Looking for Angsty Stories, But Nothing Like Eroding Bone Deep 求虐，不要类似蚀骨危情的

1. 1 终 At Last, I Admit Defeat 终于愿赌服输 Spring Thunder Cannon春雷炮Modern Romance50k WordsCompleted “Why couldn't you be the one who got sick?” “Why couldn't you be the one who died?” With drunken eyes, the man bends down and whispers the most heartless words in the gentlest voice. But he doesn't know that she really is going to die. 13.4kReads8.2Score885Shelves

   Reader note

   Hmm... How could this book not be angsty? The female lead dies in the end, and the second male lead treats the female supporting character as a substitute for the female lead, tormenting her day and night. She deserves it.

2. 2 婚 The Engagement Is Over, Mr. Shen, Please Sign 婚约到期，沈先生请签字 Flower Without Restraint花无戒Modern Romance347k WordsCompleted [A deranged, possessive CEO tycoon VS a fallen heiress kept as a caged songbird] After falling on hard times, Meng Qing is forced to sign a three-year marriage contract. She thinks she’ll be free when it ends, but instead, it’s three more years, then another three. One day, ten years later, Meng Qing asks, “Shen Ye, when are you finally going to let me go?” Shen Ye replies, “Not until you’re dead.” When love becomes a prison, neither of them can escape. 84Reads7.7Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   This book is angsty, but I haven't read it in so long that I don't remember the specifics. However, it should be a pretty good one on my bookshelf, and the ending is very satisfying.

3. 3 阉 The Eunuch 阉人 So It Is Said笑之曰Two Male Leads193k WordsCompleted Shuangjiang stood by Li Yue’s side as he went from a prince walking on thin ice to the throne, watching him marry one beautiful woman after another. Ten years ago, Shuangjiang said to the powerless Li Yue, “I’m only a eunuch. I wouldn’t dare eat this osmanthus cake.” Li Yue said, “Shuangjiang is my favorite person. From now on, I’ll bring you as much osmanthus cake as you want.” Ten years later, Shuangjiang was frail and ill, longing for a piece of osmanthus cake. Li Yue said, “You’re only a eun 2.8kReads8.4Score257Shelves

   Reader note

   Of these three books, the first one has two male leads, and the tragic ending is truly heartbreaking. The second one has a male lead who uses the female lead as a substitute, a fact she only discovers at the end (explained in the epilogue). The third one... Well, you should check it out yourself.

4. 4 丫 The Maid 丫鬟 The Tiger Is Ready to Roar老虎要发威Ancient Romance181k WordsCompleted !!! The heroine is an ordinary person. Although she transmigrates, she has no special abilities of any kind!!! Please bear in mind the differences between social classes in ancient times. Don't assume that a transmigrated heroine means this is a wish-fulfillment story. This is a tragic romance!!! [Tragedy warning, read with caution. The male lead really is cold and heartless. A warning for a deranged male lead!] He is the master, and you are a servant. Your stations in life are worlds apart. Wha 652Reads6.4Score102Shelves
5. 5 燕 Where the Swallows Return, We Must Not Meet Again 燕归处，莫相逢 Mi Yuwangtu靡御忘荼Ancient Romance52k WordsCompleted Her name was Jun Mo. She had spent her life on horseback and on the battlefield, battle-hardened, bold, and arrogant. He was the person she loved most, and her only weakness. She feared he might get hurt if she so much as held him in her palm, and feared he might melt if she kept him in her mouth. But a weakness is itself a poisoned blade. At first, the pain is not fatal. In the end, the fatal wound no longer hurts. No one knew that later, amid the bitter winter snow, some people were only acti 312Reads8.7Score—Shelves
6. 6 青 The Bluebird Flies Over Thorn Island 青鸟飞过荆棘岛 Brocade Years锦年Modern Romance80k WordsCompleted Her life was destined to be bleak, but there was someone willing to offer her his arms and warmth. She bore countless scars in this lifetime, but there was someone willing to hack through every obstacle for her and be her support. Yet would there ever be someone who could peel away her mask and see the cruel truth in her heart? She is an orphan in this beautiful world, a trapped beast in a warm cage. If you met her, would you cherish her? Would you love her? 1.2kReads9.3Score291Shelves

   Reader note

   These books are the kind that will leave you feeling sad for a long time after you finish reading them. I'm usually quite prone to tears, but these books really made me cry while reading them; they really used up a lot of paper. Especially the first one, I highly recommend it. You might be a little confused at first, but by the later chapters, you'll be crying non-stop 😭

7. 7 听 I Heard You Once Loved Me More Than Life 听说，你曾爱我如命 Wen Liu温流Modern Romance60k WordsCompleted Xie Jingchuan said, “My only wish is for you to disappear from my sight forever.” After five loveless years of marriage, Song Youran had become the person her husband hated most. Later, she really did disappear. Everyone said Mrs. Xie had brought it upon herself and deserved to die with no one to claim her body. But as one old secret after another came to light, he discovered... In the best years of her life, she had once given him the purest love. She had also risked her life for him amid the r 2.6kReads6.6Score156Shelves
8. 8 沈 Shen Qingqing, Happy Wedding 沈清清，新婚快乐 Heartless Lover y薄情郎yModern Romance4k WordsCompleted Shen Qingqing, happy wedding day. —Reads—Score—Shelves
9. 9 林 Lin Youmuxi Sen Youlin 林尤木兮森尤林 Bai Chi白彳Modern Romance173k WordsCompleted [Secret Crush in Youth] [Summer Only] [A Love That Never Found Closure] Lin Yu meets wood, wood grows, and the forest returns to the woods. That summer, plane tree leaves fell and cicadas sang incessantly. Lin Youxi met Lin Musen, and from then on, her world held a secret. It was his name, traced over and over on scrap paper; the figure her eyes followed unconsciously; the regret of never daring to stand close to him in the graduation photo. Whenever she couldn’t solve a math problem, he would p 5Reads—Score—Shelves
10. 10 趁 Confess When the Wind Picks Up 趁风起时告白 Dull Orange呆橙Modern Romance456k WordsCompleted Chi Jinjin has always been cautious, never taking risks. The boldest thing she ever did was secretly love the most popular boy in school for two years, then confess to him, only to be rejected miserably. After that, she put those feelings aside and buried the wild fantasies of her girlhood with her own hands. She never expected that, in college, the boy she had loved from afar would suddenly return from overseas. Leaning lazily against the railing, he hooked a finger through the chain on her sho 1.4kReads8.8Score105Shelves
11. 11 暗 The Sad Little Thing Called Unrequited Love 暗恋这件难过的小事 Meng Zhiwan孟栀晚Modern Romance122k WordsCompleted Lin Xu has a crush on the popular boy Ye Feng, and she remembers countless little details about him. Every day, Lin Xu times her departure down to the second, getting dressed and putting on her shoes in a hurry, all for the chance to catch a fleeting glimpse of his back. The music playing during the long break outside her classroom is Xu Song’s “Moon over Luzhou.” Lin Xu knows it’s the favorite song of Ye Feng, the school radio station’s announcer. Lin Xu has even stayed up all night organizing 77.1kReads9.7Score13.5kShelves
12. 12 他 He Is in the South of the Clouds 他在云之南 Jing Xing景行Modern Romance209k WordsCompleted When they first met, he was shrouded in shadow, reeking of blood and violence. He asked her, “Who are you? Where are you from? What are you doing here?” It was a long time before she thought of the true answer: “I'm Shen Xun. I came from the far north to the south of the clouds, to meet the love of my life.” He was her Morpheus, giving her a poppy-like dream of love, bewitching and intoxicating. He captured her soul, clouded her mind, and made her addicted. Like a pawn crossing a river, she went 25.2kReads9.7Score4.8kShelves

    Reader note

    The first book was very moving; the writing was excellent and the characters were vividly portrayed. The second book was well-written, had a good plot, and was heart-wrenching; it was a short story. The third book made me cry from beginning to end; it was heart-wrenching, but it was the best ending for them. The fourth book resonated with me; it was heart-wrenching. The fifth book was warm and touching, but also heart-wrenching. The sixth book was a tragic ending, filled with regret and sadness.

13. 13 我 I Told You I Love You in Heaven 我在天堂说爱你 Ling Xi灵希Modern Romance122k WordsCompleted At fifteen, Junxi accidentally got blood from an AIDS patient into one of his wounds and contracted the disease. From then on, his normal life was completely upended, and he lived in constant fear that he could die at any moment. But Li Poxiao never left his side, giving him the courage to carry on. Through his pain, he smiled through his tears. “Brother Junxi, my greatest wish is to become your bride. You have to fight to stay alive, because… this is a dream only you can help me fulfill.” A lov 944Reads9.5Score210Shelves
14. 14 宫 The Willow by the Palace Wall 宫墙柳 Dream Doll梦娃Ancient Romance166k WordsCompleted Why must the imperial consorts compete for the emperor’s favor? A smash-hit, heart-wrenching historical romance that burst onto the scene in 2019! Recommended by countless tearful readers, this unconventional palace-intrigue novel will stay with you long after you finish. In the lightest of styles, it captures everyone’s deepest regrets. In May of the year I turned fourteen, with the pagoda trees in fragrant bloom, I sat in Yong’an Palace, propping up my head as I dozed. The man’s laughter held 48.6kReads9.7Score7.1kShelves
15. 15 也 Perhaps There Was Once Light in the Deep Sea 也许深海曾有光 Ding Huaijin丁怀瑾Modern Romance75k WordsCompleted After an earthquake, young Jiang Ning began living with Song Ao, her younger brother by neither blood nor marriage, who had autism. In Song Ao’s world, Jiang Ning became his only splash of color. Years later, Jiang Ning was surprised to discover that her new boss was Shen Fang, the school heartthrob she had harbored innocent feelings for in her youth. At the same time, though, she sensed that her relationship with Song Ao was gradually changing, blurring the line between family love and romance. 546Reads9.3Score138Shelves
16. 16 江 Fishermen’s Lights on the River, Keeping Me Awake with Sorrow 江枫渔火对愁眠 Can't Catch不能扑Modern Romance54k WordsCompleted She waited for him all her life, but he would never come back. 824Reads8.6Score156Shelves

    Reader note

    It's so heartbreaking, I'm crying buckets! "Am I Xiao Liu'er or Jiao Jiao'er?" 😢 Xiao Feng is heartbroken, and Xiang Yu is heartbroken too. I'm speechless.

17. 17 你 You Broke Your Promise 你失信了 Shi Qingyao十清杳Modern Romance138k WordsCompleted The acclaimed signature work You Broke Your Promise by popular author Shi Qingyao, now with 40,000 new words of never-before-published content! Sensitive girl Xiang Yu VS golden boy Song Huaishi. I had to play out the whole secret-crush story, so I loved him year after year. It was an ordinary day. Just as she closed her eyes, Xiang Yu suddenly thought of Song Huaishi: Song Huaishi, neat in his clothes and radiating warmth. Song Huaishi at seventeen. Still in his school uniform, he leaned lazily 68.9kReads9.5Score12.5kShelves
18. 18 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

    This is a ensemble piece of angst-filled romance novel with both joy and sorrow. Have you ever seen a palace intrigue novel where both men and women fight? It depicts the tragedy under the ancient feudal system, showcasing the brutality of court struggles and the complexity of human nature. Each character in the book is well-developed, with their own goals and principles. It's not a story about two virgins; the female lead and the second male lead experience a tumultuous love affair.

19. 19 别 Don't Flirt with Me 别和我撒娇 Qi Xue栖雪Modern Romance535k WordsCompleted 40.8kReads9.5Score4.5kShelves

    Reader note

    I would personally call this the pinnacle of unrequited love stories. The author describes the details of unrequited love very delicately, and the characters are also very well-developed.

20. 20 顾 President Gu Kneels to Apologize, but His Wife Is Already Reduced to Ashes 顾总屈膝认错，夫人已挫骨扬灰 Little White Gets Whiter小白了又白Modern Romance153k WordsCompleted At twenty, Luo Wan declared that she would marry Gu Anchen, the only man in all of Lincheng she wanted. From then on, she became a thorn in Gu Anchen's heart. Gu Anchen said, "If you can make me marry you, Luo Wan, then let's see if you can make me fall in love with you." While she loved him, he trampled on her feelings for the sake of another woman... Until her heart turned cold and her love was gone, she finally turned around and let him have what he wanted. But he turned his love into a threa 51Reads5.9Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It has a bad ending; don't be fooled by the low rating, it's quite heartbreaking.

21. 21 我 My Life Is Yours 我的命，都给你 Three Pine Nuts三只松子Modern Romance48k WordsCompleted Ji Mingshu hated Xu Meiling with all his heart and tormented her until she died. But when she was really gone, Ji Mingshu realized... he had fallen in love with her. 1.7kReads8.1Score207Shelves

    Reader note

    It's really good-looking.

22. 22 蝶 Butterfly Shadows Return to Dust: Sold into Prostitution by My Mother-in-Law, My Ex-Husband Searched for Me for Ten Years 蝶影归尘：被婆母卖入风尘，前夫寻了我整整十年 Ni Ah Ni Ge Ni氼啊氼个氼55k WordsCompleted The Butterfly’s Shadow Returns to Dust: Sold into a Life of Vice by My Mother-in-Law, My Ex-Husband Searched for Me for Ten Years 319Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The cruelty in *Bone-Deep Affection* is "visible bloodshed." Forced possession, imprisonment and torture, kidney harvesting, miscarriage, the male protagonist's abuse and the female protagonist's suffering—these plots are dense and intense, the conflicts direct, the pain immediate, the cruelty felt on the flesh and in tears. Readers can feel the adrenaline rush as they turn the pages, and after a good cry, their emotions are released. The cruelty in *Butterfly in the Dust* is "invisible internal wounds." There's no kidney harvesting, no imprisonment or torture, no irreversible physical damage. The cruelest plot is simply the mother-in-law tricking Die'er into signing a forged divorce letter—a mere piece of paper, crueler than any torture. Because physical wounds can heal, but the "could have" of fate, once missed, is gone forever. Its cruelty isn't physical, but rather— • Zhang Zhiming died without knowing that the boy named Yi'an was his biological son. • Die'er died without ever saying "I love you" to Zhang Zhiming. Two people, separated only by a street, are forever separated by those six words: "Sir, you've mistaken me for someone else." This kind of torment might only feel like a dull ache in your heart at the time. But after closing the book, on some late nights, it suddenly surges forth, keeping you tossing and turning, unable to sleep. 🥺😢🥺😢

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