Wandering Mercenary in an Open World - Chapter 53

Emperor Ian Veroshion, the first noble mage, was betrayed and executed. Cursed to never be reborn, he awakens a century later as the illegitimate son of a disgraced ducal line, destined to be a hostage in a barbaric land. Stripped of his magic and his throne, he must navigate a world vastly different from the one he ruled, facing political machinations and a resurgent monster threat. But the embers of his past life still burn, and Ian will not surrender his legacy. He will reclaim his name, his magic, and perhaps, even his empire.

Xia Wan entered an ancient Mary Sue campus novel and became a cannon fodder female supporting role who had a marriage contract with the male protagonist F1.
F1 thinks she gets in the way because he likes the heroine.
Because F2 has a crush on the heroine, he thinks she is superfluous.
F3 finds her troublesome because she needs a female lead.
F4…I’m still working as an exchange student abroad, so I won’t be able to play for a while.
In order to avoid becoming a suspect in the future.
On the first day of transferring to this school, Xia Wan stood on the podium and introduced herself, “Hello everyone, I’m Xia Wan’s younger brother!”
*
The system told Xia Wan that there are two ways to live, to gain love or friendship from F4.
Xia Wan chose the latter without hesitation.
On the first day of disguising as a man, Xia Wan gave water to the grumpy F1, and a rainbow fart output touted his skills as a dog.
On the tenth day of disguising as a man, Xia Wan helped the gentle school god F2 avoid his crazy suitors.
Fifteen days when she disguised herself as a man, Xia Wan gave the dandy F3 sincere care and help.
…
When F4 returned to China, he found that the position that should have belonged to him had been replaced by someone.
And his three close brothers fought over who was Xia Wan’s best friend.
F4: ? ? ?
#Our F4 seems to be over#
Xia Wan:OAO
#What do you see me doing? I don’t know anything! #
Thanks for the cover @salt lemon.

【Reading Guide】
No CP in the text, single arrow for all staff, friendship to a happy ending
Fanwai 1v1 has a male protagonist.
For details, see the words in Chapter 1, which can be accepted and read again.

Content tags: Wearing books Women disguised as men
Search keywords: Protagonist: Xia Wan ┃ Supporting role: Who do you love ┃ Others:

- Description from novelbuddy

Ethan's head throbbed violently as he opened his eyes, his vision hazy and unfocused. A dull ringing filled his ears, drowning out his thoughts.“What’s happening…?” he thought, his mind sluggish, struggling to catch up with reality. One moment, he was asleep—or at least, he thought he was—and the next, searing pain forced him awake.His vision swam, shapes blurring together in a disorienting mess. But then, muffled noises filtered through the haze—frantic, panicked sounds. Someone was trying to scream, their voice smothered, choked by something.A cold shiver ran down his spine.As his sight gradually sharpened, Ethan's breath hitched.He was on all fours, looming over someone. A girl.Her body twisted and writhed beneath him, ropes biting into her wrists and ankles. Her mouth was gagged, muffling her cries. Her wide brown eyes, brimming with fear and fury, glared up at him.Ethan's body locked in place, his blood running cold.“What the…?” His mind reeled, thoughts slamming into each other in chaotic disarray. “What kind of bizarre dream is this?”Panic clawed at his chest. His breath came in ragged, uneven gasps as he scrambled backward, only to realize his limbs felt sluggish, uncooperative, like they didn’t belong to him.“Is this… is this some kind of twisted fantasy I never knew I had?” A sickening thought slithered through his mind, making his stomach churn.The girl's frantic squirming slowed for a moment, her gaze flickering with confusion as she took in his expression—his trembling hands, his wide, horrified eyes. But the fear returned just as quickly. She struggled harder, her body arching, her muffled screams rising in pitch.Ethan wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but before he could force out a word, a glowing blue window materialized before his eyes.His breath caught.A translucent, hovering screen?“What…?”Lines of glowing text scrolled across its surface.---[System Activated…][Host Confirmed.][Simulating Previous Data…]Ethan awakens in a mysterious world, shackled by a curse that clouds his judgment and drives him toward choices he never wished to make. Burdened by guilt and responsibility, he must navigate the fallout of his actions while unraveling the truth behind the curse—and his place in this enigmatic new reality.