The glow of the monitor illuminated Li Mei's face, highlighting the dark circles beneath her bloodshot eyes. 3:17 AM. The numbers pulsed mockingly from the corner of the screen, each tick a reminder of the sleep she was sacrificing at the altar of corporate deadlines. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, editing the final slides of the Johnson & Associates presentation.

"Just... gotta... finish," she muttered, her voice hoarse from countless cups of instant coffee and the stifling silence of her tiny apartment. The project had been a nightmare from the start – demanding clients, impossible deadlines, and a boss who seemed to thrive on chaos.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to ward off the throbbing headache that threatened to split her skull. Years of this relentless grind had taken their toll. Her social life was non-existent, her apartment was perpetually messy, and her health was... well, let's just say her doctor wasn't thrilled.

Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in her chest, like a vise clamping down on her heart. She gasped, clutching at her shirt, her breath coming in ragged, shallow bursts.

"Not... now," she wheezed, desperately trying to reach for her phone. But her limbs were growing numb, her vision blurring. The room started to spin, the presentation on the screen dissolving into a kaleidoscope of colors.

As darkness encroached, one thought, clear and desperate, pierced through the haze: "I... need... a break..."

Then, nothing.

She gasped, sucking in a lungful of air that tasted of… jasmine? The sterile, recycled air of her Beijing apartment was replaced by the fragrant scent of blooming flowers. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft, diffused light.

"Where...?" she croaked, her voice raspy and unfamiliar.

She was lying in a massive bed draped with silk canopies, the sheets a decadent shade of violet. Intricate carvings adorned the walls, and jade ornaments shimmered in the gentle light filtering through ornate paper windows. The room was a symphony of ancient elegance, a world away from her cramped, modern apartment.

Panic clawed at her throat. This wasn't a hospital room. This wasn't… anything she recognized.

She pushed herself up, wincing at the unfamiliar ache in her muscles. As she sat up, she saw her hands. Slender, delicate, with long, perfectly manicured nails. Not the calloused, keyboard-worn hands she knew so well.

"What the…?" She stared at her reflection in a nearby mirror. Gone was the tired, overworked face she'd grown accustomed to. Instead, a young, almost ethereal beauty stared back at her. Large, expressive eyes framed by thick lashes, porcelain skin, and raven hair cascading down her shoulders.

This wasn't her. Not Li Mei.

A wave of dizziness washed over her, and fragmented images flashed through her mind: a name – Anya de Valois; a title – Duke's daughter; a betrothal – Lord Damien; a looming threat – betrayal.

Anya de Valois... The name sounded vaguely familiar. Like a half-remembered dream.

And then it hit her.

The web novel. A trashy, formulaic story she'd skimmed through during a rare moment of downtime, a world of cultivation, magic, and ruthless power struggles.

She had died. Overworked. Heart attack. And now… she was reborn?

As Anya de Valois, daughter of a Duke, trapped in a plot of betrayal and deceit.

A cold dread washed over her. This wasn't a break. This was a whole new level of crazy. And she had a feeling her deadlines were about to get a lot more dangerous.

As she look in the mirror as she can't get her eyes off her reflection in the mirror..a sound was heard from the door

creek~

The door opens and comes in a women opening the door she sees Anya standing in front of the mirror

"Y-young Miss..." she stutter.

The next second Anya has to cover her ears cause the women screams

"EVERYONE THE YOUNG MISS IS AWAKE , MASTER , MADAM , EVERYONE , MISS IS AWAKE"

As She scream this, the door burst Open with a bang

A whirlwind of activity erupted . Two people who look like in their late 50s wearing clothes that look like expensive robes , and attendants clad in elaborate robes, fluttered around her like colorful birds, offering her fragrant teas, preparing her bath, and chattering in hushed tones.

“Young Miss, you’re awake! We were so worried!” a kindly-faced woman, who Anya instinctively recognized as her head maid, Elara, fussed over her. “You’ve been unconscious for two days.”

Two days? Anya tried to piece together her fragmented memories. The feverish visions, the whispered names… it was all a blur. But one thing was clear: she needed information, and fast.

“Elara,” Anya said, testing the sound of her new voice. It was melodious, refined, a stark contrast to her usual, practical tone. “What… what happened?”

Elara launched into a well-rehearsed explanation about a sudden illness, a mystical ailment that had baffled the court physicians. Anya listened patiently, piecing together the narrative while carefully observing Elara’s reactions. Was she hiding something? Was she truly loyal?

As she thinks this the two figures the one who look like in their middle age , Duke Theron de Valois, a tall, imposing man with a regal bearing, and Duchess Eleanor, a woman of serene beauty with kind, intelligent eyes , the two spoke asking questions about her well being .

“Anya, my darling!” Duchess Eleanor rushed forward, enveloping her in a warm embrace. “We were so worried! Are you feeling better?”

Anya returned the hug, trying to suppress the awkwardness. “Yes, Mother,” she said, the word feeling foreign on her tongue. “I… I feel much better.”

Duke Theron stepped forward, his gaze intense. “Anya, do you remember everything? The physicians were concerned about memory loss.”

Anya hesitated. This was a test. She remembered enough from the novel to know that Anya was expected to be a sweet, obedient daughter, but revealing too much could raise suspicion.

“I… I remember most things, Father,” she said carefully. “But some memories are a little… hazy.”

Duke Theron nodded, seemingly satisfied. “Rest is what you need, child. We can discuss important matters later.”

Important matters, Anya knew, meant her upcoming marriage to Lord Damien.

As she sat with her parents, engaging in polite conversation, Anya felt like an imposter. She observed their mannerisms, their expressions, their interactions, trying to glean as much information as possible. She needed to understand their strengths, their weaknesses, and their deepest fears if she was to protect them from the impending storm.

Later that evening, alone in her lavish room, Anya slumped onto her bed, exhausted. Silk sheets and silver tongues… it was all so overwhelming. She had to get her bearings, master the customs of this world, and figure out how to stop the carefully orchestrated betrayal that was looming on the horizon.

But how could she, Li Mei, the former project manager, possibly survive in this treacherous world of cultivation and courtly intrigue?

Suddenly, a blue screen popped into her vision, startling her.

System Notification: Welcome, Host! Initializing System…

Anya stared at the holographic words, a flicker of hope igniting in her chest. Perhaps she wasn't alone in this after all.

The blue screen hung in the air before Anya, the words System Notification: Welcome, Host! Initializing System… shimmering with a faint, ethereal glow. It was like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, a surreal juxtaposition in her ornate, ancient bedroom.

"Is this… real?" she murmured, reaching out a tentative hand. Her fingers passed right through the screen.

Another notification popped up: System Initialization Complete. Host Binding Successful. System Name: Level-Up Life.

Would you like to access the System Menu? (Yes/No)

Anya hesitated, a mix of curiosity and skepticism swirling within her. This could be a hallucination, a delusion brought on by the trauma of her death and rebirth. But if it was real… this could be the key to her survival.

"Yes," she said aloud, her voice barely a whisper.

The blue screen expanded, revealing a complex menu with various options: Stats, Skills, Quests, Inventory, Shop, and a mysterious category labeled "Karma."

Overwhelmed, Anya chose "Stats." A new screen appeared, displaying information about her current abilities:

Host: Anya de Valois

**

Strength: 5

Agility: 7

Intelligence: 15

Charm: 20

**

**

"Charm: 20?" Anya couldn't help but snort. "Well, at least that explains the silk gowns and the adoring servants." But the rest of her stats were dismal. She was clearly a novice, a blank slate in this world of cultivation.

Next, she explored the "Skills" section. It was mostly empty, with a few basic skills listed: "Qi Gathering," "Basic Swordsmanship," and "Etiquette." Each skill had a level, ranging from Beginner to Master. Her skills were all at Beginner level, except for Etiquette, which was surprisingly at Intermediate.

The "Quests" section seemed more promising. It listed a series of tasks with corresponding rewards:

- **

- **

- **

Anya immediately accepted all the quests, feeling a surge of motivation. It was like a game, and she knew how to play games.

Finally, she clicked on the "Inventory" option. It was empty, except for a single item: **

Intrigued, Anya focused on the item. Another notification popped up: Use Space Dimension Access Key? (Yes/No)

"Yes," she said, her heart pounding with anticipation.

Suddenly, the room dissolved around her, replaced by a breathtaking vista. Rolling green hills, a sparkling river, and a clear blue sky stretched as far as the eye could see. And in the distance, a familiar sight: a gleaming, oversized supermarket.

Anya gasped, her mind reeling. The Space Dimension… it was real. And it was even more incredible than she had imagined.

She stumbled towards the supermarket, her steps faltering on the soft grass. As she pushed open the automatic doors, a wave of comforting, familiar scents washed over her: freshly baked bread, ripe fruit, and the distinct aroma of cleaning products.

The supermarket was a perfect replica of a high-end grocery store from her Earth life, complete with rows upon rows of neatly stocked shelves. Everything was there: gourmet foods, over-the-counter medicine, camping gear, tools, weapons, and even a library filled with books on various subjects.

Anya grabbed a shopping cart and began to wander through the aisles, her eyes wide with wonder. This was an endless supply of resources, a cheat code to survival in this dangerous new world.

As she filled her cart with essential items – food, water, first-aid supplies, and a few basic self-defense tools – Anya began to formulate a plan. She would use the System and the Space Dimension to train, gather information, and prepare for the inevitable betrayal. She would become stronger, smarter, and more resourceful than her enemies could ever imagine.

The overworked project manager was gone. In her place stood Anya de Valois, a reborn avenger, ready to level up her life.

As Anya finish putting the supplies in her space , she thinks about going back , then the next second she appear back on her room .

She went to her bed and lay down and starts drifting to sleep as she starts thinking of her plan of not going the same path as the original owner .