Mushu looked to Ling Li for approval, who nodded silently. "Come. I will show you, Rockie." Mushu led the way, Goldie following obediently with Tod, his aide, beside him. Ling Li and Shi Min trailed behind, their hearts heavy with concern.

They entered a quiet, dimly lit room in the infirmary where Rockie lay, surrounded by the steady hum of medical equipment. The sight of Rockie, frail and hooked up to machines, brought a fresh wave of tears to Goldie's eyes.

"Rockie! Rockie! Why are you sleeping with all the devices?! Wake up! Wake up!" Goldie cried, shaking Rockie desperately.

Miraculously, Rockie stirred, his eyelids fluttering open to the astonishment of everyone present. Slowly, Rockie seemed to recognize the tube in his mouth and, with surprising skill, removed it himself. Mushu, breaking out of his stunned silence, rushed over to assist him.

Rockie's voice was hoarse but filled with the familiar edge of his personality. "Why are you so noisy? I was sleeping, and you were yelling!" he scolded Goldie, though his eyes betrayed a glimmer of affection.

Goldie's face lit up with a mixture of joy and relief. "Rockie! My best friend! You are awake?!"

Rockie smirked weakly. "Who wouldn't wake up with your loud voice flying all over?"

Mushu returned with a glass of warm water, helping Rockie take small sips. "Rockie, you have been in a coma for over a year," he explained gently.

Rockie's brows knitted together in confusion. "Where are the nurses and the doctors in charge of Rockie?" Ling Li demanded, her voice steely.

Just then, two nurses and a doctor entered, chatting animatedly, unaware of the gravity of the situation inside. They froze in their tracks upon seeing the stern faces of their superiors.

"Madam, Master, Chief..." the doctor stammered nervously.

"Tell me where you were. And why is Rockie left alone?" Ling Li's tone was fierce and uncompromising.

The doctor's voice shook as he replied, "We...we just had our supper."

Ling Li's eyes narrowed. "There are three of you, but you decided to leave Rockie alone and have your meal at the same time? Who is your superior?"

"Dr. Gao." The young doctor replied.

"Dr. Gao? Dr. Gao from Camp Phoenix?"

"Yes, Madam."

"Who hired you? And these nurses?" Ling Li asked.

"It is Dr. Gao who hired us as well."

"Where is Dr. Erik?"

The young doctor looked puzzled. "Dr. Erik? Madam, we heard you dismissed him."

Ling Li exchanged a look with Shi Min. "I forgot," she admitted. "Check on Rockie. He has woken up, and I want a thorough report."

Rockie and Goldie began bickering as if no time had passed. To everyone's shock, Rockie slapped Goldie several times.

"Sober up!" Rockie yelled with his hoarse voice. "Compose yourself and face reality!" Another slap. "How long do you want to stay foolish?!" he said, giving one final fierce slap.

Goldie, teary-eyed and dazed from the beating, fell to his knees beside Rockie's bed. Mushu helped him to his feet, embracing him tightly.

"Mushu, I have been a fool, yet all of you were very good to me," Goldie confessed, letting go of Mushu.

Ling Li's face softened into a warm smile. "Welcome back," she said, hugging Goldie.

Shi Min clapped Goldie on the shoulder, a rare display of affection. "I'm glad to see you back, Goldie."

From his bed, Rockie coughed, drawing attention back to himself. "Oh, you have taken the limelight from me," he joked, earning a round of chuckles.

"You too, buddy; welcome back!" Mushu told him, his eyes misty with emotion.

"Welcome back, both of you," Ling Li chimed in.

"I will wait for you to be on your feet again," Goldie vowed to Rockie.

"Now, you are pointing at me!" Rockie replied with a smirk.

Goldie laughed. "Oh, I will be the twins' security. Don't even think about taking my position."

"Twins? What twins?" Rockie asked, his confusion deepening.

Mushu grinned. "Ha ha ha, buddy, you have been sleeping for a while. Madam gave birth to twins."

Rockie's eyes widened in surprise. "Madam, congratulations! You! How could you deprive me of the twins?" He turned to Goldie with mock indignation.

The room filled with laughter as the old friends resumed their banter, their bond unbroken by time or circumstance.

Ling Li's voice cut through the laughter, gentle yet firm. "Rockie, you need to rest, and don't overdo yourself. I will arrange for your therapy. All of you, let's go and let Rockie rest. I want Rockie's test results by tomorrow," she instructed the doctor, her tone leaving no room for argument.

When they went back to the main house.

As they settled into the grand drawing room of their Russian estate, the tension was palpable. Ling Li's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Her eyes darted to Mushu, the loyal aide who rarely left her side.

"Mushu, did you hear what that young doctor said? Dr. Erik was dismissed by me. How did it happen? And Dr. Gao seemed to have taken over." Her voice carried a sharp edge of confusion and determination.

Mushu nodded solemnly. "Yes, Madam. It seems there are some things we need to uncover."

Shi Min, pacing the room thoughtfully, paused and turned to his mother. "Mom, how did we hire Dr. Gao?"

Ling Li's brow furrowed as she recalled the details. "The Chinese President referred to him," she replied immediately, her frown deepening. "I trusted the recommendation without questioning it further."

Shi Min nodded slowly, the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together in his mind. "Looks like we are getting several pictures together," he uttered, his voice laced with suspicion.

Ling Li's resolve hardened. "We have to find out what is happening as soon as possible. Mushu, I'm assigning Reginald to Ren. We need one for Lily as well."

Mushu, ever efficient, responded promptly. "I can dispatch Leeroy to be with Lily."

Ling Li nodded in agreement. "Yes, I remember him. Send him in." She paused, her gaze softening as it landed on Goldie. "Goldie can join us on behalf of Reginald."

In the subsequent days, Ling Li was a whirlwind of efficiency at the office. She meticulously consolidated her work, ensuring every detail was captured before her impending departure to Camp Phoenix. She was acutely aware of the urgency and complexity of the task ahead, and the thought of not knowing how long it would take weighed on her mind.

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