Modern Setting, Marriage First, Love Later 现代+先婚后爱

1. 1 老 So What If My Husband Is a Mama's Boy? I'm a Mother-in-Law's Girl, Too 老公妈宝男怎么了？我还婆宝女呢 One Big Yellow Flower一朵大黄花Modern Romance480k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + slow-burn sweetness + both leads have no past romantic partners] Lin Yan went on a blind date with a mama’s boy. He said, “My mom’s always managed my salary, and she’ll keep doing it after we’re married.” Lin Yan said, “That’s great. I’ll let your mom manage my salary too.” The mama’s boy said, “The house is my premarital property, so I won’t add your name. And there’ll be no bride price.” Lin Yan said, “No problem. I have my own house, don’t need a bride price, and 5.6kReads8.7Score65814d adds

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   I love the female lead's personality; she's clear about her likes and dislikes. She's a well-behaved little girl in front of her mother-in-law and husband, but a completely different person in front of her scumbag father, stepmother, and other ill-intentioned people—she's both cool and refreshing. The male lead is also interesting; he seems weak, but he's capable of taking a knife when necessary. His mother-in-law is tsundere; she initially dislikes the female lead but later falls for her.

2. 2 朝 Clear as the Morning Mist 朝雾至清 Lu Xingyu鹿星鱼Modern Romance286k WordsCompleted A marriage first, love later + older man + slow-burn romance + a cold-faced, doting male lead A hugely ambitious superstar × a powerful man whose influence runs deep and quiet [At first, he is only physically attracted to her] - A marriage contract binds Lin Chaowu and Zhou Zhiqing together. He is the cold, inscrutable head of the powerful Zhou family. At first, he is only physically attracted to her; he does not love her, but he spoils her to an extraordinary degree. She is a top-tier star, 3.7kReads6.8Score35414d adds

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   This is a sweet romance novel about marriage before love. The protagonists don't know each other before marriage, and their initial attraction is purely physical. The male lead is aloof but dotes on and respects the female lead. He gradually falls in love with her, and he's quite cunning and knows how to get what he wants. The female lead is a gentle and shy girl, and it's almost always the male lead who initiates the romance.

3. 3 先 Sir, Your Tenderness Is Beyond the Limit 先生，你的温柔超纲了 Mister Ruochen若尘先生Modern Romance423k WordsCompleted ✨The main story is complete! [Love After Marriage + Mutual Devotion + Sweet Romance + Both Leads Have No Past Relationships] The two strangers met at their families’ arrangement. When Jiang Yirou first met Gu Chengxiao, she thought he was a little too proper and serious, but his sense of responsibility made her feel safe. Gu Chengxiao had planned to treat the meeting as a formality, but he found that he liked her. He even felt an urge to let her into his world... After they married, Jiang Yirou 835Reads—Score10214d adds

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   Marriage of convenience that blossoms into love. A love that begins without courtship, yet lasts a lifetime, a mutual commitment.

4. 4 沈 Mrs. Shen, Please Guide Me for the Rest of My Life 沈太太，余生请多指教 Mister Ruochen若尘先生Modern Romance440k WordsCompleted [The score just came in and will rise later, so don't miss out!] Two strangers came together after being introduced on a blind date. They thought they would simply go on living together with mutual respect. But one day, one of them asked, “Who says we're only being polite to each other?” It turned out I wasn't the only one who had fallen in love. Both leads are each other's first and only love, with no old flame in the picture. A marriage-first, love-later story about two people who didn't care 3kReads8.7Score25614d adds
5. 5 好 It's Never Too Late to Love 好爱不怕迟 An Fei'er安菲儿Modern Romance317k WordsCompleted ♀️She falls in love after marriage♂️He falls in love at first sight A sweet, slow-burn romance between two devoted partners➕A relationship built on honest communication and gentle guidance A female-audience novel told entirely from the male lead's perspective✖️A lighthearted comedy about a fiercely competitive power couple The sharp-tongued lawyer Chu Jinglan, who never buckles under pressure × Chi Ze'an, a thoughtful psychotherapist A couple who make their living with words spend their days kis 33Reads—Score—14d adds

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   Sweet romance novels about marriage before love

6. 6 被 After I Was Cheated On, I Replaced the Groom 被劈腿后，我直接换了新郎 Sang Shen桑慎Modern Romance218k WordsOngoing [Marriage First, Love Later] [Both Leads Are Pure] [Two Powerful Families] [Sweet Romance After Marriage] * The day before her wedding, Wen Wan caught her fiance cheating. If that was how things stood, she would simply switch grooms on the wedding day. "Mr. He, I'd like to invite you to marry me." * On the wedding day, the groom fled in shame. While the guests were still in shock, the doors at the center of the venue slowly swung open. At the far end of the red carpet stood a tall, slender figur 46Reads—Score10914d adds

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   Beautiful, two wealthy families

7. 7 清 The Coolheaded Doctor Angers a Funeral Tycoon and Gets Spoiled Rotten 清冷女医生误惹殡葬大佬被宠疯了 Baizhu Blossom白术花Modern Romance349k WordsOngoing [Told from the heroine’s perspective: a marriage first, love later. The hero’s secret crush finally comes true.] The first time they met, Sheng Jinchao watched from start to finish as Ruan Shiyi was proposed to by a male patient. The second time they met, Ruan Shiyi was in a wedding car, while Sheng Jinchao was in a hearse. He watched the whole time as she tore into her awful in-laws. The third time they met, Ruan Shiyi was rotating through urology, and Sheng Jinchao booked an appointment at her 1Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   From the female protagonist's perspective, it's an arranged marriage that blossoms into love; from the male protagonist's perspective, his unrequited love becomes real.

8. 8 唇 Drunk on Her Starry Eyes 唇香醉入她星眸 September Clouds九月云Modern Romance164k WordsCompleted [Love After Marriage + Gentle CEO vs. Aspiring Actress + Mutual Devotion + Protecting Each Other as They Grow + Sweet Romance + Slow-Burn Love] A chance encounter at a bar plunges producer Pei Fengpeng into a romance scandal... He's the second young master of the Pei Group and the owner of an entertainment company... She's Leng Shuyu, an obscure dance star determined to become an actress... The figures on the contract gleam like blades, then the contract is torn to shreds, and they register thei 21Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   A contemporary romance novel about marriage before love blossoms, featuring mutual commitment and sweet moments, separations, longing, and unwavering companionship.

9. 9 年 Quick Transmigration Through the Eras: I Slack Off Until the End of My Life 年代快穿之在摸鱼中寿终正寝 Kong Qing倥青Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Both Male and Female Perspectives]╫ [No Romance]╫ [Powerful Golden Finger]╫ [Everyday Life, No Hostility]╫ [No Following the Original Plot]╫ [Period Setting, Occasionally Raising Children]╫ [Story Length Depends on My Mood]╫ [Regular Updates, Read Without Worry] After transmigrating into three different lives, Ji Weichen returns to her original world. Only after making up for the regrets she left behind there does she realize that she has long since become a lowly employee in the Era Division o 7.2kReads7.8Score49414d adds

   Reader note

   It was so-so at first, but after reading a few more chapters, I decided to keep reading.

10. 10 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 37.7kReads9.4Score4.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    The ultimate intellectual romance novel, featuring a devoted and cultured male lead who is also wild and lustful, and a female lead who is exceptionally brilliant, possessing both high emotional and intellectual intelligence. Their relationship is mutually supportive, leading to mutual growth and a triumphant conclusion. Both the sweet and angsty moments are exquisitely crafted. A must-read.

11. 11 天 A Sky-High Contract: I Married Into Wealth, Then Took My In-Laws in Hand 天价契约：豪嫁后，我整顿了婆家 Counting掏数Modern Romance288k WordsCompleted [Putting the in-laws in their place + wealthy CEO + married first, love later + groveling pursuit + cultural differences between north and south] A sky-high contract and a marriage of convenience, each getting what they need. To save her gravely ill mother, Guan Shanyue, a young woman from Songhe, “sold” herself to Lu Chenzhou, the richest man in Jincheng. He needed a wife to appease his family. She needed five million yuan for lifesaving treatment. From then on, the divide between north and sou 20Reads—Score—14d adds

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    New book: Marriage First, Love Later: Marriage First, Love Later + Wife-Chasing Hell - See how a straight-as-an-arrow woman turns a cold, aloof CEO into a loyal husband.

12. 12 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 11.5kReads7.1Score34414d adds

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    Tomato is the most satisfying! The most cathartic! A marriage of convenience that blossoms into love, with the male lead and supporting male character getting divorced! The female lead doesn't waste words; a divorce announcement keeps the news trending for three days! The opening chapter is agonizing for the female lead. The male lead hasn't touched her for a year after their marriage, then turns off his phone to watch a scheming woman's performance. The female lead is in a car accident, immediately announces their divorce, and then disappears without a trace. The male lead is heartbroken, experiencing a agonizing chase after his wife.

13. 13 港 A Letter from Hong Kong 港岛来信 Lychee Egg Cake荔枝鸡蛋糕Modern Romance145k WordsOngoing “I want her to be like the rain, falling into my arms of her own accord.” Content warning: The heroine's brother, Zhao Yanchuan, has a BL (also known as danmei) storyline, but he has little page time and it won't affect your reading. If you're particularly uncomfortable with this, please proceed with caution. A pampered, sharp-tongued rich girl from Beijing × a refined, roguish, fatherly smiling schemer from Hong Kong - Zhao Sinian, head of the Zhongzhou Group, has a son and a daughter. As the a 192Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    We've struck gold! The female lead in "Letters from Hong Kong Island" is forced into an arranged marriage after returning from studying abroad. The man, who is 8 years her senior, spoils her rotten after the marriage. It's a love story that begins with marriage and then blossoms into love!

14. 14 白 The One I Thought Was My One True Love Was Actually a Substitute All Along 白月光竟然一直是替身 Riverbank Fox汀狐25k WordsCompleted It turns out the person who was always his white moonlight was a substitute. —Reads—Score—14d adds

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    A marriage arranged by wealthy families, the male lead's unrequited love, and the female lead's love that blossoms from marriage to marriage. The process is slightly angsty, but the ending is happy.

15. 15 渺 A Gentle Heartfelt Embrace 渺渺入心怀 Miao Diu Diu Diu Le喵丢丢丢了Modern Romance319k WordsCompleted [Sweet, Gentle Heroine vs. Daddy-Type CEO] [Married First, Love Later] [Age Gap] [Healing] When she was twenty-two, she went on a blind date. The man was eight years older and an executive at a Fortune Global 500 company. She wore an old coat that didn't fit and was a little threadbare. He said, "Let's get married." She thought they were each getting something out of it. Only later did she realize it was the road that would lead them to the rest of their lives together. She was timid, sensitive, 2.1kReads—Score22014d adds

    Reader note

    The story is about marriage first, then love later. The couple gets married right at the beginning, with an eight-year age gap. The female lead is obedient, gentle, and doesn't cause trouble. The male lead only realizes after marriage that raising a young wife is not easy. It's not enough to just provide food, drink, and money; you also need to pay attention to her emotional needs.

16. 16 抵 Irresistible! My Rich Husband Is Head Over Heels for Me 抵挡不住！豪门老公专宠上瘾 The Moon and the Grass月亮与小草Modern Romance43k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later + Sweet Romance + Devoted Couple + Everyday Life + Face-Slapping] Wen Ruoyao disguises herself as her twin sister and marries Leng Shiyu, a billionaire CEO. Ever since she was a child, she has been Wen Ruoli's stand-in. No one has ever cared how she feels. With her memories gone, she thinks she's helping her sister, but once again, she's only being used. But wait, it seems this wealthy husband of hers has decided she's the one! "Twins may look alike, but they're not t 5Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Modern romance, arranged marriage leading to love.

17. 17 顶 The World's Top Assassin Is Actually a Vicious Celebrity 顶级杀手她竟是娱乐圈恶毒女明星 The Moon and the Grass月亮与小草Modern Romance200k WordsCompleted [Showbiz + wealthy families + assassin + wild imagination] She was the abandoned eldest daughter of the Luo family. He was a National Security Bureau commander with a hidden identity. At nine, Luo Zixiao went alone to M Country. A powerful figure took a liking to her, and she became a top assassin. Now she's back, carrying both her organization's mission and a gift of revenge. Setting off explosions and catching bugs are a piece of cake for her. And as for her stepmother and stepsister, just wai 32Reads—Score—14d adds
18. 18 枕 Tenderness on the Pillow: Professor Gu’s Contract Wife 枕上温柔，顾教授的契约婚妻 Sun Gives Birth to Metal and Wood日生金木Modern Romance290k WordsCompleted (The novel is complete) Marriage Before Love / A sweet, slow-burn everyday romance / Pure romance / Not a fast-paced plot / A literary style A cool, restrained professor of classical literature × a sweet, healing freelance illustrator The socially anxious illustrator Wen Ruan needs a great deal of money to pay for her grandmother's treatment. Gu Qingyan, a professor of Chinese at a top university, needs a quiet, obedient wife who won't cause trouble. He finds her and makes a businesslike offer 31Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The two became husband and wife through a contract, setting many rules for their relationship. Their peaceful life was disrupted by the fact that the other person didn't come home all night. The protagonist became jealous and gradually broke the rules, hoping to spend the rest of his life with the other person.

19. 19 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 342Reads—Score814d adds

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    In the Republican era, I used the most despicable means to get her, only to discover in the end that she hated me until her death—a "villain's" tearful confession. My name is Xiao Qihao. In the Republican-era tragic love story "Butterfly Shadow Returns to Dust," I am not the male protagonist. I am the villain that all readers wish they could tear to pieces. I am the villain who imprisoned her, hurt her, and ruined her life. But if you are willing to listen, I want to tell my story—the story of a man who was jealous, insane, and unable to obtain what he desired from beginning to end. --- The first time I saw her, I went mad. I am the illegitimate son of the Zhang family, who is not worthy of being mentioned in public. I took my mother's surname, Xiao, from childhood, and had no status in the Zhang family, suffering cold treatment as a dependent. My half-brother, Zhang Zhiming, had everything I wanted—the status of a legitimate heir, a wealthy family business, and her. I still remember the scene when I first saw Die'er. She sat in the main hall of the Zhang mansion, with beautiful features and an outstanding temperament. When my brother looked at her, his eyes were full of tenderness. I stood in the shadows, my nails digging into my palms, bleeding unnoticed. Why? Why did that kind-looking, taciturn man have such a woman? Why was I relegated to the shadows, like an ant unable to see the light? From that moment on, I secretly vowed—I must have her. No matter the means, no matter how long it took. --- I used the dirtiest methods to imprison her by my side, secretly spying on everything about her. What time she left for the cosmetics shop in the morning, what time she returned home at dusk, what time she rested at night. I knew she would occasionally sit alone by the pond in the backyard, staring blankly at the water. I hid behind the artificial hill, gazing at her profile, my greed growing wildly. Later, I conspired with her mother-in-law—the woman who also hated her to the core. We set a trap: I orchestrated the destruction of Zhang Zhiming's business, and her mother-in-law forged a divorce decree to betray her. I tricked her into signing a contract of servitude with the lie that "your husband is in danger," and imprisoned her in my villa. There, I tortured her relentlessly, forcing her to become my woman. I told her, "Since my brother is impotent, I'll fulfill his wish—to have your child for me." I'll never forget that night. She huddled in a corner, her clothes disheveled, her eyes vacant. She didn't cry. She simply touched her lower abdomen slowly, confirming the fetus was safe, before letting tears silently stream down her face. At that time, I didn't know that the child wasn't mine. She gritted her teeth and survived, just so I could raise my enemy's child for the rest of my life. --- The name she called in her dreams was never mine. After she gave birth, I was overjoyed. I thought it was my flesh and blood. I thought that with the child, she would accept her fate and slowly come to accept me. But I was wrong. Countless nights, she lay in my arms, murmuring that name—"Zhiming…" Those two words were so soft, as soft as a dream. It was like a knife, stabbing straight into my heart. In her dream, she called out another man's name. Not hatred, not resentment—there was a dependence in her voice that even she herself hadn't realized, something I could never have in this life. I wasn't angry. I just leaned down, my lips close to her ear, my voice low like a curse: "It's okay. It doesn't matter who you call in your dreams. In this life, you can only lie beside me." When I said those words, I felt like I had won. But I later realized that from that moment on, I had already lost completely. --- I thought time would make her forget, but I was the one who fell in love first. I began to give her everything. I made the villa exquisite and warm, gathering her favorite snacks and treasures. I put aside all my gloom and obsession, learning to be gentle and accommodating. But she grew colder and colder towards me. There was no warmth in her eyes. I was in a daze all day, and under the influence of others, I became addicted to opium, trying to numb myself with it. My mother hated her terribly. While I was in seclusion to quit opium, she secretly sold her to a brothel far away. After I emerged from seclusion, I searched frantically everywhere. I traversed every street and alley, but there was no trace of her. I spent the rest of my life obsessed with finding her. But in the end, I found nothing. --- What I finally received was news of her death. Years later, my trusted confidant finally learned of her whereabouts. She was dead. The woman I obtained through despicable means, the woman I couldn't change even with all my efforts, the woman who ruined half my life and whom I also ruined—she was gone forever. I didn't even get to see her one last time. I didn't even have a chance to say "I'm sorry." I returned to the Xiao residence, secluded myself for three days, neither eating nor drinking. I held the golden butterfly hairpin she had left behind in the other courtyard—it was custom-made for her by Zhang Zhiming, and it was the most valuable possession she had when she was forced to leave the Zhang family. She had brought it with her, thinking that if she saw the injured Zhiming on the road, she might not have enough money. Who knew that she would never return to his side. I clutched the hairpin, remembering the words she spoke to me that night when I lost control—"I'm just your trophy." No, Die'er. I love you. Not because you're a trophy, but because you are you. But you'll never hear those words again. --- I will spend the rest of my life atoning for my sins. After regaining my senses, I poured all my cunning and resources into the front lines of the War of Resistance. Boxes of medicine, truckloads of food, cotton-padded clothes—the ruthless methods I used on Zhang Zhiming, the connections I cultivated in the shadows, now transformed into support for my country. I raised the child she had with Zhang Zhiming. I named him "Yi'an"—wishing him unwavering courage and peace. I taught him to read and write, to love his country and be virtuous. I poured all my guilt, indebtedness, and obsession into this child. I was biased in everything, spending my entire life making amends for the sins I committed. I believed until my death that he was my own flesh and blood. This lie was my only solace for the rest of my life. --- In closing, I don't ask for your forgiveness. I know I don't deserve it. But if you open the book *Butterfly Shadow Returns to Dust* and see the man named Xiao Qihao—that sinister, insane, and wicked illegitimate son—please remember, he too once truly loved someone. His love was possessive, destructive, and ruthless. His love pushed her into the abyss and burned him to ashes. Yet, even in death, he murmured her name. There are no purely good people in this book, only the masses devoured by fate and desire in a chaotic world. And I am the most wretched among them. If you are willing to calm your mind and slowly read through this entanglement of love, hate, and obsession in the dust of a chaotic world, perhaps you will find—the one who deserves the most hatred was also the one who suffered the most. The book ends, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease.

20. 20 影 The Actress Strikes Back: Redeeming the Yandere Male Lead! 影后逆袭：病娇男配的救赎！ Loves Luo Guipin of Shiyan Jian喜欢石奄间的罗贵嫔Modern Romance476k WordsCompleted At the height of her dazzling career, award-winning actress Su Wan was deliberately run down by a car driven by a hater. At death's door, System 001 suddenly bound itself to her and offered an enticing deal: complete redemption missions and return to one hour before the crash, changing her fate against all odds. Mission objective: travel between worlds and save the tragic male supporting characters who grovel for love, love someone they cannot have, and meet miserable endings. She planned to —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    System 001 provides online alerts for hilarious and engaging scenarios; a good read if you're looking for something to read.

21. 21 京 Snowfall Over the Capital at Night 京夜欲雪 Yi Yi Qiancheng翊翊千城Modern Romance512k WordsCompleted [The rating just came in and will rise later] 1v1, both leads are each other’s first, marriage between wealthy families, marriage first and love later, eight-year age gap, mutual healing, the powerful one learns to bend A love-shunning, abstinent CEO × a cool beauty with a mysterious past He Yun Chu, 32, head of the He family, is cold and detached. Because of a childhood trauma, he believes in never marrying. Yet when he learns that Su Xuewan is to be his marriage partner, he readily “gives in.” 79Reads9.2Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I personally think this is a very good arranged marriage that blossoms into love. The writing is excellent, the romance unfolds slowly and steadily, and it's a sweet love story between a fox and a rabbit.

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