232: Chapter 232 The Extinguishing Flame

By evening, Maria's tank finally returned to its garage.

"Li Ming... please don't tell them, okay?"

"Are you planning to lick your wounds alone in the garage?"

"Yeah... I don't want them to worry." Maria shook her head. "Promise me, keep it a secret for me. I'll be back to normal in a few days."

"Are you sure?"

Li Ming tilted his head.

"Very sure." Maria stumbled, but still managed to sit on the chair. "The harvest this time was quite plentiful. The outposts and strongholds we raided yielded enough fuel, which is how I was able to make it this far."

"But it was a stretch, right?"

Li Ming crouched inside her tank; although he couldn't read the text, he recognized the fuel symbol.

"…Yeah. But this time, it could be considered a relief." Maria nodded. "The explosion in the south really startled me... How did you do it?"

"Maybe it wasn't me?" Li Ming smiled.

"Sigh, Li Ming." Maria sighed. "Between us... we're friends now, right?"

"At least... I guess so." Li Ming sat on the tank. "I'm not really sure... Honestly, I've never had many friends."

"I'm interested."

"Pathetically few. My childhood friends don't really keep in touch, and we aren't together anymore. In school... I didn't have any friends. My personality is actually quite strange, to the point where no one likes me, and they all go out of their way to avoid me."

"How could that be?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure either. Later, when I realized it in hindsight, it was probably because my temper was too bad and I was prone to getting angry. Though I don't really get angry much anymore."

"Come here, Li Ming."

Maria thought for a moment, then pointed a finger at the mattress on the side. "Can you help me over there?"

"Coming."

Li Ming jumped off the tank and helped her up.

When they reached the bed, just as Li Ming was about to help her lie down, she suddenly exerted force and pulled him down onto the bed with her.

"Hey...? What are you doing?"

"I've seen your type of personality many times before." Maria turned over and pinned Li Ming down. "Sometimes, if I don't use methods like this, you just won't listen to what I have to say."

"Huh?"

"Your personality doesn't have much to do with whether you have friends. The truth is, because you've been hurt a few times... maybe it was hurt, maybe it was setbacks, you've one-sidedly decided you're some kind of hopeless case, right?"

"..."

Li Ming wanted to reply that it wasn't like that, but the words were stuck in his throat.

Compared to what they had endured, his past so-called "pain" felt like nothing more than empty whining.

"You men..." Maria shook her head. "I usually call it 'suffering for the sake of pride'."

"Uh..."

"Don't speak, shh..." Maria pressed a finger to his lips. "I don't know if anyone has ever done this to you before, but what I want to tell you is that you've done very well. I must thank you, and..."

Li Ming watched her face begin to heat up. "This is the first time a man other than my dad has touched me."

"Uh... your dad..."

"That's not important." Maria shook her head. "He's not here right now anyway. What I want to say is, you, guy, are a bit like my old man."

"Huh?"

"Just as prideful, and you don't like to talk about it either."

"Uh..."

"Listen to me, if you didn't have friends before, what about now?"

She knelt on Li Ming's stomach, looking down at him. "Do I count as your friend? I want to hear the truth."

"I think... yes." Li Ming hesitated. It was always like this; he hesitated at critical moments.

"Then that's that." Maria pulled the goggles off her forehead and tossed them aside. "You aren't gay or anything, right?"

"Uh... no?"

"Then that's good, isn't it?" Maria smiled, took off her jacket, and lay down wearing only a striped shirt. "Will you sleep with me for a while? Consider it a privilege for the wounded."

"What the hell... why does it have to be me sleeping with you?"

"If I said I might be in love, would you believe me?"

"This... this is a really serious question."

"Serious...? You're actually quite interesting..."

"Aren't I quite boring?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Isn't it?" Li Ming asked, looking at the ceiling.

"Who said so?"

Maria smiled. "You really listened to how others defined you? How about I have my say too?"

"Uh?"

"I like you, Li Ming."

"Huh?!"

"I'm serious. Although it's a bit rash, I don't want to let this opportunity pass."

"Are you joking with me?"

"I'm not. Let's go out, shall we?"

"I don't understand, why would you suddenly say this?"

"Maybe it's freshness?—But I think you won't refuse me, right?" Maria showed a sly smile. "And I'll even help you win over Kate and Elsa, okay?"

"Wait, what? Maria? Are you serious?"

"What else?"

"Why would you do this?" Li Ming was completely confused.

"Just consider it me wanting to go crazy one last time, hehe..."

"???"

Li Ming was completely confused.

"Maria... this isn't right." Li Ming tried to make a final struggle. "You should find someone..."

"Find someone of equal status, then honestly retire and be a housewife at home?" Maria rolled over, rubbing her injured leg against Li Ming's thigh, forcing him not to dare move. "Honestly, I don't like those guys. But you're different. You've proven one thing... I can rely on a boy, even if he seems a bit... special."

"The low EQ way of saying it is that I'm a bit rash and a bit crazy, right?" Li Ming retorted.

"No, you have a unique style and courage." Maria reached out and undid her ponytail, letting her hair fall onto the pillow due to gravity. "Sometimes, you're even like a knight."

"..."

"Besides, I might not even live to see the day I leave the United States, right?"

"Don't say things like that, okay?"

"Of course... not." She touched Li Ming's stomach, making him jump. "How old are you anyway? Why are you so afraid of life and death, of separations?"

"...Eighteen years and six months."

"...Pfft!" Maria couldn't help but laugh again. "...I'm already twenty-eight."

"..."

"Come on, little brother Li Ming, call me 'Big Sister'."

"..."

"Call me~ I'll give you a cola later, how about that?"

"..." Li Ming cleared his throat. "Big Sister Maria..."

"Hey, such a good boy, haha..."