Forcibly Taken by My Student’s Mother - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Both Women Rolled Onto the Bed…

The next day, Tao Yao went to teach Su Xiaowan’s class sporting two prominent dark circles under her eyes.

All along the way, she silently chanted prayers in her heart, hoping that Lu Xuelan’s company affairs would be busy today—ideally, that she wouldn’t be home all day.

Unfortunately, the heavens probably didn’t hear her prayers.

As the lesson reached 5:00 PM, Tao Yao was counting down the seconds to pack her things and make a break for it when the familiar sound of a car engine suddenly drifted from downstairs—it was the unique, low-pitched rumble of Lu Xuelan’s black sedan.

Tao Yao’s heart skipped a beat on the spot.

Su Xiaowan heard it too and curiously poked her head out to look out the window: “Huh, Mom came home so early today?”

“Focus on the questions.” Tao Yao forced herself to stay calm, though her voice was a bit tight. “There are only ten minutes left.”

But her attention could no longer concentrate on the teaching plan at all. Her ears subconsciously perked up, catching every little movement from downstairs—the muffled thud of the car door closing, the crisp rhythm of high heels tapping the floor, the sound of the door opening, Auntie Zhang’s soft greeting, and then… those footsteps coming upstairs unhurriedly.

Tao Yao’s heart climbed into her throat, and her fingers gripping the pen turned slightly white.

However, when the footsteps passed the study door, they didn’t stop, heading straight toward the master bedroom.

Tao Yao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of collapse like a survivor after a disaster.

She sped up her speaking rate to finish the last few knowledge points and announced the end of class almost exactly by the watch.

“Let’s stop here for today.” She closed her teaching plan and started packing her backpack with brisk movements. “Student Su, remember to review the words prone to errors that we went over today. I’ll do a spot check tomorrow.”

“Got it~” Su Xiaowan replied with a drawn-out voice, already impatiently fishing out her phone.

Tao Yao picked up her backpack and walked downstairs quickly, almost as if fleeing, to avoid any possible encounter.

At the entrance hall, she hurriedly changed her shoes, and just as her hand touched the doorknob—

“Teacher Tao.”

A cold female voice came from behind her, neither high nor low, yet like an invisible rope that instantly bound her movements.

Tao Yao’s body froze, and she slowly turned around.

Lu Xuelan was standing at the top of the stairs.

She had already taken off her suit jacket and was wearing only a high-quality white silk shirt with the top button undone, revealing slender collarbones. Her long hair wasn’t pinned up meticulously as usual but was draped loosely over her shoulders; her whole being exuded a sense of laziness.

But those deep eyes still carried their habitual sense of oppression.

“Teacher Tao, leaving?” Lu Xuelan walked over slowly, stopping three steps away from her.

“Yes, today’s class is finished.” Tao Yao tried to make her voice sound steady and normal, but her gaze dropped uncontrollably, staring at the polished marble floor.

Lu Xuelan’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment, scrutinizing her carefully: “Your complexion still isn’t very good. Has the fever subsided?”

“It has, I’m already fine.” Tao Yao kept her eyes down. “Thank you for your concern, Director Lu.”

The air was quiet for a few seconds.

Just as Tao Yao thought this awkward pleasantry was about to end, Lu Xuelan suddenly spoke: “Regarding Xiaowan’s recent learning progress and future arrangements, I want to talk to you in detail. Is it convenient for you to stay a while longer?”

Tao Yao’s heart sank sharply.

That reason again.

It was like this last time too—using “talking about Xiaowan’s studies” to call her into the study, and then…

She subconsciously wanted to refuse, but the words reached her lips and were swallowed back down.

What could she say? Say “No, I’m going home”?

The other party was her employer, and they were meant to talk about her daughter’s studies; the reason was high-sounding and beyond reproach.

“…Okay.” Tao Yao heard her own dry voice.

“Let’s go to the study.” Lu Xuelan turned and took the lead in walking upstairs.

Tao Yao followed behind her resignedly, each step feeling incredibly heavy. She looked at Lu Xuelan’s back; the silk shirt neatly outlined the beautiful lines of her shoulders and back, swaying gently with her steps, while her long hair vibrated slightly against her shoulders.

This woman carried a kind of composure that suggested she was in control of everything, even from behind.

Pushing open the study door, the familiar scent rushed toward her.

Tao Yao’s gaze, almost immediately, fell upon that large solid wood desk.

The deep blue velvet gift box was still placed squarely in the center of the desk. In the simple, cool-toned study, that splash of deep blue and the exquisite ribbon were particularly eye-catching.

Her heart sank a bit further.

Lu Xuelan walked behind the desk but didn’t sit down immediately. Instead, she reached out, her fingertips gently stroking the velvet surface.

“Teacher Tao,” she looked up, her gaze calmly meeting Tao Yao’s, “This… you don’t like it?”

Tao Yao’s throat felt a bit dry. Gritting her teeth, she decided to speak clearly.

If she continued to be vague like this, it would only let the situation spiral further out of control.

“Director Lu.” She lifted her head, forcing herself to look directly into Lu Xuelan’s eyes. “This fountain pen is too valuable; I really can’t have it. I am just a tutor; it’s against the rules for me to accept such an expensive gift from a student’s parent.”

“Rules?” Lu Xuelan raised an eyebrow slightly. “When I give a gift, are there rules I need to follow?”

“That’s not what I mean…” Tao Yao was getting a bit anxious. “I mean the relationship between us… You are the employer and I am the tutor you hired; we should maintain a professional working relationship. Between us… gifts shouldn’t be given. No gifts of any kind!”

As soon as the words were out, she regretted it.

It was too blunt, too much like drawing a hard line—hopefully this wouldn’t annoy her enough to make her get lost.

Sure enough, Lu Xuelan’s eyes darkened slightly.

The air in the study seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

“Director Lu.” Tao Yao tried to make her voice sound calm and sincere. “I know you might… have some thoughts about me that go beyond a working relationship, but I must tell you clearly: we really aren’t a good match.”

Lu Xuelan didn’t speak, just watched her quietly, waiting for her to continue.

Tao Yao licked her dry lips and emphasized her tone: “Xiaowan—she is your daughter and my student. She has clearly expressed liking for me before; even though I rejected her, this layer of relationship is already very complicated. If she knew that you also…”

She paused, organizing her words: “What would she think? Her studies have just started to pick up; if she gets triggered and becomes rebellious again, what then? This isn’t good for her growth, and it would affect my teaching work.”

Tao Yao finished in one breath, feeling like she had just run a marathon, her chest heaving slightly.

She looked at Lu Xuelan, expecting to see realization, resignation, or at least hesitation on her face.

However, Lu Xuelan only tilted her head slightly, a flash of interest flickering in those beautiful eyes.

Then, she spoke.

Her voice was soft, yet her tone was certain.

“Then don’t let her know.”

Tao Yao: “…?”

She doubted she had heard correctly.

Lu Xuelan took a step closer to her, the distance between them shortening instantly.

“Keep it from her.” Lu Xuelan lowered her voice, it drilling into Tao Yao’s ear. “Isn’t that even more interesting?”

Tao Yao’s eyes widened instantly, looking at the woman before her in disbelief.

What kind of words were those? This, this was simply…

Tao Yao’s mind was a mess. All her words were stuck in her throat, and she couldn’t spit out a single one.

For the first time, she realized so clearly that in front of Lu Xuelan, she was a total rookie.

She couldn’t out-flirt her.

Not even close.

Lu Xuelan seemed very satisfied with her reaction. The corners of her lips curled imperceptibly, but she quickly regained her composure. She took a step back, opening up some distance, as if that shocking sentence just now hadn’t come from her at all.

“Teacher Tao has been working hard lately.” She changed the subject, her tone returning to its usual poise. “Are you free this weekend? A new modern art exhibition opened in the east of the city; do you want to go see it together?”

Tao Yao was still immersed in the shock from just now and instinctively shook her head: “No, no need, I have plans this weekend…”

“What about a concert then?” Lu Xuelan continued to propose. “The National Symphony Orchestra has a performance this weekend; the repertoire is quite good.”

“I… I don’t know much about classical music.” Tao Yao continued to shake her head.

“Opera?”

“Can’t understand it.”

“A play?”

“No interest.”

Lu Xuelan proposed several options in a row, all of which were rejected by Tao Yao for various reasons.

Finally, Lu Xuelan let out a soft sigh, which contained a hint of helplessness. “Teacher Tao, I’ve only just discovered that you’re actually quite picky.”

Tao Yao screamed in her heart: I’m not picky! I just don’t want to go out with you at all! Please let me go!

But she didn’t dare say this out loud, only mumbling: “I’m just… more of a homebody.”

Lu Xuelan nodded thoughtfully and was silent for a moment.

Just as Tao Yao thought she was finally going to give up, she suddenly spoke again, her tone casual: “Since Teacher Tao is not interested in outdoor activities, then why don’t we… watch a movie.”

Tao Yao blanked.

Watch a movie? Where? A cinema? Or…

“Right here at home.” Lu Xuelan seemed to see through her thoughts and pointed downstairs. “There’s a private cinema in the basement; the equipment is pretty good. I’ve collected some films; perhaps there are some you’d be interested in.”

Tao Yao’s first reaction was to refuse.

But with the words at her lips, she looked into Lu Xuelan’s calm yet persistent eyes and suddenly realized: if she didn’t do something today, this person probably wasn’t going to let her leave.

She was like a patient hunter who had set a trap, unhurried, insisting on waiting for the prey to walk in on its own.

Tao Yao felt a wave of deep powerlessness.

She bit her lip and thought: It’s just watching a movie, what could happen?

“…Okay.” She finally compromised. “Just one movie. After watching it, I really have to go back.”

A flash of a smile passed through Lu Xuelan’s eyes; it was faint, but it was definitely there.

“Of course.” She nodded and turned to walk toward the door. “Follow me.”

Tao Yao followed behind her, her mood as complicated as a tangled mess.

The basement of the villa was a quite professional private cinema, with deep gray soundproof walls, comfortable leather sofa seats, and a giant projection screen covering an entire wall directly opposite. In the corner stood professional audio equipment.

Lu Xuelan had Tao Yao sit in the middle of the sofa while she walked to the wine cabinet on the side.

She took out a bottle of red wine and two stem glasses. “Is red wine okay? Or would you like to drink something else?”

Tao Yao’s heart climbed up again.

Red wine? Does she want to get her drunk?

“I… water is fine for me,” she said warily.

Lu Xuelan glanced at her, seemingly seeing through her little scheme, but said nothing.

She still opened that bottle of red wine, poured only one glass, and then took a bottle of mineral water from the small fridge nearby, placing it along with an empty glass on the coffee table in front of Tao Yao.

“Help yourself,” she said, then took her glass of red wine and sat down beside Tao Yao.

There was the distance of one seat between them—not close, but in this enclosed space, Tao Yao could still clearly feel the other’s presence.

Lu Xuelan picked up the remote and began to operate it. The projection screen lit up, showing the film library interface.

Tao Yao stared tensely at the screen, fearing Lu Xuelan would pick some strange movie. However, Lu Xuelan’s operations were smooth, and she quickly selected a film and pressed play.

The title sequence began; it was a foreign title, looking like a European film.

Tao Yao breathed a small sigh of relief.

At least from the title sequence, it looked like a serious artistic film.

However, this breath of hers was quickly choked back in her throat.

Less than five minutes into the film, the two female protagonists appeared. They met on the streets of Paris, and the moment their eyes met, it was filled with tension. The development that followed caught Tao Yao off guard—they drank coffee together, their conversation filled with ambiguous puns, and then one woman invited the other to her apartment to “look at paintings.”

In the apartment, the two women stood before a painting, their bodies almost touching, flirting with each other.

Tao Yao’s breathing began to become somewhat unsteady.

The scene cut to the two women kissing in the dim light.

It wasn’t a tentative kiss, but a passionate, deep, and clearly erotic kiss. The camera captured the details of their tongues intertwining at close range, and the smacking sounds of moisture came through the surround sound clearly, amplified in the silent theater.

Tao Yao’s cheeks began to burn, and she couldn’t help but steal a glance at Lu Xuelan beside her.

The other woman was leaning back in the sofa, propping her chin on one hand, watching the screen intently. Her other hand gently swirled the wine glass, her posture lazy and composed.

As if they were just watching an ordinary romance film.

The film continued.

The relationship between the two women heated up rapidly, and the next scene jumped directly to the bedroom.

Under the dim lighting, clothes slid off one by one, skin met skin, and breaths intertwined. The camera work was bold and direct, unashamedly displaying the beauty of the female body’s curves and the blurred expressions of passion.

Tao Yao’s ears were completely red.

She was restless, wanting to look away, but the images on the screen seemed to have magic, drawing her gaze. What was even more terrifying was that she felt an unfamiliar heat rising from deep within her body, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

Just then, Lu Xuelan suddenly spoke.

Her voice was calm, as if she were conducting an academic discussion.

“The director of this film is very good at using light, shadow, and body language to express the internal struggle and desire of the characters.” She took a sip of red wine, her gaze still fixed on the screen. “Look at this shot; the light casts a shadow over half the character’s face, which perfectly hints at her contradictory state of mind right now—craving release while being bound by a sense of morality.”

Tao Yao: “…”

She could hardly believe her ears.

The two women have already rolled into bed, and this person is still seriously analyzing light, shadow, and character psychology?!

Hypocrite! Such a hypocrite!

On the screen, the two women’s movements became more and more intense, and their breathing became heavier and heavier.

Tao Yao felt her heart beating so fast it felt like it would crash out of her chest, and her cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg.

Lu Xuelan spoke again; this time she turned her head and looked at Tao Yao.

“Teacher Tao.” Her voice sounded exceptionally low in the dim light. “What is your… opinion of this film?”

Opinion?

What opinion could she have? She just wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into right now!

Tao Yao took a deep breath and suddenly stood up from the sofa.

“It’s getting late!” Her voice was a bit sharp due to nervousness. “I… I should go back!”

With that, she turned to walk toward the door.

However, just at this moment—

“Mommy, are you watching a movie?”

Su Xiaowan’s voice, separated by the heavy soundproof door of the theater, drifted in faintly.

Tao Yao’s footsteps froze instantly.

She turned to look at Lu Xuelan in horror, and the other woman also frowned slightly.

Immediately after, the sound of the doorknob turning came from outside.

Fortunately, the theater door was locked from the inside, so Su Xiaowan didn’t open it.

“Mommy?” Su Xiaowan called again, her voice sounding puzzled. “Why is the door locked? What movie are you watching that requires locking the door?”

Tao Yao’s heart almost stopped beating.

If Su Xiaowan saw the two of them watching this kind of movie…

Tao Yao didn’t dare imagine the scene; her intuition told her that Su Xiaowan would definitely turn the world upside down.

She looked at Lu Xuelan as if for help, and Lu Xuelan’s reaction was much calmer than hers.

She put down her wine glass and walked quickly to Tao Yao’s side, lowering her voice: “Go over there. There’s a small storage room behind the screen. Hide there for a bit.”

Tao Yao’s mind was a complete blank right now, so she could only do as told.

She tiptoed behind the giant projection screen and sure enough found a hidden small door. Pushing it open, there was a storage room inside; the space was small, but enough to hide one person.

As soon as she hid inside and left the door ajar, she heard the sound of Lu Xuelan opening the door outside.

“Xiaowan?” Lu Xuelan’s voice regained its usual composure. “What’s wrong?”

“Mommy, you’re watching a movie?” Su Xiaowan’s voice was much clearer; she had obviously walked into the theater. “What film is it that you even locked the door… Wow!”

She had obviously seen the images on the screen.

Tao Yao hid in the storage room, covering her mouth, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Su Xiaowan’s voice carried a playful tease. “I couldn’t tell, but you actually have quite good taste. This film has high ratings; a few of my friends have recommended it too.”

Lu Xuelan’s voice showed no emotion: “Just watching casually.”

“Fine, take your time watching, I won’t disturb you.” Su Xiaowan didn’t seem to think much of it and let out a whistle. “I’m going to the living room to play some games. By the way, have you seen Teacher Tao? She should have left by now, right?”

“She already left,” Lu Xuelan said without changing her expression.

“Oh, okay.” Su Xiaowan’s footsteps receded, followed by the sound of the theater door closing.

Tao Yao waited a few more seconds before cautiously pushing open the storage room door and peeking her head out.

Lu Xuelan was standing at the door, confirming that Su Xiaowan had left, then relocked the door.

“Xiaowan should be in the living room. If you go out now, you might bump into her.”

Tao Yao’s heart instantly sank to the bottom.

This meant she wouldn’t be able to leave for a short while.