Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 50

Mu Xie heard a high-pitched ringing in that instant.

Followed by the rapid acceleration of her heartbeat.

It took her a long moment before she could finally exhale, reclaiming the breath she had been holding.

She couldn’t wait for the meeting to end.

The meeting concluded fifteen minutes later, and Mu Xie nearly bolted out of the conference room.

Then her mother caught her by the collar.

“Really? Am I… really that different from her?”

Song Yi gripped Ling Xi’s shoulders, trembling, her tears soaking Ling Xi’s collar.

“Absolutely. You’re a thousand, no, ten thousand times better than her. You’re the best Song-jie.” With that, Ling Xi kissed Song Yi again.

“Did I bite too hard just now?” Her voice was soft, as if speaking any louder would make Song Yi flinch.

Song Yi nodded, then shook her head. “You can go harder. I don’t mind. I like it…”

“But I do. I don’t want you to hurt too much.” Ling Xi truly softened then, pressing light kisses against Song Yi’s lips.

Leaving behind a teasing, featherlight itch.

“Jie… are you really this uneasy?” Ling Xi guided Song Yi forward, stirring waves within her, leaving ripples in their wake.

“I… I am.” Song Yi had never confessed her insecurities to Ling Xi before.

Now, with her arms wrapped around Ling Xi’s neck, a tear clinging to her lashes, she slowly laid bare her vulnerability.

“I’m terrified you’ll leave me. You’ve already forgotten me once—I’m scared you’ll do it again. Our beginning was orchestrated by me. I’m afraid that once you learn the truth, you’ll despise me. Abandon me.” The fingers gripping Ling Xi’s neck trembled faintly.

“What are you doing?” The two spoke in unison.

Mu Xie pressed her lips together. There was no way she could tell Song Lian she was going to find Ling Xi.

Song Lian would never let her go.

“Going to the restroom.” Reluctantly, she fabricated an excuse.

Then she watched as Song Yi and Ling Xi, of all people, began walking toward her.

“Can you hold it for five minutes?” Song Lian refused to release Mu Xie.

Mu Xie clenched her fists, then forced herself to relax.

In Song Lian’s eyes, she wasn’t even a daughter.

Song Lian wouldn’t care if she was suffering.

“I’ll head up first. Hurry back.” Ling Xi clung to Song Yi’s arm, resting her head on Song Yi’s shoulder, completely unbothered by the presence of outsiders.

Even with Mu Xie standing right there.

Mu Xie couldn’t bring herself to look directly at their intimacy, her eyes burning.

She lowered her gaze, only stealing glances at the radiant, blissful Ling Xi from the corner of her vision.

“It’s about, the reincarnation.”

Song Yi’s fingers twitched.

Ling Xi nuzzled her cheek. “Do you want to hear it now? You seem busy.”

“That doesn’t matter. Should we talk lying down?”

“Let’s stay like this. I don’t want to move.” It wasn’t too late yet.

But Ling Xi had a feeling that after this conversation, neither of them would be sleeping.

“Alright. Go ahead.”

“I reincarnated on the day of my engagement to Mu Xie.” Ling Xi spoke slowly, her tone subdued.

“The six months she spent pursuing me—I couldn’t change that. But after reincarnating, I forced myself to play along, not letting her notice anything off, and stayed with her for a day. That night, I ran away. On the road… I met you.”

Ling Xi suddenly remembered something. “Jie. If you don’t get drunk… then that day when you met me—”

“I’ll confess.” Song Yi hugged Ling Xi tightly, surrendering immediately.

“I was acting. I wanted to owe you a favor, to create a connection between us.”

“You heard it too, just five minutes. Go upstairs and think about what to have for dinner.”

Song Yi patted Ling Xi’s head and secretly gave her a kiss.

Ling Xi nuzzled against her before happily walking away, fully embodying her sweet and naive persona for the day.

Mu Xie trembled in agony.

Beside her, the ever-so-loving mother Song Lian wore an amused expression.

“Something on your mind, little sister? Or should I say, Chairman Song?”

Song Lian wasn’t sure how much of her and Mu Xunzhi’s affairs had been exposed, but Song Yi had played her hand so brilliantly today that she couldn’t be bothered to dance around the issue.

“Call me whatever you like. Would you be interested in meeting your original family?”

Song Yi’s tone was light, as if she wasn’t here to gloat over the defeated but merely to ask a friendly question.

Song Lian scoffed. “If I were interested, I would’ve met them long ago.”

She had known her true identity before anyone else.

Not through Fu Youyou. But through Mu Xunzhi.

“She isn’t strict, exactly. But she does discipline us more. Mom is more like a close friend, almost like an older sister. Whereas Mama truly fits the role of a mother—strict when she needs to be, like not tolerating lies, wasting food, or lifting skirts in public… But otherwise, she’s really good.” Ling Xi explained her mother to Song Yi.

“She’s colder. Not much of a talker. Out of the four of us, three are chatterboxes—she’s the only one who prefers listening over speaking. Actually… it’s a bit like how you were when we first met.”

Ling Xi poked Song Yi’s cheek. “So I have a feeling you two would get along really well.”

Song Yi wasn’t so convinced.

Seeing her distress, Ling Xi wrapped her arms around Song Yi’s.

“How did my mother make things difficult for you?” Her wife had been sulking all evening.

“She wouldn’t let me hold your hand.” Song Yi finally confessed what had happened earlier.

Ling Xi thought it was a little odd, when she hugged Qi Zhen, Song Yi had still been holding her hand.

“Still, I’m upset. You were supposed to be holding my hand.” Song Yi ignored Ling Xi’s reasoning, still acting petulant.

“Then let’s hold hands now.” Ling Xi caught Song Yi’s restless fingers and intertwined them with her own.

If not for the fact that she and Mu Xunzhi shared similar experiences and the same twisted temperament,

they would never have come together, let alone had a child.

A child they didn’t raise, dull as a stump, with a heart fixated on the most damned S-rank alpha, who should’ve been their test subject but escaped. Ling Xi was just lucky. Song Lian couldn’t even bear to look at Mu Xie.

Mu Xunzhi was the last person in this world she cared about.

Even knowing Mu Xunzhi’s plans were insane, even if fulfilling them came at a terrible cost… Song Lian still wanted her to live.

Only by living could they have the chance to declare war on this hypocritical world and take revenge on everyone who had wronged them, directly or indirectly.

Not throw their lives away so willingly for the sake of a single ideal.

“Fine, don’t meet her. It’s not like she wants to return to the Song family anyway. Let’s talk about the plan you proposed earlier.” Song Yi kept Song Lian engaged in idle chatter for a long while.

Only when Song Lian’s composure finally cracked, her face darkening, did Song Yi let her go.

Back in her office, Song Yi looked thoroughly pleased.

“What took you so long?” Ling Xi had shed her playful demeanor from the meeting, her usual expression returning.

She straightened Song Yi’s collar before nestling into her embrace.

“Couldn’t resist showing off a little. You should’ve seen Song Lian’s face—priceless, honestly.”

Song Yi held Ling Xi close as they settled onto the nearby lounge sofa.

Ling Xi kissed her. “Still, you’re the brilliant one for orchestrating this move.”

Song Yi must have been laying the groundwork for a long time—everything involving Song Dongming and Fu Youyou.

As for recruiting Song Shizhen and the whole true/false heiress drama? Those were last-minute additions, almost improvisational.

“You performed wonderfully today too,” Song Yi murmured before deepening the kiss.

When they parted, Ling Xi shifted deeper into Song Yi’s arms, toying with her collar as she exhaled softly.

“What’s wrong?” Their tacit understanding had reached the point where Song Yi could read her moods instantly.”

“I think… I might’ve done something I shouldn’t have.” Ling Xi wanted to confess her thoughts.

“Too late now. Any consequences?” Song Yi didn’t suspect Mu Xie’s involvement.

“I can protect you.”

Ling Xi nuzzled her cheek. “I know you can.”

But… she intended to use herself as bait. Without facing real danger, how could they lure out Mu Xie—Heaven’s Remnant’s final trump card?

“Then do what you must. I’ll clean up any mess.”

Ling Xi smiled. If Song Yi knew the specifics, that support might vanish.

Downstairs, Mu Xie tore through the office in frantic search.

No sign of Ling Xi. She assumed Song Lian’s delays had made Ling Xi leave impatiently.

It never occurred to her that Ling Xi had never considered meeting her alone.

After ransacking the entire floor without finding a single trace, Mu Xie was near tears.

She nearly charged into Song Yi’s office—until remembering whose domain that was.

Hopeless.

Then, on Song Lian’s desk, she spotted a hair bow.

Familiar. Hadn’t Ling Xi worn this?

Mu Xie lunged for it with desperate hope.

Her hands closed on air.

“What’s this?” Song Lian held the bow up to the light.

“Who gave it to you? Worth fighting over?” She raised it beyond Mu Xie’s reach.

“Give it back!” Mu Xie’s eyes burned crimson.

How could Ling Xi leave it here? Her mother would discard it immediately.

Just as quickly, Mu Xie invented excuses: Ling Xi couldn’t have known where she’d be. This was the only safe spot.

“Ex-lover’s gift? Trying to cuckold Song Yi after their marriage?” Song Lian examined the bow with amusement.

Of all possible tokens, a hair bow. Some callback to their so-called “past life”?

Uninterested, Song Lian tossed it into the trash.

She ignored Mu Xie’s wounded cry as the girl dropped to her knees, digging through debris.

“Listen well. No more inappropriate attachments. Know your place.” Song Lian’s gaze pinned Mu Xie like a specimen.

That look reduced Mu Xie to nothingness.

When she finally retrieved the bow, its stains had stolen its beauty.

Clutching it, Mu Xie retreated in silence.

“Can’t I even have a bow?” She glared at Song Lian with reddened eyes.

“You’re right. I just don’t want you to get hurt, even a little.” Song Yi pulled herself together to check the surveillance footage while reaching out to her contacts.

“Then should I just stand by and watch you get hurt?” Ling Xi shook her head. “I worry about you too, you know. And besides, those people kidnapped my mother.”

“Mhm. Sweetheart, press this for me. You check the second half of the footage, I’ll take the first half.”

The incident must have happened after Yun Fengzhi and the others dealt with Song Lian.

Ling Xi took the device from Song Yi, holding down the refresh-like button before speeding through the footage at ten times the normal rate.

“No good, this one’s been tampered with.” A few minutes later, multiple angles of the surveillance feed on Ling Xi’s side went dark.

“There’s more.” Song Yi sent over new footage.

Ling Xi noticed she was analyzing something.

Half a minute later, Song Yi let out a relieved sigh.

On the map, Ling Xi saw that the four red dots previously marking locations in the hospital had now become five.

The fifth was rapidly moving toward the outskirts of Yanjing.

“Good job, sweetheart. No need to check the footage anymore.” Song Yi relaxed slightly.

“What is this…?”

“I sent five bodyguards in total. Their top priority is ensuring your mother’s safety. If they couldn’t manage that, they wouldn’t just stand there and get taken down—they’d leave a backup plan. So I decoded the signal they left behind.”

“That red dot must be a tracker they placed on your mother. Now all we have to do is catch up to her.”

“Tch. If all you wanted was a bow…” Song Lian didn’t even glance at her.

Mu Xie had replayed the memories of her bullying countless times.

Why did it feel like the ones tormenting her weren’t just those with pheromones?

Why did even her own kind, her own family, treat her this way?

Was her suffering really just because of this defective gland that couldn’t produce pheromones?

Mu Xie was drowning in bitterness, yet no one could give her an answer.

On her way out after work, Ling Xi passed by the first floor and glanced at Song Lian’s desk—now neatly cleared, with no one there.

She had deliberately left it there for Song Lian.

She suspected Song Lian didn’t want Mu Xie to have any further involvement with her.

If Mu Xie couldn’t get what she’d left behind, she’d grow even more desperate.

That was exactly Ling Xi’s goal.

Song Yi followed Ling Xi’s gaze.

“Sweetheart… that ‘bad thing’ you mentioned earlier—does it have something to do with Mu Xie?”

Noticing how often Ling Xi had looked at Mu Xie today, Song Yi couldn’t help but ask.

“Yeah… it does.” Ling Xi didn’t want to lie, answering bluntly.

Song Yi cupped her face. “What are you thinking? Don’t put yourself in danger, okay?”

Ling Xi covered Song Yi’s hands with her own. “Didn’t you say you’d protect me?”

“But that doesn’t mean letting you—Xiao Xi, what are you planning?” Song Yi grew anxious.

Once in the car, she gripped Ling Xi’s collar, her expression restless.

“I haven’t decided whether to tell you yet.” Ling Xi answered honestly.

Her fingers curled around Song Yi’s shoulders. “Jiejie, I want to do something too… I want to settle this trouble with Mu Xie as soon as possible.”

“I know, I do too—but sweetheart, I can’t just watch you take risks, watch you put yourself in harm’s way.” Song Yi still refused to agree.

“Xiao Xi, stop thinking about this. If Mu Xie really takes over the Tiancan Organization and appears in public, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to apprehend her.”

“Besides, she hasn’t committed any crimes at this stage. Even that incident of using pheromones in public was handled by Song Lian and classified as an accident caused by her own heat cycle. Even if you meet her alone now, there’s no way to arrest her.”

Song Yi tried to persuade Ling Xi from multiple angles. “Xiao Xi… my dear, look at me.”

Ling Xi saw the tear stains on Song Yi’s face.

Before Song Yi could say anything more, Ling Xi sighed and hugged her.

“I won’t think about it anymore, sister. I don’t want you to worry.”

“We have an agreement, okay?” Song Yi gripped Ling Xi’s shoulders tightly.

“…Mhm. We have an agreement.” Ling Xi immediately began kissing her to mask the tremor in her voice.

“If you dare take any risks behind my back, I’ll be extremely angry.” Song Yi wasn’t fooled by Ling Xi’s tactics and pressed her for a proper acknowledgment of consequences.

“I know.” Ling Xi switched to a playful expression, nuzzling against Song Yi.

Only when Song Yi was convinced Ling Xi had truly abandoned that thought did she allow herself to be swept away, falling with Ling Xi into their paradise.

“New Year’s Eve gala, will you come with me?” At the end of December, Song Yi asked Ling Xi’s opinion while having already purchased the evening gowns.

The dresses were already hanging in the closet when Ling Xi opened it to choose today’s outfit.

“You’ve already bought the dresses. Sister-wife, do I even have the option to refuse?”

Ling Xi took out the new Chinese-style dress in moon-white layered with peacock blue. “This is for me?”

“Yes. Try it on.” With that, Song Yi began removing Ling Xi’s pajamas.

Ling Xi stood still, letting Song Yi have her way.

“I remember my dear used to be so shy, refusing to change clothes in front of me.” Song Yi pressed her chest against Ling Xi’s back.

The contact made Ling Xi slightly ticklish. Song Yi held her tightly, lips brushing against Ling Xi’s earlobe.

“And wouldn’t watch me change either.”

“That was so long ago…” As Ling Xi was stripped of her clothes, the breeze against her skin made her legs weaken, and she couldn’t help but lean into Song Yi’s embrace.

“Mmm, ancient history. Now… it’s different.”

It was just changing clothes.

Song Yi always felt like she was bullying Ling Xi.

So she let her hands wander, touching gently.

Ling Xi bit her lip in silence, waiting for Song Yi to grow tired of her game.

Song Yi would only feel satisfied—how could she ever grow tired? But she still dutifully helped Ling Xi into the dress.

The fit was perfect—measured entirely by hand.

Realizing this made Ling Xi’s ears turn red.

“Custom-made.” Song Yi added, noticing her discomfort. “One of a kind.”

“Was it expensive?” Ling Xi couldn’t help asking, admiring the exquisite embroidery and elegant design.

“Didn’t notice the price. Just thought it suited you, so I ordered it.” Song Yi told the truth.

She fastened the buttons for Ling Xi, who looked at the qipao-inspired fishtail dress and twirled before the mirror.

“Beautiful, right?” Song Yi was delighted by Ling Xi’s obedience.

“Gorgeous! Sister has such good taste.” Ling Xi couldn’t resist pulling Song Yi closer for a photo together.

“And whose taste isn’t good?” Song Yi went to retrieve another dress from the closet.

“Ling Yue and Qi Zhen have such outdated tastes. Even my mom has better style, though she rarely buys us clothes.”

Ling Xi took the dress from Song Yi, preparing to help her change.

As she worked, she continued complaining to Song Yi. “Back in school, I wore hoodies and sweatpants on weekends and uniforms during the week, it practically killed my sense of fashion.”

“What kind of clothes do you like now?” Song Yi stood still, waiting, even more obedient than Ling Xi.

But with the way her lashes fluttered, she still looked far more mischievous.

“I like a lot more now. Hey, don’t just buy things randomly. I work at a fashion company—I’ll get them for you.” Ling Xi undid the buttons at Song Yi’s chest.

“Give me the year-end project bonus, and I’ll buy you clothes.”

Song Yi didn’t refuse.

Ling Xi wasn’t holding her while changing her clothes—she stood properly in front of her.

But after a couple of glances, she couldn’t take it anymore.

Though times had changed, Song Yi’s charm didn’t diminish the more familiar they became.

Her neck flushed, Ling Xi squeezed her eyes shut, peeking through just a slit as she helped Song Yi change.

“Still shy, huh?” Song Yi lifted a hand, fingertips brushing Ling Xi’s collarbone.

Just like when they weren’t yet close, leaving a mark on her heart.

Ling Xi shivered slightly. “Sis… after trying on the dress, can we…?”

“Of course.” Song Yi didn’t dare admit she hadn’t been thinking the same thing.

But since Ling Xi brought it up, she decided not to tease her with kisses and touches just yet.

Once dressed, Song Yi waited as Ling Xi stared for a few seconds before burying her face in her chest. “I really like you…”

“Me too. Didn’t you want to take pictures?” The warmth and softness in her arms made it hard to let go.

But Song Yi also wanted photos to remember this moment.

Ling Xi grabbed her phone, snapping one shot before getting carried away.

After posing in front of the mirror, she dragged Song Yi to the balcony.

If not for Song Yi’s urgent matters, Ling Xi would’ve taken her downstairs for more.

Finally, Song Yi stripped them both and pulled Ling Xi into the bathtub.

Ling Xi kissed the tip of her ear. “Are we entering together later?”

Song Yi wrapped her arms around Ling Xi’s neck, trembling slightly, her breath hot against her skin.

“Yeah… not like celebrities on a red carpet, but once inside, a lot of people will come flattering me.”

“They’ll probably, mm, try to talk to you too. Don’t believe a word they say.”

“What should I do? Just follow your lead? It’s my first time at this kind of event.”

Ling Xi misbehaved, deliberately asking questions while Song Yi was vulnerable.

“Eat the desserts… save some for me…” Song Yi was nearly in tears.

Ling Xi kept tormenting her. “How much? How should I give them to you?”

“You’re so mean… we’ll, mm, talk later…” Song Yi bit Ling Xi’s neck, refusing to say another word no matter how much she pestered.

“It’s just a few sounds. Why so shy now?” Ling Xi was delighted, licking Song Yi’s ear and kissing her fluttering lashes.

Her wife was adorable everywhere she couldn’t resist kissing her.

“I just don’t have the strength to answer you.” Song Yi pressed closer, avoiding her gaze.

“I was just curious.” Ling Xi would never admit she did it on purpose.

Song Yi saw right through her. Ever since she’d taught her a few times, Ling Xi had grown bolder.

Though this was what she wanted, the process still made her feel shy.

“So, sister, will there be a dancing segment?” After it was over, Ling Xi hugged Song Yi and continued with her questions.

“There should be. I never attended before. Those kinds of dances are meant for single young ladies and gentlemen to socialize.”

“That’s good. I don’t know how.” Ling Xi was afraid of stepping on Song Yi’s feet.

“It’s okay. If you want to dance, it’s fine even if you make mistakes. If you don’t want to, no one can force you.” Song Yi stroked Ling Xi’s hair comfortingly.

On the day of the banquet, Song Yi even hired a makeup artist to style both of them.

While waiting for their hair to be done, Ling Xi grew bored and opened a game, playing online with Song Yi.

Later, when Song Yi got busy with work, Ling Xi took the time to retouch the photos they had taken while trying on outfits the day before.

After some thought, she posted them on her livestreaming platform—though only the silhouettes of the two of them were visible.

She and Song Yi had been livestreaming whenever they had free time lately.

Most of the time, Ling Xi would paint while chatting with Song Yi.

Occasionally, she would also livestream baking, cooking, or playing games with Song Yi in co-op mode…

She had already cultivated a group of devoted shippers who tuned in religiously.

This time, within just two minutes of posting the photos, the comments had already surpassed a hundred.

Ling Xi skimmed through them most were just fans spamming exaggerated, fangirl-style reactions.

She secretly hoped they would write more fanfiction preferably the steamy kind.

“So formal. Going to a New Year’s Eve banquet?” Qi Zhen glanced at the two younger women, still unaccustomed to seeing her own daughter dressed up like this.

“Yeah. Mom, stay home and relax. If you get bored, go bother Ling Yue.”

Ling Xi waved at Qi Zhen, not giving her a second longer—no chance for photos.

Qi Zhen had no choice but to snap a quick shot of their retreating backs.

When Ling Jingqiu woke up, she would have so much to tell her—she couldn’t do it without photo evidence.

Upon arriving at the venue, Ling Xi was stunned by the sheer scale of it.

The place looked like an actual palace, its dazzling lights visible from afar. As they drew closer, the hum of lively chatter grew louder.

“I’m a little nervous…” The banquets Mu Xie had taken her to in her past life were nowhere near this grand.

Plus, with Mu Xie keeping her under tight surveillance the entire time, Ling Xi had barely any impression of those events—only that she had spent every moment plotting her escape.

This was the first banquet she could attend freely, and as Song Yi’s wife, no less.

“Don’t worry. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take responsibility.” Song Yi gently ran her fingers through Ling Xi’s hair.

Ling Xi stepped out of the car first and, recalling proper etiquette, extended her hand toward Song Yi.

Song Yi placed her hand in Ling Xi’s and was gracefully helped out of the car.

Then, arm in arm, they walked toward the banquet hall.

Ling Xi could feel the weight of the surrounding gazes, her nerves creeping in.

The only difference from celebrities walking the red carpet was the absence of camera-wielding reporters.

Once inside, just as Song Yi had predicted, a crowd of people swarmed toward them.

Most greeted Song Yi, while a few, realizing they had no chance of getting her attention, turned their focus to Ling Xi.

“Madam Song is so young,” remarked someone dressed like a nouveau riche, trying to strike up a conversation.

Song Yi, despite being occupied, still found time to correct them. “Her name is Ling Xi.”

Her sweetheart had her own name—she wouldn’t just be reduced to “Madam Song.”

“Oh, right! Miss Ling, hello, hello! I’m—”

Ling Xi smiled mechanically, engaging in small talk.

But inside, her heart swelled with warmth.

When people had called her “Madam Mu,” Mu Xie had only been pleased, never caring whether Ling Xi liked it or not.

But Song Yi knew Ling Xi hated being repeatedly referred to as “Madam Song.”

It felt like having her identity erased.

How could Song Yi and Mu Xie even compare? Song Yi truly loved her—that’s why she noticed even the smallest details.

Having barely shaken off one crowd, another came along.

Song Yi looked at Ling Xi, unwilling to drag her down. “I’ve left Shen Feique with you. Find a place to rest, grab something to eat, and don’t follow me. There are still plenty of people I need to socialize with.”

Ling Xi couldn’t argue with her. “I’ll rest for a few minutes and then come find you.”

“I’ll save some pastries for you,” Ling Xi whispered to Song Yi.

Song Yi smiled. “That’s all I needed to hear. I’m off now, sweetheart.”

Ling Xi wandered aimlessly around the venue.

Away from Song Yi, the unwanted attention instantly vanished.

She did her best to minimize her presence, avoiding small talk to prevent any mishaps.

But no matter how much she dodged, one person refused to be ignored.

Ling Xi looked up to find someone standing less than a meter away from her.

“Ling Xi…” Finally, I see you again.