Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 51

Mu Xie trembled as she gazed at the nearly tangible Ling Xi, moved like a devout believer finally beholding the deity she had worshiped her entire life.

And her deity, Ling Xi merely raised a hand.

“Stop. Stand over there.” Ling Xi pointed to a spot.

Though confused, Mu Xie complied.

“Too close. Move farther back.” Too lazy to move herself, Ling Xi made Mu Xie retreat instead.

Mu Xie stood her ground, unwilling to go any farther.

They were already two meters apart any more, and she wouldn’t be able to see Ling Xi’s face clearly.

Ling Xi shot her a glance.

“If you don’t move, I will.” She made as if to stand.

Only then did Mu Xie hastily step back.

In the tangled history between them, Mu Xie had always been the one holding the upper hand.

Qi Zhen finally believed that Song Yi had no connection to the Tiancan Organization.

“I have a few friends in the police force. In a couple of days, you might need to meet them.”

Qi Zhen agreed.

At the same time, she pondered the issue of Ling Xi’s suppressants for her pheromone level.

She remembered Ling Jingqiu had assigned a young girl to keep an eye on Ling Xi.

Had it failed? Had the girl slacked off, or had Song Yi effortlessly won her over?

Qi Zhen didn’t have the girl’s contact information.

But in any case, what was done was done between Ling Xi and Song Yi. At this stage, Song Yi seemed decent enough, willing to go to such lengths for Ling Xi.

For now, Qi Zhen abandoned her plan to drive them apart. She could see why Ling Yue had spoken up for Song Yi.

Owing someone a favor, no matter how much you disliked them, you couldn’t just openly show hostility, could you?

At noon, Song Yi went to pick up Ling Xi.

Ling Xi was practically buzzing with excitement, her joy palpable.

“How did you pull this off? Why didn’t you tell me?”

She clung to Song Yi, as if demanding they share in the happiness together.

“It was a last-minute decision. There’s still some paperwork being finalized. Just keep it quiet for now. There’s a lot more to your mother’s imprisonment than meets the eye.” Song Yi pressed a finger to Ling Xi’s lips.

Ling Xi simply kissed her hand. “Fine, I won’t say a word. I already called my sister, she’s probably waiting at the door by now.”

“I’ll have Butler Zhao receive her.”

“I’m so excited.” After Song Yi finished making arrangements, Ling Xi collapsed against her, radiant.

“With this, the only thing left unresolved is Mom’s situation.”

She had held high status, wielded power and wealth.

Yet the kindness she showed Ling Xi was nothing more than scraps from her palm.

All of it was charity. A self-righteous act of control.

Now that Ling Xi was no longer bound by her, free to live her own life,

Mu Xie found herself cast into the dirt by Ling Xi’s indifference, groveling, swallowing her pride.

Just to exchange a few words with Ling Xi, Mu Xie could endure being ordered around and obey without complaint.

“What are you thinking? In my past life, I didn’t even know your pheromone level. Whether you were Tiancan or S-rank, I wouldn’t have liked you.”

Ling Xi truly didn’t understand Mu Xie’s logic.

Then again, how could someone who equated imprisonment with affection possibly think like a normal person?

“What about her, then? You like Song Yi, does it have nothing to do with her being S-rank?”

Ling Xi gave Mu Xie a strange look. “No? She could be a beta, an alpha, B-rank, or Tiancan. It wouldn’t matter.”

“I don’t like you. Your rank means nothing to me. I simply never liked you from the beginning. I remember rejecting your confession.”

“I originally thought we could be friends. But you used underhanded methods forcing me to cut ties with friends, leveraging your family’s influence to take my family away, insisting I be with you… Mu Xie, there was never any possibility between us from the start, especially not with your despicable tactics.”

Mu Xie fell silent, as if struck by a heavy blow.

Or perhaps it was only now that she finally understood why she had lost Ling Xi.

It was never about the glands.

The silence stretched on as Ling Xi finished her pastries.

Back then, Mu Xunzhi had told her this would be their most prized experimental subject. She was to keep an eye on Ling Xi’s family.

Setting aside the Wei family’s connection with Ling Jingqiu and Mu Xunzhi…

Song Lian had initially approached Ling Jingqiu solely because of her twin daughters.

Because of Mu Xunzhi’s prediction.

Both Ling Yue and Ling Xi would develop into S-rank alphas.

S-ranks were rare enough but a genetically similar sister pair? Priceless research material that needed close observation.

During her later friendship with Qi Zhen, Song Lian had seen Ling Xi a few times.

Always from a distance, never formally introduced.

Who knew the world could be so small? After all these years, she’d encounter Ling Xi again.

Now as her sister-in-law.

And once, nearly her daughter-in-law.

Truly, the allure of an S-rank alpha was undeniable.

Even suppressed, they attracted attention wherever they went.

“You’re no different,” Song Yi remarked meaningfully, glancing behind Song Lian.

Song Lian narrowed her eyes. Their recent encounters at the Song household had shown her just how formidable her younger sister was.

But how far Song Yi had progressed remained unknown.

Not that it mattered. Everything was proceeding according to Mu Xunzhi’s plans without complication.

Watching Ling Xi’s cheeks puff like a squirrel’s as she ate, Mu Xie felt her heart being shredded, bleeding endlessly.

Someone so adorable. And she’d lost her forever.

Probably for all eternity.

Perhaps heaven hadn’t intended her rebirth to change anything.

She was merely incidental to Ling Xi’s journey of rebirth.

Always like this. She was always the one who mattered least.

Whether in the Song family or in her mothers’ eyes.

Mu Xie stared blankly as Ling Xi stealthily produced a container to sneak more pastries from the banquet.

Who they were for went without saying.

“Ling Xi… Ling Xi. I regret it so much. Truly. Maybe I shouldn’t have—”

Mu Xie’s words died when she met Ling Xi’s suddenly gleaming eyes.

Ling Xi averted her gaze, pretending to select pastries for Song Yi.

The last thing she wanted to hear was Mu Xie’s regrets.

Even if today’s encounter was deliberately arranged to lure Mu Xie out later.

Enduring Mu Xie’s hollow, useless apologies was nearly unbearable.

The light in Mu Xie’s eyes dimmed. She understood Ling Xi didn’t want to listen.

“But I truly loved you,” Mu Xie whispered, repeating the same feeble words she’d said countless times in their previous life.

“I have many who love me. My friends, my sister, my mothers. And my wife.” Thinking of Song Yi, Ling Xi’s eyes curved happily.

This scene hurt Mu Xie more than all the previous wounds combined.

“The last thing I need is your love.”

Ling Xi thought she had been patient enough, making herself perfectly clear.

Suppressing her sobs, Mu Xie removed the hair bow from her head.

“Ling Xi… the bow you left me before is broken… Could you… could you give me another one?”

Ling Xi looked at the dirt-stained bow in Mu Xie’s hand without a flicker of emotion.

“So even you know broken things can’t be fixed.”

The words struck Mu Xie like a physical blow, sending her collapsing to the ground.

“My sweet, how did you wander here? I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”

A voice both elegant and sweet rang out, instantly lighting up Ling Xi’s previously lifeless eyes.

Before Mu Xie could react, Ling Xi had already turned and run toward the voice.

“Sister~” Her tone now brimmed with unmistakable vitality.

For the first time, Mu Xie understood how much heartbreak could truly hurt.

Clenching through the physical and emotional agony, she staggered to her feet.

She fell three times just taking one step.

Song Yi, whose face was usually as cold as winter frost, now smiled upon seeing Ling Xi. She took Ling Xi’s hand with her beaded wrist, then wrapped an arm around her waist.

The Buddhist prayer beads symbolizing abstinence now draped loosely against Ling Xi’s slender waist, resting against the curve of her back.

The two stood intertwined like inseparable twin lotus flowers, completely ignoring Mu Xie lying on the ground.

She might as well have been a handful of dust trampled underfoot, unnoticed by anyone.

The pain of eternal loss pierced her heart.

Mu Xie didn’t even notice when Song Lian arrived.

Pulled up by Song Lian, she numbly turned to search for Ling Xi’s figure.

But Ling Xi had long vanished from her sight. From her world.

Mu Xie stared at the empty space where they’d stood.

Now filled with guests enjoying desserts. The person she sought was nowhere to be found.

After three seconds of stunned silence, Mu Xie suddenly lunged forward.

Even Song Lian couldn’t stop her.

Pushing through the crowd, Mu Xie fell to her knees, gathering the shattered remnants of the trampled hair bow.

It couldn’t be restored… Just as broken bows could never be whole again.

Just as Ling Xi would never return.

It wasn’t about pheromones. Not about glands.

Ling Xi simply didn’t love her as a person.

As Mu Xie teetered on the edge of collapse, Song Lian caught up, ready to drag away this embarrassing spectacle.

When Mu Xie spotted something glinting on the seat where Ling Xi had sat.

She quickly snatched it up and hid it.

Then allowed Song Lian to pull her away from the banquet hall.

“Why was she at the banquet? I thought I was the only Song family representative here.”

After taking Ling Xi away, Song Yi encircled her in an embrace and whispered.

“Maybe she came under different credentials.” Ling Xi touched her ear when had she lost that earring?

“Did she trouble you?” Song Yi couldn’t care less about Song Lian’s schemes, only whether Ling Xi had been mistreated in her absence.

“No. She’s not that impressive just keeps repeating how regretful she is, how much she loves me.”

Ling Xi produced a freshly filled container.

“Never mind her, she can’t affect me anymore. Look sister, I brought you desserts like a good girl.”

Song Yi led Ling Xi to a second-floor lounge. Seeing the container, she immediately pulled Ling Xi into a kiss.

“My sweetheart…” Song Yi pinned Ling Xi down on the sofa, cradling her face.

“I missed you.” She couldn’t express how terrified she’d been upon seeing Ling Xi talking with Mu Xie earlier.

She trusted Ling Xi wouldn’t be involved with Mu Xie.

But she didn’t trust that Mu Xie wasn’t scheming something rotten.

The Mu family were all mad. How else could they have created the Tiancan Organization, conducting so many inhumane experiments on innocent people?

Mu Xie must have inherited her mothers’ madness. Why else would she have hurt Ling Xi in their previous life?

She feared Mu Xie might go berserk and harm Ling Xi.

Then she lowered her head, pressing that soft whiteness against Song Yi’s lips.

“I happened to see you.”

“You were walking with her, smiling like you truly adored her. You quickly held an engagement banquet too. Mu Xie insisted on being with you despite her grandmother’s objections.” Song Yi paused.

Ling Xi already guessed what came next, but waited quietly for Song Yi to continue.

“I thought you two were in love. I thought you’d completely forgotten me, abandoned me for her.” Song Yi’s smile was bitter.

How could she have known that momentary hesitation nearly made her lose Ling Xi forever?

Even endangered Ling Xi by leaving her with Mu Xie.

“But I couldn’t accept it. So I attended your engagement banquet. Heard their gossip about you, saw Mu Xie’s superficial warmth and obvious neglect toward you.” Song Yi embraced Ling Xi.

“I’d planned to investigate afterward anyway.”

The rest needed no explanation.

“So my sweetheart… I’m truly curious. Where was I in your previous life?”

Song Yi nuzzled against Ling Xi while whispering in her ear.

Drowning in sticky sweetness, Song Yi closed her eyes, waiting for Ling Xi to continue…

After the banquet, returning home, Ling Xi checked the time indeed late.

Yet she booted up her computer to finish the artwork she’d promised Song Yi.

Seeing her determination, Song Yi sat beside her companionably.

This was her first time seeing the finished piece.

“When did you draw this?” Last time she’d seen it, the sketch wasn’t even colored.

“During work breaks when things were slow. I’d sneakily work on your avatar.”

Ling Xi performed a series of technical adjustments Song Yi couldn’t comprehend.

Then the artwork transformed beyond recognition.

As if by magic, lighting and textures instantly elevated to professional grade.

“Done. I’ll add my watermark, then send you the clean version.”

Ling Xi plastered her signature watermark across the image, ran it through an anti-AI processor, then sent it out.

Song Yi had already received it and changed her profile picture.

“They’re so jealous of you,” Ling Xi remarked minutes later while browsing comments.

“They don’t realize I’m the one envying myself.” Leaning against Song Yi, now ready for bed with her beloved.

Song Yi looked up from hurriedly posting their affection online. “Hmm?”

“Envious that Ling Xi has such a wonderful wife.” Ling Xi clicked her tongue.

Why would her fans envy Song Yi anyway?

Song Yi is so wonderful having her as a wife is nothing less than what I deserve.

“Then I envy myself too,” Song Yi said, kissing Ling Xi’s forehead.

“My sweetheart… have you remembered anything recently?”

Ling Xi shook her head very honestly.

Song Yi wasn’t annoyed and went right back to showing off to Yun Fengzhi and the others.

[Look at my profile pic.]

Sure enough, Yun Fengzhi was slacking off at work again. [What profile pic?]

Then she saw Song Yi’s new avatar.

Yun Fengzhi zoomed in, staring at those familiar peach-blossom eyes. Did the artist base this on Ling Xi?

[Girl, where’d you commission this? How much? I want one too.]

Song Yi was very satisfied with Yun Fengzhi’s reaction—it gave her plenty of room to brag. [My wife drew it.]

[Just for me.] She absolutely had to add that.

Yun Fengzhi replied with a string of ellipses.

She didn’t want to deal with this woman in the honeymoon phase anymore.

She was swamped, wrapping up the final stages before the operation went into motion.

This time, Yun Fengzhi was smarter, she put her phone away immediately after sending the message.

But someone still tapped her on the back.

Yun Fengzhi whipped around. Who else could startle her like this besides Tan Nijun?

“I’ve been watching you for three minutes, Officer Yun. Are your instincts slipping?”

Yun Fengzhi rolled her eyes discreetly. “It’s because you move like a ghost, no hostility at all.”

How was she supposed to sense someone approaching without any ill intent?

Tan Nijun heard her loud and clear. “Enough playing around. Are you ready for tomorrow night’s raid?”

“Of course.” The first step in dismantling the Tiancan Organization destroy their lab.

Without the lab, no new batches of drugs could be produced.

Since they had reported the drug to the regulatory bureau, mass production would require them to approach manufacturers directly.

And that’s when they’d have plenty of room to interfere.

Just as Yun Fengzhi expected Tan Nijun to criticize her further, Tan Nijun suddenly patted her shoulder.

“I know about the incident you were involved in before. But… I don’t believe it was your fault.”

Yun Fengzhi tensed instantly. “What are you trying to say?”

Tan Nijun faltered. Every time the past was brought up, Yun Fengzhi became like a wounded beast, curling in on herself as if facing a mortal enemy.

“I… I just wanted to say I believe in you.” Tan Nijun withdrew her hand and took a step back, leaving Yun Fengzhi’s personal space.

“And I’ll have your back.”

Hearing that, Yun Fengzhi’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.

“…Thank you. I understand.”

Someone had once said the same words to her.

But that person was no longer here.

Because of her mistake.

After sending the message to Yun Fengzhi, Song Yi wasn’t satisfied. After some thought, she opened the chat with Wen Yuzhou—her long-lost sister—to show off.

Wen Yuzhou asked the same question.

Song Yi repeated the same words, then went to find Shi Xinyu.

Shi Xinyu: [I know she slacked off at work.]

Song Yi was momentarily speechless.

Shi Xinyu followed up: [It’s fine as long as she gets her work done.] Slacking off a little was no big deal—she did it too.

Song Yi silently turned off her phone, not daring to brag anymore.

A while later, Ling Xi received a message from Yun Fengzhi.

“Hmm? Sister, did you message Yun Fengzhi?” Yun Fengzhi was inquiring about a commission.

“She sent it. Is she coming now?” Song Yi leaned over to see what was happening.

“She requested a duo portrait, asking if I could paint her interacting with someone else using just photos.” Ling Xi summarized for Song Yi.

“This person…” Ling Xi clicked open the photo Yun Fengzhi had sent. The girl in the picture radiated youthful energy, her eyes seemingly reflecting Yun Fengzhi’s image.

“I have a feeling Tan Nijun doesn’t stand a chance.” It was obvious Yun Fengzhi liked the girl in the photo.

Song Yi only needed one glance to guess who Yun Fengzhi wanted in the painting.

She sighed. “Not necessarily. This person has already passed away.”

Ling Xi turned to look at Song Yi.

Song Yi patted her head. “It wasn’t long ago. Originally, Yun Fengzhi was guarding the border. She made a mistake and was transferred back to Yanjing. Tan Nijun was sent to supervise her, right? It was because she issued a wrong order that led to casualties.”

“That’s so tragic…” Ling Xi felt a pang of sadness.

“She originally joined the team to track down the Tiancan organization. Later, she volunteered for the toughest post… People in their line of work have it really hard.”

After hearing Song Yi’s words, Ling Xi decided to waive Yun Fengzhi’s fee for this commission.

Song Yi could only shake her head in resignation.

Unable to stop Ling Xi, she opened Yun Fengzhi’s chat window and sent a string of smiley faces.

[Sis, stop smiling like that, it’s scary. What’s wrong?] Yun Fengzhi, still mid-conversation with Ling Xi, immediately started wondering if she’d done anything wrong recently when bombarded by Song Yi.

[You’re taking advantage of my wife’s kindness [smile]]

Yun Fengzhi didn’t quite understand.

Until she saw Ling Xi say she wouldn’t charge her.

Heavens above… What had she done wrong now to be caught between this couple again?

Tan Nijun had been watching Yun Fengzhi from behind for a long time.

Seeing the photo Yun Fengzhi sent to Ling Xi, she also sighed inwardly.

“Hmph. Don’t you already know?” Fu Youyou showed no intention of explaining.

“Never mind. Anyway, I have all your movements and information. If I’m interested, I’ll investigate slowly.”

Song Yi didn’t expect Fu Youyou to give a proper explanation.

She’d read Fu Youyou’s files, and the only conclusion she’d drawn was that this was a purely sociopathic madman.

If Mu Xie had at least been shaped by the Song family’s oppression and his mother’s gradual influence into what he was now…

Fu Youyou came from an ordinary family with normal glands and pheromones.

By normal logic, he shouldn’t be this malicious.

Perhaps it’s true that the male heart is the most poisonous. In any case, Song Yi didn’t understand, nor did she want to.

“Your mother went through several alphas in one go. Used one and discarded another.”

Fu Youyou finally spoke as Song Yi was about to leave.

“What are you trying to say? My mother has everything she wants. Your slut-shaming won’t work on her.” Song Yi paused and glanced back.

“No… The ones discarded were all normal people. Why did she keep me? Have you ever thought about who’s really responsible for what happened to you and your sister?”

“Her! Because she’s stupid. Because she’s greedy! Because like all people in power, she has no brains, only chasing thrills. Heh… She got exactly what she wanted. In the end, only a madman like me could satisfy her tastes, right?”

Song Yi listened without showing any reaction. “Your logic, much like your actions, is truly eye-opening.”

Being the perpetrator yet blaming the victim for being foolish.

Song Yi didn’t want to hear another word from this madman.

It was all the same nonsense—how her mother shouldn’t have married him while pregnant with another man’s child, shouldn’t have considered divorce after marriage, shouldn’t have refused to give him shares…

Song Yi closed the villa door and instructed the guards stationed there: “Cut off his food, only give water. Keep him barely alive. Schedule all the tortures I previously mentioned for him at appropriate times.”

She was merely giving him a taste of his own medicine.

The guards acknowledged the orders. Song Yi got into her car and looked at the villa that had imprisoned her worst nightmare, feeling only slight ripples of emotion in her heart.

After her mother fell ill, the period when Fu Youyou disciplined her was the most miserable time of her life.

Fortunately, five years later, she was able to reunite with Ling Xi, who had once healed her, and they fell in love.

Ling Xi said that after dating Song Yi, she gradually overcame her fear of Mu Xie until she could completely regard him as a stranger.

As for Song Yi, wasn’t she also slowly realizing during her relationship with Ling Xi that the person who had oppressed her wasn’t as terrifying as she’d imagined?

They were fortunate to have found each other.

Upon returning to the company, Song Yi received news from Yun Fengzhi.

After today passed, she could let Qi Zhen return home and have them cure Ling Jingqiu’s illness.