Walking a bit further, separated by just a door, lies the lounge area Roseanne had meticulously planned out.
With eight suites in total, each one furnished with a bed, wardrobe, and even a full-length mirror and washstand.
The communal area outside boasted a coffee nook, bookshelves, a swing, and a ping-pong table for leisure and entertainment.
Moreover, Roseanne, who had a passion for cooking, had also equipped a small kitchen, already stocked with pots, pans, and utensils.
This area was managed by a smart system, strictly segregated from the lab zone to ensure no disturbances.
"Upstairs, there's a gym, and out back, a swimming pool. The view's not half bad either. It's nice to stand here with a cup of coffee and just gaze out. Oh, and we're planning to set up a snack rack; we've got a real foodie in our team."
When initially designing this space, Roseanne had debated whether to allocate so much area for relaxation.
It seemed... quite unlike a typical lab...
But then again, considering the intense focus required for experiments and writing papers, it's unrealistic to expect non-stop high-intensity work from anyone. Humans aren't machines, after all.
A proper break and relaxation are indeed necessary.
"If we're going to do it, might as well plan it thoroughly and aim for the best," she thought. And so, it became what it is now.
Arkle exclaimed, "This doesn't look like a lab; it's more like a resort!"
Scales smirked, "Mamie said the same thing."
"This lounge is amazing... there's even hot showers. If we have to pull an all-nighter for an experiment, we could totally crash here, feels just like home," Arkle said, running his hand along the door frame, his eyes gleaming with longing.
Carlson looked on with envy.
Could there be a day when he, too, could ignore the bothersome people and things around him and just focus on his research?
Scales, noticing Carlson's reaction,
suddenly said, "Sometimes, it's
ne
easier to fight back than to endure.
It's just that most people don't dare to try."
Carlson fell silent, "...What if the fight is lost?"
Scales smirked, "In this world, nothing is guaranteed. If you lose, you lose. Just start over. As long as you're alive, what's there to fear?" Carlson sunk into silence again.
Arkle, oblivious to their cryptic exchange, was too busy exploring, touching this and that with the wonder of a child.
...
After the unveiling ceremony, Sue, Howard, and Lynn had finally managed to send off their guests and take a breather.
Mamie, dangling her legs, her face scrunched up, complained, "I've been standing all morning; my legs don't even feel like mine anymore." Scales slumped onto a couch in the relaxation area, letting out a long sigh, "Glad that's over."
Roseanne, standing by the bookshelf, wasn't as relaxed, "Scales, did you make sure to brief the reporters as you were seeing them off?"
Scales sat up straight, "I was going
to, but my grandma said she'd handle it. Don't worry, she's a retired news editor. Dealing with reporters is second nature to her." noveldrama
"That's a relief," Roseanne nodded, "There's something else, just so you know, something to keep among us."
"What's up?" It seemed pretty serious.
Roseanne shared, "When I was
escorting Ms. Payne out, she mentioned quietly that from now our academic outputs will be credited under the name of
1.ne
Boundless Lab, independent of the college, and even... independent of Kingswell University."
"What does that mean?"
Scales pondered, "Could it be that the professor wants... our academic achievements to be separate from the college?"