Sitting in the VIP section, Don couldn't hold back and leaped to his feet. "What a load of nonsense! She's spouting complete rubbish! Where did you find this so-called cultural relic restorer? Aspiring, my foot! Who taught her to identify artifacts by staring at the artwork and guessing its era?"The audience knew nothing about his outburst, but the cameras caught every moment. The director quickly sensed what was happening and tried to calm Don. "Mr. Hendricks, take a breath. There are knowledgeable people here. Leon's team will set things straight."It took nearly five people to stop Don from storming the stage. He clenched his fists, realizing the advice was sound—maybe it was better to let Aria handle it.Melody took the stage and glanced at Dylan. "Mr. Soller, do you share the same assessment?"Dylan was brimming with confidence. "Mindy speaks for me.""Alright, that's their reasoning for not bidding. Let's hear why you're bidding," Melody smiled, turning to Leon and Aria.
The guests' reactions were clearly visible on the screen, and Dylan was no exception. When the audience saw his nervousness, they exchanged glances."No way. Could she be right?""I don't think so. How could an idol's family member know anything about cultural relics? She's just bluffing about it being from the 17th century. If it's truly valuable, it would be documented in books."Stubborn people like them would never accept reality unless they were proven wrong.Mindy also sensed something was off. Just as she was about to defend herself, the screen lit up again. It was too late.The ink painting displayed a cigar glass in a glass case. As the ink swirled, the piece's origins were revealed.According to legend, a foreign envoy visited Farshya in the late 17th century and was captivated by the region's craftsmanship, which was considered among the best in the world at that time. An expert immortalized the envoy's likeness in the cigar glass.It really was from the 17th century!
Aria looked up calmly. "I didn't want to take it this far, but Mr. Soller, I think it's time your credentials are questioned." Dylan's face twisted in fury. "What do you mean by that?"Aria flashed a sly grin. "Exactly what I said."Mindy quickly tried to de-escalate the situation. "Aria, we're filming a show. Please show some respect for your seniors."Aria shot her a cold glance. "Seniors? Whose seniors? Yours? That explains a lot. Birds of a feather, I suppose."Dylan, fuming, turned to Melody. "This is too much! I'm refusing to participate if she's still on the show. Deal with this. I don't understand why you'd invite someone so arrogant, especially someone who doesn't even have a degree. Or is it because her brother's a famous idol? Ridiculous!"Dylan was certain the production team would side with him. His status alone made that seem inevitable.Melody, caught off guard by the escalation, was about to intervene when Aria spoke again. "Mr. Soller, don't get so heated. It's
Mindy quickly cut in. "Mr. Soller!"She couldn't let Aria reveal the truth. If Aria's identity were exposed, everyone's perception of her would change. Mindy, quick on her feet, knew exactly how to handle the situation. She gave Dylan a disapproving glance and said, "We're here to evaluate artifacts, so leave our family and identity out of this. The only thing that matters here is our skill."Mindy's reprimand earned her many supporters. At the very least, the audience wouldn't blame her for Dylan's actions."Melody, let's continue." Mindy maintained her resolute demeanor. "I'm sure Mr. Soller will prove himself in the later assessments."The audience agreed with her on that."That's right. We're only on the second item. Let's see who wins after all ten.""Although Mr. Soller seems questionable, there's nothing wrong with the aspiring relic restorer. Her achievements are real. Leon's sister should be more careful with her words.""What achievements has she made?""You don't k
On camera, an elderly man dressed in a white suit walked up to the stage. Despite his gray hair and age, he carried an air of refined elegance. However, at this moment, he appeared visibly angered. His gaze fixed on Dylan and Mindy with a look of hostility."Why are you here?" Hugh exclaimed, quickly walking up to him.In the cultural relics community, reputation was everything. People typically made a name for themselves by discovering or appraising rare and valuable items.Don, an expert in the field, had spent his entire life searching for cultural relics. He had been working overseas, with his greatest ambition being to recover all of Farshya's cultural relics through his influence and connections.Everyone in the community respected him. Despite his fame, Don maintained a low profile and rarely appeared in public. In recent years, believing he still had much to learn, he sought hands-on experience by spending up to a year in tomb sites. His living conditions were notoriously
Instantly, the entire studio erupted with excitement. The audience widened their eyes in disbelief, and even the director and the show's host, Melody, were left stunned.The staff exchanged nervous glances, their hands trembling. Could it really be what they thought it was?The show's executive producer was the first to snap out of his daze. He elbowed the cameraman urgently. "Get all the cameras zoomed in on Leon's sister's face now!"It would be a mistake to continue filming the Carver family's adopted daughter. After all, the person Don considered his senior was about to shock the entire cultural relics community. The producer knew exactly what the audience craved. Online comments flooded in, nearly breaking the internet.Those who had previously criticized Aria—accusing her of seeking fame, disrespecting her seniors, and being uncultured—were now staring at their phones in shock.This was so unexpected that it couldn't possibly have been scripted. Aria was actually Don's sen
Don said, "There are some old items I've always wanted to restore, but I'm worried I might damage them with my poor eyesight and trembling hands. Could you come with me after the show if you have time?" No one could believe those words came from Don's mouth.Stunned into silence, the people on stage didn't know how to proceed. Unable to interrupt the two heavyweights, they looked at Leon, their eyes silently asking if he realized how remarkable his sister was.Leon, however, maintained a composed expression. As a top idol, he had to stay calm in any situation. Yet, underneath the table, he was texting furiously."Did you guys see that? Mr. Hendricks actually called Aria his senior! This is the Don Hendricks we read about in textbooks! And what does Aria mean by knowing a thing or two about cultural relics? Thanks to her, I have a feeling I'll be headlining the entertainment news tomorrow!"Leon appeared cool and elegant on the surface, but his text message was far from that image
A new comment appeared online. "He didn't fake his qualifications, did he?"Dylan was sweating profusely on stage. The pressure was overwhelming. When he saw Owen preparing to leave, he called out in desperation, "Mr. Carver, can you help me out? You were the one who asked me to help Ms. Mindy deal with this."Online comments quickly escalated."What does he mean? Is there some inside story here?""I suspected something about Mr. Soller when he acted so dismissively earlier. Today, he seemed determined to undermine Leon's team, especially targeting his sister, as if he wanted to paint them as uncultured.""He's so ruthless! Thank goodness Aria is capable enough, or he'd use his status to manipulate anyone he pleased.""Most importantly, he's calling on Mr. Carver! Is the Carver family involved in this?"The cameramen now focused on the audience, and when Owen noticed, he raised his hand to block the shot.His demeanor had shifted dramatically from when he'd confidently exited t