Country M

In the dimly lit hospital room, the air was thick with the sharp scent of antiseptic. Jian Yu stood by the bedside, her heart weighed down by sorrow.

On the bed, an elderly woman rested weakly, her frail body etched with deep wrinkles and her hair streaked with silver. Her trembling hands clung to Jian Yu's, her eyes reflecting a mix of hope and quiet resignation.

"Yu'er... I have one last wish," Grandma Jian whispered, her voice barely audible over the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. "Promise me... you'll live a good life, far away from troubles and conflicts."

Tears welled up in Jian Yu's eyes. She nodded silently, unable to find her voice. Grandma Jian's lips curved into a faint smile, her weary eyes softening as she took her final breath. The steady beeping of the heart monitor flatlined, leaving an unbearable silence in its wake.

Grandma… I promise.

Jian Yu wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and took a shaky breath, struggling to compose herself. Her gaze lingered on Grandma Jian—the woman who had been her companion for two years, a bond formed not by blood but by fate. Her eyes reddened once more.

Two years ago, Jian Yu had transmigrated into a novel—a story she had read once in passing, never imagining she would become part of its world.

In her previous life, Jian Yu had been a celebrated Chief Editor at a leading fashion magazine. Young, beautiful, and wildly successful, her achievements made her as famous as any A-list celebrity. Her name and photo graced every issue. But on the night of an award show, everything changed.

A truck had slammed into her car. The timing and location had been too precise, too convenient, leaving Jian Yu convinced it was no accident. As her life slipped away, she woke unexpectedly in a soft bed, greeted by the kind face of an elderly woman fussing over her.

That was how she learned she had transmigrated into a sweet romance novel she had once read. But she wasn't the protagonist or even a rich heiress. She was a minor side character—Jian Yu, an orphan raised by the strict yet benevolent Grandma Jian.

To make matters worse, the novel's Jian Yu was destined to become the story's biggest obstacle to the main couple's love. As the scheming antagonist and evil sister-in-law, she was doomed to face a miserable end.

But the current Jian Yu hadn't done anything villainous—yet. She hadn't even crossed paths with the main characters or the influential Han family. Which meant this was her chance. Her chance to rewrite her fate.

In the two years she'd spent with Grandma Jian, Jian Yu had lived a comfortable life. Her savings alone could sustain her for years. On top of that, the villa Grandma Jian left her could fetch a handsome price.

All she needed now was to arrange Grandma Jian's funeral and leave for Country G as soon as possible.

If the Han family patriarch—Grandma Jian's old friend, who had treated her like a sister—found out about her death, he would almost certainly take Jian Yu under his wing. Worse, he might arrange her marriage to his grandson as a means of "protecting" his late friend's only daughter.

Cue the start of her doomed life.

Funeral Home on Lee Street

The funeral was simple but heartfelt. Neighbors and friends gathered to pay their respects, sharing fond memories of Grandma Jian. Jian Yu stood quietly, offering polite smiles and nods, her heart heavy with grief.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the gathering, Jian Yu felt a pang of guilt mixed with relief.

Grandma Jian had been her only family in this world and her past one. Leaving felt like abandoning a piece of herself. But staying meant walking straight into the novel's plot—something she was desperate to avoid.

Bowing deeply one last time, Jian Yu whispered, "Thank you for everything, Grandma. I promise to live a good life and carry your kindness with me always." Straightening, she smiled softly. "Rest in peace."

After returning home, Jian Yu wasted no time. She packed her belongings—clothes, essentials, and important documents like her property deed and identification card. Once everything was in order, she booked the earliest flight to Country G.

The ticket was expensive, but money wasn't an issue.

With just four hours until her flight, Jian Yu slipped into a black hoodie and pants, grabbed her luggage, and hailed a taxi. The night was closing in, and taxis would soon become scarce.

Under the dim glow of the streetlights, Jian Yu climbed into the cab, her ponytail brushing against her shoulder as she settled in.

The city lights blurred into streaks as the taxi sped through the quiet streets toward the airport.

Suddenly, the car jolted to a halt, throwing Jian Yu forward slightly. Her ponytail tumbled over her shoulder as she steadied herself.

"What happened?" she asked, alarm flickering across her delicate features. Her hands gripped the back of the front seat tightly.

The driver's eyes darted nervously toward the road. His voice was stiff as he muttered, "Someone's on the road... there's blood everywhere!"