M Mall – Part 1
Tuesday, continued …
“It’s Hou Yi. I have an appointment,” he announced firmly into the intercom.
“Apologies, CEO Hou. Please come in immediately. The personal shopper assigned to you has momentarily stepped out, but could you take a seat upon entry? She will attend to you as soon as possible,” came the polite, almost robotic response.
The buzzer sounded, and the door clicked open. Hou Yi held the door for Anna, escorting her into an elegant lounge. The room was tastefully decorated, with plush furniture and a calming atmosphere. He led Anna to a comfortable two-seater couch, and they sat side by side.
Moments later, a poised young woman entered the room. She had a polished demeanor, but her sharp eyes hinted at something less professional. “Hello, CEO Hou. My name is Sadie. I’m your personal shopper today. If you’ll follow me, I’ll ensure we meet all your needs promptly.”
Hou Yi stood and extended a hand to help Anna up, a small but unmistakable gesture of care. Together, they followed Sadie down a sleek corridor, painted in soft lemon tones. The corridor led to a private room equipped with mirrors, a dais at one end for fittings, a seating area at the other, and an adjacent changing space.
Once inside, Sadie closed the door and stepped forward, positioning herself subtly between Hou Yi and Anna. Her body language exuded a confidence that bordered on arrogance. Hou Yi’s eyes flickered with distaste. He found her conduct toward Anna disrespectful, and his displeasure was clear.
Anna, however, had also noticed Sadie’s attitude. She realized that allowing herself to be bullied or ignored today was not an option. Before Hou Yi could intervene, she acted.
Just as Hou Yi began to address Sadie—“Ms. Sadie, could you—” Anna stepped around the woman, throwing herself into his arms and planting a light kiss on his lips.
“Yi, do we really need to be here? There are better things we could be doing,” she said in a playful, coy tone.
Hou Yi instantly understood what Anna was doing—sending a message. But he knew her subtle approach might lead to misunderstandings. If Sadie thought Anna was merely a mistress, it would fuel her disrespect. Hou Yi wasn’t having any of that.
He leaned in, giving Anna a quick but firm kiss. Turning her in his arms so she faced away from Sadie, he wrapped her in a protective embrace. Bending slightly to meet her gaze, he whispered just loud enough for Sadie to overhear.
“Sweetheart, today we received our wedding certificate, and tonight, you’ll meet my family. All I want is to buy you a dress for the occasion, maybe some additional clothes, and most importantly…” He kissed her cheek briefly before continuing, “…something special for tonight. We can come back together or arrange another visit when you’re ready.”
Anna blushed furiously, catching on to the implication, but quickly played along. Turning in his arms, she looked up at him, feigning a whisper, “Yi, we’re not alone. Let’s finish this and go home.” Pulling him down, she kissed him again, this time lingering just enough to make her point.
Sadie stood frozen, her mind racing. The rumors she had heard about Hou Yi—about his alleged aloofness or even his lack of interest in women—seemed utterly unfounded. And yet, here he was, passionately affectionate with the woman he claimed was his wife.
What’s worse, there had been no whispers, no signs among the city’s elite about this sudden marriage. The revelation shattered Sadie’s long-held fantasies of catching Hou Yi’s eye, marrying him, or even becoming his mistress. Reality hit her hard: she had miscalculated, and her behavior today could jeopardize her job.
She scrambled to recover. Focus, Sadie. Be professional. Play it off as a misunderstanding.
Clearing her throat, she forced a smile. “Pardon me, CEO Hou… did I hear you correctly? Is this your wife, Madam Hou?”
