Ryan smiled upon hearing the announcement from the System. He had not anticipated that treating his mother would be part of the system's tasks, and it was even a mid-level one with a substantial reward.
Eagerly, Ryan accepted the task and was determined to tend to his mother with diligence. "System! You really are the best!" Ryan thought to himself.
[Yes! I have always been the best!] replied the System proudly.
Ryan just shook his head and intended to enter the house, but he stopped in his tracks when the woman he loved most emerged upon opening the door, bestowing upon him a gentle smile.
Though his mother's face was a bit pale due to illness, to Ryan, her smile was the most beautiful creation God had ever granted him.
"Mother.. Ryan's home!" said Ryan softly, smiling and greeting his mother.
"Cough! Yes, my child! Cough! Cough!" Lastri reciprocated with a tender smile.
With loving care, Lastri stroked her son's head. Even though Ryan was twenty-three and considered an adult, he remained her little baby just like before in Lastri's eyes.
Watching his mother cough, Ryan sighed deeply.
"Mother.." said Ryan.
"Come inside! Cough! Cough! It's not good to talk in front of the door like this!" said his mother.
"Alright, Mother!" Ryan followed.
Both went into the house, and Lastri calmly closed the door. Then they sat in the living room chairs, enveloped in silence.
The mother smiled, watching her hesitant son struggle to start a conversation.
"What is it, child? Cough!" Lastri asked while continuing to cough lightly.
"Mother, Ryan wants to treat you!" Ryan spoke softly.
"What do you mean?" Lastri furrowed her brows.
"Ryan has some knowledge about healing through massage therapy, Mother! Do you believe it?" Ryan addressed her.
"Well then.. What should I do now? Cough! Cough! Should I lay down in the bedroom or can you do this while I'm sitting here?" Lastri immediately trusted her son, even though she found his words somewhat peculiar. As a mother, she did not want to disappoint him by declining.
Ryan beamed at his mother's response.
"Mother, just sit there! Ryan will start massaging now!" said Ryan, moving closer to Lastri.
Lastri allowed her son to proceed with what he wanted to do. Meanwhile, Ryan, with his high-level massage expertise acquired from the system, began his treatment.
Ryan targeted the nerves associated with her illness and applied light pressure on them, starting with the neck, back, arms, and even soles of the feet.
He massaged softly, wary of causing his mother pain. She experienced tingling sensations spreading through certain areas of her body, especially around her chest.
She also felt small electric shocks with every stroke from her son. After about half an hour of this process, Ryan stopped what he was doing and moved to fetch something.
Ryan reappeared with a bowl in his right hand and a dipper of clean water he had taken from the bathroom. He handed the bowl to his mother and placed the dipper on the table.
"Mother, hold this near your mouth! And sorry, this might hurt a bit!" Ryan apologized gracefully.
Lastri gazed at her son with a soft smile, nodding her head, and positioned the bowl under her chin.
Seeing his mother comply with his request, Ryan inhaled deeply and pressed hard on the left side of her back and then on the front of her shoulder.
"Cough!"
His mother felt immense pain in her chest and was shocked by Ryan's action, coughing up blood into the bowl positioned under her chin.
The blood was black and mixed with a foul-smelling green mucus. Ryan quickly handed her the dipper of water.
"Mother, rinse your mouth!" Ryan instructed.
Lastri nodded and followed her son's instruction. Afterward, she spat the rinse water into the bowl that Ryan now held.
Seeing his mother had finished cleansing the blood from her mouth, Ryan hurried to dispose of the contents of the bowl.
On the way to get rid of the waste and blood, he heard a sound he knew well, which made him smile broadly.
[Ding! Congratulations! You have completed a mid-level system task: treating your own mother! You receive 10 system points, 5 charm points, and 1,000,000 in cash!]
[Ding! Congratulations! You also receive a Small Gift Box as the System is touched by your devotion to your parents!]
"Thank you, System!" Ryan exclaimed happily, not expecting the System to add another gift for his devotion to his mother.
[You're welcome! Continue to do good for your parents! That way, your children will also be kind to you in the future!]
Ryan considered the System's words. It was indeed true! When we are kind and dutiful to our parents, then our own children will likely be the same to us.
If on the contrary, we should not blame our children if one day they rebel against us! Instead, blame ourselves for not being dutiful to our own parents.
[By the way! You should consider skipping the university tomorrow! You need a full day of rest after treating your mother in that way!] the System advised.
Ryan nodded, understanding the side effects of the treatment. Besides feeling extremely exhausted at the moment, his body felt shattered and he indeed needed a whole day of rest.
After discarding the sickness-infected blood, Ryan quickly returned to his mother. He saw Lastri looking more glowing and no longer pale.
"How do you feel now, Mother?" Ryan inquired.
"My child, I am feeling fine now!" Lastri responded with a smile.
"Good to hear that you're feeling better, Mother!" Ryan returned the smile.
"Oh, my child! Where did you learn such healing techniques?" Lastri suddenly asked.
"Uh.. Well.. That's.. um.." Ryan stammered, nervous and unsure how to respond.
Ryan couldn't reveal the existence of the System, but he also couldn't keep lying to his mother. Continuing to lie may lead to a habit of lying—this would not be noble, as it is not honorable to perpetuate dishonesty.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 87 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments