A Moment Too Late [GL] by cat喵

Chapter 33

"Senior Sister, aren't you cold?"

Shu Yubai glanced at You Fu, who wasn't dressed very warmly either.

It was just a matter of borrowing her clothes.

You Fu smiled down, genuinely concerned that Shu Yubai might catch a cold. However, she had been taking care of her, knowing that Shu Yubai was the type to take things slowly, and excessive familiarity might be counterproductive.

"Hand."

You Fu extended her hand, looking into Shu Yubai’s eyes, signaling her to check her temperature. Shu Yubai hesitated for a moment, then lifted her fingers and lightly touched them.

But her hand was immediately covered by another.

Nan Xue’s hand was warm and gentle, covering Shu Yubai’s hand and warming her icy fingertips.

Nan Xue held her hand and said softly, "So cold."

Shu Yubai quickly withdrew her hand, as if shocked, avoiding it. Nan Xue looked slightly taken aback as the cold sensation withdrew from her palm. Shu Yubai was wearing only two thin layers, insufficient against the mountain's chill. A gust of wind made her shiver involuntarily. She considered for a moment, then untied her hair and let it fall over her shoulders, hoping this would provide some warmth.

"Sister, wear mine."

Nan Xue’s rabbit fur coat was actually made of coarse cotton thread, very soft. It had only a few knitted buttons in the front. She quickly undid each button and took off the coat, then walked behind Shu Yubai and gently draped it over her shoulders.

The coat carried her warmth and a faint, fresh fragrance.

It was very warm and soft.

Shu Yubai looked up in surprise to meet a pair of quiet eyes. In her eyes, there was a clear, shimmering light. Nan Xue’s delicate fingers brushed gently against her neck, bringing a tingling warmth.

Shu Yubai lowered her gaze, feeling inexplicably warm on her cheeks.

It was so obvious that even she could feel it.

But after a moment, she quickly regained her composure.

She stood up, retrieved her thermos from the black tent, which contained hot water she had brought.

She unscrewed the lid, took a sip, then put it down and returned the coat to Nan Xue. "I'm not that fragile. I just need hot water."

"Nan Xue."

You Fu called her name, her eyes deep with a somewhat ambiguous smile. "My cousin is calling for you."

Nan Xue frowned, showing some impatience.

She walked over to see that You Luan had rolled up his pants and was standing barefoot in the stream, searching for small fish.

Nearby, several parents with children were also there, seemingly unaffected by the cold.

There were many stones in the river valley. The blue stones with patterns were somewhat sharp, and sand and gravel had settled at the bottom, making the water very clear and icy to the touch.

In the shade of the trees, the light was dim. You Luan turned on his phone's flashlight to shine under the water. The river was very clear, and the light revealed small fish wagging their tails. The white light didn’t scare the fish away; instead, it made their blue tails and semi-transparent bodies even clearer.

By evening, visitors to the mountain had dwindled.

Only local villagers with children remained on the mountain. The crowds at the foot of the mountain were lively, but there were very few people who had made it to the base of the mountain. By the small river, several parents with children carried small water buckets and net bags, also fishing for small fish.