Chapter 406 The Possibility of Marrying Zhu Shi 2
Zhu Shi pulled me to another corner of the mansion.
After stopping, Zhu Shixian took a long, deep breath, as if he had finally surfaced, and then said, "Senior Brother Zhuang... what do you think of Ma Zao's attitude? What do you think she's thinking?"
“I feel she’s serious,” I said. “As for why she thinks that way… it’s probably directly related to her past experiences.”
I just thought very carefully about the mental state of Asahi when she said those words.
Marriage is not something that has existed in human culture from the beginning. Even if the union between a man and a woman is not predicated on marriage, there is no sudden divine retribution. Marriage is essentially a socially binding contract, existing within society, and in the apocalyptic era in which Asaho lived, this social structure had long since collapsed.
While a large human force like the Gospelin could perhaps be considered a small society, according to Asa, no large human forces exist outside of Gospelin. Asa has almost completely forgotten her memories of Gospelin; she spends most of her time wandering the desolate, post-apocalyptic land.
She told me that in that land ravaged by calamity, humanity only cooperated in small groups. The occasional shelters they encountered were sparsely populated. The pervasive madness made people prone to becoming demons, and the probability of demons appearing increased in areas with larger populations. Often, a single demon was enough to destroy an entire shelter.
Moreover, madness can erode and erase human memory, rendering past contracts and notarizations meaningless. In such an absurd and terrifying environment, what truly matters is the reality of mutual support, the deep affection that exists between people, rather than the "form" of marriage.
Therefore, it is very likely that in Ma Zao's eyes, the focus of my marriage with Zhu Shi was on how much benefit she could provide for me, and she did not think at all that this might have a real negative impact on our relationship.
"After your analysis, I think that's roughly the truth," Zhu Shi pondered. "So how should this problem be solved? Or... shouldn't it be solved at all?"
"Hmm?" I sensed the underlying meaning. "Aren't you going to resolve this issue?"
"Although I think Ma Zao's understanding of marriage is too lacking in humanity and romance, I am ultimately someone who cannot understand romantic feelings between men and women. I just have a lot of common sense," Zhu Shi said calmly. "Grandpa's plan is absurd, and at first I also thought it might not be feasible, but after calming down, I gradually realized... it doesn't seem to be a bad idea at all, and it is even an excellent plan that is very suitable for our specific situation."
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"First of all, do you remember the topic of marriage that I talked to you about before?" Zhu Shi asked.
Because I can preserve my memories within the flames, I never forget anything. I quickly retrieved the memory Zhu Shi mentioned. This happened after the battle at the Humanitarian Division's secret base, during the early stages when I was helping Ma Zao escape the clutches of "The Great Impermanence (Life Turbidity) Behind the Divine Spear".
“I will get married one day. Although I have no romantic fantasies about the opposite sex, strictly speaking, I am the only one in the Zhu family this generation, while my brother is the descendant of Ying Lingyun and Yinyue. If I don’t get married, the Zhu family line will end,” Zhu Shi said. “Of course, I wouldn’t distort my free will for such traditional reasons, but I’m not so resistant to marriage as to the point of disappointing my elders and having to avoid it.”
"If there's anything else that bothers me, it's that if I, incapable of love, were to marry someone else, wouldn't that be unfair to that person? The last time we talked about this, the reason I felt I couldn't fulfill Grandpa's expectations for marriage was for this very reason. Do you remember?"
I nodded: "I remember."
“But things are different now,” Zhu Shi said. “I’m happy to marry Senior Brother Zhuang, the elders are happy, and the family bloodline can be passed on. Senior Brother Zhuang can also benefit from this marriage and can continue to be with Ma Zao. Ma Zao doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with this approach. There’s no unfairness and no one is hurt.”
“According to worldly morality and law, my being with Asahi while marrying you should be considered marital infidelity, right?” I said.
“The Great Impermanence is not bound by worldly morality and law. You are a transcendent being, so you can be bolder,” Zhu Shi said. “Besides, I think you, Senior Brother Zhuang, don’t have that kind of moral fastidiousness, right? Do you feel that marrying me under the premise of having Ma Zao is a betrayal of Ma Zao?”
"No," I said.
After nodding, Zhu Shi said, "Moreover, this is just a marriage of convenience; in existing terms, it's a 'political marriage.'"
"It is said that in some ancient places, nobles formed alliances through this kind of formal marriage. Because they had no real feelings for each other, they would turn a blind eye even if the other party cheated a little. But you don't have to worry about me cheating, because I am incapable of developing any romantic feelings for the opposite sex. You don't even have to worry about me developing romantic feelings for you and ruining your relationship with Asahi."
"However... despite listing so many advantages, this plan still has a problem."
Seeing Zhu Shi no longer shouting and complaining as usual, but analyzing things so rationally, I was immediately drawn to her calm attitude. At the same time, I remembered the first time she appeared before me as a demon hunter, how she coldly and efficiently took the lives of her enemies.
I like her even more this way.
"What's the question?" I asked after thinking for a moment. "Are you trying to say that although you won't develop romantic feelings for me, there's a possibility that I might fall for you?"
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Shi said, "...To be a little narcissistic, I know I'm very good-looking, and as for my personality... I also have the confidence that I'm at least not bad. So objectively speaking, I think it's normal for me to be liked."
"I really don't want you to neglect Asaha because you like me, nor do I want our relationship to deteriorate as a result..."
So, do you like me?
I answered honestly, "I do like you, and I do like you in a romantic way."
“Okay, I knew it. It seems there’s no need to worry about you developing real romantic feelings for me,” Zhu Shi said. “Then let’s get to the real issue I wanted to discuss, which is having children.”
Before I could even comment on her previous conclusion, I was drawn to the next topic she brought up.
“Having a child… I see.” I said, “Even if Asa has no objection to our possible marriage, it’s only because she thinks it’s a contract on paper, while having a child is a real act between husband and wife… Even if Asa didn’t care before, she wouldn’t just sit idly by, right?”
“What’s even more problematic is that having children is seen as an essential part of marriage in the eyes of most people,” Zhu Shi said. “If we get married but don’t plan to have children, then in the minds of the believers, the ‘value’ of this marriage will be greatly reduced, the stability of the Zhu family as a bridge between you and the believers will also decrease, and the necessity of our marriage will become questionable.”
“Mazao might compromise for my sake,” I said. “No, not maybe. Even if she’s uncomfortable, she’ll suppress her feelings as long as she thinks it’s good for me… but I don’t want her to force herself.”
“Then the conclusion is clear: let’s ask her face to face.” Zhu Shi clearly had an idea. “If she doesn’t agree, we’ll abandon this plan. Even if she tries to hide her true feelings and reluctantly agrees, I can tell. We can’t force her in that situation.”
After a brief discussion, we finalized our strategy and then returned to Ma Zao and the others.
"Well, have you reached an agreement?" Mr. Zhu asked.
Zhu Shi nodded first, then looked at Ma Zao and asked, "Ma Zao, do you really think it's okay for Senior Brother Zhuang to marry me?"
"I want to be with Zhuang Cheng, and I'm willing to do anything and accept anything as long as it's for Zhuang Cheng's good. It doesn't matter if Zhuang Cheng marries you instead of me." Ma Zao clearly expressed her true feelings. "Besides, even if we get married, will our relationship change? You and Zhuang Cheng have always been good friends, and I'm still a good friend to you... What can such a contract change?"
"So... what if Zhuang Cheng wants me to get pregnant and have children in the future?" Zhu Shi asked, "Would that still be okay?"
As expected, Ma Zao hadn't thought that far ahead, and she was stunned when she heard those words.
Marriage is a cultural concept that can change drastically with the times, and may even disappear altogether, but pregnancy and childbirth are different. Mazao may not understand marriage, but she should at least be able to understand pregnancy and childbirth—at least understand that it is the result of an extreme act of intimacy between opposite sexes.
She was clearly caught in a dilemma and hesitation.
"Zhuang Cheng... got Zhu Shi pregnant? And then had the baby..."
A troubled look appeared on her face. On a side note, I also found Asahi's troubled and conflicted expression quite adorable.
At that moment, as if he had been prepared, Mr. Zhu spoke, and his first question was one that seemed to strike right at the heart of the matter—
"But if Zhuang Cheng doesn't marry my granddaughter and have children, my granddaughter might marry other strange men and have children in the future. Would that be okay?" he said quietly.
"Huh?" Zhu Shi seemed caught off guard.
At the same time, I started imagining things: what if Zhu Shi were with a man I didn't know...
Mazao's expression changed, and she muttered, "Little Bowl... you want to be with a man I don't know...!?"
"No, why did you react first?" Old Mr. Zhu seemed surprised by this turn of events.
Ma Zao suddenly turned around, hugged me tightly, then looked up at me and said very seriously, "Zhuang Cheng, marry Zhu Shi!"
(End of this chapter)
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