered her thick eyelashes, lightly tapping her fingers on the table. The cool breeze lifted her shoulder-length black hair. She licked her rosy lips, her expression showing a hint of hesitation.

“You should go. I’ll go with you.”

Nan Xue said.

“Don’t think about it.”

Shu Yubai held her hand, resting her head on Nan Xue’s thin shoulder, and whispered in her ear, “I won’t go. We agreed, wherever you go, I’ll go, right?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the baker arrived with a small plate.

Shu Yubai looked at her, her gaze pausing for a moment.

She was tall, wearing a white frilly apron, with a curvy and firm figure, short hair, a porcelain-white chin, and rosy lips. She walked over step by step.

“Enjoy.”

With a click, the baker placed the plate down and smiled at Shu Yubai.

Nan Xue looked at Shu Yubai, then at the baker.

She instantly fell silent.

She turned her head away, casually tapping her fingers on the cool table, her expression briefly indifferent.

Shu Yubai withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and took a bite of the croissant. It was perfectly baked, crispy with a hint of wheat aroma.

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

Shu Yubai continued to eat.

After a moment, Nan Xue suddenly pinched her arm lightly, the gesture full of emotion.

“Sister.”

“Hmm?”

Shu Yubai looked up.

“Do you think that person just now was pretty?”

Nan Xue asked nonchalantly.