I've Never Finished a Novel. Please Recommend One 本人至今没读完过一本小说，望推荐

1. 1 双 A Love Between Two Worlds: Dreams and Reality 双面情缘：梦境与现实 Wang Erge王二鸽12k WordsCompleted A Double-Sided Romance: Between Dreams and Reality —Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   You won't know the ending until you see the final result.

2. 2 十EN Ten Days to the End 十日终焉 Pest Control Team Member杀虫队队员Mystery3.2M WordsCompleted 2024 Tomato Novel Annual Peak Rankings TOP 1 | 2024 China Online Literature Influence List | 2024 China Good Novel Award | Over 2 million copies sold (No harem, no formulaic tropes, no invincibility, no System, no mindless antics, no wish fulfillment. Read with caution if these bother you.) Just when I thought it was an ordinary day, I discovered I had been captured and taken to the End. Just when I thought I could escape by continually taking part in death games, people began awakening supernat 1.7MReads9.9Score206.4k14d adds
3. 3 传EN Legend Management Bureau 传说管理局 Pest Control Team Member杀虫队队员Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsCompleted (No harem, no formulaic plot, no invincibility, no System, no brainless decisions, and no wish fulfillment. Read with caution if any of that bothers you.) Du Yu dies an untimely death right at the beginning of the story. Hoping to secure a better spot in his next life, he takes a job with the Bureau of Legendary Tales. His job is to return to legends that have gone off course and put their plots back on track. He never expected that the first mission assigned to an ordinary mortal like him would 168.1kReads9.6Score21.5k14d adds
4. 4 致 Fatal Game: Two Reborn Lives 致命游戏之双重生 Qiu Yiran秋意然Two Male Leads821k WordsCompleted A fanfiction based on the TV series The Fatal Game (Written in a burst of inspiration. OOC warning. There are plenty of shortcomings, but it’s complete and can’t be changed. I couldn’t have finished it without the support, understanding, and encouragement of all the fans who love The Fatal Game and Lan Jiu. My heartfelt thanks and love to you all.) Because of a virtual game, Ling Jiushi is pulled into a strange and terrifying game world. At the brink of life and death, he meets a captivatingly b 998Reads9.4Score10114d adds

   Reader note

   I haven't finished reading the others yet; you can find some interesting ones on my bookshelf. [Laughs]

5. 5 穿 Transmigrating to Republican-Era China: The Spy Enters the Game 穿越民国：谍影入局 One Little Orange一只橙橙橙子Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted Transmigration to the Republic of China era + resistance-war espionage + multiple identities + spies within spies + mutual devotion (Main story complete, bonus chapters in progress) One day, Lin Ruotang suddenly transmigrated to the Republic of China era. She wasn’t a young lady from a wealthy family, a concubine, or a schoolgirl. She was a refugee who had nearly starved to death. She had barely transmigrated before she was on the brink of starvation. Luckily, a kind stranger gave her a sesame f 23.5kReads9.2Score2.6k14d adds
6. 6 穿 After I Transmigrated into a Book, I Made a Mystery Variety Show a Hit 穿书后解谜综艺因我爆红了 Willow Branch杨柳枝Modern Romance436k WordsCompleted [Entertainment industry] [No romance] [Career and friendship] [A spin-off inspired by Who's the Murderer] Luan Yan had struggled her way through the entertainment industry until she was twenty-eight, when her acting finally won her the Best Actress award at the Baiyu Awards. But as she was accepting it, the crystal chandelier above her fell for some reason and smashed her into a book written by one of her haters. Remembering the miserable fate awaiting her in the book, where her rival had left h 211Reads8.4Score—14d adds
7. 7 成 After Becoming the Yongzheng Emperor, I Chose to Win by Doing Nothing 成为雍正后，我选择躺赢 Yin Binger音冰儿Female-Channel Fanfiction296k WordsCompleted [Woman transmigrates into a man / No CP / Infrastructure and revolution / Beloved chubby orange cat, female version] Transmigrated into Empresses in the Palace, but as Yongzheng. A modern woman's soul, who's watched Empresses in the Palace, takes over the Fourth Master. She's not afraid of a thing. Wait, real history is mixed in too? The Fourth Master jumps up and drags out the Nine Princes: "Wake up! Get out here and get to work! What is there to fear? The West is already having an Industrial R 1.7kReads8.9Score10614d adds
8. 8 末 The Apocalyptic Villainess Blushes and Gets Flustered Every Day as the Male Lead Flirts with Her 末世女配每天被男主撩到脸红心跳 My Heart Is Free我心自由Sci-Fi & Apocalypse116k WordsCompleted [Apocalypse + Pocket Dimension + Hoarding Supplies + Soft and Sweet Heroine + Not a Strong Female Lead] Lin Luo opens her eyes and finds herself transmigrated into an apocalyptic novel as the vicious supporting female character, whose fate is tragic. With a face that beautiful, why fall for anyone at all, let alone that cold-hearted male lead? Lin Luo resolves to stay away from the leads, but fate has other plans. She runs into the male lead before the apocalypse, and from then on he has his eye 25.2kReads8.5Score2.3k14d adds
9. 9 末 Apocalypse: I’m Just a Cannon Fodder, So What If I’m a Little Bad? 末世：我一个炮灰，坏一点怎么了 Mu Zhizhi木枳枳Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.1M WordsCompleted [Female-oriented novel + pocket dimension + zombie crystals + ensemble cast + supernatural abilities + mutated flora and fauna.] Lu Nange transmigrated into a book, becoming a cannon-fodder character in an apocalypse novel: the male supporting character’s sister, who dies early! In the original novel, Lu Nange had a name only because the male supporting character often took out a family photo to reminisce about his family. The male lead happened to see the photo and casually asked about her, ev 84.8kReads8.9Score6k14d adds
10. 10 花 Hua Shao 5’S Apocalypse RV Road Trip 花少5的末日房车旅行 Shen Rui榊瑞Female-Channel Fanfiction233k WordsCompleted [Flowers' Boys 5 + Shipping Couples + Female-Oriented + Frozen Apocalypse + Mutated Species] The Iceland leg of Flowers' Boys 5 is almost over. The program crew's one hundred people have already boarded their plane, but the Flowers' Boys 5 team's flight is delayed. They thought it would take off after a few hours, but the delay stretched to over a month. In a parallel world, the apocalypse arrives and the whole planet freezes over. Lin Chen starts out with an RV in the beginner village of Icelan 582Reads8.7Score10314d adds
11. 11 穿 I Transmigrated to the Cultivation Realm and Started Livestreaming to Blue Star from the Start 穿越修仙界，开局直播连蓝星 Pepper-Salt Swordheart椒盐剑心Eastern Fantasy621k WordsCompleted [Transmigration, livestreaming, System, comedy, no angst, no heroine] Zhu Jian transmigrated to the cultivation world two hundred years ago. He was practically on his last legs before the System finally showed up. The System wanted him to build the greatest sect and rule the cultivation world. As compensation for being two hundred years late, Zhu Jian could livestream cultivation to the Three Thousand Great Worlds, randomly select viewers to become sect disciples, and have them join him in ru 3.4kReads8.3Score36714d adds
12. 12 穿 Beast World Transmigration: My Beast Husband Is Too Fierce 穿越兽世：兽夫太凶猛 There's a Star in the Sky天上有个星星Ancient Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Transmigrate to the beast world + lighthearted sweet romance + everyday life + one heroine, multiple partners + multiple male beasts] In the 21st century, Qian Xia is a hardworking wage earner. One day, on her way home after working overtime, she's hit and killed by a car that has gone out of control. But when she opens her eyes again, she's in a gigantic cave. The cave is dark and damp, frightening her. She's wearing nothing but tattered animal hides fashioned into a bandeau top and a short sk 49.9kReads9.1Score5k14d adds
13. 13 陆 Lu Zhen: The Road Home, Too 陆臻：亦是归途 Strawberry Calyx草莓蒂蒂Two Male Leads203k WordsCompleted Inspired by My Shore. I love Zhenzhen, writing this out of love. I'm Lu Zhen, fair-skinned and beautiful, delicate and soft. I'm a model, and my lover is You Shulang. I had a dream. In it was a pair of eyes I couldn't escape. 282Reads—Score—14d adds
14. 14 醒 I Started Streaming After I Woke Up 醒来后从直播开始 My Dream吾一梦Modern Romance460k WordsCompleted When Xu Ouling woke up, she found the sky had fallen... She wasn't a rich kid, and she didn't have a comfortable middle-class life, either. To put food on the table, she became an internet wage slave: a livestreamer. And so her dramatic livestreaming career began~ Xu Quanquan lives by one principle: there are countless big supporters out there, but if they're not mine, I don't love them. I'll fleece my big brothers and sisters (no, I mean, cross that out) protect them myself! 420Reads8.9Score10114d adds
15. 15 开 From the Start, a Background Actor? She’s Ambitious and Taking the Entertainment Industry by Storm 开局群演？她野心勃勃鲨疯内娱 Unaware of Spring Mountain不知春山Modern Romance456k WordsCompleted [The rating is low because it just opened. It’ll go up later~] [Showbiz + actress + no CP + ambitious heroine + schemer + lots of forum posts + background-character System] [A silly, fluffy story with a mountain of creative liberties] The let-loose version The entertainment industry? I’m already in, so of course I’m going to become a star! “Ding! The Background Actor Advancement Guide System has been activated!” Face fans? I’ll take them! Drama fans? I’ll take them! Career fans? I’ll take them! 5.3kReads9.0Score54614d adds
16. 16 只 As Long as You're Fast Enough, Even Basic Attacks Can Be Unbeatable 只要够快，平A也能无敌 Jiu Ruofeng咎若风Sports693k WordsCompleted [No romance + Female lead who grows stronger + Loner type] Rapid technological progress has carried humanity farther into space, but Blue Star's dwindling resources have left people struggling to survive. Then, a virtual game called Second World quietly rises to prominence. At first, everyone thinks it's just a game created through international cooperation to ease the strain of survival. But when a number of players bring items from the game back with them, every country goes into a frenzy. In 3.5kReads8.3Score27514d adds
17. 17 火 She's a Hit! A Washed-Up Actor Makes a Comeback on a Brainy Variety Show 火了！过气演员靠烧脑综艺翻红 Yue QingYa月清YaModern Romance594k WordsCompleted [Female-oriented] [Romance] [Entertainment industry + livestreaming + suspense + mystery + variety show + couples + multiple protagonists] The country’s first live-action role-playing mystery reality show. A low-budget livestream variety show versus has-been actors. The guests are locked in a dark room from the start, and then they’re taken to a crime scene… Case One: The Art Museum That Couldn’t Be Beautiful… Case Two: The Legend of the Five-Colored Stones… Case Three: Terror at the Old Ma 62Reads6.9Score—14d adds
18. 18 游EN Game Invasion: Addicted to Snatching the Male and Female Leads' Destinies 游戏入侵：抢男女主机缘会上瘾诶 The Cat Isn't Bald猫不秃Sports3.1M WordsCompleted [Game Invasion + No Romance + Leveling + Lone Wolf + Gaming] (Also known as: Game Invasion) After being reborn, the first thing Yu Xunge did was go home and make her younger brother down a bottle of liquor, causing him to miss the first game beta test. In her previous life, she didn't learn until she was dying that he had been scheming against her from the shadows all along. She was merely the villainess in a wish-fulfillment novel about a live-in son-in-law... Every bit of malice she suffered w 998kReads9.5Score85.8k14d adds
19. 19 抱 A Cannon-Fodder Supporting Lady’s Survival Guide to Clinging to the Infinite-Flow Male Lead 抱紧无限流男主的炮灰女配生存法 Black Flame黑火焰Modern Romance584k WordsCompleted Content warning: The female lead is not a strong-woman heroine. She grows gradually, and this is a funny, sweet romance. Romance is the main focus; the infinite-flow survival games are secondary. Please avoid if that’s not your thing. Note: The story includes infinite-flow plots and similar content. Readers with strong moral sensibilities may want to steer clear. Lin Shuang transmigrates into a modern fantasy novel aimed at male readers, becoming the rich young lady who goes on a blind date with 26.1kReads9.4Score2.7k14d adds
20. 20 吾 My Shore: Lu Zhen Reborn 吾岸：陆臻重生 Shuchuang倏窗Two Male Leads275k WordsCompleted You Shulang quietly prepared everything, planning to take me abroad next month to get married. But in the blink of an eye, I was so thoroughly charmed by the domineering CEO named Fan Xiao that I lost my head. Then, when I was feeling down, I found myself at You Shulang’s home on instinct, only to see scratch marks on Fan Xiao’s back. I flew into a rage. “What is this? What did you two do?!” It turned out Fan Xiao’s real target was my boyfriend. But what right did I have to question him? Yo 219Reads8.2Score—14d adds
21. 21 快 Quick Transmigration: The Villain Gets a New Job After Being Laid Off 快穿，反派下岗再就业 Tabby Star虎斑星Fantastical Romance303k WordsOngoing (There is no fixed male lead. Each new world means a new male lead.) To make Song Yuxiao, a specialist in playing villains, experience love and peace, her boss waved a hand and transferred her to the romance mission department. He promised that if she accumulated eight million points, he would let her retire early. Since Song Yuxiao was notorious for being neither wholly good nor wholly bad, the head of the mission department had no choice but to bind her to a rookie System, 0731, that knew noth 146Reads—Score314d adds

    Reader note

    Quick transmigration novel, female protagonist is a villainous department employee who transforms into a career woman, has a strong sense of worthyness, is clear-headed and independent, and has no fixed male lead.

22. 22 梦 Dream Journey: When Dreams Become Tools for Solving Crimes 梦旅，当梦境成为破案工具 Lü Chengwei吕城薇Mystery194k WordsCompleted Dai Hanna used to work in sales. But after a series of bizarre dreams and strange occurrences, she gradually uncovered a pitiful truth: a huge mastermind was controlling everything! 10Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Give this book a try. Unsolved mysteries in reality can be solved by entering dreams to find clues. But what if dreams themselves are full of lies? Would you dare believe everything you see? We think we're tracking down a murderer, but could we ourselves be part of the scheme? If dreams can be altered, does the truth still matter? When we wake up, will all the evil disappear with them?

23. 23 听 After Hearing My Roommate's Thoughts, I Got Cheat Powers! 听到合租室友心声后，我开挂了！ Xiang Chunruan向春软Urban228k WordsCompleted [Tsundere, scheming male college student VS flirtatious, lively young woman] In a nutshell: the heroine can't live without the hero! She really can't! During his third year of college, Lin Huaizhi finally persuades his parents to buy him an apartment. He barely gets to enjoy his carefree life before a pretty junior with a tiny waist and long legs comes knocking. “Senior, I heard you just bought a place near campus. Could I live with you? I can cook and do the housework, and I'll pay you the goi 7.4kReads9.2Score90314d adds

    Reader note

    This story is incredibly sweet! The male and female leads are both intelligent and communicative—they're both clever and quick-witted, never holding back their thoughts. The female lead is full of little schemes, but she only dares to keep them to herself; she's actually a shy, timid girl. The male lead, however, falls for this, spoiling her rotten and unable to hide his love. I highly recommend it!

24. 24 人 Clearing Away the Clutter of Life 人间除杂 Drunken Dream Sand City醉梦沙城Modern Romance1.0M WordsOngoing [Adapted from the real-life experiences of a rural woman college graduate] + [Drifting in Beijing] + [Two years alone in a rented room after losing her job] + [Cheated while looking for a rental] + [Parents seriously ill]. If these topics bother you, don't open this book. The reality is heavy. This is seven years of youth in the life of an ordinary country girl with no connections. At 28, I could have been an excellent hydrometallurgical engineer, skilled at removing all kinds of impurities from 21Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Read it, you can finish reading it.

25. 25 浴 Reborn in the Flames: From a World in Chaos to Glory 浴火重生：从乱世走向辉煌 Cute Crocodile God萌萌的鼍神Urban1.4M WordsOngoing The rating has just come in, and it will rise later. Rebirth + alternate history + no System + resistance-war espionage A hundred-year-old man, Wang Anqing, dies alone amid the chaos of war... Reborn in the resistance-war era, he must start over from scratch. Watch how this teenage boy grows step by step, makes up for the regrets of his previous life, and ultimately rewrites his fate and history. 6.9kReads9.2Score48014d adds
26. 26 欺 Picking on People Is Not Okay 欺负人可不行 Excellent Lumbar Disc优秀的腰间盘Two Male Leads432k WordsCompleted Multiple protagonists. None of them is perfect, but neither is anyone irredeemably evil. Read the blurb before you start so you don’t waste your time. The writing isn’t great, and I can’t do anything to improve it! If you want fine prose, I recommend Cao Xueqin or the winners of the Mao Dun Literature Prize. This is a free platform, so let’s not make things difficult for each other! You can leave whatever comments you like, I don’t care. But if you could simply not read it and still give it a lo 23Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Multiple male leads, a straight-laced, domineering CEO transmigrates into the body of a pitiful high school student, causing his childhood friend, who bullied the original owner, to break down in his defenses. He then uses his own strength to effortlessly conquer the world and build his career, gaining a group of eye-catching, adoring fans. No system, no cheat codes, a satisfying but not mindless read! 🌝🙃😊

27. 27 救 Help! I Can't Believe I'm Dating a Powerful CEO Online 救命！我竟然和大佬霸总网恋了 RubyRubyTwo Male Leads322k WordsCompleted My Top Patron Is a Fatherly Tycoon CEO Voice Chat Room: The Little Streamer and His Top Patron CEO [Voice chat room in the early chapters, face-cam livestreams and PK battles later + no System + slice of life + two male leads] [No real-life inspirations, both pure, happy ending] -- Jiang Xiu was a streamer at the very bottom of the voice chat room rankings. He was fined every day, until he couldn’t even afford food and was down to one meal a day. In the early hours one morning, he was the onl 6.1kReads9.1Score53014d adds

    Reader note

    The village healer is wonderful. So happy.

28. 28 无 The Invincible Village Doctor 无敌的村医 Midsummer Night仲夏之夜Urban845k WordsOngoing (Rural life + divine doctor + beauties) Li Dahai masters extraordinary medical skills and opens a clinic in Qingshan Village to treat the sick and save lives. The villagers are simple and honest, and as the saying goes, good mountains and good water make for healthy people. 804Reads8.2Score11714d adds
29. 29 甜 Our Sweet Little Six-Year-Old: Everyone’s Obsessed with Raising Her 甜软囡囡六岁啦：全民沉迷养女儿 Burning Fish into a Cat烧鱼成喵Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Everyone’s darling + sweet and satisfying + reborn + growing up] Su Mian, who dreams of becoming a musician, is reborn as an unwanted little country girl who gets beaten whenever she makes a mistake. When Xia Xuan, a three-time Golden Award-winning Best Actress, arrives, Su Mian learns that she isn’t some wild country girl after all. She’s Xu Zimian, the little princess of the actress’s family. With her beautiful singing, natural acting, and knack for making desserts, Little Cotton is the apple 1.1kReads9.4Score16614d adds

    Reader note

    💦The protagonist, Su Mian, is reborn as a poor country girl who is often beaten. When actress Xia Xuan appears, she realizes she is actually Princess Xu Zimian. Little Cotton, who can sing, act, and bake desserts, becomes the apple of her family's eye. After the show airs, everyone vies for her attention. When asked about her best gift this year, a stranger replies, "My daughter, Little Cotton." 💥

30. 30 不 No Eavesdropping on the Emperor 不许偷听朕说话 Yin Zaishui尹在水Ancient Romance925k WordsCompleted An Jiu transmigrated into the body of a young palace maid who wanted to climb into the emperor’s bed. The moment she opened her eyes, the tyrant ran his sword straight through the maid who had tried to seduce him. The next day, the tyrant killed a senior maid who served one of the consorts. On the third day, a maid who tasted the emperor’s food died from poison. Being a palace maid was a high-risk job. An Jiu decided to work hard, save up, cherish her life, and stay away from the tyrant. But the 78.3kReads9.4Score13k14d adds

    Reader note

    It's absolutely fantastic! The author's writing is superb; it not only depicts romance but also skillfully handles palace intrigue and nationalistic themes. The interactions between the male and female leads are incredibly fun, with the male lead always managing to bring unexpected surprises. Their changes happen gradually, feeling incredibly natural and smooth, without any awkwardness. Highly recommended!

31. 31 快 Quick Transmigration: A Cannon Fodder in High-Risk Jobs 快穿之高危职业炮灰 Snowfield Phantom雪地幽灵Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted Low traffic, a sketchy score, books that won't sell, and typing everything by hand every day. You don't like it, she doesn't read it. A million dazzling views are worth less than pounding garlic. In this flashy world, patience has died, readers have vanished, and updates are just homework. I can't write blurbs, the author suffers. I want to get drunk, while the heroine drops to her knees. No debut spotlight at all. Two rounds of book testing went down the drain. The title came out awkward, and 971Reads8.9Score10614d adds

    Reader note

    Give it a try. Happy New Year!

32. 32 旱 The Drought God's Strange Romance 旱神诡情 Demons Walk the World妖行于世Ancient Romance525k WordsCompleted [Primeval wilderness, the most beautiful fallen god + the most handsome man in the Six Realms + the strongest divine beast] She was the first female war god ever recorded in history. The light bursting from her hair rivaled an atomic bomb. One flash was all it took to end the Battle of Zhuolu. Yet she became infamous throughout history because her hair was practically a nuclear weapon. She was the little princess of Jiang Jiyan, the first Red Emperor. Born in the Star River, the great formation 63Reads8.7Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    [Shocked][Laughing][Angry]

33. 33 穿 I Was Born the Clan’s Discarded Son, and I Swear to Restore Its Glory 穿成家族弃子，我誓振兴全族 Got a Great Catch爆护啦Eastern Fantasy221k WordsCompleted He transmigrates into a wastrel scorned by his entire clan, only to awaken the Alchemy Emperor's legacy in a blood-soaked valley! His younger sister is dying from a chilling illness? He'll refine the Nine-Turn Golden Pill and defy fate! The family estate is seized and his clan members humiliated? He'll bury every last one of his enemies alongside them! Those who once bullied and shamed him? One slash, and their souls are annihilated. His family is in decline and surrounded by powerful enemies? O 5Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A guardian-themed, farming-style game with no system. Your clan is declining; wake up, pull yourself together, and fight for the clan's rise again…

34. 34 枫 Maple's Flight 枫飞记 Deputy Yuan, Who Loves Carambola Wine爱吃杨桃酒的袁副Modern Romance293k WordsCompleted A hilarious, unconventional campus novel with unhinged leads, a touch of mystery, and a romance that blossoms over time. Chapter Two describes the heroine's dream, which also foreshadows a future crisis. Don't let it scare you off, folks! No System, no transmigration: surviving in a harsh future school! Watch the heroine tackle bizarre classes and deal with bizarre exams! At a campus five hundred years in the future, the heroine Chen Fengfeng and the hero Yang Fei go from loathing each other at 3Reads—Score114d adds
35. 35 朱 The Rise and Fall of the Vermilion Gates: A Portrait of All Humanity 朱门浮沉众生相 User26182811用户26182811Historical1.9M WordsCompleted The Sinking of the Vermilion Gates: A Portrait of All Life begins with an imperial gold hairpin falling into a lake, quietly unveiling the first signs of a grand household’s collapse. The story follows the fates of Lin Qingyun, the legitimate daughter, and Lin Qingxuan, her half-brother. She goes from a pampered noblewoman to the depths of a powerful official’s household, struggling to survive in a world of power with her keen wits. He, meanwhile, falls from an aloof scholar to a condemned exile 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    When you feel anxious, try looking at the bright moon of three hundred years ago. Have you ever stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of your office after working late into the night, looking at the city's neon-lit sea, and suddenly felt a sense of emptiness—what is all this hustle and bustle for? Have you ever scrolled through your social media feed, scrolling through other people's exciting lives, and subconsciously compared them to your own ordinary days, feeling a surge of inexplicable anxiety—am I falling behind? Am I living the right life? Have you ever been overwhelmed by various "success" advice when facing career choices, investment decisions, or your children's education, unable to hear your own inner voice—what is truly important? If you have ever had such moments, then I want to recommend a book to you—"The Rise and Fall of Families." This is not an ordinary historical novel. It has no palace intrigue, no time-travel fantasy, and no sweet romance of a domineering prince falling in love with a girl. What it has is the real choices of three generations of a family three hundred years ago, those persistences that seem "endearingly foolish" today, and the moonlight that remains clear as water even after passing through time. I. Examining Three Generations of the Lin Family: How They Defined "Success" Lin Qingxuan rose to the position of Minister of Personnel, yet at the height of his power, he was demoted for insisting on cutting palace expenditures. Upon leaving the capital, his colleagues advised him, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish." He replied, "Without water, there will be no fish, but in muddy water, the fish will also die. I'd rather be clear water than a fish in a muddy pond." His son, Lin Niansang, converted all of the family's hundred acres of fertile land into "charitable land," giving half the harvest to tenants and using the other half for disaster relief. Others called this wasteful, but he said, "Land is for people to live on, not for people to worship." His grandson, Lin Mingde, served as Governor of Jiangning for ten years. Upon leaving office, the people spontaneously lined up for twenty miles to see him off. After retiring to his hometown, he cut down the three-hundred-year-old ginkgo tree in front of his ancestral home—not to sell it, but to make tables and chairs for the charity school and beams for the orphanage. He said, "The tree will age, but its spirit will continue among the tables and chairs where children study." Three generations, their official positions rose higher and higher, yet their family became increasingly "poor." But what did they leave behind? They left behind twelve free schools, ensuring that children from impoverished families had access to education; they left behind the family motto of "do what needs to be done," teaching future generations what the bottom line is; they left behind the belief that "the people are paramount," making the local people believe in the existence of honest officials; more importantly, they left behind a question that forces us, readers three hundred years later, to ask ourselves: If we were destined to leave only one thing behind, what would we want to leave behind? The numbers in our bank accounts, the likes on social media, or the improved lives of some people because of us? II. The three most moving moments in this book: The first moment: Lin Mingde burning the land deeds. Those deeds were for fields, shops, and tea plantations that the people who had received favors insisted on returning to the Lin family. They were valuable enough to ensure a comfortable life for generations. But Lin Mingde burned them in public, saying, "If we keep these, the kindness becomes a debt, and the good deed becomes a transaction." When I read this, I was struggling with whether or not to take on a project—the profits were substantial, but there were some gray areas involved. Closing the book, I rejected the project. The client called me stupid, but I slept exceptionally well that night. The second moment: Moonlight illuminates the empty courtyard. In the last chapter of the book, Lin Mingde's great-grandson, Lin Shouqian, returns to his ancestral home. Under the moonlight, the once illustrious "red gate" has long since lost its extravagance, indistinguishable from the surrounding houses. But the moonlight shines on it equally, gently and peacefully. I read that page three times. Then I went to the balcony to look at the city moon. It wasn't as clear as in the book, but it was there. At that moment, I suddenly understood: the "special" things we desperately pursue may not be as important as we imagine. With the moonlight shining equally, life can be more serene. The third moment: The awakening of a modern editor. The last three chapters of the book cleverly introduce a modern perspective—an editor, during the review process, looks through the publishing house window at the delivery drivers, overtime workers, and girls rushing to catch the bus below, and suddenly understands the true meaning of "the tapestry of life." Isn't that us? We are both readers and members of this tapestry of life. This book is like a mirror, allowing us to see ourselves and others. III. Why is this book suitable for you right now? If you're anxious about career advancement: Look at Lin Qingxuan's choice. He knew that sticking to his principles would lead to demotion, yet he persisted. Three hundred years later, the names of those who ostracized him have long since vanished, but his story continues to circulate. Sometimes, taking a step back isn't failure, but rather a way to go further. If you're striving for financial freedom: Look at Lin Niansang's choice. He gave away his ancestral property; what did he gain? Inner peace, the love and respect of the people, and a life where his descendants, though not wealthy, are respected. Financial freedom is important, but spiritual freedom is even more important. If you're struggling with the intense competition in your children's education: Look at the Lin Family School. It doesn't prioritize the imperial examinations; it emphasizes character development. Lin Mingde said, "Studying isn't solely for fame and fortune, but more importantly, for understanding principles. Understanding principles means knowing the vastness of the world, the insignificance of oneself, and what is permissible and what is not." In today's anxious educational climate, these words are worth pondering for every parent. If you feel the world is too restless: Look at the bright moon that runs throughout the book. It shines silently, watching the rise and fall of the wealthy, the struggles of the masses, and the vicissitudes of three hundred years. It is impartial, it is gentle, and it reminds us that some things are more enduring than noise, more precious than vanity. IV. This is not a book you'll enjoy reading, but… it won't give you an adrenaline rush, it won't give you the thrill of a "comeback," and it won't offer a "three-day life-changing" secret. But after you close the book, it will leave some questions in your mind: • What is my "wealthy family"? Is it a mortgage? A job? Societal expectations? Is this door protecting me, or imprisoning me? • What is the measure of my "rise and fall"? Is it income figures? Others' opinions? Or inner fulfillment and peace? • Have I seen the "faces of humanity"? Or have I only seen my own joys and sorrows? • What kind of mark do I want to leave on this earth? Not grand, not eternal, but seeking truth and goodness. This book has already quietly changed some people: A programmer from Hangzhou donated a library to his village school after reading it; an entrepreneur from Shenzhen invested 10% of his company's profits in rural education after reading it; a little girl from Gansu said after hearing her teacher read the book, "I want to build a library in the future so that all children can read." Perhaps it will change you too. Finally, let's talk about something practical: the book's design is extremely minimalist—a pure white cover with only a silver-embossed moon. Just like its content, it strips away the superficial and returns to the essence. It's not thick, only three hundred chapters, but each chapter is worth reading slowly. It's best to read it at night, and when you get tired, look at the moon outside your window—whether you're in an apartment in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Shenzhen, or in your home in a second- or third-tier city, that moon is the same one that shone on the Lin family courtyard three hundred years ago. It won't give you answers, but it will give you a mirror, a lamp. The mirror allows you to see your own "life's ups and downs." A lamp reminds you, in your moments of confusion, that someone once lived like that—lived with clarity, lived with warmth, and left a mark that time cannot erase. If you are ready to face some fundamental questions, if you are willing to temporarily set aside the noise of your phone, if you believe that the moonlight of three hundred years ago can still illuminate the path today—then open *The Rise and Fall of the Rich and Powerful*. The story begins with the fall of a golden hairpin and ends with the radiant glow of a bright moon. And your reading may be a beginning in itself. The moonlight has been eternal, shining on the rich and the poor, and tonight it shines on your window. It is equal, it is gentle, it is silent. But what it illuminates is never the wealth or poverty of a dwelling, but the light and darkness of the heart. May you find your anchor in this world of ups and downs. May you leave warm strokes in this tapestry of humanity. *The Rise and Fall of the Rich and Powerful*—dedicated to all those who seek meaning amidst life's vicissitudes.

36. 36 我 I Was Just Saying, Believe It or Don't 我就随便一说，爱信不信 Unmatched on Snow雪上无双Urban809k WordsOngoing “Read your fortune for ten yuan. Tell your future for ten yuan.” “I’m just saying what comes to mind. Believe it or not, it’s up to you.” Watch Ye Ge and his fans roam the bustling city, and see how he takes control of the winds of change... 63Reads—Score—14d adds

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    I might not even finish reading this one. [Laughs][laughs] Please bookmark it and follow me. You won't get lost next time I update.

37. 37 苍 Beneath the Boundless Skies 苍茫之下 The Moon Crosses the Star River月渡星川Urban722k WordsOngoing Under the Vast Sky is a long-form realist novel depicting life in local government and how ordinary people survive in the game of power struggles. Beneath the vast sky, everyone is a low-ranking official. Caught in the middle, they face pressure from above, turmoil below, and entanglements of human relationships on every side. With no powerful patron to rely on and no shortcuts to take, they can only endure to make their way and act cautiously to protect themselves. They struggle to survive in t 452Reads8.1Score—14d adds

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    Here are a few books I recommend to you. I hope you like them and give them a five-star review to show your support!

38. 38 荒 The Wilderness Hunting King 荒年猎王 The Moon Crosses the Star River月渡星川Historical702k WordsCompleted A new work is out! You can read my stories on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy them. Your support is what keeps me writing, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 1.7kReads8.1Score12914d adds
39. 39 都 Reborn in Another World: A Carefree Urban Legend 都市异界重生之逍遥传奇 The Moon Crosses the Star River月渡星川Urban530k WordsCompleted Lin Yu, a young man from a modern city, was caught up in a mysterious experiment by accident. His soul transmigrated to another world that blended urban life with fantasy. In this world, technology and magic coexist, powerful clans control vast resources and political influence, and mysterious organizations and hidden dangers abound. 49Reads—Score—14d adds
40. 40 算 Fortune-Telling Is Like Acting: It All Comes Down to Skill 算命如戏，全靠演技 Lady Potato土豆娘娘Modern Romance567k WordsOngoing Meng Duoduo sets off into the martial world with her family's ancestral compass, hoping to make a living with a few feng shui tricks. She never expected the wealthy CEO to mistake her for a con artist and throw her out on her very first day. The next day, she decides to rebrand herself: she'll specialize in fixing "office romance curses." The result? She replaces every plant in the company with a cactus. Then one day, she accidentally discovers that an expert has sabotaged the feng shui of the C 3Reads—Score—14d adds

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    Look at me, look ...

41. 41 蝶 A Butterfly's Dream in the Dark River 蝶梦暗河 Lady Potato土豆娘娘Martial Arts321k WordsOngoing After the legendary opera singer Cheng Dieyi slit her throat onstage, she opened her eyes again to find that she had transmigrated into Mu Feiyan, master of the underworld’s foremost assassin organization, Dark River. She now had to hide not only that she was a woman, but also the fact that she commanded a vast shadow empire drenched in blood and beset by turmoil. More surprising still, her cold-faced deputy, Su Muyu, had long been determined to reform the organization and lead it toward the lig 4Reads—Score—14d adds
42. 42 南 South Wind, Early Summer 南风浅夏 Lady Potato土豆娘娘Modern Romance392k WordsCompleted South Wind, Shallow Summer is a youthful romance novel, and in a way, one of my dreams. It tells the story of the male and female leads from their high school years through college graduation and into the working world. Since none of it has happened in real life, it's a beautiful story tinged with a little pain. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
43. 43 他 He Used My Money to Support His Junior 他拿我的钱养学妹 Lady Potato土豆娘娘Modern Romance61k WordsCompleted On my birthday, my boyfriend said he had to work overtime and couldn't spend the day with me. Then I walked into a restaurant and caught him on one knee, putting a diamond necklace around his junior colleague's neck. “Enjoy spending my money on gifts?” I said with a smile as I called the bank. Watching his face turn deathly pale, I slowly poured red wine over his head. “If you want to live off someone else, you’d better be able to afford the price.” 2Reads—Score—14d adds
44. 44 都 I Was Reborn, So Why Would I Join a Pyramid Scheme? 都重生了，我还进传销干嘛 Lady Potato土豆娘娘Modern Romance153k WordsCompleted My new work is here! You're welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you'll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
45. 45 坟 Someone Beneath the Grave Told Me Not to Look Back 坟下有人叫我别回头 Lady Potato土豆娘娘17k WordsCompleted Someone Beneath the Grave Told Me Not to Look Back 1Reads—Score—14d adds
46. 46 好 I Really Want to See You 好想见一面 Lady Potato土豆娘娘9k WordsCompleted I Really Want to See You —Reads—Score—14d adds
47. 47 自 Since Ancient Times, Love Has Brought Only Heartache 自古#多情空余恨 Lady Potato土豆娘娘Ancient Romance7k WordsCompleted Since ancient times, too much love has brought only sorrow. —Reads—Score—14d adds
48. 48 死 Before They Parted Forever, He Mistook Her for His White Moonlight 死别前，他认错了白月光 Lady Potato土豆娘娘15k WordsCompleted Before They Parted Forever, He Mistook Her for His White Moonlight —Reads—Score—14d adds
49. 49 未 The Moment That Has Yet to Burn Out 未燃尽的刹那 Lady Potato土豆娘娘8k WordsCompleted A Moment Not Yet Burned Away —Reads—Score—14d adds
50. 50 我 We'll Never See Each Other Again 我们再也不会见面了 Lady Potato土豆娘娘8k WordsCompleted We’ll Never See Each Other Again —Reads—Score—14d adds

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