"Seems like... the animal room?"
Song Shufu sounded uncertain.
That was because the current layout of the Experimental Department had been rushed into existence under Ai Qinglan's urging. It was completely different from the layout of the "old Experimental Department" he had known for decades.
The fact that he could even give a rough answer was already remarkable.
"But... why is the animal room so close to the Experimental Zone..." Ai Qinglan's eyes widened. "Aren't you afraid of contamination? Where I used to work, the animal room and the Experimental Zone were in two separate buildings."
"Because... we're poor." A trace of embarrassment appeared on Song Shufu's face. "I wanted several up-to-standard buildings too! One for the Experimental Zone, one for the animal room, one... one for storage, and another left vacant! But! I'm poor!"
Ai Qinglan nodded, accepting the explanation. "That's what I thought... The noise yesterday really was too loud. It didn't sound like something a mere dozen or so rats could make."
"No, they weren't originally this close. They got this close after you expanded the place, Junior Sister Ai..."
As she spoke, she placed her hand directly against the wall and sent force through it, loosening the bricks. Lime and varnish came sprinkling down, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Ignoring his own injuries, Song Shufu leaped up and used his palm force to gather the dust. "What are you doing? Reagents are expensive! Instruments are hard to clean!"
Ai Qinglan paid him no heed. She reached out and lightly tapped the brick wall. The wall shuddered under the force, its bricks sinking or protruding. Ai Qinglan extended her thumb and forefinger and pulled a brick straight from the wall.
Unexpectedly light.
"These are porous, fluffy bricks? This isn't a load-bearing wall?"
Song Shufu shrieked, "You