After Stealing the Male Lead's Script, She Dominated the World

Lu Jinlan, a twenty-four-year-old civil servant from the modern world, transmigrates into a gender-swapped universe where women hold all social, political, and physical power. She awakens as Lu Jinlan, the sixteen-year-old eldest daughter of Lu Jinchao, a wealthy merchant in the State of Hua. A system fuses tens of thousands of male-oriented web novels into this world, forcing her to survive by completing missions that mimic the behaviors of male protagonists in those stories. Her initial life points are critically low at five, and any failure to comply with system directives results in physical punishment and point deductions that can lead to death. The system’s customer service, an elderly woman’s voice, explains that she must accumulate life points through “male-novel behaviors” such as objectifying men and engaging in casual flirtation to extend her lifespan.

Upon integrating into her new identity, Lu Jinlan discovers she is the daughter of Lu Jinchao and her principal husband, Yan Shi. Yan Shi is a handsome, devoted father who suffers from appearance anxiety and is deeply concerned about his wife’s numerous romantic entanglements. Lu Jinlan learns that in this world, men give birth via cesarean section after receiving a woman’s ovum, a reality that initially shocks her but soon becomes a source of empowerment. She realizes that the privileges afforded to men in traditional male-oriented novels—such as harems and absolute freedom—are now available to her. Embracing this new role, she adopts a confident, unapologetic attitude, deciding to become notoriously “bad” in the eyes of society to maximize her life points and enjoy her new existence.

Her academic life at Xizhou Academy is initially unremarkable, with Lu Jinlan consistently ranking last among her peers. However, facing the pressure of upcoming graduation exams, she studies intensively for two days and nights. During the exam, she encounters questions on policy essays and poetry rather than the rigid eight-legged essays she expected. Leveraging her modern knowledge of governance and her familiarity with classical Chinese literature, she writes exceptional essays and recites famous poems. She tops the exam, shocking her classmates and the academy principal. This victory attracts the attention of Principal Meng, who introduces her to her son, Meng Shixi, and informs her that her papers have been sent to the capital for review by the Emperor.

Lu Jinlan receives a qualification notice for the Royal Academy selection in the capital, Shengjing. However, her mother, Lu Jinchao, opposes her departure, fearing for her safety in the capital and insisting she marry General Song’s son instead. Lu Jinlan refuses the arranged marriage and, with the help of her loyal servants Qing’er and Ximo, escapes the Lu residence under the cover of her mother’s birthday celebration. She travels to the capital, where she meets Yan, a young woman who shares her interest in appraising men. In the capital, Lu Jinlan encounters a mysterious young man in white who is attempting to borrow a military strategy text. Despite societal prejudices that men cannot understand such works, Lu Jinlan lends him the book, recognizing his intelligence and refined character. Their interaction marks the beginning of a significant connection, setting the stage for her future endeavors in the capital as she navigates the complex social hierarchy and the demands of the system.