Reborn in 2005, starting with repairing mobile phones

Lin Dong was stunned for a moment.

"Hello."

Carter's voice was polite, with just the right amount of enthusiasm.

"Mr. Lin, many of us saw your performance at Science and Technology Week yesterday. It was truly outstanding."

"Thanks."

"I'm calling to ask you to do something."

"Please speak."

"Tomorrow, Mr. Steve Jobs will be giving a speech at our school."

Carter said, "After the speech, there's usually a segment where student representatives speak. We'd like to invite you to go up and speak for a few minutes."

Lin Dong didn't say anything.

Carter paused for two seconds before continuing.

"You can talk about anything. Your design concepts, your understanding of technology, or just casually chat about what you're doing in Shenzhen."

He paused.

"Of course, if you'd like."

Lin Dong thought for a moment.

"Why me?"

Carter smiled.

"Because you made your name known throughout Stanford yesterday," he said. "And—"

He paused.

"Mr. Lin, as you know, you are not yet a formal student at Shenzhen University."

Lin Dong's eyes narrowed slightly.

Carter's voice became gentler.

"If you'd like, Stanford's doors are open to you. Full scholarships, top-notch advisors, lab resources—the school will handle all the paperwork. If your parents want to come, we can arrange that too."

Lin Dong remained silent for a few seconds.

They're trying to poach our talent.

He smiled inwardly.

"Thank you for your kind offer," he said, "I need some time to think about it."

"Of course," Carter said. "No rush. But I still hope you can come to tomorrow's speech. It's just a brief presentation, it won't take up too much of your time."

Lin Dong thought for a moment.

Steve Jobs will also be giving a speech tomorrow.

Maybe we'll have a chance to exchange ideas.

"Okay," he said. "I can speak."

Carter's voice was noticeably brighter.

"Great! It's settled then. The time is scheduled after Mr. Jobs' speech, about ten minutes later. I'll have someone send you the specific details later."

"it is good."

"See you tomorrow, Mr. Lin."

"See you tomorrow."

Lin Dong hung up the phone.

He had just put his phone down when it rang again.

This time it's a domestic number.

He answered the call.

"Feed?"

"Excuse me, are you Lin Dong?"

An unfamiliar male voice, with a distinct Cantonese accent.

"I am."

"Great! Lin, I'm Chen Guo, the director of the admissions office at Shenzhen University!"

Lin Dong was stunned for a moment.

"Hello, Director Chen."

Chen Guo's voice was so enthusiastic it almost overflowed the microphone.

"Congratulations, Lin! You have been officially admitted to Shenzhen University!"

Lin Dong didn't say anything.

Chen Guo continued, "The admission notice will be sent out today. Furthermore, the school values ​​you highly—you can choose any major you like, and the best advisors will be assigned to you. If you have any special requests, you can also mention them, and the school will do its best to accommodate them."

He paused.

"Also, the school can help arrange accommodation for your parents if they are willing to come to Shenzhen."

Lin Dong leaned back in his chair, a slow smile curving his lips.

really.

Shenzhen University is also getting anxious.

"Thank you, Director Chen," he said. "I will seriously consider it."

"Okay, okay!" Chen Guo said "okay" three times in a row. "Then I won't bother you anymore. Contact me anytime if you need anything!"

The phone hangs up.

Lin Dong looked at his phone and smiled.

Yesterday's event went even better than expected.

Stanford is trying to poach talent.

Shenzhen University is trying to poach talent.

Even before he officially enrolled, he had already become a hot commodity on both sides.

The phone rang again.

This time it's a domestic number, but not the one from before.

Lin Dong answered the call.

"Hey, Dong?"

It was my mother's voice.

Lin Dong was stunned for a moment.

"mom?"

"Ah Dong!" Li Xiuzhen's voice was filled with excitement and joy. "The leaders from Shenzhen University just called personally! They said you've been admitted, and that your grades are exceptionally outstanding, so the school will give you the best treatment—they even said we can go to Shenzhen, and the school will arrange accommodation!"

She paused.

"Your dad was listening nearby, and he was so happy he was rubbing his hands together!"

Lin Dong smiled.

"Mom, would you like to come to Shenzhen?"

"Of course we want to! How could we not?" Li Xiuzhen said. "Since you're over there, of course we want to come and keep you company. Last time we were just afraid of causing you trouble—"

"No trouble at all," Lin Dong said. "You can come whenever you want. The school can arrange it, or I can arrange it for you myself."

Li Xiuzhen was silent for a second.

Then she spoke, her voice slightly choked.

"Ah Dong, you've really... grown up."

Lin Dong didn't say anything.

"Your dad is right next to you," Li Xiuzhen said. "He wants to talk to you."

There was a rustling sound coming from the other end of the phone, followed by the voice of the father, Lin Guodong.

"Ah Dong."

"dad."

Lin Guodong remained silent for two seconds.

Then he said, "Well done."

"Dad," he said, "don't worry. I'm doing fine here."

"Okay," Lin Guodong said. "Take care of yourself."

"Yes."

The phone hangs up.

Lin Dong looked out the window.

The sunlight streamed in from Palo Alto, warm and inviting.

He suddenly remembered the thought he had yesterday.

Before even enrolling in school, they've already started bringing honor to the school.

It would be great if everyone in the company had this kind of awareness in the future.

He smiled and stood up.

Tomorrow, Steve Jobs.

He wanted to see what kind of person this was.

Evening, Palo Alto.

Lin Dong changed his clothes and was about to leave when his phone vibrated.

A text message from Cheng Yu: [Six o'clock, the Spanish restaurant near the school, a ten-minute walk from your hotel.]

Lin Dong replied with a single word: 【Okay.】

At six o'clock sharp, Lin Dong pushed open the restaurant door.

It's a small shop with warm yellow lighting, paintings of bullfighters on the walls, and the aroma of olive oil and garlic in the air.

From a corner booth, Cheng Yu waved to him.

Lin Dong walked over and found three people sitting in the booth—Cheng Yu, Cheng Chuan, and the girl from yesterday.

"Lin Dong!" Cheng Chuan jumped up, his eyes shining brightly. "You've finally arrived!"

Lin Dong was taken aback by his enthusiasm.

"...Here it comes."

Cheng Yu smiled to himself.

"Sit down." He stepped inside. "Let me introduce you, this is Ding Xiao. We all call her Tina."

The girl stood up, and Chong Lindong reached out his hand.

"Ding Xiao," she said, "Computer Science, Embedded Systems."

Lin Dong took her hand.

"Lin Dong".

Ding Xiao's hand was steady, and her grip was neither too light nor too heavy.

She looked into Lin Dong's eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"I watched yesterday's show."

Lin Dong looked at her.

"How are you feeling?"

Ding Xiao thought for a moment.

"That's quite interesting."

Lin Dong smiled.

The four people sat down.

The waiter brought the menu, Cheng Chuan took it, ordered a bunch of things without even looking at them, and then threw the menu on the table.

"Lin Dong!" He stared at Lin Dong, his eyes still so bright. "You know what? The whole school went crazy today!"