After the Divorce, the Heiress Omega Regretted It - Chapter 50

When Luo Yunye returned to her seat, Gu Qianyue had already finished cutting up the rest of her steak—neatly and beautifully arranged, pleasing to the eye.

She smiled and looked at Luo Yunye with concern. “Did something happen just now? You seemed a little anxious.”

Luo Yunye picked up her knife and fork with a light smile. “Just a small matter. It’s all taken care of.”

“By the way, Chinese New Year’s Eve is next week. Are you going home for the holidays or staying in town?”

“I’ll be staying here,” Luo Yunye answered without hesitation.

Gu Qianyue had worried earlier that if Luo Yunye went back to her hometown, their one-month trial period would barely have any days left. Hearing that she was staying, her mood instantly lifted, and she said happily, “You’re not going back to spend it with your mom?”

After her parents divorced, Luo Yunye’s mother, Li Rong, had taken her to City C—partly to escape the place that held so much pain and partly to keep Luo Dongbin from seeing his child, hoping to use that as revenge.

Unfortunately, she overestimated how much Luo Dongbin cared. He had never really liked Luo Yunye’s mother, so naturally, he wasn’t interested in their child either. Other than the monthly child support, he never called Luo Yunye even once.

When she was eighteen and got accepted into a university in City A, Li Rong had gone into a frenzy, thinking she wanted to reunite with her father. She’d nearly torn up her admission letter.

That only solidified Luo Yunye’s resolve to escape from her mother and head to City A.

If even the original Luo Yunye had no desire to spend New Year’s with her mom, the current Luo Yunye had even less reason to pretend to care about a relationship that never existed.

She spoke frankly, “My parents divorced when I was very young. My mom has a really controlling nature. I’d rather not go back and fight with her over the holidays.”

Gu Qianyue nodded, feeling a little awkward. She bit her lip gently. “Sorry… I didn’t know about your family situation.”

Luo Yunye smiled warmly. “No need to apologize. I never mentioned it before, so it’s normal you wouldn’t know.”

“Then… tell me more about yourself. I want to know you better.”

Luo Yunye treated it like idle conversation and shared more about her parents and her stepsister Luo Yunyi—though she didn’t mention Luo Yunyi’s name directly.

Gu Qianyue was heartbroken to hear how her mother used to beat her as a child, leaving her covered in bruises.

To have grown up in such a suffocating environment and still turned out so capable—it was the very picture of a resilient, powerful, tragic heroine straight out of a novel.

The more Gu Qianyue learned about her, the more she wanted to treat her well, to show her the warmth this world could offer.

Seeing the tender look in her eyes, Luo Yunye couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’m really not as pitiful as you think. My studies are going well, I’ve already got a job lined up at your company after graduation, and I have at least one good friend. Life’s not so bad.”

She never wanted much—just one or two genuine people by her side. That would be enough.

Gu Qianyue reached over and gently took her hand, her tone sincere. “From now on, I’ll make sure life keeps getting better for you.”

The Gu family was powerful and wealthy, and as the sole heir, Gu Qianyue had countless admirers—alphas lining up, dreaming of marrying into her family. For Luo Yunye to catch her eye seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck.

But Gu Qianyue could feel it clearly—Luo Yunye didn’t have romantic feelings for her. She wasn’t even pretending for the sake of Gu Qianyue’s wealth. And it was exactly this sincerity that made her fall even harder.

*****

As New Year’s Eve approached, the streets began to glow with festive lights and decorations, ushering in a joyful, holiday atmosphere.

Early that morning, Luo Yunye bought all the groceries she needed. She planned to cook for Lin Yujia and Gu Qianyue at her place.

While she was busy in the kitchen, she sent Lin Yujia to pick up Gu Qianyue.

When the two arrived with gifts in hand, they found Luo Yunye wearing an apron, working in the steaming kitchen.

Gu Qianyue stood at the door holding a bouquet of roses, watching her from behind. Her long hair was loosely tied back, her figure graceful in home clothes and an apron that hugged her waist. Even without makeup, she looked effortlessly beautiful.

In that moment, Gu Qianyue felt like she was walking into a warm domestic scene—like a wife waiting at home, cooking dinner while she returned from work. So simple, yet so comforting.

Lin Yujia placed the New Year gifts on the table and saw Gu Qianyue standing dazed at the kitchen door. She walked over and teased, “Yuejie, are you planning to hold that bouquet all day?”

“Huh?” Gu Qianyue snapped out of it, her cheeks flushed. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and glanced at the living room. “I’ll just put it on the coffee table.”

It was her first time at Luo Yunye’s place, so she instinctively looked around. The house wasn’t big or luxuriously decorated like her own, but it was clean and organized in every corner.

If it had been tidied hastily, there’d be little signs of disorder, but everything was consistently neat. It was obvious—Luo Yunye was someone who liked to keep things in order.

Every time she saw her, she seemed to uncover something new. Gu Qianyue felt herself falling even deeper, more than before.

Lin Yujia, a regular visitor, treated the place like home. She washed some fruit and placed it on the table, even turned on the TV to keep Gu Qianyue entertained, then slipped into the kitchen to help.

“You can help me peel some garlic,” Luo Yunye said. “It’s in the basket. Grab a bowl for the peels.”

Lin Yujia went to peel garlic, and Gu Qianyue, bored, joined her. But her eyes kept drifting back to Luo Yunye.

“I didn’t expect Yunye to be good at cooking too. Is her food actually tasty?”

She reached for some garlic absentmindedly and accidentally brushed Lin Yujia’s hand.

A warm jolt traveled up Lin Yujia’s arm, goosebumps breaking out. But Gu Qianyue hadn’t even noticed—her attention was still fully on Luo Yunye.

Pretending nothing happened, Lin Yujia smiled. “If she hadn’t moved here and I didn’t come by to mooch meals, I’d never have known she could cook so well. Her dishes look good, smell great, and taste even better.”

“Wow, sounds like I’m in for a treat,” Gu Qianyue said with a smile, looking more and more pleased.

How could someone be this perfect?

Beautiful, kind, thoughtful—she could cook, keep house, was educated and capable… she was truly a hidden gem.

Thankfully, she’d been cunning enough to “reserve” this treasure before anyone else could. She really was a genius.

After peeling the garlic, Gu Qianyue brought it to Luo Yunye and offered to help more.

But seeing how delicate and unused to the kitchen Gu Qianyue was, Luo Yunye simply asked her to set the table with dishes from the cabinet.

Gu Qianyue, idle again, lingered by the kitchen door and chatted with her.

“Yunye, when did you learn to cook?”

From her cutting skills, it was clear she had plenty of practice.

Luo Yunye paused and thought.

That was a long story—she’d cooked across countless book worlds. Over time, it became a stress reliever and something she truly enjoyed. Cooking came naturally to her now.

But none of that was something she could explain, so she casually lied, “My mom couldn’t cook. I had to figure things out myself if I wanted to eat. Eventually, I just got good at it.”

Gu Qianyue had never touched a knife in her life. Even fruit was brought to her peeled and sliced. She couldn’t really understand the struggle, only feeling an ache in her heart.

“If you don’t like cooking, you don’t have to do it anymore.”

She almost wanted to call her family’s housekeeper over right then. She couldn’t bear to see Luo Yunye working so hard in the future.

“I actually enjoy it,” Luo Yunye said, moving rhythmically through her tasks. “But I don’t like washing dishes… or cleaning up.”

That, Gu Qianyue really couldn’t help with.

She pulled out her phone and called the family butler, instructing them to send a cleaner over later to tidy up the kitchen.

After a whole morning of cooking, Luo Yunye made eight dishes and one soup. Lin Yujia and Gu Qianyue helped carry everything to the table, constantly praising her cooking.

Once everything was ready, they both took out their phones to snap pictures from every angle, planning to post them online.

Taking off her apron, Luo Yunye laughed. “This must be the simplest New Year meal you two have ever had.”

Given their family backgrounds, their usual dinners probably spanned two banquet tables.

“This is different,” Gu Qianyue said, smiling down at her phone. “You made it yourself—it’s bound to be more delicious than anything else.”

Lin Yujia teased, “We haven’t even eaten yet, but I’ve already had a full serving of dog food.”

Gu Qianyue’s cheeks flushed bright red.

Luo Yunye tidied her hair a bit, sat down, and lifted her drink.

“Thank you both for coming today. Let’s treat this like a little New Year’s celebration. Wishing both of you a wonderful new year ahead!”

Lin Yujia raised her glass. “To the new year—and to you and Yuejie getting better and better!”

Gu Qianyue joined in with a smile. “To all of us getting better and better!”

They clinked glasses and took a sip.

“Enough talking—let’s eat,” Luo Yunye grinned.

The aroma of the braised lion’s head meatballs had already made Gu Qianyue’s stomach rumble. She eagerly picked up her chopsticks and popped a bite into her mouth. Her eyes instantly lit up.

“Yunye, your cooking could rival the chefs at Wanwan’s hotel. This is incredible!”

Luo Yunye laughed. “You’re exaggerating.”

“No, really! Ask Yujia!”

Lin Yujia nodded enthusiastically. “I second that!”

They chatted about their childhood New Year memories, sharing stories well into the afternoon.

After the meal, the cleaning lady arrived. The three headed out to catch a movie.

Gu Qianyue picked a comedy, and, before they went in, snapped a selfie with Luo Yunye and their tickets.

“One more for the WeChat feed,” she said, tucking her phone away with a grin.

After the movie, Lin Yujia left for an appointment, and Gu Qianyue wished Luo Yunye a happy New Year as she linked arms with her.

Since it was still early, she pulled her along to go shopping. Every time she saw a nice coat, she made Luo Yunye try it on. And every time, Luo Yunye looked stunning. Gu Qianyue couldn’t resist taking out her card to buy them all.

But Luo Yunye held her hand down. “Let’s not. I already have plenty of clothes—and besides, I’ve prepared a surprise for you tonight. Carrying all these bags around would be a hassle.”

The moment she heard the word “surprise,” Gu Qianyue’s heart began to race. Before she could react, Luo Yunye was already tugging her out of the store.

She couldn’t stop smiling. “What kind of surprise?”

It couldn’t be… a confession?

Probably not this soon, right?

Still, the thought made her want the night to fall faster. She couldn’t wait to find out.

“It’s snowing.”

Luo Yunye gazed at the delicate snowflakes drifting down under the streetlights, melting the moment they touched the ground.

Gu Qianyue raised her hand to catch one, her eyes lighting up in surprise. “It really is snowing!”

“I want to take you somewhere.”

Luo Yunye took her hand and led her toward the bridge.

The wind was bitterly cold, carrying flecks of snow that stung against their cheeks. But Luo Yunye’s palm was warm, almost hot. Gu Qianyue pulled her scarf up over her face, watching Luo Yunye’s back. When she turned and smiled, Gu Qianyue’s heart raced wildly. She wanted so badly to hold her, to kiss her under this first snowfall.

When they reached the bridge, Luo Yunye pulled out her phone and dialed a number. Once the call connected, she said, “We’re on the bridge. Are you ready?”

Lin Yujia’s voice came from the other end. “Ready.”

“Start.”

As soon as she hung up, a series of small fireballs shot up from the riverbank, bursting into dazzling fireworks that lit up the night sky in brilliant color.

Gu Qianyue turned to her, smiling with her eyes. “This is the surprise you prepared?”

“Mhm. Back home, we light fireworks for the New Year. I didn’t know if you’d like it.”

“I do,” she said, eyes curved with joy. “Let’s take a photo together.”

She tugged Luo Yunye back-to-back with the fireworks, and they leaned in close. The sky bloomed behind them. The photo froze the moment in time—blissful, beautiful.

*****

Far off in the crowd, Qin Yiwan stood alone, disguised with a hat and sunglasses, watching them with an ache in her chest.

Since the day she called Luo Yunye, they hadn’t spoken and hadn’t seen each other once.

She’d found out where Luo Yunye lived from Butler Lin and had been driving over after work, waiting outside her apartment complex. She knew the chances of seeing her were slim—but she couldn’t help trying. Just in case.

After a week, she finally caught a glimpse. Luo Yunye had stepped out to run a quick errand at the nearby supermarket. It was just a glance, but for Qin Yiwan, it was like a ripple shattering a still lake. She couldn’t calm down for hours afterward.

She had tried calling her again, but the call didn’t connect—only a cold voice message played: “The number you’ve dialed is currently on another call…”

But she could see clearly that Luo Yunye wasn’t on the phone.

She had been blocked.

The realization made Qin Yiwan’s eyes burn with tears. She drove away, telling herself she wouldn’t come back to wait again.

But this afternoon, she came anyway.

She saw the three of them leave in a car and followed at a distance—to the cinema, where she bought a ticket for the same movie and sat in the farthest corner.

She watched as Gu Qianyue leaned close to whisper something to Luo Yunye. Luo Yunye tilted her head to listen. The intimacy between them was unmistakable.

Qin Yiwan felt like she was losing her mind. She knew she shouldn’t be doing this, but she couldn’t help herself. She needed to see Luo Yunye, even if it hurt, even if it meant watching her be happy with someone else.

She followed them like a shadow. When Luo Yunye tried on clothes at a boutique, she stood at a distance, silently watching her glow.

After they left, Qin Yiwan went into the store and bought every single outfit Luo Yunye had tried on. A part of her hoped—one day—Luo Yunye might wear one again, for her.

Later, while the three dined by a window, Qin Yiwan sat alone in the restaurant across the street, absentmindedly picking at her food. Her eyes never left the window across from her.

When Luo Yunye glanced outside, she panicked and quickly turned her head, afraid of being seen—but more afraid of not being seen. Or worse, of being ignored.

Her heart pounded like a thief caught red-handed. She could barely taste her food.

When she stepped outside and saw the snow falling, she raised her hand to catch a flake. And then she saw them again—Luo Yunye holding Gu Qianyue’s hand, walking through the crowd.

The pain in her chest hadn’t eased. But she was starting to get used to it.

She followed them from a distance and watched them walk to the bridge. The fireworks lit up the river and the two figures standing side by side.

Her chest tightened until she could hardly breathe. If only she hadn’t divorced Luo Yunye… it should’ve been her standing on that bridge, watching the fireworks with her.

But she had destroyed her own happiness.

Now all she could do was hide in the shadows and watch someone else stand by Luo Yunye’s side.

******

After the fireworks, Luo Yunye took Gu Qianyue home. As she returned to her apartment complex, she spotted a familiar car parked by the entrance, its interior light glowing. Inside sat Qin Yiwan.

Qin Yiwan honked once.

Luo Yunye pretended not to see and turned into the complex. Qin Yiwan quickly jumped out and caught up with her, calling out, “Yunye! Please… can we talk?”

Snow fell in thick silence, as if time itself had slowed. Luo Yunye paused, hesitated, and then turned back toward her.

Qin Yiwan noticed her nose was red from the cold and instinctively reached out to hold her hand. “Let’s talk in the car, it’s warmer.”

Luo Yunye sidestepped the touch and walked to a quieter corner. Once they were alone, she turned around, her voice distant. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I…” Qin Yiwan stared at her cold expression. The words stuck in her throat. Her eyes turned red first.

“Miss Qin,” Luo Yunye looked away with a tired smile, “if you haven’t figured out what you want to say, maybe go home. It’s freezing. My girlfriend’s waiting for me to text her when I get back.”

“I’m sorry.” Qin Yiwan’s voice cracked as she drew a shaky breath. “I lost my memory before. I did a lot of things that hurt you. I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s in the past.” Luo Yunye exhaled deeply. She couldn’t bring herself to say, It’s fine. She could forgive a lot—but she couldn’t forgive what happened to A’wan. “I’m doing fine now. If you have nothing else, I’ll head back.”

As she turned to leave, Qin Yiwan grabbed her arm.

“Yunye, I… I never wanted the divorce. I didn’t remember anything—not us, not how much I loved you. I thought you were someone my mom planted to spy on me. I hated being watched. I didn’t want to be tied down to a stranger in a marriage I didn’t understand. That’s why I hurt you, why I pushed you away.

But that wasn’t the real me. I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry…”

“Miss Qin.” Luo Yunye steadied her breathing and pried her hand off gently. “Like I said—it’s over. A new year is just around the corner. Go on being President Qin. Focus on your career. No one’s tying you down. You’re free to be who you are.

And I’ll move on too. From now on, when we meet, it’ll be as your good friend’s girlfriend.

You once said you didn’t want Qianyue to get hurt. So let’s not talk about the past anymore. Let’s treat it like a dream. And now that we’re awake, it’s time to forget.”

“I wish I could forget.” Qin Yiwan’s eyes filled again, her voice choked. “But I remember everything now. I remember all the little things from our dream. I remember how good you were to me. I remember the forest at the bottom of the cliff, when we…”

“Miss Qin, I have no idea what you’re talking about—dreams, forests, cliffs. Are you sure you’re not confusing something?”

“Really?” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at her through the blur. “Then why do you know I’m allergic to mangoes? Why did you fall in love with A’wan?”

“Don’t you dare bring up A’wan!”

Luo Yunye snapped, unable to contain it. Realizing her outburst, she wiped her face, trying to calm down. “Sorry.”

Qin Yiwan flinched at her anger, tears falling faster now. She wiped them away and whispered, “So your heart only ever had A’wan in it?”

“Yes.”

The answer was firm, with no hesitation.

“Then what about me?” Qin Yiwan’s voice trembled, her chest tight. “What was I?”

Luo Yunye turned her face away. She couldn’t bear to look at her pain. “What’s the point in asking now?”

“I just want to know,” Qin Yiwan said, voice cracking, almost pleading. “Did you ever love me at all? Or was it always only A’wan?”

“I never loved you.”

“Look at me!”

Qin Yiwan gripped her arm and forced her to turn around. “Say it again—look me in the eye and say it.”

Luo Yunye took a deep breath, drawing on every ounce of willpower, forcing the tears back.

She met her eyes coldly and repeated, “Qin Yiwan, listen carefully. The only person I’ve ever loved is A’wan. I have never loved you.”

Tears streamed down Qin Yiwan’s face. Her hand slid limply from Luo Yunye’s arm. It was like the life had drained out of her.

“Never… loved me?”

Her lashes fluttered. Her heart shattered on the edge of those two quiet words.

“Never.”

The single word fell like a hammer.

Something inside Qin Yiwan broke. All that was left was a hollow, echoing ache.