A Moment Too Late [GL] by cat喵

Chapter 46

Boom.

Nan Xue hurriedly squeezed the brake lever, her long legs bracing against the ground to steady herself, narrowly avoiding a fall. In winter, some parts of the road were icy and slippery, making it easy to fall if not careful. The fact that Nan Xue crashed directly into the stone post indicated that she wasn’t paying attention while riding.

“What were you thinking?”

Shu Yubai looked at her and smiled, then stopped and pointed at a crescent moon over the lake shore. “Look, the winter moon.”

So, the reason she had turned back and smiled was because she saw the moon, not because of anything else.

Nan Xue felt a bit disappointed and turned to look.

Indeed, against the deep indigo sky, there was a crescent moon. It was a half moon, looking like a swollen orange, but pale and cold. Viewed through the sycamore tree branches, it was quite picturesque.

“It’s really beautiful,” Nan Xue said, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.

Shu Yubai glanced at her. “Let’s continue. We’re almost there.”

The two continued riding. At this time, there were few pedestrians, and the cinema tickets were for a movie at the top floor of a mall by the lake, just a few minutes’ drive away.

As they approached the mall, the crowd grew denser, making it difficult to ride. They parked the bikes by the roadside and walked the rest of the way.

Nan Xue walked beside Shu Yubai. Usually quiet, Nan Xue wasn’t as talkative as other more outgoing girls. Although Shu Yubai didn’t look at her, she sensed Nan Xue’s gaze occasionally falling on her, then quickly shifting away.

“Look ahead.”

Nan Xue tugged at her sleeve.

Ahead, two young girls were walking hand in hand. One had short hair with green tips, wearing a black T-shirt and down jacket. The other, with pink-tinted hair and slightly taller, had a smiling face.

That smile was very sweet, not like a typical friend’s. Nan Xue had a feeling they might be in a romantic relationship.

As if to confirm her suspicion, the taller girl leaned in and kissed the side of the shorter girl’s face.

The two held hands and walked away into the night, leaving only their silhouettes behind.

Shu Yubai watched with a slight daze, a hint of envy in her eyes, but it quickly faded.

“Are they a couple?” Nan Xue asked.

“Perhaps,” Shu Yubai replied, slightly dazed.

A soft touch on her fingertips sent a tingling sensation through her, like an electric current.

Shu Yubai suddenly looked up and met Nan Xue’s dark, soft eyes.

“Can I hold your hand?”

If this were any other time, holding hands would be natural and have no special meaning, but now, it seemed to carry a hint of ambiguity.

Shu Yubai’s long lashes fluttered.

She didn’t answer.

Nan Xue stood beside her, a faint cold scent wafting over. She tentatively took Shu Yubai’s hand, gently holding it in her palm. Nan Xue’s hand was slender and cold, but soft.

Shu Yubai looked at her.

Her black hair lightly covered her chin, with a noticeable blush on her white earlobes.