Any Books with Smart Characters That Aren't Cringey Enough to Make Me Want to Hide Under a Table? 啊有没有长脑子能看的书，别尬的抠三室一厅了

1. 1 怪 Strange Tales Livestream! 怪谈直播间！ Stone Giant Monster石头巨怪Mystery1.3M WordsCompleted Welcome to the Rules of the Strange. This is a battle of blood and fire, a test of wit and courage. The power of words cannot be resisted, and the eerie rules must not be broken. In a seemingly hopeless situation, find the one correct answer, break free of your constraints, and search for a way to survive. 173.8kReads9.7Score17.6k14d adds

   Reader note

   You burned out the CPU.

2. 2 末 Apocalypse Livestream: The Streamer Is an Ice Archer 末世直播：主播竟是寒冰射手 Little Pea小豌豆儿Sci-Fi & Apocalypse361k WordsOngoing [Plants vs. Zombies character personification + multiple apocalypses + quick transmigration + livestreaming + ensemble cast + no romance for the protagonist + secondary couples + focus on family and friendship] (This story makes some original changes to the Plants vs. Zombies setting. Only plants from the first game appear, and the encyclopedia follows the first game as well, though some elements of Garden Warfare have been mixed into the setting.) (Please note that some chapters in Volume 2 are 430Reads8.9Score10814d adds

   Reader note

   I believe the plot isn't awkward, and all the foreshadowing is resolved! If you're interested, please check it out! This is a new book by a new author, self-promoting and asking for your feedback! It's a post-apocalyptic livestream + quick transmigration + PVZ + micro-ensemble scenes (see the synopsis for more details). There's no romantic pairing, but there are many descriptions of family and friendship. The new book is just starting out with 200,000 words, with a guaranteed 4,000+ words updated daily. The first volume, Zombie Apocalypse, has ended, and a small phase of the supplementary side stories has been completed. I'm currently starting the second volume, Ice Age!

3. 3 卿 My Beloved, Through Every Dawn and Dusk 卿是朝朝暮暮 Sugar-Roasted Little Deer糖炒小鹿Ancient Romance332k WordsCompleted Shen Yunshu studied archaeology and had been working for just two years. She loved history, and her favorite dynasty was the Rong Dynasty. A few days ago, she had read an unofficial history of the Rong Dynasty's royal family. Little did she expect that after falling asleep, she would wake up in the Rong Dynasty, sent there by the heavens, as Shen Yunshu, the legitimate daughter of the Shen family of Prince Zhenbei's residence. She had transmigrated to her favorite dynasty and become a descendant 24.2kReads9.5Score3k14d adds

   Reader note

   This book!!! This book is really good!! Ahhh, the female lead is so intelligent, the supporting characters are well-developed, and there's no forced stupidity! And the love story between Yun Shu and Yu Wushuang is so beautiful! I cried so much after reading the extra chapters—they finally became a couple after two lifetimes!

4. 4 情 Record of a Broken Heart 情殇录 Yun Xi Fengliu云兮风流Eastern Fantasy1.1M WordsCompleted [Traditional Martial Arts, No Cultivation to Immortality, No System, Two Male Leads: A Yun and Fengliu] A tribute to Jin Yong and Gu Long, continuing the classics. As the brush sets the world in motion, one dream leads into the martial world. Experience tales of the jianghu and savor the many faces of life. Synopsis: County Magistrate Lin resigns and heads home, only to encounter bandits on the way. He and his wife are both killed. Their beloved daughter, Lin Xueyi, is rescued by Yun Shisanlang, 180Reads8.2Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Self-recommendation. I'm recommending a classic martial arts novel I wrote myself. While I wouldn't claim every word is a gem or every sentence exquisite, it's certainly a labor of love, painstakingly crafted day and night. The entire text contains absolutely no magic, immortal arts, magical treasures, or so-called systems. It breaks free from clichés and conventional structures, drawing inspiration from Jin Yong's stories and Gu Long's martial arts world. Martial arts are the foundation, chivalry the soul, and it incorporates reflections on human nature, depictions of everyday life, and the diverse aspects of people's lives, embellished with poetry and songs, striving for innovation. It uses literature to express chivalry and give a voice to the weak. The writing is close to historical fact. I won't boast about the writing style, plot details, or descriptions, but I believe it has its merits, which you'll immediately recognize. The book is over 1.12 million words long, with 520 chapters already completed. It's being revised and polished before release, with two or three updates daily. Welcome to read! I am determined to carry the banner of martial arts fiction and continue the classics, even if I can't carry it all. If this book flops, I'll write another martial arts novel and keep flopping—this stems from the pride and stubbornness of a scholar. Those who know me say I am worried; those who don't know me say I'm bragging.

5. 5 穿 Transmigrating Through the Light Realm 穿越光界 Song Lu松渌Sci-Fi & Apocalypse328k WordsOngoing Beneath a peaceful and prosperous age, a new crisis is quietly approaching... The genius girl Yun Youyou has just become a rising star of the Alliance. Holding the pendant given to her by the little boy she knew as a child, she recalls everything about him from those days. “Will we meet again? If we do, will you be with me?” What will happen next? This novel is based on the characters and content of the game CrossFire, combined with my own imagination. I hope you enjoy it. 4Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   This is a fan fiction you absolutely can't miss! Based on the characters and content of the game "CrossFire," the novel features clever character development, a tightly woven and logically structured plot, relatable content, rigorous logic without being simplistic, a fast-paced narrative, a concise writing style, numerous settings, and unique content that will keep you hooked!

6. 6 欢 Welcome to the Real World 欢迎来到真实世界 Folded-Earroot That Won't Fold折耳根不折Urban594k WordsOngoing Synopsis: Every character in this book is smart. Nobody suddenly gets stupid for the sake of the plot. [Deduction + Plot + Twists + Rule-Based Mysteries + Humor + Group Chat + No Female Lead + Xuanhuan + High Martial + Magic + Xianxia + Transmigration + Mecha + Beast Taming + Superpowers + Giant of Light + ...] With this many layers of buffs, can’t we win you over? In a nutshell: [Rigorous logic, tightly woven plot, story-driven, no mindless power fantasy!] (Note: If something seems unreasonable 1kReads8.5Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   Those who have seen this are starting to use their brains! [Learned it!]

7. 7 我 I Turned the Horror World Into a Raising Game! 我把惊悚世界玩成养成游戏！ Yu Zuo予作Mystery2.3M WordsCompleted A mysterious force descended upon Earth, giving rise to another world of terror. Everyone was forcibly sent into the world of horror games on their eighteenth birthday. While everyone else was immersed in fear, struggling to survive in the cracks between life and death, Qin Nuo discovered that he could earn System rewards by influencing the ghosts’ emotions. And every time he completed a dungeon, he could establish his own business in the world of horror. So he became a food runner at the Yin Sp 113kReads9.5Score12.3k14d adds

   Reader note

   The first one is impossible to read without a brain; it will leave you completely confused, or you'll have to force yourself to think. It's well-written, as long as you get through the beginning. The second and third ones also require some brainpower; I haven't read them much, but others have recommended them.

8. 8 怪 Strange Tales Livestream 怪谈直播间 Chong Xiayueban虫下月半Mystery3.1M WordsCompleted The sound of meat being chopped eerily echoes through a bun shop in the dead of night. The passengers on the last bus all have the same face. On a freezing, rainy night, someone wearing funeral clothes wanders the streets... The Strange Tales livestream takes you deep into the hidden side of this world! 13.8kReads8.9Score1.2k14d adds
9. 9 成 What on Earth Is This? Complete in Two Volumes (The Original Novel Behind the Hit Drama Starring Wang Churan and Cheng Lei) 成何体统：全二册（王楚然、丞磊主演热播影视剧原著） Qi Yingjun七英俊Anime Fanfiction314k WordsCompleted What is it like to transmigrate into a web novel and become the tyrant's bedmate? After a few simple calculations, Yu Wanyin reached a conclusion: she would have to find another way. In this story full of villains, if she wanted to carve out a path to survival, she had to become the biggest villain of all. First, help the tyrant take down Prince Duan, then take down the tyrant and become empress herself. But when she met the tyrant and carefully considered the strange sense of familiarity in his 40kReads9.7Score6.1k14d adds

   Reader note

   Intelligent and imaginative, I highly recommend the first book! The second book is also amazing. Both the first and last books lean towards the infinite flow genre and have suspense elements.

10. 10 我 Me and an NPC Compete to See Who Can Act Better 我和NPC互彪演技 Pine Wind Scatters Snow松风溅雪Modern Romance837k WordsCompleted A horror game full of screams. After the truly theatrical Shu Muxian entered the game, the horror game took an unexpected turn. While everyone else trembled with fear, Shu Muxian passionately confessed to the chainsaw doctor: “The moment I met you was the beginning of my heartbeat.” Facing the Slit-Mouthed Woman, she said: “I'd be happy to apply lipstick for you for the rest of my life, so your mouth won't crack open.” Teammates: Is this woman crazy? Purehearted NPC: She's after me! Shu Muxian: 297Reads9.1Score10014d adds
11. 11 惊 What?! An NPC from the Escape Game Is Clinging to Me 惊！我被逃生游戏的npc缠上了 Wen Ke Gui文可归Mystery260k WordsCompleted [Infinite-Flow + Two Powerful Leads + 1v1 Romance + Love and Hate] After Ni Ke killed herself, she somehow ended up in a horror game. In the first instance, she foolishly provoked an unknown NPC. Afterward, she completed the mission and made a quick getaway. She thought it was all over and that she'd finally escaped his clutches, but then he showed up as an NPC again in the second instance, holding a grudge and blocking her at every turn. She finally lost her temper and smashed the NPC's head wi 925Reads9.2Score11414d adds
12. 12 在 I Found a Partner in the Escape Game’s Trash Can 在逃生游戏的垃圾桶里捡了个对象 Bu Zhi Yun KK不知云KKModern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Infinite Flow + A Little Goofy + The Ex-Wife-Chasing Crematorium] An Qu has always lived in a Mary Sue world. Then, out of nowhere, someone kicks her off a mountain, and a second later she's in an Infinite Flow world. The sudden change in tone catches her completely off guard. Fortunately, An Qu adapts like a champ and goes wild in the horror worlds! What she doesn't know is that promising newcomers are livestreamed to all the “players.” So everyone watches her outrageous stunts, and plenty of 931Reads9.3Score14614d adds
13. 13 小 A Little Land of Mountains and Rivers 小山河 Beidou Erniang北斗二娘Mystery937k WordsCompleted When Chi Xia first joins the special investigations team, Luo Xun strongly recommends transferring her elsewhere. The intern is so thin-limbed and wooden, like she can barely keep her eyes open. What makes her suitable for this team? She’d be much better off in Publicity! The thin-limbed intern says nothing, responding to everything with, “Captain Luo, solving the case comes first.” Luo Xun is so frustrated he can barely contain himself. The team is doomed, he thinks. Before long, Captain Luo ge 72.1kReads9.5Score12.9k14d adds
14. 14 此 The Sacred Lament of This World 此世圣殇 Black Hall黑色殿堂Urban242k WordsOngoing Quantum entanglement means that any particle exists as a superposition of two states. The world made up of particles is no different. Chu Zhengling is an utterly ordinary college freshman, fretting over his crush on an upperclasswoman who works at KFC. Little does he know that behind his peaceful life, the divine-right dynasty hidden within reality has already opened its arms to him. —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A high-quality book, on par with physical print books, completely free of filler and clichés. The story is grand, the writing is vivid, and the imagery is superb. I've attached some screenshots. If you dislike mindless stories and prefer high-quality content, remember to bookmark this!

15. 15 规 Rule Horror: I Crush You in the Name of Dragon Country 规则怪谈：代表龙国碾压你 Duanmu Kuai Zi端木筷子Mystery765k WordsOngoing [No Romance + No System + A Little Backrooms + Foundation Universe + Packed with Memes] But note that this story takes plenty of liberties ⚠️⚠️ [Current progress: The eighth dungeon, Xiaojing Town, is complete. The ninth dungeon, “Nian,” is currently updating.] Rule-based horror descends upon Blue Star. Each country has one chosen person selected at random to fight in a horror world on another plane, representing their nation! Victory strengthens their National Fate; defeat means death and a dec 2.3kReads9.4Score29014d adds

    Reader note

    Both of these are fine.

16. 16 异EN The Creatures That We Are 异兽迷城 Peng Pai彭湃Urban3.0M WordsCompleted Gao Yang was an orphan. At the age of six, he transmigrated to a parallel world and began living in a warm family of five. When he turned eighteen, Gao Yang accidentally discovered the truth about the world: this was not a parallel world at all, but a mysterious realm, and all the relatives and friends around him were terrifying Beasts! Gao Yang nearly lost his life 478.1kReads9.7Score66.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    My head hurts so much, it feels like my brain is growing! How could it be a tumor?

17. 17 我 I Said There Were No Gods Tonight, So the Gods Fell 我说今夜无神，于是众神陨落 Ji Nanyi季南一Urban415k WordsCompleted [The print edition, titled A Godless Night, is available to search for on all platforms. The comic adaptation is now online.] [Plot-driven + infinite-flow + mild horror + countless twists] Yan Huang had a terminal illness. He didn't want to die, so he became a player in Instance. The System's evaluation of him read: [Player Yan Huang practices what he preaches and has impeccable morals. Congratulations, you have awakened the talent: Deceiver.] [Deceiver: Each lie you tell has a fifty percent cha 31.7kReads9.6Score4.3k14d adds
18. 18 我 I Refuse to Be Human: Evolving from a Cell to Destroy the Universe 我不当人，从细胞进化毁灭宇宙 Sweet Potato Wants to Reach the Sky地瓜想上天Sci-Fi & Apocalypse273k WordsCompleted Mo Lun was done for, but the Evolution and Destruction System took him to a parallel universe through transmigration. From the start, he was nothing but a tiny cell inside a human body. To avoid dying naturally, Mo Lun began frantically absorbing nutrients... [Ding! Sufficient biomass acquired. Begin evolution?] Mo Lun evolved from an ordinary cell into a cancer cell, replicating endlessly, until finally... [Ding! Host lifeform eliminated. Reward issued.] Mo Lun: System, stop! The human scie 2.5kReads9.1Score29814d adds
19. 19 以 I Thought It Was BabyBus, but It Turned Out to Be a Death Train 以为是宝宝巴士，结果是死亡列车 Mysterious Foot-Picking Man神秘抠脚大汉Mystery776k WordsOngoing An unexpected journey sent Li Shiyi aboard a train that would never reach its destination. Stopping along the way marked the beginning of death; setting off again was the hope of staying alive. He would tear away the truth behind a world of smoke and fire, master its patterns, and uncover the deepest secrets of the human body. Desperate wails served as its whistle, helpless sobs as the fuel that drove it forward. It passed through hell and headed for the abyss, without end... 13Reads6.2Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Good-looking and not brainless~ Highly recommended

20. 20 废 Notes of a Ruins Watcher 废墟守望者笔记 Mysterious Foot-Picking Man神秘抠脚大汉Sci-Fi & Apocalypse345k WordsCompleted From prosperity to a landscape of devastation, from order to utter chaos. No matter how cautious or careful you are, all you can do is scrape by and stay alive. If one day you find my journal among the ruins, I hope you'll carry on where I left off and keep writing. 10Reads8.1Score—14d adds
21. 21 我EN My Arrival in the Matrix Universe 我降临在矩阵宇宙 Wang Zilü王自律Sci-Fi & Apocalypse1.4M WordsCompleted A young man arrives in this Matrix Universe, carrying a lantern. Inside it are his twelve manifested personalities. They weep, and they shine. He sets the lantern on the ground, lighting a small space around him. Before him, the continent falls, flames soar into the sky, and sixty million people plunge into the abyss. I am both the destroyer of this universe and its savior. 23.8kReads9.6Score2.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    I highly recommend the first two books. The first is a new book by Ziye (自律), with a wildly imaginative plot. The second is somewhat mystery-like, both set in a Cthulhu world. The rest are also quite good.

22. 22 灰EN Above the Gray Fog 灰雾之上 Anti-Static防静电Eastern Fantasy4.5M WordsCompleted [Lord of the Mysteries]+ [Potions]+ [Races]+ [Civilization] A hundred years from now, I am a hero. My deeds become stories, praised by all. A thousand years from now, I am a legend. Stories become epics, passed down through generations. Ten thousand years from now, I am a faith. Epics become myths, and the incense offered to me never ceases. P.S. This book is also known as Above the Gray Mist. P.S. The development of the human race provides the backdrop. The focus is on an individual's epic, no 88.2kReads9.3Score7.7k14d adds
23. 23 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... 29.5kReads9.3Score3.1k14d adds
24. 24 我 I Can Travel to Another Timeline 我能穿梭到另一条时间线 Media Communicator媒介传播者Urban455k WordsCompleted (Supernatural sequences) + (meme contamination) + (territorial conquests) + (contained objects)… This world is divided into the real world and the Void. The rules that exist in the Void are known as [Ranks]. [Rank] is the supernatural law of the Void! The real world lies at the center of the Void and possesses supreme authority. It is the heart of all worlds and peoples. The other worlds of the Void call the real world the [Abyss], and call [Humans] [Demons]! The [Human Order Department] uphol 16Reads9.3Score—14d adds
25. 25 死EN After Dying a Hundred Thousand Times, I Bribed the River of Time and Space 死亡十万次，我直接买通时空长河 Natsume Says Nothing夏目不语Urban1.8M WordsCompleted [Future Setting] [One Female Lead or No Female Lead] The Shijing appeared, strange beings invaded, and the Chosen Ones charged with fighting them were on the brink of defeat. So the most determined among the Chosen Ones began searching for a way to save the world. “Ten years later, the basic body-tempering method appeared, and the first martial artists were born.” “A hundred years later, spiritual martial arts burst onto the scene, and the martial arts community officially took shape.” “A thousa 169.8kReads9.4Score24.7k14d adds
26. 26 我 I Act Like a Big Shot After Watching Crime Movies, and the Tycoon Begs Me to Save His Life 我看警匪片装大佬，首富求我救命 Big Shot Yu大佬俞Urban1.1M WordsCompleted [Clever mind games + No simping + Pure satisfaction] [Takes off after ten chapters] One day, the bookshelf of ordinary office worker Lu Ping suddenly refreshed with its first intelligence report. He carefully opened it and read every word. Excitement and nerves hit him as he discovered that it contained all the secrets of a cold, high-and-mighty female CEO... So Lu Ping watched police dramas and copied the words and mannerisms of the big shots. He practiced a detached, bloodthirsty gaze in the m 8.9kReads9.1Score72814d adds
27. 27 大 Great Song: The Number One Male Celebrity in the Entertainment Industry 大宋：娱乐圈第一男明星 May Sky五月的天空Historical1.2M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + golden finger + confidantes + war + emperor] Zhang Shixun, a music graduate, transmigrates to the Great Song. With his golden finger and superb artistic talents, he makes a name for himself in the capital, and Gao Yanei becomes his sidekick. The courtesans Li Shishi, Ding Dusai, and others become his devoted fans. Emperor Huizong calls him “Master of the Single Finger,” while Cai Jing calls him the greatest fraud in history. The Jingkang era is approaching, and a bloody storm a 166Reads6.4Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I recommend two pretty good books.

28. 28 张 Zhang Dashun's Incredible Life 张大顺的牛掰生涯 May Sky五月的天空Urban339k WordsOngoing After an accident, a lodger moved into Zhang Dashun’s body: an energy being from an ancient civilization. In exchange, the lodger helped him unlock his memories, turning him from a terrible student into a top one. But his triumph didn’t last long. Overusing his brain depleted all his vitality, leaving him no choice but to follow the lodger into another dimension in search of an immortal herb. By chance, he met his second lodger, Jia Guozi, and recovered his vitality. After returning from the oth 48Reads—Score—14d adds
29. 29 木 Naruto: I, Orochimaru, Have Seen the Hokage 木叶：我，大蛇丸，看过火影 July Fengren七月封人Anime Fanfiction209k WordsCompleted Writing a novel is so hard. I just can't make it long... The first 130,000 words are about Hokage, and the rest is Conan solving cases... Damn lion dance... lion dance... 49Reads5.8Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    July's a bit of a flop, carefree and relaxed. Playing games, traveling for research. Never likes studying, but pretends to be a writer. Never seen an outline, yet has been writing for twelve years. Doesn't write during the day, but gets anxious at night. Novels about to stop, immediately acts cute. It's not that I don't want to write, my hair is thinning and I'm splitting apart. Editor, please have mercy and keep me. Two more months, still a bit of a flop.

30. 30 宫 Bandits at the Palace Academy (Qingqing Zijin) 宫学有匪（青青子衿） Wu Yu吾玉Ancient Romance475k WordsCompleted A beautiful scholar is driven from the imperial capital. By a twist of fate, he takes to the mountains and becomes a bandit, growing a wild, unruly beard and earning a fearsome reputation. He becomes the ruler of Dongyi Mountain, commanding eighteen bandit strongholds. In the early spring of that year, he kidnaps a group of nobles from the imperial academy, precisely sixteen young ladies from the palace school. He wants neither money nor favors of the flesh, and sets only one strange condition f 49Reads9.4Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book has a refined and elegant style; highly recommended, it has a strong sense of chivalry and martial arts. 👍👍 The second book is a stunning science fiction novel, truly amazing, a short story. I suspect the author studied psychology, otherwise how could they have hit my tear ducts so perfectly? 😢😢 The third book features a female protagonist who awakens her precognitive abilities. She travels to the upper realm to save the three realms and prevent the male protagonist from turning evil. 🍉 The fourth book is about a heroine who saves a collapsing empire; the female protagonist is very cool and capable. 💕💕

31. 31 不 Nothing More Than That 不过尔尔 Egrets in Pairs白鹭成双Ancient Romance400k WordsCompleted Er’er is a weak little immortal. She can’t fight monsters, and she can’t meditate either. With barely eight hundred years of cultivation, she loses it all the moment she ascends to the Ninth Heaven. But she has the gift of foresight. She knows that one day, the man before her will destroy heaven and earth and slaughter every living thing. Before he turns demonic, she must bind her little life tightly to his. Li Ye is a powerful High God. He ranks first at fighting monsters, first at meditati 6.7kReads9.4Score1.2k14d adds
32. 32 惜 Cherishing Flowers 惜花芷 Kong Liu空留Ancient Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [The original novel behind the TV adaptation starring Hu Yitian and Zhang Jingyi] After keeping her talents hidden for fifteen years, Hua Zhi thought she could spend her life as a proper aristocratic young lady, living in peace. But when the Hua family’s fortunes collapse, she has no choice but to reveal her sharp edge and hold the storm-tossed household together. Being out in public becomes the norm, and so does galloping through the streets. When all else fails, she even carries a coffin on he 18.2kReads9.6Score4.2k14d adds

Other lists with Strange Tales Livestream!