I’m Competing with the Male Lead for a Woman

Xiao Jin transmigrated into a melodramatic angst-filled novel as a cannon fodder side character.

A strange woman who was disabled, disguised herself as a man, and obsessed with the male lead.

None of that mattered though, because she wouldn’t survive more than three chapters.

The cannon fodder was the third prince of the current dynasty—an accomplished war hero with a fearsome reputation that spanned the empire. Enemy armies trembled at the sound of his name. He was known as the “Ghost Rakshasa.”

Yet this god of war was gravely injured and crippled, coughing up blood after taking just a few steps.

He also developed tuberculosis and hovered on the edge of death.

There was only one reason for this: it was an angst novel. The male lead was the Crown Prince, and the female lead was a fallen princess from a ruined nation.

The cannon fodder’s only role was to destroy the heroine’s country, then die beautifully.

At this moment, Xiao Jin stared at her ruined legs and the pool of blood she had just coughed up. Her mental state completely collapsed.

She kindly told the butler to prepare a coffin—she’d lie down soon.

Then the mechanical voice of a system rang out.

“Warning! Host’s life has only 48 hours remaining. Please complete the first task as soon as possible to extend your lifespan.”

“Task 1: Interrupt the wedding — forcibly marry the heroine who is about to wed the second male lead.”

“Friendly reminder: Only after completing all tasks and getting killed by the heroine, Chu Shao, will your life countdown stop and you can return to your original world.”

Xiao Jin was silent.

In her mind, she pictured a terminally ill cancer patient in a wheelchair dramatically crashing the heroine’s wedding.

“…”

Xiao Jin: “Can I choose death instead?”

System: “Nope, Host.”

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After many twists and turns, Xiao Jin finally completed all the tasks.

That day, the sky was vast and clear, autumn geese flew south.

Chu Shao stepped over the corpses of cannon fodder and returned to her homeland, ascending the throne in glory.

The whole empire bowed before her.

Xiao Jin, in prison robes, sat in a wheelchair, escorted by imperial guards, looking up at the new empress.

She was content.

Everything was ready—now she just needed Chu Shao to kill her.

Empress Chu Shao, with unparalleled beauty, stood with twelve ceremonial tassels hanging from her crown. Sword in hand, she descended the steps and gazed gently at Xiao Jin.

Just when Xiao Jin thought she was about to be stabbed through the heart, Chu Shao raised her sword and slit the throat of the imperial guard beside her.

The rest of the guards turned pale and fell to their knees.

Chu Shao, hands dripping with blood, crouched in front of Xiao Jin. As though gazing up at a deity, she stared at her for a long time.

She placed the bloodied sword aside and said in a trembling voice:

“Don’t leave me.”

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[IMPORTANT WARNINGS!!]

1. While the tone of the story is marked as lighthearted, some parts are definitely not.

2. Chapters 138–140 and 77–80 involve side couples and previous-generation characters. They’re melodramatic, not pure (non-virgin), and written to tie together the story’s logic—please read the author’s notes for context before purchasing.

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How to Enjoy This Story:

1. This is a cathartic fantasy story set in an alternate world—historical accuracy is not the goal.

2. The female lead, Chu Shao, is a yandere and mentally unstable. The system doesn’t do much—Xiao Jin mostly survives by being awesome.

3. The ending has a twist, but it’s a happy one. Timeline explanations are in the author’s note for Chapter 175.

Tags: Strong leads | Transmigration | Gender disguise | Cathartic read | Light tone

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Xiao Jin

Chu Shao

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One-sentence summary: Don’t leave me.

Theme: Though physically broken, the will remains unyielding. Charge forward with courage.