The Cold, Aloof Dominatrix After Parasitically Entering a Rich Family - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Sofa Sister, I’m Treating You to BBQ

Since that night, Tu Si’s gaze toward Gong Shayu was noticeably different from before.

However, Gong Shayu seemed to have amnesia, not mentioning a word about what happened.

Mark was transferred to the procuratorate as scheduled. Except for Fang Yu, no one else knew that Gong Shayu had taken the ledger. The resort remained dead and quiet, and layoffs continued.

After getting off work, Wang Wei asked Tu Si to go for milk tea. Tu Si readily agreed, gliding on her skateboard, with her small satchel, and even changed her clothes.

Although Gong Shayu didn’t mention the kiss that night, her attitude toward Tu Si changed a lot. She not only took the initiative to buy her several sets of clothes—although they were large Ts and cargo pants (Tu Si thought they were no better than the hotel staff uniforms)—but seeing that the street dance classmates all dressed this way, she didn’t say anything.

She also personally picked out a skateboard for her, though Tu Si wasn’t too fond of the dog pattern on it.

“You’ve become prettier recently,” Wang Wei said.

Tu Si nodded, a little shyly, “I’ve been in a particularly good mood lately.”

“Why?”

“Because… ah, I just have something I like to do.” Tu Si thought to herself, mainly because my nourishment is getting more and more abundant.

Wang Wei helped Tu Si insert the straw into her milk tea. “That’s great! We can’t say the same, especially Minister Wu, do you know? Your sister is laying him off.”

Tu Si almost choked on a tapioca pearl. She coughed dramatically twice. “Why?”

“Why me… I beg you…” Wu Li’s voice clearly trembled, and the muscles in his face twitched along with it.

Hua Xun didn’t look up; he was seriously reviewing a document. The scratching sound of the pen across the paper was exceptionally clear in the overly quiet air.

Wu Li held his breath, forcing himself to concentrate. His gaze fell on the badge on Hua Xun’s shoulder, then shifted to the nameplate on the desk—Commissioner of Police.

Just as his palms were about to be soaked in cold sweat, Hua Xun looked up, his eyes like a hawk’s, scrutinizing.

“A simple layoff, and you’re this terrified?” Hua Xun spoke, his voice not loud, but like a cold stone smashing onto a tiled floor.

Wu Li struggled to speak. “No… I’m not afraid of being laid off… it’s mainly that I’m the only one on that list. Do you know? It feels like that woman has figured something out… in the future… we won’t be able to go there so easily anymore…”

“Shut up!” Hua Xun interrupted Wu Li. “Find the ledger first!”

Wu Li opened his mouth, then steeled himself and finally said, “The ledger is missing. They’ve been searching for a week and haven’t found anything. That woman is clearly coming for you…”

Hua Xun’s face darkened, and he glanced at him lightly. “Remember, the ledger stays, you stay!”

Wu Li finally didn’t dare to say any more and closed his mouth tremblingly.

“See, that’s the old woman your sister drove away.”

Tu Si looked in the direction Wang Wei pointed. An elderly woman with white hair, a hunched back, and a limp was sitting on the stairs, resting, dragging a pile of plastic bottles.

Wang Wei noticed that Tu Si’s eyes were very bright, as if she had found a treasure. She tried to fan the flames, hoping to awaken more of her sympathy.

Tu Si abruptly asked, “Where did she pick up so many treasures? I can’t even find that much.”

Tu Si also had a habit of “turning waste into treasure.” She didn’t know that she was probably the most unfortunate ‘kept bird in a gilded cage.’

Wang Wei: “…The old woman is very old, has no children, and has a limp. Don’t you think she’s pitiful? Can’t you talk to your sister and ask her not to fire her?”

Tu Si thought seriously for a moment and replied, “Actually, the old woman’s body is already failing, and she can’t work. Why should they keep her?”

Wang Wei: “…”

Tu Si often gave her a strange sense of contradiction: sometimes as innocent as a child, other times as cold-blooded as a plant, beautiful to look at, but heartless.

The employees all knew that Wang Wei had a good relationship with the boss’s sister. Before, Wang Wei’s status in the hotel was that of an insignificant figure.

Now, the insignificant figure had become a favored person. Although many people would complain, grumble, or even curse Gong Shayu when gathered together, when alone, they couldn’t help but try to curry favor with Wang Wei, who could relay their words.

They came to work every day filled with contradictory emotions, facing the boss, hating her, yet fearing her.

…

At noon, the chefs in the staff cafeteria and the hotel restaurant went on strike again. The hotel restaurant was fine because there were no customers.

The staff cafeteria, however, had a problem. Employees were used to eating at the cafeteria, and the sudden cessation left them feeling helpless.

“President Gong…” Fang Yu called out carefully. The employees all said that ICC was being ruined by Gong Shayu, and their eyes looked at her as if she were an anomaly.

Gong Shayu leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. She knew what Fang Yu wanted to say and replied, “It’s not time yet.”

Fang Yu wisely changed the subject. “There are four candidates for the head chef position. I’ve reviewed their résumés; they are all well-known in Yalu Port. However… we don’t have anyone particularly outstanding yet. Given our current situation, the success rate of invitations is less than 30%. China’s headquarters is also looking for candidates simultaneously.”

“Mhm.” Gong Shayu sighed. “This position is indeed very important.”

Fang Yu secretly glanced at Gong Shayu. She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt that although President Gong had been working non-stop these past few days, she was in a good mood. So, she bravely probed, “Do you want to personally oversee the final interviews?”

Gong Shayu: “We’ll discuss it after tomorrow’s social engagement.”

Tomorrow’s social engagement referred to the exchange meeting held by Gong Shayu as the enterprise representative with the Yalu Port officials a fortnight ago, which was essentially a cocktail party.

The highest administrative officer of Yalu Port, along with the Secretary for Justice, the Chief Secretary for Administration, and the Financial Secretary, would all attend. At the same time, ICC, as the leading enterprise in Yalu Port’s hotel industry, would also participate.

The original venue for the event was ICC, but the recent commotion was too big, so last Friday, the party’s location was changed to another resort hotel of the same caliber as ICC.

Fang Yu nodded. “Understood. My investigation is also almost complete. I’ll refine a few details and give you the complete file in two hours.”

Gong Shayu gave a faint “mhm.” Just as Fang Yu turned to leave, Gong Shayu suddenly asked, “Do you know which brand of sofa… is more comfortable?”

Fang Yu’s first reaction was: The ICC lobby sofa was just replaced, wasn’t it? But if President Gong didn’t like it, it had to be changed.

She immediately named three high-end brands suitable for hotels.

“I mean the sofa at home,” Gong Shayu said expressionlessly.

“Huh?” Fang Yu thought she had misheard, then realized she was referring to the sofa Tu Si slept on in the apartment.

“Oh! That sofa is too noisy. Miss Tu turning over every night wakes me up,” Gong Shayu asked calmly. “So… do you have any suggestions?”

President Gong’s tone was fine, but her explanation was unusual. Previously, she would just give a direct order; why give a reason?

Fang Yu: “Yes, I do. What are your requirements?”

“Whatever…” Gong Shayu thought for a moment and then said, “It needs to be a three-seater, but both the length and width must be extended. The cushion shouldn’t be too soft or too hard; a composite material of memory foam and latex would be best. The frame must be solid wood, and the spring system must be silent, ensuring absolutely no sound when turning over. The fabric should be a constant temperature material, not cold in winter and not stuffy in summer…” She paused, then added, “That’s all.”

“……” Fang Yu: You call this “whatever”?

Based on Fang Yu’s professional judgment, this matter absolutely could not be delayed.

In the afternoon, Assistant Fang drove nonstop, visiting all the high-end furniture stores in the entire city, and she actually found a sofa that seemed to meet Gong Shayu’s requirements.

In the evening, she knocked on Gong Shayu’s apartment door with the high-level files for the cocktail party and the new sofa.

She thought that by the time the sofa was mostly installed and Gong Shayu returned, she could go over tomorrow’s procedure.

The person who opened the door, however, was Gong Shayu! And Tu Si was not home…

Fang Yu stood outside, feeling awkward as she looked at Gong Shayu inside, who had a “What are you looking at?” expression.

A chill ran down Fang Yu’s spine, and she hurriedly turned to greet the installation workers. After the new sofa was installed, Fang Yu’s true embarrassment began.

She gave an awkward smile. “I didn’t know you were home, otherwise I would have had it delivered tomorrow.”

Gong Shayu looked matter-of-fact. “You said you were sending a sofa; someone had to open the door.”

“Mhm, mhm, you’re right… Where’s Miss Tu?” Fang Yu searched for something to say.

“I don’t know,” Gong Shayu then added, “She probably knew I don’t like peculiar smells in the house and went out to eat.”

Just as she was speaking, Tu Si pushed the door open and entered. Her hair was messy on her head, with the ends still dripping water. She had three clear plastic bags draped over her shoulder, two colorful plastic buckets in her hands, with a cloth shoe hanging from each bucket handle. Her pant legs were rolled up to her knees, and she was barefoot, completely unconcerned about her appearance.

At the same time, a strong scent of fresh seafood mixed with the unique char-broiled aroma of BBQ rushed toward them.

The moment she saw them, Tu Si was clearly startled and immediately tried to escape.

“Stop!”

Gong Shayu coldly reprimanded her.

Fang Yu: “…”

Judging by the practiced way Miss Tu entered the door, this was definitely not her first time. Can I just pretend I didn’t see that?

Tu Si turned her head and smiled at them without any burden. “Sister, Assistant Fang, good evening.”

“I brought you dinner. Super delicious BBQ, come and try it,” Tu Si said enthusiastically, placing the food bags on the dining table. “It’s even tastier than the shrimp from last time, hehehehe…”

Last time, and just now President Gong said…

Assistant Fang suddenly had an epiphany and instantly realized why President Gong, who usually wouldn’t leave the office before ten o’clock, was here at this time.

“Um… I still have some matters to deal with. President Gong, how about I go back first?” Fang Yu closed the file she had just opened, thinking that with President Gong’s memory, she would remember even if they discussed it in the car tomorrow.

Gong Shayu: “Mhm.”

Tu Si: “Assistant Fang, eat with us. The harvest today was particularly abundant. Ah Jie told me to bring it back and share it with my family.”

Both spoke at the same time. Tu Si’s voice was louder than Gong Shayu’s, and her sentence was longer, making it impossible for Fang Yu to hear what her boss had said.

While she hesitated, Tu Si had already set the tableware and very enthusiastically said, “You two try some. I’ll put these away in the fridge.”

It was only then that Fang Yu saw the two plastic buckets filled with fresh seafood. She was already mentally preparing how she would mediate when Gong Shayu scolded Tu Si, but after waiting for a while, President Gong showed no intention of scolding her.

Fang Yu felt very strange, but relying on a woman’s intuition, she quickly sensed something and fell into contemplation, looking in the direction of Tu Si’s back.

“Not eating?” Gong Shayu asked coldly.

“…Eating,” Fang Yu said. “Last time, you mentioned that Miss Tu found the ledger. She’s quite capable… Oh my god, how is this so delicious?!”

Assistant Fang, for the first time, showed signs of being a living person in front of Gong Shayu. “President Gong, you must try this. This is definitely the best oyster I’ve ever eaten!!!”

Actually, Gong Shayu had smelled the sweet, fresh scent since Tu Si started arranging the food, but the Third Miss Gong had not had any expectations for the taste of this food.

Because, even when she was very young, she had already tasted the most exquisite flavors the world had to offer.