Looking for a Story Where the Female Lead Takes a Long Time to Catch On, While the Male Lead Wins Himself Over. Bonus If He's the Jealous Type 求女主开窍晚，男主自我攻略，最好男主爱吃醋的书

1. 101 团 The Beloved Third Miss of the Legendary Xuri Manor 团宠：传说中的旭日山庄三小姐 Dream Girl at the Edge of the World天涯梦女Ancient Romance709k WordsOngoing [A willful, spoiled younger sister, innocent in matters of love x a scheming, patient, domineering, and devoted older brother] It’s said that the third young lady of Sunrise Manor is fair-skinned, beautiful, and breathtaking. Only the poor souls who have actually met her know what an incredible little menace she is. Murong Xiao, as cute as a little pink dumpling, only wants to be like the heroines in martial arts stories: drink the strongest liquor, wield the sharpest blades, and challenge the m 11Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Lan Xiao'er, the adopted daughter of a demon lord from another realm, is mischievous and always gets into trouble, attracting a constant stream of male admirers. Her sworn brother, Shangguan Mo, stays by her side, his teeth clenched in anger, while all the males surrounding his sister suffer the consequences.

2. 102 真 The True Heiress's Fiancé Begged Me to Marry Him, So I Ran Away Pregnant 真千金未婚夫求着我嫁，我带球跑了 Tangerine Sand桔沙Marriage & Romance8k WordsCompleted The real heiress's fiance begged me to marry him, so I ran off with his baby 129Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   She didn't love him, yet she manipulated herself with jealousy. She was so cold-hearted that she even bullied her own mother. Her coldness, malice, selfishness, and materialism were all part of her mother's hard-earned money carrying glass doors; she used it all to pretend to be a wealthy heiress. She couldn't bear the contrast when she became a fallen heiress. Her mother was extorted, and it turned out the real heiress was behind it all. She began to hate the real heiress. Coincidentally, the real heiress's fiancé proposed to her, and she accepted without hesitation, driven by revenge. Her mother also stole the real heiress's father. Thus, the fallen, malice mother and daughter stole the real heiress and her mother's husband. The real heiress and her mother were frantic and tried everything to stop her. She married the real heiress's fiancé, but didn't love him. So she persuaded her mother to divorce her and run away with her, pregnant. Years later, she and her mother were in a karaoke bar with a male model. He cried and begged her to come home. Would she go back?

3. 103 穿 Transmigrated as a Treacherous Minister's Legitimate Daughter, She Plays the Part to Perfection 穿成奸臣嫡女，她本色出演 Garlic Bamboo Shoots蒜香竹笋Ancient Romance565k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + Career-focused early on + Sweet romance + One-on-one romance + Both leads are devoted to each other] [Two-faced, ruthless minister's daughter × Wild, formidable iron-faced general] The ruler of the business world transmigrates into a book overnight, becoming the daughter of the treacherous chancellor. She throws her weight around and commits every kind of evil, with the label “vicious supporting female character” practically branded onto her. She's madly pursuing the 86.4kReads9.6Score11.3k14d adds

   Reader note

   A newly discovered masterpiece of writing! There's no forced plot twists, only a precise grasp of human nature—every smile of the female lead is a bargaining chip, every concession is a strategic move. This is the kind of thought process a strong female lead should have!

4. 104 爱 An Unruly Love Slave: Only the One Who Tied the Knot Can Untie It 爱奴难驯，解铃还须系怜人 Jiaojiao Cat蕉蕉猫Fantastical Romance264k WordsOngoing [Mad Master and Servant] [Mutual Domestication] [Ensemble Cast] [A Fateful Game] When her older sister disappeared, Ming Yin claimed her sister's slave for herself. She liked him, but she didn't know what kind of affection it was, so she tormented him again and again, then saved him again and again, tying an inescapable bell around his ankle. And Shen Bailian loved being possessed by her. He willingly offered her his ribs as a weapon, all just to make her smile. Until the Three Realms fell into 463Reads—Score2714d adds

   Reader note

   This story is basically about a female lead who's slow to understand things and a male lead who guides her through the process, but the male lead is quite funny.

5. 105 黑 The Mob Boss Is a Character in a Painting 黑老大是画中人物 Edamame Lover爱吃醋毛豆Modern Romance316k WordsOngoing On a winter night when they were eighteen, Du Hechi hauled Shen Ningyuan out of the frozen river. Kneeling on one knee, he sneered, “If you’re fine, why keep going near the river? Trying to get yourself killed?” Shen Ningyuan shivered and looked up. “I wasn’t...” “Weren’t you?” He scoffed. “Want me to throw you back in and let you test the water temperature?” Everyone in the village said he was a thug who’d even hit his own father, and Shen Ningyuan believed them. Six years later, Shen Ningyu 84Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Having read for thirty years, I just discovered this book. The female protagonist accidentally finds a painting, and the male and female protagonists meet in a time-space distortion. They redeem each other, engaging in extreme flirting! The male protagonist travels through time just to stay by the female protagonist's side. The plot is novel and super good...

6. 106 甄 Mr. Zhen’s Marriage-First, Love-Later: Twice the Happiness 甄总先婚后爱快乐加倍 Phantom Ink Online幻墨在线Modern Romance326k WordsCompleted [A different take on marriage first, love later + comedy + bickering + constant sparks + age gap + healing] Zhen Xinwei initially misunderstands Qian Haohao. Later, his parents conspire to set them up, and he marries her. Zhen Xinwei says, “I never fake my marriage.” Qian Haohao replies, “What a coincidence. I never take marriage seriously.” Qian Haohao doesn’t believe in love, yet by a twist of fate, she ends up marrying for the second time. After the wedding, she tells Zhen Xinwei, “I’m not af 454Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   The female lead is still clueless about romance even in her second marriage, but the male lead isn't jealous.

7. 107 退 Broken Engagement, Reborn: The Heir Grabs Me by the Waist and Fights for My Affection 退婚涅槃：太子爷掐腰争宠我 A Love-Struck Academic at Heart一枚热爱学术的恋爱脑Modern Romance239k WordsOngoing Tags: Happy ending, mutual devotion, wealthy CEO, domineering, urban, contemporary romance, both leads are sexually inexperienced, clear-eyed heroine, male rivalry [Fake-laid-back, secretly scheming third young master of a wealthy family × aloof, down-on-her-luck AI doctoral student] [Two strong leads in conflict × brothers competing for the same woman × possessive love × playing the fool to catch the tiger] [One-on-one, both sexually inexperienced | Ultra-sweet romance | Mutual flirtation be —Reads8.4Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Xu Chi's approach was a carefully calculated scheme; he set up a plan just to keep me firmly by his side at my wedding.

8. 108 路 The Side Character Awakens 路人甲意识觉醒 Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance414k WordsCompleted [Everyone's Favorite] [Female POV] [The Cutest Height Difference: 187 cm vs. 160 cm] A fake playboy who's really just a sharp-tongued bad-boy charmer & a stubborn, clear-headed, stone-faced cutie who's just an ordinary passerby She discovers that she's in a book, and that she's only a passerby. She wants to live a good life, so she works as hard as she can. But life keeps playing tricks on her. He notices the strange girl and finds himself drawn to her. Little by little, he falls for her and wan 456Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   ε(´｡•᎑•`)っ♡

9. 109 兄 Bro, Who Are You? 兄弟，你是谁？ Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance319k WordsCompleted [Campus] [Sweet romance] [Intense push and pull] [Girl disguises herself as a boy] The aloof, calculating top student and the sunny, goofy underachiever have been close friends since middle school. But just before they graduate from senior year, the underachiever starts acting strangely, arousing the top student's suspicions. He demands, “Your tastes, your habits, everything about you is different from that person. Don't tell me that person is you.” 35Reads—Score—14d adds
10. 110 肆 Reckless Indulgence 肆意纵容 Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance154k WordsCompleted New book: The Blind Cannon Fodder, Bound to the Wrong System This is my first book, and I’m inexperienced, so the formatting isn’t very good. I hope readers will bear with me. A story that grows alongside its protagonist: tender, healing, warm, and best savored slowly. Thank you so much! An aloof, high-achieving mute girl & her roguish, sister-obsessed neighbor and older brother figure (doting devotion, cherished by everyone, mutual affection, warm companionship, childhood sweethearts) They lear 40Reads—Score—14d adds
11. 111 炮 The Blind Side Character Bound the Wrong System 炮灰盲女，错绑系统 Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance327k WordsCompleted This is one story in a series. [Marriage Before Love] [Good-for-Nothing System] [Strong Female Lead] A disposable, cold, blind woman and an award-winning actor who is a male supporting character. The blind woman was supposed to die young, but she survives after accidentally binding herself to the original heroine's System. Forced to follow the plot, she must keep the small world running. Her husband, a male supporting character, was supposed to be the original heroine's contract husband. After 129Reads—Score—14d adds
12. 112 团 The Orphan Everyone Dotes On: With Big Brother Away, I Can Stop Pretending 团宠孤女，哥哥不在不装了 Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance196k WordsCompleted The heroine loves to show off and stir up trouble. She’s no saint, and she always gets even. A satisfying revenge story, doted on by everyone, one-on-one romance, six older brothers, and an indulgent adoptive father. Her father is an international oil tycoon. Her eldest brother is the CEO of a multinational corporation. Her second brother is a medical genius. Her third brother commands a special forces unit that carries out missions across borders. Her fourth brother is a top lawyer specializing 183Reads—Score—14d adds
13. 113 燕 Mr. Yan, Your Wife Only Wants Two Hundred Million, Not You 燕总，夫人只要两亿不要您 Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance263k WordsCompleted [Marriage Before Love] [Contract Marriage] [Both leads are sexually inexperienced] [Devoted love] [Healing] Watch the leads fall sweetly in love, warm each other, and heal and save one another. They let go for love, wait for love, and strive toward the light as they learn how to love. Does the male lead fall in love at first sight, or does love grow over time? Was it carefully planned, or just a coincidence? The female lead is forced to marry as soon as she returns to the country. Even at a matc 29Reads—Score—14d adds
14. 114 惊 The Cry of a Startled Bird 惊鸟鸣 Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance262k WordsCompleted [Gang Heir] [Mutual Firsts] [Mysterious Identity] A powerful female lead who is decisive and ruthless, a gang heir whose strength is beyond compare and inspires submission. A hidden hand pulls the strings, launching assassination attempt after assassination attempt. She shoulders the responsibility, investigates the cases, and roots out the corruption. See how the female lead strikes back with commanding force. The male lead is a bartender, a cafe worker, a banquet server, a gang underling, a po 10Reads—Score—14d adds
15. 115 觊 My Obsession Knows No Bounds, I Can’t Let My Villainous Persona Slip 觊觎无度，恶毒人设不能倒 Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance229k WordsOngoing [Cultivation] [Redemption] [Exclusive Devotion] This is the second story in the transmigration series. A fatherly boyfriend, the original male lead, and a wild, bold little sister, the original villainess. You Xin Kui swore to the heavens, "If you insist on separating me and my brother, then I can make this world collapse, too." Zang Hai Chuan suddenly lost his memory. When he woke up, he had a fiancee, and his younger brother, childhood friend, and senior all treated her in a very special way. 29Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    ૮₍ ˊᯅˋ₎ა

16. 116 狼 The Wolf Girl Is a Handful, So Big Bro Has to Soothe Her 狼女不好惹，要哥哄 Black Chocolate Loves Sucking Black黑巧爱吸黑Modern Romance157k WordsOngoing [Coming of Age, Childhood Sweethearts] [Defiant, Emotionally Detached Wolf Girl & Protective, Fatherly Big Brother] [Subtle, Everyday Life, Heartwarming] A girl raised by a pack of wolves meets an animal behaviorist, who brings her back to the human world. She learns to live like a human and experience human emotions, finds family, friendship, and love, and unravels the mystery of her origins. No one says you have to grow up by a certain age, act like an adult at a certain time, or understand ev 1Reads—Score—14d adds
17. 117 穿 After I Transmigrate into a Book, I Become an Obsessive Man's KPI 穿书后我成了偏执男的KPI The Melodious Sound of Night Rain夜雨声澜Modern Romance308k WordsCompleted Also known as: Help! This System escaped from a mental hospital! Xu Ningjing transmigrated into a melodramatic Mary Sue and Gary Stu novel, becoming a cannon-fodder side character who shared her name. The original Xu Ningjing caused trouble at every turn and went crazy for love. In the end, the obsessive male side character, He Qilin, slowly killed her, step by step: sending her dead rats, psychologically terrorizing her, and gently describing how cold the water would feel when she drowned. Ca 24Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Come on! Try this one. The female lead is always insecure, and with the system causing trouble, it's sweet with a touch of angst, a bittersweet experience—very enjoyable.

18. 118 六 A Six-Winged Seraph, Pampered by Humans into a Top-Tier Star 六翼炽天使，被人类宠成人间顶流 Who Could Be My Match谁与为偶Modern Romance1.3M WordsOngoing Six-Winged Seraph? Everyone's favorite? Savior? She's all of them! Not one-on-one | Absolutely divine daddy | Angelic brute's wall-to-wall love | Jealous king | Abstinent angel | Tech tycoon plays third wheel | Contract-bound hottie | Loves one person to death | Beloved by all, building her career | Livestreams herself tearing into gods and demons | Cyber tech versus Western fantasy magic I was once Heaven's top-tier star priest, known as Heaven's biggest bug: a rebellious six-winged seraph. 63Reads9.2Score11314d adds

    Reader note

    [1vN, the innocent fallen angel] Forced to fall to earth during the trial, she is innocently tempted by various mortals and survives by kissing them. Unfortunately, she is surrounded by wolves: retreat, retreat, retreat!

19. 119 权 The Powerful Grand Tutor's Beloved, Childhood Friend, Stop Chasing Me 权倾太傅心尖宠，竹马别再追啦 Nan Ye Naizi南野柰子Ancient Romance920k WordsCompleted Everyone in the Jinghe Dynasty knows that Grand Tutor Yi Jun is aloof, desireless, and keeps his distance from women. Yet he treats Yu Miao'er, who lives under someone else's roof, quite differently. He quietly protects her, giving her all his tenderness and favor. But there's another man by her side: a gentle childhood friend who's been with her since they were young and whose heart and eyes hold only her. One draws closer step by step, unable to hide his devotion; the other silently stands by 2Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The vinegar jar was spilled and they didn't even notice.

20. 120 首 The Chief Minister Turns Evil? I Bring Out the Villain Family Bundle and Laugh All the Way to the Bank 首辅黑化？我提反派全家桶笑发财 Chen Wujiu辰无咎Ancient Romance255k WordsOngoing [Archenemies + Delusional Misinterpretations + Ice-Cold Beauty Turns into a Sweetheart Husband + Silly Comedy + Light Ensemble Cast] [A Lady Who Wants Money or Her Life, Not Love × A Jealous, Quick-Tempered Powerful Minister] On their wedding night, she bit his collarbone, then stabbed him again... The System screamed, “You got him! You got him!” Yun Hanyue: “Idiot...” After transmigrating into the body of a notorious wicked woman in the capital, Yun Hanyue's mission is to make the Chief Ministe —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    This one, but it's a very pure love story, the kind where the female lead only wants to make money.

21. 121 糯 The Clingy Villainess Wants to Change Her Fate, but Her Unhinged Ex-Husband Won't Leave Her Alone 糯湿女配要改命，疯批前夫紧相随 Raising Piggies by Imperial Decree奉旨养猪猪Ancient Romance217k WordsOngoing [Reborn, awakened female supporting character X obsessive, devoted commander] Household intrigue and medicine | Solving cases and changing fate | Mutual salvation In her dreams, Yin Sisi saw that she was a supporting character in a book, a foil to her legitimate-born elder sister, a laughingstock, and a sacrificial pawn. Now that she had awakened, she would tear the pages apart and rewrite her fate. She made money, studied medicine, and solved cases, keeping her wits about her every step of the —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A slow-burn redemption story set in ancient China, featuring a cold and aloof female protagonist who saves herself, and a male protagonist with two personalities who is the commander of the Imperial Guard. While calmly investigating a case, he declares, "She has nothing to do with me." But when he turns and sees the female protagonist smiling at someone else, he says, "Prepare the horses; I'm going to investigate his ancestral graves."

Other lists with The Beloved Third Miss of the Legendary Xuri Manor