Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 41

Ling Yue remained silent for a long time. The two simply stared at each other.

Finally, Ling Yue placed a hand on Ling Xi’s shoulder.

“Let’s focus on clearing Mom’s name first. As for telling you anything… I’m not sure yet.”

“…Alright.” Her sister still didn’t trust her.

Ling Xi didn’t want to get involved with the Tian Can organization either.

But perhaps, from the moment Mu Xie set his sights on her, she no longer had a choice.

Or maybe, from the moment her family became entangled with Mu Xie’s relatives, she was destined to be dragged into this mess one day.

“Sorry.” Ling Yue withdrew her hand.

Song Yi desperately wanted to respond to her.

To blurt out those three simple words, I like you.

But it seemed she had shot herself in the foot.

No matter what she said now, Ling Xi would probably think she was drunk and spouting nonsense.

All Song Yi could do was deepen the bittersweet kiss, hoping to convey the message: I like you.

After the confession, Ling Xi seemed somewhat subdued.

She was the one clouded by alcohol, unable to read Song Yi’s hesitation or the clarity hidden beneath her words.

She simply kept taking from head to toe, loving every inch of Song Yi.

As if by dawn, she would no longer be allowed to stay by Song Yi’s side.

By early morning, both were utterly exhausted.

They had moved from the living room to the bedroom, even pausing on the stairs along the way.

Holding the drowsy Ling Xi, Song Yi whispered in her ear, mimicking her earlier tone.

“I like you,” she murmured, like a soft sigh.

The next day, Ling Xi woke with a lingering headache from the alcohol.

Within seconds of regaining consciousness, the absurdity of yesterday afternoon came flooding back.

Rubbing her temples, she recalled Song Yi’s reaction when she confessed.

Now sober, Ling Xi could finally process it, Song Yi hadn’t rejected her.

In fact, she had responded fervently, matching her every move.

Was that an answer? But Song Yi had been drunk, hadn’t she?

Her memories drifted to the very end collapsing onto the bed, on the verge of sleep.

Ling Xi opened the front door.

“Jiejie~” She threw herself into Song Yi’s arms, the two embracing tightly.

Before Ling Yue closed the door, she could still hear Ling Xi playfully calling out “Jiejie” while clinging to Song Yi.

A grown sister is no longer yours to keep. She had lost the privilege of being addressed directly as “Jiejie” by Ling Xi.

A surge of frustration welled up in Ling Yue, and she slammed the door shut hard enough to startle Ling Xi, who stumbled further into Song Yi’s embrace.

Song Yi half-carried, half-guided her into the car.

“What are we doing tonight?” Ling Xi buried her face in Song Yi’s chest, inhaling her scent deeply.

The faint aroma of bergamot still lingered.

Ling Xi grew flustered by the attention, torn between looking away and fearing it would seem impolite.

“That’s wonderful. Relax a little, what’s your name?”

Seeing how young Ling Xi appeared, Song Zhihe softened her tone further.

Ling Xi obediently launched into her self-introduction.

Song Zhihe asked a few more questions, making Ling Xi feel like she was enduring a home visit from a newly appointed, universally adored homeroom teacher.

“When are you planning the wedding? I’ll definitely attend to celebrate,” the conversation eventually circled back to the main topic.

“I’m thinking next April. Once we finalize the date, I’ll send you an invitation.”

After the dinner ended, Song Yi finally noticed Ling Xi’s expression truly relax.

“Were you that nervous?” Song Yi wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“Does this count as meeting the family? Of course I’m nervous.”

Ling Xi clung to Song Yi’s arm, refusing to let go. “Did I come off really badly today?”

Song Yi burst into laughter. “Not at all. My cousin just wanted to see what kind of person my wife is. Seeing how adorable you are, she felt reassured.”

Ling Xi couldn’t shake the feeling that Song Yi was calling her silly.

“So your cousin is really close with you?” She had to admit she’d been awkward getting this nervous just meeting family.

“Very close. She’s always looked out for me. Don’t let her gentle demeanor fool you, though. Once work starts, she’s more intense than anyone. Of course, she’s also incredibly capable.”

As she spoke, Song Yi replied to a message from Song Zhihua.

[Is this the one you had a crush on before?] Song Zhihua was one of the few who knew Song Yi’s entire history of unrequited loves.

[Yes.] Song Yi replied.

[Didn’t she and Mu Xie have some kind of drama before?]

This wasn’t something to bring up in front of Ling Xi, so Song Zhihua chose to message Song Yi about it afterward.

[That was a misunderstanding. She doesn’t like Mu Xie.]

After reading this, Song Zhihua felt even more at ease.

The two exchanged a few more messages about work before Song Yi put her phone away.

“Want to go shopping with me this afternoon?” She pulled Ling Xi over who had been idly playing with her own hands.

“Sure. A friend recommended a store recently. We can check it out together.”

That evening, the two went live again.

This time, without Mu Xie interrupting, they answered fan questions for a while, with Song Yi keeping Ling Xi company as she painted.

The stream ended early, but Ling Xi showed no intention of deepening their interactions afterward.

After showering separately, they got into bed.

On the second day of Song Yi’s silent sulking, Ling Xi remained oblivious.

Song Yi dug in her heels.

Eventually, she simply let it go, stewing in silence, waiting for Ling Xi to bring it up.

For several days, Ling Xi assumed she was either busy or not feeling well, and thinking nothing of it remained “tacitly understanding” by not mentioning it.

They acted like an old married couple who’d been together for decades, chatting in bed each night. Occasionally, they’d kiss or cuddle, but never went further.

On the seventh day of Song Yi’s sulking, she finally snapped. The moment she got home, she pinned Ling Xi down.

Before Ling Xi could process what was happening, Song Yi began biting her recklessly, her pheromones flooding out without restraint.

Only then did Ling Xi realize what Song Yi wanted.

“W-wait, I haven’t showered yet!” Ling Xi’s words were cut off as Song Yi sealed her lips.

For once, she experienced Song Yi’s domineering side and struggled to keep up, not daring to move or speak too much.

A few minutes later, she finally managed to flip Song Yi over and began kissing her way down from her brows.

“Were you mad at me?” Ling Xi murmured against her ear.

Song Yi, still flushed from earlier, had tears glistening at the corners of her eyes from the emotional outburst. “Took you long enough to notice.”

“I didn’t realize before.” Ling Xi brushed her fingers through Song Yi’s hair. “So why were you upset?”

“You didn’t even tell me you were mad. Jiejie, you know how slow I am, aren’t you just torturing yourself?”

The words only made Song Yi feel worse. She clung to Ling Xi’s neck, eyes red.

“Jiejie, I’m sorry. Whatever it was, it’s my fault.” Ling Xi kissed away the tears at Song Yi’s temples.

“You never take the initiative.” Song Yi sniffled.

She never imagined she’d ever feel this fragile.

Her mood swings were so intense. It felt so bizarre that she thought she was just making a fuss over nothing.

“Is this how you express yourself? Or have you been too busy dealing with clients lately and neglected communicating with me?”

Ling Xi cupped Song Yi’s face and pinched her cheeks. “I’m sorry, sis. I was wrong.”

“You should teach me properly. It’s not that I don’t like you, I just don’t know how.”

Song Yi simply bit Ling Xi’s lip.

After teasing her for a while longer, she finally spoke up.

“Haven’t you noticed we haven’t all week?”

“Oh, right.” Ling Xi hugged her, patting her head. “But weren’t you busy with work?”

“I thought you were busy and didn’t want to tire you out, so I let you rest, Sis, are you mad because I didn’t ask for it?” Ling Xi finally realized, then felt both amused and exasperated.

“I really thought you didn’t want to. You were always the one initiating before, and I felt too embarrassed.”

As the more proactive one, if she kept asking her wife for it every day, wouldn’t that make her seem perverted?

She buried her face in Song Yi’s chest. “I was wrong.”

Song Yi bit her hard. “You clearly had time. We still watched shows and livestreams together like before. I wasn’t that busy, yet we still didn’t…”

“I wanted to respect your wishes. Since I’m usually the one initiating, if you didn’t really want to and were just humoring me, that wouldn’t be good.”

Ling Xi laid out all her thoughts.

“Couldn’t you have just asked?” Song Yi’s eyes reddened, her tone tinged with frustrated embarrassment.

“I’ll definitely ask from now on.” Ling Xi undid Song Yi’s first button. “So you want me to be more proactive?”

Song Yi nodded. “You said it yourself, I was always the one initiating before. Can’t you take the lead sometimes?”

“I’ll try. Sis, you have to tell me about these things. If you don’t speak up, I really can’t tell.” Ling Xi’s hands were already wandering downward.

“Sorry, sis. It must be hard dating someone as dense as me. I genuinely didn’t notice.”

By Song Yi’s account, she’d been sulking for a whole week.

Throughout that week, Ling Xi remained completely oblivious, continuing their daily routine of kisses and cuddles, thinking everything was fine between them.

“I should’ve just told you directly.” Song Yi also felt miserable. Since when had she become so awkward just from dating someone?

“I should’ve communicated better.”

“You should have. But it’s also my fault for not noticing. My bad. Should I go wash up?” Ling Xi started to get up.

After Song Yi nodded, she leaned back down. “I should ask now, right? Wifey-sis, do you want to with me?”

“May I request to with sis?”

Song Yi’s ears gradually turned red.

This was exactly the feeling she wanted, though Ling Xi was still being a bit too gentle.

“Permission granted.” Song Yi tilted her head back to watch Ling Xi head to the bathroom to wash up. “Hurry.”

“That sweetheart of yours, though she’s the same rank as me, grew up in completely different circumstances. She never faced daily exclusion or setbacks, never had an S-rank sister to make her feel worthless.” Song Lian sighed.

“She won’t share our hatred for pheromones, for this damned hierarchy, for everyone who benefits from it. She’s really not your kind of person. Give up already.”

Mu Xie turned her head away, still refusing to meet her mother’s eyes after being beaten and scolded.

“Stubborn to the end.” Mu Xunzhi also ignored her daughter.

After the family walked several dozen meters, Mu Xie suddenly spoke up.

“You knew full well that any child born from your union would be disabled. Why did you still choose to have one?”

Only Song Lian paused momentarily, but soon, both continued walking far ahead.

Mu Xie never got an answer.

Ling Xi abruptly ended her livestream.

“How could it be her?” She burrowed into Song Yi’s arms, trembling at the mere mention of that name.

Song Yi stroked her back, soothing her.

“I’ve been wondering how she managed to track you down again. I made sure to erase all your digital footprints. But tonight, seeing those deranged comments during our livestream, I realized I overlooked your social media activity.”

Ling Xi returned with something resembling a seashell.

Song Yi touched it, it was soft.

“This is.”

“I bought it for you before. I think it’s called a grinding toy?”

Ling Xi stared at its uneven texture, equally puzzled about how to use it.

Song Yi had never seen one either.

“Where did you even learn about this?” Weren’t you supposed to be the innocent, domineering soft top? Not so innocent anymore?

“I sneaked into my fan group and saw them discussing how their girlfriends loved it, so I bought one.” Ling Xi pressed it downward.

“Probably like this…”

Song Yi suddenly gripped Ling Xi’s shoulders.

Ling Xi finally smiled. Seems she got it right. “Does it feel good, sister?”

“When did you buy this?” Song Yi gritted her teeth, struggling to speak. Ling Xi leaned closer, offering her shoulder for Song Yi to bite.

“Last week? It only arrived a couple of days ago. Sister, I didn’t tell you. This whole week you didn’t reach out, but I missed you so, so much.”

Ling Xi spoke slowly, her movements deliberate, a technique she’d learned from Song Yi.

“I was just afraid of disturbing you, Sister, I know I was wrong. Can you forgive me?” Her words were soft, but her actions grew firmer.

How could Song Yi possibly answer her?

“Just say the word and I’ll take it as forgiveness.” Ling Xi kissed Song Yi’s lips. “Don’t hold back, okay?”

“Mmm…” Song Yi clutched her shoulders, her entire body tensing.

“Have you ever been in love before?” After cleaning up, Ling Xi lay beside Song Yi, twining their fingers together.

“No. You’re my first.” Song Yi turned to face Ling Xi’s faintly glowing eyes in the dark.

“My first love is you.” From beginning to end.

“Mine too. But why do I feel like I’m so bad at this?” Not just in that regard.

Even in daily interactions, Ling Xi mimicked Song Yi’s behavior, learning by imitation.

“Xiao Yue, you’re back already.” If possible, she’d love to hug both her daughters.

“Yes, all thanks to Xi Bao. If she hadn’t kept me in her thoughts, I’d still be away working.”

Ling Xi shot her a look. Who knew what kind of “work” that really entailed.

“Sweetheart, how have you been? You’ve graduated now, right? Found a job?”

Qi Zhen glossed over Ling Yue’s situation some things were better left unspoken. She focused on her younger daughter.

“Yeah. A clothing company reached out, so I joined. Now I handle client requests, relay them to designers, and oversee project completion.”

“Designers, Not finance-related?” Qi Zhen sighed inwardly.

Poor little Xi, no family attended her graduation, and when she needed support the most during her job search, not a single relative was by her side.

“No. I missed the campus recruitment, and it’s so hard to find a job in finance with just a bachelor’s degree. Every company I applied to rejected me.”

Ling Xi couldn’t see Qi Zhen’s face clearly. She kept shifting her position, trying to find a better angle, but to no avail.

“Mom, I miss you so much.”

“Sweetheart, I miss you too. How,  how is your health? Your glands? Any changes in your pheromones?”

It should have been an ordinary concern, but after dealing with the Tiancan Organization so much lately, Ling Xi couldn’t help but overthink it.

“Mom, actually, I…” She was about to ask about Mu Xie when Ling Yue interrupted her.

“Mom, you don’t know yet, do you? Xiao Xi got married.”

Ling Xi choked at Ling Yue’s words.

Qi Zhen was so shocked that she stood up abruptly, earning a sharp reprimand from the guard.

She sat back down, her forehead damp with sweat. “To whom? Baby, such a big decision, how could you rush into marriage like this?”

She had wanted to say that Ling Xi should have consulted an adult first.

But just as the words reached her throat, she remembered, Ling Jingqiu was unconscious in bed, she herself was in prison, and even Ling Yue had been forced to leave Huaguo.

Her poor Xiao Xi, who did she have to rely on? Who could she even discuss this with?

“I know the process was a bit rushed. But she’s really a good person. She loves me, and I love her too. Mom, please don’t try to separate us.”

Ling Xi was getting anxious. She hadn’t planned to tell her mother about this today. Who knew Ling Yue would just sell her out like that?

“Xiao Xi, you didn’t marry someone I know, did you? How long have you known her? True character takes time to reveal itself, what could you possibly know about her in such a short time?” Qi Zhen was genuinely worried.

“No, not someone you know. We met about two months ago, but…” Ling Xi really couldn’t argue.

She was slowly learning about Song Yi’s family, about who Song Yi was as a person.

They had a whirlwind marriage, but so far, Ling Xi truly didn’t think Song Yi was a bad person.

But Song Yi wasn’t here, and Ling Xi had no way to show Qi Zhen just how good she was.

Without any proof, just saying “Song Yi is so great” made her sound like a lovesick fool which would probably only make her mother worry even more.

Ling Xi shot Ling Yue an accusatory look.

Ling Yue blinked back at her, signaling her to stay quiet. Ling Xi rolled her eyes.

“Xiao Xi, if you’d married someone like Jiang Yuyang, fine. But,  a complete stranger? A whirlwind marriage within half a year, without even properly dating. Sigh. I’m just worried you’ll get hurt.”

Qi Zhen was helpless. There was no way she could leave this place, so all she could do was voice her concerns.

“We can figure things out after marriage too,” Ling Xi muttered under her breath, shrinking slightly.

“You two haven’t marked each other yet, have you?”

Fine. Qi Zhen would reluctantly accept this “fall in love after marriage” scenario, assuming their relationship hadn’t progressed that far.

“Uh, yeah, we have. We’re married,” Ling Xi said, not understanding why her mother would ask that.

Qi Zhen’s lips twitched. Ling Yue had the exact same expression.

“Alright! Who is she? Don’t you speak. Xiao Yue, you tell me.”

Qi Zhen outright silenced her lovestruck younger daughter.

Ling Xi glared resentfully at Ling Yue from the side.

Next time she visited Mom, she wasn’t bringing Ling Yue along.

“Song Yi. Do you know her, Mom? From the Song family.”

Qi Zhen let out a very audible sigh.

“When did this happen?” Half of Qi Zhen’s heart had already turned cold.

“Um, it started around the first half of this year.” As for the exact time, having been reborn once, Ling Xi couldn’t possibly remember.

“All those surnamed Mu are crazy. Xiao Xi, stay away from them.”

Qi Zhen closed her eyes. She’d stopped wondering why Ling Xi hadn’t told them about this back then.

She and Ling Jingqiu had been struggling to survive themselves at the time, doing their utmost to protect both children.

Even if Ling Xi had shown some abnormalities, it was only natural they hadn’t noticed.

“I didn’t want to provoke her. But Mom, it’s fine now. My wife, Song Yi assigned me a personal bodyguard who’s also helped restrain Mu Xie before. At least for now, I’m safe.”

The implication was that there had been danger before. Qi Zhen’s already anxious heart finally shattered.

“Visiting hours are over.” But before Qi Zhen could say anything more, the guard spoke up and led her away.

All she could do was exchange one last glance with her children filled with extreme worry, reluctance, and helplessness.

“Why did you tell Mom all that?” Once outside the prison, Ling Yue complained.

“You all keep hiding things from me, not telling me anything, thinking it’s for my own good. But what’s the reality? Mu Xie still came after me. If you continue keeping me in the dark. I’ll investigate this alone.” Ling Xi was also furious.

Every single one of them knew everything but refused to say a word.

Claiming it was to protect her. But in the end, it only left her ignorant, suffering under Mu Xie’s persecution and living a miserable life.

Ling Xi turned and prepared to leave.

“Xiao Xi! Don’t be like this.” Ling Yue grabbed Ling Xi, who was walking ahead quickly.

“Then what should I do? What’s the whole story? What exactly is the relationship between that Mu Xie and you all? Just tell me!” Ling Xi shook off Ling Yue’s hand.

“Either tell me. Or don’t try to stop me.” Ling Xi glared at Ling Yue sharply.

Ling Xi took a step back, which was answer enough.

Ling Xi scoffed, pulled out her phone, and called Song Yi.

Ling Yue was tormented. Her habit of seeing Ling Xi as a child clashed with the maturity and capability Ling Xi had shown recently, and Ling Xi’s harsh words had stung her deeply.

Meanwhile, Ling Xi calmed her emotions while chatting idly with Song Yi.

The two walked one after the other until Ling Xi found a spot to sit. Ling Yue sat beside her.

Ling Xi even scooted a little further away.

After hanging up, Ling Xi waited for Song Yi to pick her up.

Ling Yue suddenly tugged at her sleeve. “If I’m going to talk, I can’t do it here, right?”

Ling Xi turned to look at her. “Then where do you want to go? My wife is coming to get me.”

“The chance to tell me alone is gone. If you want to talk, wait until my wife gets here and tell both of us.”

Ling Xi thought about how Song Yi also had a grudge against the Tiancan Organization.

“You’ve really grown up,” Ling Yue said helplessly.

In any case, even if she told Ling Xi alone, Ling Xi would just relay it to Song Yi. No difference.

“I’ve already made that point,” Ling Xi said, her anger slightly abating.

“Tell Song Yi to find a safe place. I’ll share what I know with both of you.”