The Police Report/Recollections of Meeting Her – Part 6
Tuesday, continued…
Hou Yi’s thoughts drifted back to the day he first met Anna. As he stood outside the building housing ANX Lawyers, he was grateful that he hadn’t run into Lu Jinhu yet. He and Assistant Wang entered the building together, with the bodyguards trailing behind. Assistant Wang opened the door, and they entered while the bodyguards remained outside. They headed for the elevators, exiting on the 8th floor where the ANX Lawyers’ reception awaited them.
Just as Hou Yi was lost in thought, he noticed Anna shudder. She shook her head slightly, signaling that she didn’t need his support at that moment. He gave her a nod of understanding but remained silent, his mind returning to the meeting he was about to attend.
As they reached the reception desk, Assistant Wang announced their arrival. Hou Yi stood back, waiting. That’s when a young woman, hurrying past, bumped into him. Before he could react, he took one look at her—and was immediately captivated. The second glance made him certain: this was the woman he would spend his life with.
He wondered who she was, but as his eyes drifted to her hand, he noticed an engagement ring on her finger. The realization hit him hard—this woman, the one who had captured his attention in an instant, was already committed to someone else. But even then, Hou Yi made a silent vow to himself. If he couldn’t have a relationship with her, he would ensure her safety, happiness, and well-being in her current relationship. He could survive without her—but he would never forget her.
Before he could form any words, the woman spoke to him in fluent Mandarin, apologizing for the accident. Her command of the language startled him—few Westerners spoke it so well, but she did, with the ease of a native speaker. She then moved behind the reception desk, disappearing into the office area.
For a moment, Hou Yi stood frozen. He tried to shake off the thoughts racing through his mind. This encounter—just a brief glance and a chance meeting—couldn’t possibly determine the course of his life. It was probably just infatuation. But then, memories of family stories flooded his mind: for generations, the Hou men had recognized their future spouses with a single glance. Perhaps there was something to it after all.
Assistant Wang, ever the one to gather information, asked the receptionist who the woman was. The receptionist, without hesitation, said it was Anna Jones, a lawyer at the firm. She also mentioned, almost casually, that Anna was engaged to a man named Lu Jinhu, who was well-known among the staff. It seemed Lu Jinhu not only taught Mandarin but had also become fluent in it himself. The receptionist couldn’t help but add that Anna was quite fortunate to have such a handsome fiancé.
Before Hou Yi could comment on the office gossip, the senior partners he was scheduled to meet arrived. He didn’t have time for idle chatter, but as he entered the meeting room, he found himself absentmindedly picking up a few of Anna’s belongings—small things, but things he wanted to keep. He slipped them into his wallet, though he wasn’t sure why.
The meeting lasted until lunchtime, and as Hou Yi stood by the window, he thought he saw Anna leaving the building with someone he was certain was Lu Jinhu. He told the lawyers he would return the next day to finish their discussions. But when he came back the following day, there was no sign of Anna Jones. A wave of disappointment swept over him as he realized she wasn’t there.
The scene shifts to the present, where Hou Yi notices Anna’s distress. She is crying, and this time, he won’t stand by and let her suffer alone. He moves to her side, sitting down beside her. Without hesitation, he gathers her into his arms, whispering softly, “It will be alright, it will be alright.”
Anna leans into him, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability, her sobs slowly subsiding under his comforting presence.
Before either Anna or Officer Mu can speak, Hou Yi interrupts, his voice firm and resolute. “Officer Mu, I’m sorry, but I’m not leaving my wife’s side. She’s upset, and I won’t abandon her right now. I’ll sit quietly until you’re finished. Is that alright with you?”
Officer Mu hesitates but then nods. “While I wouldn’t usually allow it, given Madam Hou’s condition, I’ll make an exception this time, CEO Hou.”
He then turns his attention back to Anna. “Madam Hou, can you prove that you own the electronics Mr. Lu and Miss Yang are accusing you of stealing?”
Anna takes a moment to collect herself before responding. “I can. I’ll email my employer to confirm that the laptop and tablet are part of my employment package, but it will take a few days. As for the camera, I have the original purchase invoice and the bank statement showing the payment. Would that be sufficient?”
“That will be fine, Madam Hou. I would appreciate it if you could provide those documents.” Officer Mu pauses, then asks, “What do you wish to do next?”
Hou Yi notices Anna’s tension at the question, and he immediately steps in. “Officer Mu, my wife and I have already discussed this. Today, we simply wanted to record the events that transpired. We obtained our marriage certificate today, and Anna doesn’t want to make any decisions on this matter just yet. There’s also the incident at Fengs involving Lu Jinhu and Yang Lin, where they tried to blackmail the staff. I believe no decision has been made regarding charges there.”
Officer Mu looks puzzled. “What are you talking about?”
Hou Yi stands firm. “Due to family arrangements, I’m the owner of Fengs. When my wife and I were at the flagship store choosing some jewelry, Lu Jinhu and Yang Lin tried to pressure the staff into giving them certain pieces. I instructed Manager Yong to provide all the details, including the CCTV and audio recordings. I haven’t decided whether to press charges yet, but the evidence is clear.”
Officer Mu looks dissatisfied. “I thought I was here to lay charges, not for this. It feels like a waste of my time.”
Anna, finally regaining her composure, speaks up. “Officer Mu, this isn’t a waste of time. My husband likely wants to take me away for a few days, so we wanted to make sure everything was recorded accurately. Please, don’t ask me to make any decisions today. I just need about two weeks to think it through. I have no issue signing the statement once you provide it.”
Officer Mu sighs, clearly frustrated. “I’ll tell you now—the only reason I’m not charging you for wasting police time is because you two just got your marriage certificate. So…”
