A Moment Too Late [GL] by cat喵

Chapter 57

As soon as Ying Ran finished speaking, suppressed laughter was heard at the dining table.

Was she really that clingy?

Nan Xue lowered her head, her delicate fingers holding the red chopsticks. Her cheeks felt slightly warm, a bit embarrassed, and she said, “I am not.”

Shu Yubai's red lips curved slightly, her eyes full of gentleness.

It was a somewhat doting expression.

Ying Ran glanced at her, and the assistant also looked at the two of them, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.

Nan Xue picked up a piece of snap pea and ate it, trying to cover her momentary discomfort.

“In a few days, you should go back.”

Ying Ran, oblivious to Nan Xue's expression, continued to deliver another blow. He quickly ate without looking at her and casually said, “In a few days, Shu Yubai will be participating in a competition and won’t have time to keep you company.”

“A competition?”

Nan Xue raised her eyes and looked at Shu Yubai, her eyes filled with curiosity. “A painting competition?”

“Yes.”

“Will it be out of town?”

“Mm, it’s quite a big one, not local.”

“Oh.”

Nan Xue understood, then lowered her head and ate a couple of bites absentmindedly, finding the food tasteless.

There weren’t many painting competitions. If Shu Yubai was going, she would probably be very busy and stressed. Nan Xue really wanted to go with her, but just as she was about to speak, she remembered her uncle's comment about being clingy and hesitated.

Perhaps relationships needed a sense of distance.

Shu Yubai would be away for a few days; cooling off a bit would be good.

Nan Xue comforted herself.

After a while, failing to console herself, she put down her chopsticks and softly asked, “Can I go with you?”

“Hm?”

Shu Yubai looked at her blankly, “What for? Are you also participating in the competition?”

“I’m going to keep you company.”

Nan Xue's dark eyes flashed with a moment of anticipation.

“No need.”

Shu Yubai lowered her head and smiled. Her long hair fell, covering half of her face. She casually took a napkin from the table to wipe her lips. “Don’t you have work? The company must be busy.”

“Not busy.”

Nan Xue recalled, “Really not busy, I haven’t worked overtime at all.”

“Don’t cause trouble.” Ying Ran shook his head, disapproving. “The competition is stressful enough. What will you do if you distract her? Let her focus on the competition. Besides, it’s only three days.”

“Are you sure it’s three days?”

“Yes, the tickets are already booked.”

Ying Ran turned to the assistant and said a few words. The assistant read the ticket details from her phone to Nan Xue: “March 9th, 8 AM, two tickets to Tokyo, already booked.”

“Two tickets?”

Nan Xue asked, “Who else is going?”

“Sister Yubai and her senior brother. There might be other colleagues, it should be quite lively.”

The assistant explained.

She turned off the screen and put her phone in her bag.

Nan Xue’s dark hair fell as she remained silent. She thought, if her senior brother was going, her senior sister probably wouldn’t be left out. If there were others who had feelings for her and she wasn’t there, what would happen?

Nan Xue pursed her lips slightly. Anyway, she had memorized the time and place.

She could just buy her own ticket.

Who cares?

When she stepped outside, it was cold and quiet. The cold wind kept blowing. Nan Xue opened an umbrella and moved closer, holding Shu Yubai’s hand. Her fingertips were warm and soft, very comfortable to hold.

Nan Xue held a black umbrella, and the two walked under it as white snowflakes fell on top.

“Sister.”

Nan Xue turned to look at her.

“Hmm?”

“I suddenly remembered a poem.”

“What poem?”

Nan Xue shook her head and said nothing. After a moment, she turned back and smiled gently. “You’ll know in the future.”

Shu Yubai was slightly stunned.

She’ll know in the future?

These days, her emotions had been fluctuating a lot. A casual remark from Nan Xue could easily make her overthink, always suspecting some hidden meaning. But on the other hand, ever since Nan Xue casually said, "Let’s give it a try," she hadn’t mentioned anything similar again.

Was that "like" just a casual remark?

And that goodnight kiss, was it just a random peck?

Shu Yubai felt a bit desolate. The next second, Nan Xue seemed to sense it and leaned in to peck her cheek.

She stood on Shu Yubai’s left side, near her heart. Nan Xue, slender and fair, held the umbrella quietly beside her. Her breath turned into warm white mist, and the strands of hair on her shoulder were blown by the wind.

Shu Yubai: “!!!”

The girl’s lips were warm and lightly fragrant. The brief closeness and departure made Shu Yubai's heart race unexpectedly.

She turned her head in astonishment, still processing what happened, her heart pounding.

“What are you doing?”

Shu Yubai, still shocked, had countless thoughts racing through her mind. But Nan Xue calmly glanced at her, her red lips slightly parted, and softly said, “I kissed you.”

“Why?”

Shu Yubai’s mind went blank, trying to calm her wildly beating heart. Her voice trembled slightly, filled with many unspoken hopes.

“No reason,” Nan Xue lowered her head and smiled gently. “Revenge on you. You used to like to suddenly ambush me like that.”

Nan Xue pointed to her own cheek, “Just like I did, suddenly kissing the cheek.”

“…”

Nan Xue continued, “Sister, you’ve done that many times. Why can’t I?”

Shu Yubai: “…”

“What does it feel like?” Nan Xue stopped in the snow, lowered her head slightly, and looked into her eyes, asking intently, “Does your heart race?”

*************
Author’s note: They’re almost together!

Translator's note: Ok, I'll be honest, this chapter made me giggle a lot 🤭😂. Oh, oh, Nan Xue is being proactive, ah.

To Be Continued...