Jack sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the ceramic vase he had purchased earlier that day. It was a delicate and beautifully crafted artifact, yet its true value lay hidden beneath layers of grime and patina that had accumulated over centuries. His fingers traced the faint ridges along the surface as he mused over how to clean it without compromising its authenticity. This wasn't just any ceramic piece—it was an ancient vase, likely from the late Dimond Dynasty, and its historical significance made every move Jack contemplated feel like a high-stakes decision.
He leaned back, his eyes still locked on the vase as thoughts raced through his mind. Cleaning it improperly could strip away the valuable patina that had developed over time, potentially reducing the vase's worth by a small fortune. He had spent the entire night scouring antique restoration guides, looking for the perfect technique that would allow him to preserve the delicate surface while removing the dirt that obscured the vase's beauty.
By now, he had absorbed all sorts of techniques—some experts suggested using specialized brushes, while others swore by using soft cloths with a dab of mild cleaning solutions. It seemed every professional had their own method, and each approach came with its own risks. Jack sighed, knowing that even with all his newfound knowledge, the process could still cause damage if he wasn't careful. But despite the risks, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of uncovering the vase's hidden potential.
His focus was interrupted by a knock on the door, followed by Lena's voice. "Jack, you in there?"
"Yeah, come in," Jack replied, sitting up as Lena and Samantha entered his room.
Samantha took a moment to glance at the vase, her expressions curious.
"What's that?" Samantha asked, her eyebrows raised as she walked over to inspect it.
"It's an ancient vase I talked about it and Lena picked up yesterday," Jack explained. "I'm trying to figure out how to clean it without ruining its value."
"You didn't sleep entire night?"
"Yeah... I need to study for this and make sure to clean it without losing its real value."
Samantha nodded thoughtfully, though she still looked skeptical. "So... how exactly are you planning to clean it?"
Jack stood up, gesturing to the variety of brushes and cleaning solutions he had laid out on his desk. He had ordered them online last night.
"I've been doing some research. I'm thinking of starting with a soft brush to see how much of the dirt comes off naturally. If that doesn't work, I'll try something stronger, but I have to be careful not to damage the patina."
Lena leaned closer to the vase, inspecting it with a new sense of curiosity. "Well... How much can you get? You scarifies your a night sleep."
"I don't know but probably more than 50,000" Jack said. He doesn't know how much this will get damage and lose value but he knew it would be more than 50,000.
"Fuck... Really?" Lena was too surprised. She really didn't think this would get any value, after all it doesn't look good at all.
Samantha was also suprised. After few more talk, they decided to leave, since they need to go on the work. Before going, they told Jack to take sleep before cleaning the vase.
Jack nodded, he called Leo, and told him that he got something amazing and would like to take some time off.
Leo let him take day off, and then Jack went to sleep, he woke at evening.
He didn't expect to sleep this much but then he started to begin the delicate task of cleaning, something extraordinary happened. Before Jack could even touch the vase, the dirt and grime covering it began to loosen and fall away on its own. The ceramic layers seemed to peel off like the skin of an onion, revealing a stunning, pristine surface beneath.
Jack touched his eyes. This might be happened because of his Celetial Eye.
He quickly grabbed his phone and snapped a few pictures of the now-revealed vase, sending them off to Leo.
Within moments, Leo called back, his voice a mixture of excitement and urgency. "Jack, where did you get this? How much did it cost?"
"Not much," Jack replied, grinning at Leo's enthusiasm. "Uncle Leo, if you're interested, I'll bring it to Noble Collection tomorrow so you can take a closer look."
Leo's voice was quick and eager. "Jack, it's afternoon. Have you eaten yet?"
Jack glanced at the clock and realized it wasn't as late as he'd thought. "No, I haven't."
"Great, let's meet for dinner. National Rest. I'll wait for you there," Leo said.
"Uh, sure," Jack agreed. "But I don't have a car. I'll take a taxi."
"Nonsense," Leo replied, sounding almost offended. "I'll pick you up. Where do you live?"
Jack gave Leo his address and ended the call. When he walked out the room, he saw Samantha and Lena on the sofa.
"Hey, I'm going out... To meet Uncle Leo for dinner. I'll bring back some food for you two," Jack said with a smile.
Samantha raised an eyebrow. "Uncle Leo? Who's that?"
"He's a boss of my workplace. Knows a lot about antiques and collectibles," Jack explained.
Lena smirked. "Oh, fancy. Don't forget to bring us something good, alright?"
"Don't worry," Jack assured them. "I'll make sure it's something tasty."
After a quick change of clothes, Jack made his way to the gate of the apartment complex, waiting for Leo's arrival. He didn't have to wait long—within fifteen minutes, a sleek, colossal car pulled up in front of him, drawing the attention of several passersby. The vehicle was a luxury model, its glossy exterior and imposing size making it clear that this was no ordinary car.
Leo rolled down the window, grinning as he called out, "Jack, get in!"
Jack climbed into the car, glancing around the luxurious interior. Everything about it screamed wealth and comfort, from the plush leather seats to the advanced control panel on the dashboard.
"Nice ride, Uncle Leo," Jack said, still admiring the car. "How much did this set you back?"
Leo chuckled, waving off the question. "Not much, maybe around a 4 million. But it's mainly for comfort."
Jack's eyes widened. A 4 million for a car? He couldn't help but marvel at how casually Leo dismissed such an extravagant purchase. "Not much, huh?"
As they drove toward the restaurant, Leo glanced at Jack in the rearview mirror. "You live in an apartment building, right? Do you share the place with someone?"
Jack nodded. "Yeah, I live with two roommates. They're good people."
Leo nodded thoughtfully. "I see. So, have you thought about getting your own place? You've got the money now, right? You don't need to live in an apartment."
Jack smiled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Let's talk about that later. I'm still figuring things out."
Leo seemed to sense Jack's hesitation and decided not to press the issue. Instead, they chatted about the vase.
By the time they arrived at National Rest, Jack was feeling more relaxed. He and Leo were greeted by the maître d' and led to a private table.