An Ancient-Era Male Lead Who’s Aloof and Untouchable, and Initially Thinks the Female Lead Is Beneath Him 古代高岭之花男主 前期认为女主身份配不上

1. 1 夫 After My Husband Tops the Imperial Exams, His Wife Slips Away and Fakes Her Death 夫君金榜题名后，糟糠妻死遁了 I Want to Grow Five Centimeters Taller想要长高五厘米Ancient Romance481k WordsOngoing (The fake-death plot has arrived. The early chapters are angsty, melodramatic, and painful. The male lead is chaste but thoroughly awful, so don't read if that's not for you.) Everyone said Shen Kou Dan was lucky to marry her childhood sweetheart, Lu Qing He. Not long after the wedding, he passed the imperial exam as a third-place candidate and brought her to the capital to enjoy a life of luxury. But before long, things began to change. She came from the countryside, and people in the capital 42kReads8.2Score4.5k14d adds

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   This has to be it! 😄😄😄

2. 2 拒 I Refuse to Be a Concubine 拒为妾 Cloud Mountain Crow云山鸦Ancient Romance631k WordsCompleted (Originally titled “Pursuing Her”) Sixteen years after transmigrating, Xu Luan has spent every day being careful and cautious as a hereditary servant of the Liang family. Hereditary servants have little chance of buying their freedom unless their masters grant them permission, so even after saving enough money to redeem herself, she keeps waiting for an opportunity. One day, she accompanies the Old Madam to a temple to pray for blessings. When bandits attack, she knows her chance has come. Xu Lu 21.6kReads8.6Score2.6k14d adds

   Reader note

   These are basically all of this type.

3. 3 金 Sighs from a Golden Cage 金笼叹 Du Wei芏蔚Ancient Romance300k WordsCompleted A resilient, clever woman who transmigrates and a sinister, scheming crown prince [Madness + possessive love + fleeing while pregnant + a long road to winning her back] Don't pick up strange men by the roadside. Lin Ran had taken that internet saying to heart, but one look at his handsome face made her forget it completely. They had been married for three years, and it was the best thing about her life in this world. Her husband was gentle and refined, teaching at the town school and earning eve 6.4kReads7.1Score44814d adds
4. 4 娇 The Delicate Concubine Wept, and the Paranoid Minister's Heart Trembled 娇娇外室一哭，偏执权臣心颤了 Orange Gummies橘子软糖Ancient Romance262k WordsCompleted [A devoted couple + food + sweet everyday romance] The third son of the Pei family, Pei Sanlang, was as refined as the moon and a gentle breeze, and scrupulously proper. He was the secret crush of the capital's noblewomen. Yet when this man, who kept his distance from women, returned from the south, he brought back a bewitchingly beautiful mistress. Xi Ning was that mistress. Everyone said Pei Zhao was peerlessly handsome, but only she knew that Pei Zhao had bought her to conceal his "condition. 5.8kReads9.0Score44014d adds
5. 5 抢 After I Stole My Eldest Sister's Distinguished Fiancé 抢了嫡姐的矜贵未婚夫后 Kumquat Water Ball金橘水团Ancient Romance417k WordsCompleted [Black-bellied flirtatious beauty x restrained, aloof powerful official] Yun Wu envied her elder sister. The hairpin she wore was beautiful. The skirt she wore was gorgeous, too. Even the man she was betrothed to, the one she was about to marry, Song Tingyue, was a dashing gentleman, noble and untouchable as a mountain of jade. * Song Tingyue was a gentleman without equal in the world. Born to privilege, gentle as jade, and graced with extraordinary bearing. He had a betrothed, promised to him s 15.9kReads8.8Score1.8k14d adds

   Reader note

   I'm giving it four stars because the male lead is a bit pitiful, and while the female lead is indeed dramatic, sometimes she goes a bit too far. The male lead is such a cool and aloof person, it's a bit unfair how she's being manipulated. I don't even want to read some of the chapters anymore.

6. 6 不 Don’t You Have Someone You Love? So Why Won’t the Heir Leave Me Alone? 不是有心上人吗？世子为何黏着我 Chan Chan禅禅Ancient Romance277k WordsCompleted [Historical Political Intrigue, Devoted Couple, Happy Ending, Rebirth] The leads had a deep misunderstanding in their previous lives, but find their way back to each other in this one. This isn't a wish-fulfillment story. Writing is hard work, so if it's not for you, please move on instead of leaving an unfair low rating! In her previous life, Wen Zhi gave everything she had to win Shang Jing, the unreachable dream of every noblewoman. Only after marrying him did she realize that a forcibly pick 3.5kReads7.2Score31614d adds
7. 7 疯 The Mad Tyrant Wants to Steal Her: You’re the One Who Tempted Me First! 疯批权臣夺她，是你先勾我的！ Bright, Gentle Laughter笑语晏晏Ancient Romance429k WordsCompleted [Possessive pursuit + Untouchable beauty brought down from her pedestal + Scheming heroine + Both leads are pure] The eldest son of the Xie family was as refined as a gentle breeze beneath a clear sky, as elegant as an orchid or jade tree, and, more unusually, possessed the heart of a bodhisattva. A year ago, he had taken charge of sheltering a destitute cousin who had come to seek refuge. The rescued Wanruo was deeply grateful, and looked up to and adored her cousin. Their story of a loving bro 238.5kReads9.2Score31.1k14d adds

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   My feelings about this book changed several times. First, the part at the beginning where Xie Xianyu made Wanwan his concubine was really frustrating and I disliked it a bit. But I persevered and kept reading, and then I became increasingly engrossed. The male lead's character is quite good; he's brave and resourceful. What I like most is Wanwan's personality—principled, with her own ideas; the character is very well-developed.

8. 8 重 Reborn, I Become My Arch-Enemy's Living Widow Sister-in-Law 重生后，我成了死敌的活寡嫂子 Two Times Four Means Prosperity二四得发Ancient Romance517k WordsCompleted [Both leads are reborn + sister-in-law and brother-in-law + an aloof beauty brought down from her pedestal + emotional push and pull + winning her heart and her body + devoted couple] The Eastern Palace has no crown prince, and the princes are locked in a fierce struggle for the throne. Ning Miao and Yan Mobai are the top strategists of their generation, each serving a different master. They cross paths over a map of iron mines and kill each other. Only after her death does Ning Miao learn tha 39kReads9.4Score5.8k14d adds

   Reader note

   This one is really beautiful.

9. 9 心 The Cunning Female Doctor Wants to Rise to the Top 心机医女想上位 Shi Yunzhi时蕴之Ancient Romance131k WordsCompleted [A shrewd, resilient physician vs. an aloof young lord, two strong leads, a pure historical romance] So what if she was born to a lowly family? If fate was unfair, why shouldn't she fight back? She was determined to carve out a path for herself through the mud. Jiang He came from humble origins. When she was very young, her parents sold her to another family. Her adoptive parents never showed her the slightest kindness, subjecting her instead to endless servitude and beatings at the drop of a ha 43Reads—Score414d adds

   Reader note

   In this book, the male lead is a high-ranking nobleman, and the female lead is a poor, rural female doctor.

10. 10 上 I've Suffered Enough in My Last Life. I'd Rather Die Than Marry Him Again 上辈子苦够了，打死她都不嫁了 Chang Qingqing常庆庆Ancient Romance1.1M WordsCompleted Shen An'an came from a distinguished family and was both talented and beautiful. As soon as she came of age, she was betrothed to the fourth prince, Xiao Yuan, a man of heavenly beauty and noble character, and the dream lover of every young lady in the capital. Heaven had dealt her a winning hand. Even she once believed she was blessed beyond measure, until her girlish heart was shattered into pieces. She suffered every kind of pain at the hands of that graceful, refined man, and paid a devastat 17kReads8.6Score2.5k14d adds
11. 11 心 The Art of Scheming: A Perfect Performance by the Cannon Fodder 心机美学：炮灰的完美出演 Sleepy Island Diary眠岛日记Ancient Romance393k WordsCompleted (One-on-one romance + small worlds + pseudo-coercion + past and present lives + comeback) When the supporting heroines in a story dream of the endings already written for them, will they still willingly follow the paths fate laid out? One: The daughter of a minor official, married off to a young nobleman through a family alliance [Female lead’s perspective + extensive introspection + romantic push and pull + marriage before love + she falls for him first + pseudo-coercion] Two: An ordinary girl 2.3kReads8.2Score14614d adds

    Reader note

    The female protagonists in this story are all incredibly well-developed; most of them come from humble backgrounds and climb the social ladder step by step through their own efforts.

12. 12 灰 The Gray Lotus 灰莲花 Clouds of Rough Noodles Again又见糙面云Modern Romance819k WordsCompleted [A textbook case of realist business warfare + a deeply romantic, top-tier intellectual romance] The world has gone mad. A top-tier rich, handsome young heir is forced to compete with his wealthy wife for a lover... “If she likes me and I like her too, then we’ll each have to prove ourselves.” The male lead is loaded with resources and comes with every advantage, while the female lead has brains and beauty and rises from humble beginnings. A textbook case of realist business warfare, arranged fa 37.7kReads9.4Score4.5k14d adds

    Reader note

    A must-read for seasoned readers of contemporary romance novels. Of all the contemporary romance novels I've read, this is the most impactful. The real business warfare is truly thrilling. Not suitable for readers with low intelligence; a must-read for those with a broad perspective and deep experience. The values presented are grand and inspiring. I strongly love it.

13. 13 新 Newlywed Unmasked: The Top Tycoon Disguised as a Crown Princess 新婚掉马：顶级大佬伪装太子妃 Three Claws三只爪Ancient Romance393k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + equally matched powerhouses + disguises + slow burn + wits and courage + mutual healing + palace intrigue] Rumor has it that the Crown Prince of Chu is blind, his internal organs are failing, and he will not live to see winter. The princess sent to marry him is said to be a weakling who does nothing but cry. On their wedding night, assassins sneak in. The princess is so frightened that she drops her teacup, but a shard happens to slice an assassin’s throat. The Crow 2.2kReads—Score32814d adds

    Reader note

    A marriage of convenience that blossoms into love, featuring two strong, slow-burning protagonists, a battle of wits and courage, and mutual redemption. Rumor has it that the Crown Prince of Chu is blind and his internal organs are failing, not surviving past winter; while the princess sent for a political marriage is a weak and useless woman who only knows how to cry. On their wedding night, an assassin sneaks in, and the princess, startled, smashes a teacup, a shard of which accidentally cuts the assassin's throat; the Crown Prince weakly shrinks into the bed, but the silver needle on his fingertip accidentally pierces the assassin's vital point. The entire court awaits the spectacle of this short-lived couple's downfall. Until one dark and stormy night, the world's greatest poison doctor, Yaksha, and the leader of the Assassin's Guild, Yama, fight fiercely for the divine elixir, tearing off each other's masks, and both fall silent. Chu Mochen approached, his voice low and deep: "My beloved consort, your night attire is far more beautiful than your phoenix coronet and wedding robes during the day." Yan Yunqi sneered, brandishing her poisoned needle: "Your Highness, even with your eyes still open and your temper flaring, you're still much more pleasing to the eye than during the day!" When a dramatic princess with a built-in armor that reflects physical attacks tenfold meets a powerful, sickly tycoon, the entire capital is left in tears!

14. 14 入 Entering the Imperial Court 入皇庭 Little Fruit Pear小果梨Ancient Romance686k WordsCompleted [Forced Marriage and Possession, Obsessive Pursuit, Compulsive Love] [The Scheming, Stunning Farm Girl Is Forced into Marriage by the Crown Prince and Made Empress] In her previous life, Lu Xiaotao was an orphan who couldn't read, couldn't tell right from wrong, and spent her days groveling and throwing her weight around. After seducing one of the Crown Prince's subordinates and being abandoned, she became the Crown Prince's woman by a twist of fate. From then on, she served as his consort, reli 10.7kReads6.9Score81514d adds

    Reader note

    This guy even wanted to kill the female lead in the early stages.

15. 15 替 After Marrying in My Brother’s Place, My Cold-Faced Uncle-in-Law Loses Control Again 替兄代娶后，冷面权臣小叔又失控了 Mo Jianwei墨见微16k WordsCompleted After Taking His Brother’s Place as the Groom, His Cold-Blooded, Powerful Uncle Loses Control Again 862Reads—Score1514d adds

    Reader note

    Short sweet ancient romance novels

16. 16 重 After I Was Reborn, My Late Husband and Ex-Husband Started Fighting 重生后，亡夫与前夫打起来了 Xi Ruo Wu Zhi兮若无止Ancient Romance609k WordsCompleted [Rebirth, a scheming male lead, ruthless pursuit, a love triangle, and rekindled love after a breakup] [A foolish beauty in her past life and not much smarter in this one VS a reserved, self-disciplined beauty on a lofty pedestal VS a hedonistic young lord who takes what he wants] In her past life, Gan Caier managed to squander a winning hand through her own sheer incompetence. In the end, she died alone in the snow on New Year’s Eve. She couldn’t blame anyone else, but she still died with regre 60.5kReads9.1Score8.6k14d adds

    Reader note

    It's so beautiful!!

17. 17 表 His Cousin Moves into the Estate, and After the Heir Rejects Her, He Pursues Her Relentlessly 表妹入府，世子嫌弃后狂追求 Zuì Lánshanshan醉阑珊珊Ancient Romance353k WordsCompleted Scheming woman vs. sly man (The rating just came out and is still rising) Mu Qingyao was the stunning legitimate daughter of a distinguished Jiangnan family. After her parents died in a business accident, all she had left was a vast fortune and breathtaking beauty. Her greedy uncle coveted both her inheritance and her looks. He secretly conspired with local thugs, planning to force her into becoming someone's concubine and seize all her family's wealth. With nowhere else to turn, Mu Qingyao care 5.1kReads6.6Score43014d adds

    Reader note

    The male lead initially harbors prejudice against the female lead, but gradually grows increasingly fond of her. He's quite cunning, using a scheme to get intimate with her, and even resorting to shameless tactics to gain her pity, gradually becoming closer to her.

18. 18 楚 The King of Chu and His Wife's Sweet Daily Life 楚王夫妇互宠日常 Mu Mingfei木明非Ancient Romance673k WordsOngoing A cool, aloof yet pure-hearted young man x a sweet and clever girl [Marriage First, Love Later + Devoted Couple + Both Pure, 1v1] Su Yujing, a young lady of a marquis's household forced to live under someone else's roof, dreams of her future self, taken as a concubine by the dissolute and tyrannical Prince Wei and left to die in misery at a side residence! After getting a full preview of her future, Su Yu trembles with fear and turns her attention to Prince Wei's younger brother, who is even you 351Reads—Score—14d adds
19. 19 通 The Maid Ran Away, and the Powerful Minister Regrets It Too Late 通房跑路，权臣他追悔莫及 Tens of Thousands of Years几万春秋Ancient Romance159k WordsOngoing A powerful man lowering his head + competing men + a woman's coming-of-age story + intense, tantalizing romantic tension When Ji Qingluo was ten, she was sold into the Su residence as a servant. For the next ten years, her greatest wish was to buy her freedom, leave the household, and regain her status as a free citizen. But because of her beauty, she became the personal maid of the eldest young master, Su Yunzhou. Ji Qingluo: Don't worry. He's famous for having no interest in women, after all. 8.6kReads—Score78214d adds

    Reader note

    Perfectly matched, a high-and-mighty flower descends from its pedestal.

20. 20 落 You Can't Bring Back a Runaway Bride 落跑娘子追不回 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance523k WordsCompleted I make my own fate, not heaven. She is no innocent little flower, no frail girl everyone can bully and trample on. If someone takes a swing at her or sets her up, she'll pay them back twice over. Su Wan, a merchant's daughter full of schemes, defies fate, plots her escape, and seeks refuge with one of the capital's most powerful families. Using their influence, she secures a good marriage prospect and gives her whole heart to her fiancé's family. But things don't go as planned. A spiteful woman 1.6kReads8.6Score10114d adds

    Reader note

    Losing his beloved, he turned white-haired overnight. "In this life, I was the one who met her first, we were the one who fell in love first, how could I have lost her?" Bai Jingxuan hated himself, pounding his head in frustration. Thinking of the loving moments they shared in their past and present lives, the longing and pain of both lifetimes intertwined, flowing like a river. He was heartbroken, his heart aching so much he could hardly breathe. Unable to suppress the overwhelming grief, he wept uncontrollably, his sobs echoing through the courtyard. The once dignified and refined young master Bai, unable to bear the blow of losing his beloved, turned white-haired overnight. He walked through the snow-covered courtyard towards the gate, his robes fluttering, his silver hair flying, the snow swirling around him, as if he had become one with the icy landscape, indistinguishable from it. After leaving the mansion, he headed directly towards the An'nan Prince's residence, An'nan silently waiting nearby.

21. 21 涅 Reborn From the Ashes, I’ve Returned to Settle Every Score 涅槃重生归来有仇报仇有怨报怨 Author Tao Yaoyao作者逃妖夭Ancient Romance627k WordsCompleted “Reborn after returning from Nirvana, she settles every score and repays every grievance. A bond from a past life becomes a fate in this one.” Eight hundred years ago, she and he vowed to be husband and wife in their next life, promising to love each other for all eternity. Centuries passed, the world changed, and the past faded like smoke. Eight hundred years later, she was reborn, but fate had other plans. It was as if she'd been born into the wrong family. Her father showed her no affection, 3.4kReads8.6Score22014d adds
22. 22 岁 After All These Years, We Finally Meet Again 岁月流转终相见 Tung Oil Fruit桐油果Modern Romance485k WordsCompleted [Reunion After Years Apart + Rekindled Love + Healing Through Family + Realistic Happy Ending] After drifting apart like clouds, ten years passed like flowing water. When we met again, my heart recognized you before I did. A summer romance came to an abrupt end because of an unfortunate misunderstanding. More than ten years later, thirty-five-year-old Gu Yan discovered by chance that he had a daughter in high school, and was reunited with the girl he had loved when he was young. Long-buried memo 5.5kReads7.4Score21314d adds

    Reader note

    These are good books; if you like contemporary romance novels, check them out!

23. 23 和 The Time I Spent in Love With Her 和她相恋的时光 Tung Oil Fruit桐油果Modern Romance259k WordsCompleted [Love at first sight + devoted one-on-one romance + rekindled love + healing with a touch of angst] A grounded, everyday story with smart characters. Gao Yuchen, an isolated orphan, happens to meet her next-door neighbor, Mu Yang. Mu Yang pursues her passionately, and they soon fall in love. She thinks they’ll be happy together, only to discover that their happiness was built on a lie, albeit one told with good intentions by the male lead. She coldly tells him she never wants to see him again. I 843Reads8.1Score—14d adds
24. 24 深 Deep Inside My Core 深入我芯 Tung Oil Fruit桐油果Modern Romance403k WordsCompleted [Love at First Sight + Mutual Devotion + One Couple Only + Sweet Romance] Their first two meetings were accidental. Every coincidence after that was part of his carefully laid plan. When Jiang Yi Shen met Tang Xin, he fell for her at first sight. He quietly set his plans in motion, and the two got to know each other, fell in love, and walked hand in hand into marriage, sharing the warm everyday moments of life from the first flush of romance to raising children. Side story one: Xu Man thought sh 2.4kReads8.7Score14614d adds
25. 25 遇 Meeting Her Made My Heart Beat Faster 遇见她心动不止 Tung Oil Fruit桐油果Modern Romance493k WordsCompleted [Love at first sight + mistaken identity + mutual secret crushes + healing + female growth] Everyone is level-headed and knows what they’re doing, so read without worry. Jiang Nan, insecure and neglected by her family, meets He Chengyang. A twist of fate sends their budding romance down the wrong path. He Chengyang mistakes Jiang Nan, the girl he fell in love with at first sight, for her older sister, Jiang Xue, and they begin a brief relationship. (Nothing inappropriate happens between them.) W 7kReads8.5Score35514d adds
26. 26 重 A Long Road to Reunion 重逢路漫漫 Tung Oil Fruit桐油果Modern Romance357k WordsCompleted [The right people will find their way back to each other, no matter how many twists and turns it takes.] [One true pairing, both leads are each other's only ones + reunion after a long separation + winning back his wife and claiming his child + adorable kids playing matchmaker] Zhou Yuan met Qin Yue by chance and fell in love at first sight. After one passionate night together, an urgent assignment sent him overseas. Before leaving, he thought he'd arranged everything properly, never imagining t 5.4kReads8.9Score29014d adds
27. 27 初 I Couldn’t Hide My Heart’s Flutter When We First Met 初见心动藏不住 Tung Oil Fruit桐油果Modern Romance136k WordsCompleted [Love at First Sight] [She Pursues Him] [Nine-Year Age Gap] [Sweet, Realistic Romance] [Happy Ending] At twenty, the lively and spirited Chen Luo Chu meets Chu Yun. One look is all it takes for her to fall for him. She can barely hide the light in her eyes, and there is only one thought on her mind: make him hers. Once she confirms he is single, she boldly confesses, "Big brother, will you be my boyfriend?" Chu Yun gently turns her down with a simple, "We're not right for each other." But Chen L 1.4kReads—Score10414d adds
28. 28 爱 Love Will Come to Rest 爱会停歇 Tung Oil Fruit桐油果Modern Romance220k WordsCompleted [Playboy Turns Devoted] [Love Grows Over Time] [Sweet with a Little Angst] [Class Difference] Chen Chao, a rich playboy, falls sincerely in love with Yu Jiawen, who comes from an ordinary family. He knows he isn't the kind of person she'd ideally choose, but he can't let go of his feelings for her. "Yu Jiawen, do you know? Meeting you made me feel like I could have a proper relationship too." "I've thought about giving you up, but I just can't accept it. Watching you date, marry, and have childr 3.3kReads8.4Score16014d adds
29. 29 单 Mr. Zhou, My Unrequited Love 单恋的周先生 Tung Oil Fruit桐油果Modern Romance400k WordsCompleted [Older Woman, Younger Man + Redemption + Realistic Romance] Three-year age gap. [Secret Love Becomes Mutual, from the Male Lead’s Perspective; Marriage First, Love Later, from the Female Lead’s Perspective] Everyone is level-headed and clear-minded. The woman Zhou Wang had kept in his heart for three years. He thought there could never be anything between them and was ready to give up, but then he unexpectedly learned what she had been through. His heart ached for her, and at the same time, he f 1.5kReads8.2Score10314d adds

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