Are There No Gentle, Refined Male Leads in Period Dramas? I'm Tired of Rough-and-Tumble Guys! 年代文就没有温文尔雅的男主嘛！！整天糙汉看腻了

1. 1 我 I'm the Family Babysitter in a Period Novel 我在年代文里当德华 Daydreaming Little Tangyuan发呆的小汤圆Modern Romance459k WordsCompleted A bold, outgoing heroine × a hero who starts out refined and gentle, then falls hard Li Qingxiu transmigrates into a period novel as the younger sister-in-law of its tragic heroine. When her family tries to marry her off to a widower in exchange for a bride price, Li Qingxiu pretends to be crazy, kicks and punches her way through them, then bundles up her bedding and heads off to be her tragic sister-in-law’s own personal Dehua. At her sister-in-law’s home, she meets the older brother, who’s an 22.8kReads8.4Score2.7k14d adds

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   She's gentle and refined at first, but later the old house catches fire. Yes, that's right. The female lead goes to babysit her sister-in-law's child and then falls for her sister-in-law's brother. (The story then shifts to a belike relationship between the sister-in-law and the brother.)

2. 2 七 Love and Marriage in the Seventies: My Wife Is a Little Feisty 七零婚宠：我家媳妇儿有点皮 A Dudududu阿嘟嘟嘟嘟Modern Romance503k WordsCompleted Before he was reborn, Shen Yanzhou’s only regret was that his young wife died too soon, leaving him a widower at barely over seventy. After being reborn, Shen Yanzhou resolves to make up for that regret. He heads to the countryside early to find the young wife he won’t be with until more than ten years later. [Note: The male lead is reborn, and the female lead has limited intelligence.] 11.8kReads7.6Score1.4k14d adds

   Reader note

   The male lead in this historical romance novel isn't the rough, tough type; he's very gentle and patient. He's reborn, not to make amends for his past mistreatment of the female lead, but because dying peacefully with her in his previous life wasn't enough, so he returns to be with her again. The story unfolds gently, without any awful relatives or angst; the daily life is incredibly funny, and the female lead is described as especially adorable!

3. 3 吃 Come See This! The Little Kid by the Road Is His? 吃瓜啦，路边奶团竟是他的崽 Wutong Tree in the South南边梧桐Modern Romance630k WordsCompleted [Period Setting + Raising a Child + Adorable Little One + Getting Rich + Heartwarming] Yu Wan was working in the fields with her little one when Qin Boyan, a promising young man who had returned to his village after graduating from university, rode by on his rattling bicycle. The rosy-cheeked little one chased after him, calling out excitedly. Qin Boyan thought the child and he simply had a connection, never imagining that the little tyke calling him “Ding Ding” was his own child. The villagers 2.5kReads8.8Score18614d adds

   Reader note

   The male lead is gentle and refined, sincere and polite to everyone, and also encouraging to the female lead.

4. 4 快 The Quick Transmigration Cannon Fodder Won't Play by the Rules 快穿炮灰她不走寻常路 Traveler in Misty Rain一蓑烟雨客Ancient Romance1.7M WordsOngoing No fixed pairing, Qing-dynasty setting + historical eras + other worlds, with a pocket dimension Note: The heroine is a hedonist and a self-serving perfectionist. Her motto is that she can eat anything but hardship and endure anything but suffering. She tries to live comfortably in every world. After more than twenty years of bad luck, college student Shen Anning finally catches a break, only to die the day before her fortune is due to arrive. Perhaps her resentment is too great: just before sh 63.9kReads9.4Score2.7k14d adds

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   This book is really good! [Admiration] In the second little world, "The Cannon Fodder Stepdaughter of the 1970s," the male lead is gentle and refined, a cultured type. [Kiss] The female lead is sophisticated and selfish, very lazy, refuses to go to the countryside or do farm work, and is incapable of cooking or cleaning. However, after marriage, the male lead spoils her rotten, afraid that she will think he's too old, and even fights with his mother over skincare products. [Admiration]

5. 5 七 1970s Space: A Transmigrated Daughter and Her Reborn Mother 七零空间：穿越闺女重生妈 Transmigration and Rebirth穿越加重生Modern Romance394k WordsOngoing [Period] [The 1970s] [Transmigration] [Space] [Reborn] [Mutual devotion] [A touch of ensemble cast] [Educated youth] [Two worlds connected] She opens her eyes and has transmigrated into a book set in the 1970s. Even the paper character's slap across her face hurts like hell. She has become a short-lived cannon-fodder character. Damn it! This woman is going to defy fate and change her destiny! 48.5kReads8.9Score3.5k14d adds

   Reader note

   I recommend two period novels. The stories are fresh, the language is humorous, and there are constant plot twists—hahaha!!! Super exciting!!

6. 6 闯 Heading to the Northeast: Lin Erni's Bumpy Road to Happiness 闯关东：林二妮的颠簸幸福路 Liu Piao留飘Modern Romance1.3M WordsCompleted [No contrived twists] [No cheat powers] [Traditional] [Realistic] [Period] [Rural] [Hardship] [Inspirational] Lin Erni was born in Heze, Shandong, and married into Harbin in the Northeast. She struggled to get by amid the freezing snow in the mountains, then later had no one to rely on and went alone beyond the mountains to make a living. The first time, she was tossed from one place to another like a bag of steamed buns, made a child bride, and beaten and cursed. The second time, her father sol 21.8kReads9.4Score2.1k14d adds
7. 7 妈 Mom Remarries, Dad Weds Again, and a Little Waif Meets a Veteran Cadre 妈改嫁，爸再婚，小可怜遇老干部 One More Spoonful再吃一勺儿Modern Romance444k WordsCompleted [Nine-year age gap + 1980s + Chinese setting + bittersweet, sweet secret crush + devoted couple + family drama] [The heroine has a secret crush at first, but later becomes clear-eyed and grounded. She's a wealthy, beautiful, clear-headed, well-educated doctor.] [The hero is afraid to fall in love at first, but later becomes hopelessly devoted. He's an elegant, handsome politician with plenty of schemes.] [Complete.] After her mother remarried, Xia Chuchu was left to live under someone else's roo 7.3kReads9.2Score83114d adds

   Reader note

   This is the only historical romance novel I've ever read from cover to cover; the male and female leads are eight years apart in age. The part where the male lead relentlessly pursues the female lead later on is really good.

8. 8 惊 What a Shock! I Landed a Secure Government Job in the 1960s 惊！我竟在六零端上了铁饭碗 Still as the Sun静似骄阳Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Set in a bygone era + Transmigration + Inspirational + Heartwarming + Everyday family life + City job] After saving a cat just after finishing the college entrance exams, Su Yuhe became a vegetable. A year later, she transmigrated into the body of Su He, a girl from Nanshan Village in the 1960s who had heard that the college entrance exams had been suspended, missed a step, and drowned. Suddenly transported to the countryside of the 1960s, Su He had no phone, no electricity, no internet, and n 22.6kReads9.0Score1.6k14d adds

   Reader note

   ✨1. The male protagonist is not a traditional roughneck, but a gentle man who secured a stable job through his intelligence. Set against the backdrop of everyday family life, the story features a strong partnership between the male and female leads. The male protagonist's calm wisdom supports both his family and career, showcasing a different kind of delicate and affectionate male image in period dramas. ✨2. During difficult times, the female protagonist marries the eldest brother of the antagonist in the original novel. This male protagonist is not a reckless brute, but a thoughtful and responsible "antagonist" who protects his family in his own way amidst the chaos of war, supporting the female protagonist and weathering the hardships together.

9. 9 穿 Transmigrating Through Thirty Years of the 1960s 穿越六零三十年 Transmigration and Rebirth穿越加重生Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Period] [Transmigration] [Space] [Reborn] [Educated Youth] [A Light Ensemble Cast] [Building Wealth] [The 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s] Chen Xi, the heroine, is transported to the 1960s by a silver-white dragon-and-phoenix ring. She becomes a ten-year-old girl with the same name, and her dream comes true: she gains an enormous space for farming and raising livestock. Blinded by a handsome face, she even takes in the gorgeous Chu Xuan. The only thing she regrets is giving him too much spirit spring w 13.9kReads8.9Score1.1k14d adds
10. 10 带 I Married the Sickly Chief Minister with a Farming System, and He Flirts with Me Every Day 带种田系统嫁病娇首辅，日日被撩 Jiang Qiuqiu姜秋秋Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Farming + putting scumbags in their place + strong heroine + sweet romance + devoted couple] Lu Zhaozhao, head of a family of merchants, accidentally gets bound to a farming System that brings her into a lucky-charm farming novel called The Imperial Consort of the Peasant Household. There, she becomes a cannon-fodder supporting female character who dies as soon as she appears. When she opens her eyes, she has to choose between two newlywed husbands. She faces a greedy, vicious mother-in-law, th 38.6kReads9.3Score3.6k14d adds
11. 11 救 Help! What Should I Do About the Baby I Conceived with a Returned Educated Youth? 救命！怀了回城知青的崽怎么办？ Thousand-Layer Crushed Ice千层碎碎冰Modern Romance1.0M WordsOngoing [1970s + transmigrate into a book + face-slapping + no golden finger] Xia Meng transmigrated. She landed in the poverty-stricken 1970s, in the body of a village girl who was pregnant out of wedlock and desperate enough to want to die. In the original novel, an educated youth abandoned her. She raised their child alone, playing both father and mother, and wore herself out by the age of forty. When the child grew up, his biological father appeared to claim him. By then, he had become a leading sci 5.8kReads8.9Score32014d adds

    Reader note

    🌴The male lead in this book is incredibly gentle. The female lead doesn't like the refined and elegant secretary, but when he takes off his glasses and reveals his true nature, she's completely smitten. This stoic guy becomes uncontrollably infatuated once he has a girlfriend. [Laughing emoji]

12. 12 穿 I Transmigrated to the 1970s, and My Whole Family Went to the Countryside 穿越七零，我全家下乡了 Gold Gold Gold金金金子Modern Romance291k WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + 1970s + Pocket Dimension + Family Life + Companionship + Devoted Couple] In her previous life, Zhou Ran lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her grandmother. On the day she won an Olympic gold medal, her grandmother passed away. Heartbroken, Zhou Ran was caught in a car accident and transmigrated to the 1970s, into the body of a young female educated youth about to head to the countryside. She was supposedly going there to help with development, but in tr 2.4kReads8.9Score15714d adds

    Reader note

    The first book is a pretty good period drama. The female lead is a time-traveler with a spatial ability and superhuman strength, while the male lead is a sent-down youth who went to the countryside with her. Both are relatively low-key people, and the male lead seems to be the most interested. He can cook, and it's because of his delicious cooking that the female lead notices him. It's also a transmigration story, but the characters aren't really connected to the original male and female leads.

13. 13 八 The 1980s: A Beauty with Skin Like Jade Marries a Soldier and Raises a Child 八零凝脂美人，嫁个军人带带崽 Radish Rabbit Who Loves Cabbage爱吃白菜的萝卜兔Modern Romance521k WordsCompleted [Eighties setting + military marriage + seducing the man + sweet romance + marriage first, love later + heroine has experience, hero doesn't] She opens her eyes to find she's become the male lead's wicked aunt in a period novel. She abuses him and his younger sister, cheats on their stern uncle, and ultimately brings about her own death. Lu Manman, a breathtaking beauty with smooth, radiant skin, is determined to take it easy. All she wants is to go back home. Who knew her niece and nephew would 12.3kReads9.1Score1.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    In these three books, the male leads are all gentle and considerate towards the female leads ◔.̮◔✧, Not roughnecks, and they don't enlist in the military 🔥🔥 1. Arranged marriage to love 𓆩♡𓆪 A delicate and beautiful female lead VS a cunning and meticulous male lead. 2. Arranged marriage to love ᰔᩚ A bright and beautiful fox-like female lead VS a cunning, abstinent, and seemingly serious male lead. 3. A stunningly beautiful and intelligent delicate young lady VS a male lead with a small physique but a love-struck mind (in university)

14. 14 六 Military Marriage in the 1960s: Kick Out the Leads and the System 六零军婚：把男女主和系统叉出去 Jiong Jiong You Pi囧囧有皮Modern Romance411k WordsCompleted [Period setting + military marriage + sweet, satisfying romance + love after marriage + career and romance in perfect balance] Once upon a time, a System had a whim and wrote a period military-marriage novel. It became a hit~ Later, another System got jealous and used that novel as the basis for a reborn period military-marriage story. And just like that, the two Systems got pulled into the book and started tearing into each other. They fought fiercely and cursed each other out Then, somehow, 2.1kReads8.6Score20814d adds
15. 15 七 The 1970s: The Glamorous Heiress Transmigrates into a Book with a Trillion-Dollar Fortune 七零：美艳娇气包带千亿资产穿书 A Duo u阿哆uModern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted The young lady never lived through that era, so you can't expect her to have the same spending habits as ordinary people. [Not a poverty-relief story] [Sweet romance + period setting + transmigrate into a book + golden finger + feel-good power fantasy] [Both are virgins, one-on-one romance] Shanghai–Beijing–Hong Kong [Warning: The heroine is spoiled and not truly kind or beautiful inside! The hero is a lovesick fool! Don't get hung up on prices! If there are any plot holes, just treat them as au 24.9kReads9.2Score2.5k14d adds
16. 16 穿 Transmigrated as a Mom, I Keep My Whole Family's Love-Brained Hearts in Check! 穿成孩子妈，专治恋爱脑全家！ Lian Xia'ai恋小爱Modern Romance1.7M WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book + Period Setting + Reborn as a Villainous Cannon Fodder, Happily Becoming a Mom] Cheng Yao transmigrates into a book, going from an unmarried young woman to a notorious cannon-fodder character, complete with three sons, two daughters, and a lazy husband. In the people's commune production brigade, every household depends on work points to survive. And yet the Li family is always in trouble: Today, the eldest son is threatening to kill himself over the heroine. Tomorrow, 296Reads6.1Score—14d adds
17. 17 陆 The Lu Heiress’s Road to Success 陆家千金的青云路 You Dian Le佑点乐Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted [Reborn + period setting + high-ranking cadre's daughter from a compound] Lu Nanxing's grandfather was a veteran revolutionary. Though he has passed away, her three uncles and her father all hold high-ranking positions! The only girl in the third generation of the Lu family, she is a spoiled heiress who lives for eating, drinking, and having fun, doing whatever she pleases and never putting up with mistreatment. After her father dies unexpectedly, she discovers that neither his death nor her you 5.4kReads7.7Score43714d adds

    Reader note

    The first novel features a male protagonist who is ambitious and domineering, always vying for attention. The second novel features a female protagonist who brings warmth to the male protagonist's unloved childhood.

18. 18 六 The 1960s: Even a Second Marriage Can Help Me Marry Up 六零年代：二婚也要攀高枝 Red Roses and Yellow Floribundas红玫瑰和黄月季Modern Romance712k WordsCompleted [Master of making promises, speaks each person’s language, only wants a good life for herself heroine X handsome, capable, rebellious, insecure, affection-starved hero] [Period setting + reborn + everyday family life + career] A shameful scandal has rocked Li Jia Village. Li Jinhe, who married into the city to live a life of comfort, has been divorced because she can’t have children. Her husband doesn’t want her anymore! Those who once envied her for marrying into the city now turn around and pi 12.1kReads8.9Score1.5k14d adds
19. 19 穿 Reborn as a Tycoon's Wicked Ex-Wife, I Became the Whole Family's Darling 穿成大佬恶毒前妻后，被全家团宠 Braised Beef Brisket Rice牛腩焗饭Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Transmigrate into a book set in the 1970s + personal space + sweet romance and raising kids + love grows over time + transmigrated heroine vs. reborn heroine] When she opens her eyes, Jiang Yuman finds herself transmigrated into a book as the male lead’s wicked ex-wife, who is six months pregnant. In the book, the original owner dreams of becoming an official’s wife and tries every trick in the book to marry into the Fu family. But when the Fu family is falsely accused, stripped of their positi 136.6kReads9.1Score16.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    This historical romance novel features a male protagonist who is a high-ranking military officer, a gentle and refined gentleman. His rise to power begins with him being sent to the countryside, causing the female protagonist to threaten to abort their six-month-old child. The female protagonist had previously married the male protagonist out of vanity; she was abandoned when he was sent to the countryside for a better life. It is at this point that the male protagonist transmigrates. Later, he is reinstated, and the female protagonist tries to curry favor with him. The male protagonist and his entire family dote on her, entrusting her with all their money.

20. 20 假 The Fake Heiress Returns to Her Village to Find Her Birth Family, and Her Officer Childhood Friend Sees Red 假千金回村认亲，竹马军官急红眼 Xiao Xin Nuo小芯诺Modern Romance806k WordsCompleted [Period setting, mistaken identities, golden finger, pocket dimension, military marriage, and a long road to winning his wife back] Wen Lanxuan had been in love with Zheng Beixiao, who was five years older than her, since she was six. But whenever she showed him affection, he always gave her the cold shoulder. After Zheng Beixiao enlisted at eighteen, Wen Lanxuan sent him one unanswered “love letter” every month. She still believed that a cold-hearted man like him must see her as different from 5.7kReads8.7Score65714d adds

    Reader note

    🌹🌹 [Real era, true and false heiresses, golden finger, space, military marriage, wife-chasing crematorium, 🌹🌹 Wen Lanxuan has liked Zheng Beixiao, who is five years older than her, since she was six years old, but Zheng Beixiao always gives her a cold face in response to her enthusiasm. Since Zheng Beixiao joined the army at eighteen, Wen Lanxuan had received an unanswered "love letter" every month. She still felt that for someone as cold-hearted as Zheng Beixiao, she must be different from others in his heart. When she heard that Zheng Beixiao was home on leave, she excitedly ran over, only to see him carefully "helping" Wen Xiuxiu who had fallen, and "gently comforting" her. Wen Lanxuan finally couldn't bear it anymore. Since she was causing her adoptive parents so much trouble and making her childhood sweetheart dislike her, then they should all go back to their own lives. The pendant given to her by her biological mother actually had a hidden secret—hehe, getting rich! Men, stay away! Zheng Beixiao, who hadn't received a "love letter" for several months, was anxious. He learned that his childhood sweetheart had run away and was furious. They met again at his comrade's son's one-month celebration. Who else could his comrade's sister be but his childhood sweetheart? But why did she act as if she didn't recognize him?

21. 21 首 He Asked for a Divorce on His First Night Home, Then Kissed Her Until She Cried 首长回家第一晚提离婚，被亲哭了 I'm the Baby Here我才是宝宝Modern Romance1.5M WordsCompleted [Reborn military marriage + winning back his wife + antique bargains + dazzling beauty vs. aloof heartthrob] In her previous life, Zhu Suisui fell for Lu Lanxu at first sight. Of all the Lu family members, she chose the most outstanding heir to be her husband. She thought that if she worked hard to be a good Mrs. Lu, one day Lu Lanxu would love her. But she had overestimated herself. She simply couldn’t warm his heart. For twenty years, they treated each other with respect, but he felt only a se 30.5kReads9.1Score2.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    ⭐ Aloof and abstinent, he was raised from childhood to be the head of the Lu family. Everything he does is planned out and allows no mistakes. The most outrageous thing he did was to scheme to have the female lead marry him.

22. 22 小 The Little Housekeeper and the Big Boss 小保姆和大领导 Nine Eight Eight九八八呀Modern Romance953k WordsOngoing Also known as: The Nanny Has a Plan, and the Boss Never Loses His Temper Also known as: The Nanny Knows What She Wants, and the Boss Can’t Do a Thing About It [Everyday Life + Sweet Romance + Building a Fortune + Devoted Husband + Family Life] Wen Zhiyi is a country girl with little education, no job, and no household registration. Her stepsister mocks her: “You couldn’t even pass the high school entrance exam. What makes you think you can get into college?” Her relatives try to set her up wit 197.1kReads9.1Score18.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    There is a guiding lover in the new year, and the male protagonist has a very good personality.

23. 23 快 Quick Transmigration: The Host Goes on a Rampage with the Supporting Female Character's Script 快穿：宿主拿着女配剧本杀疯了 Murong Ruier慕容锐儿Modern Romance2.0M WordsCompleted When the System found Chu Qingci, her entire family had been condemned to death, and she was gripping her sword, her eyes bloodshot from killing. “Once you earn one hundred thousand points, you can turn back time and return to before you lost your family. Are you willing to accept the mission?” “I am.” And so Chu Qingci took on one supporting female character’s role after another, becoming the brightest presence in every era she visited. [There is a CP, there is a CP, there is a CP] We’re sayin 13.8kReads9.1Score1.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    In the first world, the male protagonist is a sent-down youth from a scholarly family. Initially, sent-down youths usually stay with villagers. The main antagonist, the male protagonist, is chosen by the brigade leader's daughter to stay at the brigade leader's house. He becomes the warehouse manager, has beautiful handwriting, can repair various electrical appliances, and secretly harbors a crush on the brigade leader's daughter.

24. 24 穿 Transmigrate into a Book Set in the 1970s: From the Start, the Puppy-Dog Younger Brother Calls Me Wife 穿书七零：开局被奶狗弟弟叫老婆 Tomato No. 54675467号番茄Modern Romance312k WordsCompleted [Period setting + sent-down youth + pocket dimension + dual transmigration + everyday family life] The moment she opened her eyes, Yu Xi discovered she had transmigrated to the 1970s, a time of shortages, and become a sent-down youth about to leave for the countryside. The brigade leader of Lijiawan looked at the two scrawny youths in the group and felt utterly dismayed. When he heard that the two of them planned to get a marriage certificate, he felt even more dismayed. Everyone in the Lijiawan 2.9kReads8.4Score24714d adds

    Reader note

    🔥You should check this out! It's a double time-travel story with a cute but manipulative male lead. It's really great. The female lead has a cheat ability, and the male lead is incredibly rich and powerful. They complement each other perfectly and their careers are thriving.

25. 25 年 The Wife Who Dies Young in a Period Novel? The Ascetic Professor Falls in Love 年代文早死妻？禁欲教授沦陷求爱 Zhouzhou Eats Steamed Buns粥粥吃馒头Modern Romance977k WordsCompleted [An alternate 1980s setting, awakening as the foil to the heroine; slow-paced, everyday traditional story; marriage first, love later, and family life; raising kids with sweet affection; no golden finger; local-born characters who aren’t perfect] After Song Zhiyao impulsively picks a fight over divorce, she takes her child to her parents’ home and has a dream that makes her awaken to the truth. Well, would you look at that: she’s living inside a period novel! And she’s not even the main heroine, 34.4kReads8.9Score3.7k14d adds

    Reader note

    This is alright and it's already finished.

26. 26 七 The Flirtatious Bride of the 1970s Has the Commander Blushing Every Night 七零娇媳妇太会撩，首长夜夜红温 Wealthy Heiress财神千金Modern Romance657k WordsCompleted [Period military romance + marriage first, love later + 11-year age gap + powerful male lead + sweet indulgence + portable space + everyday family life] Content warning: This is a pampered-wife romance. There’s no angst, just sweetness. The male lead is 11 years older, and the heroine is delicate and a little petty, and likes being doted on. If you want a strong female lead, this one isn’t for you. In her previous life, Lin Xiaoguai was intimidated by Huo Yunfeng’s stern demeanor and chose his a 6.9kReads8.6Score68514d adds

    Reader note

    I recommend this book. It's a historical romance novel with [both leads being virgins, an arranged marriage, an 11-year age gap, rebirth, a spiritual spring space, twins, and a military marriage]. The female lead is reborn and chooses to marry the handsome male lead who is 11 years her senior right from the start. Both leads fall in love after marriage, and their married life is very sweet. The female lead truly lives up to her nickname "Little Darling"—she's both delicate and obedient. Very good! [Thumbs up]

27. 27 七 The 1970s: The Aloof Educated Youth Has Been Scheming to Marry Me 七零：高冷男知青处心积虑想娶我 Fish Swimming Into the Sea入海鱼Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Reborn in another era, Cheng Songning has no family left. After seeing off her last relative, she sells her house and heads to the countryside. She plans to rely on her System, live a quiet life, and soar to success when the college entrance exams return. But on her second day in the village, she cuts the calf of a handsome young educated youth who arrived with her. What can she do? Take care of him, of course. But the more she looks after him, the more something feels off. It seems she’s ended 5kReads8.6Score42614d adds

    Reader note

    In this historical romance novel, the male protagonist, a refined and gentle man from ancient times, transmigrates to the modern era. On his first day working in the countryside, he accidentally cuts his foot on the foot of a female educated youth next door. Fortunately, he doesn't have to work in the fields, which isn't bad; with no one bringing him food or water, life is incredibly comfortable. The cute and capable female educated youth next door is also beautiful and strong—marrying her would be a good deal. But what happened after the marriage? She promised to be the one doing the work, but now he's the one doing all the work!

28. 28 穿 Transmigrated into a Book: In the 1970s, My Cannon-Fodder Husband Is a Master of All Trades 穿书七零：我的炮灰丈夫十项全能 Still as the Sun静似骄阳Modern Romance749k WordsCompleted [The animated adaptation is now online] [Full-cast audio drama available] [Period setting + educated youth + transmigrate into a book + pocket dimension + inspirational] Lu Xia transmigrated into the body of an educated youth in the 1970s, a girl whose parents didn’t care for her and who had been sent to the countryside in her elder sister’s place. Remembering how the original owner had always been mistreated, Lu Xia couldn’t stand for it. She sold the job, gave her family a hefty financial hit, 37.6kReads9.0Score3.6k14d adds
29. 29 七 The 1970s: My Son and His Dad Both Have Off-the-Charts IQs 七零：崽和崽他爹智商双爆表 Li Jia Qiqi黎家七七Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted {The short drama is now streaming ♥ Title: The Best Mom in a Period Novel} [Alternate-history period setting + transmigrating into a book + adorable child + cozy everyday life] After transmigrating into a book set in the 1970s, Su Taotao faced two choices: 1. Follow the original plot, abandon her husband and child, return to the city, and rekindle her romance with her childhood sweetheart; 2. Do nothing and wait for her husband of convenience to show up six months later and take her back to the 22.4kReads9.3Score2.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    These two are definitely the best! They perfectly fit the requirements! The male leads, in both appearance and personality, are nothing like the stereotypical rough-and-tumble guy. I've already read them twice!!! The first book: period drama + island setting + transmigration + adorable baby + female lead (cooks, runs a factory, and goes to university – a complete female lead, capable in both domestic and social settings) + male lead (handsome, aloof, and refined, with a cold personality but always ready to help the female lead), no cheat codes or awful characters. The second book: period drama + reborn villainous woman + food + adorable baby + female lead (makes her fortune through food) + male lead (a truly exceptional person, gentle and refined), the plot is fast-paced, depicting a peaceful and fulfilling life. My absolute favorite part of both books is the adorable babies! And coincidentally, they're both named Chenchen (first book) and Chenchen (second book) – they're practically angel babies! Absolutely adorable! Feifei is incredibly cute and well-behaved! I really want to take them all home! [Admiring]

30. 30 重 Reborn in the 1980s: Building a Fortune and Raising My Kids 重生八零之发家致富养崽崽 Mu Muzhi木木枝Modern Romance996k WordsCompleted [Sweet romance + no awful characters + food + adorable kids + period setting] In her previous life, after Li Heng accidentally fell off a cliff and was left disabled, Qiao Xi abandoned her husband and child, ultimately bringing the Li family to ruin. Given another life, she looks at her gentle, doting husband, then at her adorable, lively son, and swears to make it up to them and never let the tragedy happen again. With food and clothing businesses, Qiao Xi takes things one step at a time, gradu 4.4kReads9.1Score28914d adds
31. 31 八 A Great Beauty Raises Kids in a Beijing Courtyard, 1980s Style 八零大美人四合院养娃日常 North to South由北向南Modern Romance1.2M WordsCompleted (Slice of life + sweet romance + raising children + family life + career) Zhao Jinshu was in her sixties. Her children had grown up and started families of their own, and she had seen her parents-in-law off. She was just about to travel around the country when she was reborn. She returned to the time a few months after she had first moved to the city. Back then, she knew nothing. A young bride from the countryside, she was shy, too embarrassed to speak up, and insecure. Even though her husband 53.1kReads9.3Score4.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    The female protagonist is reborn, has come to terms with many things, and lives a better life by following her heart. The male protagonist is a university professor, seemingly aloof. He also had his share of hardships in his previous life, but in this life, with the female protagonist's changes, he becomes more family-oriented. Set in the 1980s, the story follows their daily lives as they work together to raise their child, live a good life, and build their wealth.

32. 32 闪 A Whirlwind Wedding and Military Life: My Forceful Officer Leaves Me Swooning Every Time 闪婚随军：强势军官令我次次沦陷 Qing Yunyun青芸芸Modern Romance1.7M WordsCompleted [Complete novel + sweet romance + career-driven heroine + building wealth + female awakening and mutual support + no golden finger + funny, heartwarming, and moving] Ye Wenxi, a career-driven woman at a major 21st-century corporation, transmigrates into a book, becoming the vicious supporting character in a novel set in a bygone era. Through a twist of fate, she and Lu Weidong end up having an “honest exchange.” Fortunately, he has a strong sense of responsibility and insists on seeing things th 15.4kReads8.8Score1.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    Be elegant when you need to be elegant, and be fierce when you need to be fierce.

33. 33 漂 The Beautiful Educated Youth and Her Stylish Mom 漂亮知青，时髦妈 Vast Universe 01浩瀚宇宙01Modern Romance314k WordsCompleted [Period Setting + Educated Youth + Sweet Romance + Everyday Family Life] In 1979, Jiang Jingshu returns to the city with the last group of educated youths, going back to Tongxiang County, a place both familiar and strange. After years away from home, she expects an emotional reunion. Instead, she is met by awkward, distant parents, an indifferent older brother, and a younger sister who treats her with hostility... There is no place for her in the family anymore. Even her room has been taken over 4.2kReads8.4Score23314d adds

    Reader note

    It's a simple, unassuming book. The male protagonist is a college student. It doesn't focus much on the historical background, but rather on the main characters' family life and their development. The ending even leaves the question of their child unanswered. It's a very heartwarming and healing story.

34. 34 军 A Love That Sets Hearts Ablaze: In the 1970s, I Became Everyone's Darling by Taking It Easy 军婚撩人，我在七零靠摆烂成团宠 Watching the Moon on a Sunny Day晴天看月Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance, Devoted Couple, Spatial Realm, Adorable Baby] Song Luoying unexpectedly transmigrates into a period novel and becomes a cannon-fodder supporting character with the same name as her own. The original Song Luoying’s blind date falls for the female lead, Liu Meijiao, instead. She can’t swallow her pride and is determined to find herself a factory worker husband, just to one-up the female lead. In the end, she marries a mama’s boy, has three daughters, gets looked down on by her moth 19.1kReads9.3Score1.9k14d adds

    Reader note

    🌈The male lead is gentle and refined, a member of a prestigious family in Beijing, from a military family. His parents are both high-ranking officials, and his grandfather is a commander. He falls in love with the female lead at first sight while on leave, and they have a whirlwind marriage. He then joins her in the military. The female lead is a female cannon fodder who has traveled back to the 1970s, but after meeting the male lead, she lives a sweet and happy life.

35. 35 穿 I Became the Wife of a Commander Who Died Young! Now His Whole Family Dotes on Me 穿成早死首长的妻子！被全家团宠 A Simple Life平淡生活Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted (A Novel Set in the 1980s) (Military Marriage + Marriage First, Love Later + Transmigrating into a Book vs. Transmigrating) A car accident sent Ye Fangfei into a novel. Its world was a parallel timeline in the early 1980s. The novel’s protagonists were the younger brother of her husband, Shen Zhanxun, and his wife. Shen Zhanxun was nothing but a stepping-stone they used to build their wealth. In the novel, Shen Zhanxun left the military to join the municipal public security bureau. He died while 91.3kReads9.0Score11.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    This book is absolutely amazing! The male and female leads are both incredibly eloquent. While they might not be exactly the most refined, they're definitely not roughnecks! Their younger brother, Zhan Qiang, is hilarious; the biggest joke in the whole book is the taciturn Zhan Qiang.

36. 36 穿 Transmigrated to the Seventies: The Easygoing Wife Is Forced to Get Ahead 穿越七零，咸鱼娇妻她被迫上进 Passerby Sheep路人羊Modern Romance783k WordsCompleted [Sweet, charming, highly intelligent heroine & gentle, refined, scheming educated youth] A 21st-century doctoral student pulls an all-nighter, collapses, and transmigrates into the body of a young woman working at a forest farm in the 1970s. Ye Wei swears: she is going to be a contented couch potato who enjoys life! She lives carefree, spending every day eating and drinking with her golden finger at her disposal. Apples? Pheasants? She's got it all. Huo Xiang? Coptis? She can do anything. Ye Wei 4.1kReads9.0Score38514d adds

    Reader note

    This one has a gentle male lead, which I think is quite good; at least I was able to finish it.

37. 37 穿 After Transmigrating to the 1980s and Becoming a Substitute Bride, I Became the Army Officer's Most Beloved 穿越八零替嫁后我成了军官心尖宠 Over Ten Thousand a Day日收过万Modern Romance1.6M WordsCompleted [Transmigration + Substitute Marriage + Military Marriage + Stepmom + Mutual First Love] (Fictional Military Marriage + Everyday Life as a Military Wife) Yang Niannian, a college student, was so furious after losing ten ranked matches in a row in Honor of Kings that she blacked out and transmigrated to the 1980s. The moment she opened her eyes, her mother was pressuring her to marry, sobbing and sniffling all over her. “Lu Shishen is a soldier with a secure government job. If you marry him, you’ 109.3kReads9.2Score14.2k14d adds

    Reader note

    So beautiful! So beautiful! So beautiful! So beautiful!

38. 38 穿 Transmigrated Into a Book in the 1970s: What a Joke! The Sweet Girl Is Hiding in a Rugged Man's Body 穿书七零：笑死！娇娇披着糙汉壳 December-十二月-Modern Romance593k WordsCompleted [Period setting + transmigrate into a book + food + System + educated youth + sweet romance] A pleasure-loving young woman transmigrates into a book set in the 1970s. The poverty and hunger, the backbreaking labor, and the enormous secret her new body is hiding are enough to push An Ran to the brink. She is neither the lucky heroine nor the villainess. Instead, she is a deranged male character so far down the roster that she barely even counts as a number in the leads’ story. To keep anyone from 5.4kReads9.0Score69614d adds

    Reader note

    The male protagonist of this novel isn't the gentle and refined type, but he's not the rough and tumble type either. He's a wolf in sheep's clothing. (Both protagonists are virgins.)

39. 39 冷 The Stern Officer Is Too Fierce, and the Alluring Military Doctor Can't Resist 冷面军官太勇猛，娇媚军医架不住 Slightly Sweet微恬Modern Romance534k WordsCompleted [Period setting + reborn + soldier + devoted husband + bashful (o(_////▽////_)o) System + love at first sight + long-planned romance + fictional setting] When his daughter and the son of his first love fell ill at the same time, her husband unhesitatingly gave the only life-saving medicine to his first love’s son. Their daughter died without treatment! Filled with resentment, Xiao Niannian set a fire, killing herself along with her husband’s sweetheart and their son. After her death, Xiao Nian 1.3kReads8.9Score13214d adds

    Reader note

    The male lead is anything but rough; the female lead is reborn, and he rises from the ashes to the top. → Her daughter and her husband's unrequited lover's son both fall ill. Without hesitation, the husband gives the only life-saving medicine to the son, leading to his daughter's death! Filled with resentment, she sets herself, her husband's beloved, and their son ablaze. Awakening again, she faces her daughter's life-or-death moment once more. Disregarding morality, she rushes to feed the medicine to her children, successfully saving her daughter and also exposing the unrequited lover's scheme, leading to a swift divorce!

40. 40 知 The Educated Youth's Shaman Daughter-in-Law Moves to the City 知青的神婆媳妇进城了 Huan Duhuai患独槐Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted Ying Baili is the village’s young spirit medium. Born with the ability to see both the living and the dead, she has never been wrong about people, ghosts, or feng shui. Unfortunately, with the campaign to eliminate the Four Olds underway, she still has to work in the fields alongside everyone else to earn work points. Less than two years later, a tall, handsome educated youth arrived in the village. Word was that his family background was impeccable, and all the village girls stared at him in aw 6.8kReads8.5Score81114d adds

    Reader note

    Fifteen-year-old Feng Huamo fell in love at first sight with eighteen-year-old Ying Baili during his time in the countryside, and the two never separated. Baili went out to fight monsters, while Huamo cooked at home. The first chapter begins with the two returning to the city in their twenties, not the typical rural-to-urban narrative. Huamo takes the college entrance exam, while Baili opens a shop. Huamo studies and cooks, while Baili fights monsters and solves cases.

41. 41 貌 Beautiful Educated Youth Returns to the City, and Her Powerful Ex-Husband Comes After Her 貌美知青回城后，大佬前夫追来了 Lampwick Woad灯心菘蓝Modern Romance691k WordsCompleted Lin Zhiwei, a young woman sent to the countryside, was desperate to return to Beijing. Under her mother’s relentless calls, she tearfully divorced Zhou Yi, her husband of one year, whom she was still deeply in love with. A month after the divorce, she clutched her stomach and realized she might… be pregnant. Meanwhile, Li Li, the second female lead, was eagerly waiting for Zhou Yi to divorce. She was reborn, and knew he would become a powerful business tycoon in Pengcheng, a real estate pioneer, 30.1kReads8.6Score2.3k14d adds

    Reader note

    Overall, I think this book is quite well written, mainly because the writing style is decent, and I also like the female lead's personality—she says what she thinks.

42. 42 绿 A Green Tea Girl Plays the Sweet, Silly Type in the 1960s 绿茶女在六十年代当傻白甜 Another Road另路Modern Romance202k WordsCompleted [Manipulative little green tea vs. gentle childhood friend / Mostly everyday life / No black market, no golden finger] Wen Li transmigrated! She opened her eyes and found herself with a cowardly dad and a mom who loved causing trouble and running her mouth. But that wasn't even the worst part: it was the 1960s, and after droughts, floods, and other extreme weather, the food supply had yet to recover! After thinking it over for ages, Wen Li managed to find two things in her favor. First, her orig 8kReads8.8Score96414d adds

    Reader note

    The male lead is a gentle and refined person: as soon as he smiles, you will be attracted by his crescent-shaped eyes, and then notice the faintly visible, alluring beauty mark under his eye.

43. 43 八 In the 1980s, I Coasted to Victory With a High-Ranking Husband 八十年代，背靠高官老公一路躺赢 The Loquat Tree Has Light枇杷树有光Modern Romance540k WordsCompleted “Mom, these are the peach cakes Yanyan likes best. Keep an eye on her, though. Don’t let her eat too many, or she won’t have room for dinner.” “Dad, if Yanyan can’t get up in the morning, let her sleep a little longer. Don’t shout at her. It could make her nervous.” At their wits’ end, Shao’s parents asked, “Is she my daughter or yours?” On his first business trip after marrying her, Bai Shuyu was so worried about his wife, Shao Yin, that he sent her back to her parents’ home and asked his mothe 5.3kReads7.0Score40314d adds

    Reader note

    🔥These four books all feature gentle and refined yet cunning male protagonists. The first three are high-ranking government officials, and the last one is a business tycoon.

44. 44 七 In the Seventies, My Educated Youth Husband Gives Himself to Me 七零年代，知青丈夫以身相许 Tomato Fish Stew番茄鱼煲Modern Romance633k WordsCompleted [Period + educated youth + farming + inspirational] Chen Jiahui thinks she has no particular strengths, except that she’s just a tiny bit stronger than most. Later, she goes up the mountain to chop firewood and casually picks up a husband. Well, she saves a man. Lin Zhinan thinks he has no particular strengths, except that he’s just a tiny bit more handsome than most. Later, he goes up the mountain to gather firewood and ends up giving himself away. Well, he gets rescued. The truth is actually m 3.2kReads9.0Score23914d adds

    Reader note

    No spatial abilities, no system, no cheat codes, daughter of a martyr, male educated youth sent to the countryside, strong woman, talented and handsome man, doting husband, inspirational story, compassionate but not saintly, exceptional young man, arranged marriage that blossoms into love. The female lead (Chen Jia Hui), daughter of a martyr, possesses immense strength and is beautiful. Regarding the male lead: "Since I saved you, you should repay me with your body..." The male lead (Lin Zhi Nan), an educated youth sent to the countryside in Guangdong Province, is a high-class beauty in the brigade. He is aloof and celibate in public, but charming and roguish towards the female lead: "I've saved your life, so I'll repay you with my body..."

45. 45 重 Reborn in the 1960s: The Pretty Widow Is Pressured into Marriage by a Handsome Educated Youth 重生六零俏寡妇被俊知青逼婚 Gentle Sunshine优暖的阳光Modern Romance727k WordsCompleted Reborn + mutual devotion + faithful to each other + storage space (introduced later) A period farming novel. The heroine isn’t a powerhouse, won’t go to the black market or follow the army, and won’t become the richest person alive. Set in an alternate history. The medical treatments in this story are not to be taken as real advice; everything is sourced from the internet. A simple, happy life in the countryside. A handsome young intellectual with excellent medical skills arrives at Taoyuan Brig 2.9kReads8.7Score20714d adds

    Reader note

    🗳A handsome and skilled medical youth arrived at Taoyuan Brigade. He was kind and hardworking, his only flaw being his dog. To pursue the woman he loved, he gave up a comfortable life in the city to follow his goddess who had been sent to the countryside. Just as the goddess was about to accept his love after realizing the harsh realities of life, she discovered that the dog who used to follow her around had gone off to pursue the village widow…💦💦💦

46. 46 娇 The Delicate Beauty Was Doted on After She Transmigrated into a Period Novel 娇软美人穿到年代文后被宠上天了 Xie Mingyi谢明夷Modern Romance660k WordsCompleted [Soft, Sweet, Airheaded Beauty x Ruthless Villain] Xie Shu is breathtakingly beautiful, delicate and soft, and has been doted on by her family since childhood. Her only misfortune is congenital heart disease. She has been confined to a hospital room since birth and can’t go outside. One day, she wakes up to discover she has transmigrated into a book, becoming the new wife of the vicious villain, a woman who barely met him before he was killed for his many evil deeds. Xie Shu clutches her sleeve. 5.4kReads8.5Score45914d adds
47. 47 文 The Art Troupe's Gorgeous Supporting Actress Charms an Officer and Raises His Kids 文工团漂亮女配，撩个军官养崽崽 Timid Girl懦女Modern Romance532k WordsCompleted The rating is low because the book just launched, but it's bound to rise! Ye Yijia was a rich and beautiful woman from the twenty-first century. She got so distracted admiring the abs of a handsome man on the beach that she tripped and fell into the 1970s, where she became the only female worker in the steel-rolling workshop. As for her family, her father brought two sons and her mother brought two daughters. Together, they formed the Ye family, and then had one daughter of their own, the origin 1.5kReads8.4Score17514d adds

    Reader note

    I just found this one, and it's pretty good. The female lead is very interesting, ambitious, protective, and not a saint. The male lead is initially very innocent because of the female lead's flirting, but later he becomes clingy, possessive, and overly affectionate.

48. 48 六 The Foolish Cannon Fodder of the Sixties Is Impossibly Beautiful 六零笨蛋炮灰实在过份美丽 Rebellious Pig叛逆猪Modern Romance469k WordsCompleted [Period + sweet romance and satisfying revenge + no relocation to the countryside + a self-serving airhead heroine + slight everyone-loves-her vibe + seven-year age gap + high-ranking male lead] [Marriage Before Love from the heroine’s perspective, love at first sight from the hero’s] With a handsome military officer for a father and a gentle, wealthy mother, Lin Xiuzhu is a bona fide rich beauty in the 1960s. But when she turns eighteen, memories from the 21st century awaken in her. She happi 6.2kReads8.0Score34114d adds

    Reader note

    The male lead appears gentle but is actually a cunning schemer; the female lead is a beautiful but naive girl.

49. 49 下 Don't Panic About Being Sent to an Island! This Little Cannon Fodder Has a Water-Avoiding Space 下放海岛别慌！小炮灰有避水空间 Lu Xiyue鹿溪月Modern Romance1.0M WordsCompleted (Completed) [1960s, capitalist heiress, sent to an island, water-avoidance space, clearing out the family estate, two transmigrated women, marries a capitalist husband] Ruan Zhi transmigrated into a book. She became a capitalist heiress in a period novel, a sickly cannon-fodder supporting character, no less. The heroine, her older sister, stole her golden finger. After she was sent away, a local thug ruined her, and she was ultimately tormented to death. Knowing the plot, she wasn't worried. The 14.2kReads7.2Score1.8k14d adds

    Reader note

    The male lead is an aloof and unattainable beauty, a capitalist's son; the female lead is a capitalist's daughter.

50. 50 八 The Stunning Beauty of the 1980s: She Fakes an Accident to Snare the Factory Director and Raise Her Little One 八零绝色佳人：碰瓷厂长养崽崽 A Deer in the Mountains山中有鹿Modern Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Mutual Firsts [Age Gap + Truly Unhinged + Fussy Little Firecracker + Sweet Romance and Child-Rearing] No moral compass, read at your own risk! Shen Yunqing, the real heiress her own mother can’t stand, transmigrates into the 1980s. Her father in this life wants to marry her off in exchange for a bride price. Absolutely not! Under cover of darkness, Shen Yunqing grabs her things and runs away. On her first day in the city, she deliberately gets in the way of an island factory director. Having 4.9kReads8.7Score37714d adds

    Reader note

    Gu Mohan's expression was subtly affected as he stared intently at her with his dark eyes, saying very seriously, "If you marry me, your salary will be twice what you currently earn. You can buy clothes and shoes as you please, eat well, live well, and won't have to worry about any other trivial matters." His offer was indeed quite tempting, and Shen Yunqing was very interested: "So what is my current salary? What do I need to do for you if I marry you?"

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