Reincarnated as the Male Lead's Scheming Ex-Girlfriend

Tang Zhen, an ordinary woman who drowned saving a child, transmigrates into a popular campus romance novel as the shallow, foolish ex-girlfriend of the male lead, Ren Yanjing. Tasked by System 000 to play her role for three months before breaking up, she must complete specific missions to earn life value, with each point granting six months of lifespan. Ren Yanjing is a genius robotics student at a top university, cold and dedicated to his work, destined to eventually leave her for the novel’s female lead. Tang Zhen’s primary goal is to survive the storyline, endure the emotional detachment of playing a part, and ultimately return to her own life with extended years.

The story begins with Tang Zhen waiting in the cold for her first date with Ren Yanjing, dressed in a thin white dress to leave a deep impression as required by her first mission. Ren Yanjing, though handsome and wealthy, is inexperienced in romance and initially stiff around her. Their interactions are guided by the system’s tasks, such as having three intimate moments during dinner. Tang Zhen navigates these challenges with a mix of acting and genuine curiosity, finding that Ren Yanjing is unexpectedly considerate and gentle. He buys her a bracelet, takes her to watch the sunrise, and insists on seeing her daily, deviating from the original plot where he was distant and impatient.

A key turning point occurs when Tang Zhen sprains her ankle after leaving a jewelry store. Instead of rushing back to his lab as in the original story, he takes her to the hospital. This incident allows Mission Three to complete automatically, as a professor resolves the lab issue, sparing Ren Yanjing the need to leave. Tang Zhen feels a pang of guilt for indirectly hindering his work but also relief that he prioritized her well-being. Later, she encounters Zhou Xusi, the second male lead and her stepbrother, at a private club. Zhou Xusi, who harbors secret feelings for the novel’s female lead, treats Tang Zhen with unexpected kindness, warning his sister Zhou Wan to stop her hostility toward her.

As the relationship progresses, Ren Yanjing becomes increasingly attached, proposing they see each other every day and introducing Tang Zhen to his robotics team. At a university competition, Tang Zhen is tasked with holding Ren Yanjing’s hand for three minutes, but she ends up holding it for nearly twenty-four minutes without realizing it. The team notices her sweet scent on Ren Yanjing, marking her as a significant presence in his life. Despite knowing their breakup is inevitable, Tang Zhen finds herself enjoying the genuine affection she receives, blurring the lines between her mission and her true feelings.

The narrative explores the tension between Tang Zhen’s duty to follow the plot and her growing emotional connection with Ren Yanjing. She struggles with the knowledge that she is merely a placeholder for the true female lead, yet Ren Yanjing’s actions suggest he is developing real feelings for her. The story highlights the contrast between the original novel’s cold, career-focused male lead and the attentive, devoted partner Tang Zhen experiences. As they spend more time together, including watching the sunrise and attending competitions, the boundaries of their fictional roles begin to shift, raising questions about whether Tang Zhen can complete her mission or if her heart will complicate her escape.