Tianyu's fingers hovered over the gacha wheel, his anticipation palpable. With a decisive flick, he spun the wheel, watching as it spun and gradually came to a halt. His prize materialized before him: a delicate necklace adorned with a light blue, tear-drop gem.
Sophia's voice chimed in with congratulations, [Congratulations, host! You have won a Necklace of Renewal.]
He held the necklace in his hand, captivated by its beauty. His curiosity prompted him to ask, "It's beautiful. What does it do?"
Sophia responded, [The Necklace of Renewal has a wonderful effect. It makes the wearer feel refreshed and imbues a sense of calmness.]
"Hmm," Tianyu pondered. "I know exactly what to do with this."
With the necklace in hand, he walked to the door and slid it open. Stepping out, he ventured through his house and into a small courtyard. There, he found his mother, Qin Li Mei, crouched by a wall tending to a small flower bed.
A smile curved his lips as he approached her. "Mother?" he called out.
Qin Li Mei turned, her eyes lighting up as she spotted her son. "What is it, son?" she responded, her smile warm.
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A hint of bashfulness crossed Tianyu's face. The term "son" still carried an unfamiliarity that made him slightly self-conscious. "I have a gift for you," he said, his hand extended to present the necklace.
Observing the bashful demeanor of her son, a gentle smile graced Qin Li Mei's lips. It reminded her of the times when he was a young boy, picking flowers for her.
Taking the offered gift, her eyes widened as she took in the necklace's exquisite craftsmanship and the ocean-blue, tear-drop gem at its center.
Her surprise didn't go unnoticed, and Tianyu hastened to explain, "I found this gem by the river a few months ago. I thought of giving it to you as a present. But I couldn't simply hand you a raw gem like I would have done as a child. I wanted to give you something beautiful, something you could wear with pride. So, I used the money I'd been saving and took the gem to old man Zhao."
Qin Li Mei's expression held a mix of emotions as she listened to her son's story.
Tianyu continued, "Old man Zhao said he could craft a necklace for you, but it would cost quite a bit. We struck a deal – he could keep half of the gem, and I would pay the rest, along with sweeping his shop for three months."
Her brow furrowed in puzzlement. "When did you do all this? I never noticed you leaving the house every day."
Tianyu responded with a playful grin, "If you had, it wouldn't have been much of a surprise, would it?"
Qin Li Mei's hesitance was evident as she clutched the necklace in her hand, seemingly lost in thought.
Noticing her internal struggle, Tianyu stepped closer and gently placed the necklace around her neck. A soothing coolness spread from the gem, calming both her body and mind.
"Mother," Tianyu began in a tender yet firm tone, "this gift pales in comparison to everything you've given me. The sacrifices you've made, the pain and frustration you must have endured over the years. And yet, you've never once placed blame on me, even when it was due to me."
Tianyu anticipated her objections and quickly continued, "No, don't interrupt. I'm not a child anymore, mother. I understand that we were expelled from the Qin family due to my lack of cultivation talent."
As a tear escaped Qin Li Mei's eye, Tianyu gently wiped it away. "But things will change now," he said with an earnest smile. He leaned down and pressed a loving kiss to her forehead. "No more worries, mother. As a man, it's my duty to step up and prove myself – not to the Qin family, not to my 'father,' not to anyone. But to myself."
His gaze met hers, brimming with affection. "I'll give you the life you deserve. I promise."