The Cold, Aloof Dominatrix After Parasitically Entering a Rich Family - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: The Truth: “What is Jie-jie doing?”

“Xu Zhixia! Wow… it’s Xu Zhixia!”

“She’s back in the country! When did she return?”

“Oh my gosh, to actually hear her live! This charity gala was worth it today.”

“Should I ask for an autograph or a photo later?”

“Only children choose; I want both.”

This was originally a formal charity gala, but with the arrival of Xu Zhixia, the internet celebrities and big-name influencers collectively grabbed their equipment, pushing the event towards the entertainment news section.

Xu Zhixia is a world-class violinist. At only twenty-eight, she had swept the Tchaikovsky Competition, Wieniawski Competition, and Paganini Competition—a true Grand Slam winner.

Relative to her award-collecting ability, her looks weren’t breathtakingly stunning at first glance. There was always a lingering melancholy in her eyes on her standard oval face.

This innate sense of aloofness made people sigh: She was born for art.

Most importantly, she was Gong Shayu’s childhood friend.

Xu Zhixia had often said in her acceptance speeches: she would eventually return to her home country because her most important friend was there.

“Hello, Zhixia.” Gong Shayu raised her glass to greet her, a touch more genuine warmth in her eyes.

“No hug?” Xu Zhixia teased Gong Shayu, ignoring the crowd.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it sent the already whispering crowd into a frenzy.

Gong Shayu smiled: “The wine is a bit intoxicating tonight. Next time.”

Xu Zhixia had already spread her arms. She didn’t want a “next time.”

Gong Shayu no longer refused, reaching out to accept the unrestrained hug.

The air between them was filled with the scents of perfume and fresh grass, as if they were back in the afternoon many years ago, secretly eating canned fruit in the music room.

“Congratulations,” Gong Shayu personally handed her a champagne glass. “How long are you planning to stay this time?”

Her gaze seemed to be drawn by something, lingering briefly on the white body of the violin before she quickly looked away.

“Thank you. But if you hadn’t given up the violin back then, where would my position be now?”

In front of Gong Shayu, all of Xu Zhixia’s aloofness, melancholy, and artistic flair dissolved into the shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth. “I don’t plan on leaving this time.”

…

An hour later,

Tu Si had finally turned the backyard lawn into a patch of bare ground. The pile of multi-colored vegetable seeds she bought had also been flash-delivered.

She checked the time; it was already 10:30 PM. She carved out a moment from her busy schedule and sent a voice message to Assistant Tan.

“What is Jie-jie doing?”

The Cuscuta spirit was completely unaware that Tan Ke had already “sold her out.” At this moment, she was still thinking about secretly synchronizing information with Assistant Tan behind Gong Shayu’s back.

Tan Ke’s body froze. She had used the moment when Xu Zhixia and Gong Shayu hugged as an opportunity to sneak out for a cigarette. Although she knew the two were good friends, she didn’t want to know how good.

Assistant Tan, cigarette dangling from her mouth, looked left and right, confirming Tu Si hadn’t secretly installed any surveillance on her before speaking into her phone: “She’s drinking.”

Tu Si: “Good. Jie-jie’s poison might not just be from food. Air or direct contact with plants can also spread it.”

Tan Ke pondered the voice message. Gong Shayu’s condition today did seem much better than the previous two days. She had also drunk a fair amount of champagne tonight. It seemed Dr. Wang’s medical judgment might just be a misdiagnosis.

She tentatively replied with a text: Okay, I’ll check again carefully tomorrow. I’ve checked everyone she could have come into contact with these past two days, even the cleaning a…

The cleaning lady!!!

Something sharply whistled over Tan Ke’s head. Gong Shayu had germaphobia. Her office had to be disinfected once a day, and the disinfectant—

“It’s me. Check immediately!” Tan Ke pressed her Bluetooth earpiece: “Three things: First, all information on the cleaning personnel responsible for disinfecting President Gong’s office; second, the batch number of the disinfectant used today; third,” she paused, looking at the vent of the smoking area, “pull up the inspection records for the ventilation ducts in President Gong’s office.”

…

In the banquet hall, Xu Zhixia’s presence elevated the entire charity gala to a new level of interest. The host passionately and sincerely read the stories of children with autism.

Finally, it came to the segment thanking all the charitable donors. Gong Shayu’s name was saved for the grand finale: “Thank you to Ms. Gong Shayu of ICC Hotel Group, for using the most rational numbers to perform the most romantic act. The blue light emanating from the 3 million displayed on the screen is the light of hope for countless families with autism…”

Just then, Xu Zhixia suddenly stood up and walked towards the stage amid the astonished gazes of the crowd.

She held a white violin case in both hands. Then, she opened the case, revealing the very white violin she had played during her entrance.

“This violin,” Xu Zhixia handed the instrument to the host, “was my comrade-in-arms during the Paganini competition, and it holds extraordinary significance for me.”

“Today, I want to donate all the proceeds from its auction to the Autism Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation, joining President Gong in lighting more hope for these children of the stars.”

Thunderous applause and praise erupted from the audience.

“She’s beautiful and kind-hearted!”

“The young lady is too kind.”

“Folks, I’m here live! Honestly, it’s so moving! If I ever get rich, I’ll be as generous as the violinist Miss Xu Zhixia. Come on, don’t forget to like and subscribe as you pass by…”

A few small influencers were secretly live-streaming. The area was explicitly designated as strictly prohibiting photography, video recording, and live-streaming.

But some people still ignored these rules.

“Not bad,” Gong Shayu gave Xu Zhixia a thumbs-up after she stepped off the stage.

Xu Zhixia smiled brightly: “Of course. Your good… friend, President Gong, isn’t just anyone.”

…

Tan Ke saw Gong Shayu and Xu Zhixia laughing together as the message came through her Bluetooth earpiece.

Such an expression was rarely seen on Gong Shayu’s face.

“The disinfectant contains a slight… a slight, shouldn’t-be-there presence of Gelsemium elegans (poison) and alkaloids…”

“The cleaning lady specifically responsible for the disinfection only started last month, a week before President Gong returned from Yalugang, and… and her background check… has a loophole. Just now, we’ve already lost… contact with her. Should we call the police?”

Tan Ke felt her heart pounding violently. She never expected Tu Si’s seemingly nonsensical rambling to actually be the truth. If not for her professional instincts, she probably would have dismissed it as a joke like everyone else, only to be recalled for a chuckle.

The Gong family had a complex background, and those who wished Gong Shayu dead were numerous. But to use this method of murder, a name surfaced in Tan Ke’s mind—Gong Shaodong (Gong Shayu’s older brother).

Analyzing the motive alone, all three Gong siblings, and even all the enemies of the Gong Group, were suspects.

An external enemy?

It wasn’t impossible, but to precisely grasp Gong Shayu’s return time, office layout, and even the daily disinfection process would be overly complicated, and the cost-effectiveness was too low compared to simply arranging an accident.

The second Gong sibling was obsessed with the entertainment industry, busy maintaining their image and popularity.

The fourth was still studying and had never interfered with group affairs.

In contrast, Gong Shaodong—the eldest son, known for his ruthless methods and meticulous actions in the business world—was the most obvious suspect.

Tan Ke took a few sharp breaths and walked toward Gong Shayu.

“Shayu, I just returned this morning, and my home isn’t unpacked yet. Can I crash at your place to get over my jet lag?” Xu Zhixia probed Gong Shayu with a joking tone.

She had drunk champagne and a fair amount of red wine tonight, making her say things she normally wouldn’t dare.

From the way Tan Ke approached, Gong Shayu judged that she had something very important to tell her.

“Next time,” Gong Shayu helped her stand up. “I’ll call you a special car.”

Xu Zhixia continued in a half-drunk voice: “I don’t like taking strangers’ cars.”

Gong Shayu exchanged a look with Tan Ke: “How about this, let Tan Ke, my assistant, drive you back, and I’ll take the special car.”

“No way!” Tan Ke and Xu Zhixia said in unison.

Gong Shayu: “I’ll wait for Assistant Fang. That works, right?”

Tan Ke wanted to object, but met Gong Shayu’s silencing gaze and closed her mouth.

“Come, I’ll see you to the car,” Gong Shayu smiled at Xu Zhixia. “When Weng Hongye returns, I’ll invite you both to my house.”

Xu Zhixia covered her mouth and let out a small burp: “That cousin of yours doesn’t seem like a good person.”

Gong Shayu suddenly recalled that since childhood, Xu Zhixia would hate anyone she got close to. It seemed this habit still hadn’t changed.

…

After settling Xu Zhixia, Tan Ke finally found a chance to speak with Gong Shayu.

“The poisoning… it’s real. The disinfectant, and the cleaning lady is already missing. President Gong, you’re really in danger here alone!” Tan Ke worried.

Gong Shayu smiled again: “Don’t worry, go. I’ll take a walk alone. Relax, if it came down to a fight, you might not even be my match.”

Tan Ke looked at her, wanting to persuade her further, but before she could speak, Gong Shayu interrupted: “Whose orders are you taking? Yours or mine?”

Tan Ke honestly got into the car and sent Tu Si a WeChat message: [President Gong alone, contact quickly]

When the message arrived, Tu Si had just finished her shower, and her vines were fully relaxed. She was comfortably sprawled on the sofa, watching TV and admiring their wedding photos.

Tu Si frowned and listened to the message three times. She didn’t understand what “contact quickly” meant. After asking a bunch of AIs and eliminating all their suggested answers, she figured out it probably meant she should call Gong Shayu fast.

“Assistant Tan is too lazy. Would it kill her to use two more words?” Tu Si complained while dialing Gong Shayu’s number.

…

“Is your President Gong busy lately?” In the back seat, Xu Zhixia’s drunkenness instantly faded, and her aloofness returned.

“…” Tan Ke: “Quite busy.”

Well, she has to be busy, doesn’t she? Managing the company, dealing with attempted murder, seeing the doctor, and picking up her wife.

“Busy with work?” Xu Zhixia asked again.

Perhaps to retaliate against Xu Zhixia for separating her from Gong Shayu at such a critical time, Assistant Tan’s goodwill toward Tu Si outweighed the need for careful wording, and she revealed: “Busy with work, but mainly because Mrs. Gong is quite clingy and can’t be away from her for a minute.”

“Slap—thud!”

The phone in Xu Zhixia’s hand suddenly slipped, hitting the leather seat hard. Due to the bounce, it rolled onto the car floor. The car instantly fell into a deathly silence.

After a long pause, only Xu Zhixia’s trembling voice could be heard asking: “When did she get married? No, when did she start liking women?”