Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 46

“…What are your intentions in getting close to my daughter?” Qi Zhen didn’t trust the person before her.

Even if her pheromones were S-grade, even if she had already ascended to the position of the Song family head.

She was still Song Lian’s sister.

“Dating.” Facing her mother-in-law, Song Yi straightened her attitude, not provoking her with words and actions like she did with Ling Yue.

“Do you think I’d believe that?” Even so, Qi Zhen remained wary of Song Yi.

“Let me guess—Song Lian must have sent you to get close to my Xiao Xi, mark her, break her seal, and extract her pheromones, right?”

Looking at Qi Zhen, Song Yi was reminded of her own mother.

She lowered her gaze over her teacup, adopting a more humble posture.

“I have no connection to the Tiancan Organization. Song Lian and I were raised separately since childhood—we’re practically strangers. Also, she and I share no blood relation.”

“Mom, I hope you can trust me.”

“…Who are you calling ‘Mom’?” Qi Zhen was speechless at Song Yi’s address.

Song Yi feigned innocence. “Xiao Xi and I are already married. Shouldn’t I change how I address you?”

“Different personalities? You said yourself you’re slow in this regard.” Song Yi patted Ling Xi’s head.

“I shouldn’t keep my unhappiness bottled up either. Next time, I’ll definitely tell you.”

Ling Xi nestled closer into her embrace. “If possible, Sister, I’d prefer there not be a next time.”

God knew how miserable this past week had been with Song Yi sulking.

Ling Xi didn’t want Song Yi to suffer.

“Whether there is or isn’t, couples do need time to adjust to each other.” They just needed to smoothly get through this adjustment period.”

Ling Xi nodded, bidding Qi Zhen goodnight before standing up.

But inwardly, she was calculating.

If,  Mu Xunzhi’s backup plan truly only involved Mu Xie.

If Mu Xie was still interested in her.

Then perhaps she could still do something to dismantle this Tiancan Organization that sought to plunge an entire era into chaos?

At this thought, Ling Xi shook her head. She nearly laughed at herself.

Apart from her pheromone level, which was top-tier and about to be unrestrained, her other abilities were merely excellent—just like Mu Jie’s.

Merely outstanding among ordinary people.

For her to take on a twisted elite like Mu Xunzhi? Wasn’t that just delusional?

She simply wanted to contribute something, seeing her loved ones tirelessly working for this cause.

“You’re not working tomorrow?” As the year-end approached, Song Yi held Ling Xi while multitasking.

“Day off tomorrow. The day after, I’ll be back to taking on design projects. Our company’s already preparing for next winter’s styles they’re moving fast.”

Ling Xi had finally completed her draft unsurprisingly, the client chose her first version.

The next two days would be spent rushing to refine it. Another battle awaited.

“Then come to the office with me tomorrow?”

“Sure. Do you miss me or need me?” Ling Xi pecked the tip of her ear.

She observed the reddened curve—once smooth and rounded, now nearly sharp from her bites.

“Mhm. Goodnight, Sister. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

After wrapping up her first project post-employment, Ling Xi finally had free time.

Coinciding with the monthly visitation day, she took a day off and arranged to meet Ling Yue at the prison where Qi Zhen was serving her sentence.

Seeing her mother, Ling Xi nearly shed tears.

In her previous life, she had lived in near-imprisonment herself and never had the chance to visit her mother.

By that count, it had been ages since she’d last seen her.

“The heir’s studies became too demanding later, no time. The family wouldn’t permit me to pursue this field either.”

Song Yi answered directly, as if anticipating Ling Xi’s question.

“I see… Alright, sis. If you want to roleplay in the future, just tell me directly. We can even plan ahead so I can prepare properly.” Ling Xi stroked Song Yi’s hair.

“I find stepmother literature quite intriguing,” Song Yi said unceremoniously, ordering like she was picking from a menu.

“Have you read the fanfiction your followers wrote about you?”

Ling Xi shook her head. She rarely checked fan communities, only occasionally browsing to quickly learn more about certain topics, wanting to give Song Yi the best experience possible.

Song Yi chuckled. “They said my voice has a very stepmother-like quality, so they secretly wrote some.”

“Send it to me.” Ling Xi hadn’t read much of that genre.

“Later.”

The two sat quietly in the sunlight, leaning against each other for a while.

Until the alarm rang Ling Xi had to go downstairs for breakfast and prepare for work—and they parted ways.

“Still angry?” Song Yi tugged at Ling Xii’s sleeve cautiously as they descended the stairs.

“Hmm? Not anymore.” Ling Xi pulled her close.

“Sis… So all that acting up earlier was because you were scared?”

Song Yi didn’t deny it.

Records showed that Lingyue had visited once before being transferred away from Yanjing.

Ling Xi didn’t know what they had discussed.

It couldn’t have been too extreme, given the guards nearby. Maybe Lingyue had just reported her upcoming schedule.

“Xiao Yue, Xiao Xi.” Qi Zhen was visibly moved to see her daughters visiting together.

But a thick wall still stood between her and them.

The glass was somewhat dirty, making it hard for Qi Zhen to see her children’s faces clearly.

“A marriage can be undone. If you truly harbor ill intentions, I’d urge Xiao Xi to divorce you even from prison.” Qi Zhen mustered some authority.

“I’m busy dealing with Song Lian and Mu Xunzhi right now. Mom, I helped Xiao Xi escape Mu Xie’s control.”

“Don’t call me Mom.” Qi Zhen nearly threw her teacup at Song Yi.

“Fine. Auntie, then?”

“Whatever.”

Song Yi’s attempt at familiarity failed, leaving her to address Qi Zhen properly.

“Auntie Qi. Xiao Xi and I met long ago—probably before you gave her the suppressant for her pheromone levels.”

After a cup of tea, Qi Zhen suddenly caught on.

“How do you know we gave Xiao Xi a suppressant for her pheromone levels?”

“Xiao Xi is investigating the Tiancan Organization. She was targeted by Mu Xie and now wants to cut ties completely. So she asked Lingyue. They must have had a falling out, because Lingyue told her everything she knew.” Song Yi answered truthfully.

“You keep saying ‘Xiao Xi’—how do you know all this?”

Song Yi gave her a look that said the answer was obvious.

Her daughter had defected. Qi Zhen was heartbroken.

She silently drank another cup of tea before sighing.

“What do you want to know from me?”

“I want to know the side effects of that suppressant.” As for other matters related to the Tiancan Organization, Song Yi doubted Qi Zhen would say much.

Qi Zhen stared at her with piercing eyes. “What happened to Xiaoxi that made you so desperate to see me through connections just to ask this question?”

“She says there’s a gap in her memory. Like it’s been erased—no recollection at all.”

“Is the missing memory related to you?” Qi Zhen narrowed her eyes. After a moment of silent confrontation, she finally said with mixed emotions, “Congratulations.”

Song Yi was baffled. Was her mother-in-law teasing her?

“If it’s related to you, then it proves she’s liked you for a long time,” Qi Zhen sighed.

“That serum didn’t just suppress her pheromone levels. It also inhibited her romantic perceptions of those around her and erased her past memories of love. You could consider it a final safeguard. This was to minimize the risk of Xiaoxi being marked by someone and exposing her pheromone levels.”

“But it’s been five or six years since she took that injection, and its effects are fading or perhaps, your marking happened before she developed feelings for you. Only now can you properly start a relationship with her.” Qi Zhen’s tone was equally complicated.

She neither believed nor cared about Song Yi’s sincerity. But it was clear her daughter was already deeply involved.

“Is there any way to restore her memories?” Song Yi pressed a hand to her chest.

This was probably the best news she’d heard since learning Ling Xi had forgotten her.

So, Ling Xi had once felt the same way about her.

Otherwise, the serum wouldn’t have erased their past.

“Theoretically, the more contact you have with her, the more the serum’s effects fade, and the more memories she’ll recover. You could ask her if she remembers anything now.”

Seeing Song Yi lost in thought, Qi Zhen continued unprompted.

“Don’t blame us. We were just afraid Mu Xunzhi would capture her for experiments. Faced with life versus love, we made the choice for her.”

“But, you didn’t succeed in stopping it either.” Despite hiding for so long, avoiding everything, even sacrificing everything but her life.

In their past life, Mu Jie still took advantage and took Ling Xi away.

Undoubtedly, he extracted her pheromones for his schemes.

“What do you mean?” Qi Zhen slowly raised her head.

“You didn’t know she was reborn, did you, Mom?”

“Explain properly.” Qi Zhen didn’t even react to Song Yi’s address.

Song Yi briefly summarized Ling Xi’s rebirth.

As expected, Qi Zhen also burst into tears.

Song Yi handed her tissues.

“I reacted the same way when I heard it last night.”

Ignoring her, Qi Zhen took the tissues, muttering things like “my poor girl” between sobs.

After a long while, Qi Zhen finally composed herself.

She looked at Song Yi, now with a trace of trust.

“Did you really come today just to ask this?”

Song Yi shook her head slightly. “I can get you out on bail.”

“You realize I turned myself in to keep Mu Xunzhi from targeting my children, right?”

Song Yi’s expression turned helpless. Such a devoted mother—just slightly lacking in capability…

“Then you should also know that even after your arrest, your eldest daughter was still driven out of the country and suffered for months. Your younger daughter was nearly targeted by Mu Jie too.”

Qi Zhen fell silent.

“Rather than wasting away here, why not come out? Join us in taking down the Tiancan Organization. I believe you have a lot of relevant information.”

“I do…” Qi Zhen’s voice was soft.

“But can you guarantee the safety of Xiao Xi and Xiao Yue? The moment I’m released, Mu Xunzhi will be immediately notified.”

“That’s why I’ll get you out quietly.” Song Yi didn’t finish. She would also create the illusion that Qi Zhen was still imprisoned.

“How can I trust you?” Qi Zhen remained unmoved.

Song Yi took out her phone. “Call your children.”

“…I’ll go with you.”

On the way, Qi Zhen still asked for the phone to call Ling Xi.

“Sister.” Seeing Song Yi’s number, Ling Xi immediately called out without thinking.

“It’s your mother.” Qi Zhen was speechless.

She had to watch her daughter date this questionable person.

Ling Xi’s mind took a moment to process.

“Wait, Mom, you’re out?!” It took Ling Xi a while to react. “Are you with Song Yi now?”

“Yes. She got me out.”

After chatting for a while, Qi Zhen couldn’t stand Ling Xi’s constant “Sister Song” and handed the phone back.

“Sister? Sister! How did you get my mom out?” Ling Xi couldn’t believe it.

She had been thinking about how to overturn Qi Zhen’s case with Ling Yue.

“Bail. I’ve been preparing for a while. After what you said about memories yesterday, I couldn’t hold back and finished the process today.” She had done it quietly in the middle of the night.

Ling Xi, sound asleep, hadn’t noticed.

“Ahhh! Can I see Mom? I want to leave work now!” Overjoyed, Ling Xi trusted Song Yi completely.

Qi Zhen, sitting nearby, felt even more conflicted.

But thinking of Ling Xi’s fate in her past life and hearing her safe and full of energy now, Qi Zhen nearly teared up.

“Of course. I’ll pick you up for lunch, and we’ll eat at home. You can see your mom.”

“Thank you so much! Sister, I’ll show my gratitude when I get back!” Ling Xi was so excited she could barely focus on work.

“Ahem. Your mother is right here.” Song Yi’s ears grew warm. Qi Zhen’s lips twitched beside her.

“Mom, I’m 22. There’s nothing wrong with dating, right?”

“Right. Nothing wrong.” Qi Zhen shot Song Yi a look, her smile not reaching her eyes.

Later, Qi Zhen called Ling Yue. Song Yi didn’t listen much, just gazed out the window.

When Qi Zhen hung up, Song Yi met her gaze. “Or perhaps you’d like to see your wife. Her condition is very similar to my mother’s—both fell gravely ill after ‘accidents’ and became vegetative.”

“Your mother?”

Song Yi briefly explained.

She also showed Qi Zhen evidence she hadn’t been able to present earlier.

Reborn in this life, she had managed to reunite her family in such a short time.

Ling Xi was so thrilled she wanted to intimately thank her savior right then.

But with family lunch ahead, she settled for a quick kiss with Song Yi.

After getting out of the car, Ling Xi dragged Song Yi straight to the door.

She practically kicked it open, saw Qi Zhen chatting with Ling Yue on the sofa, and flew over.

“Mom!”

Qi Zhen caught her. “Oh, my baby. My precious Xi.”

“Mom… it’s been so long.” Nestled in her mother’s arms, Ling Xi felt a deep sense of peace.

“I missed you so much.”

Qi Zhen understood that the “long time” she mentioned referred to the period from their previous life until now.

Counting it up, it had indeed been several years since they last saw each other.

“My poor baby has suffered so much.”

Song Yi, standing nearby, felt somewhat at a loss watching them being so affectionate.

“Give it up. This is just how our family expresses emotions.”

Ling Yue, hugging her tablet, at least spared Song Yi a response.

Song Yi simply sat down beside her.

“Are you editing clips from our livestream?” Song Yi had heard before that Ling Yue had taken this up as a profession.

“Sort of. I’m drafting the script for tonight’s livestream.”

“Did Ling Xi ask you to find a fake partner for publicity? Have you found one yet?”

Song Yi casually glanced at the interface on Ling Yue’s tablet. She couldn’t really make sense of it.

“Not yet. I haven’t kept in touch with many people I know. Do you have any suitable beauties around you? Secondary gender doesn’t matter.”

Even now, over a month after Ling Xi and Song Yi had registered their marriage, Ling Yue still had no idea that her younger sister’s childhood friend harbored feelings for her.

And was still trying to ask her sister-in-law for matchmaking recommendations.

“There are a few. But they’re not interested in relationships.” Otherwise, they wouldn’t still be single.

Take Yun Fengzhi, for example—if asked outright, she’d refuse outright, claiming romance would slow down her slacking.

“Then I’ll just ask Ling Xi. She probably has colleagues who fit.”

After they finished one topic, Song Yi finally saw Ling Xi detach herself from her mother’s embrace.

Ling Xi glanced at her mother and sister.

“You’ve really grown up.” Ling Yue’s expression was complicated as she stood up and pulled Qi Zhen away.

Only then did Ling Xi feel comfortable throwing herself into Song Yi’s arms.

“Sis, why did you tell Mom about the reincarnation?” Ling Xi wasn’t blaming Song Yi.

“Ah… I forgot to mention it on the way. Didn’t you say they all had this obsession with protecting you? So I told her—otherwise, your mom wouldn’t have agreed to come with me. When dealing with the Mu family, avoidance won’t work.” Song Yi felt a little guilty when questioned.

Fortunately, Ling Xi’s tone remained unchanged. “Yeah… It should be resolved soon, right? Mom probably has more information.”

“Mhm. Before Yun Fengzhi makes her move, your mom will have to stay with us for a while.”

“That’s even better. Sis… Even though you said not to. I still want to say—thank you.” Ling Xi didn’t dare imagine what would have happened if she hadn’t met Song Yi.

“It was nothing. You’re still young and don’t have many connections. The fact that you managed to find Yun Danhui and the others to save your sister was already impressive. I have influence and ability—if I can help, of course I will.”

Song Yi seemed to see through Ling Xi’s worries and gently smoothed her hair.

As the two of them grew increasingly clingy, Ling Yue, standing guard nearby, cleared her throat pointedly.

Ling Xi looked up at her.

“Not eating?” Her silly sister.

Their mom clearly wasn’t too fond of Song Yi, yet Ling Xi clung to her the moment they got home.

Couldn’t she see Qi Zhen’s veins were about to pop?

“We’ll eat. Ahem. Mom, we’re ready. Let’s go eat.” Only then did Ling Xi reluctantly pull away from Song Yi’s embrace.

At the dinner table, Ling Yue shot Song Yi countless meaningful looks.

Song Yi completely missed the hints and focused solely on taking care of Ling Xi.

After the meal, Qi Zhen finally couldn’t take it anymore and took Ling Xi down to the garden.

Song Yi couldn’t follow, so she returned to sit beside Ling Yue.

“You’re really something.” Ling Yue clicked her tongue in amazement.

“What’s wrong?” Song Yi sulked.

“You’re being silly. My mom doesn’t treat you well. She treasures our Xiaoxi so much—how could she tolerate someone unfamiliar like you getting so close to her?”

Ling Yue shook her head repeatedly. “Just wait and see. My mom might be badmouthing you to Xiaoxi right now.”

“…I’ll be more careful next time.” Song Yi was also experiencing her first relationship.

She thought that to reassure Ling Xi’s parents, she had to go all out in treating Ling Xi well.

She never expected it would instead anger Qi Zhen.

“Are you experienced in relationships?” Song Yi tried to seek advice from Ling Yue.

Ling Yue rolled her eyes. “Does Xiaoxi seem like she is?”

Song Yi thought about Ling Xi’s oblivious, wooden demeanor when it came to love and gave a slight shake of her head.

“But she’s sincere.” In every way, she was willing to learn and improve.

After that initial bold move and the conflict where she pretended to be drunk, the two of them hadn’t had any more arguments—as if they had already passed the adjustment period.

“I’m not asking you to flaunt your love life. I’m just saying, I’m a lot like her—just lazier, older, and not as passionate. She’s clueless about romance, and so am I.”

Ling Yue abruptly changed the subject. “But I do understand my family.”

After all, under normal circumstances, parents would feel more at ease seeing their child’s partner treat them well.

Unfortunately, Qi Zhen was an extremely overprotective mother.

The two of them hadn’t seen each other for several months.

In Qi Zhen’s eyes, Song Yi was nothing but a villain trying to tear her family apart.

“Sweetheart, be honest with me—what’s really going on between you and that Song Yi? She hasn’t used her power to pressure you, has she?”

Ling Yue was truly her mother’s daughter. Outside the room, Qi Zhen was gripping Ling Xi’s shoulders, her expression tense.

“Huh? Why would she pressure me?”

“Marriage! You barely knew each other before rushing into this. Did she really not coerce or manipulate you?”

To Qi Zhen, Ling Xi was nothing but a pure, innocent lamb who had fallen into the jaws of Song Yi—a seasoned wolf from the cutthroat world of business.

She was about to be devoured whole.

Little did she know, Ling Xi was actually the insatiable wolf—just one that had been thoroughly tamed by Song Yi, now docile as a puppy.

“She did tempt me,” Ling Xi mused after some thought.

“But not in a way that forced me into anything. She just laid out the benefits. At the time, she framed it as a marriage of convenience we’d each do our own thing. She’d provide the money, and I’d help her deal with the pressure to marry.”

“It’s just that,  I ended up falling for her.”

Ling Xi reached back to pat Qi Zhen’s shoulder.

“Mom, don’t worry so much. If Song Yi really wanted to harm me, she’s had plenty of chances. She would’ve done it by now.”

“Besides, I can tell she genuinely likes me, genuinely treats me well. For me, she’s willing to do all sorts of troublesome things. Not everyone is like Mu Xie.”

Hearing Mu Xie’s name only made Qi Zhen bristle further.

“If I’d known that girl would treat you so horribly, I should’ve slapped her a few times when she was little—made sure she never dared get close to you.”

Qi Zhen fumed, grumbling alongside Ling Xi for a while before continuing to caution her.

“But Xi-bao, don’t you think Song Yi’s behavior resembles Mu Xie’s in some ways?”

“How? Mu Xie gave me gifts, and when I refused them, she started having people corner me, shoving love letters onto my desk. Eventually, she dragged my friends—and even you—into it…” Ling Xi shook her head vehemently.

“It’s different, completely different. Song Yi gave me a choice. I had feelings for her back then too. Otherwise, I could have earned Mommy’s medical expenses myself, and had a place to stay provided by friends. I could have refused to sign.”

“I know. There were hidden circumstances. It was a man-made accident, wasn’t it?”

Ling Xi had heard from Song Yi that she’d investigated the passenger information from the same flight as Ling Jingqiu.

“Yes. And more than that,  She was actually saved by the doctors at first.” Qi Zhen remained silent for a long moment before continuing.

“I discovered Song Lian had visited the hospital. That’s why, I let her fall into that deep sleep.”

Ling Xi was confused. “Are you saying Mommy wasn’t actually sick?”

“You all kept her lying there just to hide from Song Lian and the others?”

Qi Zhen nodded with difficulty.

Ling Xi felt an uncomfortable weight settle in her chest. “Mom, this is just… How could you keep everything from me? Why is it that in a family with two children, only I’m left completely in the dark?”

She didn’t even want to mention their habit of just hiding from the Tiancan Organization.

She’d inherited this from Qi Zhen and Ling Jingqiu—when she first met Mu Xie, her instinct had been to run away too.

But keeping Ling Jingqiu bedridden for so long, and Qi Zhen voluntarily going to prison… No matter how she thought about it, Ling Xi found it hard to accept.

Qi Zhen looked at Ling Xi with an indescribably complex expression.

Ling Xi wouldn’t get any answers from her.

Furious, she stood up to return to the house.

As she turned, she heard an extremely soft “I’m sorry.”

Ling Xi paused mid-step, but ultimately continued into the villa.

“How did the scolding go?” Ling Yue asked, only then noticing her sister storming into the room angrily.

She’d even dragged Song Yi away, who had been watching Ling Yue write her script nearby.

Ling Yue scratched her cheek. It was rare to see Xiao Xi this angry.

What had Mom said? Did she give Song Yi a harsh reprimand?

Puzzled, Ling Yue went to the garden to find Qi Zhen.

After bringing Song Yi into the room, Ling Xi locked the door and immediately began biting Song Yi’s lip pearl without restraint.