The Cold, Aloof Dominatrix After Parasitically Entering a Rich Family - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Learning to Write — Only Now Did Gong Shayu Realize…

The agreement was upside down in Tu Si’s hands, and so were the hairs on her body. She saw that look on Gong Shayu’s face again—the same scrutinizing expression from their first meeting.

Tu Si’s gaze skipped over the agreement and landed on her own palms. Although the swelling had subsided, the residual pain was a fresh memory. After less than a second of internal struggle, she confessed honestly, “I can’t read.”

“!!”

This time it was Gong Shayu’s turn to be utterly shocked. She had considered amnesia, but not…

“Did you forget how to read, or are you fundamentally illiterate?”

Tu Si lowered her head, answering timidly, “Illiter…ate, I guess.”

“………”

Gong Shayu managed a slight, strained smile. “In this day and age, it’s quite a feat to meet a living illiterate person.”

Tu Si, for some inexplicable reason, interpreted this as a compliment. She chuckled sheepishly, “Thank you.”

Gong Shayu: “…I wasn’t complimenting you.”

…

The Contract Reading

Eventually, Miss Gong resigned herself to the task, opened her phone’s video recorder, and read the contract terms aloud one by one. She needed proof, if nothing else, that this illiterate person signed willingly.

“One: The parties, Party A and Party B, are in a legal marriage relationship but have no substantial marital relationship. They must maintain distance and prohibit any form of coercion or harassment.”

“Two: During the existence of this contract (i.e., one year), strictly forbidden to disclose the existence of the contract to any third party.”

Tu Si didn’t understand, so Gong Shayu clarified: “This means you can’t tell anyone that our marriage is a contract, including your messy sisters.”

Tu Si pondered, “But Assistant Fang knows?”

“…Assistant Fang doesn’t count as a person,” Gong Shayu snapped. “Just remember, you must keep this contract absolutely secret… and never mention it to anyone. When we need to pretend to be an affectionate couple in public, I will notify you.”

“Three: Party B, which is you, must abide by: don’t look, don’t listen, don’t think, don’t ask, and especially—” Gong Shayu stared at Tu Si: “do not fall in love with me.”

“This means, no matter what you see or hear, don’t dwell on it, don’t ask about it, and you absolutely must not fall in love with me.”

Tu Si raised her hand to signal she had something to say.

Gong Shayu rolled her eyes. “Remember! No questions allowed.”

Tu Si obediently lowered her hand. Fine, no questions then.

“Four: Party A shall pay Party B one hundred thousand Huabi per month. Party B must be on call 24 hours a day, available whenever summoned…”

“Five: Other matters to be supplemented, to be discussed when Party A thinks of them.”

Tu Si had no concept of one hundred thousand Huabi, but she knew 10 was the biggest base number, and with the “ten thousand” character (wan) after it, she felt it must be an impressive amount.

“Any questions?” Gong Shayu asked.

Tu Si shook her head, thinking, I can’t ask questions even if I have them!

Gong Shayu nodded in satisfaction and read the prenuptial property agreement as well. Afterward, she signed her name on the marriage contract and motioned for Tu Si to do the same.

Tu Si bit the pen cap, found her passport in her suitcase, and tried to copy the two complex characters on it, painting her name in a clumsy attempt.

When Gong Shayu emerged after her shower, she saw a page full of scribbles. Not a single character matched, and none resembled the two characters on the ID document.

Miss Gong finally reached her limit. She sat down behind Tu Si, took her hand, and guided her grip on the pen as if teaching a preschooler.

“It’s not that I want to touch you, it’s that you’re too stupid. This agreement needs to be signed at the notary office tomorrow. How can you sign if you can’t even write your own name?”

The sudden touch made all the Dodder Flower’s pores open as if electrified. The place where her hand met Gong Shayu’s was the source from which she could absorb nourishment recklessly.

The pen tip scratched against the white paper with a faint “shāshā” sound. Stroke by stroke, the character “Tú” was completed.

Tu Si was both surprised and delighted. Her name was so beautiful! Just as she was savoring the moment, the character “Sī” was also finished.

Only now did Gong Shayu realize that the girl’s name wasn’t “Toast” (Tǔ Sī), but Tu Si (Tú Sī).

…

The Request

A mobile phone ringtone cut through their connected hands. Gong Shayu picked up the phone, saw the name on the screen, and walked to the balcony.

“Xiaoyu, are you okay?” The voice on the other end was a rich, magnetic baritone, with unconcealed worry.

“Are you hoping something happened to me?” Gong Shayu teased.

The man calling was Weng Hongye, Gong Shayu’s cousin, the sole heir to the Weng family, and the only person who could make Gong Shayu drop her guard.

“Look at you, of course not. I’m just worried about you,” Weng Hongye changed his tone. “That old man Gong sending you to Yalu Port was suspicious to begin with. If you don’t want to stay there, come home. I’ll be back next month.”

The hot wind blew, and Gong Shayu raised a hand to push the loose hair back from her forehead. She instinctively reached for her pocket to find a cigarette, then remembered she’d left the pack on the table while teaching Tu Si to write.

Miss Gong sighed softly, speaking partly to the man on the phone and partly to herself. “It’s fine, I can handle it. When you get back, go see my mother first. She was just talking about you the other day.”

Weng Hongye agreed, then asked, “Are you sure you don’t need my help? I also have…”

Gong Shayu: “No need.”

After hanging up, Gong Shayu stood outside, letting the hot air blow over her. Her bothered mood seemed to grow hotter with the wind.

When she stepped back inside, her face was completely devoid of expression.

Tu Si saw Gong Shayu enter, moved the clutter off the marriage contract, and offered it up like a treasure. “Sister, I can write my own name now.”

On the page of the marriage contract, their two names stood out vividly: Party A’s was three powerful, bold characters—Gong Shayu (Gōng Shā Yǔ). Party B’s was two childish, clumsy characters—Tu Si (Tú Sī).

Tu Si looked up, waiting for Gong Shayu’s praise.

Gong Shayu couldn’t help but think: A life spent in oblivious joy like Tu Si is still a life; a life spent shouldering tens of thousands of tons of responsibility is also a life. The seemingly simple choice is actually an unsolvable problem.

For some reason, Miss Gong, who never interfered in other people’s business, felt compelled to speak. “Look at how carefree you are. You’re lucky you ran into me. If it were someone else, they’d sell you, and you’d probably still help them count the money.”

Tu Si mumbled softly, “…I kind of feel like Sister is talking about herself.”

Gong Shayu: “…”

Who is Party A and who is Party B here?

Gong Shayu considered adding a fifth clause: Party B must obey Party A completely and unconditionally. But when she met Tu Si’s innocent eyes, she convinced herself not to argue with a “mentally disabled” person.

“Um, about the sexual harassment part, I think…” Tu Si struggled for words.

“Relax. I won’t touch a single strand of your hair,” Gong Shayu interrupted her directly.

“You don’t even have to live here. Just show up when I need you to.”

“No!” Tu Si stood up excitedly, looking deeply wronged. “Didn’t Sister agree we could live together, be together every day?”

Gong Shayu lifted an eyebrow. “Why?”

Because I need nourishment to survive, Sister! If you won’t even touch my finger, how am I supposed to live!

Tu Si’s mind worked quickly. She smiled and said, “Because I’m scared to live alone, and if I live with others, I’m bad at talking. If I accidentally slip up, wouldn’t we be doomed, Boss Gong?”

Hearing this, Gong Shayu was speechless. After a moment, she finally spoke: “Remember the last point of Clause Three.”

Fine, I won’t fall in love with you, as long as I can stick to you.

Tu Si nodded obediently.

And with that, their first collaboration was established.