Seduced Me into a Deep Fall - Chapter 58

“Sis, I had nowhere to stay, and it was only thanks to Officer Song’s kindness that she took me in,” Ling Xi added.

Lingyue still hadn’t noticed anything amiss. “Officer Song is so kind. We must properly thank her. Your sister may not have much, but I do have some money. We’ll go gift shopping together this weekend.”

Her words framed Song Yi as Ling Xi’s benefactor through and through.

Ling Xi suppressed a laugh. “How long are you staying this time?”

Even Song Yi, driving in the front seat, was struggling to keep a straight face.

Lingyue was still calculating what kind of gift to give Song Yi.

“I took annual leave, about ten days. Don’t we still need to clear Mom’s name?”

After helping Ling Jingqiu into the car, Ling Xi was visibly downcast.

“Sis…”

“What’s wrong?” Song Yi hugged her. “Mom will be fine.”

Ling Xi shook her head. “I know. Mu Xunzhi didn’t even lay a hand on her. It’s like… she only captured her to say those things to us.”

“And what she said… whether it’s logic or just her predictions, they were scarily accurate.” Mu Xunzhi had simply exploited humanity’s competitive nature.

“Don’t overthink it, sweetheart. Just focus on yourself. I still don’t believe pheromones are that important.”

Just like before, when Ling Xi was publicly known as an inferior B-grade, Song Yi had never looked down on her, loving her just the same.

“But Mu Jie will promote it.”

“Someone will stop them. This isn’t something individuals can handle. Matters of capital require official opposition.” Song Yi continued comforting the uneasy Ling Xi.

After a moment of silence, Ling Xi finally smiled. “Yeah. I won’t dwell on it.”

They took Ling Jingqiu back to the hospital, where Qi Zhen and the others would bring the antidote.

Both Song Lian and Mu Xunzhi, the masterminds behind it all, had been apprehended.

The Tiancan organization had also been shattered by Mu Jie’s reports.

Everything seemed to have returned to calm.

Including Ling Xi’s life.

It felt like she’d gone back to the old days, family by her side, friends gathering together. And now, a lover too.

Yet Ling Xi couldn’t shake a deep unease.

“Right. With Mu Jie and the others captured, things should get much easier.”

After discussing official matters, Lingyue finally pulled Ling Xi aside for a thorough inspection. “You’ve gotten so thin, my poor little sister.”

“I’ll gain it back. Sis, do you want to have dinner with us tonight?”
Ling Xi thought for a moment, then added, “I already made dinner plans with Officer Song.”

Even now, Lingyue remained oblivious.

“Sure. Normally, you’d treat me since I just returned. But my little sister must be broke, right? Let your big sister treat you instead.”

“Great, thanks sis.” As Ling Xi spoke, she caught Song Yi’s gaze in the rearview mirror and winked.

Scammed a free meal.

Song Yi finally chuckled.

She thought of the elder sister she’d found a few years ago.

She should take Ling Xi to meet Wen Yuzhou sometime.

Then she could scam a free meal from her sister too.

After three years abroad, Lingyue was clearly struggling to readjust.

She even had trouble navigating street signs while looking for a restaurant.

“Sis, this way.” Ling Xi had to pull her along.

“You have a place to stay, right?”

“I booked a hotel.” Lingyue was completely disoriented.

“Here’s my current contact info—add me. If you get lost, remember to call me.”

Ling Xi watched her with amazement, then pulled out the phone she’d bought just days earlier, asking Ling Yue to scan the QR code with her.

“I don’t have WeChat. Just give me your number. Can you help me with directions?”

Ling Yue was highly skeptical of Ling Xi’s current ability to take care of herself.

Both of them had been away from Beijing for three years—could the younger sister really be doing better than the elder?

“Nope, but I can laugh at you.” Ling Xi flashed a bright, smug grin.

“…” Yep, that was her dear sister. Ling Yue couldn’t help but concede.

Song Yi walked alongside Ling Xi, listening to their conversation with an inexplicable sense of joy.

Probably just happiness for Ling Xi.

Ling Xi checked her phone for messages. “She’s asking now.”

“How are you going to answer? Coming clean?”

Ling Xi shook her head. “Where’s the fun in that? I’m gonna hype up my wife like crazy, do everything with you, and then take both of you to meet her.”

Song Yi took a moment to process that before understanding.

“You’re kind of evil.”

“Teasing my own sister. All that worry for nothing—she was thriving abroad. What a waste.” Ling Xi spoke with absolute conviction.

Song Yi observed their dynamic. So this was how real sisters who grew up together interacted.

“Are you planning to go back to the Song family?” Once they got home, Ling Xi fiddled with her livestream account and casually asked Song Yi.

Ling Xi looked at her own résumé—a bachelor’s degree, no job after graduation. In today’s world, finding work was impossible.

She’d have to find another way to make money.

Song Yi’s monthly salary wasn’t much, and Ling Xi couldn’t keep relying on her forever.

“No plans. After Mu Jie took over, the Song family basically collapsed. Their corporate ranking keeps dropping, and they’ve been struggling to break even the past couple of months.”

“Jiejie, I need to tell you something.” Ling Xi decided it was time to come clean.

“Hmm?” Song Yi noticed Ling Xi’s rare seriousness. The last time she’d looked this way, it had been about Mu Jie.

“Don’t tell me it’s Mu Jie again?”

Ling Xi wiped sweat off her brow. “Uh… how’d you know?”

“What else would that expression mean?” Song Yi pinched Ling Xi’s cheek.

Ling Xi buried her face in Song Yi’s chest.

“Mu Jie messaged me the other day. Said she found the earring I lost.”

“How did she even find you… never mind, forget it. What else did she say?”

Song Yi patted Ling Xi’s head. “I’ll get you a new pair in a few days.”

Ling Xi just handed her phone to Song Yi.

Song Yi brought them some fruit but didn’t leave, sitting nearby and pulling up old case files.

She wanted to hear how Ling Xi would spin her next tale for Ling Yue.

“Ah, don’t worry about my wife. She’s busy for the sake of our little family.”

Ling Yue waffled between finding Ling Xi’s reasoning sound and utterly nonsensical.

She gave Ling Xi a suspicious look, but seeing her sister’s calm demeanor—no signs of lying—she just ended up confused again.

“Then does your wife own a place?” Ling Yue glanced at Song Yi and lowered her voice.

“And she’s fine with you staying at Officer Song’s all the time?”

Ling Xi shot Song Yi a look, even deliberately blushing. “They’re really close friends.”

Song Yi stifled a laugh beside them.

“Close friends still shouldn’t… hiss.” Ling Yue suddenly sucked in a sharp breath.

Ling Xi tensed, thinking she’d caught on to something.

Ling Yue pulled her aside and whispered in the corner, “Sweetie, tell me honestly—are you cheating?”

“Officer Song is great—she saved you and even agreed to be your roommate. Honestly, I kinda support you two… cough I mean, your wife seems a bit unreliable, never being there for you. But, but—we still shouldn’t cheat, right?”

Ling Xi nearly fainted. Her sister’s thought process was truly something else.

Had Ling Yue not noticed there wasn’t even a guest room in Song Yi’s apartment?

She might as well have written “We’re dating” on her forehead.

Yet Ling Yue remained blissfully convinced that Song Yi and her sister’s wife were two different people.

“I’m not cheating, don’t worry,” Ling Xi decided to keep up the charade.

“My wife is wonderful—how could I ever leave her?”

“Then you’ve got to let me meet her! No matter how busy she is, surely she can spare time for one meal?” Ling Yue chose to trust her.

Ling Xi saw her chance. “Of course. I’ll ask her and get back to you today.”

When they returned to the study, Song Yi had already dug crescent-shaped marks into her palms from clenching her fists.

The apartment’s soundproofing wasn’t great, and it was quiet.

She’d heard every word of their conversation.

Even she was stunned by her wife’s sister’s logic.

The two exchanged a glance.

Ling Xi pretended to text her “wife.”

After a moment, she patted Ling Yue’s shoulder. “She said tomorrow night works for dinner.”

“Fine.” Ling Yue reluctantly suppressed her doubts.

After handing all the documents to the lawyer, Ling Yue made some quick preparations before meeting up with Ling Xi to finally see this mysterious wife.

The moment she looked up, she spotted Song Yi trailing behind Ling Xi, and her expression turned odd again.

“Uh, sis, neither of us has a car, but Officer Song happens to have one. You don’t mind if she drives us, right?”

Ling Yue’s lips twitched.

“…Fine.” Everything about this felt off.

At the restaurant, Ling Xi stalled Ling Yue for a few minutes, slipping into the restroom.

She texted Song Yi: [You here yet?]

Two minutes later, the reply came: [Yes, come out.]

Only then did Ling Xi emerge, pulling Ling Yue toward their table.

Ling Yue was still questioning her when they entered the private dining room—only to see Song Yi, who had dropped them off five minutes earlier, already seated inside.

“Hello, sister,” Song Yi stood up, feigning innocence as she shook Ling Yue’s hand.

Ling Yue short-circuited.

Ling Xi waited three seconds before bursting into laughter at her sister’s frozen expression.

The sound snapped Ling Yue out of her daze.

Their clasped hands separated, and Song Yi smirked at the sight.

“Little one, and here I thought you were braver than this.” She pulled the thoroughly flustered Ling Xi into her arms.

Her embrace—far more intimate than a mere handhold—was answer enough.

Ling Xi wasn’t just blushing; her entire body burned. “Don’t hold me…”

She could feel her sweat sticking to Song Yi’s clothes.

“Should I let go, then?” Song Yi murmured, lips brushing her ear instead of loosening her grip.

Her breath curled around Ling Xi’s skin—

like a phantom kiss.

Ling Xi couldn’t bring herself to pull away. Embarrassed yet craving more, she melted into Song Yi’s hold.

Still pouting, she tilted her head up and bit her lip, shooting Song Yi a glare.

“You could’ve just given me a straight answer…” After she’d asked so clearly.

Song Yi finally got serious and patted Ling Xi’s head. “Little Xi, how old are you this year?”

“Eighteen,” Ling Xi thought for a moment, then added, “I’ll be nineteen in November.”

“Then how old am I?” Song Yi noted the month and asked again.

“Hmm… over twenty?” Ling Xi tried to recall, but Song Yi had never mentioned it.

“I’m twenty-three. You’re so much younger than me, still at an age for schooling. I want to take you seriously, to take our relationship seriously. So I’d like to slow things down a bit.”

“You… you’re giving me an explanation? You’re not planning to dump your wife and marry Officer Song directly, are you? That would be bigamy—no, wait, that’s cheating!”

Ling Yue’s train of thought hadn’t quite caught up yet.

Ling Xi was laughing too hard to speak. Song Yi, meanwhile, pulled out their marriage certificate.

“There’s no one else, Sister Ling Yue. It’s always been me and Little Xi who are married.”

Ling Yue took the marriage certificate, looked at the date, and suddenly froze as if struck by lightning.

“…You little rascal, Ling Xi! You and your wife actually teamed up to trick me!” Now she finally understood why things had felt so off.

“Is this your savior? This is clearly your wife.”

Ling Yue made to discipline Ling Xi, grabbing her by the ear.

“Ow, sis, sis, that hurts! But you were the one who didn’t catch on at all. Officer Song and I were so close—holding hands every day, hugging, even living together—and you still thought I was cheating.” Ling Xi pleaded for mercy repeatedly.

Ling Yue let go, and Song Yi pulled Ling Xi protectively to her side.

Ling Xi stuck her tongue out at Ling Yue from behind Song Yi.

Ling Yue was furious but couldn’t really take it out on her sister, who was still physically weak.

Song Yi, however, was another matter. “Miss Song, I think we need to have a private talk.”

Right now, Ling Yue looked at Song Yi like she was a big bad wolf who’d taken advantage of the situation.

Sneaky, taking advantage of her sister when she was both physically and emotionally vulnerable.

“Don’t give Officer Song a hard time,” Ling Xi said, knowing she couldn’t stop them but wanting to at least remind her sister.

“Hmph.” Ling Yue wasn’t holding a grudge, but she wasn’t about to give Ling Xi a pleasant expression either.

“Sweetheart, you go ahead and order. We’ll be back by the time the food arrives,” Song Yi instructed Ling Xi to place their orders.

The two women stepped out onto the balcony. Ling Yue crossed her arms, her attitude toward Song Yi nowhere near as friendly as before.

“Go on. Did you take advantage of my sister while she was recovering, flirting with her every day?”

“Not at all. Although Ling Xi and I had crossed paths long ago, when I was searching Mu Xie’s mansion, I was thinking of finding her. But… we hadn’t seen each other for over eight years. When I first rescued Ling Xi, I don’t think I particularly liked her.”

“It was Ling Xi who took the initiative and told me she loved me.”

Ling Yue looked skeptical. “You really didn’t do anything you shouldn’t have?”

“…I didn’t take the initiative to do anything, well, ‘inappropriate.'”

Things like sleeping together or going home together had all been Ling Xi’s ideas.

Song Yi was also grateful that Ling Xi had the courage to do so, allowing them to pick up where they left off.

Only then could she truly have a lover who was wholly devoted to her and would never betray her.

“…You know this counts as a whirlwind marriage, right? Have you thought about what you’ll do in the future? My sister has suffered such a huge trauma—can she really be with you without any reservations?”

“Putting emotions aside, what about daily necessities? My sister can’t work right now, and she probably won’t find any jobs. I could arrange a position for her, but she’d only earn a few thousand a month—anything more strenuous would be too much for her health.”

“Let’s not even talk about my family situation. What if my sister’s body is permanently damaged from what happened before and she needs frequent hospital visits? How would we handle the expenses?”

Ling Yue paused. “Have you considered all this? You’d be supporting two people on one salary—one of whom is chronically ill.”

Song Yi sighed sincerely. “You’re really thinking ahead, sis.”

“I plan to start my own business. I come from a wealthy family and served as a chairman for several years—I have the capability. Xiao Xi has also agreed to join me. Money shouldn’t be an issue.”

“As for emotional challenges, we’ll overcome them together.”

Song Yi was just worried that she and Ling Xi might not be able to walk side by side until the very end.

Ling Xi’s injuries were quite severe. She wasn’t that young anymore, and some damage might be irreversible.

After returning home, Song Yi shared this concern with Ling Xi.

Ling Xi moved her hands and feet. “I feel fine, actually. It might not be that bad.”

“Besides, sis, you’re five years older than me. That balances things out—we’ll definitely make it together.”

Ling Xi comforted Song Yi. “And with future advancements in technology, this kind of thing shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Song Yi held her tightly. “Alright, I won’t dwell on such unlucky thoughts.”

“But… you actually convinced my sister?”

“Sort of? She stopped questioning after that, and we just came back for dinner.”

“You’re pretty impressive. I thought she’d agonize over it a lot more.”

Song Yi laughed. “You should know just who your wife is.”

While preparing the company, the lawyer helped Qi Zhen retry her case.

Ling Yue watched Qi Zhen get released from prison before returning to her original company to finalize her transfer procedures.

Qi Zhen didn’t have any objections to Ling Xi and Song Yi’s marriage.

She had a deep admiration for people who could join the police force.

By the time Ling Yue was transferred back to Yanjing, Song Yi’s company was nearly ready, and products had already started selling.

“Don’t overwork yourself. Your top priority is recovering, little treasure.” Ling Yue said during her visit, watching Ling Xi help Song Yi with orders.

“I’m alright, not too tired.” Ling Xi glanced up briefly from her busy work.

“It’s fulfilling. Speaking of which, sis, what about Mom?” Qi Zhen was already out, but Ling Jingqiu’s situation remained unclear.

“Mom and I will handle it.” Ling Yue sat for a while before suddenly remembering something important. “Little treasure, what about your wedding?”

“Probably in two months. We originally wanted to wait until Mom woke up.” Ling Xi sounded helpless. “So… can you hurry it up?”

She was anxious—she and Song Yi had to have their wedding at least once.

“We’ll wake Mom up within this month. Just set the date with confidence.”

It wasn’t until Ling Yue left the office building that she realized—

How did Ling Xi know they could wake Ling Jingqiu?

After puzzling over it, Ling Yue could only discuss the placement of the serum with Qi Zhen.

About two months later, Ling Jingqiu woke up.

And in this timeline, Song Yi’s mother had also undergone specialist consultations and had just recovered a few days prior.

Ling Xi followed Song Yi to meet her mother, along with Wen Yuzhou.

Song Yi’s family seemed quite satisfied with her and didn’t give her a hard time. Wen Yuzhou even gave her a red envelope.

“Little Xi looks like a blessed child.” Wen Yuzhou, noting that Ling Xi was about the same age as her own daughter, took a liking to the young girl.

“Thank you… sis.” Ling Xi felt too shy to call her “sister” outright, the way Song Yi addressed Ling Yue.

Besides, Song Yi herself rarely called Wen Yuzhou “sister.”

Ling Xi knew that Wen Yuzhou was the real heiress who had been swapped at birth, so it made sense that she and Song Yi weren’t particularly close.

“Call me whatever you like,” Wen Yuzhou reassured her.

Song Yi’s mother, too weak to speak much, still regarded Ling Xi with gentle eyes.

Song Yi understood her mother’s gaze.

Her mother was probably just surprised that she had actually managed to find someone to marry in this lifetime.

“Alright. After I land, I’ll call my family and then turn off my phone.” Ling Xi agreed with Song Yi’s suggestion.

Their private time together would be ruined if they kept getting interrupted by calls and messages.

The two of them traveled along the coastline, visiting several small countries.

After their two-week honeymoon, Ling Xi returned home only to be immediately surrounded by her family.

“What, now that you’re married, you’re just going to forget about your sister, your mom, and your mama?”

Ling Yue, representing the Ling family, dragged Ling Xi away.

“Don’t even think about it. Today’s a family dinner—no bringing Song Yi.”

Just as Ling Xi was about to exchange a glance with Song Yi, Ling Yue swiftly pulled her away.

Left standing alone, Song Yi could only share a silent, wifely telepathic moment with Ling Xi from afar.

What about her own family? Watching Ling Xi disappear into the distance, Song Yi had no choice but to take out her phone.

“Weren’t you supposed to be traveling with your wife? Back already?”

Wen Yuzhou was tending to their mother, who had only recently regained consciousness. She was surprised that Song Yi had reached out so soon.

“…We did go on a trip. Just got back. She was taken away by her family for dinner.”

“…Then come back here.” Wen Yuzhou couldn’t exactly turn her away.

That evening, Song Yi ate a simple hospital meal while video-calling Ling Xi.

“Sweetheart, what are you eating? My mom took me out for a fancy dinner.” Ling Xi sent her the name of the restaurant.

“Boxed meal.” Song Yi forced a smile as she watched her wife’s family happily gathered on the screen.

“I’ll bring you something. This place is supposed to have amazing desserts too.”

Song Yi brightened at that. Even if her own family was distant, at least she had a loving wife.

…

Time passed swiftly. Sixty years later, Ling Xi and Song Yi sat side by side in wheelchairs, taking a leisurely stroll down the street.

“The doctor says it’ll be any day now.” Though both were now elderly women, their spirits remained as youthful as they had been at twenty.

No one would guess they were nearing the end.

“Yeah. This lifetime felt so long. Companies rose and fell, rose again, until they reached the scale they are today. Our children are about to have grandchildren.”

Song Yi rested her hand over Ling Xi’s.

Together, they watched the sunlight filter through the leaves, warm against their faces.

“But it also felt too short. I still haven’t had enough time with you.” Ling Xi affectionately squeezed Song Yi’s hand.

“Then let’s promise—we’ll find each other in the next life too.” They had made this vow countless times.

This time, it would be the last.

“Absolutely. I’ll recognize you by the mole on your eyelid. Make sure you grow one.”

“I will.” Song Yi closed her eyes, reminiscing about her rather fulfilling life.

A few days later, the two of them underwent euthanasia together, leaving this world hand in hand.

Ling Xi’s consciousness stubbornly refused to dissipate.

She found herself in a pitch-black void, a space that seemed utterly empty.

Yet when she looked down, fragments of her memories played all around her—every timeline she had ever been part of.

When she reached the moment of her suicide by biting her tongue, Ling Xi paused in thought before swimming toward that memory.

With the last of her strength in this lifetime, she gave it all back to her past self.

May she be reborn on the day she became engaged to Mu Xie.