"Klim?"
Fang Ran jolted awake from a dream he could not remember no matter how hard he tried. It was already past ten, yet the bed across from him was still empty. He asked quietly,
There was no reply. In the darkness, he looked around the room he was in.
Only then did Fang Ran realize this was not the white, standardized double dormitory he had imagined. With its ordinary flooring and simple layout, aside from the lack of windows proving it was an underground research base, it felt more like an apartment.
After noticing that, Fang Ran saw the door to the inner room, lit by the indicator showing "In Use."
Hmm?
Glancing at the time again, Fang Ran slowly sat up. He was still a little weak, but he could walk now. He made his way to the door, which automatically slid open like the sort of high-tech door that should only exist in a classified facility.
On the other side was a space completely unlike the "apartment." Beside the faint glow of a desk lamp on a single white workbench sat Klim's figure.
"Fang Ran? You're awake? Your injuries—"
"Ah, I slept too much earlier, so I can't really sleep now."
Seeing him rise in surprise and ask, Fang Ran scratched his cheek and answered with an awkward grin. Then he looked around the room.
Cabinets packed with documents, several large devices connected by cables to the terminal computer on the workbench, a row of display shelves holding various things—it looked like a workshop that manufactured something.
"Hey, is this where you work and do experiments?"
Looking at those impressive-looking machines, Fang Ran blinked in fascinated curiosity. Hearing him say that, Klim gave a gentle, simple smile.
"No. Experimental activity in the living area is strictly forbidden