Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 25

Ling Xi clenched her palms, hoping her face wouldn’t betray her.

“It’s just an artist’s appreciation for beauty. Her facial proportions are perfect can’t I want to draw her?”

Jiang Yuyang stared at Ling Xi for three seconds.

The usually serene face slowly bloomed like a rose, flushing a deep red.

Jiang Yuyang let out a soft chuckle, making Ling Xi lower her head in embarrassment.

Then she suddenly straightened up, raising her hand as if to swear. “Anyway, I really don’t have any improper thoughts about her!”

Heaven knew what had flashed through Ling Xi’s mind during those two minutes of silence.

Jiang Yuyang’s words hadn’t embarrassed her too much, what really made her blush were the memories of that bewitching, fox-like figure and the delicate pink hue that had once fluttered in her heart.

Perhaps she should also blame the fans’ casual teasing of “girlfriend” while she was painting, and their purely profit-driven arrangement.

Without realizing it, she and Song Yi had already done so much together.

As Jiang Yuyang quietly watched her with amusement, Ling Xi actually began to ponder.

Were she and Song Yi now the people who knew each other best?

After all, even without an emotional foundation, they’d already done everything appropriate and inappropriate.

Inside and out. Song Yi had to be the one who understood her the most.

Could she be Song Yi’s one and only?

The moment this thought surfaced, Ling Xi found it absurd.

Song Yi didn’t like her, and she didn’t like Song Yi either. Their closeness was purely accidental.

Song Yi was years older, incredibly popular, and had likely had a relationship or two enough to make her refuse dating and suffer from family pressure to marry. That was normal.

Ling Xi shook her head, grabbed Jiang Yuyang’s arm, and dashed toward the cinema to catch their nearly late movie.

Unbeknownst to her, those thoughts she should’ve dismissed had already taken root in her heart.

They’d grown enough for her to notice.

“By the way, how’s Sister Yue been lately?” After the movie, Jiang Yuyang feigned casualness and finally asked.

Ling Xi bit her straw, momentarily silent.

She opened her phone, saw the string of unanswered messages and the friend request that had sunk like a stone, and felt her heart grow cold again.

If even that person ignored her she couldn’t possibly turn to Song Yi for help again, could she?

But she really didn’t know anyone else.

In her past life, she had died without ever hearing from her sister again.

So she had no idea how her sister had fared in a foreign land.

“Busy with work. Has she not replied to you either?” Ling Xi forced a smile for Jiang Yuyang.

Jiang Yuyang froze for two seconds before shaking her head. “No…”

She had her own reservations when it came to Ling Yue.

One unanswered message was enough to make her too afraid to send another.

“You should ask her yourself. Build some rapport. Who knows, she might end up your girlfriend.”

Ji Heng blew her a kiss. “Bye, I’m heading out first. I’ve already prescribed the meds. You can take her for a full checkup when you have time.”

Song Yi’s lips twitched.

If not for their college friendship, Ji Heng’s professional competence, and the fact that her salary was a discounted “friend price,” lower than others.

Why else would Song Yi have hired her as a family doctor?

Song Yi sighed and knocked on Ling Xi’s door.

Since Ji Heng had said that, checking on Ling Xi wouldn’t seem overly enthusiastic, right?

Ling Xi opened the door.

She was clearly taller than Song Yi, yet now she appeared small and fragile, her face showing signs of sickly exhaustion.

“Are you alright? What did she say?” Song Yi quickly guided Ling Xi to sit down.

“She spoke in riddles, I didn’t quite understand. But she said my pulse was unusual and suggested I go for a check-up when I have time.” Ling Xi moved to pour tea for Song Yi, but was stopped.

“A check-up. If she said that, you really should go. I’ll book an appointment for you tomorrow. We can visit the mall afterward.”

Song Yi reached over and poured water from the teapot into Ling Xi’s cup.

Ling Xi’s gaze fell on Song Yi’s wrist, now bare of its usual prayer beads, revealing an unexpected stretch of pale skin with faint red marks that hadn’t yet faded.

She quickly shut her eyes, as if struck by a sudden thought.

“It’s too much trouble for you. I can go alone,” Ling Xi said, relying entirely on rationality to refuse.

Emotionally, however, her heart had already melted, longing to flow toward Song Yi.

It was the moment she secretly lifted her eyes to meet Song Yi’s that Ling Xi realized, she wanted Song Yi to accompany her.

She hoped they could grow even closer.

Just like how she yearned for that slender hand resting on the teapot.

Would it inexplicably brush against her forehead again?

That was why she had hesitated, preparing herself for so long before finally asking Ling Xi.

Knowing Jiang Yuyang and Ling Yue’s dynamic, Ling Xi breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

If Jiang Yuyang were as much of a chatterbox as she was, Ling Yue’s odd behavior would’ve been exposed long ago.

She even glanced back at Jiang Yuyang, who stood some distance away on a phone call, before discreetly opening the chat to reply to Song Yi’s message.

[Coming home for dinner? I’ll pick you up.] As expected, Song Yi had asked about this.

Without hesitation, Ling Xi typed a quick response, sending the address along with it.

After replying, she pressed a hand to her racing heart, faintly aware.

There was another reason she had avoided dinner with her friends, dodging their questions and teasing.

She wanted to be with Song Yi.

Jiang Yuyang trailed behind Ling Xi, pausing intermittently, until she watched her step into a car.

She didn’t recognize the brand, but the consecutive license plate numbers nearly made her stumble in shock.

Long after the car had disappeared, she finally snapped out of her daze and hurriedly dialed Tan Nijun’s number.

A household with such an audacious license plate couldn’t be ordinary.

No wonder Tan Nijun was so worried about Ling Xi, even assigning her this task.

Too bad Ling Xi had slipped away tonight.

Had Jiang Yuyang known Ling Xi might be entangled with another powerful figure, she wouldn’t have let her leave so easily.

They were childhood friends, after all. Anyone aware of how Mu Xie had coerced Ling Xi over the past six months wouldn’t feel at ease seeing her with another person of similar status, would they?

Sighing inwardly, Jiang Yuyang relayed the license plate number to Tan Nijun.

“It’s fine, I actually enjoy cooking for myself,” Ling Xi said, though her gaze kept drifting toward the string of beads now adorning Song Yi’s neck.

“Did you go shopping today?” Song Yi pretended not to notice, subtly shifting so the beads tilted slightly toward Ling Xi.

“Went to see a movie. That popular Republic-era one, the costumes and sets were really well done.”

Ling Xi just wanted to confirm if those beads were the same prayer beads Song Yi usually wore on her wrist.

Startled by a sudden glint of light, she abruptly averted her gaze as if the string of beads had stung her eyes.

“Is that so? I’m not very knowledgeable about such things. Care to elaborate?”

“It has artistic design and fits contemporary aesthetics without looking cheap.”

Hearing this, Song Yi recalled that art blogger who seemed to paint her every day. “Did you study this?”

“Not formally, just a personal interest I’ve picked up some knowledge about.” This was precisely why Ling Xi hadn’t seriously considered those job offers in her inbox yet.

Designing outfits for fans who admired her style was one thing, but taking on corporate design projects? Ling Xi didn’t feel qualified.

Song Yi nodded and fell silent.

Under the weight of that faint, lingering gaze, she waited for Ling Xi to speak first.

“Song Yi, how was work today?” Ling Xi finally ventured.

This casual conversation felt like tacit encouragement to ask what she’d been curious about.

As if they were old friends who naturally inquired about each other’s days.

“Very smooth.” Song Yi closed her eyes briefly before turning with a fleeting smile. “With my little koi’s blessings, how could it not be?”

That unexpectedly tender smile made Ling Xi’s heart flutter.

“That’s good. Um… is that necklace made from those Buddhist prayer beads?” Finally emboldened by Song Yi’s subtle encouragement, Ling Xi asked the question.

“Yes. They were originally double-stranded, suitable for wearing as a necklace.” Song Yi removed the beads from her neck.

The lotus tassel swayed gently at the bottom, catching the warm hues of sunset.

The sight instantly reminded Ling Xi of the beads’ unfortunate mishap.

Had they not been so reckless that night.

Would the string have broken?

Perhaps Song Yi wore them around her neck now precisely to prevent another accident.

This thought sent heat creeping up Ling Xi’s body, her composure unraveling.

Was it because it had been her first time that every memory triggered this helpless physical reaction?

“Are they damaged? I mean, from falling on the floor that time?” Ling Xi couldn’t bring herself to meet Song Yi’s eyes.

Nor could she look directly at those solemn brown beads.

How sacred were these consecrated prayer beads? Each polished wooden sphere steeped in divine resonance compelled reverence from anyone who glimpsed them, let alone considered wanton behavior.

Why else would one wear Buddhist beads if not for self-restraint?

Yet they’d defiled themselves under the beads’ watchful presence.

Not just once.

Merely being near them now filled Ling Xi with burning shame.

“It’s fine. If needed, I’ll replace that one.” Song Yi rotated the scratched bead between her fingers, her lips curling with a barely perceptible smile.

Such debauchery was strictly forbidden in Buddhist teachings.

Yet wasn’t that very taboo so intoxicating?

Even an innocent girl like Ling Xi couldn’t help stealing glances while pretending otherwise.

A mischievous itch took hold of Song Yi.

She longed to skip the seductive preliminaries and simply pull Ling Xi into her arms  while wearing these fragrant yet powerless beads, of course.

Perhaps she’d even loop the strand around Ling Xi’s wrist, guiding those slender fingers to play with the tassel.

Ling Xi kept reopening their chat window.

Finding no particular reason, just missing Song Yi’s presence.

At 5:30 PM, Song Yi’s message popped up on Ling Xi’s phone.

[“Half an hour left. Do you want to cook dinner yourself or eat what my family’s chef prepares?”]

Song Yi hadn’t noticed Ling Xi’s emotional turmoil, her tone as casual as ever.

Ling Xi, who had been curled up in bed, suddenly sat bolt upright.

Her heart, which had been gloomy all afternoon, instantly came alive.

And all it took was one simple question from Song Yi.

This was definitely love.

Ling Xi wasn’t just looking forward to Song Yi coming home she was eagerly anticipating it.

She wanted to have dinner with Song Yi, binge-watch dramas together, and talk about their day.

[“I’ll cook myself. Waiting for you”] Ling Xi was so excited that it took her a while to realize she hadn’t replied.

Meanwhile, Song Yi, waiting for a response, was nearly beside herself with anxiety.

When she finally got the reply, the tension in Song Yi’s chest immediately dissipated.

She let out a sigh and stared blankly for a few seconds at the exquisitely wrapped bouquet nearby.

It wasn’t until her phone vibrated again that Song Yi snapped out of it.

She answered the call.

[“Found her? Bring her back as soon as possible. As for the company she joined, I want it shut down within a week.”]

[“Won’t it be expensive? Agarwood isn’t cheap.”] Especially agarwood of such high quality.

[“I don’t mind. If you’re concerned, would you like to try it yourself? See if a few scratches would affect the wearing experience?”]

As they spoke, Song Yi had quietly moved closer to Ling Xi.

She reached out, and before Ling Xi could utter a single word, her fingertips were already brushing against Ling Xi’s neck.

The light touch sent a shiver down Ling Xi’s spine.

Yet she couldn’t bring herself to refuse, tilting her head back to let Song Yi do as she pleased.

Her breath hitched.

Song Yi lowered her lashes, gazing at her with tender focus.

Or perhaps she was looking at the prayer beads.

Just from those eyes alone, Song Yi seemed capable of pouring affection into anything.

Ling Xi wasn’t sure if this was just her imagination.

But in that moment, Song Yi seemed like a devout worshipper, offering everything she had to her deity.

Proving her loyalty, her love.

Ling Xi wanted so badly to frame Song Yi in one of her paintings.

To immortalize their seemingly grand love in her own way.

Ling Xi blinked, and the prayer beads were already coiled around her neck, resting against her chest.

By then, Song Yi had already stepped away.

Ling Xi’s ears burned.

How could she be feeling love?

They were just friends helping each other out.

Yes, they could be considered friends now.

But where did this blush-inducing love come from?

When Ling Xi lowered her head and touched the prayer beads, she realized the wooden beads, which should have been cool, had already been warmed by her body heat.

Song Yi, meanwhile, watched her go upstairs before sneaking into the kitchen to whisper a few instructions to the cook.

[“Miss.”] Butler Zhao, overhearing their conversation, found it somewhat hard to watch.

Her face remained impassive, but Song Yi could still read her thoughts.

[“What do you think of her?”] Song Yi asked Butler Zhao casually, lingering in the kitchen.

Butler Zhao replied stiffly, [“She’s a well-behaved child polite and sweet-talking. But with all due respect, Miss, I still don’t see anything particularly special about her.”]

If it was just about being obedient and well-mannered, Butler Zhao could find Song Yi a whole group of such alphas outside elite circles.

Maybe even some S-class ones.

Ling Xi was cute, sure. But that was about it.

Song Yi wasn’t offended.

[“Those flowers outside Auntie Zhao had them replaced, didn’t you? And the extra throw pillows, the floral-patterned tableware.”]

“Yes.” Housekeeper Zhao was barely keeping a straight face.

Song Yi chuckled. “Don’t think I can’t tell. You’re quite fond of her, aren’t you?”

Ling Xi probably hadn’t even noticed these little details.

“I’m just loving the house along with its crow,” Housekeeper Zhao retorted stubbornly.

But deep down, she was grateful to Ling Xi.

After her mother’s incident, Song Yi had rarely relaxed, fighting her way through the treacherous Song family alone all these years without anyone who could make her set aside her work and troubles to truly rest.

Having followed Song Yi for so long, Housekeeper Zhao could tell she was genuinely at ease around Ling Xi.

“Then let it continue this way. That girl! She doesn’t need to outshine anyone. Just being herself is enough to make people adore her.”

Like those friends she played with every day, like Housekeeper Zhao, who had unwittingly been won over.

And like herself.

Ling Xi simply had that incomparable warmth about her.

Who wouldn’t love a sweet-talking, considerate, and pure-hearted girl?

Song Yi watched as Housekeeper Zhao left the kitchen with her usual stoic expression.

At the same time, her phone buzzed with a new message, Housekeeper Zhao’s newly purchased towel set had arrived.

Smiling helplessly, Song Yi stepped out of the kitchen.

Upstairs, Ling Xi stared at the latest notification, her heart pounding.

The person she had accidentally added in her past life had accepted her friend request.

Naturally, the first question was, “Who are you?”

Followed immediately by, “How did you get my contact information?”

Of course, Ling Xi couldn’t mention her rebirth or Song Yi’s name.

She did remember this person’s surname was Yun, the same as Tan Nijing’s work partner, the officer who had taken her statement that day.

And back then, it was through Tan Nijing’s connection that she had added this person by chance.

Ling Xi scrolled through the chat logs in their four-person group and found Tan Nijing’s complaints about Yun Fengzhi. She sent the name over.

[I’m a friend of Yun Fengzhi’s work partner.]

That should be a believable excuse, right?

Even if the other party verified it with Yun Fengzhi, she could say she’d heard it somewhere.

Though it might leave a bad impression.

She just needed help.

In her past life, the person hadn’t asked for anything in return, only agreeing to meet once for Ling Xi to provide the necessary information.

This time, at least Ling Xi could offer some money.

Looking back, Ling Xi realized how reckless she had been.

She had been desperate, with no time to worry about the details.

Fortunately, the other side didn’t press further and simply believed her.

[What do you want?]

After half a minute of silence, the reply came.

Ling Xi bit her lip hard enough to hurt, steadying her racing heart. [Are you investigating Gamma Serum? I have information about it.]

[What do you want in return?]

Ling Xi exhaled. [I need your help finding someone.]

After calming down, Ling Xi casually stir-fried a dish for herself and carried the plate downstairs.

Song Yi was sitting on the sofa, wearing headphones, with a laptop resting on her lap.

She seemed to be handling work.

Hesitating for a moment, Ling Xi first set down her own dish.

The dinner she had prepared for Song Yi was already on the table.

Ling Xi touched the plate it wasn’t too hot, just the right temperature.

But there wasn’t a single servant in sight.

Song Yi probably didn’t like being disturbed while working, which was why she wore headphones and dismissed the housekeeper and others, right?

But Ling Xi didn’t want Song Yi to eat cold food either.

She quietly inched closer to Song Yi, sneaky as a thief.

By the time she reached her, Song Yi happened to lift her gaze, her eyes meeting Ling Xi’s.

Ling Xi froze on the spot, unsure where to put her hands and feet.

Song Yi took off her headphones. “Time to eat?”

Ling Xi nodded eagerly.

Song Yi shut down her laptop, packed up her things, and stood. “Next time, you can just call me.”

As she walked past the still-stunned Ling Xi, a faint scent of sandalwood drifted by.

“Don’t be afraid.” The clear voice shattered the tension in Ling Xi’s heart.

Her racing pulse skipped a beat. Ling Xi quickly lowered her head and followed Song Yi to the dining table.

“I was worried about disturbing your work,” Ling Xi explained after they sat down.

She hadn’t even realized how much she feared Song Yi misunderstanding her.

After all, Song Yi seemed to care deeply about that matter but now, Ling Xi wasn’t afraid of her anymore.

She knew Song Yi was actually very gentle.

“Mhm, so I said, don’t be afraid. Eating is important it’s not a disturbance.”

Song Yi glanced at the modest portions on the plate, satisfied enough.

After a couple of bites, she turned her attention to the dish Ling Xi had prepared.

“Can I try some?” This was the first step in Song Yi’s plan.

“Of course! Just don’t judge too harshly it’s pretty simple. I didn’t have time to make it look nice.” Ling Xi pushed the plate of ribs toward the center.

“I won’t judge.” Song Yi took a bite, pretending it was her first time tasting Ling Xi’s cooking.

After all, as far as Ling Xi knew, the only time she remembered was the hangover soup, which didn’t count.

“You should be more confident. Your cooking is really good, you could put my family’s chef to shame.”

Now that Song Yi was “sober,” she didn’t hold back her praise.

“Thank you.” Ling Xi’s mood brightened considerably. She even felt tempted to cook for Song Yi more often.

But she quickly suppressed the thought.

What if her skills were inconsistent and she ended up making something terrible for Song Yi?

After all, she hadn’t cooked for herself in years. Since her rebirth, she’d mostly eaten out, so she was still in the process of relearning.

Still, being praised by Song Yi felt better than being praised by anyone else.

It made Ling Xi feel like she was floating out of her body.

“Tastes like my mom’s cooking.” Song Yi sighed softly after another bite.

Ling Xi remembered that drunk Song Yi had said the same thing last time.

So it really was true that people speak their minds when drunk.

Given this reaction, Song Yi’s mother had likely met with some misfortune.

“Your mom?” Ling Xi wanted to reach out and comfort her with a pat on the back.

But Song Yi had already masked her vulnerability, returning to her usual demeanor. “She’s sick.”

“I see… We’re kind of alike, then.” Ling Xi forced a bitter smile.

“But my cooking was taught to me by my alpha mom.”

“Is your omega mother the one in the hospital?” Song Yi asked, transferring some of her own dish to Ling Xi’s bowl. “Try some too.”

With that one motion, half the plate was emptied.

Ling Xi kept her head down, not noticing Song Yi’s deliberate action. “Yeah.”

“Your family’s chef is still better than me, though.” She finished the small portion and only then realized Song Yi had nothing left to eat.

“Did your parents get divorced?” Song Yi acted as if she hadn’t noticed anything, still rummaging through the empty plates for seasonings.

Ling Xi, feeling extremely embarrassed, pushed his own dish toward her.

“I’m pretty much done eating,” he hinted.

Only then did she answer Song Yi’s question, “They didn’t divorce. They have a good relationship, but there were some issues with my mom’s company.”

L

She saw the streamer seemingly flush with anger, leaving an aloof reply: [“Today’s list only, no other requests”]

The handwriting was even messier than what she’d seen yesterday.

Both the brushstrokes and streaming schedule matched the identity perfectly.

Song Yi didn’t dare be overconfident, but she thoroughly enjoyed this feeling of uncovering someone’s identity.

She opened the constantly popping gift list, glanced through it, and directly selected the highest-value option sending out ten of them in one go.