I Want the Ultimate Mind Games and Battles of Wits. Give Me a High-IQ Story That Keeps Me Thinking 想看最顶级的博弈，智斗。求高智商全程烧脑。

251 重 Reborn! I Join Forces With a Daddy-Type Tycoon to Take Down the High-Ranking Green Tea 重生！我与爹系大佬杀疯高位绿茶 Growing Watermelons at Sea海上种西瓜Modern Romance123k WordsOngoing [Rebirth power fantasy + ruthless business warfare + a formidable duo + devoted, fatherly boyfriend] ▪️ (A ruthless businesswoman who tears her whole family apart to save herself VS a polished, unscrupulous tycoon who breaks his own rules for his “prey”) Hell from the very start! Reborn, Jiang Zhiyu watches as her lovesick father prepares to give the shares of a hundred-billion-yuan conglomerate to his scheming mistress. She tries in vain to talk him out of it, then gets branded “heartless and u —Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

She suddenly realized that Jiang Zhiyu wasn't passively responding. She was going with the flow. Even the very move she had just made might have landed exactly where Jiang Zhiyu wanted it.

252 爆 A Fifty-Million Margin Call? I Short Wall Street Instead 爆仓五千万？我反手做空华尔街 Pipa Folding Knife琵琶折刀Urban1.6M WordsOngoing [Financial Crisis] [Wits and Strategy] [Big Short] [Wall Street] Many years later, when sitting before the interview cameras for Time magazine’s Person of the Year feature, Lu Ze would always remember that rainy Manhattan night on February 28, 2008. “So, Mr. Lu.” The renowned journalist looked at the man before him, the one who had made the entire global financial system tremble, and posed the question that had come up time and again at congressional hearings, behind closed doors at the Federal 266.5kReads9.1Score32.6kShelves

Reader note

The most sophisticated game theory relies on the most basic and fundamental elements: information asymmetry, snowballing, and risk control.

253 我 I Took Over My Own Body 我夺舍了自己 Fang Yebai方夜白Urban1.2M WordsCompleted An accident turned Chen Luo into a vessel for his parallel-world selves, who had died and come back to life. He was possessed by his counterparts from parallel worlds. Every time Chen Luo fulfilled an unfinished wish of one of his parallel selves, he gained a skill they had learned, such as combat, languages, computers, firearms, and more. Assassin Chen Luo: “Let's go paint the town red!” Playboy Chen Luo: “My blade is practically begging for a taste!” Master Thief Chen Luo: “Next, we're going t 14.3kReads9.0Score1.4kShelves

Reader note

The front part of this

254 七 The Seven Sins Dungeon: She Ascended to Godhood Through Sloth 七罪副本：她靠怠惰封神 Staying Up Late to Write Novels熬夜也要写小说Mystery331k WordsOngoing [Not a power fantasy + infinite-game style + no romance + mind games + ensemble cast + path to godhood + divine invasion] In her life, Yan Xi is best at three things: concealing her strengths, slacking off, and avoiding trouble. She thought she could live peacefully with her younger sister, relying on each other, until one day she was pulled into an infinite game called “Divine Judgment.” When Yan Xi wakes, she finds herself in a courtroom. Six people, seven chairs. There is only one rule: Every 1.3kReads8.2Score185Shelves

Reader note

Hmm, hmm, let's take a look.

255 法 The Forensic Doctor Was Supposed to Be His Partner, So Why Is He the Exception? 法医是给他搭档的，怎么成了例外 Fu Zhaolan傅昭澜Two Male Leads1.5M WordsCompleted Crime Scene Specimen Room 2. A modern crime investigation novel starring Yan Jiyuan and Jiang Yuan, with many new supporting characters. A dual-clean, dual-strong pairing, with standalone cases and no characters acting stupidly. Hope you enjoy! 1.1kReads9.4Score326Shelves

Reader note

The second season is out, so you can enjoy it without worry! The charismatic and hot-tempered detective captain Yan Jiyuan and the cold-faced, sharp-tongued forensic doctor Jiang Yuan team up, chasing suspects from muddy fields to high seas, digging for clues among piles of corpses, and finding the real culprit amidst gunfire. The cases are bizarre and mind-bending, and the romance is delicate and captivating—you won't be able to stop watching!

256 救 After Saving the Villain, I Became the Final Boss 救赎反派后，我成了最终boss Vegetarian with an Eating Disorder有厌食症的素食主义者Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsOngoing [Low rating due to too few reviews] [Reincarnation · Multiple Heroines · Western Fantasy Mind Games · Redemptive Epic · Mastermind Behind the Scenes · Slow Burn] [Both the protagonist and antagonists are cunning schemers. No brainless plotlines, and definitely not a conventional face-slapping power fantasy.] After transmigrating into a game world, Rien decides to save the world by finding the future final bosses before they turn evil, and bringing them back onto the right path with love and warm 731Reads7.4Score128Shelves

Reader note

🌈🌈This book, a witty battle against Western fantasy, is absolutely stunning! 💐 It's a new and excellent work, with a very novel theme, a tightly woven plot, and a high level of immersion. I highly recommend this book!

258 这 This Ghost Has a Heart of Gold 这个鬼的圣母心爆棚啊 It's Ping'an是平安啊Mystery483k WordsOngoing [Fresh new premise, a protagonist who doesn’t get caught up in angst, one heroine, ensemble cast, apocalypse, eerie phenomena, and a cast of smart characters] The story itself is great, but the writing isn’t good enough to do it justice. It’s such a shame. —Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

This book has many plot holes, but the comedic style of the novel itself doesn't create a sense of urgency or mind-bending complexity. However, all the characters in the book are intelligent.

259 待 Wait Until You Take Off My Mask 待你摘下我的面具 Honest and Earthy诚又土Urban168k WordsOngoing [No angst] [Short story] [Fast-paced] [A touch of mystery] A transfer student named Shangguan Xing meets a very strange classmate. His name is Gongsun Yue, and he always wears a mask... 1Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

Every word is foreshadowing.

260 每 Daily Settlement: From My Neighborhood, I Rule the Universe! 每日结算：从小区开始统领宇宙！ Delicious Burger King美味汉堡皇Sci-Fi & Apocalypse4.0M WordsOngoing The ratings just came in, and the low score is because this is a new book. The author is posting like crazy, so don't let it scare you off~~ [Apocalypse] [Transmigrate with an entire residential complex] [Farming and developing] [Survival and evolution] [Daily settlement] I woke up from a nap and everything had gone mad! The entire residential complex was forcibly transmigrated into an extreme environment. Every household got a construction panel, and every day brought a survival score. Even mor 51.8kReads6.9Score4.6kShelves

Reader note

I just love watching stories with scheming and intrigue [shy emoji]

261 上 Last Season's Palace Intrigue Champion Is Now Ruling from Behind the Curtain 上一届宫斗冠军，现在垂帘听政了 The Visitor Sings of Yantai来者歌燕台Ancient Romance322k WordsOngoing [No System] [Political Intrigue with an Ensemble Cast] [Ascends the Throne] [Serious Drama] Xie Jin transmigrates, and before she can even celebrate becoming the champion of palace intrigue, she realizes she's become the previous champion! With his dying breath, the young emperor personally places the Imperial Seal in her arms. Xie Jin looks down at herself. The three-year-old crown prince is hugging her leg, drooling all over her sleeve. Good news: No more serving in the emperor's bed! Bad new 1.9kReads—Score157Shelves

Reader note

A group portrait of court officials, set against the backdrop of an Eastern Han Dynasty kindergarten.

262 时 Time-Stop Hero: A Trouble-Maker Who Puts Every Challenge in Its Place 时停勇者：爱搞事，专治各种不服 Mysteries of the Stars星辰玄妙Eastern Fantasy2.2M WordsCompleted Time stop + invincible protagonist + Western fantasy + the Myriad Worlds + magic world The entire continent laughs at Lin Yi for being useless. In an era of elemental magic, everyone can command water, fire, wind, and lightning. He alone awakens the universally despised power of “Time Stasis.” “This ability can't even freeze a fly. It's completely useless!” His mentor shakes his head and sighs, dumping him into the worst class in the school. Then the demonic dragon burns a city to the ground, a 8Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

Who understands?! This fantasy novel hit all my sweet spot! The protagonist awakens the most useless time-based talent, ridiculed by the entire internet, and everyone looks down on him. But when a demonic dragon destroys the city, he simply activates time stop, plucks the dragon's heart with his bare hands, and utterly slaps everyone in the face – the contrast is off the charts! From being at the bottom of the academy, he crushes all the geniuses, his abilities like time stop, rewind, and time clones upgrading at an incredible pace. The plot is incredibly fast-paced, with its underdog-to-hero dynamics and thrilling reversals that get your blood pumping! The scope expands from the academy to countless worlds, the romance is engaging, and it's a non-abusive, mindless, and pure read. The more you read, the more addictive it becomes; you won't be able to stop reading, even if you're looking for something to read!

263 天 Heaven Does Not Answer 天不应 The Sound of Wind and Rain at Night,夜来风雨声丶Eastern Fantasy1.7M WordsOngoing Three myriad mounds of yellow earth and white bones, a sword's light like a shadow, the moon like wine. The spring breeze cuts through all the world's troubles. Tell me, peach blossoms, will you turn white-haired too? In the year 547 of the Yong'an era, a pitch-dark snowstorm fell over Kuhai County, a border county in southern Qi. In a dilapidated temple outside the county, Wen Chaoshen found a crippled woman, gravely injured and on the verge of death. He thought she was merely a refugee in dist 85.4kReads9.1Score6.1kShelves

Reader note

Still the same old battle of wits

265 规 Rule Horror: The Fate-Splitting Trickster 规则怪谈：诡谲拆命人 Crooked-Mouthed Judge歪嘴判官Mystery117k WordsCompleted Have you ever felt this way? Some things weren’t even your fault, yet you’re the one who has to bear the consequences. Some debts aren’t yours, yet you’re the one who has to repay them. Zhang Wuling is a fate-splitter. Others split ghosts. He splits fate. Others fear ghosts. He fears karma. In the resettlement district of Bincheng’s West Zone, eighteen couriers set out to deliver food. Not one of them came back. At the funeral home in Jiujiang Town, an electrician went to fix the power and disco 2Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

The new book features mind-bending rules and a Chinese-style sense of the bizarre. The protagonist is constantly on a journey to replenish his life force. The rules of cause and effect are dazzling.

267 杀 The End of Lies 杀谎终焉 A Pot of Boiled Eggs一锅水煮蛋Mystery191k WordsOngoing [No System, no power fantasy, no harem, no saintly heroine. Brain-teasers + locked-room mysteries + battle of wits + deduction + fanfiction] This is the eighteenth level of hell. Lying is forbidden here. Hello, I’m not Chen Ran. My name is Diwu Zeyi. “Let me repeat myself: I’m not Chen Ran.” “But I’m about to start lying...” 122Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

A battle of wits, it's incredibly good, and the character portrayals are very touching.

268 钢 Steel and Sunflower 钢与葵 Ripples of a Dream梦的涟漪Eastern Fantasy1.4M WordsOngoing This is a serious, dark-toned epic fantasy set on an imaginary continent. It features multiple protagonists, intricately interwoven plotlines, and a profound world. Its many elements include historical realism, political intrigue, steampunk, Cthulhu, mystery, and character growth. It is a slow burn, but never drags. Welcome to a world that belongs to no heroes. Here, pure light does not triumph over darkness. Instead, faith and fate clash in a bloody struggle. Supernatural powers are not blessin 271Reads9.2Score239Shelves

Reader note

Steel and Sunflower is an extremely brain-teasing, high-IQ novel. You'll understand once you start reading it; you won't be able to put it down!

269 黑 Black, White, and Gray: The Perfectly in Sync Players' Minimalist Judgment 黑白灰默契玩家：极简裁决 Between the Mountains方寸山间Urban651k WordsCompleted A high-IQ urban power fantasy with smart characters and a fresh approach! Trust your instincts, no dragging things out! A tight pace with no dull moments, absolutely thrilling! A cool, confident, sexy CEO + a stern, handsome, highly skilled super-spy in the business world: Together, they believe in the “less is more, but stay adaptable” philosophy and join forces to overcome one “impossible” challenge after another… Love, reason, law; black, white, gray; steady, precise, ruthless. A talented bea 3Reads9.4Score—Shelves

Reader note

Top-tier intelligence, decisive and ruthless

270 神 The Land Where Gods Speak 神说之地 Ge Yan阁言Mystery94k WordsOngoing Death game + mystery + puzzle-solving + supernatural powers + mind games + ensemble cast + high-octane action Fast-paced and plot-driven, the kind of story where you can never guess what the next chapter will bring. When Dongfang Yao wakes up, he finds himself trapped in a strange room. To get out, he has to solve a puzzle game. He never expected his very first room to be a destruction-level game that puts life and death in the balance... Only after he clears the game and makes it out does he re 136Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

The first three chapters are extremely mind-bending; only continue reading if you can understand them.

272 逃 After Escaping Her Adoptive Parents, Her Life Goes into Easy Mode 逃离养父母家后，她的人生开挂了 Xi Wenjin席文锦Modern Romance4.6M WordsCompleted [Period drama] + [Mutual devotion] + [Modern romance] + [Two top students] + [Everyone's darling] + [Modern romance with a cute baby] She's the adopted daughter the Su family took in, a beauty and a top student. Her adoptive parents want to keep the family fortune in their own hands, so they force her to quit school and marry their son. When she learns the truth, she runs away in the middle of the night. After escaping, she meets a business tycoon, and her extraordinary life begins. With help fr 8.5kReads8.3Score894Shelves

Reader note

These are Tomato's most classic books, they're so good! I suggest adapting the novella into a TV series.

273 无 Infinite Prohibition 无限禁止 Scholar of Wanling宛陵士大夫Mystery143k WordsOngoing Memories layered together? Countless memories of different lives implanted in your brain. What would you do? Would you still be yourself? Or would you... Betrayed by those closest to you, you are forced to sign a contract of servitude and sent into a mission world. They become NPCs in your world. If you can't clear the mission and break the deadlock, you must sign another person into servitude so they can support your survival. What would you do? You bear two opposing destinies, each striving to 8Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

It's really good! It's a battle of wits in an infinite flow novel, where the protagonist carries a mission to recover his lost memories.

275 这 This Godfather Isn’t Proper 这个教父不正经 Sweet Punchline甜梗Urban1.2M WordsCompleted [Underworld epic] [Dark, forbidden mother-daughter angels] [Love for a widow] [A failed life: the rise of a dragon and an elephant] This is a lament for everything lost. His birth mother abandons him, and he is crowned the voice of the underworld. He takes the blame for the woman he loves and goes to prison, only for her to become a British princess he can admire on the news. He alone falls from a street vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers to a prisoner locked away from the light of day. Th 1.6kReads9.1Score165Shelves

Reader note

[Abandoned by her birth mother] [Taking the blame for her beloved, who then becomes the British princess admired in the news] [Rise of the Dragon and Elephant] [An epic of the underworld] [A masterpiece of urban intrigue]

277 全 Global Manhunt: You’re Crazy! You Call This an Escape? 全球通缉：疯了！你管这个叫逃亡 Snow at Dusk in the Clouds云中暮雪Urban1.1M WordsCompleted Ten major conglomerates are investing, a hundred billion dollars in prize money is up for grabs, and elites from every field are taking part! Urban parkour, high-altitude skydiving, wingsuit flying. Everything... is for the sake of escape! A global manhunt! This is a show that drives people wild! Its goal is to uncover vulnerabilities in security systems and public safety in today's information age. Su Yu is sent to prison from the start, but no one could have expected what came next. Su Yu brea 42.1kReads9.3Score4.5kShelves

Reader note

It's pretty good, I recommend it.

278 港 Hong Kong Crossover: From the Start, I Rule Sai Kung 港综：开局西贡清一色 Han Feng汉風Male-Channel Fanfiction1.2M WordsCompleted (Hong Kong crime saga + gang member → gang leader → business tycoon → founding a nation) “Chairman Lin, people have given you many titles, such as film and television mogul, logistics tycoon, oil king, one of Hong Kong’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons, and the last godfather of the underworld. Could you share with our magazine’s readers how you went from being a gang member to becoming the ruler of Nanyang?” Lin Bin listened to the question from the Time magazine reporter before him, then slowly 14.1kReads6.1Score485Shelves

Reader note

A new Hong Kong-style comedy novel is here! High-IQ readers, beginners beware! [Add to bookshelf][Follow][Upvote]

280 恶 Dark Tales 2: The Fame and Fortune Circuit 恶谭2：名利场 The Out-of-Control Editorial Department失控编辑部Mystery267k WordsCompleted [Mind-bending mystery + criminal investigation + deduction + episodic stories + the depths of human nature + stunning twists + hard-core sleuthing] “Where fame and fortune reign, disputes are sure to arise.” A woman's corpse hidden inside a Buddha statue in an ancient temple, a mysterious online celebrity, and a group of suspects with tangled connections: Tan Zheng takes on a baffling murder case. As the investigation deepens, he discovers that the case is far more complicated than it first appe 257Reads9.3Score104Shelves

Reader note

💯 💢 💥I love novels like this where you solve case after case without any romance. There are plenty of cases, they're complex, and there are many different types—it's very enjoyable to read.

282 大EN The Great Emperors' Forbidden Zone: After My Master Died, I Went Mad 大帝禁区：师傅死后，我疯了 Bashu Red Bean巴蜀红豆Eastern Fantasy2.2M WordsCompleted [At the end of the immortal path, who stands supreme? One glimpse of red hair, and the Dao is lost.] (Not a wish-fulfillment novel. A brain-teasing, increasingly captivating long story.) “My eldest senior brother is reborn. In his previous life, he was an ancient-era Great Emperor.” “My second senior brother transmigrated from another world, one where technology and shady shortcuts coexist.” “Our junior sister is the little princess of the Ji family, peerless in swordsmanship and unrivaled in ta 36.9kReads9.3Score3.3kShelves

Reader note

If you're looking for a battle of wits, this book definitely does. The intellectual battles between the protagonist and his senior brother were so satisfying! 😋😋😋 Definitely worth reading.

286 深 A Master Plan 深度布局 Mist-Shrouded Mystery雾锁谜局Mystery215k WordsCompleted A High-IQ Revenge With a single move, the “Soul-Severing Meridian Needle,” he can kill without a trace. On a crowded bus, he makes his target die silently, without anyone noticing. Police captain Zhao Gang sees everything clearly on the surveillance footage, yet is powerless to act. This is the third unsolved case, and every clue points to his own older brother, missing for twenty years... When the person closest to him becomes the prime suspect, how will he choose between the law and blood ties 895Reads6.4Score100Shelves

Reader note

This whole scheme was absolutely brilliant! Lin Jianfeng planned every step with meticulous care, using others' strengths against them, and completely understood everyone's thoughts. He even managed to cover up any unexpected events, delivering a satisfying high-IQ revenge! The heartwarming dinner on the balcony at the end instantly softened the tension from before. Despite all the scheming, family ties are the most touching trump card!

291 张 Zhang Sangou’s Get-Rich Journal 张三狗发财笔记 Wandering Immortal of the Northern Mountain北山浪荡仙Urban2.7M WordsCompleted A comedy novel with absolutely no pretensions. A poor boy from the mountains refuses to settle for an ordinary life and ventures out into the world, carving out a place for himself through his own efforts. The cast of bizarre characters will have you laughing out loud. It gets more and more exciting as it goes. San Gou grows more mature and more cunning, with more and more schemes brewing in his head. In the end, he makes it! He becomes a billionaire. His journey is a whirlwind of chaos and laug 58.4kReads8.7Score6kShelves

Reader note

Please do not read this, or you might laugh until your stomach hurts.

293 规 Rule-Based Horror? I Choose to Rebel 规则怪谈？我选择叛逆 Alas, Deep Love奈何情深Mystery1.5M WordsCompleted [A short drama adaptation of the same name is now available. You can watch it on the platform. Thank you for your support.] [Subverting expectations + no heroine + hilarious + sly schemer + rebellious + eerie + national fate] Rule-based horror descends upon Earth. The uncanny invades reality. Those chosen are sent into horror worlds, where they represent their respective nations and face the horrors within. Su Xiao is chosen by the horror world and entrusted with the task of representing the Dra 48.9kReads9.6Score6.1kShelves

Reader note

As someone with a high IQ, I particularly enjoy reading ghost stories. They're all very well-written, with compelling narratives and a strong sense of immersion. The characters are also very well-developed. I often find myself savoring the intellectual battles between characters. [Drooling emoji]

295 异 A Long Journey in Another World 异界旅途漫漫 The Mountain Moon Knows Not of You山月不知君Eastern Fantasy1.0M WordsOngoing [No System + Original Story + Ensemble Cast + No Brain-Dead Characters + Fast-Paced + Pure Romance] I’m dedicated to creating a different kind of world and bringing everyone a fresh new thrill, along with a more realistic experience! The rain fell without letup, day after gloomy day. Beneath the curtain of rain... Travelers from another world, I’d like you to finish this terrible game of chess for me. Anyone can be a chess piece, anyone can be sacrificed. All living beings are players in this ga 5.8kReads—Score325Shelves

Reader note

How about trying this one? It's absolutely divine! The more you read, the more exciting it gets! Every beginning and character introduction is intricately connected by a powerful causal system. I highly recommend this isekai (another world) novel to my family—a truly amazing read. The plot is thrilling, the logic is impeccable, and the aesthetics are superb. It's definitely the most worthwhile novel to read this year.

297 人 The Human Realm's Trial Grounds 人间试炼之地 Fool, Don’t Cry蠢别哭Mystery107k WordsOngoing (No harem, no formulaic plot, no invincible protagonist, no System, no power fantasy. Read with caution if any of that bothers you.) (Male-oriented + Infinite Flow) My name is Chen Mo. I failed at starting a business. I thought this was just an ordinary food delivery order, but then I realized I had entered “Hell” and become an inmate. I heard this place was originally called the “Human Trial Grounds,” but after the first Main God came into being, the Main God named it “Hell.” In “Hell,” the abs 2Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

This book is quite good; it includes both strategic thinking and combat.

298 神 A Candidate for God? I'll Put an End to Everything Rotten 神的候选？我会结束腐朽的一切 Not What They Call It不以所谓Urban327k WordsOngoing [The dark side of the world] [Corruption, awakening] [Fast-paced] [Turns ruthless in the middle] (Entirely handcrafted) (The first few chapters lay some groundwork and explain the background, so please be patient.) An ordinary student is caught up in a vortex of power. Though sensitive by nature, he must face mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He possesses an ability others covet. He unexpectedly gains the fruits of an entire era. With enemies swarming in from all sides, what path will he t 27Reads—Score—Shelves

Reader note

Both books have well-developed premises, avoiding mindless plots and presenting the protagonist with various mysteries to uncover, resolve, and outwit powerful figures behind the scenes. The first book focuses on the protagonist's inner growth, though he's already quite strong after his initial awakening. The second book features a protagonist who is essentially invincible, starting with a leisurely life.