The Police Report/Recollections of Meeting Her – Part 5
Tuesday, continued…
Anna continued recounting her experience to Officer Mu. “I received a second slap, this time from Yang Lin, who was absolutely furious. The hotel manager, trying to calm her down, made it clear that he had been informed of the allegations—of me stalking them. He told me I had five minutes to gather my belongings before he would have to escort me from the hotel.”
“The manager emphasized that if I failed to comply, I would be detained until the police arrived to arrest me. I denied the stalking accusations but chose not to argue. I agreed to have the manager accompany me, to avoid any further allegations while I was alone. I handed him my room key before we reached the room. He told me that, based on his judgment, I posed a safety risk to both Lu Jinhu and Yang Lin, and that I would not be allowed to return.”
Anna paused for a moment, her expression distant. Hou Yi watched her closely, noticing the slight tremor in her hands. She shook her head, silently signaling that she didn’t need his comfort just yet. He nodded in understanding and sat back.
She took a sip from her glass, steadied her breathing, and continued. “I had already packed half of my things, so I began in the bathroom and moved to the wardrobe and drawers, collecting the last of my belongings. From the room safe, I retrieved my work laptop, tablet, and personal camera, along with their chargers, and packed them into my cabin bag.”
“I double-checked the room to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything, placing the final items in my bags. After securing the suitcase, I locked it with the combination lock, and did the same for my cabin bag. Just as I was about to leave, I noticed a necklace I had missed in the safe. I quickly placed it in my handbag.”
Anna paused again, visibly shaken. She took another deep breath and went on. “When I reached the lobby, Yang Lin accused me of stealing and demanded I be detained. The manager grabbed my arms to stop me from resisting, preventing Yang Lin from searching my bags. Since I had locked everything, she couldn’t get in and demanded I open them. She even tried to grab my handbag.”
“I refused, pulled away, and made my way to the checkout desk. I told the desk clerk that all the electronics in my bags were mine and covered by my insurance policy, including the work devices. I placed my bags between myself and the counter so no one could touch them, and told the clerk that the manager had my room key. I paid the remaining charges and checked out.”
“Yang Lin didn’t stop. She kept calling me a thief, a liar, a stalker—worse names. She tried to get control of my bags again. As I walked out of the lobby, I managed to keep just out of reach of both her and Lu Jinhu. Outside, the hotel staff signaled to Assistant Wang to bring the car around. I quickly loaded my bags into the boot with their help, and as they closed it, Lu Jinhu and Yang Lin reached me.”
“They grabbed hold of me and demanded I hand over my electronics, claiming they were Lu Jinhu’s property. I managed to break free, opened the car door, and quickly got inside. But before I could close it, they were holding the door, refusing to let me go. They kept asking who was in the car with me and continued their verbal assault.”
“It was only with the help of the hotel staff that I was able to close the door. As soon as it was shut, Assistant Wang drove us off, and I just collapsed into my husband’s arms, crying.”
At this point, Anna started to cry, the weight of the ordeal finally catching up with her. Hou Yi made no move to approach her immediately. He could see how deeply this was affecting her, but he stayed in his seat for a moment, allowing her the space to process. Finally, when he couldn’t stand to see her in pain anymore, he moved to her side, pulling her close.
“It will be alright,” he whispered, his voice gentle. “It will be alright.”
He held her, feeling the strain of what she had just endured. It was clear how much it had taken out of her.
