After the Divorce, My Ex-Wife Regrets It Deeply - Chapter 2

Lu Yao had known Luo Yueming since high school.

Their first meeting was in a school hallway. Lu Yao, still naive and ignorant about feelings, stood dazed in place, her head turning uncontrollably. For reasons she couldn’t explain, all her attention was snatched away by that person.

They wore the same school uniform, yet on Lu Yao, it looked loose and shapeless, while on Luo Yueming, it was neat and inexplicably alluring.

Luo Yueming walked past her without a single glance, while Lu Yao could only turn her head back again and again.

Just like the two of them in the future.

The moment she closed the door, Lu Yao’s left eyelid began to twitch incessantly, as if it were cramping.

She pressed her finger against it; the skin beneath her fingertip continued to tremble. Lu Yao’s hand began to shake as she whispered to herself, “Left for luck, right for disaster; left for luck, right for disaster…”

It seemed her divorce from Luo Yueming was destined.

Even the heavens approved.

Walking ahead of her, Luo Yueming glanced back at her sideways. Lu Yao didn’t dare linger and hurried to catch up.

Today, Luo Yueming wasn’t wearing her work clothes. She had changed into a black autumn-winter sweater, her collarbones slightly visible. Combined with her messily tied hair, she looked casual.

She wore a mask, her eyes cast downward, seemingly unwilling to speak.

Conveniently, Lu Yao didn’t want to talk either.

The two walked quietly into the elevator. When residents from other floors got on halfway through, nothing about the two suggested they even knew each other.

After walking out of the building, Lu Yao froze in place, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

She was doomed.

When one has a cold, there is always some nasal congestion. It was manageable indoors, but once outside, the feeling of being unable to breathe became glaringly obvious.

Unable to breathe through her nose, she had to breathe through her mouth. Consequently, the cold air rushed straight down her throat, invading her internal organs. Her stomach was the first to suffer, beginning to cramp.

She wanted to vomit—she desperately wanted to vomit.

Lu Yao covered her mouth with her hand and looked up toward the apartment, considering the possibility of going back upstairs to get a mask.

Ultimately, she didn’t dare make Luo Yueming wait for her. She had no choice but to lower her hand and pretend everything was fine.

She cautiously maintained her dignity, not wanting to appear pathetic in front of Luo Yueming. The more she tried, the more Lu Yao felt she was suffocating.

Why did Luo Yueming remember to bring a mask, but she couldn’t?

Stupid. So incredibly stupid.

She couldn’t even manage such a small thing.

Following behind Luo Yueming, Lu Yao felt an indescribable frustration. She looked up at Luo Yueming’s back, the words she wanted to say suppressed in her heart. Her breathing began to sound like sobbing.

Luo Yueming stopped abruptly.

Lu Yao nearly crashed into her.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Yao sniffled. her voice was muffled, and the tail end of her sentence went out of tune. Fearing Luo Yueming would notice, her gaze flickered, and she slowly lowered her head.

Luo Yueming stared at her fixedly, her gaze so intense Lu Yao felt as though the top of her head was about to catch fire.

The two stood in a stalemate. Just as the fire in Lu Yao’s heart was about to flare up, a mask was handed over.

Lu Yao stared blankly for a few seconds. Once she realized what was happening, she looked up in astonishment.

Luo Yueming didn’t speak; she simply maintained the gesture of offering the mask.

“For me?” Lu Yao’s pupils trembled.

Impatience began to appear on the other woman’s face, her brow furrowing deeply. “I didn’t bring an extra mask. There is only this one.”

That wasn’t what Lu Yao wanted to ask, but after Luo Yueming finished speaking, she fell silent again.

Seeing that Lu Yao wasn’t taking it, she finally asked, “Do you find it beneath you?”

Beneath her? Why would she find it beneath her?

It wasn’t as if they hadn’t been intimate; they had shared far closer contact. It was just a mask that had been worn. Lu Yao was simply surprised by Luo Yueming’s gesture—it was unexpected.

Without thinking further, Lu Yao managed a smile and quickly took it.

Never make things difficult for yourself.

Lu Yao pinched her own hand, trying her best to stay clear-headed.

Actually, she had seen these many times before, hadn’t she? Luo Yueming’s meticulousness and consideration—many things Lu Yao failed to notice where things Luo Yueming would remind her of or help with.

This person was simply too intelligent; she could notice everything with just a glance from the corner of her eye.

Her actions held no warmth; it was just a matter of convenience… Don’t overthink it, don’t misunderstand.

There was no chance left between them.

Only after watching Lu Yao put on the mask did Luo Yueming put her hand back in her pocket and turn to continue walking.

Lu Yao lowered her head again, following closely behind.

The bus stop was a hundred meters away. After a three-stop ride, they arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

The last time she had been here was three years ago. Back then, Lu Yao had been lost and helpless, yet filled with anticipation for the upcoming marriage.

Entering again three years later, it was for a divorce.

The decor of the Civil Affairs Bureau hadn’t changed, though the staff seemed to be different.

Regarding their decision to divorce, the staff member asked question after question. Only after Lu Yao emphasized the divorce several times did the person slowly begin organizing the paperwork, even attempting to strike up small talk during the process.

Although Lu Yao didn’t want to talk, she still replied politely to a few questions.

After a few sentences, she realized what was happening and stopped responding.

The staff member wanted to use domestic trifles to bring up happy moments from their marriage.

Surely there would be something worth remembering, something that would make them feel nostalgic and give up on the divorce, right?

Unfortunately, there was nothing.

Lu Yao pressed her lips together. Her memories of the marriage consisted only of her hoping to speak a few more words with Luo Yueming, as if doing so could bridge the distance and let her enter the other’s heart.

Luo Yueming was a person of few words. Much like now—after entering the Civil Affairs Bureau, she hadn’t said a single word.

Once Lu Yao also stopped talking, the staff member let out a long sigh, finally understanding.

People who truly want a divorce don’t say much.

They had already made up their minds. From beginning to end, neither of them had even looked at the other. They weren’t even “harmonious in appearance but divided at heart”—how could anyone stop them from divorcing?

Having understood this, the staff member’s hands became much more efficient.

Lu Yao watched the staff member’s movements, her hands resting on her lap clenched tightly. Her mind began to flash through various memory fragments, finally settling on a scene in a hospital room.

Luo Yueming’s grandmother was sitting on the hospital bed.

She was a very kind and gentle old woman. Lu Yao had never seen her get angry at anyone; she was even kind to Lu Yao when they had just met.

The recalled image was incredibly clear.

Grandmother took her hand, her voice slow, like leaves being blown by the wind. She said, “Seeing you reminds me of my granddaughter.”

The elderly woman had a smile on her face.

“Her? She’s always so hardworking, putting all the time meant for family into her studies and work. I hardly ever see her smile. Sometimes I wonder if the heavens forgot something when they let this child be born.”

Grandmother held her arm, looking her up and down with pity in her voice. “If only she could be more like you.”

At the time, Lu Yao didn’t understand what was so good about being like her.

Even now, she still didn’t understand.

The staff member, having given up resistance, worked at high speed. Transferring the household registration, stamping the documents—they managed to get the divorce certificates into their hands before the afternoon.

Lu Yao stared dazed at the divorce certificate in her hand.

She suddenly wanted to see Luo Yueming’s reaction, but before she could look up, she heard Luo Yueming’s voice: “Let’s go.”

It was the same calm tone as always, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

Lu Yao also calmed her heart. After a nod, the two walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau.

It was very quiet.

Neither spoke first. Lu Yao pressed the edge of the mask at the bridge of her nose. Since Luo Yueming, standing beside her, didn’t leave, she remained in place waiting for Luo Yueming’s reaction.

“Are you going home?” Luo Yueming looked at Lu Yao.

Lu Yao opened her mouth, wanting to correct Luo Yueming’s choice of words—that place was no longer her home.

The words reached her lips but were swallowed back down. Correcting it was meaningless.

The divorce certificate was already in hand. They had no mutual friends. From here on, as long as they deleted each other’s contact information, the name “Luo Yueming” would never appear in her life again.

“I am.” Lu Yao lowered her gaze submissively. “My suitcase is still in the room.”

“I’ll drive you back.”

“No need, I’ll take a taxi. You should go to the office.”

Luo Yueming fell silent again. Lu Yao remembered the phone call Luo Yueming had received before they left. “Doesn’t the company have things waiting for you to handle?”

Luo Yueming’s tone was flat. “You’re right.”

Lu Yao knit her brows and reached out her hand to ask Luo Yueming for the keys. To ensure a smooth divorce, she had prepared thoroughly; she had already packed her things and moved out, and she hadn’t brought the keys with her.

All that remained was the suitcase she had brought in yesterday. Once she moved that, she would be completely gone.

To take the suitcase, she needed the keys to open the door.

Since she didn’t want Luo Yueming to come with her, she had to ask for the keys… Lu Yao was a bit nervous. Fortunately, Luo Yueming simply placed the keys in Lu Yao’s palm without a word.

Feeling the cold temperature of the keys, Lu Yao turned her head. “Should I return them to your office later?”

“No need,” Luo Yueming said. “Just leave them at the security office.”

Lu Yao paused. “Okay.”

After Lu Yao responded, Luo Yueming didn’t look at her again. She turned and walked away, her silhouette looking quite carefree.

Lu Yao watched for a while until the keys in her hand began to feel hot. Only when the other person was completely out of sight did she walk to the roadside to hail a taxi back.

The timing of her return to the neighborhood was a bit awkward—it was right at dinner time.

At this hour, neighbors were just getting home. Lu Yao was terrified of running into someone. The more she feared it, the more naturally it happened.

A neighbor on the same floor, holding her daughter’s hand, hurried toward the elevator before the doors could close. Upon entering, the neighbor immediately said thank you.

The little girl pointed at Lu Yao and shouted, “Auntie!”

“How rude, you should say ‘Thank you, Auntie.'” The neighbor looked up, intending to apologize for her daughter, and then her eyes lit up.

“Lu Yao? I haven’t seen you in so long!”

Lu Yao took a deep breath and forced a smile. “I went on a trip.”

The elevator still had a short way to go. The neighbor asked, “Where did you go?”

Lu Yao couldn’t not answer.

This neighbor was a very good person; she had helped Lu Yao a lot when she first moved into the complex.

Usually, Lu Yao called her Sister Chen, and even Sister Chen’s daughter would share a candy whenever she saw Lu Yao.

“Mountain City.”

“Mountain City is great.” Sister Chen nodded with a smile. “It’s lively there, and the scenic spots are beautiful.”

The little girl started fussing. “Mom, I want to go too.”

Sister Chen looked down to coax her for a moment, then continued chatting with Lu Yao.

“Why the sudden urge to travel? You didn’t even tell me. I’ve quite missed you.”

The elevator arrived. Sister Chen pulled her daughter out, but seeing that Lu Yao was still in the elevator, her expression turned puzzled.

Lu Yao walked out. “I’m moving out.”

“Huh?” Sister Chen was surprised. “What about your wife?”

“She…” Lu Yao’s voice was very soft. She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“…Did you two have a falling out?”

Sister Chen knew about the situation between Lu Yao and Luo Yueming; after being neighbors for three years, it was impossible not to know.

Lu Yao didn’t want to explain too much and still wanted to save some face for herself. After a pause, she could only say, “I plan to open a shop. The location is a bit far, so I won’t be living here anymore.”

This explanation eased Sister Chen’s suspicions, and she said understandingly, “Opening a shop is good.”

As they spoke, they had reached the front door of the home.

“You two won’t be having children anyway. Although your wife has a good job and can save a lot of money, you can also work hard for yourself. By the way, what kind of shop do you plan to open?”

Standing outside Sister Chen’s door, Lu Yao answered with a smile: “A flower shop, probably.”