Artifact Report

Chapter 140: Chai Si's Video Record of the Kai Family (Part )
2026.11.20
4: 42PM
REC.
"I'm sorry, Chai Si-niu, I have a lot to say next. I want to sort out my thoughts and leave you a note for reference."

The handheld camera was placed on the ground, and the picture was full of fire.

The fire trough that was just opened has not been closed yet.

Han Liuyue's shoes were standing on the other side of the picture; she grabbed the vulture and temporarily pulled it away from the candle.

For a moment, no one touched the candles or lit the fire.

The candles on February 2017, 2 were now frozen and silent, as if waiting for Han Liuyue's decision.

"Based on the content of the curse, I can understand why she didn't melt the candle tears from 2017 to change and eliminate the secret. The major actions of the characters in the novel are all part of the 'public plot.' If she, as a character, changed it, the secret would be exposed to the audience.

"But what I find strange is that since Jin Xueli knew she was cursed, why didn't she change the curse itself?"

Han Liuyue paused for a few seconds before saying, "I think, Brother Chai, you should have come to the same conclusion.

"I've revisited the story of her curse from every angle. My conclusion is that history can be changed, but... I'm afraid it's better not to.

“Let me explain my thinking now.

"Although the introduction to Candle Wax says that you can 'reshape the past' through it, the way you reshape it is by reaching into the wax and applying force to something you can touch. In other words, the thoughts in a person's mind from the past cannot be changed through candle wax."

She sighed.

"Kim Sulli's failure in that script was due to her misjudgment. I can't change her mindset.

“So I thought, can I take a step back and not let her be in the script?

"I looked at this idea, but I quickly gave up on it. Because judging by the situation at the time, if she didn't follow the script, she might be in even greater danger."

At this point, Han Liuyue picked up the camera and replayed the history of Kim Sulli's entry into the local script in 2020.

"Brother Chai, you see, the reason she stepped into the script back then was because she had no other way to go. Even if I reached out and pushed her, I would only push her towards a worse path... Compared to death, it would be worse to be cursed.

"So, what if I take a step back?

"Should I address the cause from earlier and prevent her from entering the lair that day? I've considered that idea, but it's also not feasible. She was desperately short of money, and I couldn't just give it to her in the candle wax.

"Whenever she needed money, she would definitely go into the den around that date. The local drama lasted a week, and she would definitely step in.

"As for the indirect cause of her lack of money... I think it seems to be closely related to her secret. Because after 2017, her life began to become very difficult."

Han Liuyue stopped and the scene was silent for a few seconds.

"It seems like we can change history, but when you think about it, not only are the risks huge, but there's also the possibility that everything we've done will end up in vain. No matter how we change it, we'll end up back where we started. Wasn't that the case with Anthony? All of this... gave me an idea."

She paused and said, "Perhaps, no matter who comes, they can't change the historical turning point in Jin Xueli's life."

The vulture had been listening silently nearby, and finally said "Hmm?" when he heard this.

It asks: "Are you saying that only her key historical points cannot be changed? Can others be changed? Why?"

"This is my guess," Han Liuyue said. "The reason for my guess is simple. She was cursed by the character in 2020, but discovered the candle tears in 2026."

"...So what? I didn't understand."

"Really? Your intelligence hasn't improved much. Shiba-nii must have understood it by now."

Han Liuyue complained, but still explained, "Didn't you notice just now? When Jin Xueli was cursed by her character, there was a line: 'As a character in a novel, you naturally have a predetermined, unchangeable fate.'"

The vulture suddenly cried out, "Ah!"

"...If you understand, then you understand. Call it what you want."

"In 2020, her fate was sealed by a character curse, irreversible. So even if she discovered the candle tears in 2026, it would be useless to her? Is the character curse more powerful than the candle tears?"

Han Liuyue said "hmm".

"I don't know if Jin Xueli has considered this, but I think she should also realize that it's difficult to change the curse."

Han Liuyue continued, "However, her future still holds countless possibilities. As long as she's not dead, the 'novel' will continue to move forward."

"This is just a curse after all. It doesn't mean this world was truly written by someone, nor does it mean the future is predetermined. Therefore, she can only start from today and find a way to change and eliminate the curse - her past is already set."

She chuckled softly and said, "From this perspective, she's not much different from an ordinary person without candle tears."

The vulture said "Oh" and said nothing more.

"Of course, Brother Chai, I haven't forgotten my purpose today. I'm not here to save Jin Xueli from the curse, I'm here to let you know her information...her biggest secret, naturally, should be included.

“But I don’t want her to die because of me.

"Besides, if she's dead, what's the point of knowing everything about her, Brother Chai?"

The camera was lifted up and pressed down, and then Han Liuyue's mumbling was heard.

"It just so happens that the handheld camera only has 5% battery left."

As she spoke, she picked up the camera again and scanned the exhibition hall.

Vulture glanced at her from the corner of his eye - the exhibition hall seemed to be much darker than before, and it was hard to tell whether it was an illusion.

"I've made a decision."

Her voice was calm, so calm that it was hard to imagine the danger she was about to walk into.

"...After Jin Xueli was cursed, I had to think of the world she lived in as a novel with an audience. In this way, I was also included in her 'novel'... I can only assume that at this moment, there is an audience watching me, or watching the world through me."

She turned the handheld camera on herself, and the supermarket paper bag on her head reappeared in the frame.

Han Liuyue smiled slightly, her eyes narrowing through the hole in the paper bag. "First, I have to complete the mission. Second, I can't let Jin Xueli die. I've thought about it for a long time, and there's only one way to satisfy both of these requirements."

Behind Han Liuyue, the vulture suddenly turned its head slightly towards her and took a look at her - in this look, Jin Xueli's face suddenly melted and collapsed from its face - it immediately turned back.

Han Liuyue didn't notice—or rather, she did not react even if she noticed.

"The solution is... just cut off Han Liuyue's perspective."

As she spoke, she approached the candle again, and this time, she lit the fire slot at the location of February 2017, 2.

According to the "guidance" of the curse, Jin Xueli's secret occurred on the afternoon of February 2, and the incident itself lasted about an hour.

But Han Liuyue did not stop. As soon as the firelight jumped out, he immediately turned around and left without even looking at the candle.

“According to your instructions, after entering the exhibition hall, I set up a camera and held a camera in my hand.

"Let me start with the conclusion. I never went to see the camera, so I think the content it captured would not be seen by the 'audience'."

She said as she walked.

“Why did I come to this conclusion?

"Novels fall into two categories. One is narrated by an omniscient author, and the other unfolds from the perspective of a character. The curse Jin Xueli suffered must be the latter—otherwise, her past would have been exposed long ago, so why would she need to hide it?
"What's more, Curse also mentions 'no matter what perspective it unfolds from' - this also supports my point of view. Only when Jin Xueli's secret is revealed from the perspective of us 'characters' will the audience follow suit.

"In other words, what I see, the audience can see. What I can't see, the audience can't see either."

The handheld camera's image is now frozen on the wall and the pillar. Judging from the position, the candle should be behind Han Liuyue.

"Because I was looking at the handheld camera, it was most likely the same perspective I was seeing. But I never looked at the other camera, so I imagine the audience had no idea what it was recording.

"When there's only one camera filming and I don't know anything, the audience is kept in the dark. Because Han Liuyue's perspective is cut off."

She laughed softly.

"Next, I'll turn off the handheld camera so it doesn't pick up any sound.

"Then I'd hold the camera on the tripod with one hand to make sure nothing happened to it... like something stole it.

"Finally, I would close my eyes and find something to cover my ears - that way, even if someone suddenly held up a large mirror in front of me, I wouldn't be able to see Jin Xueli's secret."

She paused for a few seconds, and the fire groove under the candle behind her made a slight crackling sound.

Based on the experience just now, the candle wax should have been dripping down by now, and history could begin to repeat itself at any time.

"I don't have much time left."

There was no trace of trembling in Han Liuyue's voice.

"I know that when humans are weak, exhausted, or defenseless in their nests, they become doubly attractive to residents. Now, I have both... and a vulture beside me.

"But it only takes an hour, so it should be fine, right? Even with my eyes closed and my ears plugged, I have the confidence to fight. I won't force myself, don't worry. I'll give up if things get tough. I value my life, too.

"As for Brother Chai, how are you going to hide Jin Xueli's history from the audience? I'll leave this difficult question to you."

The recording of the handheld camera ended here with Han Liuyue's last words.

"Goodbye, Chai Si-nii."

Then, the screen went completely black.

On the black screen, Chai Si's reflection was reflected.

He closed his laptop and looked up at the woman at the table.

She had long, straight, jet-black hair, a round, white face, small eyes, and a sharp, bright red smile on her lips.

The more Chai Si looked at this face, the more he felt that it looked very much like Japan's "Noh mask".

The big hand hanging under the table unconsciously broke a pen.

"...Are you feeling unwell?" After a while, he finally asked in a low voice.

"No, I'm fine. I was lucky to get out of the nest unscathed."

"Yeah."

Chai Si paused, but couldn't find the next sentence.

"If you're alright, I'll be leaving first, Chai Si-nii."

The woman in front of him nodded to him, turned around and walked towards the door.

"Han Liuyue," Chai Si couldn't help but call her.

"What's wrong?" She turned her head, revealing a face that looked like a Japanese Noh mask.

What can be said?

The questions that should be asked have already been asked to Han Liuyue countless times.

No matter who asked her, or how many times, she would just answer, "What are you talking about? I've always looked like this."

　Halfway through writing this chapter, I had a strong sense of déjà vu, which made me doubt myself. I sat there and thought for a long time, wondering if I had written a similar plot before...

　　It seems not!
　　By the way, the outline I saved up with great difficulty has been used up. I might die next...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)