The Forbidden Fruit

Mu Yaochen’s mind was consumed by fantasies, imagining Luo Yao’s every emotion in that moment.

He must surely be thinking of that woman, Su Mengqi, mused Mu Yaochen. ‘How utterly despicable. I had purchased him, yet his thoughts still lingered on other women.’

Gazing at the maids surrounding her, Mu Yaochen’s domineering aura erupted in an instant.

“Everyone, get out!” Mu Yaochen’s voice rang out, sharp and unyielding. Her bloodshot eyes swept over the maids at her side and Frost, who stood behind her.

Everyone present understood Mu Yaochen’s intentions. Bound by their positions, however, they had no choice but to obey, retreating as silently as possible. Mu Yaochen’s fury was palpable.

Without a glance to confirm if everyone had departed, she seized Luo Yao’s arm directly.

“Come here!” Mu Yaochen’s command was brutal, and Luo Yao had never witnessed such ferocity from her before.

‘I haven’t completely lost control, have I?’

“No! Get away from me!” Gazing at Mu Yaochen’s face, flushed scarlet with rage, Luo Yao forcefully batted away the hand reaching for him.

Luo Yao resembled a tiny kitten, barely capable of walking, yet instinctively extending its small paws in self-defense.

“This is not up to you!” Witnessing Luo Yao’s defiance, Mu Yaochen’s rage surged uncontrollably. She roughly seized Luo Yao’s hair, forcibly dragging him to the ground.

“Let go!!” Luo Yao thrashed his head, desperate to escape, but his hair, inextricably rooted to his scalp, offered no chance of release. He remained trapped, unable to break free.

“Release me! Don’t touch me!” The Mu family estate was clearly destined for anything but peace that day. Luo Yao reached out, clutching Mu Yaochen’s arm, desperate for her to let go. Yet, despite exerting all his strength, he could not pry her fingers open.

She dragged him towards the table in the back kitchen.

The back kitchen’s table, typically used for ingredients and cutting boards, was exceptionally large—spacious enough, it seemed, for two people to lie upon.

Luo Yao was thus brutally flung onto the table by Mu Yaochen, who utterly disregarded the strands of hair scattered on the floor, remnants of his recent struggle.

After all, Mu Yaochen harbored no sympathy for Luo Yao in that moment.

Perhaps pity would surface after the deed was done; for now, Mu Yaochen felt only a rush of excitement and exhilarating thrill.

It was an unprecedented sensation, one of such intense stimulation she had never experienced in her entire life. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and even her hand, reaching to grasp Luo Yao’s collar, trembled visibly.

Indeed, she was trembling.

Luo Yao observed Mu Yaochen, who stood before him, quivering slightly, and a faint smile touched his lips internally.

‘What’s this? So it was all an act.’

‘Had he just uncovered her true nature?’

“No…” Even though he understood Mu Yaochen’s nervousness, he still had to feign extreme fear.

Furthermore, Luo Yao was now desperately trying to force tears from his eyes. He replayed every event since his encounter with Mu Yaochen, yet, despite his efforts, no tears would fall.

“It’s too late now.” Mu Yaochen’s gaze fell upon Luo Yao’s aggrieved expression, and her hand, which had already been trembling slightly, now shook with even greater intensity. Yet, it was undeniably too late for any retreat; tonight, she was resolute in savoring this forbidden fruit.

“No… at least, not here.” In the end, Luo Yao managed to squeeze out two clear, glistening tears.

From the perspective of a young boy’s psychology—no, a girl’s, to be precise, as he needed to empathize with her mindset.

For a first time, such an act surely demanded a certain formality.

****

Just as Mu Yaochen believed the bothersome maids had all departed, leaving only her and Luo Yao in the entire back kitchen, Frost stood silently behind her. This time, however, the usual glacial chill in Frost’s eyes was absent.

“Very well, I shall humor you then.” Mu Yaochen agreed to this point with surprising alacrity. She then lifted Luo Yao into a bridal carry, experiencing, for the first time, such comprehensive physical contact with him.

The subtle fragrance emanating from Luo Yao’s body acted like a potent aphrodisiac, igniting a fervent desire within Mu Yaochen.

“Oh, Frost, you’re still here?” As Mu Yaochen turned, cradling Luo Yao, she noticed Frost standing silently behind her.

“Perfect, open the door for me.” With both arms occupied by Luo Yao, Mu Yaochen, upon seeing Frost, was spared the effort of pushing the door open herself.

‘She was clearly furious, but why exactly was she so enraged?’

Watching Mu Yaochen carry Luo Yao, Frost felt an excruciating ache pierce her heart.

It was a pain more profound than any blade could inflict, not a physical torment, but a deep spiritual agony.

“Mm, alright.” Frost hardly knew how she managed to utter her agreement, opening the door and watching Mu Yaochen carry Luo Yao away.

She simply stood rooted to the spot, stunned.

‘Why do I care about him so profoundly?’

Observing Luo Yao, now quiescent in her arms, Mu Yaochen found a strange delight blossoming within her.

She should have acted sooner. After tonight, Luo Yao would surely forget that other woman, and his eyes would hold only her, wouldn’t they?

Yet, Luo Yao’s lack of struggle stemmed not from exhaustion, but from cunning anticipation. He was biding his time, adhering to the adage: ‘One must be willing to sacrifice the child to catch the wolf.’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning one must be willing to make a significant sacrifice to achieve a greater goal.) He was prepared to sacrifice his own body to further his scheme.

Of course, this particular sacrifice of his ‘body’ did not imply *that* kind of sacrifice.

As Luo Yao gradually settled, a measure of calm seemed to descend upon Mu Yaochen as well.

The maids who had been present earlier were now nowhere to be found; after all, given Mu Yaochen’s current wrath, no one could predict what she might do in her anger.

Some of the maids even felt a pang of pity for Luo Yao, cradled in her arms. Such a delicate young man, he must surely be suffering immensely under Mu Yaochen’s brutal handling.

Luo Yao, nestled in Mu Yaochen’s embrace, was now simply biding his time.

Concurrently, during their time in the back kitchen, one particular gaze had caught his attention—a watchful look from the shadows.

Nevertheless, he decided to dismiss it; his situation was now truly dire.

If he mishandled *that* aspect of his plan, he would genuinely be consumed by Mu Yaochen tonight.

“There, there, little one, we’ll be there soon.” As they exited the back kitchen, the storm of anger within Mu Yaochen had largely subsided. Subconsciously, she still harbored the belief that Luo Yao’s affections lay with Su Mengqi.

Yet, emotion, that ephemeral thing, could be both built and utterly destroyed.

Much like a house, no matter how flawlessly constructed, it could still be demolished by explosives.

The relationship between Luo Yao and Su Mengqi represented that house. And she, herself, was the explosive force destined to bring its destruction.

Though a softness now touched Mu Yaochen’s eyes, a sinister thought began to unfurl within her mind.

Observing that Luo Yao in her arms offered no response, Mu Yaochen felt no anger. Soon, ten minutes at most, and it would all begin.

By this point, Mu Yaochen had already ascended to the staircase leading to the second floor.

The intoxicating blend of excitement and nervous anticipation from earlier now surged through her anew.

“This time, you are truly mine. Forget that woman.” As she neared her own room, a smile involuntarily curved Mu Yaochen’s lips.

Beyond lay her private bedroom; it was the very first time a stranger would set foot inside her personal sanctuary.

Ordinarily, Mu Yaochen never permitted maids to enter her room, preferring to personally attend to its cleanliness.

Luo Yao, you ought to feel honored by this. So, please, Luo Yao, could you stop looking so distraught now?