2 First He ever saw

Qing Shan sped through a couple of traffic lights as he drove towards the mountains overlooking the pearl river.

At $6,800 per square meter, the Diamond Hill Manor, primary residence of the Qing family sat on 8 acres of prime real estate with 6 guest chalets.

A 2 mile drive lined with hybrid coconut trees, a tribute to his grandmother's love for the tropics, underground garage with the latest range of sport cars, game arcades, a golf course and the manor itself built with the finest white marble, that reflects the sky in the evening...; Hence the name, Diamond Hill.

The view, that never failed to amaze Qing Shan, was less than noticeable as he drove up the hill to the manor.

Servants were scurrying all around, and the panic on their face was as clear as day.

Li Shen, the family's butler since before he was born, came out to meet him..

"Young master"... panic clear on his face

Qing Shan pushes him aside as he hurries into the house.

Mrs Qing runs out her appearance harried with tears running down her face

"Son.... you're here..."

Trying to hold back her sobs, Shan feels a chill running down his spine and holds her close

"Mother what is going on?"

"Oh...w.....we....were h..h..having a light lunch when your father slumped, the doctors are with him..." sobbing quietly into his shirt.

Shan becomes pale with horror his body still as he fights to reign his emotions, fear being the strongest fighting for control.

A faint tremor, wracks his body as he lifts his slightly shaky hands, to run down the head of his mum.

"Shhh.... everything will be fine"

Not knowing whether he was reassuring himself, or his mom.

"Mrs Qing... "

Shan looks up to see the doctor, a top cardiac surgeon in the country, Lu Fen, as he wipes his hand with some sanitizer; its been said that he's a great germophobe;

"I'm afraid, the chairman suffered from a severe heart attack, and will need surgery immediately. He is stabilized for now, but, we would have to put in a pacemaker to help his heart, and he will have to stay away from any stress inducing work. All traveling should cease too. The chairman will have to delegate more at this time."

Shan feels his mom tremble a little, as she steels herself to face the doctor. Totally composed she asks

"How soon does he need to go in for the surgery?"

"As soon as all necessary arrangements are made" Lu Fen replies

Qing Shan looks at the doctor in silent thanks and asks

"When can we see him"

"Once he wakes up. I gave him a little sedative to help him rest. As much as is possible no talk of work please."

Lu Fen begins to pack his things and hands it to the assistant beside him.

"I will send a nurse to take care of him till the time of the surgery, and post-op if that is okay with you Mrs Qing...?"

"That's alright. Uncle Li, please see that the nurse is properly settled in, and get her a temporary staff ID"

Mrs Qing looks at her son "Shan, please follow me upstairs we have some things to discuss"

"Yes mother in a minute" Qing Shan stalls in order to have a private conversation with the doctor.

As soon as Mrs Qing is out of earshot, Shan asks the doctor "How bad is it? " "would he eventually be able to resume normal activities eventually?"

Li Fen looks at Shan pityingly "I understand the burden, that's about to fall on your shoulders young master, but, its imperative the chairman is allowed to recover at a pace, dictated by his own body. Healing, is a time consuming process. You must let the body go at its own pace"

"Please take care of Mrs Qing. I will be leaving first." Li Fen bows and takes his leave his assistant scurrying behind.

Shan, feeling the weight of responsibility bearing down on him, climbs the stairs up to his mother's suite.

He enters her room after knocking twice

"Mother, how are you holding up?"

"Qing Shan, I'm so sorry about this, its much too early. Your father and I, never imagined that you would be in this kind of situation so early....but, ....you will have to take over the day to day running of the business, until your father fully recovers."

Torn between ranting at the unfairness, and upsetting his mother Qing Shan remains stoic and kisses his mother's cheek.

"I will resume at the office tomorrow and call a board meeting of the directors" he replied

And that was how, in one fell swoop, Qing Shan gave up his dream of being a geneticist, to resume as the young master and heir of the Qing corporation.