Looking for Angst So Painful It Makes You Want to Die. No Sweet Moments at All, and a Tragic Ending! Please! 要虐到想死的虐文，要全程无甜，结局也悲惨！求！

1. 201 晚 Goodnight, Little Caterpillar 晚安毛毛虫 Dream Doll梦娃娃Modern Romance107k WordsCompleted A tragic romance with sweetness first, then heartbreak. Read with caution. She gets a message saying her husband is having sex with a young woman. She storms into the hotel, beats up the mistress, then beats up her husband. In her fury, she suffers a miscarriage too. After enduring the pain of losing her child, she asks for a divorce and threatens to hurt herself if he refuses. After they divorce, the second male lead, who has remained faithful to her for twenty years, launches his pursuit, whil 1Reads—Score—14d adds
2. 202 人 Life Is About Doing Your Best 人生啊，尽力就好 Su Chenyan苏晨宴Urban106k WordsOngoing An original story, adapted from real life. Minors, please don't send tips. If something is wrong, speak up. Don't face it alone! I'll always be here! A gentle reminder: the author is a student, so updates are limited to weekends and school holidays. This book is oppressive, dark, suffocating, and realistic, and contains some tragic elements. (I guess some of you will be drawn in by the words "two male leads"...) If you can't handle it, please leave of your own accord. I'm a new author, and my wr 53Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Who would dare to put a line in their description that says it's based on a true story?

3. 203 涅 Nirvana: Journey to the Isle in the River 涅槃：走向在河之洲 No Idea What to Call Myself不晓得叫啥名Modern Romance731k WordsCompleted (An interschool secret-crush story. Come see whether it’s to your taste.) Is it a crime to love Shen Tingzhou? Why did this sincere secret crush become a joke? Is it a crime to want to become a better person? Why have all my efforts been in vain? Is it a crime to long for someone’s true affection? Why do those smiles conceal betrayal and scheming, again and again? Yes, she is guilty. From the moment she bubbled in the wrong answer on her test sheet, she was already beyond forgiveness. 14Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   The whole thing is a knife [crying]

4. 204 莫 Don't Look Back, or You'll See Your Grave 莫回头，回头见坟头 The Tree That Wants to Fly要飞天的树Ancient Romance11k WordsCompleted Don't Look Back, or You'll See Your Grave 29Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Let's take a look at be

5. 205 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
6. 206 爱 After His Lover Died, the Fu Corporation’s CEO Went Mad 爱人去世后，傅氏总裁疯了 Crispy Peach Sniper脆桃狙击9k WordsCompleted After His Beloved Died, the Fu Corporation’s CEO Went Mad 4Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Only the extra chapters are not angsty.

7. 207 动 Mending Bones, Restoring Love 动骨恢情 Chu Linmu楚林木Modern Romance1.5M WordsOngoing [Face-slapping + scumbag takedown + a little angst with sweetness + humor + souls swapped between a man and a woman + down-to-earth and relatable + ordinary people with great wisdom + wealthy families + workplace business battles + youthful, sweet romance. Impossible to put down!] The years pass peacefully. Everyone has a first love in their heart, but not everyone can have a Jiang Miao Jie in theirs! In her previous life, Lin Muzi was robbed of her destined match, missed out on her dream guy, f 132Reads9.4Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   A love so deep it's almost painful

8. 208 她 She Insists the Child Is His 她非说孩子是他的 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊Marriage & Romance12k WordsCompleted She Insists the Child Is His 145Reads—Score314d adds

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   [Family Matters, Family Ethics, DNA Testing, Blood Oath] She cut her finger and wrote a blood oath at the Liu family ancestral hall, swearing she had never cheated. A paternity test, however, proved her wrong. She claimed she conceived at a public bathhouse and sued the owner for 200,000 yuan. She lost the case and moved in with a man, stubbornly insisting the paternity test was inaccurate. Until irrefutable evidence confronted her—the child's biological father was that man. She still clung to the belief: "Looking alike is just a coincidence."

9. 209 缩 A Miniature Version of Him Calls Out “Daddy” in a Baby Voice 缩小版的他，奶声奶气喊爸爸 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊29k WordsCompleted A Miniature Version of Him Calls Out to Daddy in a Babyish Voice 810Reads—Score—14d adds
10. 210 谁 Whoever Goes Back on Their Word Is a Dog 谁反悔谁是狗 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊35k WordsCompleted Whoever Goes Back on Their Word Is a Dog 4.7kReads—Score—14d adds
11. 211 我 My Brother Keeps Falling for It Again and Again 我哥他又双叒叕真香了 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊36k WordsCompleted My Brother Has Fallen for It Again and Again 1.2kReads—Score1914d adds
12. 212 离 After the Divorce, My Ex-Husband Is as Merciless as a Blade 离婚后，前夫他绝情似刀 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊8k WordsCompleted After the Divorce, My Ex-Husband Was as Ruthless as a Blade 1.8kReads—Score1814d adds
13. 213 前 My Ex-Husband Begged Me on His Knees Not to Leave 前夫跪着求我别走 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊17k WordsCompleted My Ex-Husband Knelt and Begged Me Not to Leave 199Reads—Score—14d adds
14. 214 他 He Made a Wish 他许了 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊Historical17k WordsCompleted He Made a Wish 903Reads—Score614d adds
15. 215 追 Eight Years of Chasing You: Please Sign Here 追妻八年，请签收 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊30k WordsCompleted Chasing My Wife for Eight Years: Please Sign Here 1.6kReads—Score—14d adds
16. 216 姐 I’m Done Putting Up with You, Sis 姐姐不奉陪了 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊Marriage & Romance20k WordsCompleted I’m Done Putting Up With You, Sister 175Reads—Score—14d adds
17. 217 复 Remarry? Maybe in My Next Life 复婚？下辈子吧 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊Marriage & Romance14k WordsCompleted Remarry? Maybe in Your Next Life 358Reads—Score714d adds
18. 218 他 He Said I Was Pure 他说我很干净 Ten Thousand Gu万蛊Marriage & Romance26k WordsCompleted He Said I Was Pure 276Reads—Score—14d adds
19. 219 拿 You Treat My Mother-in-Law Like She’s Nothing? I’ll Make You Get Lost 拿丈母娘不当妈，我让他滚蛋 Mulan Says木兰说Modern Romance231k WordsCompleted He called her "mother-in-law" at every turn, and she thought he treated her mother so well. She never imagined that in private he called her mother a country bumpkin and ordered her around. If Ye Ya had come home any later from work, she would have missed the sight of her mother kneeling before that scumbag. He dared treat his mother-in-law like she wasn't family? Then he could get lost. Ye Ya took her mother away in the middle of the night, but they were in a car accident, and her mother died. 43Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I'm shamelessly recommending this!

20. 220 我 Will I Still Be Waiting for You on Your Birthday? 我还会等到你的生日吗 Master of the BE Aesthetic掌管BE美学6k WordsCompleted Will I Still Be Waiting for You on Your Birthday? 6Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is my first angst novel, please take a look, I'm begging you! [Crying]

21. 221 栖 The Moon as Her Prison: The Tyrant's Empress Seeks Redemption 栖月为牢：暴君的赎罪皇后 Nectarine Pit油桃籽Ancient Romance136k WordsCompleted [Captivity + Tortured Romance + Forced Love + Two Male Leads + Intense Push and Pull + Historical Court Intrigue] Pei Xiyue, the Ninth Princess of the Zhongshu Kingdom, uses her peerless beauty as bait to gnaw away at the realm of Xiling. With whispered words at her lover's bedside, she pushes for the Moon-Dwelling Terrace, a project that drains the treasury. Through glistening tears, she stokes suspicion between ruler and ministers and turns brothers against each other. But she, too, is falling 80Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The new emperor cut off all her escape routes, demanding she spend the rest of her life repaying for her past. This imprisonment in the name of love was the blade of hatred, but also the clumsy tenderness he had hidden for half his life.

22. 222 我 I Was Reborn, and This Time I'm Going on a Rampage 我重生了，这一世我嘎嘎乱杀 Cang Yuesheng仓月生Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted In my past life, I was schemed against and killed by Bai Lianhua and Liu Ruyan! This time, I'll send every one of the people who hurt me straight to hell! Seeing them hate me to the bone yet be powerless to do anything about it is so satisfying! This time, let me weave the path that sends you all to hell! I'm the head of the Wen family business. Watch me put men aside and focus on my career. I'm the leading lady of my own story! I just love building my business! When I try to put men aside, they 1.9kReads9.4Score19314d adds

    Reader note

    It's great that both the male and female leads are doing this for the first time! [Thumbs up][Heart]

23. 223 绝 The Stunning Supermodel's Forceful Love 绝美超模强制爱 Riding the Wind and Waves乘风乘水Modern Romance325k WordsCompleted [Coercive love + controlling behavior + conspiracy and romance] Wang Yijin is an orphan. At ten, she is adopted by the wealthy Xi family, a powerful family in the capital. She spends her days caring for their young master, Xi Lier, who suffers from anger issues and depression. Xi Lier’s love for Wang Yijin suffocates her, and she does everything she can to escape the Xi family. When she grows up, she reunites with Luo Jiaye, who was also an orphan as a child, and falls in love with him. After a 1.2kReads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is absolutely amazing! If you don't like it, scold me! In this story, the male lead falls in love with the female lead at first sight, but she doesn't reciprocate and marries someone else. He then seduces her husband, and she runs away with him. He doesn't let her go, though, and later imprisons her. It's almost over (Ò ‸ Ó||).

24. 224 堕 Fallen into the Abyss, Unaware of the Pain of Parting 堕渊不谙离恨苦 Luo Li Nan Wei洛璃楠微Eastern Fantasy161k WordsCompleted [Two Male Leads] [Both Powerful] [Xianxia] [Some Angst] [Pursuing His Lover After Losing Him] [Reconciliation and a Happy Ending] An unpredictable, deranged Venerable Lord x a gentle, refined young master Mu Mianchen wanted to honor his engagement and help his junior sister, so he went to the Demon Realm, hoping to make his death seem justified. But Liu Cheny you did not kill him. Instead, he refined him into a puppet. Controlled in the Realm of Rebirth, Mu Mianchen was made to seize a sword. 706Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    He's a slasher, abusive text, a slasher, a little madman, hehehehe.

25. 225 威 After Threatening Them, I Got Hypnotized Instead 威胁她们之后反被催眠 I Like the Son of Heaven Best最喜欢天子了Urban470k WordsOngoing Jiang Qi has a face nobody can forget, but no one knows that it’s his only asset. His father is a gambling addict, and his mother remarried long ago. Since childhood, he has had to navigate his way among wealthy girls just to scrape together enough for tuition and meals. Jiang Qi hates himself for living this way, but he has no choice. Until his father sold their only home. Qin Zhaoyue, who bought the house, joked that Jiang Qi could pay the rent with his body. With nowhere else to go, Jiang 2kReads6.4Score10214d adds

    Reader note

    They're here!!!

26. 226 情 Deep in Love, Yet Unaware 情深且不知 Fusu扶苏Ancient Romance21k WordsCompleted [Tragic Romance] He was the man who killed my father, and I hated him with all my heart. In the end, I discovered I had hated the wrong person. The daughter of a bandit chief happened to save a scholar, and from then on, she gave him her heart. But her wedding night became the night her family was slaughtered. Her beloved, once the person closest to her, had become her father's killer! He was an emperor, cold and indifferent. He unexpectedly fell in love with her, yet could only push her further 67Reads7.8Score514d adds

    Reader note

    These ancient romance novels with their tragic elements are heartbreaking to read.

27. 227 西 Spring Grief in the Western Palace: Whose Heart Has Fate’s Splendor Left Cold? 西宫春怨：命途繁锦冷了谁人心 Fu Su, Wen Leng扶酥、问冷Ancient Romance74k WordsCompleted The sorrowful women who emerged from behind the beaded curtains wept for all they longed for but could never have, all they begged for but could never reach. Their tears smudged their makeup and aged their faces. Year after year, their silk brocades faded, until they hardened like cocoons and their hearts turned to ash… The palace walls were red, richer than the last glow of sunset. Deep courtyards could never lock away the breeze from a maiden’s round fan. Women carried so much sorrow. Beneath 35Reads—Score—14d adds
28. 228 红 The Lotus Fragrance Fades in Autumn 1 红藕香残玉簟秋1 Jenny the Brutal Hammer暴锤者珍妮Ancient Romance124k WordsCompleted [Addictive sweet-and-angsty historical romance + political intrigue + dramatic twists + an emperor’s love + past and present lives + mad, devoted hero] Yuan Jiu was born in the Heavenly Prison and has been plagued by nightmares since birth. In her dreams, there is always a dashing young man racing through a raging inferno. He gallops toward her, murderous intent surging from him, and a three-foot sword pierces her chest. She has died countless times in her dreams, yet she has never been able to 111Reads7.9Score—14d adds
29. 229 拿 Loving You with My Life: 20 Fated Romances That Break Your Heart 拿命爱你：20段痛到心碎的宿命虐恋 Moss on Green Tiles青瓦苔Ancient Romance157k WordsCompleted [Love and hate intertwined + beautiful yet tragic heroine + palace intrigue + historical romance + heart-wrenching love + short stories] The world turns and tumbles, while the histories of old hold up a mirror. So many beauties once had their hearts broken over a promise, only to become tragic ballads of a turbulent age. From Chen Ajiao, kept in a gilded cage, to the incomparable Xishi; from Wang Yourong, a wife who weathered hardship alongside her husband, to Feng Xiaolian, whose allure lasted 28Reads8.1Score—14d adds
30. 230 弃 The Tearless Orphan 弃儿无泪 Mu Feng Wuchen沐枫无尘Modern Romance154k WordsCompleted Abandoned by her family at birth, she was passed from place to place before being adopted by her current parents. Her adoptive mother, determined to support the household, always tries to control her life. Her future is in danger of being ruined, she has no say in whom she marries, and even after starting a family, she will still be under their control. Though she is only a little girl and has already reached the lowest point in her life, she possesses a powerful soul. See how she uses her unyie 50Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This is a work that's so abusive it's almost unbearable.

31. 231 弃 The Tearless Orphan II 弃儿无泪二 Mu Feng Wuchen, Branch Office沐枫无尘分号Modern Romance237k WordsCompleted From the day she was born, she was abandoned by her family. After many twists and turns, she was finally taken in with compassion by her current adoptive parents. But life still had no smiles for her. For the sake of the family’s livelihood, her adoptive mother often tried to set her life on a predetermined path. Trapped by layer upon layer of restrictions, her future seemed shrouded in gloom. She had no say in her marriage, and even after starting a family and building a career, she could not e 20Reads—Score—14d adds
32. 232 涅 Reborn From the Ashes, I’ve Returned to Settle Every Score 涅槃重生归来有仇报仇有怨报怨 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance627k WordsCompleted “Reborn after returning from Nirvana, she settles every score and repays every grievance. A bond from a past life becomes a fate in this one.” Eight hundred years ago, she and he vowed to be husband and wife in their next life, promising to love each other for all eternity. Centuries passed, the world changed, and the past faded like smoke. Eight hundred years later, she was reborn, but fate had other plans. It was as if she'd been born into the wrong family. Her father showed her no affection, 3.4kReads8.6Score22014d adds

    Reader note

    Losing his beloved from a past life, he turned white-haired overnight. "In this life, I clearly met her first, we clearly fell in love first, how could I have lost her?" Bai Jingxuan hated himself, pounding his head in frustration. Thinking of the loving moments they shared in both lives, the longing and pain of those two lifetimes intertwined, flowing like a river. He was heartbroken, his heart aching so much he could hardly breathe. Unable to suppress the overwhelming grief, he wept uncontrollably, his sobs echoing through the courtyard. The once dignified and refined young master Bai, unable to bear the blow of losing his beloved, turned white-haired overnight. He trudged through the snow-covered courtyard towards the gate, his robes fluttering, his silver hair flying, the snow swirling around him, as if he had become one with the icy landscape, indistinguishable from it. After leaving the mansion, he headed directly towards the Prince of An'nan's residence, An'nan silently following not far away.

33. 233 落 You Can't Bring Back a Runaway Bride 落跑娘子追不回 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance523k WordsCompleted I make my own fate, not heaven. She is no innocent little flower, no frail girl everyone can bully and trample on. If someone takes a swing at her or sets her up, she'll pay them back twice over. Su Wan, a merchant's daughter full of schemes, defies fate, plots her escape, and seeks refuge with one of the capital's most powerful families. Using their influence, she secures a good marriage prospect and gives her whole heart to her fiancé's family. But things don't go as planned. A spiteful woman 1.6kReads8.6Score10114d adds
34. 234 雪 Xue Wutong 雪梧桐 Xun Bai荀柏710k WordsCompleted [Republican-era ensemble cast + love of country + two powerful leads + older man/younger woman + sweet romance + pursuit of love + powerful man bows his head + heartbreaking angst + bad ending] In the Republican era, Nanjing was home to two renowned romantics. I do not believe in Buddha, but I would kneel at every temple in Nanjing if only Heaven would give me back my wife. Zhou Qingshi, courtesy name Changyu, was the eldest son and eldest grandson of the Zhou family, and ninth in birth order. 400Reads8.6Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    It was so brutally cruel, and the aftereffects were so strong.

35. 235 十 Ten Realms: I Was Ordinary 十界：我本平庸 Sanqi Confused Fish三七糊涂鱼Eastern Fantasy1.8M WordsOngoing (We are all ordinary people. Some say they don’t understand what I’m writing! The truth is, I simply want to tell the story of an ordinary person who keeps growing, improving, and learning. He feels lost and helpless, never knowing what to do. His life is full of stumbles, but through repeated setbacks and lessons, he slowly grows! Some people are born in Rome, while he is stuck in the mud. In Rome, it’s easy to cross the finish line. But there’s something all the more inspiring about perseverin 7.1kReads9.1Score59514d adds

    Reader note

    This world is secretly helping you write your unique fascination.

36. 236 京 The Tide Between Beijing and Hong Kong 京港澜渡 A Book Worth a Fortune一本千万利Modern Romance631k WordsOngoing [The rating just opened, slowly climbing] [Hong Kong old-money style vs. Beijing political circles] [Intrigue and covert battles among the wealthy] [High-IQ business and romance] [Slow burn, not a fast-paced power fantasy; feel free to skip chapters] Four pairs of hunters, four hunts. The rain pours over Hong Kong. Come enjoy a TVB-style romance, business-war, and suspense drama! Sweet nothings go beyond “Stay a little longer” and “I adore you” to include “I’m crazy about you.” Duplicity is the 8.5kReads8.9Score77514d adds
37. 237 我 I Really Don't Want to Be an Official 我真不想当官啊 Longevity Breeze长生风Two Female Leads577k WordsOngoing [Wuxia] [Three Female Leads] (The three female leads drive the main plot) [Two Female Leads] (The main romance) [Love Grows Over Time] [Light Fantasy] [Heavy Political Intrigue] [Light Harem Intrigue] Er Wuwen lost her memory in an accident. Afterward, all she wanted was to lie flat and live as a carefree slacker. But another accident pulled her into a struggle, setting her off on a journey to solve a case... She never expected to become a powerful enforcer for the imperial court. What should sh 335Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Hello everyone, I'd like to recommend this book. If you're interested in Tang Dynasty and martial arts novels, you might want to check it out. It features two female leads with minimal romance at the beginning; the focus is on solving cases. There are multiple couples, and it leans towards an ensemble cast, including a pairing of Wu Zetian and Li Zhi. The two main female leads are a traumatized, icy protagonist and a persistently pursuing, sunny one.

38. 238 豪 The Abandoned Heir of a Powerful Family: He Is Xingyu, She Is Qiu 豪门弃子之：他是星宇，她是秋 Clear and Shallow, Clear and Shallow清清浅浅清清浅Modern Romance544k WordsOngoing This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Pei Xingyu is the illegitimate son of Pei Changqing and a foreign model. His mother took the money and returned to her home country as soon as she gave birth, never appearing again. His father never took responsibility for him, leaving him to be raised by a nanny. He grew up facing discrimination and humiliation. His life was always surrounded by malice. The label “illegitimate son” clung to him li 54Reads8.8Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    It was almost unbearable, and the result wasn't happy!

39. 239 短 A Collection of Short Alternate-History Stories About the War of Resistance 短篇抗战历史架空脑洞合集 Is Life Like a Dream?人生如梦否Urban190k WordsOngoing Looking at the one devastating battle after another throughout history, I seem to see the unwillingness in the hearts of countless soldiers. I, too, feel that same indignation. Their spirit deserves to live on, and so, through one fictional short story after another, I will pass it down. These stories won’t always be feel-good tales. Some may be tragic, heartbreaking, or filled with regret... If you have a good story, feel free to share it with me. I’ll draw out its spirit and turn it into a new 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    During the War of Resistance Against Japan, it was all about knives, and the endings were all tragic.

40. 240 蝶 Butterfly Shadows Return to Dust: Sold into Prostitution by My Mother-in-Law, My Ex-Husband Searched for Me for Ten Years 蝶影归尘：被婆母卖入风尘，前夫寻了我整整十年 Ni Ah Ni Ge Ni氼啊氼个氼55k WordsCompleted The Butterfly’s Shadow Returns to Dust: Sold into a Life of Vice by My Mother-in-Law, My Ex-Husband Searched for Me for Ten Years 319Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    People often say that nine out of ten love stories during the Republic of China era ended in tragedy, and "Butterfly Shadow Returns to Dust" is the most heart-wrenching of those nineteen tragedies. The cruelest thing in this world is not the lack of love, but deep love, a mutual commitment, trapped by layers of chaos, misunderstanding, and fate. Lin Die'er's life was like a butterfly caught in the flames of war; she had a bright future, but was pushed down by the times. A prestigious family was her starting point, and desolation her end. She endured the confinement of a wealthy family, the humiliation of prostitution, and the life of a secret agent walking a tightrope, bearing all the hardships, yet unable to find even a sliver of fulfillment. Three men loved her year after year: one waited until old age, one protected her until the end, and one regretted it for the rest of his life. Three sincere and passionate loves filled her short and tragic life, yet none could shield her from the storms of life. The most poignant tragic core of the book: they were not wrong, the era was not wrong, fate was not wrong; they were simply born at the wrong time. A near miss of being together is a lifelong, unattainable dream; unspoken love is an epitaph buried in the mists of the Republic of China era. Like a butterfly returning to dust, with no future for the rest of their lives, this is a tragic fate that no one can rewrite.

41. 241 蝶 Butterfly Shadows Return to Dust: My Husband's Enemy Seizes Me by Force 蝶影归尘：丈夫的的仇人对我强娶豪夺 Ni Ah Ni Ge Ni氼啊氼个氼15k WordsCompleted Butterfly Shadows Return to Dust: My Husband's Enemy Forces Me into Marriage 24Reads—Score—14d adds

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    Write a book review from the perspective of Xiao Qihao, the villain in "Butterfly Shadow Returns to Dust," that strikes right at the heart. Title: The Pinnacle of Republican-Era Torture Romance: "Butterfly Shadow Returns to Dust" | "I ruined your life, yet I presumptuously thought I could atone for it with the rest of my life"—A Villain's Belated Confession. My name is Xiao Qihao. The illegitimate son of the Zhang family, Zhang Zhiming's half-brother. In this life, the person I envy most is my brother. He has a legitimate title, a wealthy family fortune, and that woman—Lin Die'er. I first saw her in the courtyard of the Zhang mansion. She stood among the flowers, turning her head to chat and laugh with the maid, her eyes full of innocent purity. At that moment, something inside me grew wildly—why? Why can Zhang Zhiming openly possess her? Why can I only hide in the shadows, like an ant that cannot see the light? I told myself: Since she doesn't love Zhang Zhiming, why can't I take her place? Once this thought took root, it could never be uprooted. Later, she became my prisoner. I confined her to the villa, tormenting her day and night. I grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up at me, and said, "From now on, you are mine." I showered her with kindness, making the villa exquisite and warm, gathering her favorite snacks and treasures, and learning to be gentle and accommodating. But she never looked at me directly. Her eyes were devoid of warmth, like a stagnant pool. I knew in my heart that she was just waiting for my brother to rescue her. But it didn't matter—as long as she was by my side, that was enough. She gave birth to a son for me. I was overjoyed, believing it to be our child. Holding that tiny infant, I felt for the first time that I had won against Zhang Zhiming. I publicly declared that the child was born to my concubine, Ping'er, completely erasing any connection between Die'er and the child. I thought this would keep her by my side forever. But I didn't know—the child wasn't mine. She gritted her teeth and survived, letting me raise the child for her and the one she truly loved for her entire life. Later, my mother secretly sold her to a brothel, and she disappeared without a trace. I searched frantically, scouring every street and alley, but I could never find her again. During that time, I became addicted to opium, living in a daze. At night, I would fall asleep with an empty feeling in my arms. I suddenly remembered those nights when she nestled against my chest, her brow furrowed, murmuring a name indistinctly in her dreams: "Zhiming..." It turned out that the name she called in my arms was always that of another man. It turned out that from beginning to end, I was just an outsider. Years later, I quit opium and made Ping'er my legal wife. I cherished the child named Yi'an, teaching him to read and write, to remember the importance of family and country. I poured all my guilt, indebtedness, and obsession into him. I believed until my death that he was my own flesh and blood. Until my trusted confidant brought news: Die'er was dead. She had taken a fatal bullet for someone while on a mission. The book slipped from my hands, and I froze on the spot. I searched for years, waited for years, and held onto this obsession for years, only to receive news of her death. I returned to my study, secluded myself for three days, refusing to eat or drink. In my hand, I clutched the gold butterfly hairpin she had left behind in the other courtyard—a piece my brother had commissioned for her. She took it with her, intending to use it to save the injured Zhiming if she encountered him on the road. Who knew she would never return to his side. I remembered that night, her face streaked with tears as she said to me, in a fit of rage: "I'm nothing but your trophy." At that moment, I finally understood. I had professed my love for her, yet I had destroyed her with the most despicable means. I had treated her as a trophy, a tool for revenge against Zhang Zhiming. But did I truly not love her? "Butterfly, I love you. Because you are you, not some trophy." Sadly, she would never hear those words again. I poured all my guilt and longing for her into the front lines of the war. Boxes of medicine, cartloads of food, and cotton-padded clothes. I don't want to be a hero. I just want to repay what I owe her, what I owe Zhang Zhiming, and what I owe that child in this way. Even if it's never enough. In this life, I thought I was a plunderer. In the end, I realized that I was the one who had nothing. She never belonged to me, the child never belonged to me, and even the time I thought I possessed was a self-deceiving illusion. I am Xiao Qihao. [Almost crying][crying][Almost crying] The villain who used every despicable means to imprison her, and ultimately spent the rest of his life repenting. This is my story. Human romance cannot wait for a long-lasting union; the butterfly's shadow returns to dust, with no return to be awaited. The end, leaving me with a heavy heart.

42. 242 恰 Just Like Your Sorrow 恰似你的忧伤 Fish Lantern Su鱼灯苏Modern Romance55k WordsCompleted Much Like Your Sorrow 14Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I cried so much after reading the ending… When longing becomes an incurable disease, when the time we didn't have time to settle becomes the past, a specimen, after you left, my right hand will ache from time to time, a dull pain, just like your brightness, just like your sorrow. [Already added to my wishlist][Crying][Masterpiece by Sparrow][Added to my bookshelf]

43. 243 送 A Little Red Flower for You 送你一朵小红花 Fish Lantern Su鱼灯苏13k WordsCompleted A Little Red Flower for You 20Reads—Score—14d adds
44. 244 歌 The Song Never Became a Hill 歌未成丘 Twenty Pieces of Moonlight贰拾碎月Modern Romance240k WordsOngoing “Little girl, don’t touch that vinyl. Li Zongsheng will cry.” When Lu Chenzhou took the album The Elves in My Life from her hands, the scent of pinewood at his cuff mingled with the smell of medicine. The twenty-five-year age gap was an uncrossable chasm. He taught her how to brew tea: “Love is like pu’er. The third steep is when the true flavor comes out.” But on the night he coughed up blood, she kissed his cool lips. “What if there’s only one steep left?” The night they eloped, an old-fashion —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Finally calming down, he grabbed Aunt Lin's hand, his fingers icy cold and gripping tightly, his eyes filled with an almost desperate plea: "Aunt Lin, promise me! You absolutely can't let her know! Let her think... Think it was just a normal getaway! Please!" Aunt Lin saw this expression on the face of someone who never easily showed weakness, and her heart ached. She could only nod desperately through her tears: "I promise you... Sir... I promise you..." He seemed to have all his strength drained away, collapsing into the chair, murmuring, "That's good... That's good..." Lu Chenzhou murmured, "Whether it's being bewitched or a predestined fate from a past life... This is the last time, for you, or for me, a perfect ending."

45. 245 樊 Dawn Within the Cage 樊笼内的破晓 Old Qinggan老青柑Modern Romance350k WordsCompleted Some people are born trapped in a cage. Invisible barriers, woven from the soil of one’s upbringing, the path laid out in advance, the constraints of one’s surroundings, the cocoon of one’s perceptions, and the shackles of morality, build a cold, solid cage that holds her captive. She is raised within it, as if this were all life could ever be. If she does not awaken, if she does not save herself, the ending is clear: the cage will silently devour her, and she will vanish in a slow death. Yet de 3Reads9.3Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Recommended angst-filled novels, truly captivating.

46. 246 悲 Will History Repeat Itself? No, This Time I’ll Restore My Kingdom 悲剧重演？不，我这次一定要复国 Wood, Sprawling Everywhere漫天遍野的伍德Male-Channel Fanfiction507k WordsCompleted This novel tells the story of Murong Fu transmigrating to different worlds to accomplish his mission of restoring his kingdom. The first world so far: Murong Fu transmigrates into Viserys III Targaryen, the beggar king! The second series features the Eighth Prince in the world of Yongzheng. 1.6kReads8.0Score10114d adds

    Reader note

    Bad teeth, no sweets

47. 247 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

    Reader note

    These three books are pretty good.

48. 248 霸 The Overbearing CEO Secretly Fell in Love with Me 霸道总裁偷偷爱上我 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance253k WordsCompleted Lin Yufeng is a stern, domineering CEO with striking good looks. He deeply resents the marriage his parents arranged for him when he was young, and repeatedly refuses to meet the girl he is betrothed to. Li Xinrui, meanwhile, is a renowned British designer, blessed with both talent and beauty. By a twist of fate, the two meet, and Lin Yufeng is captivated by her looks and talent, launching an all-out pursuit. To his surprise, he eventually discovers that she is the very woman whose arranged marr 78Reads—Score414d adds
49. 249 越 The More Off-Roading, the More Addictive It Gets 越野越上瘾 A Passing Guest in the Flow of Time往事流年稍作客Ancient Romance111k WordsOngoing ◆ Powerful leads tame each other ◆ Obsessive Emperor × Proud, Defiant Princess ◆ Explosive revenge plot ◆ A tragic romance that lasts until death ◆ “You once shackled me. Now I’ll repay you by turning your empire into a cage.” “Ye Huang, the wilder you get, the more addictive it becomes. This time, I’ll play along with you all the way to the depths of hell.” She was Liang’s most bewitching and unruly Ninth Princess, Helian Ye Huang. Three hundred li beyond the capital stood the royal hunting gro 1Reads6.4Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    [Learned it][Learned it][Learned it][Makes a funny face]

50. 250 囚 Imprisoned in Snow: Begging Her to Take Me In 囚雪：求她入怀 The Magic of Roses蔷薇的魔法Modern Romance425k WordsCompleted Just launched, so the rating will gradually rise over time. A wild, unconventional plot. Dive in without worry. [Unhinged brothers × forced love × a cutthroat rivalry for her affection] Xue’er’s whole life has been trapped in an invisible cage, with nowhere to run. Her life was bleak. She met Chen Guolun and gave him her whole heart, only to become entangled in misunderstandings, schemes, and the cruel twists of fate, suffering through love. Lin Haoting is an utterly obsessive madman. Domineerin 14Reads7.3Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    It's primarily emotionally intense, not physically demanding, but it is definitely quite intense, involving extreme strain.

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