Volume One, Chapter One: Reborn as the Heroine

Tap, tap, tap...

Qin Xianxian sat cross-legged in front of her computer, racking her brains as she tapped out next week’s lesson plan.

Ding—

Her phone screen lit up.

Qin Xianxian glanced over out of the corner of her eye. It was a message from her best friend.

“Xianxian, did you read the book I recommended?”

Qin Xianxian picked up her phone and typed four words.

“Read it. It’s okay.”

She had indeed sped through her friend’s recommended novel in about an hour during the day, barely skimming the surface.

She hated these kinds of dragging plots and indecisive characters—barely tolerable at best.

Ding, ding, ding—

The WeChat notifications kept popping up. Only after Qin Xianxian finished the final period of her lesson plan did she finally pick up her phone.

Her best friend had sent over a dozen messages, but her eyes landed on the last one.

“The heroine has the same name as you! Doesn’t that make it super immersive? So pampered, so loved!”

It was indeed immersive—so much so that she felt increasingly uncomfortable with every page. All those endless misunderstandings and guessing games felt like a waste of time.

But not wanting to spoil her friend’s excitement, she replied in her friend’s tone.

“So sweet! So loving!”

Qin Xianxian then leapt onto her bed, wrapped herself in the blanket, and opened her own bookshelf, soon dissolving into muffled laughter under the covers.

Now, this was the kind of fast-paced story she loved—straightforward, vengeful, satisfying, and rejuvenating.

Qin Xianxian read late into the night before finally falling asleep.

———

The gentle morning sun began to stream through the window, and several sparrows were chirping noisily on the pomegranate tree outside.

So annoying!

Qin Xianxian turned over, poking her head out from under the covers. Her long lashes trembled as she adjusted to the brightness, slowly opening her eyes.

She stared up at the pale yellow canopy overhead, growing more and more uneasy.

How strange!

Since when did her bed have mosquito netting?

It was as if realization dawned on her all at once—Qin Xianxian shot upright in bed.

Oh no! It’s Monday, there’s a morning meeting—she was going to be late!

But…

Qin Xianxian mechanically shook her head and looked around. The room was full of antique charm—just like the boudoirs described in old novels.

Her heart began to pound violently; her eyes widened, fingertips pressed so hard into the bed they turned white, her body trembling.

Heavens!

Did she really die from staying up too late reading novels—and transmigrate?

Knock, knock—

There were two knocks at the door.

Qin Xianxian was still in shock, sitting frozen on the bed as if her soul had been sucked away, her mind a tangled mess.

Knock, knock—

A second round of knocks. Qin Xianxian’s fingers trembled as she finally came back to herself. She threw off the covers, set her bare feet on the floor—her knees weak, nearly tripping.

Creak—

A gust of wind through the open door sent her long hair flying, her face still pale with fright.

Standing outside was a girl of fifteen or sixteen, with a sweet, clever face and two little buns on either side of her head.

The girl blinked and asked softly, “Second Miss, are you alright?”

Qin Xianxian caught the key phrase.

Second Miss?

She knew plenty of Second Misses from all the novels she’d read. Which one was she?

Was she Lian Yue, the confident, flamboyant Second Miss from her favorite political intrigue novel?

Or Chu Li, the sharp-witted, rational Second Miss from the suspense story she could never get enough of?

Or was she Chen Chuchu, the vengeful Second Miss from last night’s reincarnation novel?

…

At this moment, countless “Second Misses” flashed through Qin Xianxian’s mind. She loved them all—no matter which one she became, it would be worth it.

Wait! She might not have transmigrated into a novel—maybe she’d traveled back to ancient times!

Better ask her name first!

She gripped the maid’s arm tightly, her pupils shimmering with urgency as she blurted out, “What’s my name?”

The girl, startled by her almost possessed demeanor, stammered, “Se-second Miss, you’re called Qin Xianxian!”

“I know I’m Qin Xianxian, I mean—”

Qin Xianxian’s voice cut off abruptly.

Then, the maid watched as her face turned red, then green, then black, and finally pale.

It was as if all strength left her in an instant—her hands slid from the girl’s arm, her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor, eyes vacant, then twisted in agony as she looked up and wailed.

“I don’t want to be this ‘Qin Xianxian’!”

…

Qin Xianxian kept repeating the same words over and over.

The little maid was terrified, dropping the washbasin with a crash, water splashing everywhere. In a panic, she bolted out into the courtyard, shouting, “Someone! Come quick! Call the doctor, Second Miss is possessed—!”

[Ding! System Notice: Welcome, Host, to ‘Imperial Fragrance’. Clear the main quest to return to the real world. To assist you, the system will grant one wish.]

An AI-generated female voice sounded in her mind.

Qin Xianxian fell silent, tears still streaming down her cheeks, looking pitiful as she sobbed, “I want to return to the 21st century.”

[Wish denied.]

“I want to change the male lead’s character setting!”

[Wish denied.]

“I want the plot to go off-script!”

[Wish denied.]

“I want to die!”

[Ding, system has registered your wish. Host, please confirm!]

Before her eyes, two golden traditional characters slowly appeared—Yes, or No.

“Hahahahaha…”

Laughter burst from her lips, echoing through the air.

Qin Xianxian didn’t know if she was laughing from anger or madness. Still laughing, she pointed her delicate finger to the answer.

So everything gets denied, huh? Fine, she’d take them all down with her!

[Host’s wish failed. Please try again in two months.]

She watched as the “No” on her fingertip faded away, then fiercely wiped away her tears with her sleeve and clenched her fists.

Fine! She’d give in!

A miserable life was still life, after all—she had to treasure it a little.

Of all the novels she’d read, why did it have to be this one her best friend recommended?

Both the male and female leads trampled every single one of her pet peeves.

For example—

The delicate, overly kind, self-sacrificing heroine…

The righteous male lead with grand ideals, but who never explained anything properly…

And the plot—scene after scene of misunderstandings, searching for sweetness in a sea of broken glass, not a shred of satisfaction to be found…

Qin Xianxian looked up to the heavens.

“What a calamity…”