Aria did not come across as a seasoned expert compared to the other guests. Her attire was decidedly modern—a black-and-white biker jacket paired with snug jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and silver earphones hung casually in her ears.Aria stood backstage with minimal makeup; a mix of innocence and aloofness enhanced her striking beauty. However, not everyone was a fan of her style. Professor Dylan Soller, a guest invited by Mindy, disapproved of the way young people dressed these days, particularly believing that women should dress more conservatively.Despite the modern era, Dylan found Aria's outfit to undermine the elegance of her features. He felt she should have chosen a more fitting attire for the occasion. All the other guests were clad in suits and coats. At the very least, she could have worn something in solid colors. What advantage did her current outfit offer?With a dismissive glance at Aria, Dylan remarked, "You must be here on Leon's invita
At that moment, the audience engaged in lively discussions."Can anyone tell which ones are real?""I can't. They all look genuine to me."The host had mentioned that there were counterfeits among the items, suggesting there were several to choose from.After all, differentiating genuine cultural relics requires more than just a few books. It demands a deep familiarity with authentic artifacts. Perhaps only a few heirs from elite families had the privilege of that experience. For ordinary folks like them, distinguishing the real from the fake was nearly impossible."I doubt Leon would know the difference either.""He's just a celebrity who sings and dances. It'll be hard for him.""Only true experts can identify these relics. What's a celebrity like him doing here anyway?""It all depends on who he brought along."Celebrities might not have the expertise, but they could afford to hire professionals. Still, even Leon's wealth paled in comparison to Mindy's."Exactly. She's the
Don's reaction was opposite to the audience's, evident in the trembling of his ceramic cup. "It's her. It's really her!"Aria radiated an even greater charisma than she had a year ago. Though still young, her eyes possessed a calming quality that drew people in.Don could still vividly recall their first meeting. He had been at the border of Janovin, examining some rough emeralds. He was merely browsing, hoping to find something worth taking back to Farshya.Finding a relic would have been a stroke of luck. Yet, he hadn't expected to see a young woman standing nonchalantly beside a stone, instructing someone to open it with a sense of calm authority.As an expert, Don recognized instantly that the stone was worthless. There was no chance it would yield anything valuable.Cracking open stones was a gamble; the outcome was either a useless piece of rock or something precious. Even seasoned professionals relied on luck to discover rare finds. Sure, one might uncover a clear emerald
After thinking for a moment, Keith responded, "This is probably the reality for those who lack a strong background. But things are different now."Nowadays, actors and singers often come from wealthy families. Sometimes, I overhear employees grumbling that they work for the rich by day and then have to watch their spoiled kids entertain them after work."Keith caught Warren's glance and quickly added, "Mr. Carver Senior, I didn't mean you. You're certainly wealthy, but you're different."It was rare to see Keith so flustered. Nervously, he adjusted his glasses.Warren wasn't offended; he was merely curious. "But doesn't Leon have a huge fan base? From what I've seen in reports, his fans have strong purchasing power, and his commercial value is high.""Mr. Leon is indeed talented and well-known internationally. But despite that, people still mock him. Audiences tend to be more forgiving to those with affluent backgrounds."Keith raised his hand, showing Warren a video on his phone
Aria's appearance was striking, almost like someone from an idol group. Her mysterious beauty, coupled with her attire, made her stand out. No one in the audience would suspect she had any knowledge of cultural relics—except for Don, who was seated in the special guest area.Confused, Don asked the person beside him, "Who is Dylan talking about?"The on-site director quickly intervened, worried that Don might also be upset about a celebrity participating in a cultural relic show. "There's been a misunderstanding. Despite being young and siblings, they passed the test to join this recording."Leon's test results were legitimate, and Aria's performance had been even more impressive. Her answers were quick and accurate, but the production team wasn't allowed to reveal that.Don's eyes widened in disbelief. "Dylan is outrageous! How dare he! When can I go up the stage?""Mr. Hendricks, not yet. We have to wait until all the relics are chosen," the director tried to calm him down. "Don
For a long time, people who were more educated used their knowledge to look down on those less educated, as if being well-read made them inherently superior. Yet, many of them owed their education to their parents' hard work.Knowledge was never meant to be a tool for bullying the weak.However, times have changed, and so have people's mindsets.Dylan shook his head politely. "Youngsters today can't handle a bit of advice. I don't mean any harm by it. You should just focus on proving me wrong, right? No need to get angry."Dylan then glanced at Mindy helplessly. "I don't understand the entertainment industry. Did I say something wrong?"Mindy gently tugged at Dylan's sleeve. "Mr. Soller, let's just focus on our own matters. I know how much you care about cultural relics, and I share your frustration about people taking advantage of them."But there's been a misunderstanding. I'm sure everyone here has the same good intentions in mind for participating in this show."Mindy even g
The production team was well aware of the audience's opinions, but they couldn't help but respect Aria. Though Dylan claimed to have a deep appreciation for antiques, his combative stance toward Aria suggested he was more interested in the attention. Yet, for the sake of the show's ratings, the production team had no choice but to invite someone like him. The show's host, Melody, quickly diffused the tension. "It's normal to have disagreements when analyzing artifacts. Don't take it too personally, Mr. Soller. Sometimes, young people understand more than we expect."She continued smoothly, "Let's not keep the audience waiting. I know the audience is just as excited about the appraisal! Let's begin with the first item on my left, a stunning wooden statue of Maelis from the 10th century. And with that, let the auction commence!"Excitement filled the studio as the show kicked off."Can anyone tell if this Maelis is genuine?""The first item is usually authentic.""Look! Mr. Soll
When Dylan saw the next item, he chuckled and confidently announced, "It's a finely crafted contemporary cigar glass. I'd definitely add it to my collection if I saw it elsewhere."After his words, everyone knew the item must be a fake. The colorful cigar glass and its lifelike design made one look at it more.However, this was an artifact evaluation contest; not everything was valuable enough to warrant a bid. Mindy smiled without raising her paddle. She could sense the fortune behind the artifact and recognize its authenticity by examining its texture. Those familiar with the antique world knew that genuine items never looked so new.The other team hesitated, but they slowly lowered their hands when they noticed no one bidding. Everyone assumed the second item would go without a bid. Melody was ready to move on to the third item when, unexpectedly, Aria raised her paddle and said calmly, "We'd like to bid on the second item, please."Dylan sneered inwardly. Leon's sister, jus