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. 701 她 She Just Wants to Lie Low, but They Keep Forcing Her to Rebel 她想咸鱼躺，非逼她造反 Warfires Stain All烽火尽染Ancient Romance1.8M WordsCompleted [Screen adaptation rights sold] Lu Songli transmigrated into a book and became the cannon-fodder first wife of Xie Zhan, the male lead of The Powerful Minister's Beautiful Young Second Wife. In the book, her friend Zhao Yutan, who returned in glory from a place of exile, would steal her husband. The two of them carried on behind her back while she was gravely ill, and their affair literally angered her to death. Lu Songli was about to roll up her sleeves and tear into the cheating scumbag and 107.4kReads9.5Score12.4kShelves

   Reader note

   That can only be political maneuvering.

2. 702 这 Something's Wrong with How to Start This Urban Novel 这篇都市文的打开方式不对 Garlic Vermicelli Steamed Oysters蒜蓉粉丝蒸生蚝Modern Romance904k WordsCompleted After her parents died, Yan Xia was suddenly claimed by her biological parents. Her new parents seemed pretty wealthy, and her five older brothers were all outstanding men. Though she had no idea why there were five brothers again, maybe that was just the legendary tomato-novel rule for fake and real heiresses. After all, she’d heard she was the real heiress. But according to the “plot” suddenly implanted in her mind, the fake heiress, who had been raised by her new parents for twenty-three year 12.9kReads9.1Score2.1kShelves

   Reader note

   One thing leads to another, and because the writing was so realistic, readers tried to emulate it. The author specifically pointed out that it was all made up! 🌸The content is all logically sound, well-supported by sources and adapted from classical texts, leaving me completely bewildered! 🈶It has logic, and the imagination is superb—a rare gem! 💥She discovers that not only is this world's worldview flawed, but she's also a shared female supporting character. Warning: Please do not learn professional knowledge from the novel! Also, please do not imitate the training methods, and especially do not imitate the dangerous actions!!

3. 703 终 The Final Paradise 终末乐园 Tomato Expert番茄砖家Mystery118k WordsOngoing [Lighthearted Comedy] [Infinite Flow] [Mind Games] [Mystery] I once thought death was the end. It wasn't until after I died that I understood: death isn't a release, but an eternal fall into hell. This is a breeding ground for deception, a hunting ground for slaughter, a furnace for sin. There is no mercy, no compassion, no redemption here. “Rest in peace” has become the most extravagant reward. Either fight for your life in despair, or... become someone else's food for good. A friendly reminder 6Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   [Original script, lighthearted and humorous] Fifteen murderers are imprisoned in a hell of knives and saws, where they can only survive by confessing each other's crimes.

4. 704 宁 Ning Yan: When Women Rule the Roost 宁兖，牝鸡司晨 Books Bring True Wealth有书真富贵Historical168k WordsOngoing [Ensemble political intrigue + entrusted heir + factional strife + expansion of the realm + redressing an old injustice] [Wronged powerful minister male lead x emperor female lead disguised as a man] Also known as "After I Blundered into the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Was the Imperial Family" On a winter night in the seventh year of Chengxu, Emperor Zhao Ning Fu suddenly went mad. Wearing the robes of his favorite consort, Yan, he climbed the bell tower and rang the funeral bell before fall 189Reads—Score104Shelves

   Reader note

   A complex ensemble drama of power struggles, including the entrustment of a young heir, factional infighting, territorial expansion, the redress of old grievances, and counter-espionage. No time travel, no characters with diminished intelligence; everyone is fully intelligent. Alternative title: "After Accidentally Entering the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Am the Imperial Family."

5. 705 身 Death Erases All Debts 身死债消 Liang Yan Warms Three Winters梁言暖三冬Mystery359k WordsCompleted [Ensemble cast] [Slightly fictionalized setting] [A heroine who grows over time and isn’t perfect; she’ll suffer setbacks, so don’t read if that’s not for you] A cycling team of 18 is riding across the Sichuan-Tibet route when its leader, Wang Zhengming, a judge at Qinghai City Intermediate People’s Court, suddenly collapses and dies in full view of everyone. The police then find a line of tiny writing at the bottom of Wang Zhengming’s pillbox: “The betrayer will die today.” They suspect his wif 2.4kReads8.8Score293Shelves

   Reader note

   It's good; the female lead is highly intelligent.

6. 706 东 Dreams of Tokyo: Love Through the Four Seasons 东京梦华：爱有四季 The Qin's Music Keeps Me Company琴音伴我Marriage & Romance8k WordsCompleted Tokyo Dreams: Love Through the Seasons 80Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   "Dad, you're a successful inventor, so why does the Flower Sea Moon Palace fly in the sky?" His daughter is 20 years old, but she still acts like a little child.

7. 707 仙 Immortal Martial Ming: From the Start, I Became a Ghost-Cultivating Brocade Guard 仙武大明，开局成为鬼修锦衣卫 Gray and White Rain灰白雨Eastern Fantasy4.4M WordsOngoing “Have you ever heard the story of the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts?” The Brocade Guards walked openly by day, while Yin soldiers commandeered the roads. During the Yongle era, whenever you walked along the streets of the capital, someone would always ask you that question. Ninety-nine vicious ghosts, tens of thousands of ghost spirits. The figure leading them represented a legend. A legend about the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts. “After that, there were no more ghosts in the Great Ming.” 54.6kReads9.2Score4.5kShelves

   Reader note

   One after another, characters from Bai Wangdong's novels stepped onto the pre-prepared stage.

8. 708 病 Spring Returns to the Branches of a Sick Tree 病树枝头又逢春 Sweet Melon甜甜的瓜Ancient Romance476k WordsCompleted [Print edition now available] Sang Nian accidentally climbs into the world of cultivation and becomes the vicious supporting female character who meets a tragic end in the book. System: Your mission is to marry the male supporting character, Xie Chenzhou, abuse him, humiliate him, and then get killed by him. Sang Nian: OK (brandishes little whip) (hits herself) (collapses with a thud) System: (silence) (stares at the sky) System: Mission changed. Win him over, or go mine coal. Sang Nian: (smiles 188.6kReads9.5Score25.6kShelves

   Reader note

   Sang Nian transmigrated into the body of the designated "medicinal ingredient" of the strategy system, determined to pounce on Xie Chenzhou, who was afflicted with a cold poison. She rolled around and acted spoiled: "This vixen will sleep here!" He grabbed her ankle and pulled her into his arms, his eyes reddening: "If you run errands again, I'll break them." When the cold poison transformed into threads of love, she realized—this sickly immortal lord had already forged his life tribulation into a knot of hearts, and coaxed in a hoarse voice: "Nian Nian, dual cultivation to cure the poison will take a hundred years."

9. 709 花 The Moon Palace Amid a Sea of Flowers 花海月宫 The Qin's Music Keeps Me Company琴音伴我7k WordsCompleted The Moon Palace Amid a Sea of Flowers 35Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 710 明 Moonlight on Ice and Snow 明月照冰雪 Mu Qiqi暮萋萋Ancient Romance2.5M WordsCompleted A crazy, formidable woman. General Shen Guizhou VS a prince who only wants romance. Prince Chen Muyi Shen Guizhou was once the young general of the Shen Army, which commanded 300,000 troops in the northern frontier. As her reputation grew, her family feared the emperor would discover that she was a woman disguised as a man and bring disaster upon her. After weighing their options, they sacrificed her. For the sake of peace in the north and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Shen Army, 4.9kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    I highly recommend Tomato's unique ancient-style novel, *Sunset Drunk Home*, which has absolutely no similar style.

11. 711 夫 After His Wife Divorces Him, the Warlord Goes Gray Overnight 夫人离婚后，军阀大佬一夜白头 Chu Diandian初点点Modern Romance691k WordsCompleted The short drama of the same name, “Qi Mi,” is available by searching on Tomato. Ning Zhen is forced to marry the warlord Sheng Changyu. Sheng Changyu has a beloved first love, as well as two concubines, and the Sheng household is rife with danger. Ning Zhen is a young heiress who has returned from studying abroad. She can’t adapt to the infighting in the household, and everyone is waiting to see her make a fool of herself. Less than three years later, just as everyone predicted, Ning Zhen wants 78.8kReads9.5Score9.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommend this book from the China Pharmaceutical University! ✧⁺⸜(●˙▾˙●)⸝⁺✧

12. 712 走 The Horse-Riding Hidden Scheme 走马藏局 Kai Zhong Feng Shui凯中堪舆Urban1.2M WordsOngoing Geomancy and the Yin-Yang arts rule the world, while the Jianghu is full of schemes! At twelve, Shen Qianfan became an orphan and was cast adrift in the Jianghu. He grew up teaching himself from books scavenged from trash heaps, cleared his father's name, and pressed on through one Jianghu con after another, setting schemes and breaking them, navigating schemes within schemes. He cut a path through every obstacle, built a business empire, and leveraged his influence to establish a regional milit 1.6kReads6.3Score186Shelves

    Reader note

    Exciting, engaging, unpredictable, and increasingly captivating! Kai Zhongkan's novels, starting with "The Path of Feng Shui Cultivation," followed by "One Man and One Mouse Cultivate Immortality," and then "Mecha Immortality: Invincible from Exile to Mars," are all now complete. These three books form a cultivation trilogy. Now, he's back with a new book, but this time he's not writing about cultivation. Instead, he's focusing on things closer to home: feng shui, human nature, kung fu, strategic planning, breaking through barriers, the eight major martial arts sects, and his journey of overcoming obstacles to build a business empire and leverage regional military power… This new book is called "The Hidden Game of Horsemanship," where horsemanship represents yin and yang, and the hidden game of human nature represents the world. The book's message: ... You can't be afraid; if you are, you lose!

13. 713 鲟 Sturgeon Returns to Ning'an 鲟洄宁安 Ren Enshuo任恩硕Modern Romance343k WordsOngoing A Republican-era tragic romance, a woman's coming-of-age story, and two male leads. A sharp-witted, falsely disguised shaman PKs a rebellious dragon who slays gods. A sudden heavenly fire destroys a city, and the revered Hu Xuan shaman is wrongly blamed and made a scapegoat. With a colossal lie, Ge Wangshu rides alone for a thousand miles to escort the orphan Eyun home. It seems like a sturgeon swimming upstream to return to its birthplace, but in truth, it's the start of a journey with no retu 176Reads—Score166Shelves

    Reader note

    Well-written, a tragic romance set in the Republican era, featuring female growth and patriotic fervor.

14. 714 紫 Fairyland in the Purple Bamboo Grove 紫竹林的仙境 The Qin's Music Keeps Me Company琴音伴我7k WordsCompleted A Fairyland in the Purple Bamboo Grove 27Reads—Score—Shelves
15. 715 缚 Bound by Spring 缚春情 Ren Huanyou任欢游Ancient Romance603k WordsCompleted [The print edition is available on the homepage; film and television rights have been sold] The Jiang and Song families have been close for generations, and Song Wan was betrothed to Jiang Xingjian before she was even born. They grew up together, but she was confined to the inner quarters, where everything she learned was meant to prepare her to become a Jiang family wife. The young man was dashing and ambitious. Before he had even turned twenty, he went off to the frontier to make his name. Bef 92kReads9.6Score12.3kShelves

    Reader note

    Both are highly intelligent male and female protagonists

16. 716 顶 Utterly Arrogant 顶级狂妄 Chu Diandian初点点Modern Romance380k WordsCompleted Xu Bai's family fell on hard times. Her fiancé flirted with a woman from a prominent family, yet refused to let her go. “Wait until we're married. I won't hold it against you.” Because of their engagement, Xu Bai endured humiliation and harassment. To protect herself, she got involved with her fiancé's uncle, a notorious rogue in Nancheng. The man was debauched, brutal, and ambitious. Xu Bai and he each got what they wanted, and together they managed to find their footing amid the turmoil. “Come 23.9kReads9.4Score2.9kShelves
17. 717 沧 Tales of the Vast Sea 沧海演义 Liangshan Book Page梁山书童Martial Arts363k WordsOngoing [Wuxia] [Xianxia] [Historical] [Adventure] [Military] A narrative epic of the jianghu and the imperial court, seen through the growth of an ordinary person, where individual heroism and romanticism intertwine with realism! 30Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Wuxia novels!

18. 718 冒 Passing Myself Off as a Zhuge: Heavens, Why? Rebuild the Han! 冒姓诸葛：悠悠苍天？再造大汉！ Songlu Maolin松麓茂临Historical1.0M WordsCompleted In Jianxing Year Twelve, Zhuge Liang, the peerless genius known as the Sleeping Dragon and chancellor of Shu Han, fell ill and died at Wuzhang Plains, lamenting, “Vast heavens, why have you treated me so unfairly?” He had devoted himself completely and worked until his dying day, making six campaigns against Mount Qi in an attempt to restore the Han and return to the old capital. But fate was cruel, his ambitions unfulfilled, and he passed away. Zhuge You, a history undergraduate from the twent 148Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book of political intrigue and wit

19. 719 少 The Young Marshal Rules His Wife: Even If the Forced-Melon's Not Sweet, It Has to Be 少帅霸妻，强扭的瓜不甜也得甜 Chu Diandian初点点Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Traditional household intrigue + revenge on scoundrels + fictional Republic-era setting + coercive pursuit + reborn heroine] Young Marshal Jing Yuanzhao is captivated by Yan Xin’s striking beauty and wants to keep her in a private residence, even though she is already married. “Stay with me for three months, and I’ll give you all the luxury and wealth you want. Your husband’s career will take off, too.” Yan Xin slapped him across the face. After he went to every length to get her, he asked with 27.9kReads9.5Score3.5kShelves
20. 720 大 The Great Dao Dies, but I Live On; Even as Spiritual Energy Dries Up, I Remain Evergreen 大道死而我不死，灵气枯竭我长青 Principal Typhoon台风校长Eastern Fantasy2.0M WordsCompleted [Immortality + no System + not a power fantasy + fictional setting + slow-paced] [The story mainly follows the protagonist as he travels and witnesses the changes after spiritual energy dries up.] Have you seen an age of prosperity, when spiritual energy was abundant, countless races rose to prominence, and geniuses shone like stars in the sky? But have you ever lived through an era when spiritual energy ran dry, all magic withered, and the Great Dao died? Have you seen a vast immortal dynasty g 41.1kReads8.9Score3.6kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is very well written and worth reading.

21. 721 开 From the Start, I Had a Sacred Physique, But I Really Don't Want to Dual Cultivate 开局圣体，我真的不想双修啊 Big Tangerine for Sure大橘壹定Eastern Fantasy925k WordsCompleted After transmigrating into the body of a Saint Physique, a rare find in the Cultivation world, Lin Yue expects to embark on an invincible path to immortality. Instead, his sect only wants him to go on blind dates and leave behind descendants with his Saint Physique. Fairies from every peak, demon empresses, and demonic sect saintesses take turns showing up, but all he wants is to cultivate and make his escape! His good-for-nothing senior sister willingly lets him use her, while the mad widow next 263Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! You won't be able to tear yourself away after watching it!

22. 722 桃 Peach Blossoms Topple the River and Mountains 桃花折江山 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance712k WordsCompleted The TV drama Peach Blossoms Reflecting on the Mountains and Rivers, starring Liu Xueyi and Meng Ziyi. Zhao has a beauty named Taohua. Her fate is full of hardship, and she is married off to Wei far away. All she wants is to stay alive and climb her way up. Wei has a handsome chancellor who is ruthless and sharp-tongued, sweet on the surface but treacherous within. He cares nothing for anyone's life, so long as he gets what he wants. Taohua thinks everyone loves beautiful things. Surely he can't 395Reads9.0Score114Shelves
23. 723 穿 I Became the Tycoon's Dark Moonlight 穿成大佬的黑月光 Three Demons三妖Ancient Romance1.7M WordsCompleted What do you do when your husband commits murder right in front of you? Asking for advice online. It’s pretty urgent! Xu Ning wakes up in the body of a poor girl whose father doesn’t care about her, whose mother doesn’t love her, and who has been abandoned by a scoundrel. To get revenge on him, she uses a trick to marry a lame scholar from Qingshui Village. The moment she opens her eyes, she sees her husband, the one she married by mistake, smashing someone’s head with a rock, blow after blow. Re 69.2kReads9.2Score9.1kShelves

    Reader note

    It's a very logically sound suspense novel disguised as a romance, giving you the feeling of reading a novel within a novel. Each plot point is intricately linked, making it a great read. The characters are all very well-developed, and the male lead, Pei Zhuo, is the most unique male lead I've ever seen. [Laughing emoji]

24. 724 寡 The Widow's Sister-in-Law Has Nowhere to Run, and the Mad Chancellor Vomits Blood Again 寡嫂无处逃，疯批丞相又吐血了 Folded in the Mist折雾里Ancient Romance634k WordsCompleted [Beautiful, decisive young widow vs. refined, deranged villainous minister] [System + fleeing while pregnant + transmigrate into a book + male lead reborn] Song Yao transmigrated into a book as the villainous minister’s widowed sister-in-law. She was caught red-handed while eloping with another man. The villainous minister, who would one day hold power over the entire court, was currently nothing but a sickly young man. Remembering the tragic fate of the original owner, Song Yao immediately deci 9.4kReads9.2Score1.2kShelves
25. 725 我 I'm Just a Police Intern, I Really Didn't Mean to Solve the Case 我就一实习警察，真没想破案啊 Crazy Little Bird疯小鸟Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Crime Investigation + Mystery + Deduction + Case-of-the-Week + Transmigration + A Little Romance] Su Xiaoxiao died in a car accident and transmigrated into the body of a rookie police officer. With barely a roof over her head, she discovered that her eyes had gained a special ability: she could see bad things that were about to happen. Hey, young master, whatever you do, don't turn left when you go out. Hey, mom, keep a close eye on your child. Oh no, Master, put on your bulletproof vest before 24.1kReads9.1Score3.4kShelves

    Reader note

    [Smirking] This book has a complete logical chain, and each case feels independent yet intricately connected. [Eating popcorn emoji]

26. 726 丑 Ugly Duckling! Extra! The Big Shots Take Her Home 丑小鸭！路人甲！大佬们抱她回家 Green Falcon青鹫Modern Romance654k WordsCompleted [Face-slapping satisfaction] [Everyone’s darling, universally adored] [Clever heroine; CP with Sheng Yuxiao after she comes of age] Li Xiaoya was born in a poor mountain village. Her mother died when she was three, and her father ran off with his lover. When she was seven, the crew of the show Life Swap came to the village and picked Li Xiaoya at first sight. But when filming began, they suddenly replaced her with the village chief’s granddaughter. The village chief’s granddaughter later went to 140.5kReads9.6Score21.6kShelves

    Reader note

    🍊 [A satisfying slap-in-the-face story] [A beloved and charming girl] [A smart female lead] Li Xiaoya was born in a poor mountain village. Her mother died when she was three, and her father ran away with his lover. When she was seven, the "Life Exchange" program team came to the village and selected Li Xiaoya at first glance. However, when the program started filming, she was suddenly replaced by the village chief's granddaughter. Later, the village chief's granddaughter went to the big city and appeared on television. Netizens praised her for being generous and well-behaved, saying that she went to become the goddaughter of a very wealthy family, and they were so envious! Netizens also said that Li Xiaoya was originally chosen from the same village, but it is said that she stole and robbed and had a foul mouth. It's a good thing she didn't go on the show! Li Xiaoya didn't know that a part of her life that should have belonged to her had been stolen... On the second day of the program's filming, the young master of the wealthy family who had been exchanged to experience life in the mountain village met the disheveled Li Xiaoya. At a young age, Li Xiaoya would stand on a stool to cook for him, and she would trek over mountains to dig wild vegetables for him. She would even bring back a melted piece of candy from the village to him. The unruly young master's heart melted completely. While the village chief's granddaughter was enjoying Disneyland in the big city, this young master was helping Li Xiaoya dig and carry manure. Life was too hard, and the young master couldn't take it anymore. In a fit of anger, he summoned a group of rich second-generation heirs to dig and carry manure together... Instantly, this became a trending topic online, crushing another group's ratings. Later, she was taken in by a top-tier wealthy family. Her grandfather was seriously ill, and her uncles and aunts were either mentally ill or disabled. No worries! The young master would help her! Even the ruthless villains would fight to be her father!

27. 727 枭 The Young Marshal's Darling: The Powerful Woman Who Captured His Heart 枭宠成瘾：病娇少帅的娇妻是大佬 Ming Yao明药Modern Romance2.8M WordsCompleted [Super sweet romance + tons of secret identities + an exceptionally badass heroine] Everyone said Yun Qiao was young and from the countryside, and that she would never fare well in the powerful Xi family. Everyone said her status was low, that she was nothing but a pretty face who lived off others, and that she could never catch the eye of the all-powerful young marshal. Yet after just one day in the Xi household, Yun Qiao put the family in their place. And after just one week at the young marsh 2.5kReads9.1Score319Shelves
28. 728 上 Spring Affairs in the Capital 上京春事 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted Ning Chaoyang rises to become a fourth-rank female official, yet still can’t escape the fate of being traded into a political marriage. She decides to take in a lover to fight back. He must be lowborn, handsome, and preferably too frail to look after himself. She glances to the side and spots a charming young doctor in white. 5.7kReads9.3Score884Shelves
29. 729 大 The Imperial Consort of the Great Sheng Dynasty 大盛皇妃 Shu Yiyu书亦娱Ancient Romance1.4M WordsOngoing Ensemble cast + revenge + black lotus heroine + not both virgins + high-IQ palace intrigue rising to political power struggles + tragic romance + alternate history + love rivals The palace is the main battleground: beneath its dazzling, extravagant facade are witty, charming daily moments and a brutal core of deadly conflict. Palace secrets are portrayed in meticulous detail. Some content may be upsetting. A bad ending. If you enjoy it, please leave a five-star review. Ling Longxiu was born to a 684Reads—Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    Completed, angst warning⚠️ Rating not yet available. Content depends on your tolerance level. If you like angst, I'm waiting for a five-star review. A masterpiece of palace intrigue and power struggles that subverts clichés. The secrets of the palace are described in detail, with plot twists that avoid clichés. The logic is clear, the daily life is lighthearted, and the power struggles are intense. The female protagonist is ridiculed upon entering the palace, and she seeks revenge through her own efforts. There are no cheat codes, no time travel, and no rebirth. She navigates the treacherous and dark harem. The content may be disturbing, and some readers may be driven away by the emotional intensity. Have you ever seen a palace intrigue novel where both men and women fight? This novel depicts the tragedy of the ancient feudal system, showcasing the brutality of court struggles and the complexities of human nature.

30. 730 热 The Hot-Blooded Hunter: God’s Assault 热血猎人神之袭击 Riding a Bull to Find You骑牛找你Historical1.3M WordsOngoing [Survival] [Hunting] [Fighting the Japanese invaders and looting their gear] [Cultivation] Wang Fei has just entered the world of cultivation when he's forced into becoming a live-in son-in-law. One blow shatters his dantian, setting him on a long road from staying alive to rising to greatness. Though he has lost his cultivation, he takes countless disciples. This novel was not written by AI. Every word was painstakingly typed out by the author, who only hopes readers will enjoy the story in its 27.3kReads9.0Score2.5kShelves

    Reader note

    [Heart][Kiss][Thumbs up][OK]

31. 731 官 The Officialdom Game 官奕 Dreams of Spring and Autumn梦话春秋Urban636k WordsOngoing My name is Wei Zilong, and I’ve spent my career in government. Through my story, I want to show everyone what the political arena is really like... When you’re in public service, you can’t always control your own fate. If you never weather a storm, how can you ever mature? 13kReads7.6Score1.1kShelves
32. 732 残 The Broken Imperial Seal 残玺 Long Chu龙杵Urban900k WordsCompleted “Anger is commonplace, but a smiling man is inscrutable...” Inspired by a hidden chapter of real history, this tells the story of a wild strategic-level scientist’s rise and growth. The premise is fresh, fantastical yet grounded in reality, and encompasses history, the workplace, the military, scientific research, national security, criminal investigation, elaborate schemes, murder, and modern high-stealth espionage, high-tech hacking, and high-intensity aerospace electronic warfare. The ending 5.8kReads8.5Score683Shelves

    Reader note

    A high-quality, completed novel in a new genre, a hardcore work by a science and engineering enthusiast. It starts slowly but builds to a bang, a slow-burn, mind-bending story with science fiction, realism, suspense, and mind-bending elements. The writing is brilliant and logically rigorous, the narrative humorous yet concise, and there are no time-travel, reincarnation, system, or cheat codes. The content covers history, workplace, military, scientific research, national security, criminal investigation, scheming, murder, as well as high-tech espionage, hacking, and aerospace electronic warfare. The ending features a profound twist. Tailor-made for veteran readers; if you don't enjoy it, I'll kill myself!

33. 733 黑EN Death God of the Night 黑夜杀神 Riding a Bull to Find You骑牛找你Eastern Fantasy509k WordsCompleted Hunted from the start, I barely escaped with my life. I fought to defy fate, launching attacks and taking down countless powerful opponents. Born with a beautiful face... I hope you enjoy the story. Your support motivates me to write, and I'll do my best to tell every story well! 2.7kReads8.8Score201Shelves
34. 734 情 City of Heartbreak 情伤都市 Riding a Bull to Find You骑牛找你Urban215k WordsCompleted My new work is out! Come 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! 1kReads—Score—Shelves
35. 735 满 The Whole Sect Is Full of Crazy Villains, Only the Junior Sister Is a Goofball 满门反派疯批，唯有师妹逗比 Wei Xiaoxi未小兮Ancient Romance3.5M WordsCompleted After transmigrating into a book, Ye Linglong becomes the vicious cannon-fodder villainess in a cultivation novel. With terrible aptitude, she even coerces the heroine into taking her into the top sect during the Cultivation Tournament. After joining, she opposes the heroine at every turn and eventually dies a miserable death. To enjoy a long, happy life, Ye Linglong immediately gives up on coercing the heroine and turns around to join the worst sect in the cultivation world. She’s done being th 247.3kReads9.6Score24.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Don't be misled by the title; the female lead is highly intelligent and always surprises you. Super hilarious!

36. 736 无 Infinite Escape: The Museum Curator Rules the Livestream 无限逃生：馆主飒爆直播间 Ling Yu令鱼Mystery1.1M WordsCompleted [Infinite-flow + mostly imaginative horror + romance + ensemble cast] Lu Yu is a little-known actress who has spent three years in the entertainment industry. TV director: “What is this garbage acting? Get out of my production!” Variety show director: “You have no sense of variety-show humor. How could someone as mediocre as you think you can make it in entertainment?” Agent: “You’re good for nothing but your face.” But after Lu Yu becomes the owner of a game arcade and enters an escape game... 10.2kReads9.2Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    The game features a novel setting, logical puzzles, constant plot twists, and mind-bending scenarios. The unexpected completion conditions and fresh, non-gory storyline emphasize mental challenge over physical violence. The male and female leads are highly intelligent, making it a great choice for those who enjoy logic-based mystery games.

37. 737 执 Rose with a Blade 执刃玫瑰 Heaven Opens to Delusions天开妄想Modern Romance523k WordsCompleted Print edition on sale June 20 [The Second Male Lead Takes the Spotlight + Crime Mystery + Marriage Before Love + Age Gap] [Cool, aloof high-ranking official with a fatherly streak + elegant, reserved beauty who works as a mortician] After the Nan family went bankrupt, Nan Qing was raised in the Gu household for decades. She and Gu Zhun were childhood sweethearts, with their wedding date fast approaching. But on the eve of their engagement party, a scandal involving Gu Zhun broke. In a video, Gu 36.9kReads9.4Score5.4kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is so good, I don't even know how to express it. I'll be really sad if anyone doesn't read it!

38. 738 栖 Bough of the Phoenix Perch 栖凰枝 Lu Shiqi鹿时七Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Short drama now available. Search "A Sigh for Youth". Starring Mi Qi and Wang Kang] Also known as "I'm a Psychology PhD, and I'll Slaughter My Way Through the Palace" Palace intrigue + sweet romance + not both leads' first relationship + heroine focused on her career On her first day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue fell out of favor. Everyone said she was nothing but a pretty face, a vase. On her second day after transmigrating into the harem, Jiang Xinyue regained the emperor 36.9kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This book is absolutely amazing! The female protagonist is incredibly shrewd and focused on her career, using a series of clever schemes to win over the emperor, rising from a lowly concubine to an imperial consort. The plot is intricately woven, full of twists and turns, and the revelation of the mastermind behind each event is unbelievable; you'd never guess who it is. It's incredibly captivating.

39. 739 三 The Three-Part Tea Game 三分茶局 Dreaming of Tea's Fragrance茶韵梦栖Ancient Romance792k WordsOngoing A pot of clear tea, a few remnants of scripture. She only wanted to survive in a turbulent age, but amid the crashing waves of political intrigue, she took tea as her boat, ferrying herself and others across. In Jiankang's elite circles, who hasn't heard of “Master Hua”? That cup of clear tea earned her the respect of the literati, and made her the most dazzling “outsider.” With a few words and a laugh, she could make even stubborn stones nod, or turn the tides of the realm. But Jiankang was f 107Reads—Score—Shelves

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    "One hundred and ten strings of cash—was it a keepsake, or a fleeting impulse?" In Chapter Three, as Mu Zhongjin received the jade pendant, his mentor's sigh, "Just keep going," still echoed in his ears. And he had just "frivolously" taken advantage of his mentor's last remaining bloodline. Guilt overwhelmed him; he took off his cloak and forcefully wrapped it around her, but froze amidst the cool fragrance of orchids mixed with pine resin—the orchids his mother used to scent her clothes, the pine resin of his father's armor. The scents of his parents were reunited in his mentor's orphaned grandson. How absurd fate was, leading him to begin with frivolity, continue with a fleeting impulse, and repay with a lifetime.

40. 740 妻 A Wife's Revenge 妻子的报复 Jia Qi嘉粸Modern Romance650k WordsCompleted [Adapted into two short dramas] A torn-open condom wrapper shattered her faith in love and all her romantic illusions. In an instant, the beliefs she had clung to collapsed completely. Li Man discovered that her husband had not only cheated on her, but had also hidden their assets and even planned to frame her so she would leave the marriage with nothing. Faced with her husband's betrayal, Li Man began her relentless revenge! 26kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This man is so wicked it makes you grit your teeth.

41. 741 闯 Heading to the Northeast: Lin Erni's Bumpy Road to Happiness 闯关东：林二妮的颠簸幸福路 Liu Piao留飘Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [No contrived twists] [No cheat powers] [Traditional] [Realistic] [Period] [Rural] [Hardship] [Inspirational] Lin Erni was born in Heze, Shandong, and married into Harbin in the Northeast. She struggled to get by amid the freezing snow in the mountains, then later had no one to rely on and went alone beyond the mountains to make a living. The first time, she was tossed from one place to another like a bag of steamed buns, made a child bride, and beaten and cursed. The second time, her father sol 21.7kReads9.4Score2.1kShelves

    Reader note

    These are the books.

42. 742 沧 Remembering the Years as the Seas Changed 沧海桑田忆年年 Liu Piao留飘Modern Romance391k WordsOngoing My father and Uncle Wang Si, whom he had begged for help from among the neighbors, rode along an unknown little road dusted with snow, just as dawn began to break. Their whips cracked through the silent morning with a crisp, swirling sound. One cart carried the last of our corn kernels in burlap sacks, a few battered water jars, and four large geese. The other held pots and pans, the furniture that was still usable, and some clothes that had been worn by who knew how many children. All the quilt 1.8kReads8.9Score154Shelves
43. 743 九 The Gray Heiress of the Nineties 九零灰千金 Chubby Childhood Sweetheart胖青梅Modern Romance375k WordsCompleted [The ailing Mu heir + the Lu family’s illegitimate daughter] [Both reborn + a kind stepmother and stepsister + everyone is a good person] Lu Buhui was reborn, and from the start, a father appeared and took her to the capital. Knowing she was an illegitimate daughter, she had never coveted anything from the Lu family. But... Lu An’an: She’s so pitiful. I’ll let her have a little of Dad’s attention. Qin Hui: She may be my husband’s illegitimate daughter, but she’s so sweet. Lu Shao: She’s too plai 2.2kReads9.0Score221Shelves

    Reader note

    🔥🔥🔥This is the first time I've ever read a story where the stepmother isn't bad and the stepsister isn't scheming! The whole family has incredibly positive values. 🍁🍁🍁 The female lead is reborn, and her father takes her to Beijing. She understands her place, so she never covets anything from the Lu family. Her stepmother treats her very well, and her stepsister is also very kind to her; she earns everyone's respect through her sincerity.

44. 744 慕 Mu Yunnuan 慕云暖 Rong Mo容墨Ancient Romance481k WordsCompleted After a twist of fate, Jiang Yixia, a physician at Jishitang in Xunzhou City, became the “niece” of Xue Tao, the Marquis of Yongping in the capital. From Xunzhou to the capital, from Jishitang to the marquis's estate, Yixia witnessed the infighting among the great houses. She had once settled for mediocrity, but circumstances forced her to stand out and shine. She struggled forward against her will. In the mire of the capital, she met Xiao Can, a handsome young man from Southern Chu. He wore a p 2.7kReads8.5Score291Shelves
45. 745 锦 Brocade Butcher 锦屠 Li Er'er李尔尔Ancient Romance656k WordsCompleted Bianjing is full of powerful nobles. As the eldest legitimate daughter-in-law of the Marquis of Yongyi, a distinguished family of hereditary nobles, Xie Rongying embodies every virtue and is a model for women. A month after their wedding, her husband marched off to war. Half a year later, he died on the battlefield, his body brought home on his horse. From then on, a life of Buddhist prayers and the constraints of a chastity arch confined her for the rest of her days. As she lay dying, she seeme 15.5kReads8.6Score1.6kShelves
46. 746 杏 Apricot Blossoms Fill the Air, I'll Snap That Scumbag's Neck 杏花吹满头，扭断渣男头 The Round-Headed, Round-Brained, Round-Bellied Tangerine圆头圆脑圆肚皮的橘子Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted [There is a male lead!!!] [Currently being published. Mild horror and suspense. I didn’t add those tags because I don’t think the story is scary or suspenseful enough, but readers say it’s pretty frightening. Consider this a heads-up.] Ren Xin has been married into the General’s residence for two years. She manages the household, respects her in-laws, and treats the servants with consideration. No one can find fault with her. Guan Shanyue returns from the battlefield one day with a pregnant wom 23.2kReads9.2Score3.4kShelves

    Reader note

    She's definitely highly intelligent, but unfortunately, she uses all her intelligence on dealing with men. Let's see how Renxin, who's infuriatingly cunning, handles things.

47. 747 鬓 Hairpins and Beauty 鬓花颜 Peach Who Doesn't Slack Off桃子不摸鱼Ancient Romance1.4M WordsCompleted [Main story complete] [Maid + sisters in the inner palace + ensemble-focused story] [The heroine is a native of this world, with no transmigration, rebirth, or hidden identity] After her mother dies of illness, Meng Shu’s father takes a new wife almost at once. She endures years under her stepmother’s hand, but in the end, she cannot escape being sold. A trafficker’s rope drags her away from her homeland and casts her into the fabulously wealthy Tang household. Her exceptiona 34.9kReads9.2Score4.5kShelves
48. 748 父 If Father Doesn't Die, How Can His Daughter Ascend the Throne? 父皇不死女儿怎么登基 Xuxu Jiaqi栩栩佳期Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [Court Intrigue + Ensemble Cast + Villainous Heroine + Dark Younger Brother, a Powerful Team] A scorpion and a venomous snake carve out a path through the treacherous imperial harem. When Li Ruyue was seven, she watched helplessly as the people from the Court of Judicial Review fabricated evidence to frame her mother. Her mother was sent to the Cold Palace, the Qin clan was charged with treason, and all 142 people in Zhaoyang Hall were slaughtered before her eyes. She sat in the blood, watching 3.4kReads9.1Score2kShelves

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! The first and third books feature pure villainous women with no romantic pairings; they're quick to kill at the drop of a hat, political intrigue, and mind-bending plots. The second book features a tomb raider who discovers Princess Baozhu. The best part is the seventh junior sister sleeping with her brother Baozhu—they're quick to sleep together, and then they stay up late to get dressed and keep to their posts. Just avoid the "Guanyin Tears" scene; it's a bit cliché.

49. 749 有 With the Tyrant’s Mind-Reading Ability, I’m Slaying My Way Through the Imperial Palace 有了暴君读心术，我在皇宫杀疯了 Young Master Lan公子兰Ancient Romance384k WordsCompleted [Hilarious Transmigration + Historical Romance + Mind Reading + Pocket Space with a Spirit Spring + Healing a Yandere + Palace Intrigue and Power Struggles + Sweet, Devoted Romance + Medical Skills] Modern miracle doctor Ye Li dies suddenly and transmigrates, becoming the neglected consort of a deranged tyrant. The tyrant is a madman, a complete lunatic, and every night he goes on a killing spree. The original heroine is blinded by love and gullibly trusts Prince Jin's vows. She helps him kill t 276Reads6.5Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    ① A hilarious time-traveling female military doctor who is buried in a coffin and kisses a war god prince awake. Sweet and funny. ② A hilarious mind-reading story with gossip. The prince eats gossip until he's exhausted. ③ A silly and hilarious story about a beautiful and popular female lead who swaps bodies with a demon lord. ④ A strong female lead who travels through time, uses a space, and takes down scumbags to build her career. It's incredibly satisfying. ⑤ A hilarious story about a tyrant who reads minds and has two personalities who are jealous of each other.

50. 750 贼 The Thief's Way 贼道 Heading North向北Urban2.1M WordsCompleted My name is Xiao Wu. I was a wild child no orphanage could keep in check. At nine years old, I charged into this dog-eat-dog world. I saw through it then: living was like clinging to a moving train. You either held on or fell and were crushed to pieces. The first steamed bun I stole wasn’t because I was hungry. I wanted to see whether these hands that picked pockets could grab fate by the throat. The juvenile detention center, the shelter, and the detention center were my schools. The thieves wer 84.2kReads9.6Score10.6kShelves

    Reader note

    These are all good; they're not idiotic, but they're not too mentally taxing either. You can give them a try.

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