A Moment Too Late [GL] by cat喵

Chapter 64

She propped herself up, not having slept, and leaned down to kiss Shu Yubai's forehead, then her brow, collarbone, and continued down, her kisses falling gently like feathers, tickling the heart.

The kisses stopped at her chest.

The girl buried her head in that softness and stayed still.

"......"

At night, a bit of light filtered through the window, soft and cool, illuminating the girl's fair, smooth forehead. Her thick eyelashes curled as if they were filled with moonlight.

"Nan Xue."

Shu Yubai called her name.

There was no response; her breathing was even and long.

Had she fallen asleep?

Shu Yubai didn't move. In the quiet night, she looked down, paused for a moment, and her slightly cold fingertips touched her bare shoulder. It was very smooth, with a hint of chill.

She pulled up the small blanket draped over Nan Xue's shoulder, covering her snugly, and quietly encircled her, closing her eyes.

The weight on her chest wasn't heavy.

Nan Xue's arm was wrapped around Shu Yubai's waist, very close.

Shu Yubai was in a slightly reclined position, her chest rising and falling gently. The girl's breathing was warm and charming, spreading in gentle waves, with a hint of warm moisture.

Her heartbeat became uncontrollable.

Nan Xue, however, gently pushed her away, seemingly short of breath. She wriggled up a bit, furrowed her brows, took a breath, turned over, and continued to sleep.

Her black hair, damp with fine sweat, clung to her snow-white cheek.

At night, everything was quiet, with a faint white trace on the horizon outside the window. The night sky was pitch black. The stars were still shining, and this was a city that never sleeps. Inside the room, people gradually fell asleep.

••••

The next day.

Nan Xue slept deeply, intoxicated and hard to wake.

Shu Yubai got up on her own, washed up, dressed, and went out.

The competition was held in a private academy.

The academy was quite large. Upon entering, a Japanese painting was hanging on a high wooden platform. Below the painting, a slender high porcelain vase held several plum branches, a brown withered lotus pod, and some dry straw-like things.

Bamboo curtains hung on the glass doors of the hall, and a row of fine bamboo planted outside obscured the view inside the art studio.

Shu Yubai walked in. Inside, there were neatly arranged low square wooden tables, and the wooden floor was warm. Shoes had to be removed upon entry.

In this group of about thirty people, Shu Yubai removed her shoes at the door, and a staff member helped her put them in a locker and took her bag and phone, locking them in a small locker.

You Fu was in another group, not in the same studio, but with her senior brother.

"Are you nervous?"

Her senior brother glanced at her.

Shu Yubai shook her head, then nodded: "Not at first, but now I seem a bit nervous. What about you, senior brother?"

Her senior brother smiled and didn’t speak.