Dead on Mars

Chapter 212: Sol Three Hundred and Twenty-Seven, I’m Going Back On My Word

Translator: CKtalon Editor: CKtalon

Tang Yue was somewhat surprised. He never expected Mai Dong to give such an answer. The present situation had the two of them supporting and relying on each other. Helping the other was, in fact, helping themselves.

Tang Yue believed he was doing what he had to do. He had to make the optimum choice at every key node, the same choice anyone else would make. However, Mai Dong had elevated him to the savior of her life. He didn’t know how he deserved such an appraisal.

I gave you life?

It should be your parents who gave you life.

“I’ve been thinking. If not for you and Mr. Cat, I would be alone on the space station after Earth vanished. Even if I had sufficient resources, how long could I have lived?” Mai Dong said. “In the beginning, I believed I could live on until my material resources were expended. This is because I’ve been a person who could withstand loneliness from a young age. I could spend a long time alone with just a book.

“But later, I got sick of all the movies, music, and games in the space station’s library. The cosmos outside are bland and uninteresting. Every day, I wake up, my only hope is to see the sunrise so that I can see you and Mr. Cat,” Mai Dong continued. “When that happened, I realized that my ability to handle loneliness was not as great as I imagined. The reason I can live on in the space station is that I know that you’re there.

“Even if you don’t speak, contact me, or appear in a video comms, I can still sleep in peace… It’s because you are always there.”

Tang Yue didn’t say a word. Tomcat who was seated opposite him had stopped typing at some point and was eavesdropping.

“The loneliness in space can really drive one crazy… Tang Yue, if not for you and Mr. Cat, I’d probably be dead.”

“Therefore, Miss Mai Dong, the reason why you agreed to marry this punk is to thank him for saving you?” Tomcat suddenly interjected. “We have to abandon such thoughts that don’t belong in this modern day. Even if human civilization has reached its end, there’s no need for you to marry someone you don’t like… It’s not like you can have children. There’s no need to have any relationship with him. You can leave together as good friends.”

Tang Yue glared at the cat. Why did it have to stick its nose in the matter?

It wasn’t his place to say anything; otherwise, he could easily be misconstrued as a pervert with unclean thoughts.

“I strongly believe in the need to protect everyone’s fundamental rights,” Tomcat said righteously. “Of course, Tang Yue is at the very least someone with principles. As long as you aren’t willing, he won’t force you to do anything.”

“Ah…” The girl suddenly laughed. “Mr. Cat, do you mean I can go back on my word?”

“Of course,” Tomcat answered on Tang Yue’s behalf. “As long as you haven’t registered your marriage, any verbal promise lacks legal validity. You have to put serious thought into something as important as marriage.”

“Hmm…” Mai Dong seemed to be in thought.

Tang Yue sighed.

He didn’t say anything. Who knew if Mai Dong’s feelings for him were a result of misattribution of arousal, in which people mislabel physiological responses related to fear as romantic arousal.

This girl had woken up to find Earth gone. She was alone and helpless. And it was at this point in time when Tang Yue had suddenly appeared. It was very normal for Mai Dong to form a dependence on him.

Tomcat was right. Since they couldn’t have children, making it impossible to carry on the human race, there was no need for him and Mai Dong to get married. Whether they entered into a marriage or not, they were the only two humans left in the Universe. As friends, colleagues, or even dorm mates, as long as they could support each other and live on, the relationship between them didn’t matter.

Under such a situation, marriage was simply symbolic. Her agreement to marry Tang Yue was only a declaration and promise.

A declaration that she loved him.

A promise that she would trust him unconditionally and spend the rest of her life with him.

Tang Yue thought of himself. There was really nothing about him that attracted women. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been single for more than two decades. He was the kind of person who didn’t stand out in a crowd. There were people taller and shorter than he was, fatter and skinnier than he was, more handsome and uglier than he was. Perhaps only during a blind date would a lady give him a second glance.

“Can I really call it off?” Mai Dong asked.

“Of course,” Tomcat replied.

“Tang Yue?”

“Yes,” Tang Yue replied. “I support your every decision just like Tomcat.”

“Alright.” Mai Dong ground her teeth. “I’m calling it off. I don’t want to marry you, not at all.”

Tang Yue nodded.

This was an expected outcome. Although it sounded very depressing, Tang Yue didn’t wish to speak, seemingly at a loss. He had no idea where to put his raised hands and finally decided to put them on his knees, feeling disappointed and embarrassed.

“But Tang Yue… You can marry me!” Mai Dong’s words took a turn. “Marry me! Marry me! Marry me! Marry me! Marry me! Marry me!”

Tang Yue was stunned.

This was an unexpected outcome.

There was half a minute of silence over the comms before the girl roared with laughter. Tang Yue could imagine her hugging her abdomen, laughing in a fit. “Hahaha, Tang Yue, were you frightened by me? Did you feel at a loss after hearing I didn’t want to marry you? Hahahaha…”

Tang Yue cracked opened his mouth. He had been left agape again. As a clumsy grease monkey, an insensitive man, Mai Dong had him under her thumb. Why hadn’t he been able to tell earlier that Mai Dong was such an imp? He even thought that she was an introverted silly flower vase… Tang Yue cast his gaze at Tomcat who turned away. Written on its face was: “Why are you looking at me about something between the two of you?”

“Marry me, Tang Yue. Lad, you caught my eye. Follow me.” Mai Dong had turned serious as she even deepened her voice to make it sound like a man’s. It was a mystery where she learned such strange talk that sounded like a ruffian. It was like a village belle catching the fancy of mountain lord and made to be his wife. “Are you willing to marry me? I’m giving you two choices. One, I do. Two, yes.”

“Are you going to provide for me if I marry you?”

“Sure.” Mai Dong harrumphed.

“It’s really the case that if one is not in someone else’s situation one cannot understand that person’s troubles. You eat ready-made food up there. Do you even know the pain of stirring feces down here?” Tang Yue shook his head.

“I’m the one mostly stirring the feces. I complete at least 70% of the work.” Tomcat objected, displeased that Tang Yue was trying to steal the credit. “Most of the feces were stirred by me!”

“But they were shat by me!” Tang Yue rolled his eyes in a retort.

Tomcat widened its mouth but was rendered speechless for a rejoinder.

“Fine, you win.”