The doctor pushed up the glasses on the bridge of her nose, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.
"Well... strictly speaking, this isn't exactly a medical miracle."
She closed the examination report in her hand and turned to face Aimi.
"To put it simply, Ms. Ayano's illness was a matter of her state of mind."
"She's been worrying too much all these years, taking everything upon herself and bottling up all the pressure in her heart."
"Her husband leaving home, her daughter running the Gym alone, the family's financial situation deteriorating..."
"These things weighed on her one by one, and naturally, her body couldn't handle it."
The female doctor glanced at Ayano, her tone lightening a bit.
"But this kind of illness is different from those organic diseases."
"It's not something that can be cured just by taking medicine, nor can it be completely resolved by high-tech medical treatments."
"The key lies in the patient's mindset and mental state."
"When the mindset is positive and the mental state improves, the body's various functions will naturally follow suit."
At this point, the female doctor smiled.
"Actually, there have been similar cases before."
"There was an old lady who had been bedridden for several years. Her children hired the best doctors and used the best medicine, but she just didn't get better."
"Then one day, her grandson, who was abroad, suddenly returned and brought a girlfriend with him."
"The old lady was so happy that she sat right up in bed."
"By the next day, she could walk on the floor."
"On the third day, she started busying herself with cooking for her grandson."
The female doctor spread her hands.
"So you see, some illnesses are really sustained by a single breath of spirit."
"Once that spirit is smoothed out, the illness is cured."
Aimi listened, completely stunned.
Her mouth was slightly agape, her eyes wide, and she was still in a state of disbelief.
"Then... then my mom now..."
"Her current condition is very good," the female doctor assured her.
"Of course, she still needs to pay attention to rest and not overwork herself."
"But at least she doesn't have to lie in bed every day like before, relying on medicine to stay alive."
"With regular check-ups, taking medicine on time, and keeping a good mood, there should basically be no problem."
Aimi's eye sockets suddenly reddened.
Her lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"That's wonderful... that's wonderful..."
She grabbed Ayano's hand and held it tightly.
"Mom, did you hear that?"
"You're okay!"
"You're really okay!"
Being held by her daughter, Ayano smiled and nodded.
Her eyes were also a bit moist, but mostly filled with a sense of relief and ease.
"I heard, I heard."
"I told you I was fine, but you guys wouldn't believe me."
She turned her head to look at the female doctor.
"So, you're saying my illness... was driven away by my daughter's happy news?"
The female doctor was amused.
"If you want to put it that way... it's not wrong."
"There are indeed many recorded instances in medicine where happy events have such a healing effect."
"Although there's no scientific basis, the results are genuinely good."
Ayano smiled even more happily.
She patted the back of Aimi's hand, then her gaze moved past her daughter and landed on Roy, who was standing by the wall.
"Roy."
Ayano's voice suddenly became exceptionally gentle and serious.
Roy walked over from the wall and stood by the sofa.
"Auntie."
Ayano looked up, sizing Roy up from head to toe.
Her gaze lingered on his face for a long time, then fell on his broad shoulders and upright back.
The more she looked, the more satisfied and fond she became.
"You..."
Ayano reached out and grabbed Roy's wrist.
Her palm was warm, and her grip was much stronger than before, not at all like a patient who had been bedridden for years.
"You really are our family's savior."
Ayano's voice trembled slightly, not from weakness, but from excitement.
"Look at how much our family has changed since you arrived."
"First, there's Aimi; she used to have a worried face all day, without a single smile."
"Ever since she met you, she's completely changed. She comes home every day with a big smile."
Ayano's fingers tightened.
"If it weren't for you, I might still be lying in bed right now."
"Now, I can even get up and cook."
Ayano's eyes reddened, but her face was full of smiles.
"Now that you and Aimi are together..."
As she spoke, tears began to fall.
"As her mother, the heavy stone in my heart has finally been lifted."
"I'm entrusting this girl, Aimi, to you from now on. You must treat her well."
The corners of Roy's mouth curled slightly.
"Don't worry, Auntie."
"I will take good care of Aimi."
Ayano nodded vigorously before finally letting go of Roy's wrist.
She took a deep breath and then suddenly stood up from the sofa.
"Good!"
Her movement was so sudden that it gave Aimi a fright.
"Mom! What are you doing? Sit down quickly!"
Aimi hurriedly reached out to support her.
Ayano waved her hand, brushing Aimi's hand away.
"Sit for what? I'm perfectly fine."
As she spoke, she walked toward the kitchen.
"I'm going to make more dishes!"
"I still have two signature dishes I haven't shown off yet!"
"On such a happy day, how can we have only these few dishes?"
Aimi followed behind, stamping her feet in anxiety.
"Mom! There are already so many dishes on the table, it's enough!"
"And the doctor said you can't overwork yourself!"
Ayano didn't listen at all.
She entered the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and started rummaging for ingredients.
"I'm not tired, I'm not tired. How tiring can making two dishes be?"
"Besides, today is a feast to celebrate Roy becoming the Champion. How can we be sloppy?"
"With good things happening, there can never be too many dishes."
She took a fish and a piece of pork belly out of the fridge.
"And..."
Ayano turned her head and glanced at Pikachu, Eevee, and Primeape standing in the living room.
"Pikachu and the others love delicious food, don't they?"
"I saw it clearly when they stayed at my house for those few days."
"These three little guys really love to eat."
Hearing this, Pikachu's ears perked up, and its eyes sparkled.
"Pika pika!"
It hopped to the kitchen door, its small paws gripping the doorframe, looking at Ayano with a face full of anticipation.
Eevee followed, its tail wagging like a small fan.
"Bui bui~"
Although Primeape didn't run over, its gaze kept drifting toward the kitchen, and the corners of its mouth were a bit moist.
Delia watching this, couldn't help but laugh.
"Sister Ayano, tonight's dishes are really enough."
She pointed to the table crowded with dishes.
"Look, there are only a few of us. We can't possibly finish it all."
Ayano waved her hand, looking indifferent.
"If we can't finish it, we can eat it tomorrow."
"Besides, Roy is the Champion. How can a Champion's victory feast be meager?"
"And didn't you hear what the doctor just said?"
"I'm cured! I have to celebrate!"
Misty, hearing this from the side, immediately jumped up.
"Yay! More delicious food! This is great!"
She raised her hands, jumping for joy.
"Auntie Ayano's cooking is so delicious, I was just thinking it wasn't enough!"
Ayano started busying herself in the kitchen with a chuckle.
Her movements were much more agile than before—chopping, seasoning, and putting things into the pot in one smooth motion.
She looked full of vitality, not at all like someone who had just climbed out of a sickbed.
Before long, a rich aroma wafted out of the kitchen.
It was a scent that mixed the fragrance of fish and meat, so rich it made one's mouth water.
Pikachu's nose twitched, and its whole body stood up.
"Pika pika pika!"
It spun around in place with excitement, its tail standing straight up.
Eevee couldn't sit still either; it jumped off Roy's lap and ran to the kitchen door to crouch, its eyes unblinking as it stared inside.
Primeape finally couldn't help itself; it walked over from the corner and paced back and forth at the kitchen door.
Misty also moved closer, leaning against the doorframe to look inside.
"It smells so good! Auntie Ayano, what dish are you making?"
Ayano's voice came from the kitchen, tinged with laughter.
"Braised Fish and Dongpo Pork!"
"I specifically went to learn these two dishes when I was young. I actually learned others too, but these are the ones I make best."
Ayano walked out of the kitchen carrying two plates.
On one plate was a whole Braised Fish, coated in a thick sauce and sprinkled with chopped green onions and cilantro.
The other plate held Dongpo Pork—pork belly cut into squares, skin-side up, red, bright, and glistening with oil, wobbling slightly. It was mouth-watering just to look at.
Ayano placed the dishes on the table and clapped her hands.
"Alright! That's everything!"
"Everyone, sit down and eat while it's hot!"
Everyone sat around the table.
Ayano sat at the head of the table, Aimi sat next to her, Roy sat next to Aimi, and Delia and Misty sat opposite them.
Ayano picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of Dongpo Pork, and placed it in Roy's bowl.
"Roy, you are the pillar of the family. You eat first."
All four of them looked at Roy in unison.
Roy nodded, picked up the piece of meat, and put it in his mouth.
The meat was stewed until tender, melting in the mouth; it was fatty but not greasy, lean but not tough.
The flavor of the sauce had completely permeated the meat—salty with a hint of sweetness, with a long-lasting aftertaste.
"It's very delicious."
Roy gave his evaluation.
Ayano's eyes crinkled into slits as she smiled.
"If it's good, eat more!"
"If it's not enough, I'll make more!"
After Roy took the first bite, the other four also started using their chopsticks.
Misty couldn't wait any longer and directly put a piece of fish into her mouth.
"Wow! So delicious!"
Ayano beamed at the praise.
"If you like it, eat more. Don't be shy."
Delia also took a piece of Dongpo Pork and tasted it carefully.
"Sister Ayano, your skills are truly amazing."
"The meat is stewed to just the right degree; it's not greasy at all."
Ayano waved her hand modestly.
"Oh, it's just ordinary home cooking."
"I'm glad you like it."
As she spoke, she placed a piece of meat from the fish's belly into Roy's bowl.
"Roy, eat more fish. The meat in this part is the tenderest."
Roy accepted everything, eating all the food Ayano served him.
Sitting nearby, Aimi watched the interaction between her mother and Roy, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.
This feeling...
It's really warm.
Misty, her mouth covered in oil, suddenly remembered something.
She put down her chopsticks and turned to rummage through her backpack.
"Oh right, I almost forgot!"
She rummaged in her backpack for a while and pulled out a large bottle of wine—the hotel's home-brewed Fruit Wine.
"Eh? Misty, why did you bring this back too?"
Misty gave a cheeky smile and placed the wine bottle on the table.
"How can a celebration be without fine wine?"
Misty picked up the bottle and first poured a glass for Roy.
"Come on, Roy, try it. It's really good!"
"The hotel brewed it themselves; it's not very strong!"
Roy picked up the glass and took a sip.
The liquid was mellow and smooth, sweet but not cloying, with a light fruit aroma. As it slid down his throat, his stomach felt warm.
"Not bad."
Hearing Roy's evaluation, Misty's eyes curved into crescents.
"Right, right! I told you it was good!"
"Roy, be careful; this has a strong kick later on," Delia reminded him gently.
Then, she poured some fruit juice for Ayano, and they all toasted together.
A family of five, happy and harmonious...
...!...
After several rounds of drinks and food...
Misty was once again feeling woozy, leaning over the table and mumbling.
"One more glass... one more glass..."
Ayano and Delia busied themselves in the kitchen for a while, washing the dishes, wiping the table clean, and tidying up the kitchen.
Then they helped Misty wash up and settled her into bed in the guest room.
Ayano was also tired; although her spirits were much better, she had just recovered, and her body still couldn't quite handle it.
She said goodnight to Delia and went back to her room to rest.
Delia also returned to her own room.
The whole house fell silent.
...
Roy returned to his room, took off his jacket, and lay down on the bed.
He closed his eyes, preparing to rest.
Not long after he lay down, the door was suddenly pushed open gently.
There was a faint sound.
Then came light footsteps.
Roy opened his eyes and turned his head.
Aimi was standing at the door.
She was wearing a very sexy sheer lace nightgown.
The nightgown was pale pink, the fabric so thin it was almost transparent. Under the moonlight, the contours of her body were clearly visible.
The neckline of the nightgown was very low, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin.
The hem of the nightgown was very short, barely covering the tops of her thighs.
Her long, straight legs were completely exposed, gleaming like ivory in the moonlight.
Aimi's face was flushed, but she didn't look away; instead, she looked straight at Roy.
Her lips were slightly pursed, and her eyes held a gentle yet determined light.
Roy leaned against the headboard, watching Aimi walk over step by step.
He knew what was going to happen tonight.
"Yesterday was for adjusting my state, today is..."
Aimi walked to the bedside, leaned over, and placed her hands on either side of Roy.
Due to this movement, the neckline of the nightgown opened even wider, her softness nearly spilling out.
She leaned close to Roy's face, her lips pressed against his ear.
"Of course, it's a special victory celebration for the man I love most~"
Her voice was as soft as a feather, carrying a warm breath that blew against Roy's ear.
After speaking, Aimi pressed close to Roy and kissed him.
Her lips were soft and warm, carrying a faint scent of wine.
Aimi's body began to heat up, and two patches of crimson appeared on her cheeks.
"I love you... Roy... I..."
Tipsy, Aimi spoke the most straightforward words of love.
After staring at each other subtly for a moment, Roy reached out to turn off the bedside lamp and pulled up the quilt to cover them both.
Subsequently, the temperature under the covers began to rise rapidly...
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