GMP Laboratory

"Our fifth floor is the biology laboratory."

Two hours later, Chen Chen and Xia Yin followed a man into a building called Meng'an Pharmaceutical Company.

The man was around forty, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, with a fairly distinguished appearance. Unfortunately, the bald patch on top of his head completely ruined that impression.

"The laboratory is on the fifth floor. It was originally our company's internal laboratory, but research has been suspended recently. Our Chairman was worried that the equipment might develop problems if left unused for too long, so he decided to lease it out."

As he spoke, the Mediterranean Man led them out of the elevator. "To the left is the Basic Laboratory, and to the right is the Machine Room. This area is the Non-clean Area, so you only need to change into slippers before entering."

Chen Chen changed into disposable slippers and entered the Basic Laboratory. Inside were four workbenches, each covered with various common experimental tools.

"See that Safety Door at the back? That's the entrance to the GMP Laboratory."

The Mediterranean Man pointed at the Blue Alloy Door ahead of them. "Would you like to go in and take a look now? I have the key, though the procedure is a little troublesome."

"Yes, of course." Chen Chen nodded. "That's what we came for."

"Alright, please follow me."

The Mediterranean Man took out an IC card and swiped open the alloy door. Beyond it was a narrow corridor, with one door directly ahead and another on the left.

"The left side is the Buffer Corridor, which is also connected to the Transfer Windows of every laboratory. When transporting goods into the laboratories, remember to send them through the Transfer Windows."

As he spoke, the Mediterranean Man pushed open the door ahead. "This is the Changing Room. Each level is separated by Negative Pressure Devices. Second Shift Man takes the left door, while Woman takes the door ahead. We'll wait for you in the Third Shift Room."

His last sentence was directed at Xia Yin.

Xia Yin nodded. Chen Chen and the Mediterranean Man washed their hands and faces at the sink in turn, then changed into another pair of disposable slippers.

After removing all the dust from their bodies, the two entered the Second Shift Room.

"Our requirements here differ from those of ordinary GMP laboratories. Since you'll be wearing Sealed Isolation Suits, there's no need to change your underwear. Convenient, right?"

"Sealed? Positive Pressure Protective Suits?"

Chen Chen raised an eyebrow.

"That's right. You really know your stuff, kid. No wonder you're such an outstanding student from Jiao Da."

The Mediterranean Man gave him a thumbs-up, then took off his coat and trousers and changed into a white lab coat prepared in the room. He disinfected his hands with Alcohol Disinfectant before putting on a Disposable Head Cover.

Chen Chen followed his example, and the two entered the Third Shift Room.

Several protective suits were laid out inside. As expected, they were fully sealed isolation suits.

Chen Chen picked one up and examined it before suddenly asking, "These protective suits are generally used to handle Dangerous Microorganisms, aren't they?"

"Uh, I think so. But I really don't know what exactly the company was doing in there. I'm only in charge of business."

The Mediterranean Man laughed. "But don't worry. The place has already been disinfected. There's nothing inside."

Chen Chen nodded and did not ask any further questions.

Once the two had put on their protective suits, Xia Yin, dressed in a white lab coat, entered through the door beside them. The Changing Room separated men and women, so there would be no awkward situations.

Once all three had put on their protective suits, the Mediterranean Man opened the final door leading into the laboratory.

"Once we pass through this door, we'll officially enter the clean area."

The Mediterranean Man explained with practiced ease. His voice came through the protective suit somewhat distorted. "The walls here are all made of Sandwich Color Steel Plate. The laboratory has an Air Purification System that strictly controls the humidity, temperature, and gas content of the environment. The room temperature is kept at around twenty degrees, ensuring the air remains fresh and sterile."

The two looked down the corridor. An incandescent lamp hung from the ceiling every five meters, bright without being harsh. The walls were all encased in alloy, giving the place a futuristic, science-fiction feel.

The laboratory floor was painted light blue, simple and lively, without a speck of dust in sight. It reduced the usual oppressive atmosphere of a laboratory.

"The first room along the corridor is the Quality Inspection Room, with a Level 10,000 cleanliness rating. It contains complete quality inspection equipment for use."

The Mediterranean Man continued, "The second, third, and fourth rooms along the corridor are all Cell Culture Rooms. Each one is further divided into a Level 1,000 Buffer Zone and an inner Level 100 Operating Room."

"Further back, there's also a Preparation Room, a Washing and Disinfection Room, and a warehouse. Don't worry about the equipment—they have everything that should be there."

Chen Chen nodded and entered the first Cell Cultivation Room, where he indeed found a very complete set of equipment.

"This is the Flow Cytometer and PCR Instrument, right? There's also a centrifuge and separator over there." Xia Yin walked over and identified the machines one by one based on her own knowledge.

Chen Chen, meanwhile, went to a PCR Instrument and turned it on for inspection.

Although Chen Chen had never conducted GMP-level experiments, he had long learned from books how to operate this equipment. He was simply not yet proficient with it.

After spot-checking several instruments, Chen Chen nodded more than ten minutes later and said to the Mediterranean Man, "Lower the price a little more."

"It's already cheap enough. I only lowered it to five yuan per square meter because you're students. I really can't go any lower." The Mediterranean Man waved his hand helplessly.

"Alright." Chen Chen nodded at Xia Yin. For a GMP Laboratory, this price really was not high.

"Good. Once you two finish looking around, we can go out and sign the contract." The Mediterranean Man immediately perked up.

"We're done looking. Let's go."

Chen Chen headed outside first. After going through three more procedures, the three left the laboratory and began reviewing the prepared contract.

The contract the Mediterranean Man produced was seven or eight pages long, containing over a hundred clauses. Xia Yin definitely did not understand this sort of thing. Chen Chen read through it once, and though he did not understand it either, the questions he raised always struck at the heart of the matter, making the Mediterranean Man secretly curse his difficulty.

In the end, more than a dozen clauses were revised before the matter was settled.

The specific terms of the contract were that Xia Yin would rent the GMP Laboratory on the fifth floor of the building for five yuan per square meter, initially for three months. However, the lease would not begin today, but on the day the school began its winter break.

The entire fifth floor covered three hundred and fifty square meters. Rounding off the figure, the monthly rent came to exactly fifty thousand yuan.

After signing the agreement, both sides were satisfied. The Mediterranean Man warmly saw the two of them out of the building.

By the time they left the lab and returned to school, it was already evening.

"Now that the lab has been rented, it's up to you, Junior Schoolmate."

Xia Yin skipped along the whole way, brimming with excitement. With graduate school recommendation finally in sight, much of the repression in her heart had eased.

"I definitely can't do it alone. We'll need two assistants." Chen Chen asked, "Do you have anyone suitable in mind?"

"No..." Xia Yin shook her head blankly.

"What about your roommates?"

"I don't have any roommates. I live on my own." Xia Yin replied quietly.

Chen Chen gave Xia Yin a long, deep look.

Xia Yin only felt that his gaze was so profound it seemed capable of drawing her whole being in, and panic immediately rose in her heart.

After a while, Chen Chen finally turned away. "Then I'll ask my roommates."

"Will that cost more money?" Xia Yin's face immediately fell. "Most of the allowance I saved up went toward rent. I really don't have much left."

"No money needed." Chen Chen shook his head. "Food and lodging, plus an authorship slot, will be enough."

"Oh, right..."

Only then did Xia Yin breathe a sigh of relief. The two exchanged phone numbers and WeChat accounts, agreeing to discuss the experimental procedure together the next day before parting ways.