Chapter 1

★｡༆◉✿◉༆｡★❀❀❀
༄༄༄
𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑂𝑁𝐸 

Li Meilin woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the soft rustle of silk curtains brushed against her skin. For a moment, she thought she was still in her dorm room, the faint hum of her laptop still lingering in her ears. But as her eyes fluttered open, she was met with an entirely unfamiliar sight.

The room was opulent, with intricately carved wooden furniture, delicate porcelain vases, and a canopy bed draped in rich, embroidered silk. The walls were adorned with scrolls of calligraphy, and the floor was polished to a mirror-like sheen. This was not her cramped college 

dorm. This was not her world.

Panic surged through her as she sat up, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked down at herself and saw that she was wearing a flowing hanfu, the fabric soft and luxurious against her skin. Her hands, once calloused from hours of typing on her laptop, were now smooth and delicate, adorned with rings and bracelets that glittered in the morning light.

"What... what is going on?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.

Before she could process her surroundings, the door to the room slid open, and a young maid entered, carrying a tray of tea and pastries. The girl bowed deeply, her expression respectful but warm.

"Good morning, Miss Li," the maid said, setting the tray down on a nearby table. "Your father has requested your presence in the main hall. He has important news to share."

Miss Li? Father? Important news? Meilin's mind raced as she tried to make sense of the situation. She nodded numbly, and the maid left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

As she sipped the tea, the bitter taste grounding her in reality, fragments of memory began to surface. She remembered falling asleep while reading a historical fantasy novel, one of those popular web novels about transmigration and reincarnation. The story had followed a group of demon hunters as they battled evil forces in ancient China. One of the supporting characters was a girl named Li Xinyue, the spoiled and scheming daughter of a county magistrate. Li Xinyue had fallen in love with the male lead, Wei Changying, but her obsession had led to her downfall. She had harmed the female lead, Su Lihua, and in retaliation, the male lead's best friend, Feng Jian-who was deeply in love with Su Lihua-had killed her.

Meilin's blood ran cold as the realization hit her. She had transmigrated into the novel. And not just any character-she was Li Xinyue, the villainess destined to die.
"No, no, no," she muttered, clutching her head. "This can't be happening. This has to be a dream."

But the luxurious room, the maid, the hanfu, it all felt too real to be a dream. Meilin took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She needed to think clearly. If she was truly in the world of the novel, then she needed to figure out how to survive.

The first step was to avoid the main characters. In the novel, Li Xinyue's downfall had been directly tied to her involvement with Wei Changying, Su Lihua, and Feng Jian. If she stayed away from them, maybe she could avoid her tragic fate.

The maid returned a short while later, this time with a set of robes for Meilin to wear. "Your father insists that you dress formally for the announcement," the maid explained, helping her into the elaborate outfit.

Meilin allowed herself to be dressed, her mind still reeling. As the maid tied the sash around her waist, she caught a glimpse of herself in a polished bronze mirror. The girl staring back at her was beautiful, with sharp features and an air of haughtiness that made her seem older than her years. But there was a flicker of fear in her eyes, a vulnerability that the original Li Xinyue had never shown.

When she was finally ready, the maid led her to the main hall. The estate was even grander than she had imagined, with sprawling courtyards, lush gardens, and servants bustling about. Meilin's father, Magistrate Li, was waiting for her at the entrance to the hall. He was a tall, dignified man with a kind expression, his robes simple but elegant.

"Xinyue," he said, his voice warm but serious. "I have important news. A group of demon hunters will be arriving in a few days to investigate the recent attacks in the region. They are highly respected, and I expect you to be on your best behavior. These are dangerous times, and we must show them every courtesy."

Meilin's heart skipped a beat. Demon hunters. That could only mean Wei Changying, Su Lihua, and Feng Jian. She felt a wave of panic but forced herself to remain calm. She nodded obediently, her mind racing.

"Yes, Father," she said, her voice steady despite the 

turmoil inside her.

Magistrate Li studied her for a moment, then smiled gently. "I know you've been through a lot lately, Xinyue. But we must do our part to help these brave souls. The demons have caused enough suffering already."
Meilin nodded again, her throat dry. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. Her father seemed like a good man, nothing like the corrupt magistrate she had expected. But that didn't change the fact that his daughter-her-was destined to die.
As she retreated to her room, her thoughts were in chaos. She needed a plan. She couldn't afford to get involved with the main characters. Not if she wanted to 

survive.

★

Meilin's thoughts swirled like a storm as she tried to piece together her situation. She remembered the novel vividly-every twist, every betrayal, every tragic ending. Li Xinyue's death had been particularly gruesome, a punishment for her jealousy and cruelty. Meilin shuddered at the 

memory. She couldn't let that happen to her.

But how could she avoid the inevitable? The demon hunters were coming, and her father would expect her to play the role of the gracious hostess. She couldn't just lock herself in her room forever. She needed a better plan.

She thought about the characters she would soon meet. Wei Changying, the calm and kind demon hunter, was the kind of man who inspired trust and admiration. Su Lihua, the gentle healer, was the heart of the group, always putting others before herself. And then there was Feng Jian, the hot-headed swordsman whose love for Su Lihua was as fierce as his temper.

Meilin knew that the original Li Xinyue had been drawn to Wei Changying, her infatuation blinding her to the consequences of her actions. But Meilin wasn't the original Li Xinyue. She had no interest in getting involved 

in their lives. All she wanted was to survive.

But survival wasn't going to be easy. The demon attacks were a serious threat, and the demon hunters were here to investigate. If they discovered the truth about the demons' origins, her entire family could be in danger. Meilin felt a pang of guilt. She didn't want to see her father hurt, but she also couldn't risk getting involved.
An idea began to form in her mind. If she pretended to be ill, perhaps she could avoid the banquet and any interactions with the demon hunters. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it was the best she could come up with on such 

short notice.

She called for the maid and instructed her to inform her father that she was feeling unwell and would need to rest. The maid nodded and left to deliver the message.
Alone again, Meilin let out a shaky breath. She had bought herself some time, but she knew it wouldn't be enough. The demon hunters would be staying at the estate for who knew how long, and she couldn't avoid 

them forever.

For now, though, she would focus on surviving one day at a time. She would stay out of their way, keep her head down, and do whatever it took to avoid the fate of the 

original Li Xinyue.

As the sun set and the estate grew quiet, Meilin lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow, the demon hunters would arrive, and her life would change forever. She didn't know what the future held, but she was 

determined to survive. No matter what.

★｡༆◉✿◉༆｡★❀❀❀
༄༄༄