High-IQ Protagonists, Intricate Plots, No Harem, Dark and Scheming, Not Goody-Two-Shoes 高智商，一环扣一环，不种马，黑暗，腹黑，不圣母

1. 501 成 Why Help Others Get What They Want? I’ll Choose Myself 成全别人？不如成全自己 Yue Cangyun Nali月藏云那里Modern Romance235k WordsCompleted In the book, Xu Jing'an spent her whole life helping others and putting them first, yet in the end, no one even said a kind word about her. This time, she's going to look after herself first and do what's best for her. 141.6kReads9.5Score11.6kShelves

   Reader note

   Ahhh, [Attention][Learned it]! A high-IQ, satisfying read! A godsend for female lead lovers! 👍 The whole family is incredibly cunning, and the female lead, Xu Jing'an, is the cream of the crop! She went from the very bottom of the family to the very top!

2. 502 外 The Illegitimate Daughter 外室女 Cai Wangwang菜汪汪Ancient Romance808k WordsCompleted Before she transmigrated, Shen Yi had lived through one hardship after another. Then she was reborn as a baby into a happy family. What could be more carefree? She never imagined it was all a lie. Her father’s love for her mother was fake, and so was the marriage contract he gave her. He had merely come to the Duke’s household to experience life, while Shen Yi, her brother, and her mother were just byproducts of that experience. That would have been bad enough, but her scumbag father also had a 7.8kReads9.3Score869Shelves

   Reader note

   Only the second book is unfinished; the female lead is local and intelligent. The first book's main text is complete, but you can skip the epilogue [facepalm]. The low score is simply because it was interrupted for a while; it recently finished and I'm updating the epilogue as well. The writing is good, and the female lead successfully gets her revenge. Books three and four are also complete and very good.

3. 503 都 Everyone Looks Down on the Heroine for Being in a Vegetative State? Fine, I’ll Marry Her 都嫌弃女主是植物人？那我娶走了 Please Call Me Your Highness请叫我太子殿下Urban2.2M WordsOngoing Lin Xuan transmigrates into an urban novel as a short-tempered villain. From the start, his scumbag father, who favors his illegitimate son, forces him to take the place of a comatose supporting character with a fear of men in a marriage meant to bring her good luck. Fortunately, the [Crazy Cuddling] System comes online. As long as he makes physical contact with someone who has high fortune points, he can earn points to buy all kinds of products and skills. So Lin Xuan acts decisively and choose 5.6kReads8.9Score654Shelves

   Reader note

   Fellow Daoists, these are all my treasured books collected over many years. Every single one of them will lead you to the very end; they are all incredibly good. The last person who said they weren't good is still in the hospital.

4. 504 漂 The Beautiful Stepmother Makes a Comeback: Raising Kids in the 1970s 漂亮后妈要翻身，我在七零养崽崽 Purple Candy紫皮糖Modern Romance4.7M WordsOngoing Su Can was raised by her own mother to be fat, ugly, and not too bright. Her mother forced her to marry her younger sister's husband, a man with two paralyzed legs. When Su Can refused, she was starved for half a month, then sent to the village where he lived, barely clinging to life. She died of a serious illness. Su Can, a bodyguard, unexpectedly transmigrates into a book and inherits this mess. Their home is bare, with no money and not even enough food. With a disabled soldier for a husband a 76.9kReads9.2Score3kShelves
5. 505 出 After Prison: The Movie Star's Wife Became the Haters' Number One 出狱后：影帝夫人成了黑粉头头 Silver Brocade银锦Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted After spending thirteen years in prison, she was reborn. When she opened her eyes, she was back at the time when the entire internet hated her. If you can’t beat them, join them. Before she knew it, she’d become the head of the antis. Antis Group One: “Boss, Yu Yuan’s causing trouble again. Should we go after her?” Yu Yuan: “Go after her for what? Did we get paid this time? Even antis have professional standards. We’re not working for free!” Antis Group Two: “Boss, the CP fans are shipping Yu Yu 14.5kReads9.4Score2.1kShelves
6. 506 神 Master of the Game 神操手 Qi Le Ge Lin麒了个麟Eastern Fantasy490k WordsOngoing After nine lives, can he escape his shackles? Can cultivating through code create a miracle? A seasoned spirit hunter starts out with a wronged spirit in tow and faces Hell-level difficulty from the start: Should he lie flat, or break free of his shackles? The One-Line Chasm, Soul-Eater Forest, the Inspection Team... The clues to extending his life point to the Guardian of the Abyss, locked away inside a ward. But when he risks his life to reach the Hall of Ten Thousand Clans, he discovers it is 86Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   A series of thrilling breakthroughs and continuous improvements

7. 507 一 I Woke Up with 40 Murder Cases on My Hands 一觉醒来：我背上了40起命案 No Joy无喜Mystery1.0M WordsCompleted Chen Xiao wakes up to find everything around him strangely unfamiliar. The only thing beside him is a diary. He thinks it might explain his current predicament, but as he reads, he begins to doubt whether its contents are real. It is clearly a record of crimes committed by “himself.” Just as Chen Xiao is about to read on, the piercing wail of police sirens downstairs jolts him awake, and he can't help imagining the worst... 29.8kReads9.3Score3.2kShelves
8. 508 重 Reborn: Back in 1991 to Become a Tycoon 重生：回到1991当首富 Half Gratitude, Half Grudge恩怨各一半Urban2.2M WordsCompleted Li Minyang, a high-ranking government official, unexpectedly returns to 1991, an era just beginning its transition from a planned economy to a market economy. A wave of entrepreneurship is sweeping the country, and countless future tycoons are just beginning to make their mark. Facing a treacherous wife and family members struggling to make ends meet, watch as he turns the tides, conquers the business world, and reshapes the future! 30.9kReads8.8Score3.2kShelves
9. 509 浮 The Tale of Floating and Sinking 浮沉传 Miss Liangzi凉子姑娘Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted [Household and palace intrigue + play the pig to eat the tiger + revenge and a comeback] A heroine in the vein of The Story of Minglan, this acclaimed historical domestic-intrigue novel has racked up over ten million plays as an audio drama. For a story that understands reason and human nature, read The Tale of Fushen! Her father shows her no affection, her mother dies a tragic death, her stepmother spoils her rotten, and her half-sister schemes against her. In this treacherous household, watch 6.9kReads9.2Score1.1kShelves

   Reader note

   Wow, these two books are absolutely amazing! You have to read them! The plot of the second book is so complex, you can't follow it without using your brain! So many foreshadowing elements, one after another...

10. 510 我 My 99 Perfect Hunts 我的99次完美狩猎 Little Half-Immortal of Shu Mountain蜀山小半仙Mystery1.4M WordsCompleted [Realism] [High-IQ crime] [Masterful mind games] [No female lead] [For readers who love logic] The police in Xikang City received a phone call from someone calling himself Ghost, who claimed he would kill a certain person in three days. More than that, he wanted the police to rush out and protect the target. He intended to carry out the killing under the police's tight security. The police took the threat extremely seriously and made careful preparations. When the three days were up, the result 39.6kReads9.3Score4.1kShelves
11. 511 大 Great Qin: Emperor Qin Shi Huang, I Really Don't Want to Live Off You! 大秦：始皇帝，我真不吃软饭啊！ The King of Qin Circles the Pig秦王绕猪Historical1.5M WordsCompleted [The Analects + Hilarious + Cunning + Lighthearted + His Majesty Zheng + Shamelessly Stealing + Absolutely Outrageous] Qin Feng inexplicably transmigrates to the Qin dynasty before Qin unifies the six states, and the First Emperor overhears his thoughts. The two then embark on a hilarious daily battle of wits. “Qin Feng, tell me, what does ‘The Master does not speak of prodigies, force, disorder, or spirits’ mean?” “It means the Master doesn’t want to talk to you, and will use brute force to bea 45.1kReads9.5Score4.5kShelves
12. 512 女 Madam Director, a Major Anti-Crime Case! 女局长，扫黑连环大案！ Zhang Dali, Bursting with Bullish Energy牛气冲天的张大力Urban683k WordsCompleted Female Lead | Anti-Organized Crime | Anti-Drug Operations | Political Arena | Satisfying Revenge There’s no need to fear being pushed around, as long as you can turn things around! Anfu City, the most remote county in Yuzhou, faces the neighboring country’s Wu City across the Qing River. On her first day in office, Meng Yun doesn’t go to her office. She heads straight to the scene of a gunfight. Before the blood has even dried, she begins hunting down the perpetrators. 127Reads7.4Score137Shelves
13. 513 体 Weight Exchange System: The Fat Man's Comeback Plan 体重兑换系统：胖子逆袭计划 Li Duping李渡平Modern Romance2.7M WordsOngoing [An entertainment-industry story about the protagonist's struggle to make it in show business.] [No slacking off, no meltdowns, no dating shows, no livestreaming. She acts earnestly, works hard on set, and becomes a top-tier star through her skill and body of work.] In her previous life, Shang Ye was an out-and-out comic foil. She stumbled into the entertainment industry, but a congenital illness left her overweight, so all she could do was play chubby nobodies in low-budget comedies. After 15.9kReads8.7Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    Over two million words. A satisfying story about an actor's career. Featuring a group of strong female characters. No protagonist feeling stifled by a male lead (no man would dare to be like that). Rarely does a story where the career development and character relationships/characterization are equally excellent. I even reread it to catch up on the protagonist's relationship with a particular character; it's so addictive, complex yet captivating, with excellent portrayal of the subtleties and brilliance of human nature. Previously, I'd read novels with outstanding career development, but the character relationships/characterization were a complete mess.

14. 514 坠 After She Was Thrown into the River, the Female Bureau Chief Went on a Rampage! 坠江之后，女局长杀疯了！ Cyanide Murmurs氰呓语Mystery138k WordsCompleted Unfiltered emotions | Mystery and deduction | Criminal investigations and anti-corruption | Strong heroine seeks revenge | Cryptocurrency | Tech crimes Dai Lian, Ninghai City's youngest female police chief, stumbles upon a case of staggering proportions. An inaccessible cold wallet. The secrets inside could bring down the entire political establishment of Ninghai City. The investigation begins, but every lead points to... 288Reads—Score—Shelves
15. 515 谁 Who Let Him Become a Police Officer? 谁让他当警察的？ Crow Doesn't Fly Planes乌鸦不坐飞机Urban647k WordsOngoing Xu Lai transmigrates to a parallel world, becomes a police officer, and unexpectedly awakens a god-tier detective System. Whenever he catches a criminal or solves a case, he receives a random reward from the System. The only problem is that the System’s rewards aren’t quite what he expected... “I’m a cop. Why the heck did you give me the skill to counterfeit money?” Xu Lai is initially close to breaking down. But on the very day he reports for duty, he runs into the leader of a counterfeit-money 27.9kReads9.0Score2.4kShelves
16. 516 守 After Three Years as a Widow, I Took Grandma to Join My Officer Husband 守寡三年我带奶奶投奔军官老公啦 Wasabi Lemon芥末柠檬Modern Romance414k WordsCompleted The short drama is now streaming: The Lucky Wife of the 1970s: Her Tomb Raider Secret Identity Is Out! [Cold, tough military officer × female tomb raider, who later joins a research institute to serve her country] [Alternate-history military marriage + tomb-raiding System + married first, love later + raising kids + mind-reading + one-on-one, both leads inexperienced in love + nine-year age gap] [Reader's guide: The early chapters have a few plot holes, and the story is a silly comedy with no lo 11.2kReads8.6Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    🔥Driven by poverty, the female lead, Jiang Yao, returned to her old profession. But no sooner had she emerged from the tomb than she was arrested. In the interrogation room: "Name?" "Jiang Yao" "Gender?" "Female" "What were you doing?" "Digging up my husband." [Awkward laugh] Everyone: Then her husband, with a dark expression, pushed open the door…

17. 517 我 I, the Frail Beauty, Am the Wealthy Family's Movie Emperor's Lifeline Blood Bank 我，病弱美人，豪门影帝续命血包 Liu Lili流栗栗Modern Romance858k WordsCompleted [A villainous heroine, a hero with a System, and a satisfying, melodramatic old-school story. Transmigrating into a book is the biggest excuse for throwing logic out the window. Not recommended for readers who take their values too seriously.] Heroine's perspective: In the book, Wen Jiu is set up as a foil to the heroine: a contrast between the real and fake heiresses, between the couples' relationships, between a vicious cannon-fodder character and the heroine, between frail and sickly and heal 8.7kReads9.3Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Just finished watching it, it's amazing!!!

18. 518 律 Lawyer: The Bully Is Innocent? I'll Get Him the Death Penalty! 律师：霸凌者无罪？我送他死刑！ Xun Wen熏文Urban3.1M WordsOngoing Lin Mo is a top lawyer with a 100% win rate. He transmigrates to a parallel world. His first case is a bullying incident that no one else knows how to handle. Bully: “You’re suing me for bullying? You lousy lawyer, ever heard of the law protecting minors? You start talking about the law, and I can’t help laughing. Guys, ignore him. Keep the music playing and the dancing going!” Lin Mo: “Heh... Dancing sounds great. Finish your bullets, then go dance downstairs.” The final verdict: The bullies ar 115.8kReads8.9Score12.3kShelves
19. 519 入 After Ten Years in Prison, Who'd Still Risk Their Neck to Help a Stranger? 入狱十年，谁还见义勇为啊 Nine-Flower Evaporated Milk九花淡奶Urban3.1M WordsCompleted He’d done the right thing by standing up for someone, yet the school beauty’s family framed him for murder. After ten years in prison, Cao Kun returned to the night that had changed his fate, carrying with him countless secrets about their crimes. When he saw the school beauty’s mother being dragged into an alley again by three thugs, Cao Kun didn’t pick up a brick this time. He quietly pulled out his phone and started recording. “Madam, I wanted to be a good person too. You forced me into this… 111.2kReads8.9Score11.5kShelves

    Reader note

    Just you wait and see, they'll all be silent.

20. 520 重 Reborn and Cutting Ties with My Family: They Regretted It to Their Very Core 重生断绝亲缘，全家肠子都悔青了 Robes and Sword衣冠带剑Urban1.2M WordsCompleted Jiang Yi is reborn. In his previous life, he was taken back to the wealthy Chen family. He thought the long-awaited affection of a family awaited him, but instead, his life became a joke. His father loathed him, and his mother hated him. His seven older sisters looked down on him. The fake young master who had usurped his place framed him. In the end, the entire family even joined forces to send him to a psychiatric hospital, where he died during a patient riot. After his death, Jiang Yi watched 19.9kReads8.0Score1.4kShelves
21. 521 内 What's Wrong with a Beta Tester Being a Little Overpowered? 内测玩家强亿点怎么了 Lankani Ma兰卡尼玛Sports1.1M WordsOngoing The rating is low because the book just opened for ratings. It'll go up later! ٩(๑•̀ω•́๑)۶ The cover is a template sold online by a designer. [Apocalypse game arrives + powerhouse returns + full-dive game + slight fourth calamity + no romance + urban supernatural powers + fake and real heiresses + live comments] The world's first full-dive game appears out of nowhere, and the news sends the entire internet into a frenzy. At first, players think it's just an ordinary game. Then strange horrors ru 7.1kReads8.6Score883Shelves
22. 522 穿 Transmigrated as a Farmer's Daughter with Many Babies, She Is Spoiled by the Crown Prince 穿成农女多胎了，她被太子追着宠 Serene Heart, Inked Words清心墨言Ancient Romance407k WordsCompleted [Hopelessly lovestruck Crown Prince VS clearheaded woman who transmigrated] After receiving her university acceptance letter, Wen Wanyan went on a graduation trip to the south with her best friend. But while burning incense at a famous temple, she suddenly fainted. When she woke up, she discovered that she had transmigrated into a body before birth! An eighteen-year-old soul in a newborn's body: unable to walk or speak, and forced to drink breast milk! Wen Wanyan nearly passed out on the spot!!! 1.4kReads8.6Score135Shelves

    Reader note

    Here it is! The female lead is clear-headed and intelligent, and the male lead gradually falls for her, loving only her. It's not a harem story.

23. 523 反 Villain: From the Start, Give the Child of Fortune Two Choices 反派：开局给气运之子两条路选择 City Madman都市狂人Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsCompleted [Destined villain + domineering + scheming + System + ruthless] Di Juetian transmigrated into the Divine Son of the Di family in the Immortal Realm. He had a noble status, like a true dragon from the highest heavens. He'd thought fate itself favored him, and that he would ascend to the heavens, crush all beneath him through the ages, and rule for eternity! Then the Destined Villain System successfully loaded, shattering Di Juetian's fantasies. At that moment, the fated heroine he'd raised like a 19kReads8.6Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Perfectly meets your requirements

24. 524 黑 The Black Lotus Returns Reborn, and Her In-Laws Tremble in Fear 黑莲花重生归来，婆家瑟瑟发抖 Rice Bowl 114饭碗114Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted Original title: The Black Lotus Is Reborn, and Her In-Laws Tremble in Fear Short dramas: The Crazy Stepmother and New Life from Old Snow In her past life, Su An was abused by her husband. After she called the police, the officer told her it was a family matter and not their concern. She fled to her parents' home for help, but her grandmother said, “Take care of the kids, cook the meals, look after the elders, and hand over your wages every month. Then he won't hit you, will he? That's how it is 57.7kReads9.5Score6.9kShelves
25. 525 从 The Man Who Walked Out of the Heavenly Prison 从天牢走出来的男人 Rogue Lao Wang流氓老王Eastern Fantasy1.2M WordsCompleted Chu Ye, heir to the Chu family, is the number one wastrel in the Great Zhou Dynasty, with countless heinous crimes to his name. In just four years, he was thrown into the imperial prison eleven times, yet walked out unscathed every time. The reason was his grandfather, the fearsome Northern Frontier Prince, who commanded a million troops. But this time, Chu Ye crossed the emperor’s bottom line. Imprisoned for the twelfth time, he was exiled to the perilous Abyssal Reach. Countless factions and i 11.1kReads8.9Score893Shelves
26. 526 身 As an Envoy of Han, My Goal Is to Die in Every Way Imaginable 身为汉使，我的目标是花样作死 Pickled Millet Chilies泡小米椒Rural Life206k WordsOngoing Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers and streams reach, all is Han territory. To seal the wolf's retreat at Mount Langjuxu and carve an inscription on Mount Yanran: those are the ultimate achievements and glory of a military general. To open the Silk Road and spread our influence to distant lands: that is the ultimate goal and romance of people like us. 995Reads—Score128Shelves
27. 527 我EN The Monsters I Created! 我创造的怪物！ No One in the World Will Ever Meet Me Again世人千万再难遇我Urban1.6M WordsCompleted [Behind the Scenes + Ensemble Cast + Cosmic Horror + No System + No Romance] Also known as: Dark Revelation Gods and demons, dragons, and the apocalypse were once fairy tales. The mysteries of this world have faded from sight, yet someone has brought those long-lost things back into the public eye. And every clue, every lead, points to a man named Chen Ye. “Friends, would you cast off this flesh and join us in embracing evolution?” Extended blurb: Sequence 001: The Mimic Sequence 002: The Deep O 65.6kReads9.2Score6.1kShelves
28. 528 过 Dangerously Addictive 过分上瘾 Lan Sheng澜笙Modern Romance527k WordsCompleted [Top-tier wealthy family + rekindled love + romantic rivalry + alluring, arrogant black-hearted beauty + CEO who goes mad for love + male lead with no romantic past] When Pei Jinghua first met Bo Jin, he was her sister's prey. She was going to steal him away. She forced her way into his life, watching him push her away in disgust time and time again. In a soft voice, she pleaded, "A Jin, don't like her, okay? Like me instead." Until the reckless, pampered young man wrapped his arms tightly aroun 3.1kReads8.4Score411Shelves

    Reader note

    In the first chapter, the female protagonist is released from prison and embarks on her path of revenge, taking revenge on everyone who wronged her before she went to prison. Whatever you owe me, I will definitely get back, and it will only be more, not less.

29. 529 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 988.6kReads9.5Score85.7kShelves

    Reader note

    It's not formulaic, mindless, frustrating, or black-and-white; the characters are well-developed, the plot is reasonable, the protagonist is very cautious, the writing is excellent with many memorable lines, the emotions are delicate, and each character has their own shining points, but the female lead is definitely the protagonist with a strong personal charm. You won't regret watching it!

30. 530 谁 Can You Believe It? The Empress Wrote a Hundred Palace Rules 谁懂啊，娘娘写了一百条宫规 Strawberry Xi草莓汐Ancient Romance602k WordsCompleted [Palace Intrigue + Ancient-Era Heroine + Reborn Supporting Female Character + Transmigrated Supporting Female Character + Everyone Is Clever + Clear-Eyed Heroine] From ordinary palace candidate to empress. Everyone believes the emperor is devoted to Ning Wanyin. Only Ning Wanyin knows how treacherous and perilous the journey has been. She has survived every step through sheer caution. Lady Tang, reborn: “She killed me in my last life. This time, of course I’ll… make her my friend! Do I really th 41.5kReads9.6Score5.9kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is really smart, especially in the third one; she's the final mastermind behind everything.

31. 531 还 I Have Three Months Left to Live, So Let Me Die in Peace 还剩三个月命，请让我从容赴死 Reclining in the North高卧北Urban169k WordsCompleted From childhood onward, Zhuang Zi'ang was the kind of kid everyone called “the child other parents wish they had”: a model student every year and always first in his class. But after his parents divorced and his father started a new family, he became a child neither parent loved. At just eighteen, Zhuang Zi'ang is diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only three months to live. With his final three months, he decides to let out his rebellious, wild side and be truly himself for once. While 166.5kReads9.8Score19.1kShelves
32. 532 笑 Unbelievable! My Fortune-Telling Is So Accurate, Even the Protagonists Avoid Me 笑死！算命太准，主角躲着我走 Big-Faced Monster's Big Pocket大脸怪的大口袋Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted Synopsis: Fang Zhongmiao, the Daoist sect’s greatest prodigy, transmigrates into a world made up of four melodramatic novels and becomes a wicked supporting character who spends over a hundred chapters courting death. Book One: The Amnesiac Marquis and His Lovely Princess Book Two: The True and False Commandery Princesses Book Three: Reborn, I Watch the Chaos with a Smile Book Four: The Divine Physiognomist’s Reversal of Fate The bad news is that she has never read any of the four original novel 9.3kReads8.8Score1kShelves
33. 533 总 The CEO Can’t Keep His Young Wife in Line Anymore 总裁镇不住少奶奶了 Jiu Ling九棂Modern Romance2.3M WordsCompleted When Chu Mian was picked up from the slums by the powerful CEO Li, she had nothing. Later, he pampered her to the heavens. “That Chu Mian? She’s a foundling, and she looks so poor.” The speaker then ran into Chu Mian signing dozens of property agreements, nodding off as she went. “That Chu Mian? She has no connections. I don’t know what she’s so smug about.” The speaker then saw Li Tianque, the tycoon at the top of A Nation’s financial world, publicly announce that they were married. “That Chu M 46.3kReads9.4Score6.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Judging from the titles, these two books are a must!

34. 534 岳 Young Marshal Yue's Beloved Miss 岳少帅的卿卿小姐 Three Spring Peaches三春桃Modern Romance1.5M WordsCompleted (The animated series is now available) A love story between a military governor's son and a general's daughter~ He dotes on his wife without restraint in this sweet romance. In the turbulent Republican era, when warlords battled for power, Qin Qing only wanted a peaceful life: to protect her family and hold on to the family fortune. Young Marshal Yue lived for pleasure. He was a notorious playboy who treated women like clothes, always seeking someone new and never returning to an old flame. At t 12.6kReads9.3Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Those must be the ones. They have high IQ and EQ, a really nice overall perspective, and aren't mindless novels. Although it's a time-travel/reincarnation story, it's definitely not full of plot holes or cheat codes. The writing is smooth and enjoyable, making it a must-read that's worth staying up all night to read.

35. 535 就 Even as a Fake Heiress, I’ll Still Daringly Embrace Doing Nothing 就算是假千金也要勇敢摆烂 Ji Furan纪扶染Modern Romance659k WordsCompleted [Print edition launching across all platforms on August 9, 2025] When Shen Yue was twelve, she accidentally fell into a pond while feeding the fish. That was when she learned the truth: her parents weren’t her real parents, and her five older brothers weren’t really her brothers. She was the Mu family’s fake heiress! Faced with a future where she was destined to lose everything, Shen Yue decided to get ahead… by lying down. If she was going to lose it all anyway, she might as well lie back and 117.8kReads9.6Score13.7kShelves
36. 536 末 Humanity Performs a Scripted Murder Mystery for Higher-Dimensional Life in the Apocalypse 末世人类为高维生命表演剧本杀 No Regrets in the Spark火花无悔Sci-Fi & Apocalypse386k WordsCompleted What's it like to perform a murder-mystery game for higher life forms during the apocalypse? Mess up, and you die… Decisive killing + No Female Lead + Apocalypse + Instances + Multiple Worlds Warning: The male lead is greasy. Extremely greasy. This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental. No false claims of plagiarism. 62Reads8.8Score116Shelves

    Reader note

    This is just a place to promote a book. While it can't compare to classics, it's safe to read. The general plot is about a world corrupted by higher-dimensional life, entering an apocalyptic world. Humans can only earn resources to survive in various dungeons. There's no female lead, but there are superpowers, no cheat codes, and elements of time travel and rebirth. The protagonist is decisive, ruthless, and prone to turning evil. He searches for the truth in the apocalypse and solves mysteries to survive in the dungeons.

37. 537 萤 A World of Fireflies 萤萤众生 Xiao Xu小叙Rural Life3.8M WordsCompleted When I was thirteen, I had an accident and nearly died. Everything I saw and felt was horrifying, and I could only keep company with bad luck. But I swore a solemn oath: I would not fail Heaven and Earth or my parents, nor harm my friends and family. I would hurt only myself, devote myself to goodness, and hold fast to sincerity! From then on, I walked between the realms of yin and yang, sought a master and learned the Dao, awakened my spiritual senses, and slew demons and evil spirits... I fear 8.1kReads9.2Score779Shelves
38. 538 快 Quick Transmigration: Everyone Knows I'm a Good Person 快穿：所有人都知道我是好人 Sweet Peach Peach Peach甜桃桃桃Modern Romance4.1M WordsOngoing Across three thousand small worlds, there are countless wicked women. Shu Jiao’s task is to make things right for the people whose lives were ruined by all kinds of wicked women. From then on... [World One: I’m a spendthrift? The nation will support me.] She’s kind, generous, patriotic, and beautiful. So what if she likes spending a little money? Let her have it! [World Two: The marquis’s daughter who lies all the time.] Lies? What lies? She’s so gentle and kind. How could she possibly lie? [Wor 129.7kReads9.4Score5.7kShelves

    Reader note

    The female lead is really smart

39. 539 腹 The Cunning Tycoon: My Aloof Boss's Tender Trap 腹黑大佬：高冷领导的温柔陷阱 Momo's Little Words墨墨小语Modern Romance219k WordsCompleted [Workplace drama in the public sector + age gap + forceful love that later becomes passionate devotion + secret crush turned real + romantic tension + career growth.] After graduating, Shiqing takes the civil service exam, never imagining she would end up working under Lu Tingyuan, her best friend's older brother. Even more surprisingly, the icy, imposing man who had intimidated her ever since their school days has apparently been watching her all along! After an accidental drunken encounter, he 14.2kReads8.4Score1.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Try these books! The male and female leads are so adorable!! High-ranking officials within the system, you won't regret reading them~~~ Book 1: The male lead holds a high position of power and has a deep background! During an inspection, he sets his sights on the female lead, who has just entered the system. Using his position, he proceeds step by step, using both coercion and enticement! The female lead outwardly respectfully calls him "Secretary," but her inner monologue is: What a load of rubbish, a wolf in sheep's clothing… After moving in together, the female lead discovers that this man is an iceberg to outsiders, but a volcano to her! An absolute must-read for older men in a relationship~~ [Salute]

40. 540 星 The Solar Covenant of the Astral Realm 星界之太阳公约 Riverbank Clam临江蚬子Sci-Fi & Apocalypse337k WordsOngoing [Ensemble Cast] [Single Female Lead] [The Stars] [Black Technology] [Complete Worldbuilding] [Team-based: Each member rules alone, but together they’re a pack of goofballs] The Abyssal Depths after the First Generation fell; Invader stars breaking in through rifts in the Void Realm; Human civilization entering an age of ascension: where will it go after breaking through the barriers? Can the Solar Covenant survive the process of ascension? In the vast currents of the universe, everyone is s 7Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Then you might as well come and check out this book. The protagonist is really ruthless, and the whole team is the protagonist. There are no plot devices, and the villains don't lose their intelligence.

41. 541 外 The Outer Wife 外室之妻 Every Inch Is Gold寸寸金Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted Gu Zheng was at her wit’s end with the way her stepmother kept causing trouble. Even though the man looked down on her, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and marry him. She thought she was destined to be a supporting female character in this world, so she lived by the rules and knew her place. Then, in the blink of an eye, her husband turned out to be the Duke’s illegitimate son! He was about to be acknowledged by the family and become the young duke, but the ducal household looked down on 1.1kReads9.0Score361Shelves
42. 542 小 The Savvy Little Soldier 小兵油子 Cavalry in a Sea of Flowers骑兵花海Historical687k WordsOngoing Beacon Bones Beyond the Great Wall: Twenty-Five Years of Fighting Japanese Invaders on the Grasslands [Warlords, War of Resistance, Searching for Family, No Overpowered Cheats, Spy Warfare, Logic and Intelligence, Ruthless] 1921–1945: The land is in turmoil, and China is engulfed in endless flames of war. Adopted as a child by a top undercover spy, the young man is meticulously trained for over a decade to become his other hand. There is no System and no mindless overpowered cheat. Every struggl 233Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    [National Righteousness – Warlords – Anti-Japanese War in the Republic of China – Searching for Parents – No Cheat Codes – Traditional Espionage – Multiple Female Leads – Logic and Intelligence – Decisive Action] 1921-1945, the country was in turmoil, and China was engulfed in endless war. A young boy was adopted by a top-tier undercover spy from childhood, who meticulously nurtured him for over a decade, intending to become his other hand. Here, there are no systems, no mindless cheat codes; everything relies on blood, sweat, and wit. To uncover the truth behind his parents' disappearance, he left his homeland and ventured alone into the vortex of chaos. Starting from humble beginnings in a small county town, he gathered various forces, transforming into a warlord; navigating between the Military Intelligence Bureau, Japanese spies, and various other forces, he gathered top-secret intelligence and eliminated Japanese agents. On one side was his adoptive father, an undercover agent who raised him; the two tested and maneuvered against each other.

43. 543 误 Falling Into My Boss’s Favor: Qingzi’s Heartfelt Story 误入领导心尖：清姿叙心 Momo's Little Words墨墨小语Modern Romance264k WordsCompleted 19.2kReads8.8Score1.5kShelves
44. 544 诡 The City Lost in the Eerie Fog: Divine Punishment Game 诡雾迷城：神罚游戏 Mo Xia Li Xin莫夏离心Mystery212k WordsOngoing Tags: Survival Game + Mind-Bending Mystery + Challenge Dungeons + Wits and Deduction + Alternate Dimension + Monster Invasion When Ling Wen thought this was just an ordinary exam, he was forcibly dragged into the "Death Game." When he thought that clearing the "Death Game" would let him leave and return to the real world, he discovered that he had been in the real world all along. But now, gods from an alternate dimension are invading the real world. The fog descends without warning, and a dimen 2.9kReads—Score391Shelves

    Reader note

    A high-IQ puzzle-solving game with many foreshadowing elements, a battle of wits and reasoning—it's a thrilling watch!

45. 545 翡 Lotus in an Emerald Cage 翡翠笼中莲 Jiang Chengyu C江承钰CAncient Romance49k WordsCompleted The Lotus in the Jade Cage 838Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female author's most prized pure ancient romance novels‼️ Each one is top-tier, already completed, so please enjoy! Intelligent and logical, each plot twist is captivating🔥 All are charming and original, featuring clear-headed, rational, and not overly sentimental female protagonists who ultimately achieve fame and fortune, wielding immense power✌️❤️ 1: Domestic intrigue + Palace intrigue🩷 A bit tear-jerking, reminiscent of the bittersweet feeling of an unfulfilled love😭 My beloved, unforgettable female supporting character! A jade merchant's daughter meets a fallen prince who has been living among commoners, but there's no spark of romance until they fight assassins in a dilapidated temple. She falls in love with him, but he falls for another extremely delicate woman. By chance, he is placed on the throne by a powerful minister.👑🍅 He doesn't love her, but respects her and needs her wisdom to help him navigate between powerful ministers and imperial power. She also lives peacefully with his lover. She loved him, so she loved him in a way that the male lead liked. 😍🍅 In the end, it was that seemingly weak woman who protected the female lead with her own life until the very end. 😊 After reading it, one feels a sense of loss. It's a rare story where the male and female leads don't fall in love, but rather need to use each other. There's no competition between them, and the story has a strong aftertaste. 2: Palace Intrigue and Power ❤️ The seemingly ruthless female lead was born a slave, but she had the appearance of a phoenix. The head mistress not only didn't kill her, but also spent a lot of money to cultivate her and build her up, successfully sending her into the palace. The young emperor, the male lead, truly fell in love with her at first sight 💘 and immediately made her empress 👑 To protect the secret of her background and her power, she was constantly plotting to use external forces to overthrow her enemies. She almost wiped out the harem, but the emperor, who loved her to the bone, couldn't bring himself to punish her, and couldn't even ignore her. 😍 The most divine part is the final, deathbed confession. The emperor already knew the female lead was originally a slave, and he knew she was ruthless and a bloodthirsty killer, but he was only grateful that he was the emperor and could help her. He also longed to be protected by her without hesitation just once 😭 Super tear-jerking! 3: Ancient Chinese romance novel with a strong female lead 🌹 A noble princess from a powerful family is forced into a political marriage with a prince, but the prince's heart belongs to another, and he plans to use her and her family as tools for future use. After collapsing in the rain, the female lead awakens and immediately leads her family to ally with the prince who is her husband's enemy, protecting her family and killing the male lead, her enemy 👍 In the process, she meets the mysterious spy male lead, and the two are drawn into each other's struggles and falls in love while still lucid. Super addictive and sweet! ✌️ A well-written novel with a smooth logic and a fresh plot 😍🍅

46. 546 我 I Slay Immortals for the Root of All Evil 我为万恶之源斩仙 Clear Autumn Wutong Leaves清秋梧叶Eastern Fantasy407k WordsOngoing “I sent people to slaughter your family,” she said, without a drop of blood on her. Ji Lang thought he could lie flat after transmigrating, but on his very first day, he was met with the massacre of his entire family. His fiancée, Xue Youlan, slaughtered the Ji family, then her own family. Eyes bloodshot, Ji Lang roared at her, demanding a reason. Xue Youlan forced him to go to the Demon-Sealing Hall, promising to tell him when she returned. Inside the hall, two female immortals who had been sea 36Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Does having multiple wives mean the woman is playing with him? Is he being played by the woman, or is he playing the woman? Three female leads, none of them are easy to deal with. The Asura princess, who has lived for eight thousand eight hundred years, smiles at him after killing someone in the palace. Two sources of evil from the abyss speak to him daily in his mind's eye. This isn't a harem wish-fulfillment novel; each female lead has her own power struggles and storyline. If you want to see powerful women, come; if you want serious romance, come too.

47. 547 锁 Locked Glaze 锁琉璃 Jiang Chengyu C江承钰CAncient Romance36k WordsCompleted Locked Glaze 433Reads—Score—Shelves
48. 548 吾 My Phoenix Returns 吾凰归来 Li Er'er李尔尔Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [A classic rebirth story, political intrigue and revenge, with a heroine focused on building her own career] The empress of the Kingdom of Nanyue, a legitimate daughter of a military family. She was the Prince of Yu's consort for two years and a benevolent empress for four, yet when she went into labor one day, the man she loved cut open her belly and killed their child. His reason was that she was a demon empress who would bring ruin to the nation, and that the child she bore would surely kill 2kReads9.1Score242Shelves

    Reader note

    🐝❶ A genuine political intrigue novel, featuring high intelligence and a tightly woven plot. The female lead battles wits with the second male lead, avoiding any overly sentimental portrayals and securing victory at every turn. 🐝❷ In her past life, she was murdered by her husband, but is reborn as a noblewoman in another country, meticulously planning her revenge. 🐝❸ In her previous life, she was preoccupied with the Jiang family's interests, even raising someone else's child. Reborn, she possesses both high emotional and intellectual intelligence. Her plot unfolds seamlessly, with each step leading to victory. The most compelling aspect of this novel is its high emotional intelligence.

49. 549 三 A Silver Tongue Conquers the World 三寸不烂打天下 Caribbean Mantis加勒比海刀螂Historical218k WordsCompleted [Hilarious + Political Intrigue + Carefully Crafted Details + Transmigration + Strong Moral Compass + High Intelligence + Ensemble Cast + No Golden Fingers + Masterful Detail + Brisk Pacing] A low-level delivery rider transmigrates into the body of a fool and marries two women from the start. What kind of chemistry will modern pickup lines, an ordinary person’s perspective, and iconic pop songs create in ancient times? What’s it like to give the emperor a bath? How do you use a handsome man to p 99Reads9.3Score179Shelves

    Reader note

    If you disagree, then fight; I'm not a saint.

50. 550 雪 Spring Brewed in Snow 雪酿春 Jiang Chengyu C江承钰C44k WordsCompleted Snow-Brewed Spring 325Reads—Score—Shelves

Other lists with Why Help Others Get What They Want? I’ll Choose Myself