A Moment Too Late [GL] by cat喵

Chapter 53

In the evening, only a rough outline was sketched.

Under the light, Shu Yubai was drawing Nan Xue, who was sitting quietly in front of her. On the paper, the outline of a slender and radiant girl began to take shape. The pencil moved lightly, creating clean lines for hair, shoulders, waist, and long legs.

Painting is a slow and meticulous process.

Shu Yubai looked at the painting, feeling that it wasn’t quite capturing the essence yet. The subject was like a flower blooming in the snow—pure and delicate, but the painting still felt a bit off.

Would adding color improve it?

"What's wrong, sister?" Nan Xue asked.

Shu Yubai frowned, holding the sketch paper under the light and scrutinizing it.

This was just a preliminary draft; the final piece would be much larger. Right now, it was about finding the right feel. Even at this stage, Shu Yubai found it challenging.

How to express it?

Nan Xue sat on the opposite stool, seeming hesitant to move, her back straight.

Shu Yubai smiled and said, "Rest for a while. We’ll leave it at this for today."

Nan Xue nodded, standing up from the stool and moving closer to look at the portrait.

"It looks nice," she said.

Shu Yubai smiled, "Are you praising me, or yourself?"

Nan Xue's eyes sparkled, "You."

Shu Yubai couldn’t help but laugh and handed the painting to her, taking a break. She set down her pencil, ready to continue the next day.

It was almost time for bed. As Nan Xue left, she quietly reminded Shu Yubai, "Sister, remember the reward when you finish all the paintings."

Then she opened the door and left.

Shu Yubai wondered what kind of reward Nan Xue had in mind. She couldn’t figure it out, but it made her feel a bit more hopeful.

What was she looking forward to?

She couldn’t say, but with that thought, she fell asleep, dreaming of bright eyes like stars, with a hint of a barely perceptible smile.

Upon waking, her heart felt full and slightly buoyant.

Sweet, yet with a touch of wistfulness.

••••

The next morning.

Several people were gathered for breakfast in a glass-walled dining room overlooking a green lawn and a small garden. Shu Yubai sat next to Nan Xue. Her phone was on the table between their plates.

A notification popped up on Shu Yubai’s phone: [It’s been a week.]

Shu Yubai's phone screen lit up with a message from Tang Ruoyan.

"A week?" Shu Yubai wondered what it meant.

She picked up her phone and read the message: [It’s time for a follow-up.]

Shu Yubai smiled and replied, [Okay, thank you.]

Nan Xue noticed her smile, her fingers tightening slightly as she quietly drank her porridge and took a small bite of a bun.

A week of dating? Being together for a week?

None of it seemed right.

What was it? Nan Xue wanted to ask but swallowed her words.