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

The next day, before he had even finished breakfast, Wen Xu received a phone call; the call was transferred from the hotel reception, and after listening to only a few words, his expression changed.

Lin Ying sat beside him, and judging from his expression, she already knew what was going on: "The Beijing area?"

Wen Xu hung up the phone: "Okay, send someone to pick me up. The plane ticket is booked, and I'm already in Shenzhen."

Lin Lanying stopped using the porridge spoon in her hand: "So soon? Weren't we leaving tomorrow?"

Wen Xu looked at her: "I received a last-minute notice that something came up at the project site, and I have to go back."

He Dazhu quickly said, "Work is important, work is important."

Lin Lanying felt a little uneasy; she had just questioned the person last night, and today the person had been called away. She had originally planned to ease things up at breakfast, but she hadn't even had that time.

Wen Xu seemed fine. After finishing breakfast, he went back to his room to pack his things. Lin Ying followed him in: "Can't you really wait two more hours?"

"cannot."

"Is it urgent over there?"

"The fact that the call reached the hotel means they've already started the proper procedures."

Lin Ying didn't say anything more.

Wen Xu pulled his luggage bag and turned to look at her: "Don't be angry, I'm not hiding from your family."

Lin Ying: "You're overthinking it. I'm not that petty."

Wen Xu looked at her for two seconds: "You do."

Lin Ying: "Engineer Wen, you're leaving now, but you still want to hire me?"

"I'm afraid you won't be able to bear it."

Wen Xu walked up to her and reached out to straighten her coat collar: "I'll take ten days off in November to come see you."

Lin Ying: "Can you persuade them to come down?"

"I'll figure something out."

"Don't let me affect your project."

"No, I've calculated the time."

Upon hearing this, Lin Ying laughed instead: "Does dating have to be scheduled into your work plan?"

Wen Xu: "Otherwise, how am I supposed to see you? By fate?"

Even fate would weep upon hearing this.

When the two went downstairs together, the car that was supposed to pick them up was already waiting at the hotel entrance. The person who arrived simply nodded when he saw Wen Xu: "Engineer Wen, it's almost time."

Lin Lanying and He Dazhu also came down.

He Dazhu handed a bag of snacks to Wen Xu: "Eat these on the way, don't go hungry."

Wen Xu accepted it: "Thank you, Uncle He."

Lin Lanying, standing to the side, finally spoke up: "Wenxu, Auntie spoke a little too hastily last night."

"Auntie, I understand."

Lin Lanying was even more embarrassed: "Don't let this make you have any bad feelings towards Aying; she's had a tough life growing up, we're just..."

Before getting into the car, Wen Xu walked up to Lin Ying. The two didn't say much in front of their families; Wen Xu simply shook her hand.

"Remember to eat."

"Know."

Don't try to shoulder everything yourself.

Wen Xu smiled and released his hand: "See you in November."

Lin Ying nodded: "See you in November."

The car door closed, and the car drove out of the hotel. Lin Ying stood there for a while until the car turned the corner and disappeared from sight before she looked away.

Lin Lanying looked at her daughter, wanting to say, "Aying..."

Lin Ying: "Mommy, why don't you all go back to Hong Kong too?"

Lin Lanying was stunned: "We just arrived."

"I have things to do at the factory today, and I have to meet with guests this afternoon, so I don't have time to spend with you."

He Dazhu quickly said, "It's okay, we don't need you to come with us; we'll just wait for you to come back at the hotel tonight."

Lin Ying shook her head: "No need to wait, I might be very late today, and I might not be free tomorrow either."

Lin Qian sensed something was wrong: "Sis, are you still angry?"

"No," Lin Ying said, looking at him. "I just think it would be better for you to go back first."

Lin Lanying felt a lump in her throat. She would rather Lin Ying lose her temper and scold her than hear such polite arrangements; it was more unbearable than arguing.

"Ah Ying, Mommy really knows she was wrong last night."

"I know."

"Then why...?"

Lin Ying interrupted her, "Mommy, I don't want to talk about this right now."

Lin Lanying was stunned.

Lin Ying: "Today I have to deal with factory matters, as well as orders and business; having a heart-to-heart talk at this time would affect my judgment."

Lin Lanying looked at her and understood that her daughter had simply placed them outside of work, in a position where they needed to keep their distance.

He Dazhu quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Okay, let's go back first; Amei is busy with important matters, don't keep her up."

Lin Lanying didn't insist any further: "Then remember to call Mommy when you're done with your work."

"Yes."

Lin Qian walked to the car, then turned back and said, "Sis, I was really wrong about what I said last night."

Lin Ying looked at him: "I know your apology is sincere."

"Then don't hold a grudge against me overnight."

"Lin Qian, you are not Wen Xu."

Lin Qian was taken aback.

Lin Ying continued, "You're my brother, and I'll give you a chance, but my patience is limited, and opportunities aren't unlimited."

Lin Qian didn't joke this time: "I'll remember that."

After the car left, Lin Ying stood at the hotel entrance, not going back immediately.

Chen Guodong's car was already parked nearby. He got out of the car and said, "Ms. Lin, Mr. Su will be arriving at ten o'clock, along with the people from the TV station."

Lin Ying composed herself and said, "Let's go."

When I returned to the factory area, Su Zhiming had already arrived.

He brought people from three television stations with him today, as well as producers from two financial programs; as soon as they got out of the car, they were attracted by the scale of the factory area.

Su Zhiming introduced with a smile: "This is Yingchuang Technology. Don't just look at the TV at the press conference. What's really valuable are these workshops and testing buildings in the back."

The tour went smoothly; the TV crew filmed the production line, aging room, and exhibition area, and asked many questions.

Lin Ying left the technical issues to Liu Yang and Li Jia, and the production capacity issues to Chen Guodong, only adding a few words at crucial points.

A producer asked, "Ms. Lin, could you make a feature on this topic? From research and development to production, showcasing the entire process."

Lin Ying: "Yes, but you can't film in classified areas, and technical documents must be reviewed in advance."

Su Zhiming laughed from the side: "She's fine with interviews, but she won't write anything nonsense."

The producer laughed, "We understand. Ms. Lin is no longer an entertainment figure; she's a business owner now."

--------

On the way back to Hong Kong from Shenzhen, the car was uncomfortably quiet.

Lin Lanying sat in the back seat, holding the box of pastries she hadn't given away. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Last night, she thought she was the mother and should ask a few questions. But when Lin Ying told them to go back to Hong Kong first this morning, her polite manner was more unsettling than an argument.

He Dazhu sat beside her, watching her. "Lan Ying, stop thinking about it."

Lin Lanying: "Don't want to? My daughter ignores me, how can I not want to?"

Lin Qian, driving the car, looked completely dejected: "Mommy, it's not that my sister is ignoring you, she's just... drawing lines."

Lin Lanying immediately slapped the back of the chair: "You still have the nerve to talk? Last night, your mouth was the one that caused the most trouble!"

Lin Qian: "I have already apologized."

"If apologies were enough, would law firms be obsolete?"

Lin Qian was speechless.

He Dazhu sighed: "Go home first? Or go to the New Territories?"

Lin Lanying remained silent for a long while before saying, "Go to the New Territories."

Lin Qian: "Go now? Grandpa will scold us if he finds out."

Lin Lanying glared at him: "You knew you'd curse? Why didn't you keep your mouth shut last night?"

Lin Qian shut up obediently, and the car drove all the way to the New Territories. It was already dark when they entered the village.

Lin Fu was sitting in the main room listening to the radio, while Li Yuzhen was preparing vegetables in the kitchen. Seeing them enter, Lin Fu turned off the radio: "Why are you back at this hour? Where's Aying?"

Before Lin Lanying could speak, her eyes reddened: "Father, I think I did something wrong."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fu's expression changed: "What did you do?"

He Dazhu quickly recounted the whole story from beginning to end; he was fairly fair, not blaming Lin Lanying alone, nor exonerating Lin Qian.

From Lin Ying starting her relationship, to them rushing to Shenzhen, to asking Wen Xu those questions last night, and finally to Lin Ying telling them to go back to Hong Kong first.

After listening, Lin Fu exclaimed, "Lin Lanying!"

Lin Lanying's shoulders twitched: "Old Dou."

Lin Fu pointed at her and yelled, "You've really had too many good days; you've lost your mind!"

Lin Qian lowered his head to minimize his presence.

Lin Fu's hand was already turned towards him: "And you! You lot are all useless, with no real skills, how dare you give Lin Ying pointers?"

Lin Qian: "Grandpa, I'm not giving you advice, I'm just worried my sister will be scammed."

"Scammed?" Lin Fu sneered. "She woke up at nine, got into a prestigious university in a month; started earning money to support her studies at ten; opened a factory in her twenties... If she could really be so easily scammed, all of you combined wouldn't be enough to fool her once!"

Lin Lanying's tears fell: "Father, I'm worried about her."

"You should use your brain when you're worried!" Lin Fu slammed his fist on the table. "You're her mother, not her accountant or the police officer interrogating a criminal! This is the first time she's brought someone she likes to meet you, and you guys are asking about money, about the child, about whether she's after his money."

Lin Lanying was so scolded that she couldn't speak.

He Dazhu sat beside him, not daring to utter a single word.

Li Yuzhen came in carrying a vegetable basket and advised, "Old man, don't scold too harshly. Lanying is just anxious."

Lin Fu turned his head: "Why is she in such a hurry? Is Ah Ying in a hurry? Ah Ying made things clear herself, and the boy agreed. She was sitting there peacefully in the middle! They had to rush up and embarrass her. Is that what you call caring? That's just making things worse!"

Lin Qian said softly, "Grandpa, I apologize. Those words were indeed too much."

Lin Fu looked at him and said, "Of course you've gone too far! Your sister's money has nothing to do with you. She can give it to whomever she wants, and she can be scammed by whomever she wants!"

"Who provided you with this house? Who paid for your education? Now you dress so well and work as Attorney Lin, who gives you that confidence?"

Lin Qian didn't dare to say a word.

Lin Fu continued to berate, "Your sister gave you this because she cares about you, not because she owes you anything! You take what she gave you and then turn around and question whether the person she likes is after her money. Have you ever thought about how she feels?"

Lin Qian: "I didn't think that much about it."

"That's why I called you brainless!" Lin Fu gasped for breath, "From today onwards, Lin Qian, you get back to the house your sister allocated to you! You're not allowed to live in your sister's villa."

"If you have the energy to meddle with your sister, you should take on more cases and make more money! You have no ability yourself, yet you dare to question a prodigy?"

Lin Qian was so scolded that he had no choice but to say, "I'll move it."

Lin Fu wasn't finished yet; he looked at Lin Lanying and said, "And you, Lin Lanying."

Lin Lanying wiped away her tears: "Old Dou, tell me."

"Go back and continue running the tailor shop tomorrow."

Lin Lanying was stunned: "Huh?"

"What do you mean, 'huh'?" Lin Fu glared at her. "What kind of rich wife are you! How old are you? Spending all your time at home watching your daughter eat and date? If you have that much free time, sign up for a few night school classes!"

Lin Lanying said aggrievedly, "I never wanted to be a rich wife."

"You haven't thought about it, you've become so idle that you're going crazy!" Lin Fu continued to scold mercilessly, "Before, you were busy operating the sewing machine, how could you have time to care about anything else? Now that Aying has money, your life is more relaxed, and your mind is starting to revolve around her."

"She's 25 years old, not a minor! She has a factory, a company, employees, and her own man! If you keep interfering like this, she won't even bother calling you anymore."

These words stung Lin Lanying, and she lowered her head: "Old Dou, I didn't want this."

Seeing her cry, Lin Fu's anger didn't subside much: "If you don't want to change, then change! Don't just say you know and then do it again in a couple of days."

Li Yuzhen put the vegetable basket on the table and sighed, "Lanying, your father's words are harsh but he is right."

Lin Lanying looked up: "Mom, I'm just worried that she'll suffer in the future."

Li Yuzhen said, "Who doesn't suffer a loss in their life? When you married Dazhu when you were young, your father and I were worried that you would suffer a loss."

He Dazhu was sitting comfortably when he was suddenly called out and became extremely nervous.

Li Yuzhen glanced at him: "Has Dazhu been bad to you all these years?"

He Dazhu quickly nodded: "I will definitely treat Lan Ying well."

Lin Fu sneered, "Da Zhu did a good job this time! From now on, you keep an eye on these two troublemakers! One's too talkative, the other's too impatient; if they dare to cause trouble for Ah Ying again, you can take them back to the New Territories to retire with me!"

He Dazhu quickly replied, "Father, I understand."

Lin Lanying wiped away her tears, her mind still in turmoil: "Father, what should we do now? Will Aying really ignore me?"

Lin Fu sat back down in his chair and said irritably, "If she really didn't want to talk to you, she wouldn't have sent you back to Hong Kong today; she would have just had security take you."

He picked up the phone book on the table, flipped to Lin Ying's Shenzhen office number: "I'll call her."