Looking for Marriage-First, Love-Later Stories with Both Sweetness and Angst 求 先婚后爱（有甜有虐）的那种

1. 1 联 After My Contract Husband Read My Diary About the Man I Secretly Loved 联姻老公翻开我暗恋别人的日记后 Ji An既安Modern Romance429k WordsCompleted (Complete, bonus chapters in the works) [Marriage Before Love / Six-Year Age Gap / Older Man Bows His Head / Sweet Romance, Both Pure] Zhou Xingyan needs a wife, but he doesn't want a woman meddling in any of his affairs, let alone telling him what to do. He doesn't even care who his wife likes, as long as she leaves him alone. During a company acquisition negotiation, Yun Shu was handed over to him as a "gift." She had only just graduated from university and had been secretly in love with someo 59.6kReads8.7Score7.7k14d adds

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   The heart-wrenching parts of this book lie in the tragic love story between the female lead and the second male lead, and the romance between the female lead and the male lead. The female lead, once she realizes her love for the second male lead, boldly confesses it. When she discovers differences in family values ​​with the male lead, she decisively divorces him (even while they were still deeply in love). The male lead perfectly embodies the charm of an older man, with strong moral principles. He even consults the female lead when reading her diary, and when faced with her request for a divorce, he doesn't pester her but instead tries to understand the reasons behind it. Of course, the second male lead is also a good person; his rejection of the female lead's confession is out of a desire not to hurt her. The only potential pitfall of this book might be the frequent misunderstandings between the male and female leads, but these are quickly resolved. It's definitely worth reading (the low rating is because it's newly released, but it's already completed).

2. 2 冷 After Five Years of Cold War, Why Are You Losing Control Now That I Want a Divorce? 冷战五年，我提离婚你失控什么 Lunar Scrap Collector月球拾荒Modern Romance351k WordsOngoing [Marriage first, love later; regretful pursuit; bittersweet romance; the powerful one learns to bow his head; mutual healing; one-on-one; both are each other’s first and only; happy ending] [Cool-headed, headstrong painter × aloof, elegant CEO] Five years ago. Sui Nuan was a celebrated prodigy at Jiangcheng University: cool, beautiful, and hard to pursue. Just before graduation, she suddenly announced she was dropping out to marry Jiangcheng’s most powerful heir, Jiang Yanci, the eldest son who 2.3kReads—Score10514d adds

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   A story of heartbreak followed by sweetness! A bittersweet tale of marriage before love! A tale of chasing after one's wife through hell!

3. 3 佛 The Easygoing Second Wife 佛系继室 A Cat on the Moon月亮一只喵Ancient Romance111k WordsCompleted From the moment Cui Jiangwan learns she’s to marry Marquis Wu’an Ji Huai, she knows the marquis still carries an irreplaceable first love in his heart. That woman was his late wife and his childhood sweetheart. So Cui Jiangwan plans to be a laid-back second wife and live with Ji Huai in mutual respect. 3.1kReads6.8Score22614d adds

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   Ancient Chinese novels featuring second wives, where love blossoms after marriage, and the male protagonist falls in love first.

4. 4 逾 Sinking Into Love Past the Deadline 逾期沉溺 Mi Anxia米安夏Modern Romance726k WordsOngoing Tang Yiming and Sun Jia first met three years ago, when they signed a prenuptial agreement. She thought their marriage was nothing more than a deal that suited them both. But he loved her and was afraid to reveal his true feelings, so he hid them behind a facade of absurdity. She didn't love him, but was grateful that he'd helped her when she was down. Then she happened to find him keeping silent vigil by her grandmother's sickbed. She accidentally caught him tearing up the suggestive invitation 2.5kReads—Score16214d adds

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   What touched me most about this book is that love isn't about possession, but about silent protection. The male lead is clearly head over heels in love, but he's afraid to confess for fear of burdening the female lead; the female lead appears calm and restrained, but she's already fallen for him through their daily interactions. If you also want to read an extremely romantic story where "I thought it was just a transaction, but you gambled your whole life on it," go read it now! Trust me, you'll come back and thank me after you finish!

5. 5 婚 I Fell in Love Without Realizing It 婚然不觉爱上你 Ye Zi葉梓Modern Romance2.0M WordsCompleted After six years of a secret marriage, Wen Xixia felt she had done everything she could for their relationship. Ling Xiuran had married her because she looked like that other woman, and when he got drunk, he had her bear his child for the same reason. Now that woman had returned, it was time for Wen Xixia to step aside. She asked for a divorce, never expecting the man who had always treated her with indifference to turn red-eyed and lose his voice. “Wen Xixia, after six whole years, how could you 2kReads8.4Score13014d adds

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   All of these have a happy ending, but except for the last one which is a clean ending for both characters, the others don't seem to be...

6. 6 一 A Life Full of Joy 一笙有喜 Fish Doesn't Speak鱼不语Modern Romance2.6M WordsCompleted [A breathtaking beauty, a fallen heiress, VS a refined, aloof heir to a powerful Beijing family. Marriage first, love later + sweet romance + clear-headed heroine] After a sudden upheaval, Song Xi has no choice but to marry the refined, aloof heir to the Qiao family. At first, though, the two are like needle and wheat: neither can stand the other. Who could have guessed that they’d later be so sweet together? Their friends all complained, “Leave us single people a way to live!” One day, Presiden 33.3kReads9.5Score3.6k14d adds
7. 7 闪 After Marrying the Abstinent CEO, Dr. Gu Is Hooked 闪婚禁欲总裁后，顾医生真香了 Yue Mingmian月明眠Modern Romance218k WordsCompleted 72Reads8.5Score—14d adds
8. 8 与 Sharing His Bed 与他共枕 A Page of Fireworks一纸烟火Modern Romance516k WordsCompleted (Adapted into the short drama "Miss Xu, Don’t Settle". The Tomato-produced short drama "Sharing His Bed" launched on Tomato on November 26.) Shang Yiran and Xu Mubai have been married for five years, and have spent all five fighting. Three years into their marriage, Xu Mubai became pregnant. She tried to tell Shang Yiran, “Let’s make a real go of this.” He responded with cold indifference. After that, they each went their own way. One is cold, arrogant, and conceited; the other is stubborn and u 7.2kReads9.1Score55414d adds

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   This book is both sweet and angsty, worth reading.

9. 9 心 Heart-Pounding Game! Young Master Bo, the Tycoon's Heir, Can't Handle It 心动游戏！财阀薄爷他玩不起 Han Dabai韩大白Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Shen Zhiyi marries into the elite Bo family as a bride meant to bring good fortune to her sick husband. In everyone's eyes, she's the perfect daughter-in-law: refined and gentle. Bo Yu's first verdict on Shen Zhiyi: two words, “All an act.” His second verdict: “A fake woman, not worth mentioning.” Later, people see the once all-powerful Master Bo gripping his wife's hand and desperately explaining the awful things he said in a recording, begging her again and again to forgive him. Later still, M 19.4kReads9.2Score1.6k14d adds
10. 10 京 Azure Blue over Jingwan 京湾湛蓝 Blank Space777空白格777Modern Romance707k WordsCompleted A cool, aloof, abstinent CEO × a quirky, talented, sweet girl Jing Zhan, the current head of a business empire, thinks Lan Wan Er is a pampered, well-behaved young lady of the Lan family. After Jing Zhan rejects every eligible young woman his grandfather tries to set him up with, he unexpectedly agrees to honor the marriage contract that had been arranged long ago! Jing Zhenhai, Jing Zhan’s grandfather, never intended for him to honor this long-forgotten engagement. He had just one reason: “You 3.5kReads8.6Score36414d adds

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    It's a little angsty at the beginning, but sweet later on, the secondary couple has a happy ending, and there's even a separate side story about the children's relationship! Go check it out!

11. 11 醉 After One Too Many Drinks, the Flirtatious Tycoon Turned Into a Needy Crybaby 醉酒后，撩精大佬成了嘤嘤怪 Mu Liuliu沐六六Modern Romance416k WordsCompleted Sweet, well-behaved heroine + doting romance + happy ending, with angst, affection, and healing. Su Shiqiao and Xiang Yan were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love and certain of each other. But a crisis at their family businesses drove the people who loved and cherished each other apart. Gu Xing'an, a rising star in finance, and Su Shiqiao were never supposed to be together, yet fate brought them together unexpectedly. Bonus scene: Gu Surui inherited his father's flirtatious eyes. Even at a yo 705Reads9.4Score10014d adds

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    These books should meet your requirements [cool][cool] The first one: The female lead originally had a childhood sweetheart, but they broke up for various reasons. The male lead also just broke up with his girlfriend. Due to some reasons, the female lead needs to get married as soon as possible, so she marries the male lead and they fall in love after marriage. The childhood sweetheart also suffers a lot. This storyline is so heartbreaking [crying][crying] The second one: The female lead is a ginseng spirit who marries a disabled big shot male lead. Although the male lead is infected by the female lead and only wants to be good to her, he still decides to leave this world. The female lead initially wants to respect the male lead's decision, but later she firmly saves him [crying][crying] The third one: The female lead transmigrates into a book, and the male lead is reborn with a system. The original owner is the control group of the original female lead and has a tragic ending. The male lead needs to be bound to the female lead to survive after his rebirth. The two cooperate at first and then gradually fall in love [admiration][admiration]

12. 12 残 The Disabled Tycoon's Sweet Wife Is Actually a Ginseng Spirit 残疾大佬的娇妻居然是个人参精 You Jiu犹酒Modern Romance169k WordsCompleted Content warning: Not a strong female lead, not a feel-good power fantasy, not a domineering-CEO romance. The female lead transmigrates bodily. (Lighthearted, a little silly, some sweetness, and healing) (A good-natured disabled big shot and an adorable female ginseng spirit) After cultivating for a thousand years, Hua Luo finally took human form, only to unexpectedly end up inside a novel. A man sweet-talked and tempted her into becoming his sacrificial bride. At first, she thought he was simply 99Reads8.8Score—14d adds
13. 13 我 I, the Frail Beauty, Am the Wealthy Family's Movie Emperor's Lifeline Blood Bank 我，病弱美人，豪门影帝续命血包 Liu Lili流栗栗Modern Romance858k WordsCompleted [A villainous heroine, a hero with a System, and a satisfying, melodramatic old-school story. Transmigrating into a book is the biggest excuse for throwing logic out the window. Not recommended for readers who take their values too seriously.] Heroine's perspective: In the book, Wen Jiu is set up as a foil to the heroine: a contrast between the real and fake heiresses, between the couples' relationships, between a vicious cannon-fodder character and the heroine, between frail and sickly and heal 8.6kReads9.3Score1.1k14d adds
14. 14 总 The CEO Can’t Keep His Young Wife in Line Anymore 总裁镇不住少奶奶了 Jiu Ling九棂Modern Romance2.3M WordsCompleted When Chu Mian was picked up from the slums by the powerful CEO Li, she had nothing. Later, he pampered her to the heavens. “That Chu Mian? She’s a foundling, and she looks so poor.” The speaker then ran into Chu Mian signing dozens of property agreements, nodding off as she went. “That Chu Mian? She has no connections. I don’t know what she’s so smug about.” The speaker then saw Li Tianque, the tycoon at the top of A Nation’s financial world, publicly announce that they were married. “That Chu M 44.7kReads9.4Score5.9k14d adds

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    "Ah Mian, I'll be your heavenly palace, ensuring you have everything go smoothly and a worry-free life." "Teacher, I'm very stubborn. For sugar, I only eat mints; for men, I only want Li Tianque." This is the best book I've ever read, bar none. [Crying][crying][crying] [crying] It's both angsty and sweet, so angsty it'll make your liver hurt, so sweet it'll make your teeth ache. A mutual journey, a mutual redemption. Highly recommended!

15. 15 难 Five Years After a Difficult Birth, I Married a Single Dad on a Whim 难产后五年，我闪婚了单亲爸爸 Xiao Shijiu萧十九Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Sweet romance + marriage first, love later + male lead with a secret identity + everyone’s favorite + scheming male lead versus sweet, feisty actress] Forced into marriage by her company’s vice president, Tang Feifei impulsively married a dirt-poor single father. She thought she’d have to spend her married life constantly filming to support her husband and raise three kids. But to her surprise, her supposedly broke husband had a bank balance with countless more zeroes than hers! Even more shock 1.1kReads9.3Score36414d adds

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    An arranged marriage that blossoms into love, resulting in a pregnancy with triplets, and the male lead's entire family adoring the female lead. The whole family dotes on her.

16. 16 和 After a Political Marriage, the Wolf King Pursues Me 和亲后，我被狼王撩 The Turtledoves That Cannot Be Caged关不住的雎鸠Ancient Romance221k WordsCompleted She is the Shen family’s legitimate daughter. He is a lone wolf of the grasslands. The two had nothing in common, but with the Xia dynasty in decline, marriage to a foreign land was their only way forward. She is clever and composed, with a miraculous healing touch. He is proud and aloof, yet carries the world in his heart. Alone in the barbarian lands of the grasslands, she faces one insult and hardship after another with unruffled calm. Through countless tests and struggles, they finally win e 1.8kReads9.0Score17114d adds

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    Marriage before love yyds

17. 17 禁 The Abstinent Tycoon Is Addicted to Me 禁欲大佬对我上瘾 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance144k WordsCompleted [1v1 sweet romance + both leads are devoted to each other + powerful man lowers his head] After getting drunk, Sheng Yanxi accidentally wandered into the presidential suite of Ling Jingchen, the fearsome “tyrant” of Hancheng. After one reckless night, she woke up, saw the outline of the man beside her, and was scared out of her wits. It was Ling Jingchen! The cold-faced tyrant whose slightest stomp could make all of Hancheng tremble! While he was still asleep, she fled in a panic. Ling Jingchen 2.9kReads—Score12714d adds

    Reader note

    These books are pretty good. The male and female protagonists marry first and then fall in love. The billionaire CEO becomes a doting husband. The beginning is a bit angsty, but the end is sweet.

18. 18 新 On My Wedding Night, I Revived a Comatose Tycoon 新婚夜，我救活了植物人大佬 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance515k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later] [Sweet Romance] [Age Gap] [Scheming Male Lead] Jiang Yan grew up in a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. From childhood, she studied medicine under her grandparents, both seasoned physicians, and mastered the art of acupuncture. However, fate had other plans. Her father's company was on the brink of collapse, and to save it, she was forced to marry Lu Jingming, a business genius who had been left in a vegetative state by a car accident. Known for h 2.5kReads6.8Score14814d adds
19. 19 我 I Restored the Capital’s Tycoon’s Sight, and He Spoils Me Rotten 我让京圈大佬复明，他把我狠狠宠 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance204k WordsCompleted [Substitute marriage, love after marriage, ex-husband’s redemption, sweet romance, both leads are virgins] Huo Jingchen had a fiery temper, devastating looks, and a decisive, domineering way of doing things. He was arrogant and unruly, with a strong streak of tsundere pride. He was recognized throughout the business world as a genius, famous for his ruthlessness and cunning. His decisive, ruthless methods earned him the nickname “Living Yama,” and made his business rivals tremble at the mere men 1.2kReads—Score10014d adds
20. 20 我 I Woke Up My Husband from His Vegetative State 我让植物人老公苏醒 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance286k WordsCompleted [Love after marriage + age gap + groveling pursuit + sweet romance + powerful man lowering his head] Su Tong is the Su family’s adopted daughter. Clever from a young age, she excelled in school and graduated from Harvard, becoming an outstanding neurosurgeon. The Su family’s biological daughter, Su Shishi, refuses to honor the betrothal arranged for her when she was young and marry Huo Yunzhou, a business magnate from Haicheng who has been in a vegetative state since a car accident. So her adop 2.1kReads8.0Score15014d adds
21. 21 京 The Capital’s Power Player, His Wife’s One and Only 京圈大佬，独宠娇妻 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance206k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, deep love later + sweet romance + scheming male lead + regretful groveling + age gap] Su Tong never imagined her own father could be so blinded by greed that he’d use her as a bargaining chip and heartlessly send her to the bed of Gu Tingshen, a powerful figure in the capital’s elite circles. Gu Tingshen was notorious among the capital’s elite for being abstinent and calculating, intensely controlling, cold, domineering, and sharp-tongued. Everyone treated him with awe and fear. 1.8kReads—Score—14d adds
22. 22 植 The Comatose Tycoon Falls in Love with Me 植物人大佬，爱上我 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance378k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + devoted to one another + sweet romance] An Ran is a highly skilled neurosurgeon who should have been making a name for herself saving lives. Instead, her greedy stepmother and father force her into the dark depths of fate. Tempted by money, they push her into what seems like an endless, loveless marriage, marrying her off to Mu Tingchen, a legendary business tycoon left in a vegetative state after a car accident. Once, Mu Tingchen ruled the business world with an ir 1.1kReads6.4Score—14d adds
23. 23 闪 My Flash-Marriage Husband Is Actually a Trillionaire CEO 闪婚老公，竟是千亿总裁 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance161k WordsCompleted 4.9kReads—Score17014d adds
24. 24 跪 Kneel and Kiss the Iris 跪吻鸢尾 All Living Things30芸芸众生30Modern Romance2.0M WordsOngoing Tu Mingyuan was made to marry the ruthless CEO of the Li family in her sister's place. He spent every night indulging himself with her, and she thought he loved her. But that was only what she believed. When he had to choose between two people, she was the one he abandoned. Pregnant, she fell into the sea and vanished without a trace. At last, the ruthless CEO went mad. “Drain every drop of seawater if you have to, but find her! I want her alive if she's alive, and her body if she's dead!” Three 3.1kReads—Score19214d adds

    Reader note

    Arranged marriage that blossoms into love: a bittersweet experience.

25. 25 王 After the Prince Was Forced to Marry 王爷被迫成婚以后 Plumpness Rules the World膘行天下Ancient Romance468k WordsCompleted In Rong Qian’s eyes, Lu Sang-sang is a woman who’s always playing some kind of game. She acts virtuous and magnanimous on the surface, but all she really wants is his attention. Hah, he won’t fall for her little tricks. Lu Sang-sang: “You’re always picking on me. Is it because you like me?” “I don’t. I haven’t. Don’t make things up,” the man retorts coldly. She gives him a mocking smile. “You weren’t so stubborn yesterday when you forced a kiss on me.” In one sentence: After the prince is forced 894Reads8.7Score10614d adds

    Reader note

    I've recently been enjoying reading books about arranged marriages that blossom into love, and these two are both quite good.

26. 26 温 A Gentle Embrace 温柔覆盖 A Duo Jun阿夺君Modern Romance109k WordsOngoing A calm, collected medical professor / A clever, quick-witted 3D modeler On her nineteenth birthday, Xu Qing finally gathers the courage to confess to Li Xu, the man she has secretly loved for five years. He turns her down. Devastated, she applies the following year to spend three years as an exchange student in Italy. What they don't know is that on the same day, at the same airport, two flights heading in opposite directions will carry them across the ocean. Xu Qing is so lonely, licking her wo 55Reads—Score—14d adds

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    On her nineteenth birthday, the composed and calm medical professor and the clever and quick-witted modeler Xu Qing mustered the courage to confess her feelings to Li Xu, whom she had secretly loved for five years. Unexpectedly, she was rejected, and devastated, she applied to study in Italy as a three-year exchange student the following year. Unbeknownst to them, on the same day, at the same airport, two completely different flight paths would take them to the other side of the ocean. Xu Qing was so lonely, licking her wounds alone in the quiet of the night. Li Xu later discovered that the girl he had longed for had gone far away alone. He forced her to grow up, forced her to distance herself from him. When Xu Qing returned home, she was surprised to learn that she and Li Xu were married! Later, they lived under the same roof, and Xu Qing was often startled by his words: "Qingqing, baby." "Qingqing, we have a long future ahead of us." "Qingqing, I love you." Xu Qing: "..."

27. 27 嫁 Miss Mu Marries Mr. Chu 嫁给楚先生的慕小姐 Listening South, Traveling North南听北往Modern Romance244k WordsCompleted [Flash marriage + falling in love after marriage + love grows over time + both leads are virgins + mutual devotion + sweet everyday life] [Libra novelist VS Libra high school Chinese teacher] Mu Yao marries Chu Beichen, whom she met on a blind date. They tie the knot just ten days after meeting! On their wedding night, Mu Yao shyly points to the big bed and looks at her new husband. “You can sleep on the bed.” Chu Beichen teases her. “Aren't you afraid I'll devour you in the middle of the night? 27Reads—Score—14d adds

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    The later episodes are super sweet! [Heart emoji]

28. 28 救 Help! My Abstinent CEO Steals a Kiss Every Night After We Got Married 救命！婚后，禁欲总裁每晚偷亲我 Baby Li Yu李渔宝宝Modern Romance518k WordsCompleted Marriage first, love later. Both leads are virgins. A fresh college graduate accidentally hit an old man with her car. The old man glanced at his eldest grandson, a CEO nearing thirty and still a bachelor, and suddenly came up with an idea. Old man: “Young lady, I won’t make you pay for the damage or the medical bills. Just give me a great-grandchild in return.” The CEO glanced at the college girl. “Has our old ancestor finally lost his marbles?” College girl: “...Is he trying to shake me dow 18Reads6.1Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Arranged marriage, love blossoms later, both partners are virgins, with a little angst at the beginning. [Eating popcorn] A recent female college graduate accidentally bumps into an elderly man. The old man glances at his nearly 30-year-old, still-single CEO grandson and suddenly has an idea. Old man: Young lady, I won't ask you to pay me money or medical expenses, just give me a great-grandson. CEO rolls his eyes at the female college graduate: Is your ancestor getting senile? Female college graduate: ... Is this extortion? After getting their marriage certificate, the CEO leans against the wall... CEO: My ancestor had good taste.

29. 29 被 After a Forced Whirlwind Marriage, the Cold Bai Young Master Turns into a Devoted Husband 被迫闪婚后，高冷白少变妻奴 Ba Qiusheng八湫笙Modern Romance209k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + devoted to each other + sweet romance + adorable baby + groveling to win back his wife] At first, Bai Jinyu described Luo Qingqing this way: “She's nothing but a dog my second uncle planted at my side, a pretentious, brainless ornament. The moment I regain full control of the company, I'll divorce her.” When the brainless ornament heard this, she was overjoyed. “Then hurry up and take it back! The sooner, the better!” But later, Bai Jinyu discovered that this woman 4Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This story is about a man who marries a woman because of his second uncle's scheme. He initially dislikes her, but later discovers she's completely different from what he imagined and falls in love with her, then pursues and spoils her relentlessly. It has both angst and sweet moments. The female lead is a two-faced person: a seemingly weak heiress in public, but a cool and sassy rock queen in private. She has a great personality and is quite funny.

30. 30 闪 A Whirlwind Wedding: The Wealthy CEO's Everyday Devotion to His Wife 闪婚领证，豪门总裁的宠妻日常 Stars Across the Earth大地繁星Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted What should you do if your blind date is a hopeless mama's boy? He Wan's answer: Run for the hills, and keep running as far as you can. Before she can make her escape, a charming voice sounds behind her. “How about we get married?” Good heavens, the speaker is Ji Chengtian, CEO of Bincheng's biggest conglomerate and the dream man of countless unmarried women! Could it be he's been secretly in love with her all along, and seeing her on a blind date made him panic? He's rich and handsome, so why n 9.7kReads9.1Score91314d adds

    Reader note

    A sweet romance novel about a domineering CEO who spoils his wife after an arranged marriage.

31. 31 婚 Spoiled After Marriage 婚后侍宠 Tu Su兔苏Modern Romance541k WordsCompleted Miss Sunflower and Her Qipao Gentleman The heroine has an avoidant attachment style + the older hero guides her / both are pure in body and mind, with overwhelming possessiveness Beautiful, bold, resilient, and seemingly well-behaved university professor x proud, sharp-tongued, scheming, aloof beauty [Flash Marriage and Exclusive Devotion + Clear-Headed Strong Female Lead + Marriage Before Love + Two Strong Leads + Age Gap + Slow-Burn Romance + Adorabl 3.1kReads8.5Score15514d adds

    Reader note

    This is it. A marriage of convenience that blossoms into love, a relationship between equals; the male lead gradually falls for her, while the female lead remains clear-headed and focuses on her career.

32. 32 实 On My Third Day as an Intern, I Got a Marriage Certificate with My Female Boss 实习第三天我跟女老板扯证了 A Word, a Rare Sound一语希音Modern Romance300k WordsCompleted [Icy legal empress Ji X cunning younger son of a top financial dynasty + flirtatious lady and younger puppy in an intense push and pull + contract marriage + marriage first, love later + corporate power struggles + sweet, indulgent wish fulfillment] He is Gu Yuandao, a fresh graduate working as an intern, as well as the wealthy family's third young master, who plays dumb and shamelessly clings to his contract-marriage wife. He hides his true abilities to uncover the truth behind his mother's dea 105Reads—Score—14d adds

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    Synopsis: Gu Yuandao, the third young master of the wealthy Gu Group, is a recent law school graduate who is arranged by his family to intern at a prestigious law firm. However, by a twist of fate, on his third day of internship, he is dragged to the civil affairs bureau by his female boss, Liu Mianmian, and they get married. Liu Mianmian is a renowned beauty in the legal profession, possessing top-notch looks and figure, but she has been too busy with her career to meet a suitable partner. At thirty-six, she had long given up hope of marriage, but due to her partner's wife threatening suicide, she was forced to marry a young man to avoid being kicked out of the firm. The Gu Group is rife with internal strife, and Gu Yuandao has always hidden his talents and avoided conflict, but ultimately cannot escape the fate of returning home to inherit the family business, which brings with it countless conspiracies and schemes. Having been neglected since childhood and witnessed the cruelty, ruthlessness, and scheming of the adult world, Gu Yuandao is mature beyond his years, adept at surviving in the cracks, and has developed a cunning and manipulative mind. What was initially thought to be a timid, docile puppy turned out to be a cunning and ruthless wolf. Liu Mianmian never imagined that her strong, independent woman persona would be shattered by this seemingly innocent young man, finally opening her heart after years of stagnation. From a contractual marriage to a younger man's devoted love, it's incredibly sweet. It can be described as "Green grass by the riverbank, tender thoughts of distant places." From mutual exploitation to genuine trust, it's not just about external obstacles but also internal psychological hurdles. The female lead can accept the strong woman/weak man dynamic, but she can't bear to see the male lead pretending to be weak while she's manipulated. She prides herself on being clever, yet she foolishly falls into his trap. A mature woman paired with a younger man, marriage first, love later—through countless difficulties, ultimately, love remains the key… New book seeking reviews: Legal female emperor, younger wealthy man, contract marriage, pretending to be weak while being strong—sweet and refreshing novel.

33. 33 替 The Substitute Bride: Young Master Ling Is Delighted to Be a Dad 替嫁娇妻：凌少喜当爹 Wooden Pear木鸭梨Modern Romance220k WordsCompleted Everyone knows Gu Caowei is a modest, traditional, and honest woman. Even when her younger sister pressures her into a marriage, she meekly accepts. She may be marrying into a top-tier family with assets worth over a trillion, but unfortunately, her husband is blind. What no one expected was that Ling Chengzhe was only pretending to be blind, and that Gu Caowei was already two months pregnant before the wedding! When the pregnancy was revealed, everyone mocked her. “If that baby is Ling’s, I’ll 15Reads9.0Score—14d adds

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    The female lead becomes pregnant unexpectedly and marries the male lead by mistake. The male lead is unaware that the child is his until that day… 220,000 words, a marriage of convenience that blossoms into love, so sweet it'll make you blush!

34. 34 似 Like Jade Smoke 似他如玉生烟 San Muli三慕里Modern Romance819k WordsCompleted [None of us is innocent, and neither is time. So retribution came for me. That is karma. My sins are unforgivable, and I deserve to die.] The old Su Yanli could barely be bothered to pay Fu Qingyi any attention. Later, he spent every day trying to figure out whether going lame or going bankrupt would make her look at him more often. 597Reads7.9Score10414d adds

    Reader note

    It's incredibly heart-wrenching, but also incredibly entertaining.

35. 35 离 After the Divorce, My Mad CEO Ex Can't Take It Anymore 离婚后，疯批总裁他急了 Fish Tail鱼尾Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The day his first love returned, Mo Xiao asked for a divorce. Bai Qing was overwhelmed with conflicting feelings. Still clinging to a last shred of hope, she asked Mo Xiao, “What if I’m pregnant?” Mo Xiao’s expression didn’t change. “Get rid of it.” Bai Qing felt as if she’d fallen into an ice cave. Later, she chose to let go. Mo Xiao watched her transform into a dazzling jewel, holding the hand of a male companion as she sashayed along. He gripped Bai Qing’s chin. “Qingbao, didn’t you say 2.3kReads7.9Score33014d adds

    Reader note

    A story of marriage of convenience that blossoms into love, perfectly fitting the criteria. The writing is rich, the theme is clear, and the plot is deeply moving—a super enjoyable book.

36. 36 厉 President Li, Your Wife Doesn’t Deserve to Die 厉总，夫人她罪不至死 The Music Never Ceases笙笙不息Modern Romance3.4M WordsCompleted Shen Zhichu had given him her whole heart for sixteen years, only to be told to leave with nothing, just so he could make room for the woman he had always loved. Li Jingshen thought he would be happy once that woman was gone, until he received her diagnosis... He rushed over in a panic, only to find her holding someone else’s hand. “Why didn’t you tell me you had stomach cancer?” “Weren’t you hoping I’d die sooner?” Shen Zhichu laughed scornfully. “Li Jingshen, I don’t want to spend the last of 8.9kReads8.7Score1.8k14d adds
37. 37 如 If I’d Never Loved You 如果从没爱过你 Qi Lao You淇老游Modern Romance76k WordsCompleted For three years, despite bearing the weight of everyone’s scorn, Yan Xiaoan did only one thing: no matter what the outside world said, she loved a man named Lu Yun Zhan with unwavering devotion every single day. She loved him too deeply, yet she knew she was close to breaking. In the end, Lu Yun Zhan fell in love with the woman he had always looked down on, and bowed his proud head for her. 1.6kReads8.8Score10114d adds
38. 38 闪 Married at First Sight! The Abstinent Qi’s Precious Sweetheart Is Impossible to Handle 闪婚！禁欲祁少的心尖宠她太难哄 Yi Yuetang以月棠Modern Romance225k WordsCompleted [Quirky, Contrasting Beauty Jiang Hanzhi x CEO Who Says One Thing and Means Another, Tsundere Qi He + Transmigrate into a Book + Lighthearted + Marriage First, Love Later + Flash Marriage + Both Leads Are Chaste + Sweet HE] Jiang Hanzhi: “Holy crap, I never would’ve guessed that staying up all night reading novels and shipping couples would make me pass out and transmigrate into a book...” Her stepmother, looking guilty: “Go get ready to marry. You’ll be Mrs. Qi and live a life of luxury in the 15Reads8.2Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The book lives up to its title! [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration] Both leads are virgins! [Admiration] I love the male lead's unexpected charm; I love the jealousy scenes, even though I'm a country bumpkin! [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration] The female lead is neither brainless nor a saint! [Admiration] She's quirky and clever! [Admiration] I hope the author writes more! 🚗🚗

39. 39 七 The Country Girl from the 1970s Travels to the Modern Era 七零土妞通现代 Sweet Potato Lover烤地瓜的瓜Modern Romance801k WordsCompleted [1970s + traveling back and forth to the modern era + marriage before love + both leads are virgins + feel-good power fantasy] As a village girl born and raised in the 1970s, Lü Caiwei took shelter from the rain in a mountain temple and transmigrated to a prosperous era. From then on, she began traveling back and forth every day between 1976 and 2023. The villagers said she had narrow hips and couldn’t bear sons, so no one would marry her. She promptly married a handsome young man who was blind, 6Reads7.5Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A lighthearted and humorous period drama. The female lead, though a native of the 1970s, is incredibly shrewd. She travels back and forth between 1976 and 2023, making a fortune by trading goods. There are few awful characters, and there's a blind male lead. It's an arranged marriage that blossoms into love. [Heart][heart][heart][heart]

40. 40 先 Married First, Love Later: The Passionate Soldier Devotes Himself to Her Alone 先婚后爱，烈爱兵锋独宠她一人 Old Zhu老朱Urban1.8M WordsCompleted [Top-Tier Wealthy Family + Both Leads Are Inexperienced + Marriage First, Love Later + Intense Push and Pull + Ruthless and Decisive] What Qin Huanhuan regrets most is giving herself to Xiao Zhan when she was left with no other choice. They spent one night together, each getting what they wanted. She thought they would never have anything to do with each other again, but fate brought them together once more. One wants money, the other craves beauty, and so the two become entangled again. Their r 12.1kReads8.1Score1.5k14d adds
41. 41 先 Love After Marriage: A Different Way to Meet 先婚后爱换种方式遇见 One Person, One Pen, One Book, One World一人一笔一书一世界Modern Romance157k WordsCompleted [Blind Date and Whirlwind Marriage + Love After Marriage + The Husband’s Long Road to Redemption] “How much longer are we supposed to put up with this?” Shen Chen’an says on their wedding night, dead drunk. Zhao Chuning can’t tell whether the words are his honest feelings slipping out or just drunken nonsense. Then, before going to sleep, he says, “Let’s just live like this from now on.” Zhao Chuning is even more baffled. After that, Shen Chen’an leaves early and comes home late every day, but n 4Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    On their wedding night, the husband slept in the study, and the wife assumed he was drunk, but it turned out he had never touched her. Yet, in daily life, he was considerate and caring towards her, even though he could be a bit sarcastic, he meticulously looked after her when she was sick. What could be the reason for this? This was the "answer" the wife had been searching for.

42. 42 军 The Warlord's Cherished Bride: Marshal, Come Here! 军阀权宠：大帅，你过来！ Fan Sheng梵升Modern Romance708k WordsCompleted [The short drama of the same name, The Marshal, Come Here, is now streaming] In the years of the Republic, war and chaos swept the land, and each warlord ruled his own territory. The day Su City fell, Qiao Wan was treated like a piece of cargo and offered to the new ruler of the three northwestern provinces. They said Ninth Master Ji was cold-blooded and ruthless, and that he had caused the deaths of three wives. He was a man cursed by fate. Ji Shiyan strolled out from beneath the hanging-flower 9kReads9.4Score94714d adds

    Reader note

    A super sweet story of marriage before love. Absolutely fantastic! Definitely worth watching. Highly recommended.

43. 43 重 The Reborn Jiang Shao’s Unforgettable First Love 重生偏执江少的白月光 Baby Ditou呆头宝宝Modern Romance524k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance + Healing + Obsessive Love] She was the goddess everyone admired. He was the gloomy boy everyone avoided. She was a wealthy heiress. He was a penniless orphan. She was sunny and gentle. He was dark and obsessive. He lived in a mire, while she lived like a fairy, cherished by everyone around her. Jiang Yan never imagined that the girl everyone thought was impossibly out of his league would come to him with all the warmth in the world. She gave him everything she had and spoiled him 9.9kReads9.4Score1.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is good.

44. 44 救 Help! Why Is the CEO Hell-Bent on Claiming Me? 救命！霸总为何誓死强取我 Donglin Qin Yin东林琴音Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Jealous genius CEO × everyone’s favorite lucky heroine + one-on-one, both chaste / love after marriage / contract / sweet romance] Also known as “I Suddenly Got Rich and the CEO Won’t Stop Clinging to Me and Spoiling Me” In the age of artificial intelligence, AI legislation is still incomplete, yet people are mysteriously disappearing. Qin Ningxiang makes a lot of money with AI, then suddenly disappears from her original space. When she wakes up, she has eaten the System from the start and fall 19Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I highly recommend this novel about a marriage of convenience that blossoms into love. It features a wealthy CEO who initially falls for the female lead at first sight but is initially tsundere, arrogant, and sharp-tongued. However, he grows increasingly fond of her. The interactions between the leads are engaging, the premise is novel, and the significant age gap between the male and female leads, along with the male lead's pure heart and the female lead's adorable and slightly naive personality, makes it incredibly captivating.

45. 45 离 After the Divorce, I Cuddled Up to My Ex-Husband 离婚后在前夫的怀里撒个娇 Momo321陌陌321Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted Yun Su had secretly loved Xu Zhouyuan for seven years. Then, by a twist of fate, she became Mrs. Xu, and everyone mocked her for reaching above her station, saying a country bumpkin had somehow turned into a phoenix. But she didn’t care. All that mattered was that Xu Zhouyuan was finally hers. When Yun Su first married Xu Zhouyuan, she thought it didn’t matter that he didn’t love her. He would love her eventually. But Xu Zhouyuan had no heart, and that made it pointless. She was rich, beautiful, 617Reads8.5Score10314d adds

    Reader note

    He thought the divorce was just a ploy on her part, but he never imagined she really wanted to cut ties with him. Watch how this stubborn, clueless guy embarks on his journey to win back his wife.

46. 46 落 Falling into the Heart 落心尖 Moonlight Lane, Seven Li Long月亮七里巷Modern Romance261k WordsOngoing [Sweet, playful photographer]× [Charming, devoted playboy] (Modern wealthy families, both leads are each other's first, sweet romance, a little angst, marriage before love, love growing over time, secret crush, happy ending) Two people who should never have crossed paths become husband and wife because of an accident. One is a playboy adored by everyone, seemingly carefree but actually loyal and deeply devoted. The other is a well-behaved, gentle girl who seems sheltered and naive to everyone, b 4Reads6.8Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is great, it's really good! [Licking screen]

47. 47 吻 Addicted to Kissing You 吻你上瘾 Xiang Jin向锦Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Both are devoted only to each other + marriage first, love later + adorable baby + husband pursues his wife after losing her + ten-year age gap; Their marriage was arranged by contract. Her job was to continue the Zhan family line, but after the wedding, he refused to touch her. How could one person have a baby alone? She had no choice but to throw herself at him and seduce him~ Zhan Lie never expected to become addicted to this little woman after he got a taste of intimacy... - Later, Zhan Lie' 105Reads8.6Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I recommend two of my books, both are arranged marriages that blossom into love, with both sweet and angsty moments. In both, the male lead falls in love first, while the female lead remains clear-headed. There are plenty of sweet and embarrassing moments, making your heart race and your hearts flutter. Everyone is welcome to check them out! [Please follow][Heart][Shy] Please add to your favorites and urge me to update! [Laughing]

48. 48 甜 Sweet and Spicy! After Our Flash Marriage, the Abstinent Tycoon Holds Me by the Waist 甜欲！闪婚后我被禁欲大佬掐腰宠 Xiang Jin向锦Modern Romance198k WordsOngoing Forced into marriage by her mother, Wen Ying doesn't want to become a baby-making machine for a wealthy family. Instead, she impulsively marries a disabled man with a five-year-old son. The man says, “I just want to find my son a mother. I won't fall in love with you.” Wen Ying says, “I don't need love. Just don't force me to have a baby.” - After the wedding, everyone laughs at her for becoming a stepmother. Her husband is poor and disabled, and she's doomed to a lonely life at such a young age —Reads—Score114d adds
49. 49 病 The Sickly Young Marshal's Wife Is a Fierce Goddess of War, So Don't Mess with Her 病娇少帅的护国战神娇妻很凶勿惹 Yao Minxi瑶皿夕Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Period setting + Strong female lead + Transmigration + Devoted couple with no past lovers + Happy ending + Wife-spoiling + Multiple couples] After transmigrating to the Republic of China era, Qin Wan goes from being a military doctor for hire in the twenty-first century to Qin Wanwan, the famously foolish girl of Yancheng. To avoid being branded a monster, she has to keep pretending to be foolish. But there's always someone foolish enough to think she's really stupid and try to frame her. Once 2.7kReads9.2Score55914d adds

    Reader note

    (●—●)( ｰ̀εｰ́ )

50. 50 资 The Capitalist Heiress and the Mute's Heartbreaking Romance in the 1970s 资本家大小姐和小哑巴的七零虐恋 Gu Yin En顾寅恩Modern Romance202k WordsCompleted [Period setting + BE + a widowed wife's memoir + a cool, powerful heiress from a capitalist family + a lovesick, mute country boy + sweet at first, slightly angsty later] [Also known as: When the Years Were Kind] Qu Bailu had been a pampered heiress for twenty years. Then disaster struck, and she had no choice but to go to the countryside as an educated youth. Perhaps she'd used up all her luck in those first twenty years, because one misfortune followed another. She could endure the cold stares 582Reads8.2Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I'm so sad! [Crying] This is the first time I've read such a heart-wrenching period drama. It's a memoir by a deceased wife. What a wonderful couple, Zhenzhen and Qingya. The male lead searched for the female lead for over ten years, never believing that he had been abandoned by her.

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