The Curator and all the experts were high-fiving and shaking hands, celebrating a major win. Only Chloe, my junior colleague, the so-called genius who claimed she could commune with the ‘spirits’ of artifacts, was clinging to my leg, her eyes red and glistening. “Harper, I know your methods are outdated, but you can’t just give up like this! The relics need you!” I coldly pulled my leg away. In my past life, every time she ‘appraised’ an artifact, she’d just light a ‘Spirit-Scent Incense’ and accurately state its age, material, and even its hidden stories. But all of that? It was data I’d pulled from sleepless nights in the lab, my own research. In the end, she framed me as a national treasure thief, and I died unjustly in prison. Now, I’ve been reborn to that exact moment: she was holding a fake legendary Dragon’s Seal, just about to light her ‘mystic incense’ to ‘read’ it. Chloe looked at me, her expression wounded. “Harper, I know they don’t understand, but you believe me, right?” The incense stick wavered in her hand, a thin trail of green smoke curling upwards. In my last life, I was completely manipulated by that innocent, pitiful act. “Chloe, are you really going to perform your little occult show in front of all these experts?” My voice was so calm, it even surprised me. She froze for a second, clearly not expecting me to say that. “Harper, I truly can sense the history of artifacts…” “Enough!” The Curator slammed his hand on the table. “What ‘sensing’? This is an artifact appraisal center, not some fortune-telling booth!” Other experts shook their heads, sighing. “Chloe, it’s good for young people to have ideas, but this method…” “It’s just ridiculous!” “We’re here for scientific research, not superstition!” Chloe’s tears finally spilled. She bit her lip, her face stubbornly defiant. “I know you don’t believe me, but I really… I really can sense it!” With that, she lit the incense stick. Pale green smoke slowly rose, filling the room with a strange, heavy scent. I stared at that incense stick, a wave of immense fury swelling inside me. In my past life, it was this very incense stick that made everyone believe in Chloe’s ‘divine power,’ making her famous overnight, while I became her stepping stone. “Experts, please observe!” Chloe closed her eyes, putting on a show of piety. “I can sense the history of this legendary Dragon’s Seal…” She began to babble, talking about emperors’ grievances and tears of blood from history. But soon, her tone shifted. She started rattling off the exact scientific data I’d spent several sleepless nights compiling. The experts in my past life listened, their jaws dropped. They actually ended up believing she could ‘read’ the artifacts. But this time, I wouldn’t let her succeed. “Chloe, are you done with your act?” I suddenly stood up. Everyone looked at me, including Liam, who was sitting next to me. “Harper, you…” Chloe opened her eyes, a flicker of panic in them. “You think lighting an incense stick will fool everyone?” I sneered. “Do you even know what’s been added to this stick?” Chloe’s face instantly went pale. “You’re lying! It’s just regular sandalwood incense!” “Regular sandalwood?” I walked over to her, snatched the still-burning stick from her hand. “Then why does it contain hallucinogenic compounds?” The conference room fell silent. The Curator frowned. “Harper, what do you mean by that?” I turned to the Curator, my voice sharp and clear. “Curator, I suggest we immediately perform a chemical analysis on this incense.” Chloe’s hands began to tremble. “Harper, why are you doing this to me? I just wanted to prove myself…” “Prove yourself?” I scoffed. “Or prove how clever your deception is?” Liam stood up, looking at me with concern. “Harper, aren’t you getting too worked up? Chloe hasn’t done anything. Don’t scare her…” I turned my head to look at him, a wave of profound disappointment washing over me. He was just like this in my past life. Even when he knew Chloe was problematic, he always used that gentle tone to make excuses for her. “Then you tell me, what’s the scientific basis for ‘Spirit-Scent Incense’ appraising artifacts?” “I didn’t… it’s just…” “Just what? Just that you think I’m being unreasonable, that I’m targeting your perfect, innocent little junior sister?” Liam’s face flushed. “Harper, don’t talk like that.” “Alright! Everyone quiet down. We’ll test the incense’s components now. Get someone from the forensics lab down here.” The Curator made the final decision.
The forensics lab colleague came in with the report. “The results are out. It’s just regular sandalwood incense, no additives.” My heart sank. Hard. Chloe immediately looked up, a triumphant glint in her eyes. “Harper, you see? I wasn’t lying. I really don’t know why you have such a prejudice against me…” The Curator cleared his throat. “Harper, your accusation just now was a bit… over the top.” “Wait.” I forced myself to stay calm. “Even if the incense is fine, it doesn’t prove she can actually ‘read’ artifacts.” Chloe bit her lip, looking wronged. “Harper, why won’t you just believe me?” She relit the sandalwood incense, and the green smoke curled up again. “I’ll demonstrate again, to prove I really can sense the history of artifacts.” The experts in the room started whispering among themselves. Some were clearly impatient with this ‘occult’ performance. “Ridiculous!” One expert directly stood up. “I don’t want to waste my time watching this trick.” “Exactly! What era is this, still doing all this superstitious stuff?” another expert echoed. Chloe’s tears streamed down her face. She spoke in a trembling voice. “This ancient jade disc… it’s crying out in pain. It’s not the real legendary Dragon’s Seal…” The conference room erupted in laughter. “She couldn’t even tell that?” “Everyone knows it’s a fake!” “You called us here just to hear this?” A few experts directly stood up, ready to leave. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This time, finally, it wouldn’t… “It’s a celadon jade from the ancient lands, hardness 6.5, density 2.95, containing tremolite 87%, actinolite 11%, and other minerals 2%.” Chloe suddenly spoke. The experts who were leaving stopped dead in their tracks. “The craftsmanship uses late ancient polishing techniques, but the carving style is clearly medieval. There’s a clear anachronism.” “The patina on the jade surface is artificially aged, using tea water and smoke treatment…” The laughter died down instantly. These data points? I’d worked until 3 AM last night in the lab to get them! I hadn’t even released them to anyone yet! “There are three tiny air bubbles inside the jade, located at the dragon head, belly, and tail, which are characteristics of modern casting techniques…” No! Impossible! The Curator, shocked, flipped open my detection report on my desk. His face instantly changed. “This… these data points are perfectly consistent! Not a single word off!” Everyone’s gaze snapped to me. “Harper, did you tell Chloe in advance?” an expert questioned. “Impossible!” I quickly defended myself. “My report was just finished last night. I haven’t shown it to anyone!” Liam looked at Chloe in astonishment, his eyes starting to show a mix of curiosity and admiration. “Chloe, you really can sense all this?” Chloe opened her eyes, tears welling up as she looked at me. “I don’t know why either. Harper, you see, it’s really talking to me. Now… do you believe me?” I felt a wave of dizziness, as if the world was spinning. History wasn’t just repeating itself; it was crashing down on me even faster. “This is incredible!” The Curator’s attitude completely shifted. “Chloe, your ability…” “It’s simply a gift!” “Our country’s artifact appraisal field is about to see a prodigy!” Praise erupted from all sides. “No!” I suddenly stood up. “She must have seen my experimental data in advance!” “Harper, what else do you have to say?” The Curator frowned. “She broke into the lab last night!” I was nearly hysterical. “She stole my data!” Chloe cried even harder. “Harper, I was in my dorm all last night. My roommates can prove it…” The Curator’s attitude completely changed. “Harper, this is getting tiresome. Chloe clearly has this talent. If you’re jealous, just say so.” “Harper, that’s enough!” Liam finally exploded. “Why are you pushing Chloe like this? Is it so hard to admit someone else is talented?” “I’m not pushing her! I’m just trying to prove…” “Prove what? Prove that you’re jealous of her talent?” That sentence hit me like a thunderbolt. Everyone looked at me with strange eyes, filled with disdain, disappointment, and the mocking gaze reserved for a clown. And Chloe, she stood there, tears in her eyes, yet unable to hide the triumphant smile playing on her lips. Just like in my past life. I closed my eyes, my fists clenched. Was I truly unable to escape this outcome?
The next day’s appraisal meeting. On the table lay a rare Renaissance landscape painting. I’d once again pulled an all-nighter, working until 3 AM, conducting a detailed age analysis and technique study on this painting. Ink composition, paper fibers, mounting process – I verified every single detail repeatedly. I was like a drowning person, clinging desperately to science as my last straw. Chloe sat across from me, holding that same sandalwood incense stick. “Harper, you didn’t get much sleep last night again, did you?” She looked at me with concern. “Your eyes are so dark.” I ignored her. The Curator pointed to the painting. “Today, we’re appraising this piece. Harper, is your report ready?” “I won’t need a paper report today. I’ve memorized everything.” I looked at Chloe. “Why don’t we let Chloe go first?” Chloe nodded, lighting the incense. Green smoke rose again. She closed her eyes, putting on that pious act. “I hear the painting’s voice…” “It says it was created by the master Leonardo da Vinci, using fine linen canvas and mineral pigments blended with linseed oil…” The pen in my hand snapped. I had just finished analyzing these data points last night! How could she possibly know! “The mountains in the painting use sfumato techniques, the trees employ atmospheric perspective – typical of da Vinci’s style…” The Curator’s eyes widened. “My god! Chloe, you can even sense the painting techniques?” Chloe opened her eyes, triumph sparkling within them. “It also told me that this painting was once cherished by a renowned 19th-century collector. That person loved it so much, they’d look at it every day…” She started fabricating poetic stories, packaging my scientific data into emotional narratives about the artifact’s ‘soul.’ Everyone listened, utterly captivated. “Chloe, your ability is truly miraculous!” Liam’s gaze softened. “I never knew you had such a gift.” I was left on the sidelines, like an irrelevant clown. An expert whispered, “Harper’s technical skills are amazing, of course, but the efficiency difference is just too much…” “Yeah, what Chloe can solve in minutes takes Harper all-nighters.” “Times are changing. We need to keep up.” My fists clenched, my chest ached as if a hole had been torn through it. Chloe, however, smiled humbly. “This is all thanks to Harper’s excellent guidance. I’m just lucky enough to understand what artifacts are saying.” “Chloe, you’re too modest!” Liam praised. “This kind of talent is one in a millennium.” I watched his gaze on Chloe soften more and more, a growing sense of dread rising within me. The scenes from my past life began to replay. The Curator stood up. “I’ve decided that from now on, Chloe will primarily handle the appraisal of important artifacts.” I snapped my head up. “Curator, I don’t think that’s appropriate…”
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