School Romance: One-Sided Crush, Angst, and a Bad Ending 校园单向暗恋虐文be

1. 1 藏 Hidden in Midsummer 藏于盛夏 Autumn Chill秋日凉Modern Romance308k WordsCompleted A heads-up before you start ❗️: One of the side couples is a gay couple, so please skip this if that bothers you. [The print edition under the same title is now available] [Healing × Love that grows over time × Angsty school romance] Sweet, gentle, well-behaved student × rebellious, handsome bad boy That midsummer seemed hotter than any before. The girl in the graduation photo smiled sweetly, with a boy in a white shirt grinning boldly behind her. They met in midsummer, and parted in midsummer t 84.2kReads9.6Score14.8k14d adds
2. 2 暗 The Sad Little Thing Called Unrequited Love 暗恋这件难过的小事 Meng Zhiwan孟栀晚Modern Romance122k WordsCompleted Lin Xu has a crush on the popular boy Ye Feng, and she remembers countless little details about him. Every day, Lin Xu times her departure down to the second, getting dressed and putting on her shoes in a hurry, all for the chance to catch a fleeting glimpse of his back. The music playing during the long break outside her classroom is Xu Song’s “Moon over Luzhou.” Lin Xu knows it’s the favorite song of Ye Feng, the school radio station’s announcer. Lin Xu has even stayed up all night organizing 77.1kReads9.7Score13.5k14d adds
3. 3 你 You Broke Your Promise 你失信了 Shi Qingyao十清杳Modern Romance138k WordsCompleted The acclaimed signature work You Broke Your Promise by popular author Shi Qingyao, now with 40,000 new words of never-before-published content! Sensitive girl Xiang Yu VS golden boy Song Huaishi. I had to play out the whole secret-crush story, so I loved him year after year. It was an ordinary day. Just as she closed her eyes, Xiang Yu suddenly thought of Song Huaishi: Song Huaishi, neat in his clothes and radiating warmth. Song Huaishi at seventeen. Still in his school uniform, he leaned lazily 68.9kReads9.5Score12.5k14d adds

   Reader note

   I've read almost all of them, 7, 8, 9, and 10—they were grueling! I finished these books (numbers 6 and 6) in about 8 hours combined, and my eyes were red and swollen, especially number 9. Numbers 8 were about the same.

4. 4 我 I Only Sneaked a Glance at Him 我只偷看他一眼 Zhi Jiu枝玖Anime Fanfiction188k WordsCompleted During the speech by the freshman class representative, Chen Nan fell for Lu Xu at first sight, and for the rest of her life. The pink sunset beyond the window filled the entire sky, like a beautiful landscape painting. The clouds looked drunk, their cheeks flushed with color. Chen Nan held her breath and stole a sidelong glance at Lu Xu. His profile was youthful and striking, and he held his book with perfect posture. A ray of light fell on the yellowed pages, and touched him as well. The dayli 16.8kReads9.6Score3.8k14d adds
5. 5 潇 The Late Sound of Drizzling Rain 潇潇雨声迟 Meng Zhiwan孟栀晚Modern Romance120k WordsCompleted Years after graduation, a gossip post begins circulating on the message board for City Experimental School. The school's 2011 beauty, Ye Xiao, and its most handsome boy from the same year, Ruan Yusheng, are a couple. Their classmates, who know them well, rush over to set the record straight: it's pure rumor. There was never any spark between the two of them. Ye Xiao's profile even says, “Person I hate most: Ruan Yusheng.” People in the know go so far as to say, “Ye Xiao feels nothing but hatred 81.1kReads9.7Score14.1k14d adds
6. 6 暗 This Grand, Silent Drama of Unrequited Love 暗恋这场声势浩大的哑剧 Meng Zhiwan孟栀晚Modern Romance126k WordsCompleted A bittersweet youthful school romance about unrequited love from popular author Meng Zhiwan, and a companion novel to The Sad Little Thing Called a Secret Crush and The Late Sound of Drizzling Rain. This one-sided love story is a silent play with just one actor: me. Also known as The Moment I Speak, My Voice Disappears. Lonely girl Chen Ji VS sunny boy Lin Jingye. I carefully cherished you, and you became the only spring I ever had in my life. “Chen Ji, may you always be safe and well, overcome 20.9kReads9.6Score4.2k14d adds
7. 7 清 Qingqing: The Aesthetics of Unrequited Love Tragedies, Part 3 清清（暗恋BE美学三部曲03） Meng Zhiwan孟栀晚Urban125k WordsCompleted Back in middle school, Xie Zeyang met Shen Bingqing. Their names were almost the opposite of their natures: he was as cold as ice, while she burned bright as the sun. He could still vaguely recall every time they parted when they were young. At thirteen, beneath the lights at the entrance to an alley. She waved with a radiant smile and said to him, “See you tomorrow, class monitor!” At seventeen, on the beach on a midsummer night. She poked her head out of the tent, eyes crinkling as she called 23.3kReads9.6Score5.8k14d adds

   Reader note

   This book is told from the male protagonist's perspective. He secretly loves the female protagonist, and it's a mutual unrequited love story, but the female protagonist gives up first and finds someone she likes, resulting in a happy ending. The male protagonist, however, is unable to let go of his unrequited love.

8. 8 相 Longing Cannot Dispel Sorrow 相思不解愁 Tang Zhi唐帜Modern Romance32k WordsCompleted [College campus + unrequited love + love that can’t be returned + depression] Xu Shijie secretly loved Lin Mengying, but when she didn’t return his feelings, he transferred his affections to Chen Miaohan. Treated as a stand-in, Chen Miaohan grew despondent and took her own life for love. Xu Zhi styled himself a ladies’ man, falling for one person after another, but ended up all alone. Beware of thieves, fires, and best friends: Li Meiqi specialized in stealing her friends’ love interests, and en 31Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   A must-read novel about unrequited love and heartbreak.

9. 9 铭 Etched in My Heart 铭刻心上 Chen Sinan陈思楠Modern Romance147k WordsCompleted Blurb: [A diligent, battle-ready heroine who rises with the dawn x a deeply devoted hero who studies by candlelight] [Secret love comes true + mutual healing + sweet romance] After repeating a year, Li Momo finally gets into Ling University. While happily digging into her meal in the cafeteria, she runs into the handsome senior she’s had a crush on for three years. Someone takes an unflattering photo of her and posts it on the campus forum, and the backlash is immediate. Wherever she goes, peop 8Reads—Score—14d adds

   Reader note

   I really love this book! It's a story of mutual redemption in a school romance, based on a true story, and it's incredibly relatable. Even though it's written by a new author, it's really good! Anyone who hasn't read it will cry 😢😢😢

10. 10 蓝 The Blue Gum Tree Waits in Vain for the Mistletoe Bird 蓝桉等不到释槐鸟 Chive Leaf I韭叶IModern Romance133k WordsCompleted “If I loved you a little less, would I be able to say a little more to you?” The girl, Ru An, had a secret crush on Lin Fu, the brightest star in school. She loved writing in her diary. Over her three years of high school, she filled five diaries. Not once did she mention Lin Fu by name, yet every line was about him. She described Lin Fu as full of life and spirit, but couldn't find a single word that suited herself. She had always lived by the rules, following the same routine. The only courage 17kReads9.0Score3.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    Ruyuan, Ruyuan, may your wish come true.

11. 11 安 An'an Won't Hold Back 安安不肆意 Fatty Beef Hot Pot肥牛涮火锅Modern Romance106k WordsOngoing The main story is complete [BE][Mutual secret crush][Strong female lead] “A secret crush is bitter, sweet, sour, and sharp, like seasonings spilled into your heart, then soaking into your blood. You’re afraid he’ll find out, yet afraid he really doesn’t know.” - In Yujiang, when people mentioned An Nianzi, the first things that came to mind were: beautiful, crazy, and hard to get close to. Little did they know that this hedgehog of a girl had noticed someone as bright as sunshine. In her secon 4Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    OMG, I cried so much reading this! The beginning was so-so, but the ending was so incredibly moving. I think I'm pretty picky about books; I rarely read on Tomato's blog. The writing style in this book is really unlike Tomato's usual style.

12. 12 傲 The Tsundere Kid's Everyday Romance 傲娇小鬼的恋爱日常 Master Gu顾爷Modern Romance119k WordsCompleted The most painful bad ending is when two people don’t seem to have any earth-shattering disagreements. They simply get stranded in a certain winter, and from then on, they never get to share each other’s days and nights again. His five-year unrequited love had only just come to an end, and they had finally confessed their feelings to each other. She died when they were both eighteen, in the prime of their youth. It doesn't matter whether he is the sun or the moon, as long as he is Cheng Xudong. —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    I want to recommend this book because she was the brightest light in his teenage years.

13. 13 你 You Are the Summer Solstice I Can't Leave Behind 你是我走不出的那年夏至 An Xifei安洗非Modern Romance103k WordsCompleted [Pure love + college campus + secret crush + inspired by real life] "A rich second-generation heir and hopeless romantic hero x an unromantic small-town exam ace heroine" He had a crush on her for eight months and had her to himself for fifteen hours. Then he spent the next eight years alone, unable to forget her. To get closer to Jiang Zhenyu, Tang Chenzhou said he needed to study for finals and brought her and her best friend to a suite at the Hilton. She spent the whole night studying calculu 3Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    "I've seen you love others, so I know you don't love me." "You are my fateful encounter and my destined departure."

14. 14 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 182Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Unrequited love is like a little rose hidden in the heart, afraid of the light yet incredibly beautiful. It's like a silent solo dance, where you are both the protagonist and the audience... Longing spreads unchecked during the holidays. In summer night dreams, there are memories of chasing and playing in the past, and you wake up covered in sweat...

15. 15 装 Decorate Your Dreams 装饰你的梦 Tang Zhi唐帜Modern Romance262k WordsCompleted [University Campus] [Unrequited Love] [Tragedy] A love story at Zhongshan Medical University. The male lead, Tan Shengxu, is devoted to the female lead, Zhong Mengwei. But because of a misunderstanding born of circumstance, she thinks he is her enemy and rejects his advances. In truth, he is the one she has been longing for. Heartbroken, Tan Shengxu gives up on their relationship in despair. Zhong Mengwei regrets it too late and starts pursuing him, but to no avail. Her love leaves her depressed 95Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A angst-filled story with a strong aftertaste; it features mutual unrequited love.

16. 16 浪 The Waves Trust the Clouds’ Whiteness 浪花信任云的白 Qinghe Qinghe清和清和Modern Romance355k WordsCompleted Two souls fall into a campus dream; reunited on a Middle Eastern battlefield | Doctors Without Borders × frontier defense hero | unhinged yet restrained, healing regret | sweet, bittersweet tension | rekindled romance | devoted to each other, happy ending A three-day romance in their youth, followed by twelve years apart across mountains and seas · Mature adults wearing the guise of high schoolers, falling into the most heart-wrenching romance in a dream · Each other's cure and salvation; a god 129Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    A bittersweet story of mutual redemption amidst male-male torment. He was unaware of her involvement, and she was unaware of his dying moments. Their most poignant love story unfolds in a dream. A border guard's miraculous rebirth versus Zhuang Zhou Xiaomeng, a medic from the eastern border. A broken mirror mended, a return to school, and a powerful comeback for both.

17. 17 鲸 A Whale Falls into Tenderness 鲸陷温柔 Adorable Snowball萌宠雪儿Modern Romance115k WordsOngoing Also known as He Was Born at the Wrong Time for Spring [Flirtation and Devotion + Bewitching Hearts + Mutual Pining + Gentle Protection + School Life + Romance + Tragic Ending] In his previous life, when Su Xingci was in a car accident, he saw Yun Shu, the straight-A student he hated most, running toward him in tears, her long hair reaching her waist. At that moment, she touched him to the depths of his soul. In that summer, so cold it chilled him to the bone, he felt warmth seep into his hea —Reads—Score—14d adds

    Reader note

    Su Xingci's love is truly remarkable. It turns out the novel's title can be so poignant! "Whale's Tenderness," with the line "Whale fall is the whale's final act of tenderness towards the sea," is also known as "He Was Born Without Spring."

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