Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 37.2

Ling Yue was still pondering what the motives of this “kind person” might be.

Little did she know, that very person was her dear sister’s sweetheart.

Ling Xi hadn’t eaten a single grain of rice since last night, and considering how physically draining that had been, she was now ravenously devouring her food.

“Slow down, no one’s fighting you for it. What were you doing to get this hungry? Did your wife withhold dinner from you?”

Ling Xi nearly spat out the chicken feet in her mouth.

“She’s cough, she’s very good.” It was Ling Xi who had been too greedy, demanding more again and again.

Ling Yue watched the reddening tips of Ling Xi’s ears and fell into thought.

Once Ling Xi finished eating, her phone buzzed again.

She answered it, unsurprised to hear Song Yi’s voice.

“Xiao Xi, where are you?” Song Yi had seen the note but was still frantic with worry, afraid that last night’s confession had scared Ling Xi off.

Her voice sounded calm, but beneath the surface, emotions churned violently.

“Meeting with my sister. I’ll probably be back by noon.”

“Noon, huh?” Ling Yue remarked pointedly from across the table.

Ling Xi let out an awkward “Uh.”

Hearing Ling Yue’s voice, Song Yi didn’t dare protest. “Spend time with your sister. I was just worried about you.”

“Mm, I’m fine. I haven’t seen Mu Xie either…”

“Shen Feique probably followed you out. If anything happens, she’ll step in. Don’t worry.” Of course, Song Yi was concerned about that too.

Ling Xi had finally seemed well enough to go out. If Mu Xie showed up now, she might end up holed up at home for another ten days to half a month.

Ling Xi wanted to talk more with Song Yi, but under Ling Yue’s knowing smirk, she had no choice but to hang up quickly.

On the other end of the line, Song Yi sighed.

She had originally planned to return to the family estate today to announce her marriage.

But with her emotions in turmoil, she had no desire to deal with those troublesome relatives.

She distractedly worked on her laptop, half-heartedly reviewing documents.

At the same time, she ordered a bouquet of flowers to be delivered home, along with two servings of dessert.

When Ling Xi returned, she would use these for a clichéd confession.

Song Yi had no idea how to properly express her feelings.

Normally, when thinking of Ling Xi, she could spout endless saccharine lines online.

But now, after much deliberation, all she could come up with was the painfully simple “I like you.”

She opened the account she had maintained for years and scrolled through her old posts.

Even she found them unbearably cheesy, how could she ever recite them to Ling Xi?

Song Yi agonized over her confession.

Ling Xi, meanwhile, agonized over both the confession and the impending interrogation from Ling Yue.

As soon as the call ended, Ling Yue prepared to begin her questioning.

“First, tell me how you two met.” Ling Yue just wanted to vet this person for her sister.

How could something as significant as marriage be decided so rashly, without even their elders present?

What if this person turned out to be no good?

Obediently, Ling Xi recounted the story of how Song Yi had played the hero or rather, heroine saving the beauty.

“Don’t you feel like she tricked you?” Only someone as naive as Ling Xi would fall for a story like that.

“But… there’s no way she could have known I’d be there, and all the other things I doubted turned out to be coincidences too,” Ling Xi said hesitantly.

“Sis. I didn’t marry her just because…” Ling Xi struggled to find the right words.

“It’s just that she happened to need someone to deal with family pressure, and I happened to… need money for Mom’s medical bills and a place to stay.”

Lingyue’s brows furrowed.

Had they still failed to protect their younger sister?

After already tearing their family apart, those people were now targeting Ling Xi too.

A shadow of anger crossed Lingyue’s face, making Ling Xi shrink back nervously.

“I agreed to marry her because it seemed like we both got what we needed.”

The more Ling Xi spoke, the darker Lingyue’s expression became.

Ling Xi was on the verge of tears. “And, sis… do you know Mu Xie?”

Hearing that name, Lingyue paused.

“No,” she said, though her hands clenched into fists.

“She’s been harassing me relentlessly. My… my wife helped me deal with that problem.”

Calling Song Yi “wife” still felt unfamiliar to Ling Xi.. Her ears turned bright red after saying it.

She only dared call Song Yi that behind her back, she couldn’t bring herself to say it to her face.

“That Mu Xie was harassing you?” Lingyue grabbed Ling Xi’s hand.

“Yes… she came looking for me just two days ago. It was disgusting, really. I hate that woman. But I couldn’t stand up to her thank goodness my wife was there.” Ling Xi found this strange.

Mu Xie must have been involved in getting her sister sent abroad.

After all, Mu Xie had used that very threat against her.

How could Lingyue not know Mu Xie?

Lingyue released her grip and rubbed her temples.

She’d ignored many things that happened to her being forced to resign, being sent abroad.

But when it came to Ling Xi being harassed, Lingyue couldn’t tolerate it.

Yet she was powerless to do anything.

How had Mu Xie crossed paths with Ling Xi?

“Alright, alright, don’t be upset. I’m not blaming you,” Lingyue sighed, patting Ling Xi’s head.

“You’ve been through so much these past few months, my precious Xi.”

“But Xi, this concerns your happiness. I still hope you’ll reconsider this marriage.”

Ling Xi shook her head. “I haven’t finished yet.”

“Sis, even though we met by chance, I’ve genuinely come to like her. I want to build a life with her.”

Understanding dawned on Lingyue. No wonder Ling Xi blushed so much when mentioning her spouse.

She had feelings for her.

Their little cabbage was trying to woo another cabbage.

“That’s wonderful. Do you think she likes you too?”

Ling Xi was startled by how quickly her sister’s mood shifted, her nervous sweat disappearing.

“I… don’t know.” She probably does?

Otherwise why would she treat me so well and say she likes me too.

“Then you should pursue her properly! You’re already in such close quarters turn this marriage of convenience into the real deal.”

Lingyue had completely switched to matchmaker mode now.

If her sister was happy, nothing else mattered.

Unless this person had terrible character.

“I will!” Now Ling Xi only had to worry about confessing, which was a relief.

As they left the restaurant to go shopping for Lingyue’s daily necessities, Lingyue suddenly asked:

“Xi, you still haven’t told me, who is your wife?”

“Oh, her name is Song Yi. She’s the current head of the Song family and chairwoman of Yihe Group. Have you heard of her, sis? Wait, I even have her photo. She’s absolutely stunning.” Ling Xi got visibly excited as she spoke.

She pulled out the marriage certificate she always carried with her and opened it.

“…” Lingyue didn’t know where to begin with her complaints.

She truly believed Ling Xi liked that Song Yi. Otherwise, why would someone carry their marriage certificate around all the time?

Looking at the woman in the photo and the name “Song Yi,” she suddenly gasped.

Ling Xi turned to look at her.

“Xi Bao. No matter what Mom or Mama says, your sister supports you dating her.” Ling Yue solemnly grabbed Ling Xi’s hand.

“If it weren’t for Song Yi, your sister wouldn’t have been able to return to the country so soon.”

“She helped you?” Ling Xi was quite surprised.

She had always thought it was Yun Danhui who had assisted.

“You didn’t know?” Ling Yue was also surprised.

Song Yi had used Ling Xi’s name to bring her back.

It had taken several days to sort out the arrangements, and Ling Yue had even chatted with Song Yi’s people.

She had always thought Song Yi was just one of Ling Xi’s friends.

Like Tan Nijun and the others. Never imagined their relationship was this close.

Come to think of it, it made sense for her to be so attentive to her wife’s sister.

“She never mentioned it to me.” Apart from asking about Ling Yue when Ling Xi sought out Yun Danhui, Song Yi hadn’t brought it up again.

She had even asked when Ling Yue would return, acting as if she didn’t know.

Ling Xi grew anxious. “I want to go back and ask her.”

Not just about Ling Yue, but also about Song Yi’s unusually caring attitude toward her.

“Then we’re not going to see Mama?” Ling Yue looked at her sister helplessly.

“Uh… we should still go.” Ling Xi could only fume silently.

“Let’s go, I won’t keep you. Come see your sister when you’re free. I saw on your social media that you posted photos of a company?”

Ling Yue pulled Ling Xi toward the hospital. On the way, she casually asked.

“Yeah, I found a job at a clothing company.” Ling Xi briefly explained her first job.

“What about you, sis? Any plans after coming back?”

“Hard to say. I’ll look around. If nothing works out, maybe I’ll follow your lead and start a livestream or something. I plan to stay in the apartment we bought in the Third Ring.”

“That’s a bit far from where I live now.” Ling Xi sounded slightly regretful.

“You’re married now, it’s normal not to live with us. I was going to talk to you about Mama, but it can wait. We can chat over the phone.” Ling Yue waved it off.

She never expected her younger sister would marry before her.

And here she was, still single, having only had one half-hearted relationship.

They entered Room 1207, where Ling Yue noticed the flowers on their mother’s bedside table.

“Did you buy these?”

Ling Xi blinked at her.

“Mama. I brought Jiejie back.” Ling Xi held their mother’s hand, then passed it to Ling Yue.

“Mama, I’m back. Xi Bao might have told you I was abroad for work, but it’s all over now. I’m home.”

The two spoke to their mother for a while before Ling Yue suddenly added, “Oh right, I have to tattle. Xi Bao went and got married without telling anyone.”

“Ling Yue!” Ling Xi was so angry at her shameless behavior that she used her full name.

“What? You dare do it but can’t own up to it? You carry your marriage certificate around with you.”

Ling Yue rolled her eyes, adding fuel to the fire. “And it’s a contractual marriage. She claims there’s no emotional basis, just mutual benefit, but then turns around and falls for the pretty older sister.”

Ling Xi was speechless, puffing up in frustration.

Then the sisters noticed Ling Jingqiu’s hand twitch.

“…Do you think there’s a chance our mom might wake up from sheer anger?” Ling Yue paused before turning to look at Ling Xi.

“…No way.” After a brief silence, Ling Xi whispered in Ling Yue’s ear, “Is it really that miraculous?”

“No idea.” Ling Yue shrugged. “But I think it’s worth a try.”

As soon as she spoke, Ling Jingqiu’s hand moved again, this time with noticeable force.

Both sisters froze in place.

“Leave it to me.” Ling Yue was determined to provoke their sleeping mother awake.

Ling Xi found the scene somewhat unbearable to watch.

Just then, Song Yi’s car arrived.

“I’m heading out first. I have work the next two days, but I’ll come out with you this weekend.” Ling Xi made her way to the door.

The door swung open.

Ling Xi saw Song Yi with damp hair.

“Is it raining outside?”

Song Yi nodded. “Just a little. That’s why I came up to get you.”

Ling Xi pulled out a tissue and began drying Song Yi’s hair.

From inside the hospital room, Ling Yue watched with exasperation.

How could Song Yi not have feelings for her sister?

Why else would she go to such lengths?

Even someone as oblivious to romance as Ling Yue could see Song Yi’s true feelings.

Yet Ling Xi, the one involved, remained completely unaware.

“Is that my sister-in-law?” Song Yi asked as Ling Xi dried her hair, her gaze settling on Ling Yue.

“Uh… yeah. That’s my sister.” Ling Xi poked Song Yi’s cheek. “You’re the one who brought her back. Why are you pretending not to know her?”

Only then did Song Yi realize her slip-up.

“I’ve never seen her in person before.”

“You must have seen photos.” Ling Xi pinched her cheek indignantly. “We’ll settle this later.”

“See you this weekend, sis!” Ling Xi didn’t linger in the room. After saying goodbye to Ling Yue, she wrapped an arm around Song Yi’s shoulders and left.

Ling Yue noticed the suspicious red marks on Song Yi’s neck and clicked her tongue in amusement.

“Mom, did you hear that? Our little sister has grown up. The moment she came of age, she ran off with someone and got married.”

“…Never mind that. Xi Bao just told me she was harassed by Mu Jie. Sigh. She might have mentioned it to you too our mom, your wife, was imprisoned not long after your accident.”

Ling Yue ignored how much Ling Jingqiu might be reacting. She stared at the ceiling, feeling melancholic.

“Mom, we went to great lengths to hide Xi Xi’s pheromone level. Yet in the end, we still couldn’t escape that family of lunatics.” Ling Yue sighed deeply.

“Xi Xi doesn’t even know this isn’t just an ordinary coma.”

“We have an ally now. Though Xi Xi essentially traded herself for it. But Song Yi seems decent, and she’s connected to the case. Mom, when are you planning to wake up?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you helped find my sister?” Once in the car, Ling Xi began interrogating Song Yi.

Pressed close, Song Yi’s breathing grew slightly uneven.

“I always thought it was Yun Fengzhi and her sister who helped. I even invited them to dinner this Friday.”

“I didn’t mean to hide it.” With Ling Xi so near, Song Yi’s mind raced through the confession she had rehearsed that morning.

“So what were you thinking? Doing good deeds anonymously?”

Song Yi closed her eyes. “There’s something I need to confess.”

Ling Xi

“What is it…” Ling Xi’s heartbeat kept accelerating.

Was what Song Yi wanted to say the same as what she was thinking?

“It’s just… I secretly investigated you,” Song Yi still didn’t quite dare to meet Ling Xi’s eyes.

Then she steadied herself, looking at Ling Xi with sincere earnestness.

“When you mentioned your sister’s accident, I looked into your family including the flight your mother was on and the case files from her imprisonment.”

Ling Xi’s lips parted slightly, her expression stunned.

“I… I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to help you, so I looked into it. It was the same with your sister’s situation. Yun Danhui provided some manpower, but most of the connections were smoothed out by me. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to think I was strange…”

Song Yi took Ling Xi’s hand. “I don’t want you to dislike me. And I don’t want you to distance yourself because of what I did.”

She held on tightly, but Ling Xi suddenly pulled her hand back.

Ling Xi covered her own hand, looking up at Song Yi with a hint of genuine fear.

“Why did you investigate them?” Her voice trembled slightly.

After all, before Mu Xie targeted Ling Yue and Qi Zhen, she must have investigated them too.

Song Yi’s actions, intentionally or not, reminded Ling Xi of Mu Xie.

Seizing the opportunity, Song Yi berated herself while still keeping Ling Xi by her side.

She truly was no different from Mu Xie.

But what she didn’t know was that Ling Xi had once confided in a friend.

Even if Song Yi had ulterior motives even if she controlled her Ling Xi would accept it.

Perhaps Song Yi thought she shared similarities with Mu Xie.

But Ling Xi only loved Song Yi.

That night, back at home, Ling Xi followed Song Yi everywhere like a shadow.

Like a helpless fledgling clinging to its mother.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Song Yi asked as she stroked Ling Xi’s back in bed.

“I don’t want to go out,” Ling Xi turned over.

“Does this make me seem like I’m avoiding the problem? Like I’m weak?”

She looked at Song Yi in the dim light, unconsciously inching closer.

She reminded herself, Song Yi wasn’t like Mu Xie.

Not at all.

Mu Xie had investigated her family to harm them, to tie her down.

But Song Yi was the opposite—she did it to help her.

How much effort and connections must it have taken to navigate foreign bureaucracy and bring someone safely home?

For that alone, Ling Xi couldn’t stay angry with her.

“Thank you, Sister Song,” Ling Xi relaxed and reached out to hug her.

Feeling the warmth of the embrace, Song Yi softened.

She didn’t mind the trouble expending resources to help Ling Xi find Ling Yue.

She didn’t mind poring over Qi Zhen’s case files again and again, searching for clues.

She didn’t mind begging renowned doctors to treat Ling Jingqiu.

None of these tedious tasks weighed on her.

The only thing she feared was Ling Xi pulling away.

And now, Ling Xi was thanking her.

“Did I help you?” Song Yi’s hand trembled slightly before settling on Ling Xi’s waist.

Ling Xi hugged her tighter. “Mm. Thank you… Without you, I don’t know if my sister would have made it back.”

“But, Sister Song… you can tell me about these things in the future. I’m not unreasonable,” Ling Xi gently patted Song Yi’s back.

“You were doing it for my good. Not to hurt me.”

Song Yi melted into the embrace.

Her lips brushed against Ling Xi’s hair.

This seemed like a perfect moment.

“I have something to tell you.”

“I want to say something to you.” They spoke in unison.