Chapter 2: Thirty Days Before the End

Warm sunlight filtered through layers of crimson silk curtains, painting golden patterns across the polished wooden floor.

A gentle breeze slipped through the half-open lattice window, carrying the fragrance of blooming peonies and freshly cut grass from the courtyard below.

Birds chirped cheerfully among the ancient maple trees, their carefree songs filling the quiet morning.

It was a peaceful scene. Far too peaceful.

"...Mmm..."

Wangmo frowned as a dull headache pulsed through her temples. She instinctively reached toward her bedside table.

"My phone..."

Her hand searched the empty air.

Nothing.

She frowned deeper.

"...Where did I put it?"

Still half asleep, she patted around the bed. Instead of touching a charger or her phone...

Her fingertips brushed against smooth silk sheets embroidered with golden phoenixes.

"Huh?"

Her eyes slowly opened.

The unfamiliar ceiling came into view first. Dark wooden beams carved with intricate dragons stretched above her, while a luxurious canopy bed draped in flowing crimson curtains surrounded her from all sides.

She blinked once.

Twice.

Then she sat upright so suddenly that the curtains swayed.

"..."

"...Where am I?"

The room was breathtakingly beautiful. A bronze mirror rested upon a carved sandalwood dressing table.

Rare jade ornaments decorated the shelves.

An elegant guqin stood near the window. Delicate porcelain vases overflowed with fresh plum blossoms.

Everything looked as though it had stepped straight out of an ancient historical drama. There wasn't a single modern object in sight.

"No..."

"This can't be..."

She hurried off the bed.

Her bare feet touched the cool wooden floor as she stumbled toward the bronze mirror. The reflection staring back froze her in place.

A young woman with flawless porcelain skin.

Long black hair cascading like silk.

Bright phoenix-shaped eyes.

Delicate cherry-red lips.

A tiny beauty mark beneath her right eye.

She was stunning. Almost unreal.

Wangmo slowly lifted a trembling hand.

The woman in the mirror did the same.

"..."

"I..."

"I really transmigrated."

Just then.....

A violent pain exploded inside her head.

"Ah!"

She staggered backward, clutching her temples. Fragments of memories flooded into her mind.

Laughter.

Banquets.

Arguments.

A handsome prince.

Jealousy.

Loneliness.

Heartbreak.

The memories came faster and faster until they merged with her own.

Several long moments later... The pain finally faded.

Wangmo remained standing silently.

"So..."

She whispered softly.

"My name is still Wangmo."

The original body's name was also Wangmo.

The only daughter of the Wang family. The richest grain merchants in Tianyun Kingdom.

Spoiled by her parents since childhood. Loved by her elder brothers. Admired for her beauty.

Yet...

Everything changed after she fell hopelessly in love with the First Prince. Trying to gain his affection, she constantly opposed the novel's heroine.

Every trap.

Every misunderstanding.

Every mistake.

Eventually...

She became the notorious villainess hated by everyone.

Wangmo let out a helpless sigh.

"What a terrible way to live."

She couldn't even bring herself to hate the original owner.

The original Wangmo wasn't born evil. She had simply loved the wrong person. And trusted the wrong people.

She walked back toward the dressing table.

Among the neatly arranged jewelry boxes lay a folded calendar written in elegant brush strokes.

Almost absentmindedly, she picked it up.

The moment her eyes landed on today's date....

Her pupils shrank.

"..."

"..."

"...Thirty days."

Exactly thirty days before the zombie apocalypse.

Thirty days before the first infected villager appeared outside the capital.

Thirty days before entire cities fell overnight.

Thirty days before civilization collapsed.

She stared at the calendar for several seconds.

Then...

A slow smile spread across her face.

"I still have time."

She laughed softly.

The sound echoed through the empty chamber.

"I actually have time!"

In the original novel, the villainess had spent this entire month following Wangdi around like a lovesick fool.

Confessing.

Jealous of the heroine.

Creating misunderstandings.

Wasting every precious day.

By the time the zombies appeared...

It was already too late.

Wangmo crossed her arms.

"Not me."

She shook her head decisively.

"I don't want the male lead."

She paused.

"...Actually..."

"I don't even want to see him."

A prince couldn't be eaten. A prince couldn't fill an empty stomach.

But rice...

Rice could save lives.

Immediately, her mind switched into planning mode.

"First..."

"Food. Lots of food."

She began counting on her fingers.

"Rice."

"Wheat."

"Salt."

"Cooking oil."

"Dried meat."

"Medicinal herbs."

"Seeds."

"Candles."

"Warm clothing."

"Blankets."

She continued listing supplies under her breath.

"Horses."

"Carriages."

"Farming tools."

"Water barrels."

"Medicines."

"And..."

She suddenly stopped.

"...Tea."

A serious expression appeared on her face.

"As a Bhutanese..."

"I refuse to survive any apocalypse without tea."

She nodded firmly.

"And chili."

"There must be chili."

Her solemn expression made it seem as though tea and chili were more important than the apocalypse itself.

Just then...

Knock.

Knock.

"My Lady?"

A gentle female voice came from outside the room.

"Have you awakened?"

Wangmo immediately composed herself.

"...Come in."

The wooden door opened quietly.

A young maid wearing a pale green dress entered while carrying a silver basin of warm water.

She looked no older than sixteen.

Bright eyes.

Round cheeks.

A warm smile.

She bowed respectfully.

"My Lady, Master and Madam are waiting for you in the dining hall."

Wangmo looked at her carefully.

Then...

Recognition flashed through her eyes.

"Xia He..."

The maid blinked in surprise.

"My Lady remembers this servant's name today?"

Wangmo froze.

She remembered.

Xia He.

The most loyal maid in the entire Wang Manor. When the zombie outbreak began...

Everyone fled. Only Xia He stayed beside the original Wangmo until the very end.

She had sacrificed herself to buy time for her mistress to escape.

In return... The original Wangmo still died at the hands of the zombies.

Wangmo's chest tightened.

Looking at the smiling young girl before her, she silently clenched her fists.

This time...

You won't die.

Not you.

Not my family.

Not anyone I can save.

Outside the window, the manor was full of life.

Servants laughed as they swept fallen petals from the stone pathways.

Guards chatted while changing shifts.

Children of the servants chased one another beneath blooming peach trees.

Everything was peaceful.

Everything was beautiful.

No one knew...

That beneath this tranquil world, an invisible countdown had already begun.

Thirty days remained.

And this time...

The story would no longer follow its original script.

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