The Second Male Lead Gets the Girl! Unrequited Love! 男二上位的！暗恋的！

1. 1 占 Possessing the Rose 占有蔷薇 May the Finest Years Not Let You Down韶华不负Modern Romance241k WordsCompleted [Hero Chases His Wife to Win Her Back + Second Male Lead Takes the Lead] Zhou Jingsu, head of the Zhou family in City A, agrees when the little model he has kept for four years asks to break up. “If the little thing I keep is getting difficult, I’ll just have to tame her a little.” That very night. His good half brother, Shen Jingsi, offers himself to her. “Sister-in-law, I’ve always known how to treat a beautiful woman. Want to give me a try?” Later. Zhou Jingsu arrives to catch them in the act 4.7kReads8.8Score39814d adds

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   [Male lead's pursuit of his wife is a nightmare + Second male lead rises to power + Female is not male virgin] Zhou Jingsu, the head of the Zhou family in City A, wants to break up with his young model whom he's been raising for four years, and he agrees. "My little thing is disobedient, so I'll toughen her up." That very night, his half-brother, Shen Jingsi, offers himself to her. "Sister-in-law, I've always known how to cherish women, why don't you give it a try?" Later. Zhou Jingsu, having caught his brother cheating, knocks on the door of the presidential suite at the hotel where his brother is staying. Opening the door is his beloved young model—Jiang Ye. Emerging from the bathroom is his brother—Shen Jingsi. Shen Jingsi meets his gaze without hesitation, smiling lazily: "Brother, let me introduce you, this is my wife, Jiang Ye." Behind Zhou Jingsu's gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes gleam with a bloodthirsty ruthlessness. "Shen Jingsi, you've got guts, trying to steal my woman." [Top-tier doting husband + Jealousy king + Older woman/younger man relationship + Battlefield]

2. 2 难 Unbearable! Mr. Ji Flirts Openly and Coaxes Me in Secret 难以招架！季总他明撩暗哄 Qiao Xixi乔希希Modern Romance307k WordsCompleted (Story complete) [Both leads are romantically inexperienced + marriage before love + secret crush comes true + second male lead wins her heart + scumbag pursues his ex-wife to no avail] [Versatile classical dancer × a wolf in sheep’s clothing who loves to put on an act] Li Yang liked Shen Ci and pursued him for eight years with all her heart. On Shen Ci’s birthday, Li Yang finally learned just how insignificant she was in his eyes. “If anything happens to Mu Yao, your life won’t be enough to mak 2.8kReads9.0Score25814d adds
3. 3 隔 The Buddhist Monk Next Door Is Here to Woo His Wife! 隔壁那佛子，是来钓妻的！ Too Big忒大Ancient Romance654k WordsCompleted [Just started getting ratings, and the score is rising. Go ahead and give it a try.] ✓ Long-planned pursuit ✓ Buddhist monk × young nun Feng Xuanchen became a monk! Even two years later, the noble young ladies still couldn’t believe it. Their dream man, the God of War Prince of the Chaofeng Kingdom, had renounced the world! Yet there was never a shortage of fearless women throwing themselves at him, hoping to drag the peerless Buddhist monk back into worldly life. It was all in vain. - The empe 11.6kReads9.0Score1.9k14d adds

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   He'd been watching her since she was little; he was only afraid of her… She orchestrated her own rise to power, looking pitiful yet terrifyingly strong. [Facepalm]

4. 4 春 Spring Mountain in Uproar 春山喧 Biyou彼呦Modern Romance407k WordsCompleted [Print edition now available] [Faithful couple + older-sister-younger-man romance + reunion after years apart + secret crush + healing + slow-paced travel variety show + happy ending] "Straightforward, loyal F1 driver x glamorous, gentle actress" - At the height of her fame, Wen Wanning was filming in Northeast China. On a snowy night with temperatures at minus twenty degrees, her van broke down halfway up a mountain. Not long after she hung up with the repair shop, a battered Santana came skidd 71.7kReads9.6Score10.5k14d adds

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   🍰Unrequited love comes true! In the first book, the female lead is six years older than the male lead. During her work period, she adopted him for a while and sent him to learn racing🏎. Due to some reasons, they lost contact, but they reunited right at the beginning, full of details about unrequited love🎨. In the second book, after the female lead's graduation party, she received the notebook of the male lead who had died unexpectedly and discovered that he had a crush on her. She returned to school and found that he loved her even more, and tried her best to prevent him from having an accident.

5. 5 病 Sick, Twisted Love 病态畸恋 Bai Qiansui白千岁Modern Romance400k WordsCompleted [Rebirth # Mutual Secret Crushes # Campus # Aloof Princess Min × Warmhearted, Free-Spirited Manga Artist] The boy Xu Ling had secretly loved died on the eve of the college entrance exams. At a class reunion, she received a diary from the owner of a time-travel shop. It was signed: Fu Simin. As a boy, he had been sharp-tongued and rebellious, a genius student both loved and loathed by his teachers. He had been a darling of the heavens, shining without restraint and spreading like wildfire. Countl 3.5kReads9.1Score41414d adds
6. 6 京 Passionate Love in the Capital and Hong Kong 京港浓情 Soft Sheng软笙Modern Romance401k WordsCompleted [He secretly loved her + both leads are each other’s first, one-on-one romance + age gap, powerful man from the Hong Kong, Macau, and capital social circles x delicate college student] Chu Zhi had been adrift since the day she was born, until the Bo family took her in. To survive in the Bo household, she had no choice but to spend every day currying favor with the young master of the Bo family. The young master was handsome, but a little mean. He was always picking on her for the sake of another 2.7kReads8.3Score28014d adds

   Reader note

   The second male lead, a scumbag who's destined for heartbreak, has been plotting his love for a long time, a calculated and deliberate scheme. I've had my eye on you for ages.

7. 7 春 A Spring Longing Too Hard to Bear 春思难熬 Last Spring去年春Modern Romance289k WordsCompleted [Secret Crush / Seven-Year Age Gap / Second Male Lead Takes the Lead / Slow-Burn Romance] [Cool, Gentle Heiress from a Scholarly Family vs. Decisive Power Player of the Capital] Chi Shan is a well-known young woman from a scholarly family in Beicheng. But in the eyes of her fiancé, Liang Huaiming, she is a timid, dull, and stiff little flower raised in her family’s greenhouse. He marries her out of consideration for their families, demanding that she be submissive after the wedding while making 1kReads8.8Score10714d adds
8. 8 沉 Sinking into the Thorny Rose 沉沦刺瑰 Nine-Bough Bamboo九枝竹Modern Romance245k WordsCompleted (Powerful, ruthless man in a suit × beautiful, fair-skinned good girl) (Brutal boxing champion vs. beautiful painter + the second male lead takes the lead + secret love comes true + sweet romance + size difference + both virgins) Everyone knew Lin Yuexi was the canary Feng Zejing had kept for over half a year. She stayed by his side, gentle and obedient, never competing for anything. But she was an illegitimate daughter, someone he couldn’t show off and had to keep hidden. When Feng Zejing’s fir 947Reads7.3Score10914d adds
9. 9 渣 The Scumbag Pretended to Have Amnesia, So I Turned and Fell into a Powerful Man's Arms 渣男装失忆，转身投入大佬怀抱 Ling Yang令泱Modern Romance217k WordsCompleted [Husband Pursues His Wife After Losing Her (And She's Not Coming Back) + Second Male Lead Takes the Lead + Secret Crush + Marriage First, Love Later + Long-Planned Romance + Sweet Pampering + Both Devoted Only to Each Other] Clear-headed heiress who loves boldly and fiercely × calm, restrained, gentle CEO Song Zhigeng pursued Fu Hui for two years, never imagining that a car accident would make those two years a complete waste. Outside the hospital room, she overheard Fu Hui had gone to great len 123Reads7.4Score—14d adds
10. 10 暗 A Secret Crush, Kissed by the Tide 暗恋潮吻 Blue Cabbage蓝色卷心菜Modern Romance212k WordsCompleted [Love so intense it can carry them through every season] Marriage first, love later × a long-planned romance × mutual secret crushes Su Miaomiao was cheated on by her fiancé. In return, she gave him a lush green prairie hat. At their engagement party, Su Miaomiao had just dumped the jerk and was about to leave. Her fiancé's uncle lifted his wineglass and smiled, then casually volunteered himself. “It's an engagement, after all. Since my nephew won't do, how about me?” Everyone was baffled. Could 1.4kReads9.0Score20114d adds
11. 11 沦 Falling Hard! A Kiss Out of Control 沦陷！失控诱吻 Branch and Sunflower枝与葵Modern Romance273k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + the second male lead wins her heart + the ex chases her after the breakup, but she never looks back + both leads are inexperienced] Jiang Li found a revealing swimsuit photo on her boyfriend’s phone. A graceful figure, full of allure. It belonged to his female “best bud.” At the campground, Jiang Li watched coldly as they draped their arms around each other, acting like a couple. She gave a faint smile and turned to leave. “Jiang Mochen, you’re not my boyfriend any 26.5kReads9.3Score2.4k14d adds
12. 12 我 I'm Younger Than My Brother and Better at Pleasing the Young Lady 我比我哥年轻，更能让大小姐满意 Tao Beixia桃北夏Modern Romance578k WordsCompleted Radiant, spoiled, and flirtatious little princess ✖️ Mischievous, bad-boy, loyal puppy of a young master Two wealthy families, both rooted in Beijing’s elite circles ➕ The second male lead pursues her after losing her, but the heroine never looks back ➕ The hero has secretly loved her and fights to win her heart ➕ Childhood friends, with a long-planned romance ➕ Brothers competing for the same woman ➕ A glimpse into the lives of the wealthy ➕ Everyone’s darling ➕ Tension and chemistry ➕ Sweet ro 22.8kReads9.2Score2.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    The second male lead rises to power, vying for his affections, while his childhood sweetheart and arch-rival, whom he has secretly loved for many years, is now his rival, Wenxue.

13. 13 婚 After Marriage, the Aloof Beauty Is Held by the Weary Tycoon, Who Kisses and Clings to Her 婚后清冷美人被厌世大佬搂腰缠吻 Cranes Part from Green Mountains鹤别青山Modern Romance216k WordsCompleted [Short drama now available] [Both Pure + Marriage First, Love Later + Secretly Planned for a Long Time + Sweet Everyday Romance] A devoted-to-his-wife young master × a cool, aloof finance department beauty Gu Zhiyan confidently believes that with Shen Nanyin's family background, she'll come crawling back to him sooner or later. Until he sees her get into the Lu family's exclusive luxury car with his own eyes. One night, Gu Zhiyan gets blackout drunk and pounds on the door, his eyes red as he beg 42.1kReads9.4Score5.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    He's a handsome guy who's had a crush on the female lead since high school and has done a lot for her. He's a playboy on the outside but has never been in a relationship! He loves his wife so much!

14. 14 你 You Have Your White Moonlight, and I Have My Handsome Childhood Friend 你有白月光，我有俏竹马 Wusu Bubble Rice Cracker乌苏泡仙贝Modern Romance362k WordsCompleted [Physical edition signed and awaiting publication] [Second male lead takes the lead + childhood friend beats the newcomer + reunion after years apart] [Bright, passionate childhood sweetheart * devoted, slightly doglike childhood-friend big brother] Luo Weizhi * Jiang Yi Luo Weizhi is beautiful and good-natured, with lively catlike eyes. From the day she entered university, she was the undisputed beauty of the art department. Her admirers lined up from B University's south gate to its west gate, 5.3kReads9.2Score58414d adds

    Reader note

    The second male lead takes over, the childhood sweetheart defeats the newcomer, guaranteed to be a great watch! [Sparrow's Delight] [Sparrow's Delight]

15. 15 越 Forbidden Seduction 越轨引诱 My Male God, Buy Me a Chicken Drumstick男神请我吃鸡腿Modern Romance237k WordsCompleted [A stunning, seemingly sweet but secretly calculating true heiress vs. a lovesick, unruly, flirtatious heir to the throne] The male lead has been plotting for ages to steal her away / the second male lead pursues her too late and gets nowhere / both are each other’s first Thirteen-tier actress Lu Weizhen shot to fame like a rocket, winning multiple awards in just three years. One day, an anonymous tip suddenly hit the trending lists: #Rising top-tier star Lu Weizhen spends 48 hours alone with a 7.3kReads9.1Score78014d adds

    Reader note

    Long planned, the best big dog

16. 16 替 Your Stand-In of Five Years Won’t Renew Her Contract, So Why Are You Rushing to Marry Your Brother? 替身五年不续约，嫁你兄弟急什么 Mumu's Fishing沐沐的渔Modern Romance303k WordsCompleted [Male Lead’s Long Game + Second Male Lead’s Regret and Pursuit + Sweet Romance, Both Pure + Face-Slapping and Smacking Down Scumbags] The short drama The Five Years They Stole has premiered. A scheming, abstinent, dangerously charming tycoon × a radiant, pampered beauty with a stubborn streak Mu Qingyou is the fake heiress who was switched at birth into the Mu family. Overnight, the haughty little princess became a fake whom everyone despised. Mu Qingyou would never forget that heavy rain when s 5.2kReads9.0Score56314d adds

    Reader note

    Pei Shao's love is both fierce and timid, but also incredibly sweet.

17. 17 醒 After Waking, I Saw the Comments: The Villain Wants to Fall in Love with Me 醒后看见弹幕，反派他想跟我热恋 Su Jian簌见Modern Romance527k WordsCompleted (Completed) [Lighthearted Comment Banners + Male Lead Has a Secret Crush + Both Leads Are Each Other’s First] After waking up from a car accident, Lin Jinluo could see floating comment banners appearing before her. They said she was the evil supporting female character in a novel, and her older brother was the male lead. Whenever she framed the female lead, she also used up the affection her brother felt for her. When that affection reached zero, she would die within days, and her death would be 5.3kReads7.6Score78614d adds

    Reader note

    A seasoned bookworm's affirmation!! You should definitely give it a try.

18. 18 栀 A Gardenia Kiss on a Silken Waist 栀吻软腰 Blue Cabbage蓝色卷心菜Modern Romance298k WordsCompleted [The second male lead wins her heart × 1v1, devoted to each other, sweet romance × childhood sweetheart gets a proper funeral] [Proud, slow-to-warm financial journalist × devoted, cunning male fox] They’d been childhood sweethearts for over a decade. Everyone thought Wen Zhi would do anything Zhou Ziyi asked and would never leave, no matter how far he went. So when she walked away, Zhou Ziyi scoffed. “She’s just throwing a tantrum. A few days to cool off and she’ll be fine.” But when he stopped 3.7kReads8.4Score38814d adds

    Reader note

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

19. 19 领 My Fiancé Stood Me Up Before We Could Get Our Marriage License, Then His Younger Brother Took His Chance 领证前失约，未婚夫弟弟趁虚而入 Tea After茶后Modern Romance331k WordsCompleted [Contemporary Romance + Younger Brother Steals the Girl + Long-Planned Pursuit + Devoted Husband + Sweet Romance + Scheming Male Tea + Marriage First, Love Later + One-on-One + Dotes on Her Alone + Powerful CEO] Just minutes before they were due to register their marriage, her fiancé, Pei Tingshen, decided to put it off, turned the car around, and went to the hospital to visit his childhood sweetheart, who had just returned from abroad. Shen Ruoxi delivered one final warning over the phone. “If 26.2kReads8.6Score3.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    Highly recommended! This is a super good read. A scheming, manipulative woman is vying for the male lead's affections. The older brother stands her up before they get their marriage certificate, so the younger brother volunteers, "Sister-in-law, do you think I'm good enough?" It's a story of doting love, comedy, and the younger brother's secret crush leading to his rise to power. If you like scheming, manipulative men, this is a must-read!

20. 20 强 The Domineering CEO I Forced Myself on Won't Warm Up, So Reborn, She Chooses Someone Else 强扭的霸总捂不热，重生她换一个 Three Thousand Lovestruck Entanglements三千痴缠Modern Romance228k WordsCompleted [Mutual salvation, the second male lead gets the girl, the male lead grovels while the heroine never looks back, love triangle drama] Chi Yan suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia. During her freshman year of college, Qu Hua was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Two people who don't know how to love stumble forward together, learning how to bring warmth to each other and how to love. Qu Hua is reborn to the time before her engagement to Gu Huai. She doesn't want 6.6kReads9.2Score76914d adds

    Reader note

    It's super good, and it's already finished. I read it all in one go, haha.

21. 21 亲 Dear Director Wen 亲爱的闻总监 You Zhi Yu尤知遇Modern Romance611k WordsCompleted [Strong female lead, feel-good revenge, humiliating scumbags and making them eat their words, rekindled romance, sweet indulgence, the male lead rises to the top, and a love triangle] [Devoted, puppy-like CEO boyfriend of many years × bold, decisive, stubborn director who refuses to back down] After dating for three years, Wen Ruan finally learned she had only ever been a stand-in. When they broke up, Wen Ruan said, “Jiang Qingyan, I hope you die alone.” After being unjustly fired, Wen Ruan join 22.1kReads9.3Score2.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    I absolutely love this book! The second male lead is so popular, he's such a doting lover [smirking][smirking][smirking] He can't stand the female lead suffering even the slightest grievance, it really resonates with me [admiring][admiring]

22. 22 荣 Glory Disqualified 荣耀失格 Qingyang轻飏Modern Romance559k WordsCompleted She was once the most proud girl in the compound, born bold and reckless in her youth. One accident sent her tumbling from the clouds into the mire. In the shadows of a prison cell, she buried her former glory with her own hands. Years later, she returned to the world. Everyone she once knew had risen to high positions, while she was left battered and broken. Rumors swirled, and the past could not be reclaimed. She walked step by step along the edge of a blade, seeking only to have a clear consc 52.5kReads9.1Score5.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    It's great! A long-awaited reunion, a long-held crush, a domineering CEO, and a childhood sweetheart falling for a new love interest—it fulfills all my desires! Hahaha!

23. 23 难 So Hard to Win Over! The Little Rose Mr. Xie Raised Himself Is So Delicate 难哄！谢总亲手养大的小玫瑰超娇 Keep It Up, Mang Mang忙忙加油Modern Romance502k WordsCompleted [Marriage Before Love] [Mutual devotion, sweet pampering] [The regretful chase ends in total failure] Everyone in Nancheng knows that Shen Rang has a beautiful, gentle fiancée. Her eyes curve when she smiles, her voice is soft, and she’s so good-natured she seems willing to be molded any which way. Most importantly, she has loved him for three years, looking up to him from afar. Shen Rang used to think so, too. So even after she caught him cheating, he placated her with casual indifference: “Don 20.5kReads9.2Score2k14d adds

    Reader note

    Completed. The story is a classic "wife-chasing-after-the-cremation" trope, with the second male lead, who had secretly loved her for years, seizing the opportunity and leaving her no chance whatsoever.

24. 24 青 A Childhood Friend's Kiss on the Corner of My Lips 青梅吻唇角 Elk Seventeen麋鹿十七Modern Romance500k WordsCompleted [Boyish, dependable He Jue × bright, “tearful” Wen Mi] [Both virgins ➕ college campus ➕ childhood friends and secret crushes ➕ childhood friend beats the new guy ➕ groveling for your wife ➕ sweet and flirty] Wen Mi got into Jiang Yanchen’s university for his sake. From then on, she wore white dresses and kept her long, straight black hair, all so she could become his pure and innocent girlfriend. Four years of loving him earned her one sentence: “Wen Mi? I find her pretty annoying.” Heartbroken, 26.2kReads8.5Score2.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    💥The devoted second male lead, a secret crush, successfully wins over the female lead! Wen Mi, in order to pursue Jiang Yanchen, entered his university, loving him for four years only to be met with, "Wen Mi? I find her rather annoying." Heartbroken, the female lead is reborn after a car accident, returning to her sophomore year of college, and no longer pursues Jiang Yanchen. At school, she suddenly sees her childhood sweetheart, Juejue, who is a year older than her, and tearfully cries on his shoulder, using up an entire pack of tissues.

25. 25 重 Reborn in the 1970s: Dumping My Jerk Ex for a Handsome, Bad-Boy Soldier 重生七零：踹掉渣男改嫁痞帅军少 Slightly Sweet微恬Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted [Rebirth + feel-good wish fulfillment + sweet romance + love at first sight + devoted husband + military marriage + System + ensemble cast + a touch of fantasy] [Obsessive, roguishly handsome young officer VS sweet, gentle college student from the countryside] In her previous life, after failing the college entrance exam, she married her childhood friend, the officer Gu Jingxing, and spent fifty years working hard to take care of him. But Gu Jingxing’s last words before he died were that he want 11.8kReads8.2Score1.7k14d adds
26. 26 醉 A Drunken Nighttime Kiss! One Flirt from Her, and the Arrogant Big Shot’s Heart Races 醉吻夜！她一撩，桀骜大佬心狂跳 A Crescent Moon一剪月Modern Romance539k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Climbing the Capital’s Family Tree is now available on all platforms.] [Top Capital City Tycoon · Rebellious, Devoted Suit-Wearing Bad Boy vs. Ballet Princess · Radiant, Proud Little Swan] Li Zhi and Fu Yanze grew up together, but Li Zhi turned out to be the fake heiress. For the sake of his own interests, Fu Yanze chose to get engaged to the real heiress, a leading actress in the entertainment industry. He hoped Li Zhi would understand and said he would come back to marr 59.5kReads9.5Score7.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    The second male lead had a crush on the female lead for eight years, accompanying her as a good friend, and finally had his chance. He truly treated her like a princess. Lou Yanjing smiled slightly: "With this diamond crown, Mrs. He Lou is freed from her confinement and enjoys a joyous wedding. The ballet princess's crown will not fall, and our Miss Zhizhi will never bow her head."

27. 27 零 Zero-Degree Intimacy 零度暧昧 Lan Sheng澜笙Modern Romance335k WordsCompleted [The print edition goes on sale across all platforms on August 1] [Short drama now streaming] Previously titled: Zero-Degree Intimacy [One-on-one romance + both leads’ first love + happy ending + secret marriage + sweet romance ♥ Double-layer milk foam, 70% sugar!] (Rich, sharp-tongued, scheming investor Jian Yuchen VS money-loving, mischievous young designer Wen Ni) In a nutshell: She married her nemesis. In physics, zero degrees is the point where ice and water coexist. Zero-degree intimacy is 79.1kReads9.5Score9.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    A really good book, you should check it out!

28. 28 备 Emergency Contact 备用联系人 Fluffy Winter Hibernation绒绒冬眠期Modern Romance196k WordsCompleted Song Huaiyu has always been the person Chi Mo fears most. During the ten years she was with Guan Yizhou, he saw nearly every moment of her embarrassment and distress. This is not a story about an ordinary girl who follows the person she loves to a big city and eventually gets her happy ending. Chi Mo and Guan Yizhou have always belonged to two different worlds. She spent ten years looking up and struggling to reach his world, then suddenly gave up one sunny morning. It’s easy to understand what 355.7kReads9.4Score50.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    The second male lead's love was quite impressive; the most memorable line was, "I've given you 10 years, what more do you want?"

29. 29 领 You Stood Me Up at the Courthouse? I'll Marry Your Uncle Instead 领证爽约？我嫁你小叔疯什么 A Long Time with You漫长与你Modern Romance532k WordsCompleted [Broken Relationship That Stays Broken] [The Second Male Lead Comes Out on Top] [Seven-Year Age Gap] [Uncle Steals His Nephew’s Wife] [Putting Trashy Exes in Their Place] On the day Shen Shuning and Lu Tingxuan were supposed to register their marriage, he stood her up. It turned out his adoptive sister, who shared neither parent with him, had returned from abroad. Only then did she see clearly that she had never been the most important person in his heart. That place had always belonged to the a 13.1kReads8.2Score2.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    A plot to have the second male lead take over + a younger brother taking the place of the older brother + a fierce competition and vying for power, super sweet and doting.

30. 30 老 Reborn in the 1980s, the Old Lady Dumps Her Husband and Son for a Glamorous Second Marriage 老太重生八零：抛夫弃子风光二婚 Oriole Song Like Night莺歌如夜Modern Romance123k WordsOngoing [Period drama + A touch of ensemble cast + Everyday family life + Satisfying revenge + Second marriage + Entrepreneurship and prosperity] Granny Lin worked hard all her life, giving everything for her children and raising them to succeed. But when she suddenly fell ill, the children she loved most said that old people should just die, and that she wasn’t worth spending money to treat. In the end, the only one who truly cared for her was her eldest son, whom she had always thought mediocre. Even 1Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    It's definitely the second male lead who got the role, haha.

31. 31 心 My Heart Races! A Secret Crush! My Childhood Friend Is Beautiful and Sweet-Voiced 心动！暗恋！小青梅她人美声甜 Moonfield Mountain Fox月野山狐Modern Romance303k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Heart-Throbbing Secret Love: My Childhood Friend Is Beautiful and Sweet is now available] [Sweet Campus Romance | Childhood Friend Takes the Lead | Groveling to Win Her Back | Secret Love] Qiao Zhen dreamed of fragments of memories from her past life: "For seven years, she followed the aloof campus heartthrob Ji Xian, obedient and gentle, offering him her whole heart, only to be casually cast aside." After finally coming to her senses, Qiao Zhen was crushed and left without 33.5kReads9.5Score4k14d adds

    Reader note

    Childhood sweethearts secretly loved each other for years, and now the second male lead has taken their place! ✨ The sky is still raining, but his heart has already brightened. Qin Yichi's love is absolutely amazing!!! 24K pure sweetness!!! I need to watch a few episodes of Wang Baochuan digging for wild vegetables to calm my nerves 😭

32. 32 入 Into the Seductive Tent 入娇帐 Cloud Mountain Crow云山鸦Ancient Romance546k WordsCompleted (Original title: Stealing a Friend's Wife) Tao Heyi willingly married her frail husband to bring him good fortune. She had loved him since childhood, and knew that if he weren't so weak, his talent and temperament would have made him far too good a match for her. After their wedding, she carefully nursed him, hoping he would regain his health. In their second year of marriage, a guest came to their home. Her husband happily introduced him: “This is my former classmate, Zhao Jiyun.” Heyi glanced 13kReads9.0Score1.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    The first book is about her ex-husband's best friend becoming her love interest; the second is about her current boyfriend and ex-husband vying for her affections after their divorce; the third is about a widow and an emperor after her husband's death.

33. 33 新 My New Husband Is Insecure and Needs Kisses Every Day 新夫没有安全感，每天需要亲亲哄 Jiu Jin Ya九斤吖Ancient Romance361k WordsCompleted [Two Men Compete for One Woman, Both Suitors Are Chaste] While her husband was away on official business, her mother-in-law took the opportunity to throw Jiang Jiuzhi out with a letter of divorce. Jiang Jiuzhi wasn't about to feel sorry for herself. She brought her people to Jiangnan to unwind. Who knew she'd be set up as soon as she arrived? She accidentally pinned a man to the bed, and he grabbed her sleeve and wouldn't let go. She hadn't enjoyed more than a few peaceful days before her husban 102Reads6.6Score—14d adds
34. 34 丈 Five Years After My Husband Died, I’m Pregnant with the Emperor’s Child 丈夫去世五年，守寡怀了皇帝的崽 Salty Fish Boss咸鱼头子Ancient Romance502k WordsCompleted [Stunning widow vs. domineering emperor] [Not both virgins + forbidden tension + raising a child + old flames reignited] Everyone in the capital knows that the legitimate daughter of the Yun family and Third Young Master Lu are a loving couple, devoted to each other. But fate was cruel. Third Young Master Lu was cursed with a short life and died of a serious illness before reaching twenty, leaving behind a beautiful young widow and an unborn child. - Yun Wan has a secret she’s kept buried fo 28.1kReads9.1Score3.4k14d adds
35. 35 偷 Stealing the Springtime of Day 偷揽昼春 A Piece of Sticky Rice Cake一块糖粘糕Modern Romance374k WordsCompleted [Both leads are each other's only one + The second male lead takes the girl + Long-planned romance + Entertainment-industry dating show] [Rebellious, devoted wife-obsessed man x Cool-headed, rational beauty in a cheongsam] Yu Liao was Cen Chimo's ever-ready sidekick, docile and obedient, like a silent shadow. Cen Chimo shamelessly enjoyed her devotion and never imagined that one day she might leave. They met again on a dating show. Yu Liao wore a cheongsam, cool as snow, and didn't spare him 30.8kReads9.5Score4k14d adds

    Reader note

    Book Recommendations 📚_ ① Unrequited Love + Second Male Lead Takes Over: The male lead is very charming. He appears on a dating reality show with the female lead, is very clingy and lovesick. He had been silently protecting the female lead before. After she escapes her scumbag boyfriend and suffocating family, he immediately makes his move. The female lead is a fashion designer with a cool and aloof beauty persona. SC (same character). ② Unrequited Love + Second Male Lead Takes Over: The male lead is passionate and affectionate, super charming and lovesick. He silently protected the female lead during their school days. He wanted to confess after graduation but something unexpected happened. After the scumbag boyfriend cheated on him, he immediately made a strong move and proposed marriage. The female lead is a doctor, the darling of the group, with a perfect character. SC (same character). ③ Unrequited Love + Second Male Lead Takes Over: The male lead is arrogant and powerful. He and the female lead were good friends during their school days, afraid that taking things further would ruin their friendship. Later, the scumbag boyfriend cheated on him, and the male lead, as a good friend, proposed marriage to help the female lead. They appeared on a travel reality show together. Very sweet! The female lead is a noble and elegant ballet dancer, very bright and confident. (SC 4) Unrequited love + second male lead's rise to power: The female lead was cheated on by a scumbag and even sold to the male lead by her family for profit. Unexpectedly, the male lead proposes marriage. Their married life is incredibly sweet. The male lead is quite doting, even braiding her hair. The female lead is a cool and beautiful woman, but incredibly cute, and a top student. (SC 5) Unrequited love + second male lead's rise to power: The female lead's father and the male lead's father are good friends. The male lead liked the female lead since her school days. Later, the female lead was cheated on by a scumbag, and her aunt pressured her to get married. To avoid worrying her father, she went on a blind date, where the male lead saw her and immediately offered himself up. The female lead is very cute. (SC) ⑥ Rebirth + Unrequited Love + Second Male Lead's Rise to Power: The male lead in this book is incredibly doting, and the female lead is practically his spoiled wife. I suggest reading this with caution, but I found it incredibly sweet. Because of something that happened in her past life, the female lead is afraid of fire and becomes immobile when she touches ham. The male lead is always busy taking care of her, holding her and never letting go, doing everything for her. When she has nightmares, he picks her up and comforts her, constantly calling her "baby." (SC)

36. 36 京 The Capital's Young Master Is So Arrogant? One Kiss from His Wife and He Turns Bright Red 京圈太子很狂？老婆一亲就红温了 You Yili幼一栗Modern Romance659k WordsCompleted [Super Sweet, Heart-Fluttering Romance + Both Inexperienced in Love + Marriage First, Love Later + Male Lead Takes His Place + Long-Standing Scheme] [Roguish, arrogant young master × Cool-headed, rational medical beauty] Jin Wu had always seen Fu Yuchen as her salvation. She followed him quietly and finally got what she wanted. Until she saw him kissing someone else intimately with her own eyes. Fu Yuchen smiled smugly. “How would Jin Wu dare leave me? Without me, she's just a pitiful illegitima 34.9kReads9.4Score4.2k14d adds
37. 37 肆 Recklessly Tender: President Zhou Is Flirtatious and Full of Tricks 肆意温柔，周总他又撩又茶 A Spring一个泉Modern Romance222k WordsCompleted Everyone says Zhou of Hengyan Group is so refined and dignified that he’s beyond reproach. Then someone overhears his friends teasing him for being whipped. He curls his lips into a smile and casually takes a jab at everyone present. “Still drinking? I’ll pass. My wife would worry about me.” “Quiet, everyone. I need to call and check in with her!” “Wait, you guys don’t have wives keeping tabs on you? How pitiful.” Everyone else: ... After finally marrying the woman he’d had a crush on throughou 35.6kReads9.4Score3.5k14d adds
38. 38 宠 Spoiling Her Rotten: One Cry from His Sweetheart and the Capital's Huo Lord Turns Red-Eyed 宠化！乖宝一哭，京圈霍爷红眼宠 Sweet Happiness, Golden Years甜禧金岁岁Modern Romance301k WordsCompleted (The rating was just posted and will go up.) [Reborn, doting father-figure boyfriend who loves to hold her on his lap, super sweet pampering, obsessive yandere, devoted to each other, male lead comes out on top, second male lead pursues his wife after losing her] Obsessive, possessive big shot from the capital × soft, beautiful woman in a cheongsam In her previous life, Wen Zhi Li was betrayed by a scumbag and died a miserable death. On the first night after being reborn, she climbed into the be 14kReads9.0Score1.5k14d adds
39. 39 离 Let’s Get a Divorce. I’m Going Home to Inherit Billions 离婚吧，我要回家继承亿万家产 Little Uncle小叔叔Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted After three years of marriage, Shen Chu thought even Bo Munian's heart could be warmed by her. But when he forced her to kneel in the Bo family ancestral hall, Shen Chu realized that Bo Munian had no heart at all. What was the point of staying with a man who had no heart? So when Bo Munian made her choose between kneeling and getting a divorce, Shen Chu chose divorce without hesitation. Why should she waste the best years of her life on a jerk like Bo Munian? Wouldn't it be better to go home, in 2.6kReads8.3Score38214d adds

    Reader note

    If the second male lead were to become the main character, it would definitely be Shen Chu and Fu Yan, but I feel like it's more like the male lead who's been delayed.

40. 40 重 After I Was Reborn, I Found Out the School Bully Had a Crush on Me, and My Childhood Friend Regretted It 重生发现校霸暗恋我，竹马后悔了 One Upright Heart竖一心Modern Romance268k WordsCompleted [Male Second Lead Takes the Lead + Secret Love Comes True + Both Reborn + Regretful Ex Pursues Her, But She Never Looks Back + Devoted to Each Other] From the age of six, Song Xingmin has been Xiao Jingchuan’s little shadow. Her love for him is passionate and unconcealed, and everyone knows it. On their wedding day, she sees him cheating with her own eyes. Only then does Song Xingmin learn that all his kindness over the years was simply because he owed her father a debt of gratitude. After an 2.6kReads9.3Score42114d adds

    Reader note

    The second male lead becomes the male lead, and he is overjoyed when his unrequited love comes true. The female lead thought it was just good buddies helping each other, but little did she know that she had already become someone else's prey!

41. 41 谋 Scheming for My Friend's Wife 谋友妻 Luoluo Talks Big落落大侃Modern Romance303k WordsCompleted [Second male lead takes the lead + unrequited love comes true] [Main story complete] Three years into Qiao Zi and Zhou Yuelin’s marriage, Zhou Yuelin unexpectedly cheated on her. Qiao Zi asked for a divorce, but he refused at first. After that, Qiao Zi repeatedly lost her temper in front of Zhou Yuelin’s friends and family, showing him no consideration at all. Jian Zhaoxu, a friend Zhou Yuelin considered a brother, couldn’t stand it anymore. He said that if Qiao Zi were his wife, he’d have a hun 7.7kReads8.3Score77014d adds

    Reader note

    [Added to bookshelf][Already added to wishlist] Jian Zhaoxu wasn't a sudden "savior"; he was someone who had secretly loved her all along. Once Qiao Zi saw through the scumbag's true colors, he seized the opportunity to take her place and spoil her rotten. [A masterpiece by Que Shi]

42. 42 欲 Desire! This Dating Show Is Overflowing with Romantic Tension! So Sweet! 欲！这恋综暧昧氛围拉满！甜爆！ A Crescent Moon一剪月Modern Romance439k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Delusions in the Mist is now available for purchase on all platforms] Yu Zheng, the top-tier star who casts a spell over the music scene, is elegant and striking, with impeccable features. He swept the major music charts as soon as he debuted, leaving his competitors far behind. Wen Shiwu, the nation's darling, is dazzling and flirtatious, with a sweet, angelic face. Ever since she debuted as a child star, she's never had a single scandal or stain on her reputation. The two 23.9kReads9.5Score4.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    Both stories feature male leads secretly pursuing and ultimately winning over their partners. The clash between our beloved Shi Wu and Yu Zheng at the peak of their relationship is just too much to handle! [Admiration][Admiration] I've already watched it three times.

43. 43 差 One Grapefruit Short 差颗柚子 Sugar Returns糖归Modern Romance521k WordsCompleted [The Second Male Lead Wins Her Heart + The Casanova Never Changes + A Pure Romance] (I’m terrible at writing blurbs) Yan Qingwan returns home to pursue her master’s degree and stays with the son of her family’s longtime friends. The man, Wen Chengze, is a fickle playboy, reckless and unrestrained. After spending time together, Yan Qingwan falls for him and pursues him for a while, but before he even notices, he has already driven her away. She meets Liang Huaiyan, the grandson of her advisor, 658Reads8.3Score10414d adds

    Reader note

    It's not a typical story of the second male lead rising to power, but it's incredibly good. The author's writing is excellent, and the male lead has secretly loved the female lead for many years; he's a gentle and well-mannered person.

44. 44 入 Nightfall Restlessness 入夜躁动期 Ye Lanxi夜阑汐Modern Romance320k WordsCompleted [The second male lead pursues his wife but fails to win her back + the male lead marries her in a flash and takes his place + reunion after a long separation + both are devoted only to each other + an ex gets humiliated] Ye Lanxi met Jiang Yueze at sixteen, and they got engaged at eighteen. Whenever they had a falling-out, she was always the one who had to make peace first. Then, at twenty-four, she heard him say to a friend, “How about another bet? No matter how many rumors I stir up, she’ll ju 30.6kReads9.2Score3.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    Ye Lanxi: My family of origin stripped away all my rough edges, but you accompanied me as I pieced together my armor. Jin Bingchen: The road ahead is long and arduous; for the rest of my life, I will always be your loyal subject. (Second male lead takes over, unrequited love!)

45. 45 软 A Gentle Seduction 软诱 Jiujiu Qi久久萋Modern Romance454k WordsCompleted The print edition of Rose Crown goes on sale August 10. Available on all platforms. [Married First, Love Later + Secret Crush + He Chases His Wife After Losing Her, But She Never Looks Back + Both Are Each Other’s First] She was the Xu family’s adopted daughter, and Zhou Yuetian’s little shadow. She had followed him everywhere since childhood, until she heard him say this at the age of twenty-four: “She’s just the Xu family’s adopted daughter. Why would I actually care about her? People like us 71.5kReads9.6Score8.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    It's really a great show! The male lead has a crush on the female lead for ten years, and the second male lead eventually wins her heart.

46. 46 咬 The Bite Marks Can't Be Hidden 咬痕藏不住 Your Carp Highness锦鲤阁下Modern Romance234k WordsCompleted [The Male Lead Fights to Claim His Place + No Turning Back After the Regret + Both Leads Are Inexperienced + Sweet Romance] Shen Zhixing pursued Jiang Yizhou for six years before he finally agreed to be her boyfriend. To Jiang Yizhou, Shen Zhixing was his salvation. She had illuminated his life. The day they officially became a couple, he said, “I’m sorry I kept you waiting so long.” Shen Zhixing thought it was the beginning of a happy, sweet relationship. A year into dating, however, she discov 1.8kReads8.9Score15914d adds

    Reader note

    The second male lead rises to power, his deep affection and humble devotion blossom into love, the female lead comes to her senses, and despite the tumultuous situation, she doesn't look back—it's incredibly sweet…

47. 47 重 Reborn and Rid of My Scumbag Ex, I’m Passionately Kissed by the Boy Next Door 重生甩掉渣男后，被邻居哥哥猛亲 North and South of the River一江南北Modern Romance368k WordsCompleted The print edition of Summer Breeze Kisses a White Shirt is now available. [Rebirth + the second male lead's groveling redemption + the brother's best friend wins her heart + both leads are pure + secret crush] A gentle yet strong-willed honor student × a seemingly aloof, secretly scheming campus heartthrob Jiang Jin never dreamed that her husband, whom she'd known since childhood and been married to for three years, would cheat on her, especially when she was seven months pregnant. After a week 5.6kReads9.1Score75114d adds

    Reader note

    This is so good! The male lead has had a crush on the female lead for a long time, and after finding out she doesn't like the second male lead, he starts his "fishing" game, haha. The female lead, knowing he's trying to hook her, turns the tables on him. The suspense and tension during their ambiguous relationship is so great! [Kissing emojis]

48. 48 时 Mr. Shi, You Can’t Hide Your Secret Crush Anymore 时先生，你的暗恋藏不住啦 Wu Jiu舞九Modern Romance504k WordsCompleted [An ultra-sweet romance!!] [No getting back together, the second male lead’s unrequited love takes center stage, whirlwind marriage, marriage first and love later, pure romance.] Qin Shuzhi stood by Shen Yichen through his darkest days and helped him rise again. Just as they were about to get married, his first love returned from overseas. She never could have imagined it: Shen Yichen would abandon her alone on a mountaintop on her birthday, all because of a phone call from Zhou Siyan. He said, 99.9kReads8.9Score5.4k14d adds

    Reader note

    📚 [Sweetness Overload! The Second Male Lead's Unrequited Love Takes Over + Marriage Before Love at its Peak]—A broken mirror can't be mended, a gentle and domineering CEO's doting love story! 💘 ✨ [Highlighted Settings] ✨ ✅ Broken mirror can't be mended: The female lead decisively kicks out the scumbag, never looking back! ✅ The Second Male Lead's Unrequited Love Takes Over: The gentle and affectionate male lead has secretly loved her for years, finally getting his wish! ✅ Flash Marriage + Marriage Before Love: A sober proposal leads to a lifetime of ultimate pampering! ✅ Both are virgins + 1V1: Body and soul are the only ones, from beginning to end, only each other! ✅ Redemption Literature: He heals her wounds, she fills his loneliness! 💞 [Male Lead's Peak-Level Pampering]💞 ▫️ Devoted and Affectionate: From unrequited love to marriage, he only has eyes for her. ▫️ Gentle and Considerate: He remembers all her preferences, even calculating her menstrual cycle more accurately than she does herself. ▫️ Maximum sense of security: He secretly arranges bodyguards to protect her, yet never makes her feel restricted. ▫️ Maximum emotional value: No matter how depressed she is, he can make her smile again. ▫️ Respect and support: He fully supports her career, allowing her to live her most dazzling self. 🌟 What an amazing love story!! A double whammy of unrequited love turning into real love and marriage before love! Watching Shi Yuanxing weave a net of tenderness, slowly healing Qin Shuzhi's broken heart, is so sweet it made me twist into a pretzel in bed! Sisters, hurry up and watch, I guarantee you'll want to force your boyfriend to learn Shi's wife-doting rules after watching! 💖

49. 49 暗 My Secret Crush Ended in Ruin, So I Stopped Chasing Him After I Was Reborn 暗恋的结果烂了，重生后我不追了 Lin Ximi林夕米Modern Romance200k WordsCompleted [Reborn at School + The Ex Regrets It and Tries to Win Her Back + Living Under the Same Roof + Older Brother Takes the Lead + Mutual Firsts (The Heroine Is Chaste After Being Reborn) + Happy Ending] [Sweet, Clear-Eyed Girl x Gentle, Obsessive Older Brother] A plane crash left Luo Yumian all alone. She was taken in by one of her father's closest friends, where she saw again the person she had kept in her heart. On Zhou Mingxi's coming-of-age day, even though Luo Yumian knew he was a flirt, sh 235Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    The gentle second male lead takes the lead!

50. 50 夺 Claiming Her as My Wife 夺她为妻 Sweet Knife with Fire Wheels带风火轮的甜刀Modern Romance480k WordsCompleted [The male lead’s desperate pursuit to win her back + the second male lead takes his place] Yu Sheng was the heir to a prestigious family with a century of history. His secret wife was an obscure hand model. When his wife asked for a divorce, he readily agreed. He chatted over drinks with his friends. “I’m just trying to teach her a lesson. Give it some time, and she’ll come back on her own.” But when Yu Sheng finally turned back, his eyes red, she had already become someone else’s wife. Yu Sheng 12.1kReads9.0Score1.1k14d adds

    Reader note

    I still really enjoy the second male lead taking the lead and staying away from the scumbag male lead; it's so satisfying. The "wife-chasing-after-the-cremation" scenario is hilarious.

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