Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 30

“You don’t even know her.” Ling Xi found herself cornered by her three friends at the table, their expressions resembling an interrogation. She quickly raised her hands in surrender.

“Telling you won’t help anyway,” she attempted to evade.

Mentioning Song Yi’s name would inevitably lead to complications. Even if Jiang Yuyang and He Qingmo didn’t recognize it, Tan Nijun, who knew Yun Fengzhi and moved in elite social circles due to her position, would eventually figure it out.

Given her friends’ current attitudes, revealing that the person she liked was the head of the Song family would undoubtedly cause an uproar.

“Since we don’t know her, what’s the harm in telling us?” Tan Nijun stared pointedly at Ling Xi’s visibly guilty eyes.

“She’s not the kind of person you think she is. She’s fundamentally different from Mu Xie,” Ling Xi insisted, still refusing to elaborate.

“What kind of fundamental difference? Is she lacking money or power? Or does she not have ulterior motives toward you?”

Tan Nijun tossed the photos she had taken earlier in front of Ling Xi.

“Ling Xi, do you realize? A luxury car of this caliber isn’t something just anyone can afford. It’s not just about money without the right connections, you can’t even secure a spot to buy one.”

Ling Xi took the phone, frowned as she examined the images, and handed it back.

“Don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”

For the first time, Ling Xi’s tone shifted, edged with anger.

“You were spying on me? When did this happen? Is this how a friend should act?” She gripped the hem of her clothes, struggling to contain the fury simmering inside.

“And all of you, isn’t my love life my own business? Why do you all act like I’ve committed a crime the moment you hear I like someone? Surrounding me, interrogating me.”

Ling Xi turned her head, glancing at her two high school friends.

“Curiosity is fine, but after one or two attempts at prying, when I clearly don’t want to talk, you should drop it. Yet you keep pushing are you trying to force it out of me?”

“You’ve never even met her, yet you assume she’s no good, that she’s treating me like Mu Xie. She’s helped me so much. Without her, I wouldn’t even be here with you all.”

Ling Xi nearly bit through her lip. “You, you can’t talk about her like that.”

She exhaled sharply, leaning back in her seat and reaching for her teacup to calm herself, but her trembling hands spilled the tea.

“Ling Xi, I’m sorry.” Jiang Yuyang, the gentlest and most easygoing of the group, immediately apologized.

She grabbed tissues to dab at Ling Xi’s tea-stained clothes.

Ling Xi didn’t refuse her help, though her chest still heaved unevenly.

Her eyes were bloodshot, the rims red clearly from anger.

Ling Xi had always been mild-tempered, and Jiang Yuyang hadn’t seen her this furious in years.

As for Tan Nijun, who had known Ling Xi for less time, she had never witnessed her lose her temper before.

Just who was this person Ling Xi liked, to provoke such a reaction from her toward her own friends?

“I only asked out of curiosity, Ling Xi. I wasn’t ganging up on you with them.”

He Qingmo, who had been silent until now, joined in soothing Ling Xi, refilling her tea.

Ling Xi ignored her, her gaze fixed on Tan Nijun.

Finally, Tan Nijun let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, I just…”

“Just what? Just worried about me? Worried enough to spy? This isn’t the only photo you took, is it?” Ling Xi scoffed.

“I wasn’t spying on you. I just… wanted to confirm the car owner’s identity.”

Meeting Ling Xi’s bloodshot eyes, Tan Nijun felt a pang of guilt.

“Why?”

“Because you wouldn’t tell us. After what happened with Mu Jie, after being hurt by such scum, who among your friends and those who know you wouldn’t worry or feel heartbroken for you?”

Tan Nijun grew increasingly aggrieved, feeling her sincere concern had been unappreciated.

“If you’d just fallen for an ordinary person, would you have kept it from us? Can you honestly say the person you like has no power, influence, or money that they’re just working class like us?”

“She isn’t. But what does that have to do with you? This is my business. I’m a twenty-two-year-old adult who can judge her character.”

Ling Xi finally acknowledged Song Yi’s wealthy background.

“Do you really mean that? After what happened with Mu Xie.” Tan Nijun’s words were cut short.

“I never liked Mu Jie! I never did! I knew she was bad from the start! I just couldn’t escape. I had no way to counter her! You keep saying you worry about me, but what exactly have you done to help?”

Ling Xi suddenly stood up, hands gripping the tablecloth unconsciously.

“You couldn’t help me, but she could! She helped me deal with Mu Jie, she saved me. Why do you all assume the worst about her? If I love her, wouldn’t I see her clearly?”

As Tan Nijun opened her mouth to respond, He Qingmo quickly held her back.

“Enough for today. There’s nothing urgent we need to ask. She’s already so upset,” she whispered.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuyang was comforting Ling Xi.

She pulled Ling Xi back down. “I trust your judgment. But if anything ever upsets you, remember you can talk to us.”

Ling Xi wiped her tears. “Mm… but she really is good.”

Ling Xi couldn’t imagine Song Yi ever harming her.

That seemingly fierce yet gentle sister who called her “sweetheart,” who teased and comforted her.

That motherly figure.

At this thought, Ling Xi choked back a sob.

She tilted her head back to compose herself.

When would those memories return?

Ling Xi instinctively knew they were important.

The woman in her arms stirred.

Turning, Ling Xi saw Song Yi had somehow curled into her embrace and froze for a second.

Then she reached out to adjust the blanket.

Her hand lingered secretly on Song Yi’s back.

They were nearly the same height, yet asleep, Song Yi seemed so small.

Huddled close, pressing into Ling Xi as if seeking divine protection like an injured animal.

Ling Xi couldn’t help holding her tighter.

Though she didn’t know Song Yi’s past
, the insomnia requiring alcohol to sleep, the pressure to marry, life couldn’t have been easy for her.

Ling Xi realized holding Song Yi warmed her heart.

This feeling was truly different.

She’d slept beside Ling Yue, Jiang Yuyang, and He Qingmo before.

Of course, that was before her late-blooming differentiation, which had thankfully arrived before adulthood.

Surely this strange sensation wasn’t just because she was an alpha sharing a bed with an omega?

Imagining it, Ling Xi dismissed the idea.

Even before Mu Jie revealed her true nature, they’d once shared a bed during a trip.

She really must be head over heels for Song Yi.

She couldn’t bear to say a single bad word about her every thought related to Song Yi filled Ling Xi with joy.

Except…

Did Song Yi actually like her?

When it came down to it, the gap between them was too vast.

Even with the marriage contract, it was just a transaction, a matter of mutual benefit.

Their meeting had been pure coincidence, and if anything, Ling Xi had been the one clinging to Song Yi.

What if Song Yi only saw her as a little sister?

Just as Ling Xi had once thought Song Yi resembled a mother or elder sister.

The more Ling Xi thought about it, the sadder she became, tears streaming down like a waterfall.

“At least tell us what kind of person she is, her personality, how she handles things?” Jiang Yuyang patted Ling Xi’s back. “Think of it as sharing with friends.”

Ling Xi wiped her tears and shook her head.

“She’s very gentle, with beautiful eyes that seem to speak. She never blames me for my mistakes. And she’s kind-hearted, she’s helped me so much.”

Song Yi was so wonderful, what did it matter if Ling Xi lost a little rationality over her?

Song Yi was worth it.

Just then, their food arrived.

Ling Xi stopped talking to Tan Nijun, and an awkward silence settled over the table. Within minutes, all the dishes were served, and though the quiet lingered, everyone began eating.

A few times, Tan Nijun tried to speak, but a sharp look from Ling Xi shut her down.

Eventually, He Qingmo couldn’t stand the silence and broke it by bringing up job hunting.

“Xi, how’s the job search going?”

“Didn’t I tell you about the interview? Probably a bust. Still sending out applications. If nothing works out, I’ll just keep selling my paintings to get by.”

After an afternoon of sketching, Ling Xi had made peace with it.

Money was money. Painting paid well enough.

She’d deal with socializing later.

She’d already surrendered to the allure of cash.

“Not a bad plan. Build up your reputation, and you could even teach classes for money. Maybe some industry will scout you out.”

Ling Xi nodded that actually sounded feasible.

The rest of the meal passed pleasantly. After settling the bill, Jiang Yuyang and He Qingmo went to the counter, leaving Ling Xi alone with Tan Nijun.

“Sorry, Xi. I shouldn’t have taken those photos or said those things about you.” After wrestling with it, Tan Nijun finally apologized.

Ling Xi shook her head. “You shouldn’t have said those things about her.”

Ling Xi wasn’t angry because of what had been said about her.

She just wanted to defend Song Yi.

Her friends had never even met Song Yi, how could they judge her character?

“You’re really. Fine, fine, I shouldn’t have said that about her.” Tan Nijun sighed in resignation.

Only then did Ling Xi glance at her.

“Now can you at least tell me who she is?”

Ling Xi replied to Song Yi’s message with the address, answering Tan Nijun absently.

“You know Yun Fengzhi, don’t you? She knows her. I thought you’d have found out by now.”

Hearing this, Tan Nijun cursed Yun Fengzhi silently in her heart.

“She wouldn’t tell me.”

“So you took those photos to show her?”

That Yun Fengzhi not only did she pretend not to know Song Yi, but she’d also kept it from Tan Nijun.

“Pretty much.” Tan Nijun opened her photo album. “I deleted them all.”

“Ask Yun Fengzhi. I’m not in the mood to talk.” Ling Xi checked her phone just as Jiang Yuyang and He Qingmo returned, so she turned her attention to them instead.

In less than fifteen minutes, Song Yi came to pick up Ling Xi, who then bid farewell to her friends.

“I think I caught a glimpse of her profile. Definitely a stunning beauty. No wonder Xi is so obsessed. If I could live with a gorgeous older sister every day, I’d be lovestruck too.” He Qingmo sighed in agreement.

“Did you cry?” As soon as Ling Xi got into the car, Song Yi noticed the lingering redness at the corners of her eyes, and her heart clenched.

Ling Xi shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“Did your friends bully you?” Song Yi leaned closer, reaching out to gently touch the slight swelling beneath Ling Xi’s eyes.

Ling Xi turned her head slightly, blinking so that her lashes brushed against Song Yi’s fingertips.

“Not exactly,” Ling Xi finally admitted.

“I told my friends a little about you and they thought you had ulterior motives.”

“It made me upset. You’re so good, how could you possibly be a bad person? Besides, if you wanted to hurt me, you would’ve done it long ago.”

Ling Xi cupped Song Yi’s hand, pressing it against her own cheek as if seeking reassurance in its warmth.

“So I got angry at them. You’re definitely not that kind of person, right?”

Her gaze lifted to meet Song Yi’s.

For the first time, Song Yi was afraid to look into those overly pure, clear peach-blossom eyes.

She was speechless.

She didn’t want to lie to Ling Xi.

But the truth was, she had deceived her more than once.

Every fragile step forward in their relationship had been built on lies, on performances, stacking up like honeyed fruit.

She had thought Ling Xi would never find out.

Or perhaps, once their bond was stronger, she would confess one day.

But now, Song Yi wasn’t ready to tell the truth.

And she couldn’t bear to shatter the rare closeness between them.

Ling Xi was puzzled by Song Yi’s sudden silence.

Her brows gradually furrowed, and she bit her lip.

Just as she seemed to be piecing something together, Song Yi’s other hand rested on her head. “Of course.”

“How could I be that kind of person?” Song Yi buried every conflicting thought deep in her heart.

Between being hated by Ling Xi and deceiving her, Song Yi chose the latter.

She truly was despicable to so easily utter the lie, “I’ve never schemed against you.”

And to use this gentle smile to cloud Ling Xi’s judgment.

Of course, Ling Xi believed her, her expression brightening.

“See? But my friend did apologize later, so I forgave her.”

“Your friend cares about you,” Song Yi said, eager to change the subject.

“Yeah. She’s actually really nice.” Ling Xi still cherished their past-life bond. If Tan Nijun hadn’t questioned Song Yi today, Ling Xi wouldn’t have lost her temper.

“By the way, she’s Yun Fengzhi’s work partner, right? I’ve seen them on missions together before.”

“So she’s the strict supervisor Yun Fengzhi keeps complaining about.” Song Yi finally connected the dots.

Now she understood Yun Fengzhi’s earlier grievances.

“Strict?” Ling Xi perked up with interest.

Once they got home, Ling Xi didn’t rush off to her room for her livestream. Instead, she lingered by Song Yi’s side, eager for gossip.

“From what I’ve heard, Yun Fengzhi was unexpectedly reassigned to Yanjing and demoted. Your friend was sent to monitor her every move only good behavior would get her back to headquarters. Apparently, your friend forbids her from playing with her phone, spacing out, or doodling during work.”

“Oh,  that does sound like her.” Ling Xi burst into laughter.

“She’s that harsh?”

Upon hearing this, Ling Xi shook her head. “Not just that. She’s very serious and proper. Another friend of mine teases her and jokes around with her all the time, and she genuinely gets angry.”

“I have some work to attend to tonight, so…”

As one topic ended, the two went upstairs together, and Song Yi casually mentioned it.

This was true. She hadn’t finished dealing with Song Dongming’s matters yet.

“Ah, then let’s watch the show together tomorrow. I’ll remember which episode we’re on.”

Ling Xi waved at Song Yi at her own door. “Goodnight, Sister Song Yi.”

Unable to resist, Song Yi reached out and lightly hooked Ling Xi’s chin. “Goodnight, little sweetheart.”

After closing the door, Ling Xi stood there covering her face for five minutes.

She seemed somewhat unable to resist Song Yi’s affection toward her.

Tonight, she wondered if Song Yi would drink again.

Ling Xi patted her own face.

Drinking was bad for the body. How could she hope for Song Yi to drink every day?

Returning to her computer, Ling Xi turned on her livestream.

The number of viewers at night was dozens of times higher than during the day.

Once again, Ling Xi saw her “Sugar Mommy” enter the stream. Remembering the incident at noon, she couldn’t help but turn on her mic to greet her.

“Good evening, Sugar Sister.” The term “Mommy” was fine to use jokingly in the chat, but she couldn’t actually say it out loud.

[!!! Is this Yue’s first time using her mic?!]

[Ahhh I’m so excited, her voice is so nice! More rich ladies, please, I want to hear more!]

[Why do I want them to voice chat so badly? The boss must really admire our Yue to tip her like this.]

[Our famously silent Yue broke her silence for her girls, I’m shipping them already.]

Seeing these comments, Ling Xi was somewhat speechless.

“I didn’t even know her before today, and you’re already shipping us?” She kept her mic on as she started working.

[You can get to know her now!]

[We’ll ship, you draw fair deal, hehehe.]

Ling Xi didn’t respond.

Her hands moved faster, refining the sketch.

She couldn’t help but imagine herself beside Song Yi, which led to multiple revisions.

After drawing for a while, Ling Xi received a small tip.

After thanking the viewer, she noticed a question in the chat:

[Yue, you usually mention what the client requested, what about today? Was it Sugar Sister’s request?]

“It’s a couple’s portrait commissioned by Sugar Sister. Figure out the details yourself.”

After saying this, she ignored the ensuing flood of comments like [So cold], [Heartless], [No love left], etc.

A while later, Ling Xi heard the sound of a door opening.

She took off her headphones and turned to look.

In her room, Song Yi worked while keeping an eye on Ling Xi’s livestream.

She had been waiting for it to start.

Due to work in the afternoon, Song Yi hadn’t been able to watch Ling Xi’s stream earlier, only replying afterward that the sketch didn’t need revisions.

From just the sketch, she couldn’t tell whose face Ling Xi had used for the other woman in the couple’s portrait.

She hoped it was Ling Xi’s own.

After all, the composition was clearly romantic, full of chemistry.

Then Song Yi heard a woman’s voice in the stream.

It was Ling Xi greeting her.

Calling her “Sugar Sister.”

Song Yi couldn’t help but laugh.

Watching the shipping comments in the chat, she was very pleased, calculating how much she should tip tonight.

Until she saw someone else send a gift.

Though not the highest tier, Ling Xi still took a moment to reply with gratitude.

Song Yi suddenly realized, Ling Xi didn’t know it was her who sent the gift.

If it had been someone else, Ling Xi would have called them “sponsor sister” all the same.

Song Yi couldn’t quite place the unease in her heart.

She was probably jealous.

Jealous of herself, no less.

Yet this emotion came on so strongly that it made Song Yi want to do something to dispel it.

How unreasonable, to be jealous like this.

Song Yi almost wanted to scold herself.

Who gets jealous of themselves?

For a brief moment, she even felt a petty resentment toward Ling Xi’s habit of calling everyone “sister.”

Ling Xi chuckled awkwardly. “I could go down and get it myself next time. I’ll help you then.”

“Sure.” Song Yi looked toward Ling Xi’s headset, deliberately aiming her voice at the microphone.

Coincidentally, her lips brushed against Ling Xi’s ear. “Get some rest early tonight, sweetheart.”

The words sent a shiver down Ling Xi’s spine.

She couldn’t help trembling.

She really wanted to stay with Song Yi.

Whether they did this or that, or nothing at all she’d be happy either way.

Just like now.

Even if they only exchanged a few words.

“O-okay, Sister Song,” Ling Xi stammered, her voice pitching higher.

Song Yi smirked, her fingertips grazing Ling Xi’s neck before sliding over her collarbone.

Ling Xi shivered again.

As Song Yi turned to leave, Ling Xi hurried after her into the hallway.

“What’s wrong?” Song Yi glanced back, as if she’d only come to deliver food.

“…Nothing! You should rest well too!” Ling Xii’s eyes darted everywhere, landing on the phone in Song Yi’s pocket. She noticed something but didn’t dare look too closely.

Flustered, she averted her gaze, her face burning as if caught red-handed. After shouting her reply, she bolted back into the room, refusing to meet Song Yi’s eyes.

Song Yi sighed in amusement and returned to her own room.

Back in her livestream, Ling Xi suddenly realized, she’d forgotten to mute her mic the entire time.

Every word between her and Song Yi had been broadcast to her fans.

And at that moment, her viewer count shattered all previous records, surpassing one million.