Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 39

Not only were the fans watching the livestream stunned, but even Mu Xie, who was secretly viewing the broadcast from the trunk of a car, froze for a second.

She gritted her teeth in frustration, unable to understand when she’d been exposed, but had no choice but to hastily log off.

Only then did she realize that the hacker attacks they’d encountered over the past hour had been orchestrated by Song Yi.

How infuriating.

Ling Yue shrugged. “But in my opinion, that Song Yi is quite good. At least she’s genuinely devoted to Xi Bao. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to return to the country.”

Qi Zhen remained strategically silent.

“The Song family… what’s her relationship with Song Lian?” Qi Zhen spoke up after two minutes. They only had half an hour today—she couldn’t waste it.

Ling Yue looked at Ling Xi.

“Ah, sisters, right? I know Song Yi has an older sister.” Judging by their names, they should be sisters.

“Mom. You know something, don’t you? Song Lian has a daughter named Mu Xie. You must know about her. Sister does too.” Ling Xi grabbed Ling Yue’s arm, speaking urgently.

Qi Zhen fell silent for a moment before immediately turning her gaze to Ling Yue.

Ling Yue covered her face. She hadn’t been able to stop it.

“Baby… tell me. How did you find out about that person?” She’d willingly gone to prison.

Was Mu Xunzhi truly so vicious that she still wouldn’t let her daughter go?

Ling Yue pinched Ling Xi, signaling with her eyes that guards were present.

Ling Xi was torn but ultimately spoke under pressure.

“She… she said she liked me. After I rejected her, she started harassing me, using threats and bribes.”

Not only did she take Ling Xi away, but she also tried to drive me to ruin.

This S-rank omega was truly unbearably arrogant and vicious beyond belief.

If Ling Xi found out about this, would her opinion of Song Yi change?

Mu Xie disconnected, curled up in the trunk, hugging her knees with a sigh.

She’d thought that with this second chance at life, she could spend it peacefully with Ling Xi.

Who knew Ling Xi had also been reborn, seemed to genuinely hate her now, and had even run off with someone else.

Mu Xie pulled out the photo she’d secretly taken when giving Ling Xi a gift.

Tracing Ling Xi’s face with her fingers, tears welled in her eyes.

Song Yi is an S-rank. Ling Xi… how can a B-rank like you ever be her match? How could this end well for you?

We’re the ones who should be together…

“What did you do now?” The woman in the backseat turned to ask Mu Xie.

“Nothing.” Mu Xie wiped away her tears and looked back at the woman.

The two shared about sixty percent resemblance in their features.

The data showed that during those few minutes when she went live yesterday, that patron sister had been in the stream.

While tallying up her earnings, Ling Xi pondered.

Before going live last night, Song Yi had been constantly checking her phone.

Ling Xi hadn’t peeked, so she didn’t know what Song Yi was doing.

Was it possible Song Yi had entered her stream before she started broadcasting?

If true, this would be yet another thing Song Yi was keeping from her.

Ling Xi was almost getting used to feeling wronged.

But since Song Yi had uncovered her secret identity, she wanted to investigate Song Yi too.

She needed to think of another approach.

Ling Xi remained completely unaware of the approaching danger.

The person she hated most and least wanted to see in this life was conducting a meticulous search nearby, going door to door, leaving no corner unchecked.

The woman looked at Mu Xie with pity, reaching out to pat her cheek.

Mu Xie swatted her hand away, only to have her wrist grabbed again.

Struggling in vain, she was forcibly lifted up.

“My child, to think you could be so naive, so foolish.”

Mu Jie’s eyes burned with hatred, sharp as blades, as if she wanted to tear her mother apart.

“That’s more like it. Now we’re getting somewhere.” The woman narrowed her eyes but didn’t loosen her grip.

“What on earth do you see in that little alpha? She’s just an experiment.”

Mu Xie mustered all her strength and finally broke free from her mother’s grasp. “She’s only B-grade, inferior. Just like me.”

A sharp slap landed on her face before she could continue.

“Have you forgotten everything I taught you? Even if she’s B-grade, even if she’s laughably inferior, she still has pheromones! How could she possibly be like you? She’s clearly your enemy!”

“Don’t tell me she’s different—you know better. If you truly believed she was different, why would you steal my medicine and inject yourself daily to fake being an A-grade omega? You’re just afraid she’ll find out and abandon you.”

The slap didn’t bring tears, but these words finally broke Mu Jie. Tears streamed down her face.

“Can’t I… can’t I love someone with pheromones, just like you did? Mom, say something.”

Her hatred for the woman before her was palpable, though her gaze flickered to the woman driving.

Song Lian turned her head, playing peacemaker. “Alright, alright, we’re almost there. Honestly, you two—mother and daughter acting like sworn enemies.”

“She never cared for me. What mother?” Mu Xie refused to back down, her voice rising.

“How can you say that? Who do you think kept you alive in the Song family? Really…” Song Lian stopped the car, opened the trunk, and pulled Mu Xie out.

“Even I’d call you stupid if you still don’t get it, let alone your mother.”

Mu Xie fell silent, letting Song Lian lead her like a three-year-old needing comfort.

“After all, I didn’t know about your social media accounts before. If she happened to see your livestream and heard you speak, she could easily identify you.”

“And that rant was as crazy as she is. I was just trying to trace the IP behind the account. I’ve already reported this to Yun Fengzhi.”

Song Yi ruffled Ling Xi’s hair. “Anyway, I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Ling Xi pressed her face against Song Yi’s chest and mumbled in agreement.

She’d grown too comfortable, forgetting Mu Xie could find her online.

“I’ve cursed her out so many times, told her there’s no chance. Why does she keep harassing me?” Ling Xi didn’t understand.

Mu Xie seemed deaf to her words, convinced they were destined.

Bullshit. Even in their past life, their marriage had been forced.

“If she weren’t insane, why would she claim to love you while hurting you?” Song Yi kissed Ling Xi’s forehead. “It’s not your fault. Mu Xie is just unhinged.”

“Yun Fengzhi says there’s new information. They’re the Special Guard, after all. No case is beyond them.”

Despite her words, Song Yi silently resolved to assign bodyguards to Ling Xi.

She knew all too well how elusive the Tiancan Organization could be.

Ahead loomed the Song family’s Fu Youyou, watching like a tiger eyeing its prey, while behind lurked the Tiancan organization, ready to strike at Ling Xi at any moment.

For the first time, Song Yi felt that all the power she had worked so hard to attain still wasn’t enough.

She couldn’t even protect the one she loved in this chaos. She was still too weak.

“I don’t ask for much,” Ling Xi murmured, slipping her fingers beneath Song Yi’s collar.

“But it’ll be excessive.”

“That depends on your performance,” Song Yi retorted sharply, suddenly tugging on Lingxi’s pearl necklace.

Every pearl on this necklace had been handpicked by Song Yi herself.

She had spent an entire night negotiating with the pearl farm over a video call.

Never did she imagine it would serve such a purpose.

This was a leash of pearls—almost like a collar.

Only by pulling it would her little dog behave, drawing close obediently.

Instead of baring her teeth, ready to bite and hurt her.

“I’ll perform well, Director Song,” Ling Xi murmured, pressing herself compliantly against Song Yi’s chest.

Her lips occasionally brushed against Song Yi’s neck.

“You’d better remember your promise.”

Song Yi clenched her jaw as the storm of sensations overwhelmed her.

Fragments of soft moans drifted into Lingxi’s ears.

“Goodnight, my sister,” Ling Xi whispered, pressing a final kiss to Song Yi’s lips before sleep.

Song Yi held her tightly.

Ling Xi lay awake until dawn.

Eventually, she had to gently pry Song Yi’s arm from around her and slip out to the bathroom.

Sitting on the toilet, she idly scrolled through her phone.

She logged into a forum she hadn’t visited in days and pulled up Last Night’s Storm’s profile.

Whenever she felt restless before, reading Last Night’s Storm’s posts had calmed her.

But Ling Xi noticed that even Last Night’s Storm hadn’t posted much lately.

Only a single line: “Hearts linked, thoughts understood without words.”

Had they fought with their partner? Or was life too sweet to bother with poetry now?

Ling Xi scrolled a little longer before returning to the top post.

In the comments, she left the first half of that verse.

When she returned to bed, she found Song Yi awake and immediately pounced on her, nuzzling and teasing.

Song Yi set her phone aside and kissed her cheek. “Awake, or never slept?”

“Never slept,” Ling Xi admitted, wrapping her arms around Song Yi and breathing in her scent, feeling utterly at peace.

Maybe she wouldn’t need to sneak out in the dark to browse a stranger’s forum anymore.

She had a girlfriend who brought her far more comfort now.

“Scared?” Song Yi pressed her down, trailing kisses along her face, then lower.

“No. Just… unsettled.” Ling Xi hesitated.

“Well, maybe a little scared. But mostly, I just find Mu Xie so annoying.”

“Extremely annoying, harassing you every day,” Song Yi agreed, her lips brushing Lingxi’s philtrum, tickling her until she giggled and squirmed.

“I wish she’d just disappear,” Ling Xi sighed, flipping them over to pin Song Yi beneath her.

“Don’t we all? I thought crushing her lab and driving her out of the Song family would cut off her support and make her vanish on her own.”

It was during the attack on Mu Xie’s lab that Song Yi had realized—Mu Xie had a powerful backer.

Even tonight’s cyberattack. There was no way Mu Xie alone could have blocked it.

“She’s connected to Tiancan, isn’t she? Some high-ranking member?”

But Song Yi shook her head.

“More likely… she’s the daughter of someone important.” Song Yi thought of Mu Xie’s never-seen birth mother.

And her own sister, Song Lian, who had been disinherited simply because of her pheromones.

If both of these people were members of the Tiancan organization…

Song Yi didn’t know what to do.

How could she possibly contact Song Lian? The two of them probably hadn’t seen each other for over a decade.

“Let’s not talk about that. Little one, was your name taken from classical poetry?”

Song Yi recalled the poetic lines someone had replied with on the forum when she checked her phone earlier.

She had posted that verse thinking of Ling Xi and her feelings at the time.

“Hmm? Yes. My sister had just memorized that Li Shangyin poem back then and kept reciting it every day because she loved it so much. Since I was about to be born, she chose this name for me.” Ling Xi thought it was quite a coincidence that Song Yi had thought of the same poem.

“I just saw it online and thought I’d ask. Now we’re truly kindred spirits.” Song Yi hugged her with a soft laugh.

Ling Xi smiled too.

After Song Yi coaxed her to sleep and they both closed their eyes, Ling Xi suddenly felt something was off.

Could that “Last Night’s Wind and Rain” account possibly be Song Yi’s?

The timing was too coincidental. Just as they were growing closer, Song Yi had written that poetic line.

She had just replied, and Song Yi happened to be looking at her phone too.

After turning it over in her mind, Ling Xi decided these weren’t solid enough clues.

Looking at Song Yi beside her, she grew annoyed again.

This Song Yi. Hiding another online identity from her.

Ling Xi decided to settle the score in the morning.

When morning came, instead of a good-morning kiss, Song Yi received a good-morning bite.

“Morning grumpiness?” Song Yi thought only she was the one who hated mornings.

After the bite, Ling Xi felt much better. “I found an account that might be yours.”

Song Yi mentally drew a question mark on her face.

“What kind of account?” She only had a few social media accounts—how could Ling Xi have found one?

“Not telling. I plan to investigate further and catch you red-handed myself.”

Ling Xi changed her mindset, no longer angry about Song Yi keeping her online identity secret.

After all, Song Yi had only created a forum account.

But if Last Night’s Wind and Rain really was Song Yi…

Who were all those bitter words directed at?

After safely seeing Ling Xi to her office, Song Yi returned to the old family home with their marriage certificate.

She crossed paths with Fu Youyou, and as usual, neither could stand the sight of the other.

Currently, Song Yi had no energy to spar with Fu Youyou, nor did she care why he had returned to the old house again.

She went straight to her mother’s room, locked the door, and sat by the bed.

After checking for surveillance cameras and casually removing three or four, she finally dared to sigh.

“Mom, are you still awake?”

Of course her mother didn’t answer.

Her eyes were open and moving, but her soul had probably long departed.

Song Yi sat for a while before taking out the marriage certificate and placing it in her mother’s hand.

“I got married. To someone I love.” Holding her mother’s hand, Song Yi followed her mother’s unfocused gaze.

“This is the only good thing that’s happened recently. My wife is also an unfortunate soul—her mother is like you. I suspect…”

Song Yi still didn’t voice her full thoughts, fearing eavesdroppers.

She just felt that perhaps the perpetrators were the same people.

“I’ll bring her to meet you when I can. She’s an especially lovely girl—kind, pure, sincere with people, much better behaved than me. You’d definitely like her.”

Song Yi sat a while longer before leaving.

On her way out, she encountered the aunt who loved setting her up on blind dates.

“Xiao Yi, here to see your mother?”

Song Yi nodded at her. This aunt might appear kind on the surface, but in her younger days, her methods had been notoriously ruthless.

She had eventually lost out to Song Yi’s mother and, to avoid being kicked out, had washed her hands of her old ways.

“My boyfriend’s third aunt’s niece’s daughter is about your age—an A-grade, and such a pretty girl. Would you like to meet her?” The aunt’s face was plastered with a smile.

Song Yi already had a headache just listening to that convoluted family connection.

“No need to trouble yourself. I’m already married.” She flashed her marriage certificate.

A flicker of unmistakable surprise crossed the aunt’s face.

“With whom? Some young lady or gentleman from another family?” If Song Yi had gained another powerful ally…

“Oh, just an ordinary person. No need to worry, Auntie.” Though her tone was sweet, Song Yi’s gaze was icy as it met the aunt’s.

It was a warning.

As if she didn’t know this woman’s daughter was constantly scheming to usurp her position.

The aunt’s lips twitched.

“Even if she’s ordinary, I won’t let anyone bully her,” Song Yi said before walking away.

After dealing with several more relatives, she finally reached her grandmother’s room.

Song Yi knocked and found the old woman deep in conversation with the butler.

“Ahem.”

“Oh! It’s you, Xiao Yi. It’s been so long since you last visited.” The old woman wasn’t particularly close to Song Yi.

She had always preferred Mu Xie, and Song Yi had recently clashed with him.

This greeting was already the old lady lowering her pride to make peace.

Song Yi had no intention of escalating tensions. The old woman might be aged, but she still held considerable influence.

A direct confrontation would only lead to mutual destruction—a classic case of the snipe and the clam locked in struggle.

“Not that long. Just came to see you, Grandma. And to let you know something.”

She greeted the butler before standing beside the old woman, gazing out the window.

For a moment, she thought she saw three figures approaching the house—one of them oddly familiar.

But when she blinked, they were gone.

“I’m married. You, Auntie, and Uncle needn’t concern yourselves with my marital affairs anymore. I’ll hold a wedding ceremony soon.”

The old woman coughed violently. “What? Married? To whom?”

“An ordinary person.”

Their eyes locked in a silent battle—one that lasted only an instant.

But the old woman, long retired from the cutthroat business world, was no match for Song Yi, who sparred daily with corporate titans.

Within seconds, the old lady yielded.

“I assume I don’t need to fulfill any so-called ‘family obligations’ by marrying someone I don’t love?” Song Yi said casually, withdrawing her gaze.

“Y-Yes… you don’t.” The old woman’s face paled, but she couldn’t retaliate.

Song Yi was right. As the chairwoman, her capabilities were undeniable—she had elevated the Song family to new heights.

Who would dare force her into an arranged marriage now?

After a long silence, the old woman repeated, “As long as you’re happy. Bring them to meet me sometime.”

“I will, if I have time.”

“Xiao Yi… there’s one more thing I must address. How could you send Mu Xie away from the Song family without a word?” The old woman finally broached the subject.

Her tone was slow, almost grandmotherly.

Song Yi stared at her, but inside, her heart turned to ice.

After all this time, she was still trying to speak up for her favorite great-grandson.

“She doesn’t even bear the Song surname. In her twenties with no proper job, expecting our Song family to support her for life? Isn’t that laughable?”

“Moreover, she went ahead with that ridiculous engagement ceremony against your objections. Her mind’s made up—by all rights, she should move out of the Song residence.” Song Yi’s words struck like hammer blows, leaving Grandma Song speechless.

“But Mujie is still just a child, and her mother pays her no mind. Must you be so heartless? At least consider your sister’s—”

“I barely know Song Lian. If her own mother won’t care for her, why should I?”

Before Grandma Song could muster a rebuttal, an unfamiliar woman’s voice sounded from behind:

“After all these years away, what a lively homecoming. Little sister, I hear you’ve missed me terribly?”

Song Yi turned to see a woman whose features differed markedly from hers, yet upon closer inspection, shared the same eyes and brows. The woman held the hand of someone Song Yi knew all too well—and currently despised most. Behind them stood another woman no one recognized.

“…I’ve missed you indeed. Sister.” Song Yi forced the words out.

Song Lian’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “After all these years apart, you still recognize me. Since you do, why are you driving my daughter away?”

“Your daughter lost people’s goodwill herself. Without capability, she wouldn’t last in the Song household anyway. If anything, she’s shown good judgment by leaving early.”

The sisters Lian and Yi had never gotten along since childhood. Would Song Yi allow this long-absent elder sister to gain the upper hand now?

“Frankly, she’s pitiable. Neglected by you all, left to her own devices. A perfectly good child, warped like this.” Song Yi even closed her eyes briefly, feigning distress.

“You—!” Mujie was thoroughly provoked. Hearing Song Yi discuss marriage with their grandmother had already infuriated her. Why did Grandma counsel restraint based on status when it came to her, yet not even question Song Yi’s plans?

“Big sister, rather than reminisce with me, perhaps you should focus on parenting.” Song Yi didn’t so much as glance at Mujie. In this confrontation, Song Yi held the advantage, with Song Lian slightly disadvantaged. Yet ultimately, they were the main combatants—Mujie merely the “impudent junior” both overlooked.

Clenching her fists, Mujie finally realized she’d never registered in Song Yi’s regard. This relentless persecution likely stemmed solely from vengeance for Lingxi.

“My child’s affairs are my concern. But I’ll remember your words, little sister.” Song Lian accepted the barb with a smile. Who would have thought this rebellious sister who ran away young would prove such a formidable opponent?

Song Yi’s gaze lingered on the harmless-looking woman behind them. Could this be the high-ranking Tiancan operative they’d long sought?

Mu Xunzhi met Song Yi’s eyes and smiled in polite acknowledgment, appearing genuinely guileless, pure as snow.

“Mom…” Mujie tugged at Mu Xunzhi’s sleeve resentfully. Mu Xunzhi squeezed her wrist in warning to stay silent.

“So you remember you have a home.” Grandma Song’s expression darkened facing Song Lian, but seeing Mujie, her wrinkles creased into a beaming smile. “Oh my little Mujie, you’ve finally returned! Come to your grandma at once.”

Mu Xie continued to glare at Song Yi with resentment. However, Song Yi showed no intention of paying her any attention.

Mu Xie had no choice but to avert her gaze.

Lowering her head, she caught sight of what Song Yi was holding in her hand, and her heart skipped a beat.

After leaving Grandma Song’s room, Song Yi wandered aimlessly for a while before stopping to taunt the confined Song Dongming.

“Wait!” Song Dongming’s sister called out to Song Yi.

Song Yi turned around.

The woman shoved a piece of paper into her hands before hurriedly running off.

Finding a secluded corner, Song Yi opened it and burned it after reading.

Crossing her arms, she pondered.

Come to think of it, Song Lian’s appearance wasn’t particularly similar to her mother’s, but there were some resemblances to their grandmother.

The Song family was vast with numerous branches, some of which had very low pheromone levels—the highest being only mid-tier B.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t sensed any pheromone fluctuations from Song Lian’s wife either. She recalled Song Lian’s pheromone level was also quite low.

In large families with close blood relations, even tests might not reveal anything.

Perhaps Mu Xie’s congenital defect didn’t stem from Song Lian’s wife’s infidelity after all.

It was at this moment that Mu Xie found Song Yi lingering at the Song family ancestral home.

“Something you want?” Song Yi leaned against the railing with improper posture, her disdain glaringly obvious.

“If not, get lost. You know how much I detest you.”

Out of respect for Grandma Song and Song Lian’s return, Song Yi couldn’t directly lay hands on Mu Xie here.

She reckoned that unless Song Lian was a fool, he wouldn’t let Mu Xie move out of the Song residence again.

Opportunities to act would become increasingly rare.

She still needed to find a way to eliminate this ticking time bomb for Lingxi.

“She told you everything?” Mu Xie’s palms were bleeding from how hard she’d clenched them, yet the pain in her heart remained unbearable.

Song Yi narrowed her eyes. “If you’re referring to… the ‘previous life,’ then yes.”

She intended to fish for information from Mu Xie.

“She actually trusts you this much! Even her rebirth… There were so many things she never told me—that she could paint, cook…” Mu Xie was livid, her face turning an unhealthy shade of green.

“After all the vile things you’ve done, you still expect her to love you? Mu Xie, you’re not naive—you’re malicious and stupid.”

Song Yi noted the mention of “rebirth” in Mu Xie’s words.

After glancing around, she suddenly grabbed Mu Xie by the throat.

“Bold of you to come find me alone after ditching your mother. Admirable courage, pity about the lack of brains.”

As Mu Xie struggled, an incredulous expression crossed her face.

Had she misread the situation? Was Song Yi showing her the ring given to Ling Xi not to talk, but—

“I’ve nothing to discuss with you. I just dislike seeing your face.” Song Yi saw through Mu Xie’s thoughts and responded.

“I’m not Xiao Xi. You terrified her—she freezes in fear at your sight. I’m different. I clawed my way to the family head position. Did you think I’d be easy to bully?”

“You can’t kill me.Grandma would retaliate.” Mu Xie’s strangled voice came in broken gasps.

“I’m a law-abiding citizen.” Song Yi released her grip as casually as she’d applied it.

“Relax, I plan to spend a long, happy life with her. You’re not worth dirtying my hands over.”

Mu Xie collapsed to the ground, clutching her throat as she coughed violently, her mind reeling with shock.

“Song… Yi! You stole someone’s engagement—have you no shame?”

Still kneeling, she glared up at Song Yi with bloodshot eyes rimmed red, the crimson hue unsettling.

“Your engagement banquet… if I recall correctly, neither set of elders attended, did they? Who acknowledged your engagement? Her mother or yours? Was it voluntary, or did you coerce her—don’t you know?”

Song Yi wouldn’t tolerate being looked at that way.

She planted her foot on Mu Xie’s back, pressing her downward.

“Ah—!” Mu Xie’s face pressed against the ground as memories flooded back—how she, an outsider and orphan raised in the Song family, had been relentlessly bullied by her peers.

“We’re nothing alike. She willingly registered our marriage with me. Just yesterday, she confessed her feelings and insisted we livestream for her fans to show off our relationship. Her sister approves of our union. My mother would never stop me from being with the person I love.”

“She worries about my health, my work, afraid it might interfere with my responsibilities. She paints for me, prepares gifts, cooks meals, wishes me success in my career, and indulges my whims.”

“Mu Xie, she never liked you. Didn’t you know that?”

With every word Song Yi spoke, Mu Xie’s body trembled harder.

Just as she was about to sink completely into the dirt, Song Yi noticed something and lifted her foot.

A couple of kicks forced Mu Xie to stagger upright.

“Take this back. I’ll buy her a new ring—one that doesn’t symbolize coercion, exploitation, imprisonment, or pain.”

Song Yi tossed the engagement ring Mu Xie had given Ling Xi onto the ground.

Mu Xie stared at the ring she had poured her heart into giving, her body shaking uncontrollably. Blood and tears dripped onto the soil, staining the silver surface crimson.

Her silence confirmed everything.

Song Yi’s heart ached unbearably—just as Ling Xi’s call came through.

“My sweetheart,” Song Yi’s tone instantly softened.

Realizing who was on the line, Mu Xie’s agony peaked.

After being trampled into the mud by her beloved’s current partner, she now had to witness their sweet, intimate phone call.

Mu Xie clutched her mouth, nausea rising.

“I’ll be there soon. How was work this morning?”

Ling Xi had called to invite Song Yi for lunch.

Leaning against the railing, Ling Xi glanced back at her office and laughed. “Smooth sailing! I’ve got a big client meeting in a few days. Want to come with me?”

“How? Can outsiders attend?” Song Yi’s expression was impossibly tender, as if the vicious person ready to tear Mu Xie apart moments ago had never existed.

“Easy—you’ll be my assistant.” Ling Xi lowered her voice.

“I asked Ni-jie. That’s how she sneaks her partner in for free meals.”

“I’ll play the part perfectly. Just waiting for my sweetheart to treat me to the good life.”

Song Yi was already walking away, not sparing Mu Xie another glance.

Mu Xie’s glare followed her until darkness swallowed her vision, and she collapsed.

A patrolling guard finally discovered her ten minutes later, panicked but too afraid to inform Grandma Song, whose heart was frail, and instead contacted Song Lian.

“What happened to you?” Hours later, Mu Xie awoke to find Song Lian seated by her bed and Mu Xunzhi standing nearby, phone in hand.

Tears streamed unbidden as Mu Xie blinked.

“The ring… where’s the ring?” The one she’d given Ling Xi, the one Ling Xi had worn, the symbol of their vows—where was it?

It had been on the ground when she blacked out. Just like her.

“What ring? That’s what you’re worried about? How much Theta serum did you inject? Your body’s a wreck. Left unsupervised, you’d really destroy yourself, wouldn’t you?”

Mu Xie couldn’t hear her mother’s words, her ears filled only with a high-pitched buzzing.

One sentence kept echoing in her mind.

—She never liked you. Didn’t you know?

Ling Xi truly hated her. Resented her.

Had truly never loved her.

No wonder she had chosen such a terrifying way to end herself in her past life.

Now, without Ling Xi, Mu Xie felt as though she were sinking into an abyss.

“Mom… stop talking.” How many suppressants had she taken? How would she know?

She had only wanted a little pheromone, to share intimacy with the one she loved.

To have a mark, to have Ling Xi love her scent…

She had just wanted to date and marry like any ordinary person.

“Why was I born defective? Why me?”

Mu Wenzhi gripped Mu Xie’s chin and forced it upward. “Say that again.”

“Why did it have to be me? Why do defects and pheromones even exist?” Mu Xie’s words dripped with anguish.

“Hmph.” Mu Wenzhi released her. “That’s more like it. You’ve finally learned to hate this world the way a defect should.”

Mu Xie collapsed back onto the hospital bed.

Slowly, it dawned on her—Mu Wenzhi had never borne her out of love.

She had only wanted an heir to inherit the organization, to continue destroying this wretched world.

But all Mu Xie had ever wanted was a little love.

And now, the only person who had ever given her warmth and affection had cast her aside like trash.

…If only she hadn’t been reborn.

Song Yi meticulously washed her hands five times.

Only when she could no longer detect even a trace of the pheromones Mu Xie had somehow scraped together did she finally stop.

Afterward, she got into her car, drove to the office building, and picked up Ling Xi for lunch.

Like magic, Ling Xi produced a bouquet of lilies from behind her back and presented it to Song Yi.

“When did you buy these?” Song Yi immediately beamed.

“Ni-jie was getting some for her girlfriend, so I went downstairs with her,” Ling Xi said, lightly brushing a petal.

“Since you bought roses yesterday, I thought I’d switch it up. The florist said lilies are especially vibrant right now—apparently, they get really fragrant once they fully bloom.”

“Should we put them in the bedroom? Or the living room? Both spaces could use some decorating,” Song Yi mused, then noticed Ling Xi pulling out a single rose.

“But something felt missing without a rose. Didn’t want to waste it, so I just got one.” Ling Xi winked.

“Today is another day of loving you so, so much.”

Song Yi took it, her heart melting. “I love you too. Even more than yesterday.”

Ling Xi laughed. “It can keep increasing?”

“Of course. And there’s no limit. Every day, I’ll love you a little more than the day before.” Song Yi pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“I was so busy dealing with family stuff, I didn’t even have time to get you a gift.”

On the way over, Song Yi had been distracted, preoccupied with thoughts of Mu Xie’s mother, and had forgotten.

“It’s fine, you can get me something tonight.” Ling Xi hugged Song Yi tightly, burying her face in her chest and inhaling deeply. “Ah, revived~”

Song Yi gave a vivid retelling of how she had intimidated Mu Xie, omitting the physical altercation and any mention of the “past life.”

“She’s really that timid? Cried from fear?” Ling Xi found it satisfying just hearing about it.

“Absolutely. When I described how you and I are together, she looked like she wanted to grind her teeth to dust.”

Ling Xi laughed, leaning back. “I have no idea who gave her the confidence to think I liked her. Honestly, I haven’t treated her even one-fifth as well as I treat my three closest friends.”

Song Yi shrugged. “Some people just love to indulge in wishful thinking. I think she genuinely believed you had feelings for her before this.”

“Ugh.” Ling Xi clicked her tongue in disgust.

“After hearing all this, she seems a little less terrifying to me now. Who knew she could actually be scared to tears?” Ling Xi relaxed completely, as if the scars left by her past life had truly faded away.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. She’s just a naive little brat.”

Song Yi, however, thought that Mu Xie’s parents might be a bit more troublesome.

“Are you going to work this afternoon, sis?” After finishing their meal and seeing that it was getting late, Ling Xi and Song Yi only took a short walk around the building.

“Yes, there are some things I need to take care of.” Though Song Yi didn’t understand why Song Dongming’s sister had given her these documents, she knew she couldn’t afford to stay passive like she had in previous years, always putting her mother’s affairs first. She needed to start acting now.

“You’ll do great.” Ling Xi intertwined their fingers and then hugged her. “I’ll head back to work too. See you tonight~”

“You too. See you later, sweetheart.”

As the workday neared its end, Song Yi stayed a little longer to finish up some tasks. Ling Xi waited for her in the office.

“Working overtime already? You just got here—no need to push yourself so hard,” Sister Ni asked, misunderstanding her intentions as she rinsed her teacup.

“No, I’m waiting for my wife.” The word stumbled awkwardly on her tongue. She still wasn’t quite used to it.

“Why isn’t she coming to pick you up?”

“I don’t have a car yet.” She had learned to drive right after high school in her past life, but it had been so long that she’d practically forgotten how.

“I’m off to pick up my girlfriend. See you later,” Sister Ni said.

“By the way, when I stepped out earlier, I saw someone loitering near the entrance. They were holding something.”

She patted Ling Xi’s shoulder. “Be careful.” The colleagues knew Ling Xi had been harassed before.

Ling Xi frowned. Could it be that person?

Either way, it had nothing to do with her. She wasn’t going to let Mu Xie paralyze her with fear anymore.

Besides, Song Yi would come upstairs to get her.

A little past six, Song Yi entered the office. Ling Xi wrapped an arm around her waist, and the two walked toward the elevator.

The entrance was crowded with people, but Ling Xi didn’t even glance around—completely overlooking Mu Xie’s presence.

This was the first time since her rebirth that she had seen Mu Xie and felt no fear, no urge to flee. She simply ignored her, as if she had never been part of her life at all.