Chapter 49 - The road to recovery.

At around about quarter to six, Diu sat near the bed of Bao and touched his head lovingly. As a reflex, his hands clenched tightly and he opened his eyes in fright. As soon as the loving face of his Diu caught his sight, tears rolled down his eyes, as if he had been holding them back for long. Diu immediately called for the doctor.

As the doctors walked in and Diu moved aside, his hands held tightly on to hers not wanting them to drift away from each other.

The doctor then checked on his vital statistics, and said, "He's fine."

The doctor looked at him and asked him, "How are you feeling Mr. Li?"

Bao tried to get up and asked, "How is she doing? I saw her struggle with that man, and he was armed."

Li Enlai walked in from the adjacent room hearing the commotion and said, "You need to rest to take care of other people around you."

Bao clung to Enlai's hand and said, "Dad is she fine?"

As the doctor gestured, Li Enlai said, "We are all under God's grace and will. We rushed you back to Shanghai, while they were transferred to the U.S. Now you need to take a rest. In probably two to three days, we will talk with their families."

Bao sighed as he laid down his head, his hand still clung on to Enlai's, and replied, "It's nice to hear, that they have been transferred to the U.S."

He looked at Enlai as he lay on the bed he continued, "Dad, I have to inform you of something."

Li Enlai placed his hand over Bao's hand, patted it, and replied, "We'll hear all that you have to say tomorrow. You take rest today."

Diu and Enlai sat down beside him with tears in their eyes at the joy of having him back alive and safe.

"Let me inform Liqin and the Huang family."

Li Enlai walked out, called up Liqin, and said, "I just called up to inform, that Bao has woken up and is conscious now. Kindly inform the police team and the Huang family as well."

As the news poured in of his consciousness, the Huang family along with Jia who was in the office came to the hospital.

As soon as Liqin heard the news he called up his chauffeur and rushed to the hospital as well.

As the family gathered, they all were overwhelmed with joy and tears flowed as they rejoiced at his recovery.

Li Enlai looked at Bao in tears and asked, "Will you be able to recollect the happenings of that day? Not today, but tomorrow morning; the police officials might want to take a record of what happened from you, as a witness and victim."

Bao looked around and asked, "Where's my mobile. I had recorded the happenings of that day. My video was on."

Liqin sat beside him and replied, "Your phone is in the sealed belonging of yours. I will go home, check it, and get it tomorrow."

As they were talking Mr. Yang joined them with a laptop and said, "Kindly check on these photos."

Liqin helped Bao sit up as he looked at the photos he said, "They all had masks."

"I have photos which have been photoshopped to have an effect of masks. Here, go through them now, and let me know."

Bao looked at the photoshopped photos of Han Ru and Cao Shan and immediately recognized them. He then asked, "What about the mastermind of that attack?"

Mr. Yang then showed him the downloaded photo of Mr. Brown, and he said, "Check this photo out, whether it matches with the mastermind."

Bao looked at the photo, and said, "This doesn't look like him, as he had a huge scar across his face; it was quite scary and was visible on his forehead, though he was wearing a mask."

"He kept telling me, that dad had ruined his family, and that he lost his family because of dad. He also told me, that he will not rest, until there are no heirs to the Li household and make them pay for him losing his wealth and his heir. He also told me, that he had accidentally orphaned Liqin, in his attempt to kill my family. There's one strange thing, that he told me, that he should have planned it well when he killed the firstborn of my dad."

Bao looked at Li Enlai, and asked, "Did I have an elder sibling?"

Li Enlai looked at Bao in tears, and said, "Yes, a sister."

"Why didn't I ever hear about her in the past?"

Diu was in tears by then. Li Enlai held her in his arms, and said, "All these years we had been under the impression, that it was an accident. As we were investigating your case, we unearthed the probability of that being a planned sabotage as well."

Li Enlai then went on the explain the details of the loss of their firstborn as well as the incident of the death of Liqin's parents.

Mr. Yang stood up and said, "I'll take leave then, and come back in the morning with the police officials."

Liqin shook his hand and added, "Let's go home Mr. Yang, and pick up the mobile."

"That's true we should do that in urgency, maybe we could get a fairer idea of what transpired on that day."

"I had completely forgotten. Bao, had on that day while disconnecting said, that he would keep his video recorder on, to gather evidence."

As they left the hospital premises, Huang Fan said, "I think we will take your leave as well. He needs to rest a lot."

Li Enlai then gave a hug to Huang Fan, and said, "Thanks for everything till now."

Huang Fan held his hands and replied, "That's why we have been friends and family since our school days. Isn't it? Take care."

As the Huang family left the hospital, Diu said, "I think you should be taking rest and not straining yourself, Bao."

Li Enlai turned to him and said, "You should not strain yourself thinking about these things. Moreover, while you were in the hospital in Cervinia, we spread the word that you were brain dead; so, the assailant is under the impression, that my family line has ended. We also were able to curtail the spread of this news here in Shanghai, to prevent any form of loss to our stocks due to this pre-planned rumor, that we spread ourselves."

"Till the time the assailant is not found you should keep your distance from the families of Ann and Esther to prevent any further harm to them. They till now do not know, that the Li household is involved in this. We cannot offer them any protection, from where they are in the U.S., hence. it would be advisable to stay away from them for their safety."

Bao looked at Enlai in tears, and asked, "Did you in your pursuit of business ever accidentally harm anyone, dad?"

Enlai sat beside Bao, and said, "It's true, that I have been a wolf in the corporate world, but I have neither used unethical practices nor reached anyone to the brink of death. I have acquired businesses running into losses several times, but never have attempted to sideline those families to the edge from where they had no return. Running a business is not a charity, and we have to overlook sentiments at times. There have been times when post-acquisition, we have had to shut down or overhaul businesses. Those decisions involved, the ouster of employees at times but those were executed in complete compliance with rules and regulations with justice. We ensured, that the ones who could be engaged in our existing businesses were absorbed. The ouster was always executed with proper compensation, post proper discussions, and engagements with them, with an amicable solution. The aim was to convert the loss-making businesses into profitable ones, post-take-over. Running a business is all about making choices, and decisions. The right ones have the potential to reach you to the top and the wrong ones could take you down. There is no room for emotions while making them. I am accountable to the families of ten thousand people working for us. My decision could not just ruin us, but also their livelihood. How can I ever waiver while taking a profitable decision because of my sentimental attachments?"

Bao looked up to him and asked, "Has anyone ever lost their life because of your decision?"

Li Enlai shook his head and replied, "As far as I remember, I have not caused anyone any harm."

Diu interrupted and added, "I think we discussed enough for the day. Bao, you need to rest. There is no scope for you to take the stress."

"Fine mom, I'll take a rest."

Li Enlai and Diu watched as he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Diu then held the hands of Li Enlai, walked up to the doctor's room, and asked, "What do you think doctor, would happen when he realizes the truth?"

"In another three days, we will start with his physiotherapy. A week down the lane, after seeing his progress we may break the news to him. By then he might completely recover from the concussion. From today's discussion that you guys had, he seems like a fighter and was responding well. Let us wait for a week to break the news to him."

Liqin, along with Mr. Yang in the meanwhile reached the Li mansion and checked for the phone of Bao amongst the sealed articles, that the hospital had handed over. The display of the phone had broken. He looked at the phone, and said, "I'll purchase a new phone right away, the video must have been backed up. If Bao remembers his password, we'll be able to retrieve the video tomorrow morning."

He then went out along with Mr. Yang and purchased a new phone, and as Mr. Yang was returning, he said, "We will catch up with the team tomorrow morning. Let us meet in the adjacent room of Bao, along with the police officials to view the clipping." They then parted their ways, in the hope of a new sunrise the next day.

As Li Enlai and Diu had dinner and retired for the day, Li Enlai thought about all those past business transactions and pondered, "Who could it be? As far as my knowledge goes, it was only the Liu household, that lost their daughter but I had no part to play in it. It was the call that the son-in-law made, that led to the accident. This was proved in court as well with evidence."

Diu embraced him and said, "Tomorrow will bring to us a new dawn. Do not worry."