Ling Yi was actually quite sleepy.
She had wanted to sleep since this afternoon but never got the chance.
Originally, once she had dealt with Raiden Ryoma and handled most of the other matters, she could have let Raiden Mei regain control of her body, called it a day, and gone to rest.
Then she personally witnessed the two Raiden Meis agree to fight each other five years later.
Ling Yi was so angry that her drowsiness vanished without a trace.
After watching Raiden Mei complete her studies for the day, Ling Yi finally began questioning her.
‘Raiden Mei.’ Raiden Mei, who had just finished washing up and gotten into bed, panicked.
It felt like when your mother suddenly called you by your full name.
You might not know what you had done wrong, but you knew you were in trouble.
“Mom…
what is it?” Raiden Mei immediately sat upright in bed, her small body ramrod straight.
‘You know why I’m looking for you.
Why did you do something so dangerous?’ Ling Yi angrily pulled Raiden Mei’s consciousness out of her body and into the consciousness space, then stared coldly at her.
She was referring to Raiden Mei’s agreement to fight the Herrscher of Thunder five years from now.
Ling Yi knew the Herrscher of Thunder inside and out.
She was a little tsundere, and even if Raiden Mei lost, the Herrscher of Thunder wouldn’t kill her.
But at the time, Raiden Mei hadn’t even known who the other person was, yet she had accepted her challenge.
Wasn’t she afraid the other person might kill her?
How could she accept a challenge without even understanding the situation?
“Mom…
Ling Yi, let me explain.
Please don’t be angry.” Raiden Mei was flustered the moment she entered the consciousness space.
This was the first time she had seen Ling Yi so angry, and she hurried over to kneel beside her.
“Hmph.” Ling Yi turned her head away, refusing to look at Raiden Mei.
Before Ling Yi could say anything else, her vision suddenly blurred.
A moment later, warmth filled her arms as Raiden Mei threw herself at her and buried her face in her chest.
Held tightly in her embrace, Ling Yi didn’t know whether to stay angry or smile wryly.
She could only ask, “Mei, what are you doing?” But Raiden Mei merely buried her head in Ling Yi’s chest and refused to look up.
“Mom…
So many bullets were fired at you today.
At that moment, my mind went completely blank.
I don’t want you to get hurt.” Raiden Mei had thought about it for a long time today.
She was afraid.
Afraid that Ling Yi would be hurt.
Afraid that Ling Yi would die.
That fear was even greater than when the flames of the explosions had erupted beside her.
Compared to bullets striking her own body, Raiden Mei was far more afraid of them striking Ling Yi.
Something warm soaked into the front of Ling Yi’s clothes.
Kneeling beside Ling Yi’s legs, Raiden Mei’s shoulders trembled slightly, her face buried deep in her chest as she refused to raise her head.
Ling Yi suddenly remembered a time years ago when Raiden Mei had fallen ill with a fever.
In the consciousness space, she had tightly clutched Ling Yi’s hand and pleaded, “Mom…
don’t leave me.” Raiden Mei had her own bottom lines, and Ling Yi was undoubtedly the most important one.
“Mom, I want to protect you.
I understand all those principles you taught me about prioritizing my own safety, but I can’t stand by and watch you get hurt.” “To me, Ling Yi will always be more important than the entire world.” Flick— After hearing Raiden Mei’s nearly confessional words, Ling Yi chose to…
flick her on the forehead.
“My dear daughter, I’m your mother, your guardian, and also another you.
What do you mean by me getting hurt?
Mei, we’ve always been one.
Besides, even if you say that, it still doesn’t justify fighting that person.
You weren’t thinking clearly at all.” What angered Ling Yi was that Raiden Mei hadn’t considered her own safety and hadn’t acted rationally.
“Ugh…
But if I want to protect Ling Yi, I’ll inevitably have to face countless dangers.
I don’t know who that person is, but that isn’t important.
I’ll face endless enemies in the future too.
She’s only one of them.” ‘I will face everything.
I can overcome any hardship.
If I can’t, then I don’t deserve to protect Ling Yi.’ Even though she hadn’t understood the situation, someone wanted to take her Ling Yi away from her.
She would never allow that.
That was what Raiden Mei had been thinking at the time.
It was merely another obstacle she would overcome.
There was nothing to fear.
If she wanted to protect Ling Yi, she had to become stronger than everyone else to prove she was worthy, didn’t she?
This electrified version of herself claimed that she could protect Ling Yi better, so Mei would prove her wrong.
Reason was often useless, and goodwill was powerless.
When fate swung its fist at her, Raiden Mei would meet it with a punch of her own.
“Mei, have you ever considered that even if you burn away everything you have, you still might not be able to overcome these hardships?
What will you do then?” “What will I do without you?” The future would not be an easy road, nor would tomorrow always be smooth sailing.
Most of the time, deciding to do something was only the beginning.
Ling Yi didn’t think Raiden Mei had considered the consequences of failure.
“Trust me, Mom.” Raiden Mei said nothing more.
She only hoped the person in her arms would place her trust in her.
“…” Ling Yi opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
But then she suddenly thought of Raiden Ryoma that afternoon.
He had never questioned Raiden Mei about everything she did.
He would let go and allow Raiden Mei to do as she wished, confident that he could handle the consequences for her.
“I don’t agree with your way of thinking, Mei.
I’ve always believed that keeping you safe and preventing you from getting hurt is my responsibility as your mother.
But now it seems you and I may have been thinking the same thing.” Ling Yi stroked Raiden Mei’s head.
She could feel that Raiden Mei’s decision hadn’t been made on impulse.
This was genuinely what she believed.
No matter what difficulties she encountered, she would overcome anything standing in her way.
“But your path is ultimately yours to walk.
No one can replace you, and no one can make your decisions for you.” “To have already chosen the path you want to take at such a young age…
You’re far stronger than I was.
When I was your age, I was still playing in the mud.
I’m proud of you.” Ling Yi gazed at Raiden Mei with immense pride.
‘See the girl I raised?
She’s amazing!’ “Ling Yi is the best.” Raiden Mei raised her head, her eyes sparkling as brilliantly as the stars.
She had always felt that as long as Ling Yi existed in this world, that was enough.
Then she would never be alone.
She had entrusted Ling Yi with all her faith, and Ling Yi had never disappointed her.
Ling Yi had always understood her.
“Ling Yi.” “I’m here.” The Damselette’s voice put Raiden Mei at ease.
“Will you stay with me forever?” After asking, Raiden Mei felt she was being a little selfish, yet she still yearned for Ling Yi’s answer.
“…I can’t answer that question.” After a brief hesitation, Ling Yi spoke.
“I see…” Raiden Mei realized something, but she didn’t say it aloud.
“Then…
do you want to stay with me forever?” As Raiden Mei said this, she buried her entire head against Ling Yi, her face flushing bright red.
“I do.” This time, the answer came without the slightest hesitation.
★ ★ ★ T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me!
★ ★ ★ Shilling time!