The Cold, Aloof Dominatrix After Parasitically Entering a Rich Family - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Price of Removing the Flaw: Gong Wanting Sends a Villa…

A Reprieve for Tusi

Fang Yu opened her phone, her eyes stinging again from the screen full of “Sister.” She was about to blacklist Tu Si when a sudden spark of insight hit her: her boss had definitely been out of contact for three hours after getting off work tonight.

Therefore, it wasn’t impossible that this “Tusi” had indeed taken her to the movies.

Fang Yu set her phone to vibrate and placed it by her bed.

She silently gave Tu Si a “stay of execution.” If by noon tomorrow Gong Shayu still hadn’t given the nod, she would proceed with the block.

…

The Morning Meal at the Gong Estate

“Isn’t it just a matter of nodding your head? Why make it so complicated?” Gong Wanting (龔晚亭) plopped down on the dining chair next to Gong Shayu. With fingers painted in bright red nail polish, she delicately held a spoon, simultaneously teasing Gong Shayu and sending a small mouthful of bird’s nest to her lips.

Gong Wanting was two years older than Gong Shayu, her half-sister. They looked somewhat similar, but their personalities were diametrically opposed. Gong Wanting was lively and outgoing from a young age, adept at social maneuvering, and a popular social butterfly with countless admirers.

She entered the entertainment industry with the title of Eldest Miss Gong, consistently staying in the limelight. After winning a film award in the last two years, her high-profile antics only increased. Whether it was fame attracting trouble or Gong Wanting attracting trouble, she was always photographed in some scandalous situation, regardless of time, place, or media outlet.

It wasn’t that the Gong family didn’t care; it was that Gong Wanting had put her foot down: “None of my romantic entanglements will be for nothing.” Strangely enough, every time a scandal broke, Gong Group’s stock price would inevitably rise, the exact amount depending on the paramour.

Gong Wanting sampled a small shrimp dumpling, then placed the unfinished portion and the other untouched parts of her elaborate East-meets-West breakfast onto the plate. A maid approached and quietly replaced her bone china plate.

Gong Wanting continued, “The bed of the Hao family’s young son is one many people want to climb into. Shayu, you must seize the opportunity. Sometimes, choice is more important than effort.”

Gong Shayu took a sip of black tea. The cup was placed gently back onto the saucer; even the contact between porcelain and porcelain made no sound. She took the napkin offered by the maid and slowly dabbed the corners of her mouth.

Finally, she spoke in an unhurried manner: “Oh, if you want to climb it so badly, please feel free.”

“You! Dad, look at her…” Gong Wanting whined coquettishly. “Shayu is truly wasting your kindness.”

Gong Shayu stood up, glanced at the father and daughter, and nodded. “Please pass that kindness to your second daughter. I’ve finished eating and will prepare for work. Please enjoy your meal.”

Even though her words were a clear refusal, her tone was calm and measured. Gong Shayu’s voice was gentle and refined, her diction reflecting the bearing of an esteemed family, instantly conveying her sophistication.

Today, there were only the three of them at home. Gong Zhongshan (龔重山), the father, had become increasingly quiet over the years, while Gong Wanting’s conversation had grown louder. If her stepmother, brother, and younger sister were added to the mix, it would feel like visiting a zoo.

When did their mealtimes become this lively?

Gong Shayu looked up and caught the reflection of Gong Zhongshan on the marble of the stairwell.

She suddenly recalled a moment from her childhood, on her birthday, when Gong Zhongshan had rushed home just to celebrate with her.

“Xiao Yu, what did the etiquette teacher teach you today?”

“Don’t speak while eating, don’t make noise while sleeping. Daddy, that means no talking during meals, and movements must be gentle…”

“Good, then Daddy will talk to you after we eat.”

…

It turned out, the rule “don’t speak while eating” only applied to her.

Gong Shayu changed her clothes and prepared to leave for work. While still on the second floor, she overheard Gong Wanting’s not-so-low voice from the dining room.

“Dad, when is she going to move out?”

“We’ll discuss this when your mother and the others return.” Gong Zhongshan’s voice was deep and calm. Gong Shayu had heard him use this tone to seal the fate of others many times.

Gong Wanting’s voice grew louder, snorting through her nose: “If I were her, I’d definitely go stay with my own mother. She refuses the marriage alliance, and she doesn’t even care about her sick mother! She’s truly a cold and selfish person.”

Gong Zhongshan placed something heavily on the table, indicating that Gong Wanting should stop talking.

Undeniably, Gong Wanting was Gong Zhongshan’s favorite child. In their exchange, one could glimpse the dynamic of a normal father and daughter. In Gong Shayu’s memory, Gong Zhongshan had never reprimanded her, nor had the Gong family ever forced her into a blind date. Now, what? Do they want her to marry someone?

Marry someone?

Gong Shayu’s thoughts paused. She ruminated on those words with a knowing look, the curve of her lips turning up.

She returned to the dining room fully dressed and sat down. Her eyes swept over the exquisitely arranged fruit platter on the table, lingering on a few black, round grapes in the center.

She suddenly thought of Tu Si’s eyes.

Gong Zhongshan and Gong Wanting exchanged glances, and the father gave a light, noncommittal cough.

“I overheard your conversation,” Gong Shayu said expressionlessly. “You’re right, I should move out. However, I’m used to this neighborhood. I feel suffocated in any space under 1,000 square meters.”

Gong Wanting’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about? You want Dad to buy you a flat in Yufu? And it can’t be under 1,000 square meters? Do you know the price? Besides, you’re just a recent graduate and a mere hotel manager, can you even afford it?!”

Gong Shayu laughed aloud. “Second Sister’s advice is always so pertinent. Dad, you’re a businessman, so let’s talk business.”

“First, I’ve lived in this community since birth. I’ll lose sleep if I move out of it. Dad wouldn’t let his daughter suffer sleepless nights for the sake of a mere two billion dollars, would he?”

“Second, about the blind date with the Hao family—sending your most disfavored third daughter is one thing, but Second Sister is a Film Queen, and the youngest sister already has a tech company valued at over a hundred million. And then there’s the third child, just a hotel manager the Gong family is ready to discard. Tsk tsk tsk, what kind of message does that send?”

“Those who know will blame me; those who don’t will think you look down on the Hao family.”

“You! You… what are you saying?!” Gong Wanting looked at her father in disbelief. Even his usually rock-solid expression showed a tiny crack.

Gong Shayu had always been unreadable, her words seemingly passing through them like cotton, causing no ripples.

In Gong Shayu’s childhood, her stepmother still maintained some caution, and the other children didn’t openly bully her. But after the stepmother was officially recognized, those old memories became faded clothing, as if no one remembered that this gilded position was secured by seizing what belonged to another woman.

Only Gong Shayu had the past etched into her bones.

It wasn’t that she had nowhere to live; over the years, she had invested in several properties herself. She endured living here only to spite them, even if it meant feeling disgusted herself first.

Every time she walked past the meticulously framed wedding photo in the hall, she seemed to see her birth mother reduced to a blinding smudge of mud in the frame.

And she herself felt like an ink stain spreading on rice paper; the harder she tried to wipe it away, the more the picture-perfect life was smeared with chaotic shadows—they were the true bl00d relatives, and her mother, her sister, and she were the rightful owners of this house. Yet, she felt like the most jarring flaw, intruding upon the meticulously arranged lives of others.

Removing the flaw must come at a cost, mustn’t it?

Gong Shayu rested her chin on her hand, snapping out of her tangled thoughts, though she appeared focused all along.

She was intently staring at her father—the absolute ruler of the Gong Group.

Gong Zhongshan quickly regained his composure and called his secretary right in front of Gong Shayu and Gong Wanting.

With just two simple sentences, Gong Shayu secured a property valued at 250 million yuan and the position of head of the Gong Group’s hotel investment company.

If Gong Wanting hadn’t known that the investment company was about to be dragged down by the resort project, she would have suspected this was an elaborate scheme between father and daughter.

“Dad is so generous for Sister Wanting, so I’ll be direct too,” Gong Shayu said with a smile. “Tonight, I will go meet the Hao boy, but whether he likes me or not, I certainly can’t guarantee it.”

Gong Wanting was so angry she stomped her foot, but restrained herself out of deference to Gong Zhongshan. She then reconsidered: if she could get rid of Gong Shayu for this amount of money, it would be worth it.

She put on her best acting-award smile and said, “Third Sister, why don’t you thank Dad quickly?”

Gong Shayu’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Most of all, I need to thank you, Second Sister.”