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

September 20th, Kai Tak Airport.

The announcements over the loudspeaker, alternating between Cantonese and English, announced boarding information for the flight to London. Lin Lanying, holding her daughter's passport holder, couldn't resist unzipping it and flipping through it again, even though she had already checked it three times before leaving home.

"Passport, plane ticket, acceptance letter, address book, British pounds in cash, HSBC bank documents, photocopies of materials for the lawyer..."

Lin Lanying muttered to herself, the more she muttered, the stronger her agitation became. Finally, she suddenly said, "No, I'll go with you! Leave your brother to your father."

Lin Ying helplessly reached out her hand: "Mommy, give me your passport."

Lin Lanying: "My going won't interfere with your studies. I'll just stay here and cook for you, clean the house. You're all alone in England, who knows what kind of awful food they eat there? Aunt Wu's words are constantly on my mind, how can I feel at ease!"

"Mommy, you don't understand English. When you get there, you'll have to ask people for directions to take the bus, to buy things, and even to find your way... You won't eat or sleep well, and you'll be living in constant fear. Not only will you worry about me, but I'll also have to take care of you."

"I can learn!"

"Learning English isn't something that can be done in a day or two. Mommy, I'm going there to study, not to flee from disaster. Professor Smith is there, and Matthew is there too. All the necessary procedures and housing arrangements have been made. You stay in Hong Kong and live a good life. I'll call back every day to let you know I'm safe."

Even though she was extremely reluctant, Lin Lanying let go: "You little rascal, you always know how to reason."

He Dazhu stood beside his wife and gently patted her back: "Sister, be careful when you get there."

"I remember."

The boarding announcement sounded again, urging the last passengers to board.

Lin Lanying then handed the passport holder back to her daughter and went over to hug her.

"Ah Ying, your life is the most important thing; if you feel something's wrong, buy a plane ticket and fly straight back, don't worry about Cambridge or anything like that!"

"I know."

Lin Ying pushed her luggage toward the security checkpoint; she didn't look back too many times, afraid that if she did, her mother would burst into tears right there at the airport.

After a long flight of more than ten hours, the plane landed at London Heathrow Airport.

The sky in London was overcast, and it had just rained, so the roads were wet. Lin Ying pushed her luggage cart out of the arrivals area and saw a familiar figure leaning against the railing in the distance.

Matthew was wearing a dark gray British-style trench coat and holding a piece of cardboard with a large "Lynn" written on it.

Lin Ying walked over and glanced at the paper: "Are you afraid I won't recognize you?"

Matthew folded the cardboard in half, tossed it into the nearby trash can, and shrugged: "I was afraid you'd be so jet-lagged that you'd forget your own name and just get on the bus with someone else."

"Then you're probably going to be disappointed." Lin Ying released the handrail of the stroller.

"You look quite well." Matthew took one of her suitcases. "Come on, the car's outside. My father asked me to take you to your accommodation first."

Lin Ying followed him, and as they walked out, she asked, "Aren't we going to the school dormitory?"

Matthew: "Are you really planning to live at school?"

"I was just asking."

"Don't live on campus. You're a foreign student from Hong Kong, an Asian girl, and you were admitted through a special channel without completing a preparatory course. There are all sorts of people in the dorms, and if you're a girl living there, with so many people coming and going, you're very likely to get into trouble. So, my father made the decision for you and didn't let you live on campus."

Lin Ying smiled and thanked them, saying, "That's exactly what I wanted. Thank you for your help again."

Matthew rarely saw Lin Ying being so polite, so he continued, "The apartment is right next to the school, about a ten-minute walk, very close; it's on the third floor, a two-bedroom apartment; it was previously occupied by Cambridge students who just graduated this summer and became available; I live across the street, so my father booked it for you in advance."

"How much?" Lin Ying went straight to the point.

"The annual rent, plus management fees, is £2,200."

Lin Ying mentally checked the exchange rate; it wasn't cheap. Even in the suburbs of London, this amount of money would be quite expensive for an average international student, but it was within her budget.

"What makes the management fees so high?"

"Security." Matthew pointed to the street outside the car window. "That apartment building has 24-hour security, and all entrances and exits are strictly registered. It's not one of those old buildings where just anyone can walk in. You're a girl living alone, and you have a sensitive background, so this money is definitely worth it."

Lin Ying strongly agreed, stating that "safety" is the highest principle.

"I will then write a check to transfer the money to the professor and pass on my gratitude," Lin Ying said.

Matthew raised an eyebrow and started the car: "Is your father planning to pay for your school admission gift out of his own pocket?"

"I know, which is why I need to be even more clear about things. I'll remember the professor's kindness through academic means, but accounts must be kept separate."

Matthew laughed: "You really are still the same Lynn who never gives an inch."

The car drove into Cambridge; when they arrived at the apartment building, the environment was even better than Lin Ying had expected; there was a bright management desk at the entrance, and uniformed security personnel were checking the entry and exit registration forms; Matthew greeted the security personnel, led her up to the third floor, and opened the door with a key.

Pushing open the door, I found the room spotless.

The living room wasn't large, but it was very bright and had a thick carpet. There were two bedrooms, one facing the main street and the other overlooking the quiet inner courtyard. The kitchen had a brand new, clean set of cookware, and the sheets and duvet covers smelled freshly washed.

Lin Ying walked to the window and glanced downstairs. The view was very open, and she could see the street corner and the people entering the gate clearly.

"It's too much trouble for the professor, he even hired someone to clean up." Lin Ying turned her head.

"This was arranged by my father through a cleaning service." Matthew placed a bunch of keys on the table. "There are three keys in total. Take one for yourself, leave one as a spare at the management office downstairs, and the third one is temporarily with my father; you can take it back anytime if you mind privacy."

"No need to take it back," Lin Ying said decisively. "It's safer with the professor. In case of any emergency, it's an extra line of defense and an extra layer of protection."

Matthew paused for a moment: "You trust him more than I thought."

"I only trust people whose names are written in the official rules." Lin Ying put her backpack on the sofa. "Professor, you, the security department—at least they're the ones whose origins can be traced if something goes wrong."

Matthew certainly knew how chaotic the situation was in Hong Kong, and he also understood what a little girl with a halo would face if she flew across the ocean.

After a moment, he said to Lin Ying, "I suggest that the first thing you should do tomorrow is to find a lawyer."

"I was just about to tell you about this," Lin Ying said, looking at him. "I need a reliable local lawyer to handle my student registration contract, address information, tax referrals, bank connections, and an emergency legal advisor who can be there immediately in case of any unexpected trouble."

"Leave it to me." Matthew nodded. "I'll take you tomorrow. I know someone who's not only reliable but also very discreet."