Chapter 2

Thinking this, I handed my badge back to Zoe in the admin department.

"Zoe, my fingerprints are a bit faint. Could you register all ten fingers for me? That way, I won't have trouble clocking in and having to keep bothering you."

Zoe paused, then smiled and took the badge, reopening the fingerprint registration system.

I took a deep breath and pressed my right index finger firmly onto the screen, making sure the entire fingerprint area was fully covered.

A beep sounded, followed by the confirmation that the registration was successful. Only then did I relax.

This time, I registered all ten fingers, carefully adjusting the pressure and angle to what should have been optimal. I hoped the system would finally recognize me properly.

Seeing how serious I was, Zoe joked, "You're the first one to do all ten fingers. But Emma, relax. The company's system is imported. It won't malfunction."

I smiled, thanked her, and went straight to the fingerprint scanner at the company's entrance.

I wiped my hands, then placed my index finger on the scanner.

"Fingerprint recognition error. Please try again."

The moment I heard it, a chill ran down my spine. Goosebumps rose on my arms.

"How is it still doing this?" I muttered.

Unwilling to accept it, I switched fingers and tried again.

"Fingerprint recognition error. Please try again."

"Fingerprint recognition error. Please try again."

I tested all ten fingers. The result was still the same error messages in that robotic tone.

I stared at the scanner. The glaring red text on the screen felt like a pair of eyes staring straight back at me. The error tone sounded almost like mockery.

I clenched my fists, feeling frustration and fear twist together in my chest.

Everything had worked perfectly when I registered my fingerprints in the admin department. Why did it fail the moment I reached the clock-in machine?

Was I really about to relive the same nightmare as my last life?

While I stood there frozen, several coworkers glanced over. A few even stepped forward kindly, asking if I needed help.

As I watched them gather, an idea formed in my mind.

I apologized timidly. "I am the new hire, Emma Lane. I'm sorry to bother you, but the fingerprint scanner just won't recognize me."

A male colleague volunteered immediately. "Let me try mine."

The moment he placed his hand on the scanner, it registered successfully.

They assumed my angle was wrong and asked me to try again.

I nodded and, in front of them, tried clocking in with all ten fingers. Every attempt failed.

"I just registered all ten fingers with Zoe, but it still doesn't work. Could this machine be faulty?" I asked, deliberately raising my voice so everyone nearby could hear.

In my previous life, I had always dealt with this alone in silence. That was why everyone thought I was making trouble out of nothing.

This time, I wanted witnesses.

Just then, Zoe noticed the crowd and walked over.

"What's going on? Why is everyone gathered around the clock-in machine?" she asked.

I immediately demonstrated again in front of her.

Zoe looked at the error message on the screen and frowned. "It's probably broken. I'll submit a request to replace it. Don't worry about clocking in for now. Wait until the new machine arrives."

I thought that once the machine was replaced, everything would finally be okay.