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

Matthew glanced at the knife-wielding men being handcuffed and led away by the police in the distance, then looked back at her with lingering fear: "Lynn, this was really close."

"Hmm." Lin Ying carefully put her passport away and patted her bag. "But it's over."

After settling into her first-class seat, Lin Ying leaned back and closed her eyes. This time, she didn't force herself to immediately analyze the gains and losses as she had done before.

She only knew one thing very clearly.

The second, unseen death that Granny Wu had mentioned back then has passed.

As the plane taxied, Lin Ying turned her head to look out the window; the British sky remained a hazy gray.

In her heart, she whispered: Thank you, thank you to those who rushed forward, thank you to the land that nurtured them, and thank you to myself for not panicking at the critical moment.

------

The plane arrived at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong a full forty minutes later than scheduled.

At the arrival gate, Lin Lanying's eyes never left the exit for a second.

He Dazhu stood beside her, holding the coat Lin Ying usually liked to wear, and said, "Flight delays are normal. Maybe the weather is bad, maybe there are long lines at security, anything is possible. Don't scare yourself."

"Shut up! I'm getting really nervous!"

With that red delay notification hanging on the flight information screen for so long, she had involuntarily gone through more than a dozen worst-case scenarios in her mind.

Lin Ying emerged from the passageway, dragging her suitcase, completely unharmed.

Lin Lanying's eyes instantly reddened. She immediately went over and grabbed Lin Ying, looking her over carefully three times: "Are you alright? Why are you so late? Why couldn't you even get through on the phone before boarding?"

"Mommy, I'm fine." Lin Ying took Lin Lanying's slightly trembling hand in return.

"Why are you so pale? You're completely bloodless!"

He Dazhu strode over and took the suitcase: "Sister, what happened?"

Lin Ying knew she couldn't hide it anymore, and she didn't intend to: "I'll tell you when we get home, there are too many people at the airport."

Back at her home in Taikoo Shing, Lin Ying closed the door, sat on the sofa, and recounted everything that had happened at the airport from beginning to end.

She only said that a madman was wielding a knife and injuring people, and that the peacekeeping troops in China happened to be transferring flights and took the opportunity to protect them. The British side then blocked and inspected the area, which is why the flight was delayed.

After Lin Ying finished speaking, Lin Lanying hugged her daughter tightly, tears streaming down her face: "I'm not going to study anymore! I'll never go again! Even if we have to beg for food, we will never leave Hong Kong!"

"Okay." Lin Ying leaned on her mother's shoulder. "I'm not going."

He Dazhu asked, "The calamity that Granny Wu mentioned back then... is this the one?"

Lin Ying nodded: "Yes."

Lin Lanying wiped away her tears, her fear turning to anger, and began to curse: "What on earth is going on at the British airport? How can a madman with a knife just barge in like that? Are all those armed security guards just for show?!"

Lin Ying nodded seriously: "So I am even more certain that I can't put the foundation of my life and career on other people's rules and territories."

I had a good two-day rest at home.

On the morning of the third day, Lin Ying recovered and sat down at her desk, taking out the documents she had prepared earlier from the safe.

Cambridge University's highest degree diploma, transcripts from freshman to junior year, recommendation letters jointly signed by several professors including Smith, Hong Kong permanent resident ID card, and a Home Return Permit that was obtained in advance last year...

Finally, there was a personal research and business plan that she had spent a year polishing.

The direction is clearly stated: communications, electronic hardware, and signal processing applications.

Lin Lanying came in carrying sliced ​​fruit and saw the thick stack of documents on the desk: "What are you doing?"

"Applying for postgraduate studies at mainland Chinese universities of science and technology."

He Dazhu happened to be walking towards the door: "So fast? You just narrowly escaped disaster, shouldn't you wait until summer vacation is over before talking about it?"

"I've already rested for two days; if I rest any longer, I'm afraid my drive will wane."

Lin Lanying sat down on the edge of the bed: "Didn't you say before that going to the mainland for graduate studies might take more than a month just to wait in line for the application materials to be reviewed?"

"This is the normal procedure." Lin Ying put the materials into a plastic folder in order. "With my identity and overseas education, the whole review process does take time; I estimate I will also have to wait for the subsequent written test and interview schedule."

As a result, Lin Ying seriously underestimated the speed at which the times were eager for talent, and also underestimated the significance of this set of materials.

After the application materials were sent by express mail, it took less than five business days.

The landline phone at Taikoo Shing's home rang.

Lin Ying answered the phone: "Hello."

A Mandarin voice came from the other end of the phone: "Excuse me, is this Comrade Lin Ying?"

"I am."

"This is the Graduate Admissions Office of Beijing University of Science and Technology; Lin Ying, we have received your complete application materials and completed the preliminary review; after an emergency discussion by relevant departments of the university, including several senior professors from the School of Engineering, we have determined that your situation is extremely special and your professional foundation is very solid."

"Therefore, the school has decided that your application will not be processed through the regular preliminary review process; please travel to Beijing as soon as possible to participate in the internal examination and specialized interview."

Lin Ying, holding the microphone, asked, "Directly taking the internal exam? No need to wait for the preliminary exam schedule?"

"No need to wait. Your recommendation letter and grades have already demonstrated the results. We need to meet in person to confirm your engineering transformation plan. Please bring your Home Return Permit, Hong Kong Permanent Resident Identity Card, highest academic qualification certificate, original transcript, professor's recommendation letter, personal research plan, and all photocopies. We will fax you the specific registration location and time later."

"Okay." Lin Ying took a deep breath. "I'll be there on time."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Lanying immediately asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Lin Ying turned around and looked at her parents: "The University of Science and Technology called to tell me to go to Beijing as soon as possible to take an internal exam."

He Dazhu was even more nervous than her, rubbing his hands on his apron: "When are we going?"

"The sooner the better."

Without hesitation, Lin Lanying immediately decided, "I'll go with you!"

He Dazhu immediately chimed in, "I'll take a few days off from the shop, I'll go too!"

Looking at her parents, who seemed to be facing a formidable enemy, Lin Ying thought for a moment and this time did not refuse.

This time, she wasn't going to England, nor was she venturing alone into a strange and hostile place with her luggage; she was going to the mainland, to the land where the people who protected her life lived, and to the place where she would truly settle down and put her technology to take root.

"Okay." Lin Ying smiled. "Let's go together as a family."

Next, Lin Lanying repeatedly checked the pile of documents; He Dazhu ran downstairs to the travel agency to book the fastest flight to Beijing and a guesthouse; Lin Ying divided all the materials into three sets: one to carry with her, one to put in her suitcase, and one to leave at her home in Hong Kong for future use.

Lin Qian leaned against the doorframe, looking at the pile of documents, and asked, "Big sister, how difficult was the exam you took in Beijing this time?"

Lin Ying put the copy into a moisture-proof bag: "I don't know."

"There are times when you don't know?"

That's why you need to take the exam.

Lin Yue chimed in from the side, "Is it cold in Beijing?"

"It's summer now, so it's alright," Lin Ying said, "but the climate is definitely drier than in Hong Kong."

Lin Lanying heard this: "Dry? Then you need to bring throat lozenges, a light jacket, and also stomach medicine and medicine for water and soil incompatibility."

He Dazhu pulled out a large suitcase: "Don't bring too much. We're going to accompany you to the exam, not to move!"

Lin Lanying glared at him: "What do you know? My sister just escaped a disaster in England, and she's going to Beijing to do something big. I'm making sure she has everything ready, down to the last needle!"

He Dazhu immediately shut up and bent down to wipe his suitcase.

Lin Ying sat at her desk, listening to her parents bickering, and watching the fax machine slowly send out the internal test notification from the University of Science and Technology.