Travelling to M Mall
Tuesday, continued …
Anna could sense Hou Yi’s anger simmering beneath his calm exterior as they drove toward M Mall. She knew he was furious about what had transpired at Fengs, but she was more preoccupied with her own fears. The thought of Yang Lin and Lu Jinhu bursting into the VIP room, discovering her marriage to Hou Yi, and possibly hurting her made her stomach churn. She wasn’t ready for them to know—not yet. The timing of that revelation needed to be on her terms.
Anna reached out and gently touched Hou Yi’s arm. He turned his gaze to her, his expression softening.
“Do you want to tell me what happened in there?” she asked quietly.
Hou Yi sighed and began, “Let’s just say that Lu Jinhu and Yang Lin showed their true colors—spoiled, entitled children instead of mature adults. Yang Lin demanded the ring set we chose, insisting the staff call whoever bought it and force them to return it. She even suggested the buyer should pay for a replacement for themselves, as compensation for her ‘inconvenience.’”
He paused, a bitter smile crossing his face. “I told them to stop abusing the staff and made it clear they wouldn’t get what they wanted just because they demanded it. Of course, they threatened me—empty threats, but threats nonetheless.”
He clenched his fists briefly, then relaxed. “The more they do this, the more I look forward to helping you take them down. Do you have any plans yet?”
Anna smiled thoughtfully. “For now, I think we let things simmer. I’m guessing Lu Jinhu expects to own your family’s company tomorrow. Letting him stew over not getting the ring set he wanted is a good start. It’ll annoy him even more when he realizes you’re married but doesn’t know who you married. That uncertainty will drive him mad.”
She hesitated, then continued, “Knowing him, he’ll take his frustration out on Yang Lin—verbally or even physically—which will chip away at her sense of entitlement. Denying them what they wanted at Fengs has already frustrated them, and when they realize tomorrow I’m not on the flight they ordered me to be on, it’ll be another blow. The rest… we’ll handle that as it comes.”
Hou Yi chuckled softly. “True, they don’t handle being denied very well.” He glanced at her. “Changing the subject, you mentioned earlier you’re a lawyer. Tell me about your work—we’ve got a few minutes before we reach M Mall.”
Anna nodded. “I completed my Commerce and Law degree five years ago, when I was twenty-one. I skipped a grade in primary school, so I finished high school at seventeen and started university early. Through summer courses and overloaded semesters, I managed to finish a five-year program in four years.”
“That’s impressive,” Hou Yi interjected, clearly intrigued.
She smiled modestly. “After graduating, I quickly completed the professional training needed to be admitted to practice. It’s a fancy way of saying I was officially recognized as a lawyer. I secured a job at ANX Lawyers in Melbourne right after my degree, working there while finishing my training. Over the years, I’ve climbed the ranks. There’s even talk of the partners considering me for partnership in a couple of years.”
Hou Yi’s expression softened further. There was no longer any doubt in his mind that Anna was the same woman who had captivated him during his visit to ANX Lawyers six months ago.
“What kind of law do you specialize in?” he asked.
“ANX Lawyers primarily focuses on commercial law—helping local clients navigate international issues and vice versa. But the firm’s founders understood that commercial clients often face other legal challenges. So, they created a small general practice within the firm to handle those needs—criminal charges, immigration issues, asset protection, even family law. I work in that department, and I love it. The variety keeps me on my toes, and I get to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
“And commercial work?”
“I avoid it whenever I can,” Anna admitted with a laugh. “It’s just not my thing, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.”
Hou Yi grinned. “So, what’s your favorite area of law?”
“I love—”
Before Anna could finish, Assistant Wang interrupted from the front. “Young Master, Young Madam, we’ve arrived at M Mall.”
The car came to a smooth stop, and Assistant Wang quickly stepped out to open Hou Yi’s door. Hou Yi climbed out and turned to help Anna.
Once they were both out, Hou Yi addressed his assistant. “Assistant Wang, park the car and then come find me. I’ll need to give you the keys and instructions for a task back at the office. After that, you’re free for the evening. I’ll send the details to your phone shortly.”
With a nod, Assistant Wang drove off to park.
Hou Yi escorted Anna to a discreet side entrance with a small buzzer. He pressed it, and a robotic voice responded, “M Mall VIP Service. How can I help you?”
