Books to Improve My Character and Taste 提高自己素质和审美的书

1. 101 校 I Caught the Campus Beauty's Fox Tail 校花的狐狸尾巴，被我摸到了 Valley of the Kings帝王谷Modern Romance12k WordsCompleted I Got My Hands on the School Beauty’s Fox Tail 799Reads—Score—Shelves
2. 102 归 My Wife Returned, and She Turned Out to Be a Princess of Beijing's Elite Circle 归来妻子，身份竟是京圈公主 Valley of the Kings帝王谷11k WordsCompleted My Wife Returns, and She Turns Out to Be a Princess of the Capital’s Elite Circle 5.6kReads—Score153Shelves
3. 103 我 My "A Piao" Girlfriend 我的“阿飘”女友 Valley of the Kings帝王谷9k WordsCompleted My "Ghostie" Girlfriend 4kReads—Score112Shelves
4. 104 妻 My Wife Chases True Love but Still Refuses to Let Me Go 妻子追真爱，却还要霸占我 Valley of the Kings帝王谷11k WordsCompleted My Wife Pursues Her True Love, Yet Still Wants to Keep Me to Herself 5.4kReads—Score100Shelves
5. 105 终 A Lifelong Project 终生项目 Spring's Return最春归Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [Cozy everyday life + devoted affection + strong heroine and hero + happy ending] [A down-on-her-luck live-in tutor and her overbearing, devoted single-dad employer; older man, six-year age gap] Under the same roof, the live-in tutor and her domineering CEO employer share the cozy routine of a trial marriage. Xiang Wang is eager to shower her with tender care, but the goddess remains unwilling to entrust herself to him... So, alongside his many other projects, Lu Zerui takes on two more: first, 207Reads—Score—Shelves

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   Aesthetic appreciation isn't just about the beauty perceived through the five senses; it also includes the beauty of one's worldview, values, and perspectives on marriage and life... You can also gain this appreciation by reading novels like this! Freshly written, welcome to read...

6. 106 代 The Code Immortal Realm: I Am the Heavenly Dao 代码仙域，我即是天道 Number One Caramel Macchiato Among Bricklayers搬砖的头号焦糖玛奇朵Fantastical Romance85k WordsCompleted My name is Tian Yingxue, and this is the tenth time I've been reborn. The Heavenly Dao played a cruel joke on me. On one hand, it granted me a golden finger of an opportunity, giving me a natural fire spirit root, letting me establish my Foundation at ten, form my Golden Core and keep my youthful appearance at nineteen, and reach the threshold of ascension at a hundred. On the other hand, it made me perish in the tribulation lightning as I ascended, then sent me back to the day before I was to j 17Reads—Score—Shelves

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   A sci-fi cultivation story, experiencing the collision of physics and philosophy. The cosmic-level beauty is undoubtedly breathtaking. [Cool]

7. 107 倪 Master Ni's Complete Treatise on Cold Damage 倪师人纪之伤寒论全集 Chaos Takes Shape混沌初成479k WordsCompleted Treatise on Cold Damage is a classic Chinese medicine text written by Zhang Zhongjing of the Eastern Han dynasty. In 12 volumes, it examines the principles of treating externally contracted febrile diseases. Ten volumes, comprising 22 chapters, survive today. 3.6kReads8.2Score491Shelves

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   Nanming Xiaoying:

8. 108 天 Master Ni's Heavenly Principles 天纪倪师 Ye Hua GX叶华GX100k WordsCompleted I'm studying Master Ni's book Tian Ji, and I'll post updates here as my understanding of it develops. I'll keep learning and updating, covering the harmony of Heaven, Earth, and humanity, along with imagery and numerology. I'll explain it in plain language, using recent cases and feedback to deepen understanding, speed up learning, and build experience. 810Reads8.0Score197Shelves
9. 109 倪 Ni Haixia's Tianji Notes, Compiled 倪海厦天纪笔记整理 Seven Lights kk柒光kk162k WordsCompleted Master Ni's Tian Ji covers the Book of Changes, divination, and Zi Wei Dou Shu. The author has simply organized the key points of what they learned in electronic form, partly to reinforce their own understanding, and partly in the hope that Master Ni's life's work can reach more people. 2.6kReads7.0Score972Shelves
10. 110 倪 Master Ni's I Ching Studies 倪师易学 Chaos Takes Shape混沌初成470k WordsCompleted Join Teacher Ni Haixia in studying the Tianji series every day. With this divine gift of the Way of Change, all the world's affairs can be made simple, bringing good fortune, avoiding misfortune, and turning danger into safety. The key to learning is perseverance. I hope everyone makes progress and gains something every day. 5.2kReads8.8Score912Shelves
11. 111 大 Secret Notes on the Great Chu Method 大刍法秘术笔记 Nine Heavens Flying Minister九天飞臣Urban116k WordsCompleted For thousands of years, a mysterious folk art called the “Great Straw Technique” has been said to make objects appear from afar and transport them out of thin air. Tales of it date back to ancient times, yet people have only ever heard its name and never seen it. This book lifts the veil on the mystery of the “Great Straw Technique”... 2.1kReads—Score479Shelves
12. 112 乙 A Brief Account of Yangzhou's Defense in the Year of Yiyou 乙酉扬州城守纪略 Dai Mingshi戴名世Historical5k WordsCompleted A Brief Account of the Defense of Yangzhou in the Yiyou Year is a historical document written by the Qing scholar Dai Mingshi. It records the defense of Yangzhou against the Qing invasion during the Southern Ming period in 1645, the Yiyou year. Written as a chronological account, it centers on Shi Kefa and the Ming defenders' resistance to the Qing attack. It details the entire course of events, from preparations to defend Yangzhou and the Qing siege, through fierce fighting, to the city's event 2Reads8.0Score—Shelves
13. 113 大 300 Years of the Great Ming 大明300年 Young Master Ai艾公子Historical272k WordsCompleted The Great Ming was a dynasty both glorious and corrupt, both full of brave souls and harsh judgment, an age that produced brilliant talents as well as countless treacherous officials. The Great Ming lasted nearly 300 years, and its 16 emperors each had their own character. Some were open, others secretive; some were strong, others gentle; some were tyrannical, others benevolent; some diligent, others lazy; some eccentric, others suspicious... Some enjoyed an excellent reputation, while others we 76Reads9.3Score—Shelves
14. 114 野 Cries in the Wilderness: A Biography of the Hongguang Emperor 野哭：弘光列传 Li Jiefei李洁非Historical352k WordsCompleted Over the past two years, the author has focused on writing about the Hongguang reign of the late Ming. The Black Hole: A Chronicle of the Hongguang Reign covers ten topics. This volume focuses on individuals, including the last emperor, Zhu Yousong; Hongguang's chief minister, Shi Kefa; Zuo Maodi, known as the "Su Wu of the Ming"; Zuo Liangyu, whose military mutiny hastened the collapse of the Southern Ming; Ruan Dacheng, regarded as a scourge of Nanjing; a group of disaffected young rebels alon 27Reads8.8Score—Shelves
15. 115 春 The Embers of Spring in the Capital 春明余烬 Gao Te Xiaoxian高特小贤Historical288k WordsCompleted When Shi Kefa opens his eyes in a sickbed, he is greeted by the cold rain of the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign and the bloody fate already foretold in the history books. This city is destined to become a living hell. But this time, carrying memories of the modern world, he refuses to accept the tragedy written in advance. When Duo Duo’s army once again bears down on the city, it meets a steel defense line. The Qing forces are driven back, and for the first time, Yangzhou holds on to it 1Reads—Score—Shelves
16. 116 律 Seeking the Way in the Legal World 律界问道 Half a Scholar半个书生Urban1.2M WordsCompleted [Comeback and growth + charming lawyer + mysteries surrounding cold cases + officialdom and workplace + wits and will] He turns his life around, with Death brushing past him several times. A string of cold cases remain shrouded in mystery... 940Reads—Score159Shelves

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    Passion, time, suspense, thrills, excitement, mystery.

17. 117 竹 Bamboo Roots 竹根 Chen Ming from Bazhong巴中陈茗Modern Romance84k WordsCompleted I was lost, and didn't even know it. When I woke up, I was so afraid. But I was destined to awaken, to break free from my cocoon and become a butterfly. I'm clumsy, so the road behind me was full of stumbles, and I ended up covered in wounds. Thankfully, I kept searching for the light along my path and never gave up... 1Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Nurturing this book is a way to cultivate one's mind.

18. 118 失 Unemployed and Sharing a Flat 失业合租记 Depicting Space and Time刻画时空Modern Romance100k WordsCompleted The male and female leads are both overworked IT employees. After losing their jobs, they lie flat and start their lives over. The male lead meets his soulmate, while the female lead helps him save himself from the numbness and anxiety he used to feel. This novel explores how people can live a good life and how they can reach the end of it without regrets. Perhaps you’ll have a different answer after reading it, and that’s a good thing, because the answers to good questions are always open-ended 3Reads—Score—Shelves

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    The beauty of the soul, the light of self-reflection.

19. 119 柠 The Lemon Rule 柠檬守则 Qiao Luochuan乔洛川Modern Romance227k WordsOngoing [Vibrant, wealthy young lady VS devoted, loyal puppy-like man] School life + older woman/younger man romance + healing + childhood friends + reunion + mutual pining becomes love An Suisui was an ordinary first-year student at Suiwan High School. She thought the high school life ahead of her would be uneventful and ordinary, but then she ran into Sheng Chaojin, her "little childhood friend," whom she hadn't seen in years. To everyone else, he seemed like a gentle, kind, untouchable campus heartth 185Reads—Score—Shelves

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    I highly recommend this book!! It's a childhood sweetheart redemption story, and it's been so long since I've seen such a refreshing male lead—finally, not a school bully!!! The book truly lives up to its title; the romance between the male and female leads is so innocent and budding, it brings back memories of my own student days!! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested!

20. 120 花 Hualing 花绫 Hong Yan弘演Historical257k WordsCompleted A legendary tale of a sheltered young lady who falls into the world of a pleasure house. The heroine is the establishment's top courtesan, peerlessly beautiful and accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song. Who will use jade fingers to scratch the azure sky, leaving a mark? Her shadow falls upon the martial world, where even dragons dare not devour her... 46Reads—Score—Shelves

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    My first book features a female protagonist who is a courtesan, stunningly beautiful, and proficient in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting, poetry and prose. My writing is decent. I can't change the title for now. Is anyone willing to take a look? I'm writing a Dream of the Red Chamber fanfiction. Shen Qingyuan, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, transmigrates into the body of Daiyu, healing the sick and saving lives, overturning the Book of Ill-fated Women, and leading the Twelve Beauties of Jinling on a cultivation path [what][making a face].

21. 121 魂 Reborn in Daiyu's Body: The Beauties of the Red Chamber Cultivate Immortality 魂穿黛玉：红楼金钗尽修仙 Hong Yan弘演Female-Channel Fanfiction304k WordsOngoing A Chinese medicine doctoral student who loves reading web novels falls off a cliff while gathering herbs and transmigrates into Lin Daiyu just as she first enters the Jia household. Using her knowledge to change her fate, she leads the Twelve Beauties of Jinling onto the path of cultivation. 30Reads—Score—Shelves
22. 122 成 Idiom Cognition Dictionary: Unlocking the Algorithms That Shape Your Life 成语认知词典：解锁人生底层算法 Dao Yue Qingchen, Who Likes Stegosauruses喜欢五角龙的道月轻尘Modern Romance9.7M WordsOngoing A contemporary urban romance about a woman's growth and rebirth. The story begins on the night of her former lover Lu Chenzhou's lavish engagement party. Su Wan, a jewelry designer, chooses to stay alone in her studio, setting fifty-seven chips of diamond into a platinum base as she begins creating a pair of earrings called “Breaking Free.” Eight years of waiting and the collapse of her family's business have not crushed her. Instead, they have forged a quiet, resilient brilliance within her. W 1Reads—Score—Shelves
23. 123 职 Career Leap: A Guide to Going from Rookie to Expert 职场跃迁：菜鸟到大神的认知法 Dao Yue Qingchen, Who Likes Stegosauruses喜欢五角龙的道月轻尘Urban842k WordsOngoing Three months into the job, Ling Che has become the company's most miserable “office tool”: he takes the blame, works overtime, and gets dumped on by other departments. Colleagues steal credit for his hard work, connections get the promotion he deserves, and he earns an entry-level salary while doing core work. He's nearly laid off! At his lowest point, he unexpectedly awakens a Workplace Insight System and unlocks eight smart tools: The Entropy Reduction Engine sorts messy materials in three mi 1Reads—Score—Shelves
24. 124 底 The Bottom-of-the-Barrel Dictionary 底渣词典 Dao Yue Qingchen, Who Likes Stegosauruses喜欢五角龙的道月轻尘455k WordsOngoing The CEO’s Contract Wife: His White Moonlight Turns Out to Be Me To save her gravely ill younger brother, Pei Yuwei signs a contract and becomes a stand-in for the late wife of business tycoon Jiang Hanzhou. Thirty million yuan, three years: she must live as the shadow of another woman, copying her smile and preferences, even wearing the earrings she left behind. Jiang Hanzhou is cool and cruel. He sleeps beside her every night, yet gazes through her at his lost white moonlight. Day after day, 7Reads—Score—Shelves
25. 125 异 Day of the Beastly Disguise: A Plan to Reset Humanity’s Knowledge 异兽伪装日：全人类认知清零计划 Dao Yue Qingchen, Who Likes Stegosauruses喜欢五角龙的道月轻尘Urban274k WordsOngoing The Day of the Disguised Beasts: A Plan to Erase Humanity's Understanding follows Lu Ming in an inverted world where “humans disguise themselves as beasts, while beasts infiltrate humanity.” He goes from an “ordinary student kept in the dark” to someone who “awakens supernatural powers, sees through disguises, and uncovers the truth about the world.” At the beginning of the novel, Lu Ming lives in “seemingly ordinary Qingteng City”: he goes to school every day, jokes around with his classmates, 5Reads—Score—Shelves
26. 126 思 The Archaeology of Thought: A Handbook of Conceptual Dissection 思维的考古学：概念解剖工具书 Dao Yue Qingchen, Who Likes Stegosauruses喜欢五角龙的道月轻尘12.6M WordsOngoing This is an unconventional “dictionary,” as well as a precision tool for the mind. It offers no standard answers, only a scalpel called the “Three-Layer Archaeological Method,” used to dissect core concepts that shape our understanding and emotions, even though we use them every day without thinking about them, such as “I,” “love,” “perspective,” and “value.” Starting with outrage over the plot of an anime, readers will follow the author’s deeply thought-provoking and practical guidance to treat 162Reads—Score—Shelves
27. 127 从 From a Rural School Dropout to a Dream-Chasing Writer 从农村辍学青年到写作逐梦人 Setting Out at Dawn朝光启程Urban111k WordsCompleted An autobiographical story of humble beginnings, dropping out of school in the countryside, working one’s way up, and the ordinary lives of people at the bottom of society. A story of everyday people and the coming of age of those born in the 1980s and 1990s. This is the true account of a young man born in the 1990s who left school after junior high and fought to make something of himself. From the wounds inflicted by his family in childhood to the rough, thorny road he traveled, his life from th 30Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Inspirational stories of ordinary people

28. 128 做 To Get By, You Have to Learn When to Turn on People 做人，一定要学会翻脸 Mu Qing Gege沐晴格格Urban223k WordsCompleted You give in again and again, and they only push you further. You offer kindness, and they take it for granted. You tell yourself to “keep the peace,” only to discover that your grievances have piled up like a mountain. The real problem isn’t conflict itself, but our lack of one crucial kind of wisdom: the courage and skill to draw the line and turn someone away. This book isn’t about losing control or becoming aggressive. It invites you to take another look at the rules of boundaries in your rel —Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    These books are excellent; they will teach you a lot about survival and save you from making the same mistakes you made over the past decade.

29. 129 做 Doing Business Is All About Playing on Human Nature 做生意，就是拿捏人性 Mu Qing Gege沐晴格格Urban235k WordsCompleted The essence of business is the exchange of value, and the heart of every exchange is human nature. The very best businesspeople are masters at understanding human nature, working with it, and even shaping it. This book will take you deep into the subtleties of human nature and teach you the Systematic principles and practical techniques for “handling human nature” in the business world. 2Reads—Score—Shelves
30. 130 如 How to Develop High Emotional Intelligence 如何培养高情商 Mu Qing Gege沐晴格格Urban282k WordsCompleted Have you ever blurted something out in anger, then regretted it deeply? Felt helpless in a tense atmosphere, unsure how to break the deadlock? Longed for relationships where you can stay true to yourself while still nurturing warmth? These aren't flaws. They're abilities you haven't unlocked yet. This book isn't a collection of theories. It's a carefully drawn map for exploring your inner world. It doesn't begin with techniques, but with you: with learning to recognize the body's unspoken signal 2Reads—Score—Shelves
31. 131 婚 Marriage Is Not Your Whole Life 婚姻，不是你生活的全部 Mu Qing Gege沐晴格格Modern Romance218k WordsCompleted What is marriage, really? This book offers no standard answer and doesn't prescribe a formula for happiness. It's a mirror that reflects the hidden hopes and fears in your intimate relationships, and a map that guides you toward balance between dependence and independence. From the transition from romantic love to love in the real world, to overcoming communication barriers and building deeper connections, from repairing a relationship after a crisis to rebuilding yourself, we'll unpack the myth —Reads8.5Score—Shelves
32. 132 聊 Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: I Asked You to Repay Your Debt, Not Paint Skins and Ghosts 聊斋：让你还债，没让你画皮画鬼 On Jiufeng Mountain九峰山上Eastern Fantasy125k WordsOngoing [Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio + Bizarre Cultivation + No System + Subverting Expectations + Folk Supernatural Tales + Becoming a God Through Painting + Dark Tone + Lovecraftian Horror + Clever Protagonist + Decisive and Ruthless + Not Mindless Wish Fulfillment] Transmigrating into Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, I find myself trapped in the deadly predicament of The Painted Skin from the start, and saddled with an unpayable debt to the dead? Don't panic. I have a White Bone Brush tha 817Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is truly a breath of fresh air in the world of *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*! There are no clichés or systems; it relies entirely on hardcore Taoist magic and wit to overcome the supernatural. The Yin-Yang principles are meticulously set, the foreshadowing is deeply woven, and the plot becomes increasingly captivating as it progresses. The atmosphere is immersive, and the characters are vividly portrayed. Fans of folklore and supernatural tales shouldn't miss it.

33. 133 十 Ten Years: From Lost to Awakened 十年：我从茫然到觉醒 Bu Tu步途Urban105k WordsOngoing This book recounts, in chronological order, the author's real-life experiences over the decade or so after graduating from university and entering the working world. Through the many big and small events in his life, he hopes to find common ground with readers, and help them discover a direction of their own amid the confusion and cutthroat competition of today's society! —Reads—Score—Shelves
34. 134 本 True to Myself 本心 A Commoner Named Chen俗人一陈Modern Romance151k WordsCompleted No one can live solely for others, but neither can we completely cast aside our responsibilities. In real life, we often waver between “living for others” and “living for ourselves,” all the while judged by moral standards. Family relationships are not static; they change over time. Families that endure hardship may fall apart, rebuild themselves, or eventually go their separate ways, living along parallel paths of their own. As we struggle to survive, how do we come to understand ourselves and 700Reads—Score—Shelves

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    When life throws a disaster at you, your character will change.

35. 135 你 Your Love Is Precious, Not Everyone Deserves It 你的爱很贵，不是谁都配 Ji Yunshu纪云疏Modern Romance150k WordsCompleted [Contemporary romance + women’s growth + taking down a scumbag + workplace power struggles + the ex’s long road to winning her back + clear-eyed heroine] Her life had endured three “deaths” in succession: a love killed by reality, a marriage killed by betrayal, and a dream killed by exploitation. From the ashes of despair, she picked up her pen and forged her past into lines of polished prose. From then on, the literary world had a bestselling queen who wrote from her pain. When she stood adorne 9Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    I recommend her; she's not only highly qualified but also has a high level of artistic achievement. Her writing is beautiful, full of memorable quotes, and the content is captivating. She's perfect for adding to your bookshelf and reading carefully; each chapter is more exciting than the last.

36. 136 光 All Beings Beneath the Light 光遇众生 The Quiet Duke静谧的公爵Anime Fanfiction976k WordsOngoing Adventure + high-IQ showdowns + suspicious, scheming characters + no female lead + ensemble cast + slow pace + revelations about the world’s truth, layer by layer (A Sky: Children of the Light fanfiction) After transmigrating into the world of Sky: Children of the Light, the Duke becomes a Light Child manipulated by the ancestors. “Go make an offering,” they say. “It is your supreme glory.” He believes them and fights his way forward with his companions, only to discover the horrifying truth aft 153Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Every adventure they embark on is like playing a grand game of chess, requiring them to deal with overtly dire situations while also deciphering the hidden rules and human nature.

37. 137 诡EN The House of Dread 诡舍 The Sound of Wind and Rain at Night,夜来风雨声丶Mystery2.1M WordsCompleted [Infinite-flow + Mild Horror + Survival + One Female Lead] A driverless bus carried a group of cursed people to a strange black lodge… Inside the lodge stood a door stained red with blood. At regular intervals, the cursed were forcibly dragged through the blood-red door and into terrifying worlds, where they had to complete horrifying events… After Ning Qiushui survived one bizarre and terrifying story after another inside the lodge, narrowly escaping death each time, he discovered that none of 707.4kReads9.6Score103.9kShelves

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    The Chinese-style horror atmosphere is spot on, the plot twists one after another, the details and foreshadowing are all worth pondering, and the writing style and overall structure are very solid.

38. 138 请EN Call Me the Ghost Messenger 请叫我鬼差大人 The Cat from the Xu Family徐二家的猫Mystery2.1M WordsCompleted After the Eternal Night, terror returned. Ten miles of desolate graves, eerie singing. An old man searching for his arms, a headless baby... They kept piecing their bodies back together, unleashing an even more terrifying aura. In the wasteland, even a severed hand could destroy heaven and earth. In this world of darkness and despair, a post office appeared and vanished from view... A mysterious young man, a postal carriage traveling through the void... One blood-red letter after another became 102.2kReads9.5Score9.6kShelves
39. 139 清 Gentle Breezes, Northern Light 清风徐徐，北光照拂 Qing Die晴蝶Ancient Romance445k WordsOngoing A story concept I got from spinning a roulette wheel one day: Ling Beiyao: a teacher in an era of future technology Xu An: a doctor from another world Lin Yingchu: a demon king from an era of super-civilization (The protagonist was supposed to be just one person, but I ended up writing three.) The story is divided into the main storyline and individual character arcs. The main storyline follows the three protagonists from different worlds on their adventures in an era of super-civilization. The 5Reads—Score—Shelves

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    In terms of writing style, you can first read the author's book reviews, or confide in the author as a confessional. Whether you are a reader or not, the sublime passages in the [Personal Chapters] that reflect the ups and downs of the characters' inner feelings are worth reading. Combined with the [Main Story], you can understand multiple meanings.

40. 140 恒 The Constant Register of Parables 恒籍寓鉴 Xuanyuan Badao轩辕霸道Modern Romance1.2M WordsOngoing Synopsis of The Book of Constant Records: Tales to Awaken the Mind and Discern the Truth With “drawing wisdom from the classics to illuminate the questions of today” as its guiding principle, this book selects over a hundred classic fables and anecdotes from the various schools of philosophy, historical biographies and notes, and folk tradition. These include “The Frog at the Bottom of the Well” from Zhuangzi, “Making Up the Numbers” from Han Feizi, and “The Man from Qi Who Worried the Sky Would 8Reads—Score—Shelves

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    The Story of Aruo, the Embroiderer of Bianliang: Near the Zhou Bridge in Bianliang (Kaifeng) during the Northern Song Dynasty, there lived an embroiderer named Aruo. In her early years, she ran a small embroidery stall, specializing in handkerchiefs and purses. She would embroider three or five pieces a day, earning two hundred coins, and happily stop work, telling everyone, "Enough to buy rice and vegetables, that's enough." The shopkeeper Wang, who ran a cloth shop across the street, always shook his head: "Aruo, your skills are among the best in Bianliang, yet you focus all your energy on handkerchiefs. Your vision is too narrow! You should think about whether you can earn a string of cash a day (Note: one string of cash in the Northern Song Dynasty was approximately one thousand coins)." Aruo would only laugh: "A string of cash? How many handkerchiefs would I have to embroider? I couldn't earn that even if I worked myself to death." A turning point came at the Xiangguo Temple fair that year. Aruo had gone to sell her embroidery when she saw a troupe of acrobats surrounded by a large crowd. Suddenly, it dawned on her: "They attract people with their acrobatic performances, why can't I attract people with my embroidery?" That very day, she moved her embroidery stall to a prominent spot at the temple fair, explaining the patterns to onlookers as she embroidered—for peonies, she said, "This is for newlyweds, symbolizing wealth and longevity," and for bamboo and orchids, she mentioned, "Scholars love this; it adds elegance to their studies." Some people found it intriguing and immediately placed orders; even the owner of a teahouse, Mr. Li, approached her: "My teahouse needs a signboard; could you embroider a 'Lu Yu Brewing Tea' picture? I'll give you five hundred coins." Aruo hesitated for a moment, then agreed. This was the first time she had taken on a job that wasn't just for handkerchiefs. The finished signboard hung at the teahouse entrance, and customers praised its beauty. Even the wine shops and cosmetic shops at the end of the street came to her for signboards—this is what she later often said: "Take any job, and your path will broaden." Later, Aruo became even more active: she helped storytellers embroider character illustrations for their stories (similar to today's cultural and creative products), which doubled the sales of the stories; she helped brokers (ancient real estate agents) embroider anti-counterfeiting patterns on property deeds, and the brokers praised her meticulousness to everyone they met; some merchants even invited her to demonstrate her embroidery skills in front of their shops to attract passersby (similar to modern livestreamers promoting products). She set her daily goal at one string of cash. At first, she was so tired that she could barely lift her hands, but she got better and better at it: she became skilled at embroidering shop signs and could finish one in half a day; she became fast at drawing illustrations and could finish three books a day; even with the brokers, both buyers and sellers trusted the property deeds she handled—later, she helped Master Zhang sell his large mansion in the south of the city. Master Zhang not only gave her two strings of cash as commission but also gave her a piece of fine Shu brocade, telling everyone, "Miss Aruo is my benefactor." Earlier, some local thugs, seeing that Aruo was alone, would always harass her and demand "protection money." Aruo couldn't avoid them and could only swallow her anger and give them a few coins. But ever since she helped Boss Li and Master Zhang, things changed: one day, when local thugs came to cause trouble again, Boss Li happened to pass by and sternly rebuked them, "This is the benefactor of my teahouse, how dare you mess with him?" Later, when the thugs tried to cause trouble again, they saw Aruo chatting and laughing with a minor official from Kaifeng Prefecture (the official had asked her to embroider the insignia on his official robes), and they were so frightened that they turned and ran away. Aruo then realized: "It's not about 'protecting' anyone, it's about having strong abilities; those useless disturbances naturally disappear." In just two years, Aruo's reputation spread throughout Bianliang. She rented a large shop, hired two young embroiderers to help her, and earned at least three to five strings of cash a day, sometimes up to ten strings (equivalent to tens of thousands of coins a day). Someone joked with her, "The other day a young master wanted to buy one of your embroidered pieces for five hundred coins, but you didn't even have time to pay attention?" Aruo laughed, "It's not that I'm putting on airs, it's just that any piece of work I have now is worth more than that—a few hundred coins is nothing to me." There used to be a rogue who called himself "Big Brother of Bianliang Street," who used to bully small vendors, but he had to bow and scrape when he saw Aruo. Someone asked Aruo, "Aren't you afraid when you see these 'big brothers' now?" Aruo, holding a freshly brewed Longjing tea, slowly replied, "I never care whether they're real or fake big brothers; I only care about whether I can get things done. If you can help people solve their problems and earn their trust, even the former 'big brothers' will have to bow down before you—in the end, they're just incompetent people putting on airs. If you have the ability, they naturally become 'little brothers.'" Later, when Aruo took on apprentices, she always told them about her experiences: "In my early years, I also thought that earning two hundred coins a day was enough. It was Manager Wang who woke me up to 'have a bigger vision.' Remember, don't tie your mind to one thing. Take on as much work as you can, and make as many connections as you can—not to rely on anyone's favors, but to make yourself more capable. Money is earned, and happiness is in your own hands. As long as you're willing to work hard, there's no goal you can't reach." Years later, Aruo's embroidery reached the capital, and even the empresses in the palace sent people to order her embroidery. When asked about the secret to her success, she simply said, "If you live as a reliable person, your path will become wider and wider, and your life will naturally become smoother and smoother."

41. 141 穿 Reborn as a Rich Second-Generation Heir, I Turned into a Zombie from the Start 穿成富二代，却开局变丧尸 Gle Zhi's Big Baby咯知大宝贝Sci-Fi & Apocalypse493k WordsOngoing I'm a pro at being a zombie, a complete amateur at being human, and unbeatable at making snarky comments! My soul transmigrates into the apocalypse, and I'm a zombie from the start, bound to a ridiculously awful System. My hot-blooded, idiot teammates treat me like an enemy, the scheming villain treats me like a rival, and the whole world wants to study me... No problem. As long as I hit them with enough stale jokes to leave them speechless, they'll be the ones feeling awkward! A modern person's 22Reads8.7Score—Shelves

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    Absolutely top-notch recommendation!! A pro at being a zombie; a half-baked human; and unbeatable as a witty comedian! Transmigrated to a post-apocalyptic world, you start as a zombie with a ridiculous system attached to you—fun and entertaining! 🤩👍

42. 142 有 There Was a Girl Named Xiaohua 有个女孩叫小花 My Little Warm Jackets我的小棉袄们Modern Romance420k WordsOngoing My new work is here! You’re welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! This book captures some of the culture and food of rural northern Fujian in the 1980s and 1990s. Follow Xiaohua and her family as they work hard and lead warm, ordinary lives. No exaggeration, melodrama, or foolish antics. It’s not a feel-good power fantasy, and there’s no rebirth or transmigration. There’s no golden finger, just 30Reads8.9Score—Shelves

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    You can take a look [heart][heart][heart]

43. 143 徐 Xu Xue’er 徐雪儿 My Little Warm Jackets我的小棉袄们Modern Romance210k WordsOngoing The everyday work life of Xu Xue'er, an ordinary office drone and medical student, and the sweet romance that blossoms between her and engineer Zhou Dongyang... A warm, down-to-earth story filled with delicious food and all kinds of sweet, thoughtful interactions!!! 20Reads8.7Score—Shelves
44. 144 毕 Now That We’ve Graduated, Let’s Love Well 毕业了好好爱 Little Xiao Qiang, Keep It Up小小强加油Modern Romance440k WordsCompleted In middle school, a teacher once said something that made a deep impression on me, and I resolved not to date while I was still in school. As luck would have it, my classmate Liu Chengheng made the same vow. But Liu Chengheng was tall, handsome, and captain of the school basketball team, so girls were always chasing after him. He asked me for help, and out of loyalty to a friend, I decided to fend off his admirers for him. I kept it up until graduation. On graduation day, Liu Chengheng came to f 12Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Take a look at these books; they might be helpful to you.

45. 145 粉 A Pink Summer 粉红色的夏天 Little Xiao Qiang, Keep It Up小小强加油Modern Romance227k WordsCompleted Xia Xiaomei and her classmates Chen Yusheng and Lin Ling went to Sencheng to take over a tiny advertising agency. Looking for somewhere quiet to live, Xia Xiaomei rented a room in a house built by the Li family, where she met the male lead, Li Hangyu. Xia Xiaomei's best friend, Xia Lingmei, had gone to Sencheng to work after graduating from middle school. Now that Xia Xiaomei had moved there too, the two friends could be together again. Li Hangyu was rich, handsome, and tall, the prince charming 7Reads—Score—Shelves
46. 146 云 A Gentle Breeze Under Clear Skies: 云淡风轻： Little Xiao Qiang, Keep It Up小小强加油Modern Romance353k WordsCompleted Yang Xiaoyun, formerly known as Su Xiaoyun, had just graduated from high school when her adoptive parents tried to force her into marriage. After making a successful escape, she arrived in Huangdu, a major international metropolis, where she began a new life. 13Reads—Score—Shelves
47. 147 天 The Chosen Saintess Broke Off Our Engagement. I Was Fine with It, but She Changed Her Mind 天骄圣女退婚，我ok，她却不退了 Valley of the Kings帝王谷13k WordsCompleted The Proud Saintess Broke Off Our Engagement. I Was Fine With It, but She Changed Her Mind 1.6kReads—Score—Shelves

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    Book recommendation [Upvote][Upvote][Upvote]

48. 148 大 The Heiress Lost Her Memory and Was Sent to Work at an Electronics Factory 大小姐失忆，送电子厂打工 Valley of the Kings帝王谷9k WordsCompleted The Heiress Loses Her Memory and Gets Sent to Work at an Electronics Factory 7.7kReads—Score—Shelves
49. 149 自 Everything Changed After My Father Drank Crane's Crown Red 自从爹爹喝了鹤顶红，一切都变了 Big Dragon Fruit大那火龙果Ancient Romance132k WordsCompleted [Everyone’s Darling, Multiple Husbands, Female Emperor, Punishing Scum, Dad Handles Everything] As the heroine of a transmigration novel She wasn’t the one who transmigrated, and she wasn’t reborn either. No matter, her father was! She had no System and no golden finger. No matter, her father had them! She was born timid and a good-for-nothing. No matter, her father was a ruthless man. She spent sixteen years wandering outside before finally returning home. Her father, once so powerful he had th 25Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Hello 2025. ☆. • *₊°. ✮°. ☆ °.. \|/. ☆° ☆ * 2025 You. • *₊°. ☆°. The female lead's general father drinks arsenic like tea, wields the strongest system, and dotes on her excessively. His three older brothers have also become doting brotherly monsters. As the number one useless person in the Great Jin Dynasty, the female lead has no choice but to accept this pampering and climb to the top. *. ☆* ✮°.. / | \. ✮° .✮. • *₊°. ☆°.

50. 150 枫 Red Leaves in the Wind 枫叶飘红 Picking Shells from the Sea008沧海拾贝008Modern Romance72k WordsCompleted Without reading, you cannot understand reason; without studying history, you cannot clarify your aspirations. Looking back, the past stretches as far as the eye can see, like maple leaves drifting slowly down from the branches, farther and farther away, redder and redder. Take history as a mirror, and savor life... 113Reads—Score—Shelves

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    Good books need no recommendation! Bookworms are everywhere.

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