"This journey will be long, so let's just chat casually," Lin Yi said with a smile as the two made their way toward the final spatial rift.
"Thank you, but I prefer to travel in silence," Raven replied coldly, her tone distant as always.
"Oh, alright then."
Lin Yi shrugged helplessly, clasped his hands behind his head, and after a short pause—
"I used to believe~ ♫ We'd always swim in the wonderful feeling of love~ ♫ Believing good things would last~ ♫ Dreams were too beautiful to cherish, not knowing enough~ ♫ Like looking at flowers through a fog, we still believed miracles would stay for us~ ♫ Miracles would be in our hands~ ♫"
He began to sing Justin Bieber's "Let Me Love You."
"???"
Raven glanced over in confusion. Lin Yi's singing voice was surprisingly soft and soothing, and before she knew it, she found herself listening quietly. His tone carried a warmth that softened even her guarded heart.
He sang with emotion, gently tapping out the rhythm with his fingers.
"You know~ once you get through the darkest times~ ♫ The paradise in your heart will make all heartbreaks a thing of the past~ ♫ No matter what, I won't let you leave, won't let myself be disappointed~ ♫ All this time, it felt like walking toward hell~ ♫ Like walking on the edge of a knife~ ♫ But no matter what, I won't let you leave, won't let myself be disappointed!~ ♫"
Lin Yi wasn't just singing now — he started dancing, spinning and swaying with the rhythm, completely immersed in the song.
Raven tried not to laugh but failed; she smiled faintly before quickly looking away to hide it.
"Don't let go~ nah nah nah~ ♫ I'll never let go~ nah nah nah~ ♫ Just let me love you~ just let me love you well~ ♫ Don't let go~ nah nah nah~ ♫ I'll never let go~ nah nah nah~ ♫ Just let me love you~ just let me love you well~ ♫"
The rhythm, the energy, and Lin Yi's bright grin—all of it was infectious.Raven's mood, without her realizing, began to lighten. Her steps fell into rhythm with his; her cold exterior seemed to melt just a little.
Then suddenly—
"!!!"
She caught herself.What was she doing? Had she actually been drawn in by this ridiculous boy?
Raven quickly stopped smiling, forcing herself back into composure. But deep down, she knew something had shifted. Lin Yi had unknowingly broken through the walls around her heart—just a bit.
This couldn't be love, could it? No. Impossible. How could she fall for such a strange, annoying guy?
Still, she couldn't deny it—his presence didn't feel bad.
"How was it? Did you like the song I dedicated to you—'Let Me Love You'?" Lin Yi asked cheerfully, standing in front of her with his hands behind his back.
"…"
Raven kept her cool, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
"Hmph~ Ta-da!" Lin Yi grinned, revealing a vibrant flower he had picked somewhere along the way. "Look what I got for you!"
"!!!"
"You know I'm not going to accept that, right?" Raven said softly, glancing aside.
"Hmph~ You have to at least try, right? Maybe you'll surprise yourself."
"As a wise philosopher once said," Lin Yi declared proudly, "the meaning of life isn't in waiting—it's in taking action."
"Is that so? And who said that?"
"Ezio. Master Ezio Auditore," Lin Yi replied dramatically.
Raven chuckled. "Ha~ fine." She brushed past him, continuing forward.
"By the way," Lin Yi called after her, "do you know what else the master said?"
"Go on."
"When I was young, I had freedom, but I didn't see it. I had time, but I didn't know it. I had love, but I didn't feel it. Years later, I realized how precious these things were."
Raven nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm~ sounds like he's telling you to appreciate the present."
"Exactly!" Lin Yi beamed. "I'm young now, and if I don't cherish freedom, time, and love, then one day, I'll regret it too."
"Then follow his advice," Raven said softly, walking beside him. "Cherish what you have now."
"That's right! Which means you must understand how meaningful the feelings I'm expressing to you are right now, right?" Lin Yi said, holding out the flower again.
Raven smiled faintly. "I understand. But understanding doesn't mean I have to accept it."
"Ah~ true," Lin Yi sighed dramatically. "You can reject me, shatter my heart into a thousand pieces, and let me weep alone in the cold night… But I won't resent you. Because everyone deserves to choose freely."
Raven raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just say you'd be heartbroken?"
"Of course I will," Lin Yi said with mock sorrow. "But sadness and happiness aren't opposites. I'll be sad because you rejected me… but happy that you made your own choice."
"Ha~ how Shakespeareanly tragic."
"An art and romance born from sorrow and regret!" Lin Yi declared, placing a hand over his heart.
Raven couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, my overly dramatic little Shakespeare. This flower… is mine."
Lin Yi froze, then grinned wide. "Really? You're accepting it?"
"Seems like it."
"Ha! I didn't expect such a lucky ending! Truly, I'm blessed by the little angel Raven herself!"
"I'm no angel," Raven said, sniffing the flower with a sly smile. "You already know I'm a demon."
"Then, my dear little demon Raven," Lin Yi said dramatically, "take this heart of mine that you've stolen—it belongs to you forever!"
"Ugh, who wants to hold a sticky, bloody heart forever? Gross."
"No, you must! You've already taken my fragile little heart!"
"Then I'll just throw it away."
"Ah! No!" Lin Yi clutched his chest, pretending to be mortally wounded.
"If it breaks, it breaks," Raven teased.
"Please! Pick it up, save my heart!" Lin Yi cried, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Oh, just die already," Raven said with a grin.
"Ah! So cruel! Even if I die, I'll haunt you forever as a lovesick ghost!"
"That sounds disgusting. I'll just use magic to exorcise you."
"No! My soul will linger! I'll curse you to feel endless guilt for my tragic death!"
"You can't cast curses."
"Oh, yes I can!" Lin Yi cried. "Here it comes! Miska~ Moska~ I curse you with eternal sorrow! Mwah!~ There, you're cursed now!"
"Hmph~ what kind of childish nonsense is that?" Raven laughed. "Alright, let go of me, walking like this is tiring."
"Oh, fine," Lin Yi said, reluctantly letting go.
Then suddenly, with a grin—"By the way, can we sleep together tonight?"
"Hmm~ depends," Raven replied. "If you promise to stay quiet the whole time."
"Woohoo! That's great!" Lin Yi cheered, jumping for joy.
(If you want to read 12 advanced chapter). Please visit [https://www.patreon.com/cw/Dinos2_0]