Looking for a Bittersweet Marriage-First, Love-Later Novel 求先婚后爱的酸涩文

1. 1 江 Captain Jiang, Don't Be So Wild 江队，别太野 Ma Shenme Mei马甚么梅Modern Romance306k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + mature romance + sweet and slow-burn + mutual devotion and push-pull + one touch and they’re hooked] [Flower shop owner + criminal investigation captain] On the day her family arranged a blind date, Song Nanqiu needed only three sentences to decide to marry Jiang Yanzhi. “I’m busy with work and often won’t come home.” “Perfect. I like peace and quiet.” “Then shall we get our marriage license tomorrow?” For six months after the wedding, he worked on his cases while s 30.9kReads9.0Score4.1kShelves

   Reader note

   What really resonated with me was that most romance novels stop at a happy ending, and few seriously depict the ordinary life of the male and female protagonists as they grow old together. This book, which is about marriage before love, avoids the heavy melodrama and unfolds the subtle adjustments and restrained feelings after marriage, ultimately settling into the mundane everyday life of the two people, who peacefully accompany each other and grow old together. It's simple yet incredibly healing.

2. 2 少 Young Master, Madam Says She'd Rather Go to Work! 少爷，夫人说她更想上班！ Chichi Xianyue迟迟弦月Modern Romance794k WordsOngoing [Marriage first, love later] [Long-planned romance] [Both strong and devoted] Diplomat x CEO When she was four, her mother died before her eyes, and her father fell in love with someone else. From then on, Liu Ling'er learned one thing: tears were useless, and so was love. At twenty-five, Shen Yuci bound her to his side with a marriage contract. She thought it was a five-year arrangement, never knowing that this man had been waiting for her for twenty-one years. She also had no idea that for t 1.5kReads—Score125Shelves

   Reader note

   ⬆️ I highly recommend this book. It's super good. The male and female leads were originally engaged. The male lead comes from a wealthy family and fell in love with the female lead at first sight when they were young; however, they never saw each other again after that. Despite this, the male lead always thought about the female lead and even chose to go abroad to hone his skills for her. After returning to China, the first thing he did was to get close to the female lead and make her his assistant. The female lead comes from a high-ranking family, but her mother died early, and her father ignored her. She was raised by her grandparents from a young age; due to childhood trauma, she lost part of her memory, including her first meeting with the male lead. The female lead attended prestigious universities for both her undergraduate and graduate studies and later became a diplomat. For the female lead, their relationship developed gradually; but for the male lead, it was premeditated. Overall, it's a strong, pure love story. The female lead has her own career, and the male lead loves her deeply, thinks only of her, and respects her very much. The chemistry between them is incredibly strong, and it's very enjoyable to watch! At the same time, the male lead is also the female lead's salvation.

3. 3 离 After the Divorce, My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Get Back Together 离婚后，前夫追着求复合 A Perfect Pair落地成双Modern Romance216k WordsCompleted [Marriage First, Love Later + Winning Her Back + Both Leads Pure] [Clever, Reserved Heroine + Proud Hero Who Secretly Protects His Wife] After an accident, Nan Zhi and Fu Jingran hastily got married. But a marriage born of convenience could not escape the fate of turning them into a resentful couple. Fu Jingran, however, refused to see it that way. He had brought his wife home, so why should he sleep alone? As for love, it was of little importance. Four years later, Nan Zhi asked for a divorce 84Reads—Score—Shelves

   Reader note

   I feel so sorry for the female lead, I want to rush in and beat the male lead up!

4. 4 过 Excessive Indulgence 过分沉溺 Zi An子安Modern Romance361k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + secret crush comes true + mutual salvation + devoted to each other, one-on-one] (The heroine seems sweet and gentle but is independent and clear-headed inside; the hero is no typical domineering CEO; she has a secret crush on him; slow burn.) Pei Yu was aloof and indifferent by nature, and he looked down on women even more. Everyone in his circle wondered what kind of woman could possibly win the heart of this unattainable man. Later, he fell out with the Pei family 7.9kReads9.2Score692Shelves

   Reader note

   The male lead marries her first, then falls in love; the female lead's secret crush comes true; the male lead misunderstands the female lead a lot, making the beginning a bit bittersweet, but later they realize their feelings for each other, and the male lead is incredibly clingy and gentle [admiration].

5. 5 亲 Dear Mr. Lu, I Really Want to Be Madly in Love With You 亲爱的陆先生，我好想跟你热恋呀 Jing Feng Shiyi景风十一Modern Romance583k WordsCompleted Already signed for print publication [secret crush becomes mutual, from the heroine’s perspective + marriage first, love later, from the hero’s perspective] [Independent, resilient, A-list lawyer vs. devoted, possessive CEO] When Meng Tingyu was sixteen, she met a young man named Lu Suizhou. She would never forget that day. He came into her life carrying light, bringing hope to her as she was on the verge of drowning and rescuing her from the abyss. Years later, the sunny, handsome boy had grow 8kReads9.1Score808Shelves

   Reader note

   The story follows the male protagonist's perspective of an arranged marriage that blossoms into love, while the female protagonist's perspective is of a secret crush that comes true. It's a show you can watch over and over again!

6. 6 嫁 Marrying Mr. Yu 嫁给喻先生 Da Er Lin达尔林Modern Romance376k WordsCompleted [The print edition of the same name is now available / The short drama of the same name is now streaming] [Cheerful artist vs. aloof, calculating professor] [Age gap + marriage before love + sweet romance + long-planned courtship + slow-burn love] Shi Sheng and Yu Wenzhou met on a blind date. But even on their wedding day, she still couldn't figure out what Yu Wenzhou saw in her. Since they didn't have much of a romantic foundation, Shi Sheng thought it would be good enough if they could at leas 33.7kReads9.4Score3.4kShelves

   Reader note

   All of these are books about arranged marriages that blossom into love; they're all excellent and highly recommended. (134)

7. 7 机 Captain, Please Route Around the Thunderstorm 机长先生，雷雨请绕飞 Zhao Le昭乐Modern Romance383k WordsCompleted [Aloof, proud commercial airline captain x sweet-voiced, beautiful air traffic controller. She has a longtime crush on him; they marry first and fall in love later. The print edition goes on sale February 28; the short drama is already out.] Before she was urged to go on a blind date, Meng Liyue never imagined the man she was meeting was the person she’d secretly loved since her student days. She had written his name countless times in her diary. After she married him, everyone thought Meng Liy 41.2kReads9.6Score4.8kShelves
8. 8 时 Miss Shi Is Being Naughty Again Today 时小姐今天也不乖 Han Dabai韩大白Modern Romance585k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Three Parts Sweet is now available. You can buy it at the Little Tomato Books Flagship Store.] Han Zhan is a notorious playboy in Beijing's elite circles. His trademarks are womanizing and having fun, and his byword is idleness. To rein in his wild ways, his parents pressure him into marriage. Young Master Han has just one requirement: "She has to be sweet and obedient." Shi Yin is the most well-behaved person Han Zhan has ever met. Born with the face of a perfect young lad 20.6kReads9.0Score1.6kShelves
9. 9 商 Mr. Shang, Let's Fall Passionately in Love After the Wedding 商先生，婚后请热恋 Little Mantou馒头小也Modern Romance260k WordsCompleted [Powerful man loses control + five-year age gap + older, paternal husband + marriage before love + slow-burn romance] [Steady and restrained young gentleman + cool-headed, rational female doctor] Cen Xi had a secret. She had been secretly in love with Shang Hanzhou for years. The day they got married by a twist of fate, Shang Hanzhou went abroad to expand his business, where he stayed for two years. Two years later, he returned home. Cen Xi knew perfectly well that Shang Hanzhou had no feelings 31.8kReads8.8Score3.3kShelves
10. 10 新 Newlyweds, Growing Closer 新婚渐浓 Dan Jian丹笺Modern Romance268k WordsCompleted Marriage before love / Adult romance / A slow, steady relationship / Sweet romance Cool, rational neurosurgeon vs. attentive, service-oriented head of a corporate group The marriage between Shen Mingyue and Bo Yi began with a drunken joke between their grandfathers. Out of gratitude for an old kindness, Shen Mingyue agreed to marry him to help her family out of a difficult situation. On the first day of their marriage, she was called back to the hospital for an emergency surgery and didn’t come 30.6kReads8.9Score3.2kShelves
11. 11 雪 Snow Falls on the Marriage Contract 雪落婚书 Chen Zhichi沉知吃Modern Romance260k WordsCompleted [Strangers to marriage before love + a gentle, slow-blooming romance + the powerful one learns to bend + slow burn] Everyone said that being adopted by the Shu family was a stroke of incredible luck, and that she should be grateful to be matched with the Jiang family. Anyone would be driven mad in that kind of environment. In the end, Shu Er took an unconventional path and married Shen Futing. - Shu Er had never imagined marrying some random man just to get away. Shen Futing was handsome, wealth 13.8kReads8.9Score1.5kShelves
12. 12 说 We Agreed to Divorce, So Why Is My Cold-Blooded Ex-Husband Losing Control and Falling for Me Night After Night? 说好离婚，冷戾前夫夜夜失控沉沦 Ink Verses of a Red Apple红苹果的墨韵Modern Romance267k WordsCompleted [Divorce First, Love Later + Contract Marriage + Both Pure + Husband's Road to Redemption + Powerful Man Loses Control and Gets Addicted + Heroine Doesn't Overthink + Happy Ending] Three years ago, everyone in Jincheng knew that Li Hengzhou, heir to the richest family in town, had been forced to marry Xu Qing. His heart belonged only to Liu Yueshu, the paralyzed girl who had once saved him, and he was devoted to her. Xu Qing, the real heiress who had just been brought back from a village in the 10.5kReads8.2Score1.1kShelves

    Reader note

    Divorced first, then in love, a bittersweet tug-of-war [laughing][laughing][laughing]

13. 13 春 The Spring Breeze Blows Through Yumen Pass! 春风吹度玉门关！ Scallion Pancake with an Extra Egg手抓饼要加鸡蛋Ancient Romance409k WordsCompleted [They marry at the start + married life + sweet romance + native-born leads + mutually devoted] Gentle, tolerant, and magnanimous heroine & jealous, rough-around-the-edges puppy-dog hero The sixth year of the Zhending reign, spring. The old Duchess of Dingguo knelt before the Empress Dowager, asking for a marriage match for her grandson Yun Zheng, who was guarding the northwest. The emperor honored the Yun family’s generations of loyal service. Having also heard that the Cui family’s daughters 23.3kReads9.0Score2.9kShelves

    Reader note

    The first story features a gentle and tolerant female protagonist and a rough-around-the-edges, puppy-like general. The male protagonist is gradually attracted to the female protagonist, and the innocent puppy blushes every time he sees her. Later, the female protagonist begins her daily dog-training routine. The second story features a talkative, sunny young man and a mute, powerful man who is unable to speak for some reason. Fate binds them together through a childhood betrothal. She enters his world with boundless enthusiasm, melting his frozen heart little by little with warmth and love, composing a touching love story.

14. 14 我 I Gave the Mute CEO Talk Therapy, and the Whole Family Was Stunned 我给哑巴总裁做话疗，豪门全懵了 Lu Chi鹿迟Modern Romance300k WordsCompleted “Chatty Little Sun Heroine × Mute Powerhouse in a High Position, Married First, Love Later + Sweet Romance + Feel-Good Daily Life” Sang Lu awakened to the truth. In the original story, she was a vicious sister-in-law from a wealthy family. She despised her mute husband, teamed up with awful relatives to swindle her own family, and did every kind of wicked thing. Her husband ignored her, her younger brothers-in-law slapped her, and she met a tragic end. “Wait, was I the huge idiot all along?” Abs 53.3kReads9.5Score6.8kShelves
15. 15 明 A Proper, Matchmade Marriage 明媒，正娶 Jinxi Zhiyan Xue锦汐之颜雪Modern Romance286k WordsOngoing After being hurt in love, Xu Zhikuan becomes wary of romance and lays down three rules for marriage: three things his partner must never do. Wen Ying grew up under constant criticism. Awkward when it comes to love, she pours all her feelings into her novels instead, presenting herself as meek and gentle. Two people who don't believe in love meet. As their lives begin to collide, they keep their distance on purpose, cautiously test the waters, and inch closer, little by little. They want to treat 182Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a story of marriage before love that begins with a blind date. The male lead, wounded by past relationships, is suspicious in love, while the female lead, raised with a restrictive upbringing, is awkward and hesitant. They cautiously test the waters, gradually drawing closer. Each harbors a secret crush, and thankfully, they both confess their feelings. It's a sweet, slightly angsty, and gently unfolding romance that's very enjoyable.

16. 16 先 Love After Marriage: The Crown Princess Keeps Pretending to Be Good Again and Again 先婚后爱，太子妃又又又又在装乖 I Want to Be a Rich Lady我想当富婆Ancient Romance278k WordsCompleted [Sweet Romance] Song Yao, who was born into this world, got married to Nangong Yi, the notoriously violent crown prince. After their wedding, they acted like a proper couple, treating each other with courtesy and respect. Gradually, Song Yao discovered that the crown prince was nothing like the violent man of the rumors. He was gentle, considerate, and easy to get along with. So she let her true nature out and started doing as she pleased. - At first, when facing the crown prince: Song Yao: gent 21.7kReads9.2Score2.3kShelves
17. 17 人 A Chance Encounter in This Life 人间恰好相逢 A Lemon 0309一颗柠檬0309Modern Romance71k WordsOngoing One blind date, and the two of them somehow stumbled into marriage. They thought they would spend the rest of their lives getting along without incident, living a quiet, ordinary life. Who could have guessed that every step had been part of his careful plan? 4Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    Arranged marriage that blossoms into love, filled with bittersweet emotions.

18. 18 逼 You Force Me to Marry the Regent? I'm Pregnant, and the Crown Prince Has Gone Mad 逼我嫁摄政王？我有孕太子疯了 A Merfolk in the Northern Sea北冥有鲛Ancient Romance301k WordsCompleted Marriage first, love later (sweet romance) + long-planned pursuit + domineering CEO + he pursues her + second male lead pursues his wife + elder brother steals younger brother’s wife + intense push and pull + wins her heart and her body + both virgins + happy ending + legitimate daughter + prince and princess consort + crown prince + struggle for the throne When the plum blossoms were in bloom, Crown Prince Xiao Jingyuan promised Shen Jinghong that once her father and brothers returned victorio 2.1kReads8.2Score190Shelves

    Reader note

    The first novel is a "father-son" story, the male lead is nine years older than the female lead; the second is a short story, the male lead is ten years older. Both are virgins, and the male lead, the regent, has a long-planned arranged marriage that blossoms into love—it's incredibly sweet!

19. 19 状 The Top Scholar Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife? I Married the Regent Instead, and I'm Loving It 状元郎宠妾灭妻？我转身嫁摄政王真香了 A Merfolk in the Northern Sea北冥有鲛Ancient Romance21k WordsCompleted The Top Scorer Dotes on His Concubine and Neglects His Wife? I Turned Around and Married the Regent King Instead 674Reads—Score—Shelves
20. 20 大 The Young Lady Has a Soft Waist and a Sweet Voice, Leaving President Jiang at a Loss 大小姐腰软声甜，姜总难以招架 Sui Yi穗宜Modern Romance299k WordsCompleted [Daddy-type husband, sweet romance, both leads are inexperienced, marriage before love, warm and healing, not a strong female lead] When her parents gave her a list of potential marriage matches, Xiang Qisong was immediately drawn to Jiang Huaizheng’s handsome looks and steady demeanor. After they married, she discovered some good news: Jiang Huaizheng really was steady. The bad news was that he was too steady. Whether in public or in private, he was always prim and proper, restrained and aloof. 5kReads9.1Score645Shelves

    Reader note

    It's a marriage of convenience that blossoms into love. The female lead comes from an unhappy family, but she's incredibly happy in the male lead's home. The male lead is indeed very serious, and the female lead often teases him, but their relationship is harmonious. The male lead is accommodating, and she doesn't hold grudges overnight; they have a great understanding of each other.

21. 21 陆 The Lu Family's Tangtang Is So Sweet! 陆总家的糖糖，超甜！ Qiqi Cub柒柒崽Modern Romance250k WordsCompleted [Childhood Sweethearts] + [Age Gap] + [Sweet Romance] + [Daddy-Type Boyfriend] [An overbearing CEO who's cold to everyone else but dotes endlessly on his wife in private vs. a seemingly adorable but actually clear-eyed college student] If anyone knows what it means to reap what you sow, it's Lu Li. Ever since they were children, he'd treated Ruan Tang like his own daughter, always telling her what to do. So even after they got married, the young woman couldn't bring herself to feel close to him. 4.8kReads9.2Score406Shelves

    Reader note

    After the female lead realized this, she became very bold.

22. 22 与 I Married My Secret Crush First, Then Fell in Love 与暗恋对象先婚后爱了 I'm a Little Fishhead Star是鱼头星星呀Modern Romance308k WordsCompleted [Cool, aloof beauty × rebellious young master] Jiang Shuyue is distant by nature and dislikes dealing with people. Even her parents are at a loss over her coolness, and often criticize her for it. She has always known the truth: her parents criticize her simply because they don't like her. The one they love is their adopted daughter, who grew up in the Jiang family. When she was twenty-five, she made a deal with her parents: she would agree to an arranged marriage, on the condition that they nev 27.8kReads9.1Score2.8kShelves

    Reader note

    Ahhh, this is so incredibly good! Some parts are so moving, it's practically a divine novel! Trust me! You absolutely have to read it!

23. 23 和 I Married My Secret Crush First, Then Fell in Love 和暗恋对象先婚后爱了 A Jasmine-Scented Tea一个茉莉香片Modern Romance320k WordsCompleted A cold, abstinent, jealous CEO who’s a devoted husband x an adorable employee Marriage first, love later · secret crush becomes mutual · sweet pampering / one-on-one, first love for both, both pure At twenty-five, Jiang Mansheng married the high school heartthrob she had secretly loved. Back then, Lu Qichen came from a wealthy family and was exceptionally handsome, a favored child of heaven whom everyone envied. Jiang Mansheng, by contrast, was quiet and mild-mannered, just an ordinary girl fro 10.2kReads9.1Score1.3kShelves
24. 24 醉 A Drunken Nighttime Kiss! One Flirt from Her, and the Arrogant Big Shot’s Heart Races 醉吻夜！她一撩，桀骜大佬心狂跳 A Crescent Moon一剪月Modern Romance539k WordsCompleted [The print edition of Climbing the Capital’s Family Tree is now available on all platforms.] [Top Capital City Tycoon · Rebellious, Devoted Suit-Wearing Bad Boy vs. Ballet Princess · Radiant, Proud Little Swan] Li Zhi and Fu Yanze grew up together, but Li Zhi turned out to be the fake heiress. For the sake of his own interests, Fu Yanze chose to get engaged to the real heiress, a leading actress in the entertainment industry. He hoped Li Zhi would understand and said he would come back to marr 59.7kReads9.5Score7.3kShelves
25. 25 他 His Bite Marks 他的咬痕 Mi Xiaoxi咪小汐Modern Romance281k WordsCompleted [Print edition signed and awaiting release] [Short drama now streaming] [Rekindled Romance + Reunion After Years Apart + Mutual Devotion + Mutual Salvation + Sweet Youthful Romance] In high school, Wen Shumiao had a passionate romance that ended in the most humiliating way possible. They meet again six years later. He's the owner of a tattoo shop, and she's become his employee. He treats her with the cold indifference of a stranger. But when Xie Jin sees Wen Shumiao carrying a suitcase, he final 62.4kReads9.5Score5.5kShelves
26. 26 周 Mr. Zhou, Why Are You Upset When I'm the One Asking for a Divorce? 周总，我提离婚你伤心做什么 A Heart Set on Getting Rich一颗暴富心Modern Romance282k WordsCompleted Wen Nan got her wish and married Zhou Sinian, the man she had secretly loved for years. But on their wedding day, as soon as they had collected their marriage certificate, Zhou Sinian left for another country. When he came back, their relationship remained lukewarm. Only later did Wen Nan realize that she wasn’t the only one trapped in this situation. At last, Wen Nan came to her senses and decided to let go. But Zhou Sinian said, “If you love someone, can’t you just keep loving them?” 1.4kReads5.5Score114Shelves
27. 27 顾 CEO Gu Gets on His Knees and Begs Me to Forgive Him 顾总跪求我原谅他 Ling Lingzi灵灵子Two Male Leads351k WordsCompleted Wen Qingmian fell for Gu Juan that year and stayed in love with him for nearly seven years. Fortunately, his wish came true the following year, when he married Gu Juan. To Wen Qingmian, Gu Juan was like a god. Even knowing he was someone else’s replacement, he willingly stayed by Gu Juan’s side, kept like a caged bird without freedom. But when the person Gu Juan truly loved finally returned, Wen Qingmian realized how laughable his one-sided love had been all these years. Before leaving, he final 243Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This one, I recommend disassembling it.

28. 28 被 After He Kisses Me Until I Cry, the Tycoon Coaxes Me in a Hoarse Voice, and I Still Dare To... 被亲哭后，大佬哑声低哄，我还敢 The Twenty-First Day of the Eleventh Month冬月二十一Modern Romance368k WordsCompleted Sweet, soft, beautiful, resilient heiress vs. outwardly cold but inwardly passionate and devoted tycoon (First married, then fall in love + double standards + secret crush + both leads’ first love + happy ending + sweet everyday romance + second male lead’s regret + reborn + healing) Wen Ya always knew that Su Chen was deeply in love with someone else, but naively believed that if she stayed by his side long enough, one day he would finally see her. But she was wrong. When faced with a choice, S 2.9kReads9.2Score274Shelves

    Reader note

    The male lead's love for the female lead is so incredibly tender and touching. He secretly loved her for 20 years, and she was reborn.

29. 29 心 The Sly Little Sister Has the Big Shot Wrapped Around Her Finger 心机妹宝拿捏大佬 Woven Green Gardenia挽青栀Modern Romance362k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + substitute bride + older man learns to compromise + mutual secret crush + sweet romance] A clingy, coquettish little troublemaker and a brooding, lustful young nobleman 1. Ten years ago, the Ye and Shen families arranged a marriage. Just before the wedding, the Ye family called it off. They soon learned that the eldest Shen daughter had already married someone else and had two children. At twenty, Shen Jia followed her family's arrangement and married into the Ye 352Reads—Score110Shelves

    Reader note

    Arranged marriage that blossoms into love: bittersweet.

30. 30 醒 I Woke Up to Find the Heir of a Tycoon Calling Me Mom! 醒来后，豪门总裁儿子喊我妈！ Ci Wuting辞芜汀Modern Romance212k WordsCompleted [Composed, dignified CEO × resilient, clear-eyed reporter] [Marriage first, love later / raising a child / slow-burn romance / age gap / both are each other's first] (The hero is calm and restrained at first, then becomes unabashedly flirtatious.) After sleeping for two years, Xu Xingni woke up with no memory of anything after the age of eighteen. Looking at the little dumpling by her hospital bed and the imposing man standing at the door, Xu Xingni found it absurd. Later, when Zhou Chenyu took 1.3kReads—Score102Shelves

    Reader note

    Both the male and female leads had difficult childhoods (mentally). It's a story of mutual redemption (the male lead is the heir to the Zhou family, the female lead is the daughter of the education bureau director). The story begins with a child; the female lead suffers amnesia after a car accident, and the male lead can only restrain himself and remain calm in the face of his amnesiac wife… It's a marriage of convenience that blossoms into love. They have a two-year-old child, and later, as the baby shows its little paws, the male lead's attempts to seduce his wife become increasingly entangled.

31. 31 穿 Transmigrate Into a Book as Rich Sisters-in-Law, My Bestie and I Take the Stage Together! 穿书富家妯娌，我和闺蜜齐上阵！ Shi Jiu柿九Modern Romance500k WordsCompleted [Short drama now available] [Two couples + best friends transmigrate into a book and both marry into wealthy families + lighthearted daily life + sweet romance + old-school domineering CEOs + supporting female character System] Lin Nanqiao and Xia Linshi transmigrate into a book together and are married off to twin brothers through a family alliance. They go from best friends to best friends and sisters-in-law, stacking their buffs to the max. In the original story, they are both cannon-fodder s 16.5kReads9.1Score1.6kShelves

    Reader note

    Get it now! There are still 270,000 people reading this, you can't go wrong with it! [Masterpiece of Sparrow Food][Masterpiece of Sparrow Food][Masterpiece of Sparrow Food][Masterpiece of Sparrow Food][Masterpiece of Sparrow Food]

32. 32 戏 A Staged Marriage: Sweet Pear's Seduction Leaves the Young Master Xing Obsessed and Out of Control 戏婚：欲染甜梨，刑少沦陷失了控 Song Weizhi松尾枝Modern Romance772k WordsCompleted [Sweet-natured yet resilient and clear-eyed heroine ✘ cruel, controlling scion of Beijing’s elite] Love after a whirlwind wedding + seductive flirting + chasing his wife + both leads’ first love [Short drama now streaming] On the day of his older brother’s engagement banquet, Xing Heye, the most arrogant and unruly Third Master Xing of Beijing’s elite, made a show of marrying a girl with no family connections. Outsiders speculated that it was part of a struggle to inherit the top-ranked wealthy 10.5kReads9.0Score630Shelves

    Reader note

    It's super pretty! ٩(๑^O^๑)۶

33. 33 江 Jiang Chuze, I Won’t Love You Anymore 江楚泽，我不会爱你了 Xiangli Xiaoxin香梨笑心Modern Romance722k WordsCompleted Everyone knows that An Ruoxuan, the beautiful eldest daughter of the An family in Xingdu, chased after the cold-faced young master of the Jiang family in Beicheng from the time they were children. She tried every way she could to cling to him, earning a reputation as his little shadow and a stalker. But then the aloof young master got together with Su Munan, An Ruoxuan's best friend... Eight years later, Jiang Chuze turned around and married An Ruoxuan. She thought she was going to heaven, but i 1.5kReads8.5Score101Shelves
34. 34 暗 After Eight Years of Secretly Loving Him, She Impulsively Marries Mr. He 暗恋八年后，她与贺先生闪婚了 Tong Xiang桐香Modern Romance388k WordsCompleted The short drama The Eighth Year of Loving Mr. He in Secret is now streaming [Married life + sweet romance + whirlwind marriage + romance and marriage + devoted husband + heroine's secret crush comes true + hero falls in love after marriage] At nineteen, Jiang Yining fell in love with He Chi. Their only connection was that He Chi was the son of her high school teacher. She lived a quiet, orderly life while he was carefree and uninhibited. Jiang Yining knew very well that she and He Chi had no 27.7kReads9.3Score3.7kShelves
35. 35 那 After That Night, Our Story Began! 那夜过后，是我们的开始！ A Sweet Bamboo一只甜竹Modern Romance156k WordsOngoing [A guiding lover + marriage first, love later + age gap + sweet romance + slow-burn love] [Gentle, restrained guiding light VS soft, stubborn little sourpuss] Jiang Tian is an engineering top student at Haicheng University. From freshman to junior year, she’s practically swimming in scholarships. People only see her polished exterior. They don’t know she’s insecure, sensitive, conflicted, and always gives in to others. The night of her high school reunion, she gets blackout drunk and stumbles 49Reads—Score—Shelves
36. 36 佛 The Easygoing Second Wife 佛系继室 A Cat on the Moon月亮一只喵Ancient Romance111k WordsCompleted From the moment Cui Jiangwan learns she’s to marry Marquis Wu’an Ji Huai, she knows the marquis still carries an irreplaceable first love in his heart. That woman was his late wife and his childhood sweetheart. So Cui Jiangwan plans to be a laid-back second wife and live with Ji Huai in mutual respect. 3kReads6.8Score215Shelves

    Reader note

    Ancient Chinese romance novels about arranged marriages that blossom into love; those who enjoy this genre can check them out.

37. 37 娘 The Empress Doesn’t Care 娘娘不在乎 A Cat on the Moon月亮一只喵Ancient Romance317k WordsCompleted [Palace and household intrigue + Marriage first, love later + Fictional era] [This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.] Though Qiao Qingyi is a concubine’s daughter, her legitimate mother never treated her harshly. In fact, she raised her like her own child. But when her elder sister’s marriage arrangements change, the match that was supposed to be hers falls to Qiao Qingyi instead. To repay her legitimate mother’s kindness, Qiao Qingyi w 324Reads—Score—Shelves
38. 38 贵 Long Live the Noble Consort 贵妃娘娘千岁千千岁 A Cat on the Moon月亮一只喵Ancient Romance164k WordsCompleted The Nan family had offered one of their daughters to the royal family, only for her to be killed by the scheming women within the palace. To keep the emperor's favor, Nan Shiyun begins her journey into the palace to compete for his affection. [This story is set in a fictional world. Please don't take it too seriously.] 105Reads—Score—Shelves
39. 39 联 After Our Arranged Marriage, the Chaste Old-Fashioned Man Blushed Red 联姻后，禁欲老古板被撩到红温 Fei Sheng绯声Modern Romance243k WordsCompleted [Cheerful, adorable little sunshine vs. aloof, abstinent old-fashioned man] On the day Xu Leyi returned to China, she met the crush who made her heart flutter! Her crush, Xie Suizhou, looked cool, distinguished, disciplined, and impeccably proper. His face and physique were both exactly her type. She decided right then to win him over! From that day on, she learned about his likes, engineered all kinds of chance encounters, and grew closer to him. Just as her wish seemed about to come true The X 266Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    From the male lead's perspective, it's an arranged marriage that blossoms into love; from the female lead's perspective, she marries her crush. A sweet little story!

40. 40 京 A Joyous Wedding in the Capital 京婚有禧 Not Green Rabbit不绿兔Modern Romance357k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later, secret marriage, older man-younger woman, both inexperienced and devoted, with plenty of romantic tension] In their third year of marriage, Fang Yipo’s company suddenly got a new boss. It was her husband in name only, whom she had barely seen outside the bedroom during his three years abroad. He wore a sharply tailored black suit. His features were striking and cold, and when his dark, indifferent eyes fell on her, they held only the faintest trace of familiarity, a 58.3kReads9.1Score22.9kShelves

    Reader note

    It's so good, I recommend it.

41. 41 藏 Hidden in Midsummer 藏于盛夏 Autumn Chill秋日凉Modern Romance308k WordsCompleted A heads-up before you start ❗️: One of the side couples is a gay couple, so please skip this if that bothers you. [The print edition under the same title is now available] [Healing × Love that grows over time × Angsty school romance] Sweet, gentle, well-behaved student × rebellious, handsome bad boy That midsummer seemed hotter than any before. The girl in the graduation photo smiled sweetly, with a boy in a white shirt grinning boldly behind her. They met in midsummer, and parted in midsummer t 84.2kReads9.6Score14.8kShelves

    Reader note

    🔥 [Reader Reviews]: "More heart-wrenching than *Painful Faith*! Sweeter than *Her Little Dimple*!" "I cried my eyes out at the end. It turns out redemption isn't about who saves whom, but about two broken hearts mending each other." 🎁 Exclusive physical book benefits: ▪️ Includes a replica of the "School Bully's Handwritten Love Letter"▪️ Author's autograph + Q-version stickers▪️ Hidden ending: "After getting drunk, she finally revealed the secret."

42. 42 撩 Flirting into Marriage 撩婚 Autumn Firefly秋流萤Modern Romance290k WordsCompleted The print edition of Wild Crane is now available on major platforms. He Yunxing comes from a prominent Hong Kong family. The elegant, aloof man has a black tattoo on his hand that looks wickedly sensual, like Satan himself has descended. He's cold and heartless, a complete utilitarian. Everyone is madly infatuated with him. Too bad he married young. Rumor has it that he and the eldest daughter of the Shen family have a terrible marriage and will soon divorce. In their vast room, a slender-waiste 16.8kReads9.3Score1.8kShelves

    Reader note

    💘**Qiu Liuying's novel "Flirting Marriage" is a high-stakes gamble in the name of love - what you think is a coincidence is his long-planned destiny; - the true feelings you run away from are the passionate feelings he will bring to you even if it means crossing thorns.

43. 43 离 During the Cooling-Off Period After Our Divorce, My Straight-Laced Husband Suddenly Gets It 离婚冷静期，直男老公突然开窍了 33 Little Princess33小公主Modern Romance608k WordsCompleted [Deputy director in government × dermatologist] [Marriage first, love later, winning her back, age gap, sweetness toggles between all sugar, half sugar, three-tenths sugar, and sugar-free] After marrying Director Zhou, who believes rules are more important than anything, Chen Jiayi found herself living a very unusual married life: She had to file a report for everything, including sleeping, eating, and watching short dramas. She was done with this life. She dragged Zhou Jingcheng to get a divorc 7.2kReads8.7Score533Shelves

    Reader note

    It's bittersweet at first, but then you'll be laughing all the way to the end!

44. 44 逾 Sinking Into Love Past the Deadline 逾期沉溺 Mi Anxia米安夏Modern Romance726k WordsOngoing Tang Yiming and Sun Jia first met three years ago, when they signed a prenuptial agreement. She thought their marriage was nothing more than a deal that suited them both. But he loved her and was afraid to reveal his true feelings, so he hid them behind a facade of absurdity. She didn't love him, but was grateful that he'd helped her when she was down. Then she happened to find him keeping silent vigil by her grandmother's sickbed. She accidentally caught him tearing up the suggestive invitation 2.3kReads—Score161Shelves

    Reader note

    Sisters! I stayed up all night to finish this book, it was so addictive! On the surface, it's a contract marriage where each party gets what they want, but it's actually a story of the male lead's ten-year unrequited love for the female lead. The plot twist is amazing!

45. 45 不 I Will Never Leave the Green Mountains 不与青山辞 A Crescent Moon, Bright and Clear一弯皎皎Modern Romance245k WordsCompleted [Marry First, Love Later + Older Man + Guiding Lover + Both Pure] "A gentle, fatherly boyfriend and a bright little ray of sunshine" One moment, Jiang Tang thought she had finally made it through every hardship. The next, she was doing a full backflip and crashing into an iceberg. By a series of mishaps, she had managed to get involved with Mu Zhiqing. He was a mysterious businessman who stood alone atop a high tower, as unfathomable as a deep abyss. Rumor had it that he was upright and proper, 27.4kReads9.4Score2.9kShelves

    Reader note

    Super sweet, no angst, and the male lead has incredibly positive values.

46. 46 赠 Give Me a Dream Come True 赠我美梦成真 Tinglan Ferry1汀兰渡1Modern Romance173k WordsCompleted [A secret crush comes true + both devoted to each other + romantic tension + sweet youth romance] Sunny, cheerful heroine × slow-to-warm-up, late-to-realize hero, bittersweet and sweet She’s like a little sun; he’s an iceberg in the process of melting. On the first day of university, Lin Zhixia from the literature department falls for Jiang Yu of the computer science department at first sight. He’s quiet and cold, the top scorer on the college entrance exam, and the brightest yet most unapproach 81Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This bittersweet unrequited love has come true.

47. 47 暗 My Secret Crush Asked Me to Marry Him on Paper 暗恋对象向我提出协议结婚 Tinglan Ferry1汀兰渡1Modern Romance105k WordsCompleted [Marriage first, love later + both faithful + secret crush comes true + romantic tension + mature workplace romance] Jealous cardiothoracic surgeon × kindhearted, naive teacher In high school, Lin Xi was an unremarkable girl in the class next door, while Lu Chen was the popular heartthrob everyone admired. She kept her crush hidden in countless fleeting moments when they passed each other, never daring to hope they would ever have anything to do with each other. Years later, a blind date arrang 538Reads—Score107Shelves
48. 48 后 Later, He Begged Me to Heal Him 后来，他求我治愈他 Two-Toned Moonlight双色月光Modern Romance221k WordsCompleted [Hong Kong elite families × marriage of convenience × dissociative identity disorder × groveling to win her back] [Highly intelligent, levelheaded psychiatrist × arrogant, domineering business tycoon] *Written entirely by hand *Psychological case studies gradually develop alongside the romance, including paranoid personality disorder, psychogenic amnesia, PTSD, dissociative identity disorder… A premarital medical certificate gets psychiatrist Xiao Chimo dumped on the eve of her wedding. For he 37Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    This is a story of arranged marriage that blossoms into love. The female lead is a psychologist, and they agreed to divorce within a year. Later, the male lead changed his mind and decided against it. However, his "white moonlight" (his first love) returned, and he didn't handle the relationship well. The female lead then divorced and went abroad... The male lead worked hard to win her back; it wasn't love at first sight, nor was it premeditated. It's a slow and steady relationship. [Original novel fan][Original novel fan][Heart][Heart]

49. 49 势 A Marriage of Equals 势均婚敌 Xiao Erduo Tutu晓耳朵图图Modern Romance233k WordsOngoing [Two equally formidable leads, married first and fell in love later, long-planned romance, both pure, intertwined with campus life] Wen Ying and Lu Yishu are married. They were once deskmates, the top two students in their grade at Elite High School, and alumni and outstanding graduates of Jinghua University. Now they’ve paired off with each other and begun a secret married life. Because of her mother’s insistence, Wen Ying feels she has no choice. Fine, she’ll get married. After all, this sworn 414Reads—Score—Shelves

    Reader note

    The female lead enters into an arranged marriage but falls in love later; the male lead has been plotting this for a long time.

50. 50 冷 After Five Years of Cold War, Why Are You Losing Control Now That I Want a Divorce? 冷战五年，我提离婚你失控什么 Lunar Scrap Collector月球拾荒Modern Romance350k WordsOngoing [Marriage first, love later; regretful pursuit; bittersweet romance; the powerful one learns to bow his head; mutual healing; one-on-one; both are each other’s first and only; happy ending] [Cool-headed, headstrong painter × aloof, elegant CEO] Five years ago. Sui Nuan was a celebrated prodigy at Jiangcheng University: cool, beautiful, and hard to pursue. Just before graduation, she suddenly announced she was dropping out to marry Jiangcheng’s most powerful heir, Jiang Yanci, the eldest son who 2kReads—Score105Shelves

    Reader note

    It has a sour and astringent taste.

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