"The topic is very simple, an open-ended essay question, answer as you please," Lu Baobian said. "Humanity's role in the universe is insignificant today. We might forever be ants. Against this backdrop, what attitude should people adopt to live?"
Jiang Ye was stunned for a few seconds and then suddenly smiled.
"Your smile is intriguing," Lu Baobian appraised him.
"Teacher, please don't change this topic," Jiang Ye said with a confident smile. "This issue you've raised is something I've pondered since I first arrived at the colony. Back then, I was alone, mining in the wilderness. At night, after a full meal, I would look up at the sky and wonder, with the universe being so vast, what am I?"
"So you already have an answer?" Lu Baobian smiled.
"That's right, I already have an answer," Jiang Ye said, full of confidence. "When this semester ends and exams come, I will present you with a satisfactory answer."
"Good, then I shall look forward to it and see how an ancient person's perspective differs from a modern one," Lu Baobian nodded, then suddenly looked out the window. "Modern people don't see the moon of ancient times, but this moon once shone upon ancient people. Our main spaceship has arrived."
Jiang Ye was startled and only then noticed the brilliant golden light streaming in from outside. He stood up, walked to the window, and gasped, standing there in a daze.
A colossal spaceship hovered in front of them, impossibly large, almost the same volume as Jiang Ye Star below.
The spaceship's shape was peculiar: a hollow tube with silver-white walls, densely packed with windows emitting a dazzling golden light, like a furnace of gold. However, the interior of the tube was pitch black, like a bottomless pit.
This tubular spaceship had a diameter of perhaps tens of kilometers, and being so close, it appeared terrifyingly vast.
"How many people can this spaceship carry? A hundred thousand, no problem?" Jiang Ye asked.
"The standard capacity is one million people, but it's often overloaded, carrying over three million at most."
"Three million people sent to Yongye Star?" Jiang Ye was horrified. "Won't people be crushed to death when disembarking? Won't it create a valley when it lands?"
"No, no, no, this spaceship carries very few passengers to Yongye Star, only a few thousand, perhaps," Lu Baobian explained. "This type of tubular spaceship never lands; it remains in space from construction to decommissioning."
"You can think of it as a public transport spaceship, stopping at a few fixed star systems. Those who need to board get on, and those who need to disembark get off," Lu Baobian added. "We'll only be traveling for two stops, one day per stop, taking two days in total."
The spherical small spaceship they were in gradually approached the tubular spaceship.
In the vast darkness, Jiang Ye vaguely saw some dust-like flashes moving in and out of the tube. He estimated they were all small spaceships of the same model. Upon closer inspection, the number of dust particles was astonishing, at least tens of thousands.
"Approaching main spaceship, docking position B57002. Estimated waiting time is half an hour. Upon entering the main spaceship, Mr. Lu's resting cabin is Golden VIP-A03006, and Mr. Jiang's resting cabin is Silver VIP-C48122," the spaceship's voice announced.
Jiang Ye immediately began to memorize: "Silver C48122, Silver C48122, Silver C48122..."
"No need to memorize," Lu Baobian said. "Once we arrive, a guide will escort you to your room."
Jiang Ye scratched his head, feeling embarrassed for the first time on such a massive tubular spaceship.
The small spaceship clearly began to decelerate, but its speed was still over a thousand kilometers per hour as it zipped into the dark spaceship tube. Countless illuminated windows flashed by rapidly, making it impossible to see inside. However, looking upwards, he could see tens of thousands of identical spherical small spaceships entering and exiting.
Jiang Ye had a strange feeling, as if the spherical spaceship he was in was a grain of pollen entering the center of a giant flower to find the pistil. Or perhaps the small spaceship was a paramecium being sucked into a whale's mouth.
Half an hour later, the small spaceship's speed had reduced significantly.
Finally, the windows on the tube wall became clear. They weren't windows at all, but square docking ports, with many small spaceships already attached. Golden light emanated from within.
"Please remain seated and hold on. Docking in ten seconds," the spaceship's voice announced again. "Ten, nine, eight..."
Jiang Ye was very nervous and quickly sat on the sofa, reaching for the armrest.
Lu Baobian, however, was very calm and stood up to get his luggage.
"Three, two, one!"
With a clear clink like chopsticks hitting a wine bottle, the glass sound was heard.
The spaceship only vibrated slightly. If a coin were placed on the floor, it wouldn't even topple.
The small spaceship stopped moving. The door connected to the docking port, and the small door opened, revealing several robots outside conducting inspections.
Jiang Ye stood up, picked up his luggage, and followed Lu Baobian out.
The air was cool but carried a faint fragrance that invigorated the senses.
As soon as he stepped onto the floor, two robots rushed over. Both were humanoid in shape, but their shells were made of crystal-clear white plastic, and their eyes were clearly mechanical.
"Mr. Jiang, I will escort you to your room to rest," one robot said naturally, taking his luggage. "Please follow me."
"I'm heading that way. It's not the same route. We'll see each other in class," Lu Baobian waved.
"Goodbye, Teacher Lu!" Jiang Ye bid him farewell.
...
The room was nearby, only a few minutes' walk away.
Jiang Ye felt a slight lightness in his steps.
The robot carrying his luggage explained that the gravity on the spaceship was only 0.9g, slightly lighter, so upon reaching the room, he could use the fitness equipment to exercise and prevent gravity sickness.
Jiang Ye caught the keyword: there was fitness equipment in the room.
This indicated it was definitely not small. Cheap motel rooms couldn't even fit a large bed, let alone luxury items like fitness equipment.
Upon reaching the room door, the robot confirmed the room number: Silver VIP-C48122.
"For the next two days, you will rest in this room. You can enter and exit by scanning your face. If you need anything, you can contact customer service via the in-room phone. We wish you a pleasant journey." The robot placed the luggage at the door, bowed, and left. After a few steps, it began to run, likely to pick up the next passenger.
Jiang Ye brought his face close to the identification scanner on the door.
With a click, the door opened.
Jiang Ye pulled his luggage in and stood at the doorway, stunned.
"Holy crap, is it this luxurious?"