Soul Returns to Hong Kong: From Tailor Shop to Richest Woman

Lin Lanying used to think that the film industry was glamorous and lively, but now that she has seen more of it, she realizes that beneath the surface of this glitz and glamour lies a gambler's mentality; if they win, they want to win even more; if they lose a little, they are afraid that others will say they are no good.

Peng Xuebin picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip: "Okay, I'll take a break and sort out my channels. I'll talk about it again when I actually come across a suitable script."

Lin Ying stood up: "Uncle Peng, when you're resting, you can review the differences between 'Magic' and 'The Bell'; later you'll know which things can only make quick money and which things can truly last."

Peng Xuebin nodded: "I'll remember that."

Having just returned from Wan Chai after receiving their share of the profits, the renovation of their new apartment in Taikoo Shing has officially begun.

Designer Liang and his construction team worked every day to demolish walls, run wiring, and replace pipes... Lin Lanying acted like a supervisor, going over to check on things almost every day.

The results of Lin Qian and Lin Yue's freshman placement exams were also released; Lin Qian barely managed to get into the secondary school of Wan Chai Boys' School by cramming in the last few days.

Lin Yue was admitted to Class 1 of Boya Academy as she wished; she held the Boya school uniform and looked at it for a long time, and finally said to Lin Ying seriously, "Big sister, I will definitely study hard in the future and never let you down."

Lin Ying ignored her touching words and instead flipped open her test paper, pointing to the three wrong answers: "Finish correcting these wrong answers tonight before you go to sleep."

Lin Yue: "..."

The joy of getting into a good school only lasted for three seconds for her eldest sister.

Another week passed; a torrential downpour hit Hong Kong during the rainy season, leaving the entire city soaked.

That evening, Su Zhihao called from the fifteenth floor of Taikoo City.

As soon as the call connected, Su Zhihao yelled, "Ah Ying! You tell Mrs. Lin to get ready right now! Bring your lawyer to my company tomorrow afternoon!"

Lin Ying's ears hurt from his noise, so she held the microphone further away: "Second Uncle, are you out of your mind? The settlement for the 'Heart Exchange Contract' is out?"

"It's out! This movie is insane! Absolutely insane!"

When "Heart Swap" was released, Lin Ying didn't go to the theater to watch it much; she knew that this kind of female-oriented commercial film had an absolute market, and she also knew that things like car accidents, amnesia, real and fake fiancées, and the "chasing after the wife" scenario would be very novel in the Asian market at this time.

But she never expected that Su Zhihao, who was used to seeing all kinds of storms, would be so excited that he became incoherent.

"Second Uncle, have some water first, and tell me slowly," Lin Ying said.

"We can't slow down! We absolutely can't slow down!" Su Zhihao gasped for breath. "The local box office is a complete smash, and it's been a hit in Asia for a month straight! It's even being shown in mainland China now!"

Lin Ying raised an eyebrow. Released in mainland China?

The Heart Exchange Agreement actually passed the approval of the mainland cultural authorities?

Su Zhihao seemed to guess what she was thinking: "Don't ask me! I'm wondering how it passed the approval process too! The feedback from over there is that female viewers reacted extremely well. The propaganda from the cultural sector has been directly changed to: criticizing the decadent and corrupt love of capitalist elites, highlighting the great spirit of self-reliance and perseverance of working-class women, and their ability to touch the hearts of a cold society with their sincerity!"

Lin Ying... this reason for passing the review actually works;

Su Zhihao continued shouting the expense report: "The global final accounts are out now! After deducting all production costs, promotional materials, theater commissions, overseas distribution fees, taxes, and a bunch of miscellaneous handling fees, here's the final net profit."

He paused deliberately, whetting everyone's appetite.

Lin Ying asked, "How much?"

Su Zhihao loudly announced the figure: "One hundred and eighty million! Hong Kong dollars!"

In this day and age, this figure is no longer what ordinary movies make money from.

Even Lin Ying herself was shocked! She knew that domineering CEO dramas could make money; but the Asian lower-tier market in the 1980s was even more thirsty and crazy than she had imagined.

On the other end of the phone, Su Zhihao was still shouting, "Aying, did you hear that? 180 million! That pen name you randomly picked back then, Xu Yue, is now being inquired about like crazy by film companies all over Asia! They're carrying cash and searching the world for this woman named Xu Yue!"

Lin Ying quickly calmed down: "Second Uncle, we can't let this get out!"

"Of course I know!" Su Zhihao immediately assured him, "Besides me and Teacher Zhou, no one else knows who Xu Yue is."

Lin Ying's thought came to the most crucial question: "What about my share of the profits?"

"Net profit of 20%, HK$36 million."

Thirty-six million—this amount of cash is enough to buy a dozen more of the two Taikoo City penthouses they just bought, each costing over two million, and they could even switch between them every day.

Su Zhihao's voice was full of excitement: "Come to my company tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock! Attorney Shen has to be there; Attorney Zhang has already locked all the ledgers in the safe, just waiting for you to come and divide the spoils... no, divide the money!"

Lin Ying agreed and hung up the phone.

After a long while, Lin Qian asked in a low voice, "Sister, your... that really cheesy script, is it even worse than that bell that Uncle Peng went abroad to film?"

Lin Ying turned to look at him: "Being common is also a kind of culture, it doesn't mean it's worthless."

Lin Yue muttered to herself, "Do all the women in Asia enjoy watching the male lead kneeling in the pouring rain?"

Lin Ying thought for a moment and then explained, "What they like to see is not kneeling."

"What is that?"

"What they like to see is people who are usually high and mighty and arrogant paying the price for their mistakes."

Upon hearing this, Lin Lanying suddenly understood.

Those female workers in factories, office workers who suffer at the hands of their bosses, and housewives in housing estates who can't even afford to buy new clothes; they suffer in reality every day, with no one apologizing to them, and no one kneeling in the pouring rain for them.

The film provides the compensation they can't get in real life, so they're willing to spend their meal money to buy a ticket to the theater.

The following afternoon, Su Zhihao's new company was located in Wan Chai.

When Lin Ying pushed open the door and went in, she was surprised to find Peng Xuebin on the sofa in Su Zhihao's office.

Peng Xuebin held a profit-sharing report for "Heart Exchange Agreement" in his hand, his expression complex.

Seeing Lin Ying walk in, Peng Xuebin held up the briefing high. "Screenwriter Lin."

"I originally just came here to have tea with the second brother today, out of curiosity to see what kind of rubbish this film you wrote under a different name is. To be honest, after reading the outline, I think this kind of tearful, rich family stuff will definitely be crushed by my 'The Bell Rings' in terms of appeal."

He pointed to the final number on the paper.

"As a result, it earned 180 million." Peng Xuebin's pride shattered: "How on earth did they achieve that?"