Niche, Underrated BG Romance 小众冷门BG

1 我 We're Just Friends 我们只是朋友的关系 North Wind Whistling北风习习Romance321k WordsOngoing “Have you ever loved someone as a friend, for many years?” The school-years portion is very short. The story is mainly set in the city, and they have reunited. Lu Yannan x Zhou An, a second-chance romance Zhou An knows exactly how to flirt. The right amount of warmth beneath his cool demeanor is more than Lu Yannan can handle. The first time they met: dusk, on the rooftop of an abandoned classroom building. Lu Yannan stepped on the long shadow in front of her, using the most casual, carefree t 1.5kFavorites828Clicks/ch1.2kGifts

Curator note

After reading so many stories of insecure, awkward, sensitive, and avoidant female protagonists with problematic family backgrounds who are afraid to love boldly, it's refreshing to see an insecure, awkward, and sensitive male protagonist! The male protagonist in this story has a very troubled family background, and various factors prevent him from even considering a future with the female protagonist. Therefore, he keeps rejecting her, saying he only wants to be friends with her. The writing is truly impressive; it gave me a bit of a stomachache, quite bittersweet! But then again, it's perfectly normal for someone as wonderful and courageous as our Sister Lu to have men who feel insecure and awkward around her! [Hugs]

Curator note

It's great! It's one of my favorite genres: a powerful female lead and stepmother/stepson relationship. The fact that the female lead truly wields power is rare in contemporary romance novels! Most contemporary romance novels featuring powerful female leads only depict heiresses who don't actually hold power; it's rare to see a female lead who is the true head of a corporation. The female lead is also incredibly capable and strategic. The male lead, a lovestruck fan, has liked her since childhood. Initially, because of her high moral standards, he can't have her and can only suffer unrequited jealousy. But thankfully, there's a chance for things to change. I finished this short bedtime story in one go—very enjoyable! Oh, and a heads-up: this isn't a virgin story, and the female lead has intimate scenes with the second male lead. Because of her high moral standards, she doesn't want a romantic relationship with the male lead, so she has a brief affair with him (if you're really bothered by this, don't read on).

3 老 Wife, I'm Really Not a Yandere Ghost 老婆我真的不是阴湿男鬼 Crossing the Reeds渡芦Romance133k WordsCompleted [Dream-boy fiction, first-person and third-person narration with shifting viewpoints] I fell in love with my wife at first sight in a game. She was a dragon-slaying warrior who appeared during the male protagonist's adventure. Her eyes burned like flames, and every scar on her body was captivating. I loved her brief laugh, the controlled breaths she took when she was hurt, and the sight of her back as she lifted a massive sword and charged at the dragon alone. I made the male protagonist confes 4.3kFavorites2.6kClicks/ch3.4kGifts

Curator note

I will wholeheartedly support all stories about male protagonists from their own perspective! Although it's a niche genre, once you experience the beauty of male protagonist stories, you'll never want to give them up! The plot is incredibly captivating and exciting. The interconnected four game worlds reminded me of the Spider-Man movie where he travels through six different art styles. I feel this book would be perfect for an animated film. And finally, no one can resist Via!

4 爱 Love on the Rise 爱意上浮 Sighing West Tea叹西茶Romance206k WordsCompleted As Shen Chengyuan’s close friend, Lu Xilin witnessed his romance with Tu Xuewei firsthand over the years. Whenever Tu Xuewei got sick, Shen Chengyuan would call Lu Xilin over to examine her. Lu Xilin thought his role would always be that of the doctor friend to a domineering CEO in some clichéd story. Until one day, Tu Xuewei asked if he would marry her. Lu Xilin said yes. The irresponsible version: One time after their wedding, Lu Xilin and Tu Xuewei got into an argument. He listed all the tim 27kFavorites31.7kClicks/ch10.8kGifts

Curator note

The premise is very interesting! The male lead is the doctor friend from those domineering CEO novels! I also really like the female lead! The female lead is very opinionated, bold in love and hate, and although she's strong-willed, she's incredibly loving in relationships. The male lead's unrequited love turns into a very low-budget and humble situation. At first, it did remind me of the typical domineering CEO novel's somewhat naive doctor friend character. The relationship between the male and female leads develops gradually, and they help each other solve life's challenges. There's not much plot, but the overall quality is high; all the issues are addressed. The only shortcoming is the writing style. While not simplistic, it's a bit stiff and awkward. If it could be smoothed out, it would be perfect.

5 胭 A Rouge-Wearing Spectator 胭脂看客 Meng Song孟宋Romance382k WordsCompleted “The time for revenge has come, but I love you.” A disciplined, refined gentleman x a stunning movie star A powerful man lowering his head | Clear-eyed surrender | The player falls for his pawn Yan Ning never imagined that the down-and-out tea merchant she flirted with on a tea mountain would turn out to be one of the most distinguished young men in all of Yanjing. Just as her career hit rock bottom, a contract was placed before her. The man she had once teased now drew her into his arms with 14.1kFavorites11.1kClicks/ch8.3kGifts

Curator note

It's definitely a classic, melodramatic novel, with a strong old-school feel, especially in the portrayal of the female lead! I wouldn't recommend it for those with an extreme preference for female leads, but I still have to praise how well she's developed. Even during her most difficult times, she manages to take care of the staff who have always been with her. She's loyal, compassionate, and kind, yet dares to fight against injustice, and she's also very ambitious and focused on her career! However, there are quite a few female fans in the story, and at times, it evokes the image of a typical domineering CEO heroine, but it doesn't detract from the overall quality! What attracts me most about the male lead is his conscious yet submissive nature. The author's writing is excellent, particularly capturing this aspect of the self-disciplined and principled leader's conscious yet submissive nature. His pursuit of his wife takes several years, and they don't reconcile quickly, which is quite satisfying!

6 旋 Revolving Door 旋转门 Bao Song宝颂Romance178k WordsCompleted *From Friends with Benefits to Official Couple, Unrequited Love Turns Mutual. Extremely, Extremely Dramatic: Read at Your Own Risk Blurb Two in the morning. The villa was brightly lit. The party's guest of honor was being egged on to confess his feelings. A crowd of onlookers whistled and cheered, making enough noise to raise the roof. The man in question lounged on the sofa, the hood of his gray sweatshirt slung casually behind him. He looked so bored that you might think none of it had anyth 14.1kFavorites7.4kClicks/ch3.9kGifts

Curator note

I think this is a novel with a strong aftertaste, so let me warn you: if you're a female lead freak, I wouldn't recommend it. I'm not a strict female lead freak; I value female lead development more, so I'm more accepting of angst. This one is quite angsty for the female lead, and it also has an old-fashioned terminal illness trope. It's also a bit angsty for the male lead because he's in a car accident and almost doesn't wake up (that plot seems even more old-fashioned). But I really love the female lead. She's like a calm lake on the surface, but underneath are countless thorns. One prick doesn't hurt much, but don't underestimate her, because those thorns can really kill you! The female lead is really smart and kind. There's a detail in the story that really touched me: she initially approached the male lead mainly to scheme against him, and later lied to him several times. Unfortunately, she also genuinely liked him, so it was very painful. But from now on, she'll only shed tears of happiness. Mom loves you! [Hugging legs][hugging legs]

7 男 Boys' School, Girls' School 男校女校 Yu Yi余已Romance313k WordsCompleted =Signed for publication. See wb for publication updates. [Complete. The new novel next door, Little Joy of Spring, is now updating!] "In my girlhood, you were the brightest name." Blurb They met again at a class reunion. When she pushed open the door, the man was leaning back in his chair, his eyes weary and indifferent, his hoodie only half-buttoned. He seemed uninterested in everything. All evening, he didn't look at her or say a single word. When the gathering ended, a sudden downpour began 5.4kFavorites4.8kClicks/ch2.1kGifts

Curator note

It's alright. The female lead is an incredibly charming character, just as the story says: she has a chivalrous spirit from her teenage years [applause]. Even when bullied, she saves herself instead of waiting for the male lead to rescue her. Nini, may you always be happy [crying emoji]. However, the story is relatively simple overall. Everyone's taste in writing is different, but for me, it's a readable story, somewhere between bedtime reading and serious appreciation.

8 今 Rain Falls Today 今有雨下 Old Cat Who Eats Grass吃草的老猫Romance186k WordsCompleted (The main story is complete. Extras will be posted from time to time.) Blurb 1 Lu Meng lay asleep until she heard the door open. The man's coat carried a distinct smell of blood. As he approached, the air seemed to turn gloomy and damp. He silently sat at the foot of the bed and gently took her foot in his hand, as if she were the lamb he cherished most. Blurb 2 The godfather once told Lu Qian, "When love goes too far, it turns into madness." At the time, Lu Qian 1.4kFavorites1.3kClicks/ch831Gifts

Curator note

"Pseudo-Bone" has a similar male and female lead setup and plot to other popular novels on the market. Fortunately, the writing is quite good, and the female lead does have some independent thought. It's still a good read when you're looking for something to read, and a good bedtime story.

9 好 The Sleepy Goldfish 好眠金鱼 Eat a Poem吃一首诗Romance417k WordsCompleted Li Qin comes from a remote mountain village. She has always obeyed her mother, staying conservative, quiet, and proper. The most rebellious thing she has ever done is meet an online acquaintance the day she gets promoted to associate professor. The person who showed up doesn't match the picture. She was expecting a scholarly, gentlemanly doctor, but instead she gets a polished, cutting lawyer. She is unhappy and wants to leave. Zhao Ke's face darkens. “What a weirdo.” He's never heard of some 21.2kFavorites21.5kClicks/ch20.7kGifts

Curator note

Some readers might be put off by the male lead after reading the synopsis, but regardless, I want everyone to experience the female lead's life. She's someone who has been subjected to extreme discipline by feudal society and her family of origin, most obviously manifested in her taboo surrounding sex and the belief that women who dress provocatively are slutty. The main plot revolves around how she breaks free from this discipline. It's clear the author put a lot of thought and effort into writing this, not wanting to label it simply as feminism. However, these days, it's rare to find online novels that use sex to depict this kind of discipline, so it's worth a read. The male lead, at first glance, might resemble a not-so-popular "feminist," but his profession as a divorce lawyer specializing in women's rights and his upbringing with three aunts who had unhappy marriages make him more relatable to the female lead. As for the legs mentioned in the synopsis, I can only say there's a foreshadowing [laughing and crying emoji], but I won't spoil it.

10 脱 The Desensitization Scam 脱敏骗局 Young Master June公子六月Romance482k WordsCompleted Zhou Yan and Yao Shujia live across the hall from each other. Childhood friends, they never shared the carefree closeness of other kids. It's as if they were born to be polar opposites. Zhou Yan is a genius, handsome, and top of his class. He's the pride of teachers and parents alike, surrounded by admirers and shining brightly. Yao Shujia, on the other hand, is so ordinary: neither clever nor pretty. Beside the dazzling Zhou Yan, she's like a dull, coarse grain of sand. Yao Shujia is willing 11.8kFavorites10.4kClicks/ch14.4kGifts

Curator note

Still being serialized [crying emoji]. The story setting isn't particularly unique, and the ratings aren't especially low. The male and female leads are also similarly stereotypical: an ordinary person x a prodigy. But there's one aspect of this book that really resonated with me: something like "the admiration she felt as a child was actually just jealousy." The female lead comes from a very difficult family; she's constantly humiliated by her parents for poor grades and is frequently compared to the male lead. Therefore, she deeply dislikes, even hates, and is jealous of him. After growing up, she tries to escape her family, but everything related to it seems inescapable. The male lead she dislikes keeps replaying in her mind. She only gets close to him to desensitize herself. I think this is a rare element in current writing. It's worth a read.

11 打 The Prerequisite for Opening the Birdcage 打开鸟笼的前提 Corn Cat玉米猫Romance174k WordsCompleted [My new neighboring story, Who Is It Today?, is now underway. Same flavor as this one, but a different recipe. Everyone's welcome to come try it.] He Huaining spotted a little bird on his windowsill and began to think about how he could make it stay in his cage. At first, he prepared plenty of delicious food and a soft, warm nest for it, but it showed no interest in staying. Later, he confessed his love and stayed by the window with it at all times, but it remained wary. Eventually, he lost pa 7.3kFavorites9.3kClicks/ch2.6kGifts

Curator note

This is a very unusual story of forced marriage! To be honest, forced marriage is indeed one of my preferences, but I prefer a stronger female lead. Many forced marriage stories these days are completely homogenous, especially with the female lead often portrayed as a naive, innocent character [shrug]. I have no problem with the naive, innocent character trope, but many authors haven't put any effort into developing the female lead. A poorly crafted female lead's name, coupled with a characterization that fails to reveal her core personality and true nature, only makes me suspect that the female lead is a three-in-one combination of a costume, a dream girl, and a camera [shrug]. But this one is different! The female lead is so fierce at the end that she kills two people, one of whom is the male lead, which shows how powerful she is [throws confetti].

12 毕 Graduation Ceremony 毕业祭 Camellia Cat山茶猫Romance260k WordsCompleted Nan Zhui is the queen bee of her campus. What does it mean to be a queen bee? Beautiful, top of her class, popular, from a good family, and student council president. Even when she occasionally comes across as too forceful, no one dares say it to her face. And yet this confident queen bee pursued Kang Siping for two years. They graduated from university, and she still had nothing to show for it. Kang Siping neither accepted nor rejected her. He couldn’t choose between Nan Zhui and his childhood 5.3kFavorites5.8kClicks/ch4.9kGifts

Curator note

The female lead has an incredibly strong personality! She succeeds at everything she does, except for one-sixth of a calculation error [doge emoji]. The setup of everyone being a villain and the series of events caused by a wrong math problem kept the reader on the edge of their seat. The book's ratings weren't great, but the story is original, the female lead is well-developed, and it's definitely worth reading [throwing confetti emoji].

13 丧 [Doomsday] The Jinx [末日]丧星 Si Liang姒良Romance33k WordsCompleted [Blurb] Chai Qian had the misfortune of turning into a zombie. Her gentle, considerate boyfriend turned into a refined scoundrel and a murderous maniac. Chai Qian: Oh, for crying out loud! How many times do I have to tell you? I absolutely, positively will not eat people! #The zombie heroine is brave and strong again today# Theme: 3.5kFavorites29.5kClicks/ch214Gifts

Curator note

This is a story from 7 years ago! To be honest, the content isn't exactly niche even now, but the male and female leads are adorable, making it a good bedtime story.