The Male Lead Has Been Plotting for a Long Time, but the Second Male Lead Wins Her Over 男主蓄谋已久，男二上位，，，，

1. 1 宠 Spoiled Rotten! After Our Whirlwind Marriage, the Abstinent Lawyer Won't Let Me Go 宠溺！闪婚后被禁欲律师抱怀里黏 Just Want to Eat Tomatoes就想吃番茄Modern Romance336k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later + Sweet Romance + Hilarious, Theatrical Heroine + Unexpectedly Different Hero + He Has a Secret Crush on Her + Career-Obsessed Hero + Hopeless Romantic] Jiang Wan's boyfriend of two years cheated on her just before proposing. In a fit of anger, she agreed to her professor's arrangement and went on a blind date with the woman's son. She never expected it to be the start of her rise to the top. From then on, she had two university professors for in-laws, a lawyer husban 1.5kReads9.0Score167Shelves

   Reader note

   I'm really at a loss when it comes to the novels the questioner mentioned. There's one where the female lead's uncle asks his friend to take care of his niece, but ends up sleeping with her, and a third male lead takes her place. It's a little angsty. You can't read novels with your brain on. The first one is about a scumbag who cheats on the female lead before proposing, and then has a whirlwind marriage to a professor's son—a marriage of convenience that blossoms into love.

2. 2 沉 Lost in Tenderness 沉溺温柔 Yunyan韵妍Modern Romance99k WordsCompleted [Sweet romance + second male lead takes the lead + no rekindling after a breakup + the scumbag gets his comeuppance + both leads are inexperienced] [Cool beauty Shen Jin, eldest daughter of the Shen family, × gentle and cunning Master Jing] Shen Jin gave him six years of her youth, but never won his heart. She left without hesitation. She turned around and fell in love, never realizing that she was gradually stepping into one man’s trap. Who can tell me why the gentle big brother next door tu 118Reads8.7Score—Shelves
3. 3 哥 My Brother’s Friends Are Trouble 哥哥的兄弟不好惹 A Grain of White Sand一粒沙白Modern Romance465k WordsCompleted [Age gap] [Sweet campus romance] [Deeply devoted, scheming bad boy × goofy, straightforward sweetheart] What does it feel like to find out your buddy is dating your little sister? Lu Yi was unfazed. “What could she possibly lose? She weighs a hundred pounds, and ninety-nine of them are schemes. I’m worried you’ll get fooled out of your underwear!” Lu Qingyue: “Relax, I’ll definitely leave you your underwear.” Cheng Xingye: “???” 28.3kReads9.4Score2.9kShelves
4. 4 拯 Saving the Blind Supporting Male Character 拯救那个失明男配 Little Duckling小鸭鸭Modern Romance324k WordsCompleted [The male lead is a psychological counselor, and blind people can do the job too! The female lead isn’t the clever, strong-willed type, so don’t read if that’s not your thing. The male lead will recover later. Both leads are virgins, and it has a happy ending.] [A warm and sweet little story about an ordinary person stumbling through the effort to save someone else. This isn’t a wish-fulfillment rescue story or a tightly plotted, logic-heavy novel, so don’t read if that’s not your thing.] After 16kReads9.4Score1.8kShelves
5. 5 偷 Stealing the Springtime of Day 偷揽昼春 A Piece of Sticky Rice Cake一块糖粘糕Modern Romance374k WordsCompleted [Both leads are each other's only one + The second male lead takes the girl + Long-planned romance + Entertainment-industry dating show] [Rebellious, devoted wife-obsessed man x Cool-headed, rational beauty in a cheongsam] Yu Liao was Cen Chimo's ever-ready sidekick, docile and obedient, like a silent shadow. Cen Chimo shamelessly enjoyed her devotion and never imagined that one day she might leave. They met again on a dating show. Yu Liao wore a cheongsam, cool as snow, and didn't spare him 30.8kReads9.5Score4kShelves

   Reader note

   🫧Xiwei's Book Recommendations are Trustworthy🐧 🍓1 After years by his side, I never imagined he only treated me like a maid. Then I met him, and he made me feel what love is. He truly gave me an unprecedented sense of security. 🍓2 She went to someone else's birthday party. Seeing her standing next to another man, I felt like I had a lump of cotton stuck in my throat. This woman, she tries to coax me, but she even uses her age to hurt me. 🍓3 I saw him lock our marriage certificate in a safe, and he kept the supplementary black card for himself. I gradually got used to his presence...

6. 6 缱 Tenderly and Wildly Spoiled 缱绻肆宠 Soft Sheng软笙Modern Romance246k WordsCompleted [Captivating heiress meets sharp-tongued, scheming business tycoon, one-on-one, both devoted only to each other] Ni Jiaojiao thought her secret crush was finally seeing the light of day, but then she realized that a childhood friend could never compete with someone who came along out of nowhere. Ni Jiaojiao had quietly followed Yu Chen for seventeen years. When they grew up, they nearly made it to the altar, but while accompanying her to try on wedding dresses, he didn’t hesitate to go pick up h 202Reads8.3Score—Shelves
7. 7 他 His Gentle Seduction 他轻诱 Jie Jie芥婕Modern Romance345k WordsCompleted #A short drama adaptation under the same title is now streaming# [Love after marriage + he has been plotting this for years + slice of life + warm and sweet romance + the second male lead gets the girl] With her wedding day approaching, Jiang Nuanzhu runs into her fiancé at the hospital with his ex-girlfriend, whom he broke up with six years ago, as she undergoes a prenatal checkup. He claims he's only helping a widowed mother and her child. Jiang Nuanzhu refuses to raise someone else's child an 19.2kReads9.3Score1.9kShelves
8. 8 系 The System's a Clown, I Make Things Worse: Rebellious to the Core 系统沙雕我添堵，一身反骨离大谱 Ou Cong偶葱Modern Romance9.1M WordsCompleted They came from distinguished families and were beautiful, talented, and exceptional. But whenever they crossed paths with the male and female leads, they became brainless cannon fodder, burning themselves up to make the leads’ romance flourish until their dying breath. And now Gu Mo has become all those women from countless novels. System: Boss, you can face-slap the villains and break up those couples! Go get ’em! Gu Mo: I’m awesome! I can do this! Much later, the System stares in bewilderment 37.4kReads9.1Score3.1kShelves

   Reader note

   Story Synopsis: A fast-paced transmigration story where the female protagonist is a powerful and ruthless villain. Character Traits: The female protagonists are all very strong and insane. Main Character Relationships: System and Task Taker. Genre: No Romance. Recommended Rating: 23 stars.

9. 9 快 Quick Transmigration: After the Tragic-Novel Heroine Gets a Unhinged Script 快穿：当虐文女主拿了疯批剧本后 Ou Cong偶葱Modern Romance504k WordsCompleted In every tragic romance, the heroine is tormented by the hero until her heart is torn apart, and her heart, kidneys, and brain are cut out. Yet the heroine loves the hero without fail, devoting herself wholeheartedly to her career as his doormat. Now Jingsha has become the heroine of a tragic romance. She's obsessive, unstable, scummy, and downright crazy. She torments the male lead, then the male supporting character, then the female supporting character. In the end, they all love her but can n 8.8kReads9.3Score1.5kShelves
10. 10 快 Run! The Deranged Host Has No Heart 快跑，疯批宿主她没有心 Nai Naiyi奈奈一Modern Romance729k WordsCompleted [Quick Transmigration] [No Romance] [Strong Female Lead] Li Ku was once a piece of deadwood from the Primordial Realm, rootless and adrift in the abyss. Her daily routine was to watch countless great demons enter in perfect shape and leave missing limbs. One day, someone claiming to be a Tasker mistook her for a treasure and brought her back to the Time and Space Administration. No freeloaders were allowed there, so Li Ku, gathering dust, was kicked into a mission world. What was a mission? In t 6.4kReads9.3Score742Shelves
11. 11 傅 Mr. Fu's Exclusive Love 傅先生的独家宠爱 Loves Sour Pears爱吃酸梨Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Completed. The short drama Night's Gentle Embrace is now available. [Marry first, fall in love later + reunion after a long separation + long-planned romance + the second male lead wins + unrequited love becomes mutual + chasing his wife to the crematorium, but she never looks back + both leads are each other's first] (P.S. All sweetness, no angst.) Everyone in their circle knows Wen Yan is a servant in the Chu household and Chu Shiyu's nanny. She's been by his side since childhood, taking care 3.9kReads9.2Score414Shelves

    Reader note

    🍂① He never imagined his little follower would actually leave him and embrace someone else. Seeing the loving couple in front of him filled him with regret. 🍂② He had secretly loved her for a long time. Knowing that the other person didn't cherish her, and knowing she left him, he took the initiative to pursue her. 🍂③ He had secretly loved her for sixteen years. Hearing that she had broken off her engagement, he immediately went to propose, not wanting to miss his chance with her. 🍂④ Knowing she had broken up with her boyfriend, he immediately approached her, just so his secret love could become a reality.

12. 12 她 Her Soft Little Lips 她的小软唇 North and South of the River一江南北Modern Romance362k WordsCompleted [Marriage before love + secret crush becomes reality + second male lead wins her heart + no going back after the breakup + both leads are romantically inexperienced] Qi Haochuan was Su Mian's childhood sweetheart and boyfriend, but on his twenty-third birthday, she caught him cheating with her own eyes. Su Mian threw away the engagement ring and broke up with him on the spot. Lu Zheng, always refined and aloof, spoke up first. “Want to get back at your ex? Pick me. I'm very useful.” In a moment 5.2kReads9.3Score567Shelves
13. 13 渣 Scumbag Ex and Mistress, Stay Together Forever. I Remarry a Tycoon and Get Spoiled Rotten 渣夫小三请锁死，二嫁大佬被宠疯 A Long Time with You漫长与你Modern Romance455k WordsCompleted [Broken relationship, no getting back together + both leads' first love + second male lead rises to the top + heroine's growth + face-slapping + punishing scumbags] A dazzling financial journalist × a restrained, deeply devoted big shot After three years of marriage, her husband's first love, the woman he'd mourned as dead, came back to life. Ji Wanying was crushed. At last, she realized she'd wasted all those years giving her sincere love to a man who didn't deserve it. “Ji Wanying, your family 5.5kReads9.3Score783Shelves

    Reader note

    She dumped her cheating husband at the start, only to be seduced and lured to the marriage registry by a powerful man. The man and the female lead agreed to a marriage of convenience, but after the wedding, he relentlessly pursued her, showering her with affection. The cheating husband's entire family was filled with regret, but the female lead, having come to her senses, refused to forgive him. Only after her second marriage did she realize what it felt like to be cherished and pampered.

14. 14 爆 A Seduction Gone Wild! The Scheming Tycoon Pretends to Be Sweet and Coaxes Her Into a Whirlwind Marriage 爆撩！腹黑大佬装乖热吻诱哄闪婚 Little Moon Jun小月君Modern Romance308k WordsCompleted Pure romance, married first and fell in love later, the second male lead fights hard to win her over, a groveling pursuit of his wife, sweet and indulgent On the day he proposed, her boyfriend of many years walked out in front of everyone with a fake heiress in his arms. Proud as she was, Xue Yujing promptly announced that she was breaking up with Huo Yanting. Huo Yanting didn’t take it seriously. Xue Yujing loved him more than life itself; how could she possibly let him go? That is, until Xue Y 330Reads7.2Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male lead has been plotting his rise to power for a long time! Super sweet! Has a sweet side, and is gentle on the breasts!

15. 15 人 The Beauty Called Off Her Engagement, and the Chaste Tycoon Lost His Cool 人间尤物退婚后，禁欲大佬折了腰 Little Moon Jun小月君Modern Romance395k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + long-planned seduction + sizzling chemistry + sweet romance + both leads are each other's only ones] A gorgeous, sharp-tongued beauty * a scheming, abstinent, secretly passionate big shot. Leng Hua and her first love, Song Yan, were deeply in love and had gotten engaged early. Then the Leng family went bankrupt. Song Yan said, “Hua Hua, wait a little longer for the wedding. Once I've taken care of my family's affairs, I'll marry you.” And so Leng Hua waited, with no 4kReads9.1Score406Shelves
16. 16 言 Yan Zhi Is Courteous 言栀有礼 Beyond a Thousand Searches千寻之上Modern Romance257k WordsCompleted It was a plan long in the making, and he was determined to make it happen. Everyone in Shencheng was saying that Shen Shuli was not only an illegitimate son, but gay as well. What they didn't know was that Shen Shuli had spread the rumors himself, all to lure his prey in. Every move carefully planned, all for you. Shen Shuli: “I need a wife. I think Miss Ye would be perfect.” The author agrees. Hahaha. It turns out that meeting someone in this life is all fate. If destiny means for two people to 8.8kReads9.3Score871Shelves

    Reader note

    Very good. Long-planned, determined to succeed. Rumors are circulating in Shencheng that Shen Shuli is not only an illegitimate child but also gay. Little do they know, it was Shen Shuli who leaked the news, just to lure the fish into the trap. Every step is calculated, all for you. Shen Shuli: "I need a wife, and I think Miss Ye is very suitable." The author also thinks she's very suitable, hahaha. It turns out that in one's life, meeting someone is all predestined. If fate wants these two people to meet, no matter where or when, they will meet. No matter what, you will meet. The sentence before that is a blessing for them, and the sentence before that is a blessing for you.

17. 17 请 Please Flirt with Me 请对我撒娇 Dull Pear呆头梨Modern Romance510k WordsCompleted [Physical edition available for preorder on October 16 at 7 p.m.] Reunion after years apart + unrequited love fulfilled + marriage before love + both are each other's first Radiant violinist × devoted rising business tycoon Everyone in Haicheng knew that Xu Mei, the eldest daughter of the Xu family, had pursued Lu Zhiyan, the eldest son of the Lu family, for years without winning his heart. Later, Xu Mei finally got what she wanted, only to receive a photo of Lu Zhiyan kissing someone else on th 61.9kReads9.4Score5.2kShelves

    Reader note

    Yu Liao was Cen Chi Mo's ever-present follower, obedient and docile, like a silent shadow. Cen Chi Mo enjoyed her submissiveness without restraint, never imagining that one day she would leave. Their next meeting was at Lian Zong. Yu Liao, dressed in a cheongsam, was as aloof as snow, and didn't glance at him again. Cen Chi Mo regretted it. He knocked on Yu Liao's door, his voice low and humble, "Liao Liao, I was wrong, come back." The door opened, and a man in a loosely draped shirt stepped out, his eyes slightly curved, exuding a nonchalant yet noble air. "Mr. Cen, this is my wife."

18. 18 肆 A Wanton Kiss of Passion 肆意吻情 Heng Ye恒叶Modern Romance362k WordsCompleted [Love after marriage + the second male lead takes the lead + long-laid plans + devoted couple + three-year age gap + the second male lead and heroine reunite after a long separation] [A stunningly beautiful, sweet-natured heroine + a devoted, flirtatious young tea tycoon] (Note: this is not a strong-woman story, and the heroine does not dominate the narrative.) She used to hear her mother say that once she graduated from college, she and Jiang Wang would get engaged and then married. She waited 12.3kReads9.1Score1.1kShelves
19. 19 深 Tenderly Coaxed and Seduced 深情哄诱 Full-Mark Candy满分糖Modern Romance320k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + long-planned romance + the second male lead gets the girl + the ex regrets it and tries to win her back, but she never turns back + both leads are each other's only partner] [Shrewd business tycoon × sweet, energetic jewelry designer] - Shen Tingyue has loved Song Wenjing since childhood. She is the Song family's adopted daughter and his childhood sweetheart, promised to him in marriage long ago. Then, the day before they were supposed to register their marriage, 20.5kReads9.3Score2.9kShelves
20. 20 他 He Keeps Flirting and Playing Hard to Get! The Rebellious Tycoon Spoils Her Until She Gets Pregnant 他又撩又茶！被桀骜大佬宠到怀孕 Jiang Wenyu江问鱼Modern Romance280k WordsCompleted [Marriage Before Love + The Second Male Lead Takes the Lead + Mutual Firsts + Secret Love Turns to Love + Redemption] [The Whole Family Gets Their Comeuppance, and She Won't Forgive Them] In the third week after agreeing to date Gu Chengfeng, Yu Zhiwan heard him say: “The Yu family’s real daughter they found isn’t even loved by them. I’m just playing around with her.” “Remember the first day Yu Zhiwan came back to the Yu family? She’s allergic to pineapple, and her two biological brothers delibe 25.2kReads9.3Score3.1kShelves
21. 21 婚 After Marriage, the Aloof Beauty Is Held by the Weary Tycoon, Who Kisses and Clings to Her 婚后清冷美人被厌世大佬搂腰缠吻 Cranes Part from Green Mountains鹤别青山Modern Romance216k WordsCompleted [Short drama now available] [Both Pure + Marriage First, Love Later + Secretly Planned for a Long Time + Sweet Everyday Romance] A devoted-to-his-wife young master × a cool, aloof finance department beauty Gu Zhiyan confidently believes that with Shen Nanyin's family background, she'll come crawling back to him sooner or later. Until he sees her get into the Lu family's exclusive luxury car with his own eyes. One night, Gu Zhiyan gets blackout drunk and pounds on the door, his eyes red as he beg 42.1kReads9.4Score5.2kShelves
22. 22 夺 Claiming Her as My Wife 夺她为妻 Sweet Knife with Fire Wheels带风火轮的甜刀Modern Romance480k WordsCompleted [The male lead’s desperate pursuit to win her back + the second male lead takes his place] Yu Sheng was the heir to a prestigious family with a century of history. His secret wife was an obscure hand model. When his wife asked for a divorce, he readily agreed. He chatted over drinks with his friends. “I’m just trying to teach her a lesson. Give it some time, and she’ll come back on her own.” But when Yu Sheng finally turned back, his eyes red, she had already become someone else’s wife. Yu Sheng 12.1kReads9.0Score1.1kShelves
23. 23 强 Forced Spoiling! My New Husband Cherishes Me Above All Else 强制娇宠！被闪婚老公捧在心尖宠 Qing Qing Ci轻卿辞Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Everyone in their circle knew that Su Wanci, hailed as a “fairy among mortals,” had been kept by Fu Jingzhou for eight years. People all thought they were about to get married, but overnight, Fu Jingzhou cruelly clipped all of Su Wanci’s wings. He thought he could finally control her completely, keep her as a canary in a gilded cage, and possess her for the rest of her life. He never expected that she would turn around and marry Lu Yu, heir to a powerful family with a century of history, the one 12.9kReads9.3Score1.4kShelves

    Reader note

    This can be described as the second male lead's rise to power being premeditated.

24. 24 锁 A Kiss Beneath the Collarbone 锁骨生欢 Snow Firefirefire雪火火火Modern Romance331k WordsCompleted Everyone in their circle knew Su Qingyun loved Lu Shuyan. She had waited for him for six years, never imagining that with their wedding day approaching, all she would get was a declaration from the Lu family: Their engagement had been nothing more than a joke between the older generation. And the man she was engaged to had never said a word about it, from beginning to end. Everyone was waiting to see the once-adored young heiress become a laughingstock. Su Qingyun simply turned away and, in no t 2.1kReads8.8Score216Shelves

    Reader note

    "I didn't want to get married before because the person I loved was promised to someone else. I never thought that one day I would get what I wanted." The male protagonist had a crush on the female protagonist for 14 years, silently doing things for her from behind. He was willing to do anything for her without considering personal gain or loss. The days of unrequited love were very difficult, but fortunately, he finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

25. 25 替 Your Stand-In of Five Years Won’t Renew Her Contract, So Why Are You Rushing to Marry Your Brother? 替身五年不续约，嫁你兄弟急什么 Mumu's Fishing沐沐的渔Modern Romance303k WordsCompleted [Male Lead’s Long Game + Second Male Lead’s Regret and Pursuit + Sweet Romance, Both Pure + Face-Slapping and Smacking Down Scumbags] The short drama The Five Years They Stole has premiered. A scheming, abstinent, dangerously charming tycoon × a radiant, pampered beauty with a stubborn streak Mu Qingyou is the fake heiress who was switched at birth into the Mu family. Overnight, the haughty little princess became a fake whom everyone despised. Mu Qingyou would never forget that heavy rain when s 5.2kReads9.0Score563Shelves

    Reader note

    After a whirlwind divorce at the start, she marries her ex-husband's brother. The male lead suffers a terrible fate, while the second male lead dotes on her sweetly. 🥰

26. 26 成 Becoming an Immortal 成仙 Carefree Little Drunk小酒轻狂Ancient Romance49k WordsCompleted She cultivated bitterly for a thousand years, finally getting her wish to stay by Li Xiao's side. But on the day of their wedding, she woke up in the Demon Realm, and all their affection was crushed to pieces. He sentenced her to the lash of a blazing whip and the icy torments of a frozen mountain, making her suffer the agony of having her immortal bones stripped away. When he married again, his bride was Ling Shuang, the Immortal Maiden who had ground her bones to dust. She begged the King of t 10Reads8.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These books are good; the second male lead gets the upper hand.

27. 27 殿 Your Highness, the Crown Princess Doesn't Deserve to Die 殿下，太子妃罪不至死 An Zhiyi安知意Ancient Romance338k WordsCompleted [Make the scumbag suffer + never look back] The Crown Prince's first love dies, and his Crown Princess is accused of murder. He personally shoves her into the depths of despair, where she endures humiliation and torment. Three years later, the truth is bitterly ironic: his first love never died. Not only has she become the old emperor's favorite concubine, she's even given the scumbag Crown Prince a younger brother? The Crown Prince has been cuckolded, and now he regrets everything! Holding the 468Reads8.3Score—Shelves
28. 28 我 After I Died, the Beautiful Hostage Jumped from the City Tower 我死后，美人质子他跳了城楼 Jiujiu Qi久久萋Ancient Romance379k WordsCompleted [The writing falls apart, don't read...] [Reborn + doted on by everyone + sweet romance] [Relationship-focused / devoted couple / not much revenge or face-slapping] [Warning: Aside from his good looks and his love for the female lead, the male lead is good for nothing] Only after Jiang Yichi died did she learn that what she'd once believed was fate had been a lie. Everything the scumbag enjoyed had been stolen from that man. She watched that man take revenge for her by personally killing her ene 5.6kReads9.2Score411Shelves
29. 29 折 The Delicate Beauty’s Tears 折娇啼 Jing Mo旌墨Ancient Romance573k WordsCompleted [The hero regrets everything to the point of madness + the leads torment each other + a friend steals the heroine away + the second male lead gets the girl + no reconciliation after a breakup + pure historical angst + the heroine ends up with the second male lead] Shen Yanzhi, heir to the Marquis of Jinghai in the Great Chu Kingdom, had just come third in the palace examination when he was unexpectedly captured by the Eastern Qiang Kingdom and married off to Qin Guiwan, a woman of Eastern Qiang 8.2kReads9.3Score875Shelves
30. 30 摄 The Regent's Uncle's Little One Is Begging for Affection Again 摄政王皇叔家的崽崽又撒娇了 Ye Buhong叶不鸿Ancient Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Complete] In her previous life, Murujin devoted herself to the crown prince, only to have her position as empress taken away, her military seal confiscated, and a cup of poisoned wine sent to kill her in the Cold Palace. Three years later, Murujin is reborn. She swears to overthrow the emperor and plunge the kingdom into chaos! Word has it that the usually aloof Prince Regent Qi Junxian now has a willful little girl by his side, one who sweetly calls him "Uncle Emperor." "Your Highness! The you 17.3kReads9.4Score2.2kShelves
31. 31 王 My Lord, the Princess Consort Says She’ll Never See You Again 王爷，王妃说此生不复相见 Jing Mo旌墨Ancient Romance421k WordsCompleted [Historical Romance Tragedy + No Getting Back Together + Second Male Lead Takes the Lead] A tragic romance! A tragic romance! A tragic romance! Ye Chuyan loved Pei Xiuyan for twelve years, but never moved him in the slightest. All she got in return was Pei Xiuyan wiping out the Ye family and having her father and brothers tortured to death over three days in the snow. At last, she understood: for the rest of her life, there would be no love between her and Pei Xiuyan, only hatred, until one o 26.7kReads9.3Score1.7kShelves
32. 32 闻 My Love, Come to Me in a Dream 闻君入梦来 Gu Shisan顾十三Ancient Romance953k WordsCompleted Five years ago, he led his troops to war, intending to welcome her as his wife with ten miles of wedding finery. Five years later, she betrayed their love, ended their child’s life, and became his father’s woman. He hated her betrayal. He branded her face, severed her fingers, and even killed their daughter! She swore she would make him pay for every drop of blood. When all the secrets came to light, he was consumed with regret. “A Zuo, don’t go...” She turned and plunged her sword into his 601Reads7.7Score—Shelves
33. 33 魅 The Enchantress Who Bewitched the World 魅姬惑天下 Black-Hearted Cat黑心的猫Ancient Romance2.0M WordsCompleted Chu Xiao, regent of the Yan Dynasty. Yu Ge, a peerless dancer. He used her as a pawn to win over the powerful, climb to the heights of power, and marry the treacherous chancellor's daughter. They took her body, killed her child, and murdered her mother. She swore to make these hypocrites pay for their blood debt. Then, in a single day, her astonishing true identity was revealed. Three thousand bewitching women, five hundred poison masters, and over ten thousand elite soldiers knelt throughout th 823Reads8.8Score174Shelves
34. 34 乔 Dr. Qiao, I Want to Help You Collect Rent 乔医生，我想帮你收租 Fu Long伏珑Modern Romance756k WordsCompleted Jing Yan spent five years in love with Chu Yi, only to hear that his first love had moved into his home, instead of getting a wedding announcement. Her love for him faded away in an instant. After the breakup, she meets her landlord for the first time. Mr. Qiao is a doctor. The next time she sees him, she learns he’s also a property owner. In her everyday life, Dr. Qiao is the very picture of a mature, dependable adult man. One night, Jing Yan sends Dr. Qiao a tentative message: “Maybe I don’t w 2.7kReads9.2Score377Shelves
35. 35 蜜 A Long-Planned Scheme: Mr. Mo’s Captive in the Palm of His Hand 蜜谋已久：墨先生的掌心囚 Jing Xu鲸栩Modern Romance701k WordsCompleted Situ Xi miscarried, and Mo Sihan was convinced that Qiao Yi had drugged the food Situ Xi ate. To punish Qiao Yi, Mo Sihan had people dig up the ashes of her recently buried father, Qiao Dongnan, then scattered them himself right in front of her. Before the divorce, Mo Sihan said, “Qiao Yi, what I hate most is that self-righteous, high-and-mighty look of yours, when you’re out there doing such filthy, despicable things!” After the divorce, Qiao Yi rose from the ashes. Mo Sihan knelt outside her d 107Reads6.8Score—Shelves
36. 36 重 Reborn as a Wild Wife: Mr. Jiang, Sign Here! 重生狂妻：姜总，请签字！ June Drizzle六月轻雨Modern Romance2.0M WordsCompleted Wen Ning loved him with all her heart for ten years, only to be burned alive by his moonlight, the woman he cherished most. Jiang Chuhan thought that woman was nothing more than a maid he kept at home. Even marriage wouldn't change her status, until he received the news that she wanted a divorce… “Why do you want a divorce?” Jiang Chuhan asked arrogantly. This woman couldn't survive without him. “Weren't you hoping I'd die so your precious moonlight could take my place? I'll make your wish come 153Reads6.7Score103Shelves
37. 37 虐 Tortured into Madness: After His Wife’s Death, Mr. Lu Went Mad 虐爱成痴：虐死夫人后，陆总发狂了 Diao Chan Teases Dong Zhuo貂蝉戏董卓Modern Romance2.1M WordsCompleted Ye Qingfan loved Lu Zhongxian so much that she lost herself and gave up everything. In return, her family was destroyed, she lost it all, and she died full of hatred. As the truth slowly came to light, Lu Zhongxian finally realized that what he most wanted to see was Ye Qingfan's sparkling eyes. Given another chance at life, she decided that any other fool could have the scumbag. Ye Qingfan was busy taking down the scheming homewrecker, climbing step by step to the peak of her career. Second Mas 35Reads6.5Score—Shelves
38. 38 灰 The Gray Lotus 灰莲花 Clouds of Rough Noodles Again又见糙面云Modern Romance819k WordsCompleted [A textbook case of realist business warfare + a deeply romantic, top-tier intellectual romance] The world has gone mad. A top-tier rich, handsome young heir is forced to compete with his wealthy wife for a lover... “If she likes me and I like her too, then we’ll each have to prove ourselves.” The male lead is loaded with resources and comes with every advantage, while the female lead has brains and beauty and rises from humble beginnings. A textbook case of realist business warfare, arranged fa 37.7kReads9.4Score4.5kShelves

    Reader note

    This is an absolute masterpiece of contemporary romance novels. I'm so glad I didn't miss it! The career and romance storylines are both superb. It's perfect for highly intelligent readers. The writing is so good that I became quite critical after reading it. I hope someone can recommend something similar to me. Thank you!

39. 39 他 He Had Been Plotting This for a Long Time 他早已蓄谋已久 Chubby Little Seven胖小七Modern Romance143k WordsOngoing A slow-burn story Years later, President Song would hold his young wife close and remember that day, his eyes still shimmering with emotion. The sky was so blue that day, and the clouds so white. She said she loved him. She said she would wait for him. She said he was gentler than the sea. She took his hand and had his surname tattooed on her ring finger, and his name tattooed over her heart. Dear readers, first, this story takes place in a parallel world. Second, the exams are just like ours, —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These kinds of books are so hard to find; I only found novels that had been planned for a long time 🤦, and they were even romance novels 🤦

40. 40 青 Green Hills Like Jade 青山似玉 Agate Squire玛瑙员外Modern Romance386k WordsCompleted (The print edition is now available) [Love after marriage, age gap, slow-burn everyday sweetness] *A gentle beauty from a family of scholars × a refined, fatherly man *A comic artist with a billion in assets × an influential Beijing aristocrat and chamber of commerce chairman Chu Shuang knew from childhood that she was promised to the Sheng family of the imperial capital, but she had never met her fiancé. Later, by a twist of fate, she moved into the Sheng residence and met her friend’s older br 134.8kReads9.5Score15.5kShelves

    Reader note

    I absolutely love these two books! 🤤🤤🤤

41. 41 她 She's So Disobedient 她这么不乖 A Little Peach一只桃Modern Romance227k WordsCompleted [Redemption + healing + the second male lead takes the lead + marriage before love] “She keeps clinging to me, and it’s so annoying. People have misunderstood us for more than ten years. If I don’t marry her, how will she ever get married?” The boy’s frivolous smile meets a pair of clear, bright eyes. Su You and Shen Qi have been childhood friends for more than ten years. She thought she could never leave him, but it turns out no one is truly indispensable. When they meet again, she is Mrs. Fu. 472Reads9.1Score104Shelves
42. 42 分 After the Breakup, I Married My Ex-Boyfriend's Archenemy 分手后，我嫁给了前男友的死对头 Iced Four-Fruit Soup四果汤加冰Modern Romance505k WordsCompleted Everyone in City A knew that Ji Qingtang, the eldest daughter of the Ji family, had been madly in love with Lu Xingye, the head of the Lu family, for years. After three years together, they got engaged without a hitch. But then Lu Xingye’s first love, the woman he had always cherished, suddenly returned from abroad. The night before the engagement, photos of the two of them embracing were leaked, and everyone waited to see Ji Qingtang become a laughingstock. Ji Qingtang wasted no time getting ma 1.6kReads8.6Score160Shelves

    Reader note

    This one, but it doesn't feel quite right.

43. 43 甜 Sweet Temptation, Tender Spoiling! Mr. Gu Has Been Plotting This for a Long Time 甜诱，撩宠！顾先生蓄谋已久 Yu Yang鱼漾Modern Romance404k WordsCompleted [Ice-cold beauty and top jewelry designer × scheming, theatrically devoted husband | One-on-one romance | Both leads are each other's first and only | Sweet romance | Love-triangle drama] Wen Nian, known as an “ice-cold beauty,” returned to the country for Pei Jinyi, only to discover that the movie star had spent five years carefully weaving a tender trap for her. She said, “Pei Jinyi, don't worry. I, Wen Nian, can take whatever you dish out. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.” 504Reads9.0Score100Shelves
44. 44 以 In the Name of the Rose 以玫瑰之名 Lin Di'er林笛儿Modern Romance329k WordsCompleted [The regretful ex’s arduous pursuit + the second male lead steadily claims the top spot + putting the scheming ex in her place] When she married him, she knew there was someone else in his heart. But lovers rarely get their happy ending, and he and that person could never be together. Then that person came back. Later, she met a man with captivating, peach-blossom eyes. Their encounter began with a little temptation and a little revenge... This is a story of a promise: the distance between him a 4.9kReads9.5Score563Shelves

    Reader note

    Long-planned, 🥰🥰🥰 The second male lead used his beauty to seize power step by step. At their wedding, she knew he still harbored feelings for his beloved, but true love is often destined to be apart; he and that person could never be together. But then, that person returned…

45. 45 诱 She Seduces Him, and the Hong Kong District's Little Tyrant Turns into a Lovable Goofball 诱她，港区小霸王秒变二哈 Not So Dark Under the Lamp灯下不黑黑Modern Romance644k WordsCompleted [Secret crush x sweet romance x the second male lead wins] [Can be both cool and sweet x the little tyrant of Hong Kong] That July, Feng Wu climbed a tree to rescue a cat. Xu Xingchi happened to pass by and pulled up the hem of his T-shirt. “Awu, toss the cat down. Your big brother will catch it.” In the blink of an eye, Xu Xingchi had grown up. He gave her a cold smile. “Feng Wu, eat the mango for her, and I’ll agree to get engaged to you.” With everyone watching, Feng Wu ate the mango bite by 27kReads9.2Score3.6kShelves
46. 46 偷 Stealing Jade into My Arms 偷玉入怀 Qu Buzhi曲不知Modern Romance369k WordsCompleted [Novella + devoted couple + sweet romance + love after marriage + second male lead takes the lead + a green tea schemer steals someone's partner + long-planned pursuit + secret love] Fu Huaizhou lowered himself to get close to Li Yueting and became his friend. Then he stole a piece of jade from him. That piece of jade was called Pei Yan. Li Yueting cursed him: “Fu Huaizhou, I hope you die a horrible death.” Fu Huaizhou didn't care. Without Pei Yan, he really would be as good as dead. If Pei Yan 5.1kReads9.2Score470Shelves

    Reader note

    I personally think the second male lead getting the role of the sequel is really appealing 🤭🤭

47. 47 和 After Dumping My Jerk Ex, My Secret Crush Spoils Me Rotten 和渣男分手后，被暗恋男神宠上天 Zhuang Ning妆凝Modern Romance241k WordsCompleted Jiang Xiaoxiao had been with Qin Lanchuan for five years. She followed him around like a little shadow, only to hear him say, “You don’t even measure up to a single strand of her hair.” So Jiang Xiaoxiao promptly dumped the scumbag and set her sights on the Ji family. … The Ji family was the foremost wealthy clan in Sucheng, far beyond Jiang Xiaoxiao’s reach. Yet somehow, she caught the eye of the family’s head. After Ji Ningyuan used his sweet-and-sly tricks to win his way into her heart, w 100Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Since you don't cherish her, then I'll protect her! The devoted second male lead has cunningly risen to power!

48. 48 离 Let’s Get a Divorce. I’m Going Home to Inherit Billions 离婚吧，我要回家继承亿万家产 Little Uncle小叔叔Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted After three years of marriage, Shen Chu thought even Bo Munian's heart could be warmed by her. But when he forced her to kneel in the Bo family ancestral hall, Shen Chu realized that Bo Munian had no heart at all. What was the point of staying with a man who had no heart? So when Bo Munian made her choose between kneeling and getting a divorce, Shen Chu chose divorce without hesitation. Why should she waste the best years of her life on a jerk like Bo Munian? Wouldn't it be better to go home, in 2.6kReads8.3Score382Shelves

    Reader note

    This was originally supposed to be the second male lead taking over.

49. 49 沈 Mr. Shen, Hurry and Win Her Back, Your White Moonlight Finally Broke Up 沈总快追，你的白月光终于分手了 Little White Isn't Afraid of the Dark小白不怕黑Modern Romance464k WordsCompleted [Secret crush and redemption + the aloof beauty falls from grace + the second male lead wins + he loves and spoils her to bits] Su Tiancheng sees her childhood sweetheart with a sexy woman on each arm and curses him. “Shen Jin'an, you're like a dog. Keep you on a leash and you're well-behaved. The second I let go, you go around eating shit.” Shen Jin'an looks both cowardly and fierce. “I didn't eat any.” Su Tiancheng is disheartened. “You didn't eat any, but you sniffed plenty. You stink already 497Reads5.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    His readily available love was a luxury I could only dream of. Ten years of waiting and devotion finally paid off.

50. 50 栀 A Gardenia Kiss on a Silken Waist 栀吻软腰 Blue Cabbage蓝色卷心菜Modern Romance298k WordsCompleted [The second male lead wins her heart × 1v1, devoted to each other, sweet romance × childhood sweetheart gets a proper funeral] [Proud, slow-to-warm financial journalist × devoted, cunning male fox] They’d been childhood sweethearts for over a decade. Everyone thought Wen Zhi would do anything Zhou Ziyi asked and would never leave, no matter how far he went. So when she walked away, Zhou Ziyi scoffed. “She’s just throwing a tantrum. A few days to cool off and she’ll be fine.” But when he stopped 3.7kReads8.4Score388Shelves

    Reader note

    ❤️Rose doesn't need to grow tall; the sunset will bend it low. The childhood sweetheart didn't cherish her, but the female lead, clear-headed and decisive, dumped him and left. The second male lead seizes every opportunity for a series of chance encounters~ Go, second male lead!

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