Chapter 216 - Sol Three Hundred and Twenty-Seven, The Final Sol (2/2)

Tang Yue felt a current run through him as he jolted in pleasant surprise and looked at Tomcat.

Tomcat shook its head and pointed at the computer. “It’s a recording.”

Before Tang Yue could say anything, he pressed down on the earpiece and held his breath, waiting for the earpiece to produce a human voice.

“Mr. Cat.” Mai Dong began speaking. It was still that familiar clear voice. Tang Yue’s body palpitated.

“Miss Mai Dong.”

It was Tomcat’s voice.

“Is Tang Yue asleep?”

“Yes. He’s sleeping on the table. He’s dead asleep,” Tomcat said. “I gave him three slaps and even kicked him in the ass, but he’s still sleeping like a dead pig.”

The girl gave a wry laugh before sighing. “Then let him sleep. He’s tired.”

“Got it.”

“Tang Yue said that he wouldn’t sleep, but he ended up sleeping. He still owes me many stories,” Mai Dong said. “Things like; was the class monitor who beat up the teacher in his secondary school expelled, did his physical education teacher and art teacher end up together? There’s also the question of whether the school guard is the principal’s relative… He didn’t tell me the answers.”

“There will be a chance in the future.”

“Mr. Cat, it’s the seventh sol.”

“Yes.”

“The space station’s lifespan is coming to an end.”

“No, the space station’s remaining lifespan is seven to eleven sols…”

“Mr. Cat,” Mai Dong cut it off.

Tomcat fell silent. It wanted to say something but was unable to say anything.

It was useless no matter what it said.

“I’m looking at Mars beneath me now. I can feel it getting closer to me. I’m on the space station, and being on it for so long, I know best,” Mai Dong said softly, her tone faint but stable. “This is a tiny boat that’s about to sink. It’s an elder who’s old and suffering from a terminal disease. Every day, I watch its life pass bit by bit. Like us, it has been working hard to live…”

“Live…” The girl’s stable voice suddenly cracked.

“Live…

“Live… Live…” Mai Dong’s voice was trembling.

“Live on.” She bit her lip as she tried hard to hold back her tears, finally succeeding in finishing her sentence. “But Mr. Cat… I… I also wish to live on… I really do. I really want to meet you. I wish to marry Tang Yue. I wish to have my own children…

“Why… Why can’t I have my own life… Why must I face such a fate…” Mai Dong could no longer control her emotions as she hugged herself tightly, breaking out in a sob. Her body trembled as she cried, her tears floating and tumbling inside her glass helmet. “What did I do wrong… What did I do wrong… that something like this would happen to me…”

Tomcat was silent.

“Damn it! Damn it… Damn… it…”

Mai Dong struck the Crystal’s inner wall as her body turned limp from her crying.

Tomcat remained silent. It was indeed a b*stard. Likewise for Tang Yue. All of humanity were b*stards. There were so many people, such a massive civilization; yet, they couldn’t protect the happiness of a young lady.

Mai Dong had never cried like that before. The irrepressible sorrow was heavy, so heavy that it could crush.

After some time, the girl’s weeping gradually calmed down.

Mai Dong sniffed and composed herself. “Sorry, I was such an embarrassment, Mr. Cat.”

“No, I should apologize. Tang Yue and I should apologize to you.” Tomcat shook its head. “Sorry, Miss Mai Dong. We couldn’t save you.”

We couldn’t save you.

There was a long silence over the comms.

“It’s not your fault, Mr. Cat.” Mai Dong raised her head amidst the sunlight. “I feel sad for Tang Yue… Tomorrow when he wakes up and learns of this news, what will happen to him… You will take good care of him, right? Mr. Cat?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m assured,” Mai Dong said. “Please take good care of him.”

“Miss Mai Dong, do you have anything you would like me to say to Tang Yue?”

Mai Dong leaned against the core module’s wall. She could sense the intense vibrations of the Crystal. The truss was already beginning to produce sharp cries. At this altitude, the adiabatic compression of the air was beginning to rip the space station apart. The girl looked at the distant Sun which was about to set. She closed her eyes and shook her head.

“Mr. Cat.”

“I’m here.”

“The Sun is about to set. I’ll be entering the no-signal zone again.” The golden sunlight landed on the girl’s face. “Do you think I’ll get to see the next sunrise?”

“Yes, you will. Miss Mai Dong,” Tomcat replied, “you definitely will.”

The communications came to a halt.

The recording ended.

On the seventh sol after the United Space Station’s accident, the space station crashed.