Angst at First, But Not Too Much, Then the Heroine's Ex Chases Her in Vain 前面虐（但是不要超级虐）后面追妻火葬场

1. 1 离 After the Divorce, Her Ex-Husband Cries and Begs to Get Back Together 离婚后：前夫哭着求复合 Loving You Without Pause爱你不停歇Modern Romance415k WordsCompleted Xiao Yanche: the golden boy of the capital’s elite, heir to the Xiao Group, the foremost of the Four Great Families. Arrogant, unruly, and always looking down on everyone. Ruan Zhiyan: the Xiao family’s adopted daughter. After an accident led the two of them to end up in bed together, their grandfather decided they should marry. From the moment Ruan Zhiyan entered the family home, Xiao Yanche disliked the girl who had won half of their grandfather’s affection. Every day, he would tell her as she 494Reads6.2Score100Shelves

   Reader note

   Slightly angsty, a wife-chasing-after-the-cremation scenario.

2. 2 开 Divorced from the Start: The Obsessive CEO Struggles to Win His Wife Back 开局离婚：偏执总裁追妻难 Loving You Without Pause爱你不停歇Modern Romance505k WordsCompleted [A cool, reserved female urologist × an obsessive, cold CEO] [Divorced from the start × devoted to each other × a groveling ex who chases his wife × sweet romance] Mu Chuyuan is a prominent figure in the capital, arrogant, obsessive, ruthless, and merciless. Chu Xiangxue is a girl unloved by her family. Her father drugs her and sends her to Mu Chuyuan’s bed. Chu Xiangxue has had a crush on Mu Chuyuan since high school. Two years of marriage fail to warm the man’s heart. Watching her husband flau 984Reads8.4Score103Shelves
3. 3 离 Divorce Day: War Zong Flees the Civil Affairs Bureau 离婚当天：战总从民政局逃跑了 Loving You Without Pause爱你不停歇Modern Romance395k WordsCompleted [A Dashing, Retired Navy Heiress & A Devoted, Immature, Retired Army Young Master] [Marriage First, Love Later * Clingy CEO * Both Each Other's First * Childhood Betrothal] [Light Comedy * Sweet Daily-Life Romance] On the day they retired, they reunited on a high-speed train, bound by their childhood engagement. Every time he saw her, he couldn't help moving closer. Zhan Nanxiao and Qiao Zhiyue's marriage had been arranged by their parents. On their wedding day, they both cheated on each other. 5.2kReads7.6Score841Shelves
4. 4 离 After the Divorce, President Ling Kneels on a Washboard to Beg for Me Back 离婚后，凌总跪搓衣板求复合 Loving You Without Pause爱你不停歇Modern Romance306k WordsCompleted [A heavenly obstetrician and a clingy, husky-like domineering CEO] [Marriage first, love later + the regretful husband pursues his wife + both are each other's first and only love + an utterly doting husband] Angst first, then sweetness, with plenty of lighthearted comedy. Ling Haoyun and Jiang Xingmo have been married for two years, but every day he parties with a different woman in his arms. The childish CEO doesn't realize he's in love until he drives his wife away. By then, he learns that re 119Reads6.5Score—Shelves
5. 5 公 After the Princess Gives Up, Her Tutor Wants a Happy Ending Again 公主放弃后太傅他又想he了 Winey Fish酒鱼鱼Ancient Romance339k WordsOngoing The day Fu Hanzhi gave up on Chi Wenyu, snow began to fall over Shengjing. The young Grand Tutor sat behind his desk, his expression as detached as the snowflakes drifting outside. His gaze was as cold as ice that would never melt, yet a rare smile tugged at his lips. It was a mocking smile. He said, “Princess Zhaorong is nothing special after all.” So, right in front of him, Fu Hanzhi pulled from her hair the jade hairpin she had once spent ages begging him to give her. Her black hair tumbled l 7.4kReads8.5Score615Shelves

   Reader note

   That matches perfectly! The male lead's reactions in the early stages: [sad][rolls eyes][awkward laugh] Later on: [sending hearts][crying][sad][petrified]

6. 6 妻 The Elusive Wife: After the Princess Consort Turns Dark 妻难寻：王妃黑化后 Tangli Candy棠里糖Ancient Romance792k WordsCompleted [The Ex-Wife Chase from Hell + Rekindled Romance + Devoted 1v1 + Satisfying Revenge + A Glorious Mess of Melodrama] Gu Lingzhao met the capital's most unruly and unmanageable Ninth Prince when she was twelve. He was domineering and arrogant, but he never treated her cruelly. So she trusted him without hesitation, and through years of companionship and care, she never once doubted his sincerity. Until the night of their wedding, when disaster struck the Gu family. In the chaos, she accidentally 1.5kReads6.4Score105Shelves

   Reader note

   I'm recommending my own poorly written book. The first ten chapters feature the female lead being tortured, but the rest is mostly a satisfying read. The male lead spends the entire story chasing after his wife, enduring both physical and emotional torment. It's an ancient Chinese romance novel about pursuing a wife, full of extreme entanglements and satisfying all the melodramatic elements!

7. 7 尘 Dustlight Paints the Heart: Hao Gong and Wei Yi 尘光绘心颢宫微伊 Mr. Rabbit Min Yishihan兔子先生敏伊诗涵Modern Romance2.7M WordsOngoing Tong Yanyi’s life at eighteen was dragged into a mire by her mother’s illness and loan-shark debts. She dropped out of school and started working at the Haojue Hotel in Nancheng, learning to lay out towels and toothbrushes. On a guest-room cleanliness scorecard on the twelfth floor, she secretly drew seven Calabash Brothers rescuing their grandpa. She traded humble labor for a chance to survive, and used childlike doodles to fight back against fate’s cruelty. At twenty-eight, Yu Jinghao is the 132Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   Forced imprisonment, a wife-chasing nightmare, a madman driven to madness, obsessed with love. She loses her memory, he transforms into her favorite star, just to find his only light. Two years of searching, building a hotel empire for her, buying her real estate and naming it Haogong Weiyi, all for her alone. His eyes mistake her for someone else, yet his heart still flutters for her after her transformation, a deeply torturous and agonizing love story. Discovering her painting, he disguises himself from then on, never letting go again. The author says, "If there truly is a soulmate, a mutual support, I would abandon all worldly entanglements, fame and fortune, and a life of blissful companionship. I would rise to watch the sunrise, admire the sunset, witness the snowfall in winter, and listen to the birdsong and insect chirps in summer, for with my beloved by my side, everything is a beautiful moment." The female lead said, "If one day I'm no longer by your side, you must take good care of yourself. Only when you're well and capable can you find me, if you're still willing then." The male lead replied, "I can't live without you in this life. I will dedicate the rest of my life to finding you, searching every corner of the world, from the highest heavens to the deepest hells, and bringing you home." —Mr. Rabbit, Min Yi Shi Han, October 1, 2026.

8. 8 强 Possessed by Force, I Can’t Escape the Devil 强势占有，遇上恶魔逃不掉 A Dreamlike Yellow Millet黄粱一萌Modern Romance570k WordsCompleted The twin sisters, who had only just come into the world, should have been born to lives of privilege. But a malicious plot abruptly changed the course of their fate. The younger sister was abandoned at the hospital, and from then on her life took a completely different path. The elder sister was like a beautiful flower in a greenhouse, basking in her parents’ love as she grew into a young heiress admired by all. But the younger sister was taken back to the countryside by a woman who worked as a 17.8kReads7.2Score773Shelves

   Reader note

   I had to watch it all in one go, without eating, drinking, or sleeping! Ugh, I'm getting dark circles under my eyes! [Laughing and crying emoji]

9. 9 恶 Demon War God, Stop Playing with Me 恶魔战少别玩我 A Dreamlike Yellow Millet黄粱一萌Modern Romance534k WordsCompleted The new book’s rating is very low at first, but it will gradually rise. To get revenge on Su Qingqiu, Zhan Tingxiao forced himself on Zhan Wan, then handed her over to his archenemy, Li Jintian. The man seemed gentle and considerate toward Zhan Wan, but he was hiding an even greater scheme. He deliberately tricked Zhan Wan into thinking she was pregnant. Before the baby was full term, he forced a doctor to take it out. The premature infant drove Zhan Wan to a mental breakdown. Her intelligence r 15.3kReads6.2Score547Shelves
10. 10 指 A Butterfly Kiss at Your Fingertips 指尖蝴蝶吻 Little Orange Star小小橙星Modern Romance422k WordsCompleted [Delicate heiress × Powerful capital-circle elite + Domineering pursuit + Coercive love + Obsessive, unhinged, wolfish male lead + The heroine keeps running away, only to be caught and locked in a cage + Captivity] When she was eighteen, Jing Yue, heir to the Jing family, stormed into the theater and carried Jiang Ning away while she was rehearsing onstage, imprisoning her at the Jing estate for three days and nights. After that, she kept trying to escape, while he relentlessly pursued her, dete 16kReads8.8Score1kShelves

    Reader note

    A delicate heiress meets a powerful figure in Beijing's elite circles. The male lead is obsessive and possessive, falling in love with the female lead at first sight. He doesn't know how to love, and he tries to force himself on her. Despite her countless resistances and attempts to escape, she is always caught and even locked in a cage designed specifically for her. Later, the male lead learns to love her, experiencing a dramatic "wife-chasing" moment. He kneels before his beloved wife, pleading softly, "Ah Ning, I'm just waiting for your willing heart. Please don't go."

11. 11 快 Quick Transmigration: Becoming the White Moonlight Who Makes Powerful Men Weep 快穿：穿成虐哭大佬的白月光 Miss Cat一只猫小姐Modern Romance2.4M WordsCompleted At first, none of them liked her. Later, she became the unreachable first love in their hearts! A scum-trashing Mary Sue romance, with regretful exes chasing their wives! After cultivating for a thousand years, the parasitic vine spirit Si Si finally succeeds in ascending. But during the Ascension Ceremony, her superior gets her in trouble. The Heavenly Dao orders her to help cannon-fodder supporting heroines in three thousand worlds fulfill their wishes. Only after earning enough merit can she 11.8kReads9.1Score814Shelves

    Reader note

    Because the female lead transmigrates to complete missions, in the early stages she's just acting and tormenting the male lead, but later she truly torments him. She then fakes her death and leaves after the mission ends! 1️⃣ World One: He had someone else do it, only to discover she was the one he was looking for. When he tried to win her back, she had already been… so she wants Bo Yang to see her die in front of him, she wants him to pay the price for his actions! Ah, I'm crying so much, please be gentle with the torment!!!

12. 12 快 Quick Transmigration: The Universally Disliked Fight to Become the No. 1 Fan Favorite 快穿：万人嫌争做人气角色No1 Han yuu寒yuuAncient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted After Shi Wuqing died, someone claiming to be a System found her. If she collected enough “popularity points,” she could come back to life. Shi Wuqing agreed. Then she was sent into various novels, where she became the cannon-fodder character readers hated most. Her mission was to become the character readers loved most, with the highest popularity, by the end of each novel! World One: Shi Wuqing became the scheming younger sister who took the heroine's place and married the prince. At the begi 42.7kReads9.5Score5.1kShelves
13. 13 快 Quick Transmigration: The Crown Prince Torments You Again 快穿之太子再虐你一遍 The Mysterious Me谜一样的我Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Xianxia romance + play the pig to eat the tiger + quick transmigration + one-on-one devotion] The Crown Prince of the Heavenly Realm was born a flirt, always chasing after women. In a fit of rage, the Heavenly Emperor banished him to the mortal realm, where he would undergo many lifetimes of reincarnation and suffer the pain of losing love and desire. The Left Star Diviner had this to say: “Writing the Crown Prince’s fate book... is hard!” The poor little Spirit Clerk was pushed forward as a sc 3kReads9.3Score278Shelves
14. 14 游 Mr. You, Stop Torturing Me. Your Wife Has Signed the Divorce Papers 游总别虐了，太太离婚协议签字了 Vita City维塔城Modern Romance349k WordsCompleted [A groveling ex who wins her back + rekindled love after heartbreak + both inexperienced + 1v1] [Cool, beautiful female hacker × devoted, brooding heir] * Lin Yin once thought herself lucky. Just when she wanted marriage more than anything, she met You Heye. Who could have known that on their wedding day, he would suddenly change his tune... After the wedding He stayed out all night, insulted her, and even used her as a bargaining chip... It turned out that everything was part of a carefully lai 2.7kReads5.5Score100Shelves

    Reader note

    Baozi, go check out this book! It perfectly meets all the requirements! The male lead's words are both sharp and hilarious, it's really good!

15. 15 选 After Choosing My First Love, Mr. Huo Regretted It Bitterly 选择白月光后，霍总肠子悔青了 Lazy Little Jiu懒小玖Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Genius, high-IQ kids + winning back his wife + rekindled love] After a long-planned kidnapping, Huo Moye chose his first love and abandoned his mute wife, Wen Nian. Heartbroken and disillusioned, Wen Nian chose to die alongside the kidnappers. Five years later, she makes a stunning return as a genius designer, bringing three adorable children with her and vowing to get justice for her past self. She never expected that each of the three kids would be more cunning than the last. “Handsome uncle, 6.4kReads8.6Score476Shelves

    Reader note

    🧸🧸①The female lead is the male lead's wife, but the male lead has a crush on his beloved. The servants in the house all say that she is a mute who is not good enough for the male lead. In an accident, the female lead and the male lead's beloved are kidnapped at the same time. The kidnappers make the male lead choose between the two, and the male lead chooses his beloved. The female lead is heartbroken and chooses to die together with the kidnappers...

16. 16 首 The Commander Broke Off Our Engagement for His White Moonlight. Reborn, I Won't Marry Him 首长为白月光悔婚，重生我不嫁了 Jiang Youchu江柚初Modern Romance670k WordsCompleted [Reborn + spatial storage + the regretful husband pursues her to the crematorium, then realizes she's wonderful and gets face-slapped + one-on-one, both leads are each other's first and only] In her previous life, Jiang Xiachu loved Lu Huaiyan for ten years. In return, she got three years of military marriage without seeing him. He didn't even come to see her after she gave birth to their daughter. Everyone said she had forced the marriage on him. His absence from their engagement banquet had ma 6.1kReads7.8Score266Shelves
17. 17 你 You Watch Her Perform, I’ll Announce Our Divorce 你看她表演，我公告离婚 Little Sister Won't Listen妹妹不听话Modern Romance453k WordsCompleted Tomatoes are the most satisfying! The hero and second male lead get divorced The male lead watches the green tea put on a show, while the heroine goes straight to the newspapers and announces their divorce! A powerful financial magnate * a young lady whose family has fallen on hard times Married first, love later * both leads are sexually inexperienced Every male character in the story is a virgin, whether he's the second or third male lead... Xu Qing'an married Shen Yuanyuan simply because he t 11kReads7.1Score322Shelves

    Reader note

    The male lead hadn't touched the female lead for a year of marriage, and she didn't complain or make a fuss. But when the male lead was watching a scheming woman's performance, the female lead suddenly announced their divorce! Abusing one's wife might feel good for a while, but chasing after her will only lead to a funeral home!

18. 18 丈 My Husband Favors His Secretary, and My Ex-Husband Wants Me Back 丈夫偏心女秘书，前夫立马向我求复婚 Cheng Guoguo澄果果13k WordsCompleted My husband favors his secretary, and my ex immediately asks me to remarry him 312Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    An unconventional way of pursuing a wife, it's a bit crazy.

19. 19 逃 After I Ran Away from My Wedding, the Whole World Fell in Love with Me 逃婚后，全世界都爱上我 Cheng Guoguo澄果果12k WordsCompleted After I Ran Away from My Wedding, the Whole World Fell in Love with Me 50Reads—Score—Shelves
20. 20 陆 Professor Lu, Your Tsundere Side Is Showing 陆教授，你的傲娇掉马了 Xu Xu Xu Xu虚徐栩叙Modern Romance840k WordsCompleted [Proud Law Professor vs. Spirited Policewoman | Regrets Chasing Her Too Late | Two Strong Leads, Sparks Flying] Three years ago, she offered him her heart, burning with love, only to hear him say, “We’re on different paths. We can’t work together.” Three years later, they meet again. He’s a special legal advisor to the municipal bureau, and she’s the lead detective on a pivotal case. Working together, he mocks her for running on coffee, yet when they’re alone, he tells her, “Add sugar. Don’t die 4.3kReads6.6Score360Shelves

    Reader note

    The two broke up due to a misunderstanding, but reunited three years later. The male lead then goes through a "wife-chasing" saga, with some minor angst at the beginning.

21. 21 晚 The Evening Breeze Won’t See Him Home, and the Departed Will Not Return 晚风不渡他，不见离人归 It's the Future是未来呀Modern Romance228k WordsCompleted [Ex-Wife-Chasing-to-the-Crematorium + Second Male Lead Takes the Lead + No Reconciliation After the Breakup + Feuds Among the Wealthy + Male Lead Suffers + Male Lead Is Chaste, Female Lead Is Not + Evenly Matched Leads + Strong Female Lead + A Touch of Workplace Drama] *Stoic male lead *Gentle second male lead *Female lead’s growth It was an undeniable fact that Nan Yunqian had once loved Song Ning deeply. He had nearly given his life for her, and Song Ning had never doubted his feelings for a m 2.7kReads6.8Score106Shelves

    Reader note

    The story begins with the male protagonist filing for divorce. After the divorce, the female protagonist aborts their child. The male protagonist immediately regrets his decision and tries to win her back, a story of male torment.

22. 22 洞 On Our Wedding Night, He Was Called Away by a Phone Call 洞房花烛夜，他被一个电话叫走 Mu Qingyou慕清幽Modern Romance609k WordsCompleted [Reborn, 1v1, both leads devoted only to each other: fierce heroine x restrained, long-suffering hero] When Mu Silian opened her eyes again, she was back on the day of her wedding to Chu Qingwang. On their wedding night, he was called away by a phone call. He never came home, and she spent the whole night alone. She wasn’t angry or upset. She no longer cared about this man. Whoever wanted him could have him! She turned around and hired a hundred college guys. Later, she put a sign on her bedroom 6.4kReads7.3Score223Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend this book; it's already completed.

23. 23 她 After She Stopped Loving Him, Wen Yanqi Regretted Everything and Begged to Get Back Together 她不爱后，温言祁疯狂后悔求复合 A Penguin Who Has to Write Every Day每天都要码字的企鹅Modern Romance220k WordsCompleted [Both Pure + Imprisonment + Forced Love + Amnesia + Woman Pursues Man + Coercive Possession + Scheming and Obsessive + Love Grows Over Time + Playing Hard to Get + Angst Before Sweetness + Relentless Pursuit] Between her and him, one of them is always forcing the issue. When Shen Shuhe loved Wen Yanqi, he brushed her off with contempt and cold indifference. After accumulating enough disappointment, Shen Shuhe finally signed the divorce papers on a sunny day. She thought it meant freedom, never r 13.1kReads8.0Score485Shelves

    Reader note

    The story begins with heartbreak and ends sweetly; the male lead experiences a "wife-chasing-after-the-crime" or

24. 24 替 The Contract Wife, The Ice-Cold CEO Falls Hard 替嫁契约妻，高冷禁欲总裁沦陷 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance410k WordsCompleted Forced by her adoptive parents, Xia Yutong takes the place of her arrogant, overbearing stepsister and marries Lu Yunfei, a notorious playboy caught up in one scandal after another. But the wedding takes a shocking turn. The man who comes to escort her home is not the playboy Lu Yunfei, but Lu Yanci, the feared devil of the business world. He runs the vast Lu business empire, wields enormous power, and is ruthless in his methods. He is aloof, chaste, and indifferent to women. On their wedding ni 13kReads6.8Score909Shelves

    Reader note

    The beginning is a bit angsty, but the ending is very sweet. The cold and cunning CEO falls for his sweet little wife after an arranged marriage.

25. 25 新 On Our Wedding Night, My Comatose Husband Put His Arm Around My Waist 新婚夜，植物人老公搂住我的腰 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance238k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later + Sweet Romance + Age Gap + Husband Chasing His Wife + Both Chaste] Tong Yao is forced to take her twin sister’s place and marry Gu Jingchen, a former business tycoon who is now in a vegetative state. The whole city pities her, believing she will spend her life as a wife in name only. But on their wedding night, the sleeping man suddenly wraps an arm around her waist. The once decisive king of the business world wakes up and takes back his immense power. Everyone wait 3.6kReads6.6Score284Shelves
26. 26 我 I Woke Up My Husband from His Vegetative State 我让植物人老公苏醒 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance286k WordsCompleted [Love after marriage + age gap + groveling pursuit + sweet romance + powerful man lowering his head] Su Tong is the Su family’s adopted daughter. Clever from a young age, she excelled in school and graduated from Harvard, becoming an outstanding neurosurgeon. The Su family’s biological daughter, Su Shishi, refuses to honor the betrothal arranged for her when she was young and marry Huo Yunzhou, a business magnate from Haicheng who has been in a vegetative state since a car accident. So her adop 2.1kReads8.0Score146Shelves
27. 27 新 On My Wedding Night, I Revived a Comatose Tycoon 新婚夜，我救活了植物人大佬 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance515k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later] [Sweet Romance] [Age Gap] [Scheming Male Lead] Jiang Yan grew up in a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. From childhood, she studied medicine under her grandparents, both seasoned physicians, and mastered the art of acupuncture. However, fate had other plans. Her father's company was on the brink of collapse, and to save it, she was forced to marry Lu Jingming, a business genius who had been left in a vegetative state by a car accident. Known for h 2.5kReads6.8Score146Shelves

    Reader note

    These books are pretty good. The male and female protagonists marry first and then fall in love. The billionaire CEO becomes a doting husband. The beginning is a bit angsty, but the end is sweet.

28. 28 闪 My Flash-Marriage Husband Is Actually a Trillionaire CEO 闪婚老公，竟是千亿总裁 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance161k WordsCompleted 4.7kReads—Score171Shelves
29. 29 植 The Comatose Tycoon Falls in Love with Me 植物人大佬，爱上我 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance378k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + devoted to one another + sweet romance] An Ran is a highly skilled neurosurgeon who should have been making a name for herself saving lives. Instead, her greedy stepmother and father force her into the dark depths of fate. Tempted by money, they push her into what seems like an endless, loveless marriage, marrying her off to Mu Tingchen, a legendary business tycoon left in a vegetative state after a car accident. Once, Mu Tingchen ruled the business world with an ir 1.1kReads6.4Score—Shelves
30. 30 禁 The Abstinent Tycoon Is Addicted to Me 禁欲大佬对我上瘾 Loves Bauhinia Flowers爱紫荆花Modern Romance144k WordsCompleted [1v1 sweet romance + both leads are devoted to each other + powerful man lowers his head] After getting drunk, Sheng Yanxi accidentally wandered into the presidential suite of Ling Jingchen, the fearsome “tyrant” of Hancheng. After one reckless night, she woke up, saw the outline of the man beside her, and was scared out of her wits. It was Ling Jingchen! The cold-faced tyrant whose slightest stomp could make all of Hancheng tremble! While he was still asleep, she fled in a panic. Ling Jingchen 2.9kReads—Score127Shelves
31. 31 甩 After I Dumped the Capital's Golden Boy, He Landed in the ICU 甩了京圈太子爷后，他进ICU了 Nini Si妮妮思Modern Romance410k WordsCompleted [Love-struck, silly beauty X benefits-first young heir of the capital's elite / The heir acts like a dog early on / Later transforms into a love-struck heir of the capital's elite] [The wife-chasing crematorium + running away while pregnant + the powerful one bows his head + getting back together after a breakup + dual-purity romance] This is a story where the hero starts out with all the power in the family, and could have had a wife and children at home, but the young heir just had to mess e 6.2kReads—Score144Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a really good story about a wife-chasing trope, and I've been following it on the edge of my seat lately, afraid the author will stop updating. I highly recommend everyone to read it!

32. 32 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 36.4kReads9.4Score4.3kShelves

    Reader note

    This is the pinnacle of contemporary romance novels this year, a sweet, angsty, and intellectually stimulating read. After reading it, I couldn't get into anything else. The author's literary background is profound, far surpassing that of novice authors. The writing is divine, incredibly delicate. The male lead's love is passionate, but not mindless. The character design is sophisticated; no one else on the entire Tomato website has created something like it, no one has copied it. The pacing is steady, starting slowly but steadily building up to a sweeter, more intense feeling as it progresses. You'll come back and thank me after you finish reading it.

33. 33 关 The Equation of You 关于你的方程式 A Promise Worth a Fortune一诺重金Modern Romance380k WordsCompleted [Devoted, restrained poor boy x smart, clear-headed rich beauty] Shu Qiao couldn't accept breaking up with Li Zheng, so she swallowed her pride and went to talk things through with him. Instead, she overheard him telling one of her classmates, “Shu Qiao and I have no future. I dated her because I didn't want to have any regrets about my college years.” Love is a multivariable linear equation. Li Zheng, who had always aced math, knew perfectly well that Shu Qiao wasn't his optimal solution, so he 10.8kReads8.9Score993Shelves

    Reader note

    The male protagonist proposes breaking up and divorce, and later suffers from a mental breakdown due to regret.

34. 34 爱 Love Like a Sky Full of Stars 爱如繁星满天 A Promise Worth a Fortune一诺重金Modern Romance156k WordsCompleted A Cinderella marries into a wealthy family, only to be looked down on by her in-laws, ignored by her husband, and denied any say in the marriage. Even the divorce is forced upon her. After a painful reckoning, Guan Yu resolves to fight Bo Yan for custody of their child. But how can a mayfly shake a tree? Will Guan Yu get revenge, crush the trash, and face-slap her ex-husband? Don’t fantasize! Will she overcome every obstacle and reach the peak of her career? Don’t even dream! Reality will put yo 2.9kReads8.6Score247Shelves
35. 35 强 Forced Love: Beyond Reach 强制爱：贵不可攀 Fu Yucheng傅羽丞Ancient Romance423k WordsCompleted Resilient, kindhearted village widow from the bottom of society × proud, ambitious top-ranking nobleman who says one thing and feels another [HE + Groveling Chase + Rekindled Love + Coercive Possession + Cheating + Neither Lead Is a Virgin] Xue Zhi, grandson of the Duke of Xue, was born into privilege and was the very picture of a favored son of heaven. He had toyed with countless women. Zhou Fengchun was just a poor widow from the mountains who had once saved him. She stuttered and had a six-y 14.2kReads8.5Score1.3kShelves

    Reader note

    The beginning was even quite sweet, but the ending was a complete mess of chasing after his wife.

36. 36 强 A Kiss That Leaves Its Mark: My Iron-Blooded Ex Begs Me to Love Her Again 强吻烙印：铁血前任跪求重爱我 When Flowers Fall, Summer Is Still Cool花落夏亦凉Modern Romance22k WordsCompleted A Kiss That Leaves Its Mark: My Iron-Blooded Ex Begs Me to Love Him Again 197Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I only read short stories, and these two are of this type. The beginning is angsty, but not particularly so, and the ending is sweet.

37. 37 摆 After I Set Up a Street Stall, My CEO Ex Became My Top Customer 摆摊后，霸总前夫成我的头号顾客 When Flowers Fall, Summer Is Still Cool花落夏亦凉Modern Romance15k WordsCompleted After I Started a Street Stall, My CEO Ex-Husband Became My Number-One Customer 100Reads—Score—Shelves
38. 38 替 After Marrying in My Brother’s Place, My Cold-Faced Uncle-in-Law Loses Control Again 替兄代娶后，冷面权臣小叔又失控了 Mo Jianwei墨见微16k WordsCompleted After Taking His Brother’s Place as the Groom, His Cold-Blooded, Powerful Uncle Loses Control Again 757Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    A sweet ancient romance novel with a slightly angsty beginning.

39. 39 一 After One Letter of Farewell, the Aloof Heir Stormed Through Imperial Power to Marry Me 一纸诀别，清冷世子踏破皇权来娶我 Mo Jianwei墨见微19k WordsCompleted One Farewell Letter, and the Aloof Heir Defies the Imperial Throne to Marry Me 117Reads—Score—Shelves
40. 40 帝 Reborn, the Emperor and Empress Both Quit Their Jobs 帝后重生后都撂挑子不干了 Xiao Tianyi小甜一Ancient Romance392k WordsCompleted (A cool, dignified male lead who'd rather slack off than be emperor, and a beautiful, sensible heroine who sometimes gets a little mischievous.) In her previous life, she lived in splendor but felt stifled as empress for over a decade. As she lay dying, her emperor husband was still away on campaign and had yet to return. Reborn, Chu Yue reflects on the past and decides that while the empress's phoenix crown was beautiful, it was also heavy and exhausting. She really doesn't want to wear it agai 4.8kReads8.5Score354Shelves

    Reader note

    There are many things she thought she could ignore, but that's not actually the case.

41. 41 冷 After Five Years of Cold War, Why Are You Losing Control Now That I Want a Divorce? 冷战五年，我提离婚你失控什么 Lunar Scrap Collector月球拾荒Modern Romance350k WordsOngoing [Marriage first, love later; regretful pursuit; bittersweet romance; the powerful one learns to bow his head; mutual healing; one-on-one; both are each other’s first and only; happy ending] [Cool-headed, headstrong painter × aloof, elegant CEO] Five years ago. Sui Nuan was a celebrated prodigy at Jiangcheng University: cool, beautiful, and hard to pursue. Just before graduation, she suddenly announced she was dropping out to marry Jiangcheng’s most powerful heir, Jiang Yanci, the eldest son who 2kReads—Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    The beginning is agonizing! The later part is a heart-wrenching chase to win back his wife!

42. 42 联 Married for Three Years, Met Twice: The Tycoon Regrets It 联姻三年见面两次，大佬他后悔了 Mu Mu Yulin木木雨霖Modern Romance200k WordsCompleted The rating just came in and will rise [Married first, fell in love later + six-year age gap + powerful man lowering his head + a long road to winning his wife back, unconventional version + one-on-one, both leads sexually inexperienced] [Ice-cold, stern CEO with a wolfish edge x clearheaded, self-reliant heiress fallen on hard times] Bei Mengtian and Zhang Jiuxuan had been married for three years, but had met only once, when they went to register their marriage. Even though she was a daughter of 1.7kReads8.2Score136Shelves

    Reader note

    This one! (Just started publishing, the rating will rise!) The male lead is indifferent and aloof at the beginning, causing some angst, but he slowly falls in love and starts pursuing her. He's a domineering CEO outside, but an obedient and loyal dog at home!

43. 43 渣 The Scumbag Keeps Trying to Make It Official 渣男总想要转正 Summer of the Poppy虞美人之夏Modern Romance570k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later; he pursues his wife after she leaves. One-on-one romance, both leads are each other's one and only.] [Cool, aloof rich young master VS gentle, self-reliant Cinderella] After getting drunk and making a fool of herself, Xia Yan somehow ended up in Young Master Pei's bed. She never expected that he was the very man she'd been offered to in repayment of a debt. From resisting with all her heart to falling for him, step by step. Their love is mutual, and their relationshi 78Reads6.1Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The male lead initially thought the female lead was a manipulative woman and disliked her intensely, refusing to let her go – a typical scumbag behavior. Only after he actually managed to drive her away did he realize how important she was to him, and then he pursued her relentlessly. The female lead's transformation from being unloved by her parents to becoming a queen cherished by the powerful tycoon is quite compelling. A good read!

44. 44 裴 Mr. Pei, The Moonlight You Dumped Is Back With Your Daughter 裴总，你甩的白月光带女儿回来了 Cultured Cabbage Head有文化的菜头Modern Romance536k WordsCompleted Both virgins + rekindled love + the male lead pursues his ex at all costs + an aloof beauty goes mad with love After they finish, Pei Lu gets off her and walks naked into the bathroom. Gu Yining lies on the bed for a while before slowly getting her strength back. Doing this first thing in the morning is exactly the sort of thing only he would do... He was the one who insisted on breaking up back then, and now he’s the one clinging to her like a madman. Two years ago, she complained to her best f 4.6kReads6.3Score316Shelves
45. 45 怀 I Got Pregnant, Then My Husband Returned After Three Years Away 怀孕后，三年未见的老公回来了 Cultured Cabbage Head有文化的菜头Modern Romance2.0M WordsCompleted [Male obstetrician ✘ Female psychological counselor] Rekindled love ➕ He pursues her after driving her away ➕ Adorable child makes an appearance ➕ One misunderstanding after another... On the day Qiao Mo and Xiao Zheyan marry on impulse, he's urgently called back and spends the next three years in a laboratory. His mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and she asks Qiao Mo to use the sperm Xiao Zheyan previously had frozen to conceive and have a child. But just after Qiao Mo becomes pregnant 3.4kReads9.0Score833Shelves
46. 46 裴 The Love Rival Mr. Pei Investigated Obsessively Turned Out to Be Her 裴总疯狂调查的情敌，竟是她 Jinxian Sheng锦弦声Modern Romance736k WordsCompleted [Scheming, flirtatious beauty x restrained, self-controlled “substitute” big shot] [Bittersweet romance + mutual pining fulfilled + fake-substitute trope + revenge + groveling for his wife] The day rumors about Pei Zhiyan and his half-sister Shen Qingqing hit the trending charts, Shen Li finally understood: This marriage had always been nothing but a “substitute” game. So she made a burner account and posed as a male homewrecker to provoke Pei Zhiyan: If he only saw her as his “sister-in-law,” t 142Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This book was okay at the beginning, but a bit angsty in the middle. In the early stages, the male lead avoided the female lead like the plague. The female lead created an alternate account and pretended to be possessed, which provoked the male lead. He became somewhat possessive and demanding, pushing the female lead further and further away. To win her back, he pretended to have amnesia and became a cuddly puppy. [Admiration][Admiration][Admiration]

47. 47 假 After Faking My Death to Escape, the Scumbag Emperor Cries in Secret Every Day 假死脱身后，渣皇帝每日偷偷的哭 Very Lucky Raccoon大吉大狸Ancient Romance511k WordsCompleted [Laid-Back Harem Schemes + Clear-Eyed Realism + The Emperor's Regret + No Forgiveness + Second Male Lead Wins] Shen Ning and Emperor Jing had been childhood sweethearts, bound by deep affection from a young age. He had once promised her that she would be the only woman he loved in this life, and his one and only empress. But even the deepest love of youth could not withstand the novelty of someone new. You always think the food you've never tried tastes better. In the third year of the Jingde er 1.3kReads7.5Score111Shelves

    Reader note

    Female Lead: Shen Ning 🎈🎈🎈 Shen Ning's relationship with Chu Jingheng falls apart due to the appearance of the transmigrated woman Lin Wanwan. After experiencing a series of setbacks, she awakens her self-awareness and chooses a seemingly "laissez-faire" approach to cope with her predicament, which is actually full of wisdom and courage. 🍁🍁Initially, Emperor Chu Jingheng dislikes Shen Ning because of Lin Wanwan, but later he regrets his actions and tries to win her back, making for a gripping plot. 🎗️🎗️Add to your bookshelf and read now!

48. 48 娘 Demoted Consort, Bound to the Dragon Bed Night After Night 娘娘被贬，龙榻日日缠 Lu Yan Qiqi鹿言七七Ancient Romance517k WordsCompleted Content warnings [There is a System, but it’s useless and mostly causes trouble. The heroine transmigrates, and the hero is a primitive man.] This story features a henpecked husband dynamic. The heroine isn’t a strong, independent female lead; she grows step by step. The hero is an emperor with a dose of chauvinism. He expects obedience and insists on having the final say. The hero has feelings for the original heroine, but the woman he loves most is always the heroine, who has been loyal to hi 1.7kReads—Score101Shelves

    Reader note

    This one is quite similar.

49. 49 岁 A Year Without Song 岁无歌 Xiaoxiao Fishing Song潇潇渔歌Ancient Romance580k WordsCompleted Wu Suiwan was a pitiful girl, unloved by both her father and mother. She had hoped to turn her life around by finding a husband, but instead fell straight into a ditch. Fortunately, things took a turn for the better. After the poor girl had spent a year quietly mourning her husband, Heaven took pity on her and her husband, who had supposedly died in battle, came home. But don’t celebrate just yet. At the drop of a hat, her husband eloped with another woman. If he doesn’t want us, we shouldn’t cl 392Reads8.8Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Traditional Chinese romance, purely traditional Chinese romance, nothing else, first the female lead suffers, then the male lead suffers, a broken relationship is mended, but the mending isn't because of love [staring][staring]

50. 50 西 The West Wind Is Cruel 西风恶 Xiaoxiao Fishing Song潇潇渔歌Ancient Romance147k WordsCompleted She swallows her grievances and compromises against her will, her heart full of resentment. She longs for what she cannot have, powerless as fate keeps her apart from the one she loves. Though this is a love story, the plot is dull and uneventful, with little flavor. Look closely, and you'll find more bitterness than sweetness. A realistic tragic romance: not sweet, not satisfying, and not cathartic. Many different lives, and many different kinds of misery. A pure historical romance, with both l 827Reads8.8Score—Shelves

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