Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 53

What was called a speech turned out to be a real-name exposé.

She was exposing her two mothers and the atrocities they had committed using the Tiancan Organization.

Mu Xie harbored deep hatred for these two women who had only given birth but never raised her, so she was more than willing to play the role of the “mole.”

Even though she knew everything she did was within the plans of Song Lian and Mu Xunzhi.

Mu Xie had given up trying to forge a path outside of what they dictated.

After all, she had never had a choice.

Under Song Lian’s watchful gaze, Mu Xie couldn’t chase after Ling Xi to harass her or test her own feelings at that moment.

However, Ling Xi turned her head before stepping into the elevator.

She gave Mu Xie a look.

Mu Xie’s eyes slowly widened.

She was burning with the urge to ask Ling Xi what that look meant.

If… if Ling Xi had finally realized Song Yi was no good and was willing to return to her side…

Then she could even let go of the Tiancan Organization and leave with Ling Xi.

“What are you looking at? Spying on their happiness?” Song Lian’s hand rested on Mu Xie’s shoulder.

“Did you see how your former lover’s hand was resting on Song Yi’s waist?” She leaned in, whispering into Mu Xie’s ear.

Images flashed through Mu Xie’s mind.

That hand had been resting loosely—there was nothing affectionate about it.

“Did you see Song Yi’s bitten-red ear, the mess on her neck?”

Mu Xie clenched her wrist. Those marks could very well have been self-inflicted by Song Yi.

“Since you’ve seen it, stop thinking about it. I’ve told you—she was never from your world to begin with. She’s stepped into the bright, glamorous side and chosen Song Yi, who suits her. You? Your only place is back in the shadows, back with us.”

Mu Xie trembled, wanting to cover Song Lian’s mouth, but in the end, she couldn’t lift her hand.

“Stop talking. I’ve already agreed to your terms.”

If she had her own company, her own power…

Mu Xie squeezed the earring in her pocket, its edges digging painfully into her palm.

She closed her eyes, then opened them again, speaking slowly. “I, Mu Xie, ID number… hereby submit a real-name exposé against Mu Xunzhi and Song Lian.”

By the time Song Yi caught up with Mu Xunzhi, Ling Xi had already been watching Mu Xie’s live broadcast for five minutes, holding her phone with the breaking news notification.

“Jiejie, you were right,” Ling Xi said, her emotions in turmoil.

Earlier, Song Yi had mentioned that the Tiancan Organization’s recent movements were unusually bold—likely an attempt to destabilize society through other means.

“…Now that she’s spoken, this won’t be easy to handle,” Song Yi sighed.

“Ultimately, if the drug is approved for the market, it would have had to get the green light from higher-ups. It has nothing to do with us anymore.”

“True…” Ling Xi’s emotions were tangled.

Song Yi ruffled her hair. “But Mu Xie can still be dealt with. She lacks experience—recklessly taking over a major company will leave plenty of openings. Once she slips up, she’ll pay the price she deserves.”

Just based on what Mu Xie had done to Ling Xi in their past life, Song Yi would never let her off the hook.

Ling Xi rubbed her eyes and nodded in agreement.

Their car had already forced Mu Xunzhi’s vehicle to a stop.

Mu Xunzhi opened the car door, and Song Yi’s bodyguards moved in sync, stepping out to confront her.

Mu Xunzhi told her that in eighty percent of cases, the offspring’s pheromone levels were slightly lower than the mother’s, but at most by one minor grade—for example, an A-grade superior mother might give birth to an A-grade average child.

Among the remaining twenty percent, ninety percent were slightly higher.

In other words, there was only a two percent chance her pheromone levels would be a full grade lower than Song Lan and Fu Youyou’s.

Yet she was a laughable B-grade inferior. And while Song Lan was exceptionally outstanding, even Fu Youyou was an A-grade superior alpha.

It was nearly impossible for her to be Song Lan’s biological daughter.

Once doubt took root, she quickly underwent genetic testing.

She shared a faint blood relation with Song Lan, but with Fu Youyou, they were complete strangers.

Thus, Song Lian knew—she had been switched at birth with another family’s daughter.

Even the original “Song Lian” likely had no blood ties to Fu Youyou.

That was why Fu Youyou harbored such hatred, determined to replace Song Lan’s eldest daughter.

As for the abuse later inflicted upon Song Yi, the true biological daughter… Song Lian felt nothing.

Fu Youyou was merely a tool in her hands. Now that she had been exposed, she was discarded—just another inconsequential loss. Why should she care about her thoughts?

Song Lian had no interest in blood ties either.

“So, in your family, is your mother the stricter one?” Lying in bed, Song Yi was still brooding over the ultimate boss she had to face—Ling Jingqiu.

“I’m genuinely curious. You’re just a daughter-in-law. Is it really necessary to go to such lengths?”

Seeing Song Yi surrounded, Mu Xunzhi remained unhurried, simply removing her sunglasses.

“Then you should know—my mother’s critical illness is also connected to you.”

Song Yi tried to stop Ling Xi from getting out of the car, but Ling Xi, wedged in the backseat, could only shift to the front, ready to open the door at any moment.

“Oh. What a baseless accusation. Your mother’s condition is tied to Fu Youyou—what does that have to do with us?” Mu Xunzhi even sighed.

“Me? I merely showed Fu Youyou the wonders of the serum. Who knew she’d steal two vials and commit such a cruel act. Truly… humans are despicable creatures.” With that, Mu Xunzhi chuckled, twirling a vial in her hand.

“Did you know, Song Yi? This serum can elevate a B-grade inferior’s pheromone level to A-grade superior.”

She then produced another vial, glowing fluorescent. “Long-term injections of this one can turn an A-grade average into a genuine S-grade within a year.”

Mu Xunzhi shook an orange vial. “This one can push an S-grade even further… perhaps beyond current detection limits.”

“What a shame… Ling Xi, you and your sister should have been my proudest test subjects. The first to break past S-grade should have been you. Tell me—why did your mother steal the serum from me?”

Ling Xi’s hands trembled at her words. “Wh-what do you mean? I never wanted to surpass S-grade.”

Mu Xunzhi only smiled. “Little Ling Xi. If… everyone started using serums to boost their ranks. If the authorities introduced SS, even SSS grades above S… could you resist the temptation and stay true to yourself, refusing to enhance your own level?”

“If your friends used the potion and hooked up with their dream goddess or god. If your family used it to turn their dull sex life into something fun and harmonious. If your colleagues strongly recommended this potion that saved their child from hormonal imbalance… would you regret saying these words today?”

Just from her speech, Mu Xunzhi sounded perfectly sane and lucid.

Ling Xi and Song Yi both shuddered, their hair standing on end.

Mu Xunzhi’s lips curled into her usual faint smile.

“I hope you wouldn’t. But unfortunately, when everyone follows the trend, you become the outlier.”

She suddenly scoffed. “And Song Yi, if you and Song Lian swapped hormone levels, could you guarantee you’d do better than her?”

As the police handcuffed Mu Xunzhi, Song Yi lowered her gaze, pondering the question.

“This world doesn’t revolve solely around hormones,” Song Yi concluded. Even if she were only B-grade, she wouldn’t follow Song Lian’s path.

Born into the Song family with abundant resources, what couldn’t she achieve?

She’d even considered stepping down as chairwoman because the position was too exhausting.

“My secretary is a beta. Some of my bodyguards are B-grade alphas. Standardized tests don’t consider hormones. Athletic talents correlate with hormone levels, but even without them, everyone has different strengths. Hormones matter more when choosing partners, but someone who selects solely based on that isn’t worth spending a lifetime with.”

“Your argument is fallacious. What you’re doing is unforgivable.”

As officers led Mu Xunzhi to the police van, she chuckled. “True. But there are so many fools in this world. Those who worship hormones? Just a little incitement creates them. How will you stop me?”

“Shut up,” the officer barked. Mu Xunzhi closed her eyes and shrugged.

She was going to join Song Lian.

Especially since, a week after administering the antidote, Ling Jingqiu still hadn’t woken.

“Jingqiu said it would take at least a week when we got the antidote. Relax, sweetheart,” Qi Zhen comforted Ling Xi, who often knelt by her mother’s side, while wiping Ling Jingqiu’s body.

“Mom… I don’t know what I’m afraid of. But I can’t shake this unease,” Ling Xi leaned closer to Qi Zhen.

“But there’s no possibility of anything bad happening now. All the villains are caught. Mu Xie’s whereabouts are unknown, but she can’t cause trouble alone. Song Lian and Mu Xunzhi’s trials are about to begin. You’re just too timid, prone to anxiety.” Qi Zhen patted her daughter’s head.

“Where’s your wife? Why not play with her?”

“She’s busy with Song family affairs. Wants a thorough investigation. Worried Song Lian hid drugs there.”

Ling Xi sighed. “She won’t let me come. Says it’s too dangerous.”

“She’s being considerate.” Qi Zhen was quite satisfied with her daughter-in-law.

“But I want to help.” Ling Xi couldn’t pinpoint why she felt so unsettled.

Perhaps because Song Yi always protected her, leaving her somewhat forlorn.

“Sweetheart, everyone has limits. You’re talented in design and art—it’s normal to lag behind Song Yi in other areas.” Qi Zhen patted her sensitive youngest daughter.

“Moreover, Song Yi is an extraordinary person who’s been groomed as an heir since childhood. You’re just an ordinary family’s youngest daughter—it’s already impressive that you’ve reached this level.”

“If you really want to help…” Qi Zhen crooked her finger.

Ling Xi leaned her ear closer.

“Usually when you two… do it, are you on top?”

Ling Xi’s ears turned red. “No, Mom!”

“Don’t be shy. Your mother has more experience in these matters, doesn’t she?”

“But that’s not…” Before Ling Xi could finish, she saw Qi Zhen pull out a stack of small comic books.

Ling Xi was speechless.

“If you want to help, there are plenty of ways to contribute. Don’t obsess over work. Emotional support is also a crucial part of a relationship. If you can excel at that, you’re already doing more than enough.”

Qi Zhen winked at Ling Xi. “I understand how you feel. Jingqiu is also quite remarkable. When we first started dating, it took me a long time to adjust my mindset too.”

Ling Xi took the resources Qi Zhen gave her and returned to her room.

Once inside, she finally understood what had been unsettling her.

She was afraid everything felt too much like a dream.

The enemy she’d struggled against for so long had suddenly surrendered.

Mu Xie, who had harassed her endlessly, had vanished without a trace.

Her days with Song Yi grew sweeter by the day.

Her friends who were preparing for grad school got accepted, those job-hunting found their dream positions, and those already employed received promotions and raises.

Even the family that had been her greatest worry in her past life now only had Ling Jingqiu still bedridden.

Ling Xi blinked, and the sense of unreality faded again.

Pressing a hand to her still-racing heart, she decided to distract herself with some study materials.

After reading them, Ling Xi was flushed and thoroughly missed Song Yi, who was still at work.

She sent Song Yi a message, but she was probably busy and didn’t reply immediately.

Ling Xi glanced at the calendar—Saturday—and tossed restlessly on the bed for a while.

Finally, she got up to find a hiding spot for the study materials Qi Zhen had given her.

“Huh, what’s this?” As she rummaged through the storage cabinet, she spotted an unfamiliar disc lying in the corner.

Song Yi hadn’t mentioned it to her.

They’d been listening to music together recently. Why would she hide a disc from her?

Ling Xi pulled out the disc, which was covered in dust.

It turned out to be an old disc.

She wasn’t even sure if it would still play.

After wiping it clean, she inserted it into her computer.

Headphones on, her curiosity was more than piqued.

Then the music’s intro began to play.

“Oh, right. Miss Song arrived just in time. A few minutes later, and you would’ve been left with permanent damage. She cares so much about you—are you two related?”

After asking, the doctor patted his own cheek.

“Never mind, forget I asked. Rest well. Once you can eat in a couple of days, we’ll start rehabilitation.”

The doctor had immediately ruled out the possibility of them being lovers.

After all, if they truly were, how could Song Yi have let Ling Xi be imprisoned for three whole years?

Ling Xi didn’t feel like talking anyway and spent the afternoon watching cartoons.

When the nurse came in to turn off the TV, Ling Xi was still engrossed, reluctant for it to end.

“You’re finally awake,” the nurse chatted while tidying the room. “Did you know someone comes to see you almost every day?”

When Ling Xi didn’t respond, the nurse continued cheerfully, “For her to keep it up this long, she must really love you, huh?”

Ling Xi pressed a hand to her chest.

The heart inside was warm.

“Yeah.” Even in this timeline, Song Yi must have loved her deeply.

Ling Xi sat down dazedly, blinking as tears rolled down her cheeks.

This was…

The CD she had once given to Song Yi.

Images flashed before Ling Xi’s eyes.

Pulled by an invisible force, she slid from one end of the river of time to the other.

Landing in the summer when she was seventeen.

Returning to the moment she first met Song Yi.

She saw her past self catching Song Yi as she fell from above.

Heard Song Yi timidly introduce herself as “Ripples,” prompting Ling Xi to call her “Sister Lianlian.”

Watched how they secretly met every day that summer.

Saw herself emptying all the coins from her piggy bank just to treat the pitiful-looking Song Yi to a meal.

Ling Xi also witnessed her piggy bank incident being exposed, forcing her to tell her mother about Song Yi—which miraculously earned her several hundred yuan more in allowance.

She saw herself researching how to treat wounds and scars, then carefully following online tutorials to heal Song Yi’s battered body.

They sat under the shade of a tree, Ling Xi sharing one earbud with Song Yi as they listened to songs from this very CD.

She hummed the nursery rhyme Qi Zhen used to sing, lulling Song Yi—who couldn’t sleep well at home—into slumber.

Finally, Ling Xi remembered saying that summer vacation was ending.

Their two-month connection might stop right here.

So Song Yi mustered her courage, hugged her, and kissed her cheek.

Ling Xi still remembered how tender that kiss was. And how bold—the greatest courage someone as frail as the “beggar girl” she’d nicknamed could offer.

“If you’re free next summer, remember to come find me here.”

Neither of them had personal communication devices back then, leaving only a fragile, glass-like promise between them.

A promise that ultimately scattered with the wind.

After Ling Xi received the pheromone suppressants, she forgot everything about Song Yi.

All because she’d once developed feelings for the person who accompanied her through that entire summer.

Remembering everything now, Ling Xi wiped her eyes.

But tears kept flowing uncontrollably.

Drip. Drip.

Until they formed a spring.

Ling Xi sobbed, then covered her face.

How could she… have forgotten the first person she ever loved?

No wonder Song Yi loved her so much…

They were supposed to be mutually in love.

She should have gone to fulfill their promise during the summer when she turned eighteen.

With her newly bought phone after the college entrance exams and the red envelopes she’d received, she should have spent the whole summer happily with Song Yi.

Then started dating, been together for four years, met each other’s parents, and gotten married at twenty-two.

Yet she couldn’t blame her family for wanting to protect her by administering the suppressants either.

Even though, fortunately, she and Song Yi ended up together regardless.

But Ling Xi couldn’t help wondering—

How disappointed must Song Yi have been that year when she didn’t show up?

How sad and lonely must Song Yi have felt during all those days Ling Xi forgot her?

Unable to resist, Ling Xi called Song Yi.

Song Yi didn’t answer.

Hanging up, she slumped down, curling into a small ball on the floor as she silently wept for the five years they’d missed.

…

Ling Xi must have cried herself to sleep.

When she opened her eyes and looked up to see Song Yi’s face, tears came again.

“What’s wrong, little sweetheart?” Song Yi stopped what she was doing and picked her up upon seeing her awake.

Ling Xi realized Song Yi was imitating her past self—using her lap as a pillow to comfort her.

“Sister…” Ling Xi clung to Song Yi’s shoulders.

“Sister, sister… I love you. I love you so much.”

She babbled incoherently while showering Song Yi with messy kisses.

“Missed me so much you cried?” Song Yi nearly laughed.

She held Ling Xi tightly, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught the record placed on the corner of the table.

“Sweetheart, you…” Song Yi’s heart clenched violently.

The sharp pain cleared her mind, forcing her to tense up.

“Sister. I remembered.” Ling Xi wished she could merge with Song Yi right then and there. “I remembered… our past.”

Song Yi’s hands trembled uncontrollably. “Really… you really remembered?”

“Mhm.” Ling Xi cupped Song Yi’s face, ignoring her own tear-streaked cheeks, and kissed Song Yi’s face.

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t keep our promise.” She pushed Song Yi down.

Song Yi’s heart trembled again.

Even though she had already come to terms with it.

Even though she knew Ling Xi hadn’t forgotten or broken their promise on purpose.

Hearing her apologize still made Song Yi want to cry.

“Sister. I’m sorry, so sorry…” Ling Xi kissed Song Yi’s lips again. “I made you wait so long.”

Tears streamed down Song Yi’s face in sync with hers.

“It’s okay… I know you were injected with drugs. It’s because… because you loved me that those memories faded like that.” Song Yi’s voice wavered.

“But… sister, you must have suffered so much. The days I couldn’t remember you… you must have been so lonely, right?”

Ling Xi’s heart ached. “Thank you for not giving up on loving me.”

How could Song Yi tell her that she had given up?

But love is as tenacious as wild grass.

Even if reason burns it to ashes, it will grow back wildly the moment they meet again.

“I…”

Before Song Yi could say more, Ling Xi domineeringly sealed her lips.

“Are you free?” After the kiss, Ling Xi still had the presence of mind to ask.

Song Yi nodded weakly.

At this point, free or not, she had to be free.

Ling Xi put everything she’d learned from that little manga into practice.

From afternoon until nearly dawn.

Song Yi was already begging tearfully, but Ling Xi still wasn’t satisfied.

Only when Song Yi flipped her over and kissed her back did Ling Xi finally calm down somewhat.

“Sister.” After cleaning up, Ling Xi nestled obediently beside Song Yi, holding her close.

“I… want to tell you my side of the story.” Song Yi stroked Ling Xi’s hair.

The last knot between her and Ling Xi was finally untied.

Through this near-madness, they vented the pain of those five years apart.

“Okay.”

“I was tortured into that state by Fu Youyou. But it was only for that one year. Thanks to you, I managed to recover from the blow of my mother’s illness and escape Fu Youyou’s clutches.”

“The second year, I wasn’t so wretched anymore, and I’d regained the weight I’d lost. I thought… if you showed up and didn’t recognize me, I’d give you a scare.”

“But I didn’t come,” Ling Xi whispered in reply.

Song Yi offered a bitter smile. “No. You didn’t.”

“I didn’t know what happened to you. But I hadn’t become chairman yet—I didn’t have the connections to look for you. So I gave up too.”

Song Yi omitted the part about how, that summer, she waited under their tree every day for hours.

“That was the same year, wasn’t it? I did see you around that area. I wanted to approach you, but there were others with you. You even saw me, yet… didn’t even say hello.”

Song Yi didn’t want to make Lingxi sound so terrible, so she omitted many details. Including her own thoughts at that time.

Lingxi filled in the blanks himself, his heart aching so much it twisted.

“I even sent someone… well, to ask you. That question. You didn’t seem to remember at all.” Song Yi let out a small laugh.

“I thought I’d mistaken you for someone else.”

“Later when you went to college, I tried to find you but couldn’t. I had just taken over as chairman of the family business and was swamped with work.” Song Yi tightened her grip on Ling Xi’s hand, her voice soft as clouds.

“So… I gave up then. I sealed away those memories, as if they’d never happened.”

Ling Xi squeezed back firmly.

Song Yi took a deep breath, her entire being trembling slightly.

“Much later, I learned that Mu Jie, my niece, had recently fallen in love and had a huge argument with grandmother.”

“Grandmother wasn’t satisfied with her partner being only B-rank, ordinary and unremarkable, unworthy of Mu Jie.”

Ling Xi kissed Song Yi again. “Perhaps there’s someone who knows.”

“It’s alright, sister. I know you loved me. Even in our past lives. That’s enough for me.”

After the kiss, Song Yi still stopped Ling Xi from going further. She really wasn’t up for it today.

“You seem like you’ve taken some kind of technique improvement class today,” Song Yi “complained” to Ling Xi.

“Thanks for the compliment.” Ling Xi laughed playfully, leaning into Song Yi.

Song Yi held her close. “So my dear, I’m also very grateful that you reached out to help me during my lowest point.”

“I didn’t really do much though. Just found you food, treated your wounds. And naively thought you were my age, playing games and listening to music with you.”

Looking back, all Ling Xi had done was keep her company.

“But that was enough. No one else had ever done that for me. Besides, you were just a student then. You gave everything you had – your allowance, your time, your energy… to love me and fill what I needed most. How could that not count as saving me?”

Hearing Song Yi’s words, Ling Xi finally stopped dwelling on it. “Mmm. Sister, you know I love you so, so much.”

“Mmm.” Thankfully this time, they hadn’t missed each other.

The next morning when Ling Xi woke up, Song Yi was already sitting in bed with her laptop, finishing documents from last night.

“Did I delay your work?” Ling Xi asked guiltily.

Song Yi gave her a look. “How can spending time with my wife be called a delay?”

Ling Xi stayed pressed against her for a while. Then they heard Qi Zhen knocking outside.

“I’ll go see.” Song Yi’s house had many rooms, and Qi Zhen had been staying there recently to care for Ling Jingqiu, who still hadn’t woken after taking the antidote.

As Ling Xi got up, Song Yi finished typing the last line and followed her out.

“Little sis! Jingqiu’s awake! Come quick!” Qi Zhen saw Ling Xi, grabbed her hand, and ignoring Song Yi’s confusion behind them, pulled Ling Xi along at a run.

By the time Song Yi recovered from her bewilderment and made her way to Ling Jingqiu’s room, Ling Xi was already holding her mother’s hand, tears streaming down her face.

Ling Jingqiu still couldn’t speak yet, only her eyes moving as she looked at Ling Xi and Qi Zhen.

Song Yi saw the tears in her eyes.

“I’ll call the family doctor.” Song Yi put an arm around Ling Xi’s shoulders and called Ji Heng.

Ling Jingqiu’s gaze grew noticeably sharper.

She was sizing up Ling Xi’s wife.

She’d heard everything from Qi Zhen. But seeing was believing, and she needed to observe Song Yi more.

While waiting for Ji Heng to arrive, Ling Xi took out her phone.

She couldn’t help thinking about Mu Jie.

There were still too many things left unexplained.

And Mu Jie was probably the last person who knew the truth.

And besides…

Yesterday, when she was being intimate with Song Yi, a message came in from an unknown number.

Ling Xi had just checked it. That number clearly belonged to Mu Xie.