Novels like Life Is but a Dream
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Life Is but a Dream, best match first.
- 1 My Wife's Secret 妻子的秘密 At thirty, a man stands at the watershed of his life. That very year, his wife cheats on him, his subordinate betrays him, his brother turns against him, and his family grows estranged. He goes from having it all to losing everything, trampled underfoot by the very nobodies he once looked down on! But a man must never lose the courage to start over! Watch me climb step by step from adversity back to the top! 143Reads6.8Score—Shelves
- 2 Humanity at the Brink 人性绝境 Alternate titles: My Wife Became a Scumbag, So I Put Her in the Dock; The Depths of Human Nature. When life reaches the depths of despair, human nature turns ugly. After being locked in a dark room and “reformed” for half a year, I finally saw the light of day again! 79Reads6.3Score—Shelves
- 3 Five Years of Marriage 结婚五年 As soon as Chen Feng got into his wife An Yue’s car, he noticed that the passenger seat had been pushed all the way back. There were also women’s footprints on the windshield. Chen Feng was instantly thrown into a panic… 1.3kReads7.6Score101Shelves
- 4 A Husband's Revenge for His Wife 为妻子复仇的丈夫 This is not a fast-paced wish-fulfillment story. It demands a certain level of reading experience, so proceed with caution. An urban showdown of intellect and force, grounded in realism. The tone is hard-edged, ruthless, and focused on rescue and revenge. After two years overseas, the male protagonist returns home to find that his classmates, friends, marriage, and family have all been caught up in upheaval. He follows the clues deeper and deeper until he finally uncovers the truth... On a bleak 3.8kReads8.4Score137Shelves
- 5 My Wife's Lies and Betrayal 妻子的谎言与背叛 My wife and I have been married for over a year, and things have always been good between us. But lately, she’s been acting strangely, often leaving early and coming home late. I’ve started to suspect she’s cheating... [Suspecting an affair → investigating step by step → a shocking ending] 16Reads6.4Score—Shelves
- 6 Spring at Fifteen Watts 十五瓦的春天 The story takes place from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, a time when China was undergoing rapid economic growth and profound social change. Their parents arranged a child-swap marriage, and the resulting children were a top student sister born in the 1990s and Mou Hao. From childhood, the two endured ridicule for wearing hand-me-downs and living in an abandoned factory, but it forged them into people with iron wills. They struggled to stay in school by selling fruit and tutoring, and eventu —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 7 The Hidden Truth About My Ex-Wife 前妻隐秘的真相 The sudden divorce proposal from his wife completely upended Chen Xuan’s life. After their divorce, one secret after another from his wife’s past came to light. As Chen Xuan investigated the secrets she had left behind, a new lease on life awaited him in both his personal and professional life... 683Reads7.1Score101Shelves
- 8 Diary of a Player: The Road to Lying Flat and Getting Rich 海王日记：躺平暴富之路 [No System] [Urban Farming] [Comeback] This story is adapted from real events and may contain some exaggerated descriptions. The characters do not possess any supernatural abilities, so please read with that in mind. In just a few short years, 24-year-old Ming Xi suffered the deaths of both parents and was betrayed by his girlfriend... But life did not break him. Instead, he chose to live differently. There was no way he was going to keep working. He resolutely quit his rotating three-shift job, 152Reads8.0Score—Shelves
- 9 She Took the Bride Price, Then Spent the Night at a Hotel with Her Beloved 刚收彩礼，她就跟白月光酒店通宵 [The wife chases her husband after losing him] + [no System] + [not reborn] “Chen, I'm staying at my best friend's place tonight!” “If my mom asks, tell her I'm with you.” His fiancée, Jiang Yiyue, spoke in a nervous voice through Chu Chen's phone. As the truth slowly came to light, Chu Chen discovered that Jiang Yiyue wasn't staying at her best friend's place at all. She had spent the entire night at a hotel with her first love. Chu Chen was utterly furious… 345Reads5.5Score—Shelves
- 10 My Girlfriend and Her Guy Best Friend from the Start: I Slapped Him Without a Second Thought 开局女友与男闺蜜，我随手一巴掌 [School Life] [Winning Him Back] [White Moonlight] [Urban] [Snake-in-the-Grass Male Best Friend] [Transmigration] Zhou Zixuan discovers that he has transmigrated into a parallel world, into the body of someone with the same name. After receiving the original owner’s memories, he learns that the people standing before him are the original owner’s girlfriend and her snake-in-the-grass male best friend. After being made to choose countless times, the girlfriend resolutely abandons the original owne 2Reads5.3Score—Shelves
- 11 A Wife Fair as Snow 佳妻如雪 He happily prepares 100,000 yuan for the bride price so he can marry his wife, but while taking a shower, he discovers one of her secrets. As they spend more time together, he discovers more and more secrets about her that he can’t stand. After two years together and all the love and effort he has poured in, what will he do in the face of this ending? And what does it really mean to be a good wife? 79Reads5.9Score—Shelves
- 12 A Wife Hard to Keep 娇妻难守 [Marriage, suspense, surrounded by beautiful women, mind games] In Lin Hui’s eyes, his wife He Yan is flawless, the perfect wife and mother. But one day, Lin Hui sees her walking into a hotel in the arms of another man. When he learns that his wife is actually a real estate saleswoman, his faith in marriage crumbles... 2.5kReads8.2Score187Shelves
- 13 What If She Fell Out of Love? 假如她不爱了 If one day she tells you she no longer loves you, can you keep a family like that together? In today’s fast-paced world, this kind of thing happens far too often. How to deal with it is a question worth thinking about. 51Reads5.5Score—Shelves
- 14 Reborn in 1978: The Fall Guy Awakens, Why Are You in Such a Hurry, Ex-Wife? 重生七八：炮灰觉醒，前妻你急啥 Jiang Chuan transmigrated into a period novel as the doomed ex-husband, with only a year left to live. This cannon-fodder husband, whose only purpose was to be a stepping stone for his ex-wife, got a Tycoon System that gave him cash back whenever he spent money on his daughter, giving him a chance to stay alive! What? Spend 5,000 yuan on his daughter within ten days, and he'd not only get cash back, but also an extra year of life. Heaven had sent him exactly what he needed. But wait. He had a fi 810Reads6.9Score107Shelves
- 15 On My Birthday, My Wife Walked Out of a Hotel with Another Man 生日当天妻子和别的男人走出酒店 On the day Chu Tianmu turned 28, his wife, who was supposed to be away on a business trip, walked out of a hotel with another man... (No tired clichés, no groveling male lead. The male lead is smart.) 1.1kReads6.5Score105Shelves
- 16 I Caught My Wife Cheating, So I Gave Up 发现妻子出轨，我选择摆烂 Lin Chenyi stared at the scene before him in disbelief. His wife of less than two years, Su Xinran, was walking into a hotel with a handsome young man in a suit... 2.1kReads5.6Score106Shelves
- 17 Reborn as Wu Dalang: I Become a Star in Water Margin 重生武大郎之我在水浒当影帝 There are plenty of big shots in this world. They call me Dalang! Wu Dalang is reborn on the day Pan Jinlian is about to poison him to death! The top-tier [Movie Star System] binds to him! Wu Dalang grins~ He plays the pig to eat the tiger and tricks every villain in Water Margin, unlocking skills like scouting, poisoncraft, and eloquence with outrageous schemes. Watch him use S-rank acting skills to rack up attribute points right under the noses of Liangshan's heroes, turning classic scenes int 5Reads—Score—Shelves
- 18 Transmigrated into a Book as a Simp? I'll Beat Up My Wife's White Moonlight 穿书成舔狗？暴打老婆白月光 [Over-the-top catharsis + multiple heroines + no NTR + anyone who dares oppose him gets beaten down + an all-powerful family background + a playboy heir] Lu Ye had just finished cursing out a stupid novel when, the next second, he opened his eyes and found himself inhabiting the novel's pathetic, lovesick male protagonist, who shared his name! Five years ago, the original owner defied his family's objections and married Liu Yunyan, the second daughter of Jiangcheng's Liu family, only to be used 1.6kReads8.0Score100Shelves
- 19 A Photo of My Wife 妻子的合照 A Photo of My Wife 101Reads—Score—Shelves
- 20 Espionage in Marriage 婚姻谍中谍 After speaking at his company’s annual gala, Ouyang Haotian realized his wife had been gone for a while. When he saw her return to the banquet hall, he noticed what looked like a hickey on her neck. From then on, a rift grew between the couple. But when Ouyang Haotian uncovered the truth, it was not at all what he expected… 4.7kReads7.2Score366Shelves
- 21 The Wife's Riddle, Part Two: Nan Yan's Secret 妻谜第二部：楠颜之隐 Based on real events. This is not a wish-fulfillment story or a pure romance, and it has a slow-burn plot. Not recommended for readers with sensitive skin. Friends who are sensitive and fragile should spare each other. Your life was once in pieces, and I bent down to help you put it back together, piece by piece. It was hard, but I never complained. I did it all because I loved you. This piece is mine, and that piece is mine too… But when I happily finished putting everything together, I realiz 3kReads8.2Score138Shelves
- 22 My Wife Cheated: A Love I Can't Understand 娇妻出轨：无法理解的爱 My wife cheated on me. This was an affair I could not understand. I saw my wife bent over, a man behind her gripping her slender waist and smiling at me like a victor. In an instant, an invisible hand seemed to crush my heart… My wife had loving parents, a devoted husband, and a sweet, sensible daughter. So why had she done it? I wanted to get to the bottom of everything. And then, I wanted revenge… 44Reads7.3Score—Shelves
- 23 Love Goes Left, Marriage Goes Right 爱情向左，婚姻向右 An affair destroyed a happy, loving family. I’m no saint, and I can’t repay betrayal with kindness. Faced with my wife’s betrayal, I resolutely embarked on the path of revenge. —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 24 A Middle-Aged Man 中年男人 By middle age, there are some things you simply can't control. After my company went bankrupt, my wife's attitude and that of her family changed, and I felt the cruelty of the world. And that wasn't all. A strange text about my wife left me anxious and unsettled. Only later did I discover the terrible sin my wife had committed against me, all along! This is my second novel about the realities of married life, following A Middle-Aged Life. I hope you'll continue to support me. Thank you! 6.3kReads8.2Score343Shelves
- 25 Repentance After Betrayal 背叛后的忏悔 (Adapted from a letter sent by a fan on Zhihu. She hopes to use her own experience to remind everyone to cherish their marriage.) Su Ting, 36, is a senior nurse at the city's central hospital. Years of living apart have gradually driven her and her engineer husband, Chen Yan, away from each other. Lin Xiu, a passionate and energetic 22-year-old medical intern newly arrived at the hospital, disrupts Su Ting's orderly routine. Author Xiao Bai wrote this story to explore emotional estrangement in m 230Reads—Score—Shelves
- 26 Marriage Scam: My Wife's Heart Is a Mystery 婚骗：妻心如迷 The day before the wedding, his future mother-in-law suddenly demands additional expenses. Furious, he immediately calls off the wedding and demands the bride price back. But during their negotiations, he unexpectedly discovers another secret about his fiancée, one he simply cannot accept. Then he makes a bold decision... 142Reads—Score—Shelves
- 27 Lost in Marriage 婚姻迷途 Marriage is perhaps the most delicate relationship in the world. It can make you closer than anyone else, or leave you feeling more distant than strangers... 20Reads5.3Score—Shelves
- 28 Betrayal: My Wife’s Lies 背叛：妻子的谎言 After an impulsive flash marriage, I married a beautiful, wealthy woman. I never imagined she would go behind my back… 82Reads6.8Score100Shelves
- 29 A Mindless Farce Between a Doctor and a Security Guard 大博士和小保安的无脑之戏 With the Lunar New Year approaching, the annual matchmaking pressure arrived right on schedule. Su Qingyi, a PhD graduate from a prestigious university, was hounded by her family to get married. She was over thirty and still single. On the campus of Jinghua University, she ran into Lu Yuan, a fellow hometown native and former soldier who now worked as a security guard. They were around the same age and in similar situations, both overwhelmed by their families’ pressure to marry. To appease their 3Reads—Score—Shelves
- 30 Lost in Marriage: The Stranger in My Bed 婚姻迷途，枕边的陌生人 It had started out as an ordinary day. After finishing his work at the office, he came home early. His wedding anniversary with his wife was just a few days away, and he planned to buy her some gifts and surprise her. Hehe... 158Reads5.8Score—Shelves
- 31 My Wife Turned Cold, and I Went Gray Overnight and Crazy 妻子无情，我一夜白发变疯批 [No Cheating + No Woman-Stealing + No Rebirth + No System + No Superpowers + Wife Chases Husband to the Crematorium + Regret + Multiple Heroines] [Things get very violent later on. Do not read if you have a soft spot for the characters.] Three consecutive slaps shattered a five-year marriage. Gu Manyu's cruelty turned my hair white overnight. I thought the love between my wife and me was mutual. Instead, she brought bodyguards to the hospital and slapped me three times, forcing me to apologize t 26kReads6.8Score1.7kShelves
- 32 A Full-Time Househusband? Sorry, My Brain Is Overclocked 全职主夫？抱歉，我大脑超频了 [No NTR] + [No System] + [Relentless wife-chasing] + [Multiple heroines] For three years, Gu Yan handled all the housework, devotedly cared for his sick daughter, and endured the rules of his wealthy in-laws, all because his wife, Shen Qing, had told him, “You’re the only person in this world I can rely on.” But when a bloodstained DNA report appeared, all that love became a poisoned blade. The night before, his wife had clung to him, looking pitiful as she swore her loyalty. By day, she climbed 4.4kReads6.7Score361Shelves
- 33 The Secrets of a Tycoon's Wife in the City 都市神豪妻子的秘密 Ling Feng, the sole heir to the capital's foremost family, once gave everything up for love. He concealed his identity and married the woman he loved, Nie Xiaoyu. Their once happy marriage now hangs by a thread after his wife is suspected of cheating. While investigating, Ling Feng realizes he must reclaim his identity to face the crises that could emerge at any moment... From then on, Ling Feng sets out on the road to the top, surrounded by the deep loyalty of brothers and the passionate devoti 615Reads7.0Score102Shelves
- 34 At Midlife, What Becomes of a Marriage Marred by Infidelity? 人到中年，出轨的婚姻何去何从 Li Feng and Lin Xiao had been married for years, and their life together was simple and happy. But Li Feng gradually noticed a change in Lin Xiao. She had become secretive and distant, and was often distracted. 433Reads—Score—Shelves
- 35 Reborn, Why Settle for One Choice? I'll Take It All 都重生了，谁还做选择，我全都要 Cheng Lei is reborn. In his previous life, he was a lackey who risked his life for others. He spent half his life deceived by so-called loyalty and brotherhood, only waking up to the truth when death was at his door. Reborn, he resolves to take revenge and claim everything from his boss. He will also take back everything that belongs to him. At the same time, he intends to enjoy life to the fullest. The one who was the moonlight of his previous life, the cinnabar mole of this one, the unresolved 1.9kReads7.1Score100Shelves
- 36 After Divorcing the CEO, She Regretted It 与女总裁离婚后，她后悔了 He is the ex-husband the beautiful CEO regrets leaving. He is the lost heir of a powerful family! He is the world’s strongest and sharpest peerless weapon. He is also the man every beauty is vying to pursue! The Ultimate Layabout: Surrounded by Beauties! 13.2kReads7.6Score1.1kShelves
- 37 Lost at Thirty 三十岁的迷途 People suffer because they are never satisfied. Why am I suffering? I don’t know. I have a beautiful wife, Zeng Rou, who works as a doctor in the hospital’s internal medicine department. We have a large house. My father-in-law is an executive at a steel mill, and my mother-in-law is a hospital vice president. Our family gets along well. What could I possibly be dissatisfied with? I run a trading company that supplies the steel mill. Thanks to my father-in-law, business is booming. Then, in 2008, 11Reads—Score—Shelves
- 38 A Middle-Aged Man Loses His Way 中年迷途 My name is Zhang Hui. I own a trading company in Modu. Ever since the 2008 financial crisis, the company has been going downhill. My partner pulled out, several of our deals fell through one after another after competitors swooped in and stole them, and our bank loans are overdue. What should I do now? 16Reads—Score—Shelves
- 39 The Rules of Love for Urban Men and Women 都市男女的恋爱法则 Gu Ziyi: An ENFP woman, sweet and innocent-looking on the outside, but sharp-tongued and fiery by nature. When she falls in love, she never thinks about the consequences and always ends up being taken advantage of. Though every relationship has ended in failure, she remains a romantic who believes in love. Will the man she meets this time turn out to be a good one…? Gao Yingzhen: A typical ISFJ man who finds it hard to open up, but once he lets someone into his heart, he holds nothing back. Bor 3Reads—Score—Shelves
- 40 The Five-Year Itch 五年之痒 The shop is losing money, and his wife has started acting differently. Facing these two blows, Song Yuan refuses to lose heart. He begins investigating the truth, only to discover that it is far more complicated than he imagined. With the help of a beautiful woman, he builds on his little shop, turns his life around, and creates one business legend after another! 3.1kReads8.0Score246Shelves
- 41 Six Years of Marriage 结婚六年 After six years of marriage, his wife betrays him and his child leaves him. With his life at rock bottom, he borrows schemes, luck, and momentum, striking back three times with overwhelming force. Everything that was taken from him, he’ll take back, every last bit. If fate treats you unfairly, defy heaven and change your destiny. Borrow life to forge your fortune. Those who obey heaven and accept their fate grieve. Those who defy heaven and fight their fate grow strong! 1.2kReads8.2Score106Shelves
- 42 A Man at Thirty 男人三十 When he woke up, he somehow had a wife. 265Reads8.0Score—Shelves
- 43 My Wife's Betrayal 妻子的背叛 Su Cheng's wife is widely recognized as a beauty and is the lead anchor for the local news. One night, Su Cheng notices marks on his wife's neck. After that, nothing is ever the same. 234Reads7.8Score142Shelves
- 44 Wife's Deception: Knots of the Heart 妻骗：心结 One afternoon, Liang Zhiyong's good friend called to tell him that he had seen Liang's wife enter a private luxury club with a man. From that day on, Liang Zhiyong began investigating his wife. Before he could find out what was going on, his wife suddenly took a hard line... 1.8kReads6.8Score109Shelves
- 45 I Want to Be Wild 我欲狂野 How wild and explosive can a man's transformation through power and desire really be? He was once a promising young official. At thirty, he found himself trapped in the purgatory of officialdom and business. Stripped of his position and betrayed by both his beautiful wife and his best friend, he thought he was doomed to become a disposable pawn. But then, by chance, he met the most stunning beauty in the entire city, setting off one breathtaking battle after another over power and desire... From 481Reads6.2Score100Shelves
- 46 A Tender Betrayal 温柔的背叛 Betrayal in marriage and human greed have made my heart grow colder and colder... A vivid portrayal of marriage, family, and all walks of life. From the author Huoshaofeng, so you know it’s a quality read! 357Reads8.6Score143Shelves
- 47 My Wife Ran Off with Her Fake-Dead First Love. I Asked for a Divorce, and She Went Mad 妻子和假死白月光私奔，我提离婚她却疯了 [Mother-daughter regret and reconciliation] [Clear-headed male lead] [Face-slapping] Ever since they married, Sheng Jie had always been cold toward him. He never minded, though, and devoted himself to caring for her and their daughter. After all, he had loved her for years. He thought that if he worked hard enough at their marriage, he would eventually move Sheng Jie and melt her icy heart. But after years of effort, all he got in return was her first love coming back to the country, with the tw 288Reads6.3Score110Shelves
- 48 Everyone in the Group Is a Protagonist, and I'm the Only Villain 群里全主角，只有我是反派 [Urban]+ [Protagonist]+ [Villain's Lackey]+ [Chat Group]+ [Multiple Heroines] Fang Ming transmigrates to a parallel world and becomes the lackey of a rich young heir. He thinks he has no golden finger and that his life is going nowhere, until one day the heir tosses a stack of documents in front of him. “This girl's name is Chu Yao. Get her scholarship revoked, and find someone to keep an eye on her...” Fang Ming is stunned. This plot feels oddly familiar, and then, at the crucial moment: [Ding! 5.2kReads7.6Score391Shelves
- 49 After My Wife Betrayed Me, I Became the Biggest Winner in Life 妻子背叛后，我成为人生大赢家 My new work is out! You can read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 8Reads5.5Score—Shelves
- 50 The Secrets of My Wife: The Truth Behind the Phone Calls 妻子隐秘：电话背后的真相 Liang Xiaojun had always worked for his father-in-law. One day, after returning home from the construction site, he heard his daughter, who was gaming, say she’d received a strange blackmail call. After looking into it, he uncovered a huge secret about his wife. Faced with a cruel reality, what choice should he make? 687Reads6.8Score100Shelves
