The next day, Tina approached David Yang excitedly and said, "The government has arranged housing for you. It's not far from here and close to my home. Let me take you there, okay?"
"That's great! Thank you!" David replied. "I have a favor to ask, though."
"What is it?" Tina inquired.
"Could you take me to visit the graves of my two colleagues who came here with me?" David asked gently.
Tina thought for a moment and then said, "Sure, I know where the cemetery is. But could we first go to your new place and get you settled in? Then I'll take you there."
"Alright, let's go," David agreed.
As they walked out of the hospital, Tina said, "We could walk there, but considering your leg has just healed, let's take the shuttle instead."
"You're so thoughtful," David said.
They took the shuttle and stopped in front of a large building. "This is a shopping center. You might need to buy some things," Tina said as she led David inside.
The mall was well-stocked, with most of the things available on Earth. Tina handed David a card, saying, "The government has lent you some money, and it's all stored on this card. You can use it to make purchases."
"Thank you. I'll repay the loan," David said.
With Tina's help and suggestions, David bought a bouquet of flowers, a pair of rechargeable shoes, groceries, and a small cart to carry everything. Then, they left the mall.
They walked down the street, turned a corner, and Tina pointed to a house in the distance. "That's where you'll be living." Soon, they arrived at the house—a simple yet beautiful single-story building with a high roof, ivy, and flowers climbing the walls.
"This is one of our standard houses," Tina explained as she led David inside. "It has a living room, kitchen, office, three bedrooms, and three bathrooms. It should be enough space for you."
David took a quick tour of the house, noting that it was fully furnished with a TV, fridge, stove, sofa, and bed. "This is amazing! Living alone in such a big house seems luxurious. What's the rent?" he asked.
"The house is provided by the government free of charge. You only need to pay for electricity," Tina replied.
"And water?" David asked.
"Water is free for everyone on Gleamira. You don’t have to pay for that," Tina said.
"Thank you so much!" David said again.
Tina then removed a small device from her wrist and handed it to David. "This is our personal communicator. You can use it to make calls, access the knowledge base, or input information into it. This one is a gift from the government."
David took it and said, "It looks a bit like an Earth mobile phone but longer, and you can wear it on your arm. It's advanced—thank you!"
Tina patiently taught David how to use the device, and he quickly got the hang of it. Grasping Tina's hand, David said, "I'm so grateful to everyone on Gleamira and to you. I don't know how I can ever repay you!”
"There's no need to thank me. You're a hero from Earth, and we're happy to have you!" Tina replied. Noticing that David was still holding her hand and looking at her with gentle eyes, she felt a little embarrassed.
"By the way, are you still planning to visit the cemetery today?" Tina reminded him.
"Yes, let's go," David said.
David took the bouquet of flowers he'd just bought, and they took the shuttle to the cemetery. Tina pointed to a grave with an unmarked stone. "They are buried here. At the time, we didn't know their names, so the stone wasn't engraved."
David laid the flowers in front of the tombstone and stood there silently, remembering the days he and John and Philip trained together on Earth and the difficult four years they spent searching for extraterrestrial life. Now that they had arrived on an alien planet, his friends were gone. Tears filled his eyes. He whispered, "John, Philip, I will live well on Gleamira for both of you. I'll learn from them and bring the knowledge back to Earth."
"Take comfort. The dead can't be brought back to life," Tina said softly. After a moment of silence, David asked, "Can a new tombstone be made for them? Their names are John and Philip. I'll cover the cost."
"We can make a new stone for them, but you don't have to pay. I'll talk to Moda about it," Tina said quickly.
David said nothing and stood quietly. Seeing how sad he was Tina was worried for him, she gently suggested, “How about let’s get going? You can always come back and visit them another time."
David listened and silently followed Tina back to his house.
"You must be tired. Please get some rest," Tina said. "Let me know when you want to visit the fitness center and the foundational school."
"If you're free, we can go tomorrow," David replied.
"Sure, no problem. I'll come by tomorrow to pick you up. Now, you rest well!" Tina said before leaving David's house.
That night, David had a good night's sleep in his new home and even dreamed about his former fiancée, who was smiling at him with a pair of wings on her back. When he woke up, he realized that he had actually dreamed about Tina. The thought of having Tina by his side while living on Gleamira filled him with joy. After freshening up and having breakfast, he waited for Tina to arrive.
Before long, the doorbell rang, and David opened the door to find Tina standing there. "Are you ready? Shall we go?" she asked.
"Sure, do you want to come in for a bit?" David offered.
"No need. I'm taking you to the fitness center and the foundational school. They're both very close by," Tina said.
David followed Tina along the road, and after turning right, they saw a large building with three entrances on the right side of the road. Tina led David through the middle door. Inside, the place was filled with fitness equipment that looked similar to what was on Earth but with some additional features—probably devices that converted mechanical energy into electricity, David guessed. Many Gleamira residents were working out and generating power, greeting Tina as they passed.
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Tina got David a card and reminded him to insert it into the machines before exercising. David, who had always loved working out on Earth, quickly got the hang of the equipment. His well-trained muscles from Earth found a new purpose.
"You can come here often to exercise and generate electricity, which can earn you some money. I'll also come here to work out frequently," Tina said.
David thought to himself, *This exercise equipment that generates electricity is brilliant. Earth is also facing an energy shortage, and this way, people can work out, generate power, and even the unemployed could do this as a job—it's a win-win-win situation.* "I need to learn how to make these machines," he said out loud.
"What? You want to learn how to make this fitness equipment? But you don't even know our language yet!" Tina exclaimed. David then explained Earth's energy needs and the benefits of combining fitness with power generation. Tina understood and was touched by David's determination.
"Alright, I'll learn with you and be your translator," Tina said cheerfully.
"Thank you, teacher," David replied with a smile.
David got so into his workout that he almost forgot about visiting the school. Tina gently interrupted him, "We still need to visit the foundational school. Can we go now?"
“Oh Yes, yes, let's go," David said, a bit embarrassed.
They left the fitness center, turned left, and soon arrived at the foundational school. Tina introduced David to the principal, informing him that David would be coming regularly to attend classes and learn the language of Gleamira. The principal welcomed him warmly. David asked Tina in a whisper, "How much do I have to pay to attend the classes?"
Tina laughed and answered, "All education here is free, even for you."
"Thank you, thank you!" David said gratefully.
After the principal gave them a tour of the school, they said their goodbyes and left.
As they walked out of the school gates, Tina said, "I have some other things to attend to, so I won't be able to walk you home. You can find your way back, right?"
"No problem, it's very close," David replied.
"If you need anything, just contact me with your communicator. I'm your guide and mentor," Tina said.
"Remember, you promised to teach me the language of Gleamira and to learn how to make the fitness equipment with me," David reminded her.
"Don't worry, I'll be coming to your place often," Tina assured him before walking away. David felt a surge of happiness.
In the days that followed, David and Tina spent a lot of time together, exercising and studying. Sometimes, David would invite Tina over for a meal. He was an excellent cook, having learned from his mother, who was known for her culinary skills. Tina was full of praise after tasting his food and was surprised at how delicious Earth cuisine could be.
David found himself growing fond of Tina. She was attentive, patient, and as beautiful as his former fiancée. Tina, on the other hand, admired David for his bravery in coming to Gleamira, his intelligence, and his handsome appearance. Over time, their feelings for each other deepened...
One day, Tina said to David, "You've made great progress with your studies, but you need to balance work and rest. How about let's go to a nearby forest for a little outing?”
"That sounds great. I've been wanting to go somewhere to relax," David agreed.
"Shall we go now?" David asked.
“Why not?” Tina said.
They packed some food and drinking water and set off. Soon, David and Tina arrived at the forest. As they walked along a forest path, towering trees grew on both sides, their branches lush, and birds flitted through the trees, chirping away. Suddenly, a small bird landed on Tina’s shoulder. Tina could speak bird language and started talking with the bird. The bird said, “I’m hungry, feed me something.”
Tina replied, “I can feed you, but don’t poop on me.”
The bird said, “I promise I won’t.” So, Tina took out some food and fed the bird.
Seeing the scenery before him, David felt relaxed and at peace. He asked Tina, “Your forest is so well-protected. You don’t have anyone cutting down trees recklessly?”
“In our place, it’s forbidden to cut trees recklessly. If you want to cut down a batch of trees, you must first plant a batch. If you take from nature, you must first give back,” Tina said.
“On Earth, we haven’t done as well as you guys have. We only focus on development and neglect environmental protection. Although we’ve recently realized this, a lot of the environment has already been damaged, and the attention we’re paying isn’t enough. The environment is still being destroyed,” David said.
“On our planet, we advocate for balanced development. We promote progress and encourage invention and creativity, but before a new invention becomes a widely used product, it must be fully evaluated for its advantages and disadvantages, considering its impact on the environment and people, before making a decision. The same goes for any project implementation. We must not harm the environment!” Tina said sternly.
“Balanced development, that concept is so important. I hope everyone on Earth thinks that way too,” David sighed.
They continued walking and chatting, and before they knew it, they had reached the depths of the forest. David was a bit tired and thought of resting under a big tree ahead. Just as he approached the tree, Tina stumbled over a rock and started to fall. David quickly caught her in his arms. Tina didn’t push David away; instead, she quietly stayed in his embrace and then wrapped her arms around his waist. Their eyes met, full of affection. David lowered his head, moving his lips closer to Tina’s. Tina didn’t shy away but closed her eyes, awaiting the blissful moment. Their lips met, and then they kissed deeply. After a while, David lifted his head and suddenly noticed a large black bear standing not far away, staring at them.
“Bear, bear!” David shouted.
Tina followed David’s gaze and saw the bear too. The bear began to walk slowly toward them. “David, hurry and climb the tree,” Tina shouted.
“What about you?” David asked.
“I can fly, don’t worry about me!” Tina said. David quickly climbed up the tree. The bear got closer and closer; Tina kicked off the ground and flew up into the tree, landing beside David. The bear circled the tree once, then gradually walked away.
“That was close!” David said.
“No big deal, sorry to have startled you,” Tina said.
“It’s no big deal to you because you have wings and can fly. I wish I had a pair of wings too!” David sighed.
“You could have a pair of wings, you know. We could cultivate a pair of wings and then transplant them onto you,” Tina said casually.
“Are you serious?” David asked.
“Do you really want a pair of wings?” Tina asked.
“I really want to be able to fly like you,” David said seriously.
“Alright, I’ll ask my dad. He’s an expert in cultivating and transplanting organs,” Tina said.
“That would be amazing! Please ask him for me,” David said. “But I’m an Earthling; will it work? Will there be any side effects?” David asked again.
“How about this, you come to my house and talk to my dad in person,” Tina said.
“That sounds great. I’d love to visit your parents too,” David said.
“Alright then, it’s settled. Let’s get down from the tree; the bear is gone,” Tina said.
They sat under the tree for a while, and as the day was getting late, they walked out of the forest and went home.
A few days later, Tina sent David a message inviting him to visit her house the next day. David agreed and told her he would bring some dumplings for her parents to try. Tina sent him the address and directions.
That night, David made enough dumplings and stored them in the freezer. The next morning, he took the dumplings and headed to Tina’s house.
David found Tina’s house and rang the doorbell. Tina appeared before him and immediately pulled David inside. The house was simply but beautifully decorated, with various fruits on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Tina’s parents stood up, “Welcome, welcome, David Yang.” Tina’s father spoke a bit of Earth language. “Hello, hello!” David handed the dumplings to Tina, stepped forward to shake hands with her parents, and greeted them in the language of Gleamira. Tina’s father had a dignified appearance, with sharp eyebrows, gentle large eyes, and a strong voice. Tina’s mother was beautiful and looked young; standing next to Tina, they looked like sisters. “This is my dad, and this is my mom. My mom is a singer,” Tina said. Everyone sat down on the sofa, chatting, with Tina translating.
“Are you adjusting well to life here?” Tina’s father asked with concern.
“I’m getting used to it. The environment here is similar to Earth. Tina has helped me a lot; otherwise, I wouldn’t have adapted so quickly,” David said, glancing at Tina.
“Tina often talks about you, praising you for being brave, smart, and eager to learn,” Tina’s father added.
“You flatter me. Tina is warm-hearted, attentive, and patient. I don’t know how to repay her for all the help she’s given me,” David said.
“I heard you want to transplant a pair of wings and fly?” Tina’s father asked.
“Yes, is it possible?” David asked.
“Theoretically, it’s feasible, but since you’re an Earthling, whether you’ll be able to fly after the wings are transplanted will depend on the outcome of the experiment,” Tina’s father said.
“If it doesn’t work, will there be any side effects?” David asked.
“No, if it doesn’t succeed, we’ll remove the wings. Once the wound heals, you’ll return to your original form,” Tina’s father said seriously.
“That’s great. I want to go ahead with it,” David said.
“Are you sure, David?” Tina’s father asked.
“I’ve made up my mind. I want to be like you and be able to fly!” David said firmly.
“Alright, the specific procedure is to extract some of your bone marrow, then cultivate it. In a month, your wings will take shape, and then we’ll transplant them onto your back. I’ll personally perform the surgery,” Tina’s father said, a bit excited.
“Thank you, thank you so much!” David said.
After a moment of silence, David turned to Tina’s mother and said, “Would you sing a song for us?”
Tina’s mother smiled and said, “Sure, I’ll sing a song for you guys.” She then began to sing. Her voice was melodious and beautiful, like a nightingale singing. After she finished, everyone applauded.
“David, how about you sing one too?” Tina suggested.
David had a good singing voice and loved to sing. “Alright, I'll perform a song,” David said, then began to sing: “When I’m in trouble, oh, how helpless I feel; when there’s difficulty, I can’t move an inch. Then, I wait in silence until you arrive. You helped me,…” As soon as David finished singing, everyone was moved by his voice and clapped enthusiastically.
Before they knew it, it was time to eat. Tina said, “Since David brought dumplings, let's try the ones he made?” Tina's mom said, "We should be the ones treating you to a meal, but since you brought dumplings, we’ll enjoy them. Next time, we'll treat you."
David then cooked the dumplings, and everyone happily enjoyed the meal. Tina's parents were full of praise for the dumplings, complimenting David's cooking skills. After the meal, they chatted for a while longer, and then Tina walked David home.
At David's home, Tina and David hugged and kissed. "My parents like you," Tina said. "I really hope so," David replied. Their feelings for each other deepened.
A few days later, Tina accompanied David to the hospital for a bone marrow extraction. A month later, David's wings were ready to be transplanted. Tina's father personally performed the transplant surgery, which went smoothly. After the surgery, David had to stay in the hospital for a month to monitor for any rejection of the new organ and to allow the wound to heal. The month passed quickly, with no signs of rejection and the wound was healing well, so David was ready to try flying!
On that day, both Tina and her father came to David's side. Tina's father said, "David, try spreading your wings." David put in some effort, and his wings unfolded. "Now, think about flapping your wings, and use some effort!" Tina's father instructed. David did as he was told, and his wings began to flap. "Great! Let's go to the lawn outside and see if you can take off," Tina's father said excitedly.
They all went outside on the grass. David flapped his wings, but he couldn't lift off the ground. Tina grew anxious and said, "Come on, David, run and then push off with your legs while flapping your wings continuously. Try it!" David, gathering his courage, ran forward, flapping his wings as he went. He felt a gust of air lift him, and with a push of his legs, he took off! He flew higher and higher, filled with joy. Tina and her father spread their wings and flew up to accompany David for a while. Then, Tina's father said, "That's enough for today. Tina will teach you more flying techniques in the future."
David retracted his wings and landed on the ground. "Congratulations, David Yang, you can fly now," Tina's father said. "Thank you, the surgery was such a success!" David replied gratefully. Tina gave David a big hug.