Chapter 12: Tidying up
12 Tidying up 𝙛𝔯𝒆e𝔀e𝗯𝓷𝗼𝘃e𝚕.𝒄𝗼𝗺
Anna Jones, seeing her face, in the makeup compact mirror realised that she needed to tidy up so she and Hou Yi could get married, and said "Oh my god, I look shocking.I need to tidy up.Do you know where there is a bathroom."
Aware of what the shop worker had said to him, replied "The shop where I purchased the water from indicated that we would use their staff bathroom.It is unlikely to be much, but hopefully it will let you clean and tidy your face, before we head to the Civil Administration Bureau.".
With that Hou Yi stood up, and helped Anna up off the bench that they had been sitting on.While holding her hand they walked together into the shop where the worker, looked at them, and indicated to follow him.He showed Anna into the staff bathroom, which as per Hou Yi's [prediction was not much.It was a sink with a mirror and a toilet stall.At least there was a lock on the door, which she locked behind her.At least there was clean water to use.She sat her handbag down next to the sink and proceeded to remove the makeup she had in it, and gathered a few tissues to help clean her face, so she could re-apply her makeup.
It was then Anna realises how dramatically her life had changed in the last 30 minutes or so.Her wedding to Lu Jinhu was called off in a devastating way literally leaving her at the altar, she knocked someone over in her distress, found out that she was not the only person being screwed over and proposed marriage to a stranger who agreed.Dealing with her family, friends and work about what had happened was something for the future, given she still just over 3 and a half weeks of her leave left.The enormity of what she had done, then hit her, in that she had proposed marriage to a stranger to deal with the situation Lu Jinhu had left her in and had no idea what Hou Yi wanted in their relationship.Hopefully she was not going to have to fight him tonight if he wants to consummate their marriage, as given how drained she felt she did not believe that she could.Anna knew that this needed to be cleared up. 𝐟r𝒆ℯ𝘄𝑒𝒃𝚗𝒐𝘃e𝗹.c𝘰𝐦
Anna then worked on tidying up her appearance, so that she felt at least somewhat better before going to the Civil Administration Bureau.
Meanwhile, Hou Yi realised that he needed to make a few arrangements, and that he had the opportunity to do so, while Anna was tidying herself up.He knew that she was still, somewhat in shock about what had happened, so he did not want to immediately frighten her more, so he called his assistant, Wang Long.
"Assistant Wang, I need you to do a couple of things before you come and pick up back up.Go and change the car.We do not need the Maybach or the Bugatti Veyron.Can you change the car over to one of the older BMW's.Yang Lin, stood me up, and married Lu Jinhu, but I have a way to stop the Lu's which is in the process of being resolved.My bride does not realise exactly who I am, so I do not want to shock her too much with a hugely expensive current or top of the range vehicle, but something that more makes her comfortable.Also can you call Fengs Jewellery and ask manager Wang, to arrange for a selection of wedding rings, both male and female and matching sets to be available for my examination when we get there.I am guessing that you will need to be where you dropped me off in about 30 minutes, but once I leave the Civil Administration Bureau I will call you so you can be waiting when we arrive."
Hou Yi paused and heard dead silence on the other end of the line."Assistant Wang, did you hear me"
"Yes sir", came the stunned reply through the phone.
"By the way, please call the family and tell them that my bride and I will visit the family compound tonight but will return to my apartment in town.Please make sure that that is ready for us to return to, and can you arrange for the bank to issue a companion credit card in the name of Anna Hou, formally Anna Jones."
"Yes Sir, I will get on to that immediately."With than Hou Yi ended the call, and Assistant Wang, realised that something had completely changed.The young master had been somewhat withdrawn when he left him near the Civil Administration Bureau, but now seemed happy and had a purpose.He realised that he needed to get onto the tasks that had been allocated straight away.
After ending the call, Hou Yi looked towards the door to the staff toilet, which Anna had just unlocked and was walking out of."Do you feel better?" he queried.
"I think I do.At least I do look presentable, rather than the makeup streaked face that I had," came Anna's reply.
Hou Yi realised in looking at the face, with its repaired makeup, it was the woman that he had fallen for in Melbourne previously.The world was an amazing place, in that how fate had proceeded meant that he could marry this woman, who was so special that she did not even realise it yet.He was determined that their marriage would be successful, and he would do what he could to achieve this.