Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 435: The possibility of getting married to Zhu Shi is 2 out of 405

Chapter 435: The possibility of getting married to Zhu Shi is 2 out of 405

I was pulled to another corner of the residence by Zhu Shi.

After stopping, Zhu Shi took a long deep breath as if she had just surfaced from underwater, then said, "Senior Brother Zhuang... what do you think of Mazao’s attitude? How do you think she really thinks?"

"I think she must be serious," I said, "As for why she thinks that way... it probably has a direct connection to the environment she experienced in the past."

I had just seriously considered Mazao’s mental state when she said those words.

Marriage is not something that has existed in human culture from the beginning. Even if men and women come together without marriage as a premise, thunder won’t suddenly strike from the sky as punishment. Marriage is essentially a social notarization contract, existing because of society, and in the Doomsday Era where Mazao once lived, such social structures had long crumbled.

Although large human forces like the Evangelical Institute might be considered small societies, according to Mazao, there were no large human forces outside the Evangelical Institute. Mazao’s memory of the Evangelical Institute had also almost faded; she spent most of her time wandering in the barren Doomsday Land.

She had told me that on that disaster-ridden land, humans only cooperated in small teams. Refuge shelters occasionally encountered also contained very few people. The omnipresent Frenzy easily turned people into Sin Demons, and where people gathered in numbers, the probability of Sin Demons appearing increased. Often, just one Sin Demon could destroy an entire refuge shelter.

Moreover, Frenzy erodes and washes away human memory, making past contracts and notarizations lose practical significance. Probably in such an absurd and terrifying environment, rather than the "form" of marriage, the truly meaningful thing was the "fact" of "mutual support," the deep feelings in the "present continuous tense" between each other.

So it’s very likely that in Mazao’s eyes, the marriage between me and Zhu Shi focused on how much benefit it could provide to me; she didn’t feel that it could have actual negative effects on the relationship between her and me.

"Listening to your analysis, I also feel the truth is probably just that." Zhu Shi pondered, "Then how should this issue be resolved? Or... should it be resolved?"

"Hmm?" I detected an implicit meaning, "You’re not planning to resolve this issue?"

"Although I think Mazao’s current understanding of the concept of marriage lacks human affection and romance, ultimately, I’m also someone who can’t understand romantic feelings between men and women. I just have a lot of social common sense," Zhu Shi said calmly, "Grandfather’s proposed plan is absurd, and initially, I thought it might not be feasible, but after calming down I gradually realized... it doesn’t seem like a bad idea, and it might even be a perfect plan suitable for our specific situation."

"Why do you say so?" I asked.

"First, do you remember our previous conversation about marriage?" Zhu Shi asked.

Because I could preserve my memory information inside the flames, I wouldn’t forget anything. Quickly, I retrieved the memory Zhu Shi mentioned. It happened after the secret battle at the Human Bureau stronghold, during the early stages when I was hiding Mazao from the clutches of the Divine Spear’s Evil (Ming Zhuo).

"One day I will have to get married. Although I have no romantic fantasies about the opposite sex, strictly speaking, in this generation of the Zhu family, there’s only myself, and my brother is a descendant of Ying Lingyun and Yinyue. If I don’t get married, the Zhu family will go extinct," Zhu Shi said, "Of course, I wouldn’t distort my free will just for those traditional reasons, but I’m also not so opposed to marriage that I’d avoid it to the great disappointment of my elders.

"If there’s anything else that concerns me, it’s whether marrying someone as someone incapable of love isn’t quite unfair to that person. The last time we talked about this topic, the reason I felt I couldn’t discuss marriage with you as per Grandfather’s expectations was also because of this rationale. Do you remember?"

I nodded, "I remember."

"But now it’s different," Zhu Shi said, "Marrying Senior Brother Zhuang, I’m very willing, the elders are very happy, and the family bloodline can be continued; and Senior Brother Zhuang can also gain benefits from this marriage, while still being together with Mazao. Mazao doesn’t see any issues with this practice. This contains no unfairness nor does anyone get hurt."

"According to secular morals and laws, marrying you while being with Mazao at the same time would count as marital infidelity, right?" I asked.

"Impermanence is not bound by secular morals and laws, you’re a Transcender, you can be bolder," Zhu Shi said, "Besides, I believe Senior Brother Zhuang, you probably don’t have that kind of moral purity, do you? Would you think that marrying me with Mazao’s premise is a betrayal of Mazao?"

"No," I said.

After Zhu Shi nodded, she said, "Furthermore, this is just a formal marriage, using the existing terminology, it’s a ’political marriage.’

"It’s said that in some places in ancient times, nobles achieved alliances of interest through such formal marriages. Since there was no genuine affection between them, even if infidelity occurred, both sides turned a blind eye. And you don’t even need to worry about me cheating, because I can’t develop any romantic feelings towards the opposite sex. You don’t even have to worry that I’ll develop romantic feelings for you, destroying the relationship between you and Mazao.

"Still... despite listing so many benefits, there’s a problem with this plan."

Seeing Zhu Shi no longer bickering loudly like usual but analyzing so rationally, I was drawn to her calm demeanor, recalling the past when she first appeared before me as a demon hunter, coldly and efficiently taking her enemy’s life.

I liked her even more this way.

"What’s the problem?" I thought for a moment and asked, "Are you saying that although you won’t develop romantic feelings for me, there’s a possibility I might come to like you?"

After pondering, Zhu Shi said, "...Let me indulge in some narcissism, I know I’m particularly good-looking, and personality-wise... at least I have some confidence that I’m not bad. So objectively speaking, I think it’s normal for others to like me.

"I certainly don’t want you to neglect Mazao because of liking me, nor do I want a bad relationship between us because of it...

"So, do you like me?"

I answered honestly, "I do like you, and I have that kind of affection for the opposite sex."

"Good, I knew it. It seems there’s no need to worry you’d develop genuine romantic feelings for me," Zhu Shi said, "So let’s get into the real issue I wanted to discuss, which is having children."

Before I had a chance to comment on her last conclusion, I was captivated by the next topic she introduced.

"Having children... I see," I said, "Even if Mazao has no issue with the potential marriage between us, it’s only because she considers it a paper contract, but having children is a substantial act between a couple... Even if Mazao doesn’t care beforehand, she won’t just sit by idly."

"What’s more concerning is that having children, in most people’s eyes, is an essential step in marriage," Zhu Shi said, "If we marry but don’t plan to have offspring, then in the consciousness of the believer community, the ’gold content’ of this marriage will significantly decrease, weakening the Zhu family’s role as a connection between you and the believer community, and raising doubts about the necessity of our marriage."

"Mazao might compromise for my sake," I said, "No, it’s not a possibility. Even if she feels uncomfortable inside, as long as she thinks it’d benefit me, she’d suppress her feelings... but I don’t want her to force herself."

"Then the conclusion is clear, let’s ask her directly," Zhu Shi evidently had an idea, "If she doesn’t agree, we’ll abandon this plan. Even if she tries to conceal her feelings to reluctantly agree, I can see it. In such cases, we must not force it."

After a brief discussion, we set our approach and returned to where Mazao and the others were.

"So, have you come to an agreement?" Mr. Zhu asked.

Zhu Shi first nodded, then looked at Mazao and asked, "Mazao, do you genuinely think there’s no problem with marrying Senior Brother Zhuang?"

"I want to be with Zhuang Cheng, and as long as it’s for his good, I’m willing to do anything and accept anything. Whether he marries me or you doesn’t matter," Mazao expressed her true thoughts unequivocally, "And even if married, do you think our relationship would change? You and Zhuang Cheng have been good friends from the start, and you and I are also very good friends now... what can such a contract really change?"

"Then... what if Zhuang Cheng wants me to get pregnant and have children in the future?" Zhu Shi asked, "Does that not matter either?"

Mazao hadn’t thought that far, and when she heard this, she was momentarily stunned.

Marriage is a cultural concept that can undergo drastic changes over time and might even vanish, but pregnancy and childbirth are different. Mazao might not understand marriage, but she should at least understand pregnancy and childbirth — at least understand it’s the result of extreme intimacy between opposite sexes.

She was visibly entangled and hesitant.

"Zhuang Cheng... letting Zhu Shi get pregnant? Then have children..."

An expression of distress appeared on her face. By the way, I found Mazao’s troubled and conflicted expression very cute.

At this moment, Mr. Zhu, as if prepared beforehand, spoke and delivered a question that seemed to pierce the soul —

"But if Zhuang Cheng doesn’t marry my granddaughter and have children, she might have to marry another unknown man and have children. Is that also okay?" he said hauntingly.

"Huh?" Zhu Shi looked caught off guard.

Meanwhile, an imagination formed in my mind: if Zhu Shi and a man I didn’t know...

Mazao’s eyes changed, and she murmured, "Little Bowl... with a man I don’t know...!?"

"No, why are you the first to react?" Mr. Zhu didn’t expect this development either.

Mazao suddenly turned around, clung to me tightly, then lifted her face and said earnestly, "Zhuang Cheng, you should marry Zhu Shi!"

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