As a Talented Person, I Can't Be Just a Pretty Face

My name is You Yu.

I'm a miserable worker at a garbage factory in a heavily impoverished district.

In short, my life has been as foul and stubborn as an old woman's bound feet, and as worthless as a copper coin dropped in a filthy ditch and ignored by everyone. Even the words describing it reek of cheap, shoddy writing.

My life sounds unfortunate enough, but even more unfortunate is that...

Forty-eight hours ago, I witnessed a vicious murder and learned an explosive piece of news. Truly explosive.

Seventy-two hours from now, this entire impoverished district will be flattened, and everyone in it will be reduced to ashes.

Then... boom!

Everything will be reduced to zero.

Deep breath. Stay calm.

First, I have to survive the next forty-eight hours.

The killer seems to have noticed me...

Second, I have to leave this nameless lower district, City Number 6979.

By any means necessary.

The people I can use right now are...

Candidate Number One: the factory supervisor, who seems deeply devoted on the surface but is two-faced behind my back.

Candidate Number Two: my rival, who's not very bright but has inexplicably risen to success lately.

Candidate Number Three: an unlucky person on the brink of life and death who has powerful connections.

I have no other weapons. My beauty is the only thing I can use.

Everyone, take your seats and watch me work.

Reading Guide:

The heroine is an absolute egoist, a beautiful, gentle and aloof woman full of ambition and desire. She'll use every resource at her disposal to get what she wants, following a cautious, low-key path to power.

The plot and romance progress side by side. The heroine is beloved by all, with crushes coming at her from every direction. She's a player, but most of the men are unhinged lunatics. They'll pull each other back and forth and fight to the death. Literally. [Highly emphasized!!!]

The setting is a high-tech, high-martial cyberpunk world with supernatural powers. There may be scenes where particle cannons clash with the Nine Heavens' Flowing Flame. There are plenty of original worldbuilding elements, and empires, religious orders, clans, and monopolistic corporations all coexist.

Theme: Even an ant can become an elephant.