My Manor

"You can talk now!"

Looking at the scales that had unexpectedly emerged from Aphra's mouth, Darlene and Marianne pointed at her in surprise, continuously signing to her in excitement.

Aphra, also startled by their reactions, looked back at them in confusion. However, since her hands and feet were still tied to the bed by Jiang Hai, she attempted to touch her throat to understand what was happening, but couldn't move.

"Don't worry," Jiang Hai reassured her, letting out a relieved sigh. It seemed that the scales were indeed effective. This was easier than he had anticipated. As for whether the girls would attract attention due to their sudden ability to speak, Jiang Hai was concerned, but he had already planned for this. He had considered the potential issue before leaving China.

On the way, he had packed some Chinese herbal medicines in his luggage. The primary use of these herbs was to clear the lungs, including sterculia lychnophora, fritillaria chuanxiong, and loquat, among others.

Though there was no scientific evidence to back it up, the herbs were sufficient for the task, and any doubts about their effectiveness could be dismissed.

"Ai, ai..."

After Jiang Hai untied her restraints, Aphra covered her throat and tried to speak. Though she had never spoken before and could only manage a small, scale-like sound, this was more than enough to overwhelm her. Tears immediately filled her eyes.

The emotional surge was too much for her, and large tears began flowing down her cheeks. Her gaze, which had once held a mixture of admiration and gratitude for Jiang Hai, now completely shifted—she was filled with worship. To her, Jiang Hai had become her savior, her god. She didn't care how he had enabled her to speak; all she knew was that he had given her a new life.

With this realization, Aphra pressed her hands to her chest, knelt on the bed, and bowed deeply to Jiang Hai, her sobs choking her throat. The moment was so emotional that it made others feel a lump in their throats.

Seeing Aphra's excitement, Darlene and Marianne's eyes welled up too. As they looked at Jiang Hai, their admiration for him nearly overwhelmed them. They too wanted his help.

Jiang Hai smiled when he met their gazes. He knew that the effect of the scales was working well. But this was only the first test, and he had decided to try the treatment on his two daughters after performing a few more tests.

"Alright, don't cry anymore. Aren't you feeling uncomfortable? Go take a shower," he said, patting Aphra's shoulder and offering a smile.

Hearing Jiang Hai's words, Aphra noticed the layer of grayish mud on her body, as well as the unpleasant odor that was irritating her nostrils.

"Si, si..."

Seeing her condition, Aphra was about to thank him but instead raised her head, trying to say something. Jiang Hai understood she wanted to speak but could only make the sound "si."

The process would need more practice, but now wasn't the time to worry about it.

"It's okay, go ahead," Jiang Hai said, watching as Aphra quickly jumped off the bed and hurried to the bathroom. The door shut behind her, and the sound of the shower soon filled the room.

"Dad, when can we talk?"

Once Aphra was gone, Darlene ran up to Jiang Hai, gesturing excitedly. It was the first time she used the word "dad" in sign language.

"You're a clever little one," Jiang Hai said with a chuckle. "You know to call me 'dad' now that you see the benefits. Don't worry, your turn will come too. We've only tested this on Aphra, so I'll need to run a couple more tests. But don't worry, I'll help you when it's your turn."

Although Darlene and Marianne felt a little disappointed that they couldn't speak just yet, they understood Jiang Hai's cautious approach. He was looking out for them, so they had no hard feelings. They simply waited for the day they too could speak and believed that day wasn't too far off.

Meanwhile, Aphra, in the bathroom, was slowly recovering as warm water poured over her. Her excitement gradually gave way to calm, but Jiang Hai's figure remained etched in her mind. The memory of his gentle demeanor made her press her hand to her chest.

She had heard that Chinese men were known to be considerate and gentle, and now she saw that it was true.

In that moment, Aphra felt fortunate that she had chosen to go with Jiang Hai. He had given her a new life, a new sense of dignity, and something she had dreamed of since childhood—a voice.

Jiang Hai had filled her heart, and she saw him as her god, her everything.

As she stood there thinking about all he had done for her, she noticed that her body was changing. Her skin, once dry and loose, was now tight and smooth. Some of the large pores had disappeared, and her body was fuller and firmer.

Her once modest bust, which had been around a C cup, seemed to have grown to a D cup without her realizing it.

Curious, she walked to the bathroom mirror, wiped the fog away, and looked at herself. Her face was still familiar—high cheekbones, thin lips, and a pointed chin—but her features had transformed, becoming more vibrant and beautiful. Even her hair, once unruly, now appeared smooth and healthy.

Her body, too, had improved. Not only had she gained weight, but her skin had become more supple, and she had a more toned, fit physique.

But the most surprising change was in her most intimate areas.

Aphra, once embarrassed by her appearance in these parts of her body, noticed that everything had changed. The marks that had once made her feel ashamed had disappeared. Her body had returned to what it was like years ago—youthful, fresh, and feminine.

She couldn't believe it. Could it be that Jiang Hai's healing had not only restored her voice but also her physical form?

Aphra swallowed nervously. Despite the disbelief, she felt more confident than ever.

"It was reborn because of you," she thought, "so only you can awaken it again." Her heart raced as she thought of Jiang Hai—her savior, the man who had given her a new life.

When Aphra came out of the bathroom, over forty minutes had passed.

Jiang Hai, not bothered by the smell of her still-damp clothes, approached her and observed her closely. "Do you feel any different?"

Aphra, suddenly aware of the changes, blushed deeply.

"Hey, hey..." she tried to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she signed, "I'm fine. My whole body feels better. Not only is my throat better, but I feel better overall."

Jiang Hai, relieved, nodded. "Good. Now that you're feeling better, go rest. If everything is fine tomorrow, ask the other girls if they want to try the treatment. If so, bring two more girls for me. Of course, I'll help the others once they're confirmed, but you can't tell anyone about the details of the treatment."

"No, no problem..." Aphra attempted to speak, and though her words were still unclear, Jiang Hai understood.

(End of chapter.)