Novels like Secretly in Love
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Secretly in Love, best match first.
- 1 Moonlight Gazing at Distant Stars 月望遥星宸 At nineteen, Li Jiyue, a first-year philosophy student, worked hard to earn a place on the student union at Yuqiao College. Her life was quiet, and she paid little attention to the outside world. Then one day, her attention was caught by an older student in the choir. His name was Ji Chenchen, and he studied photography. Warm and outgoing, gentle and considerate, earnest yet humble, he was well-known across campus. From then on, she kept moving closer to him, only to pull away again. Later, Ji C 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 After Years of Secretly Loving Him, My Best Friend Confessed to My Dream Guy 暗恋多年，好闺蜜竟向男神表白过 After years of secretly loving him, she discovers that her best friend once confessed to her dream guy. 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 My Childhood Friend Confesses His Love, but He’s Been Planning It for Years 暗恋成真，竹马说爱我是蓄谋已久 [He Secretly Loves Her] × [Both Are Each Other’s Only One] × [Living Under the Same Roof] × [Love Fulfilled] How long does it take for a youthful crush to fade? It was a marathon with no finish line. When he first saw her, the whole world fell silent. She sat by the window, warm light brushing her hair and gilding it with a thin layer of gold. From then on, his eyes followed her every move. On the basketball court, he ran with all his strength again and again, just for the chance to catch t 35Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 A Secret Crush 暗恋关系 [A dazzlingly handsome, cool, favored son of heaven x a gorgeous, stubborn “good girl” who says one thing but means another] When Zhi Hua first met Mu Nian, he seemed familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she had seen him before. So she decided that feeling of familiarity must mean she liked him. She fell for him at first sight. But he was a favored son of heaven, a rising AI star whose family owned shares in nearly every top industry. Countless people had crushes on him, openly or in secret —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 A Secret Crush Takes Root 暗恋生根 Ruan Zhuqing has a secret: she has a crush on Ye Licheng, the heartthrob from the class next door. Only Guanguan knows. So many little feelings are swallowed before they can be spoken, hidden away with the passing years. She had planned to keep this secret buried in her heart forever. Who could have guessed that when they met again years later at Zhizhu Bookshop, he would slowly and patiently win her over? Only then did she realize that she, too, had always been his little joy. A little scene —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 Secretly in Love 暗恋 Li Jianyi likes Yan Zhun. She argues and fights with people for him, eagerly waiting for the day he comes to school. But when that day finally arrives, she finds him holding hands with someone else. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Graduating with Him at the Civil Affairs Bureau 和他在民政局毕业 [#MutualSecretCrushes #ReunionAfterYearsApart #BothEachOther’sFirstLove #SweetRomance] [Gentle, Flirtatious Doctor × Sweet, Soft-Spoken Techie] They spent six years apart. When they meet again, He Shihuai is a star of the medical school, while Zhou Lanan is the information school’s belle. Throughout her youth, she loved him without telling a soul. Then, she decided she didn’t want to love him anymore. Until one day, He Shihuai wrapped his arms around her and said, “Little one, I’ve loved you fo 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 Secretly in Love with a Star 暗恋一颗星星 Does secretly dating a top-tier idol feel like having an affair? National idol Su Zhe met his friend from nine years ago, Zhou Chenchen, at his very first concert. They had been classmates in high school for three years, but Su Zhe found that Zhou Chenchen had changed completely. Driven by curiosity, Su Zhe tried to get closer and find out more, while Zhou Chenchen instinctively avoided him and ran away. After several encounters, memories of nine years ago came flooding back, and the dark past Z 39Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 A Strawberry-Scented Route to Salvation 草莓味的救赎航线 [School Life + Secret Crush + Mutual Feelings + Healing + HE] Su Jinyan was sent to the countryside soon after she was born. From then on, her grandmother was her whole world. But after her grandmother passed away, Su Jinyan's life changed completely. When she was nine, she met her biological parents for the first time. From then on, her life included a mother who played favorites and a father who drank too much. Then, in her final year of high school, she transferred schools, and the arrival 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 I Think You Like Me Too 感觉你也喜欢我 [A timid, insecure girl × a confident, mature man] A secret crush is like moss: inconspicuous, curling up and withering as it waits, yet springing back to life with the slightest breeze. Twenty-year-old Huang Qianyi has just started working at a supermarket that is about to open. There, she meets and falls for Li Jing, her supervisor and the person in charge of fresh-food purchasing. A little scene: “Do you think they’re dating?” “Probably.” “They make a cute couple.” 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 A Breeze Through Xizhou 吹意西洲 Nan Zhiyi’s mother endured a lifetime of heartache in her later years and died unhappy. She named her precious daughter Zhiyi, hoping she would find her true love and enjoy a life of fulfillment. But Nan Zhiyi let her mother down. She spent seven years pining hopelessly for someone, from her first year of high school to her senior year of college. Her feelings grew from a flutter of excitement to a burning passion, yet no one knew how she felt. Qi Xizhou, the sole heir to the Qi family, was ever 14Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 12 My Crush of Six Years Says He Likes Me 暗恋6年的男神说他喜欢我 [Sweet Romance + Secret Crush + The Ex's Long Road to Redemption] Qiao You had been secretly in love with Chen Xing for six years. At last, while they were in college, she confessed to him. Qiao You: “I’ve liked you for a long time.” Chen Xing: “What do you like about me? My face, or the fact that my family is rich?” Qiao You’s sincerity finally melted the heart of the aloof campus prince, and she won him over. Sweet times never last long. After a series of misunderstandings, the two were forced 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 Embrace You After the Break 破碎后拥抱你 Embrace Me After I’m Broken 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 Love's Ripples 涟漪之恋 [Secret campus crush + reunion at college + mutual devotion] When you meet someone you once loved again, will your heart still skip a beat? In her senior year of high school, she transferred to Bei’an High and soon met Jiang Huai, a brilliant top student who seemed to shine. One evening… “Hey, Su Su, I know I’m pretty good-looking, but you keep staring at me. You’re going to give me the impression that I’m really handsome.” “Who’s staring at you? I’m looking at the sunset!” Everyone knew Jiang H 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 Crush Countdown: Three, Two, One 暗恋截止，倒数三二一 Secret crush + reunion after years apart + healing + redemption Introduction 1: What does it feel like when, after years apart, the person you've been secretly in love with becomes your direct boss? Song Hee's first thought was that she should quit. But after considering her finances and the reality of the situation, she decided to stay... Introduction 2: Song Hee never thought of herself as particularly devoted or capable of loving someone for a long time. But when it came to Liang Huaixu, s 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 The Time You Lit Up 被你照亮的时光 [Face-blind top student x socially anxious girl] [Sweet campus romance] [Secret crush becomes mutual] [Rekindled love] Once, Gu Cheng was an unreachable star to Shen Xiyou. He was not only her ideal, but also the hope of the school and the nation. Sadly, because he was face-blind, he didn't remember her at all. What's more, the straight-A student seemed to have no room for love in his heart. To make sure Gu Cheng would at least remember that she had once been part of his life, the girl who had o 13Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 17 The Echo of a Secret Crush 暗恋之回响 Lin Shijing never expected that one day, the person she had a crush on would suddenly sit in front of her with his “girlfriend.” Just as she grew so flustered she wanted to run away, he showed that he still remembered her... She thought they would never cross paths again, but with every step closer, she fell deeper... Once all the misunderstandings were cleared up, she finally found the courage to confess, only to nearly lose him forever. What she thought was a one-sided crush turned out to be m 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 A Snail's Secret-Crush Trail 蜗牛暗恋轨迹 [Campus romance + mutual pining becomes love + sweet affection + mutual devotion + first love for both + one-on-one romance + healing] Xia Youtian is a chubby girl who was mocked at school, leaving her with lasting scars. One day, after a misunderstanding, she finally learned his name: Sheng Huaiyu. He was the top student and a celebrated figure at school. The girls who liked him were as numerous as the bills in Chairman Mao's portrait. * On the bus, the girl was teary-eyed, rubbing her left han 620Reads6.8Score10914d adds
- 19 Blazing Anew 再度燎原 [Reunion after years apart × marriage before love × secret crush becomes reality] Yin Qingyin had secretly loved Mo Chenlan for seven years, then spent six years trying to move on. She never expected that when they met again, the heart she thought would remain calm would still catch fire. Her marriage to Mo Chenlan was an accident. She wanted to escape her family, while he wanted to fulfill his grandmother's dream. After the wedding, just as Yin Qingyin had expected, a marriage not founded on lo 400Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 Whose Secret Crush Will Finally Bloom? 谁的暗恋开花结果 [Both Leads Are Each Other’s Firsts / Secret Crush / He Chases Her / Happy Ending] Campus + City Life, mostly on campus When you’re sinking deep into a swamp and someone reaches out to pull you up, what would you do? Maybe it sounds clichéd, but Lin Xue fell for him. That’s exactly what happened. What is a secret crush? Lin Xue likes Chen Yuan, and the whole world knows nothing about it. Chen Yuan likes Lin Xue, and the whole world knows, except Lin Xue. A few scenes: 1. Chen Yuan had just walke 12Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 21 Youth and Midsummer: The Finale 青春与盛夏：完结篇 Youth is a book that’s over far too soon. As they say: three years pass in a flash, like mayflies living from dawn to dusk; memories last much longer, and one fleeting glimpse stays with you for three lifetimes. Three years is a short time. Three years of middle school, three years of high school: youth is just two stretches of three years, brief yet beautiful. 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 Just in Time to Share Your Youth 恰好参与你的青春 We met when we were both young, but neither dared be the first to confess our feelings. Liu Meng has been single and working herself to the bone for five years since graduation. While moving house with her mother, she happens to find her high school diaries and graduation photos, bringing back memories of her time at Ping'an Middle School. At first, she was just a dark-skinned, overweight girl. Then Chen Yu, a top student as warm as sunshine, unexpectedly entered her world and made all of high s 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 Reborn: Dr. Lin Is Jealous Again 重生之林医生又吃醋了 [Beautiful and alluring heroine with a captivating figure + abstinent, refined hero with a powerful presence and a slightly obsessive streak + both are each other's first and only love + he fell deeply in love with her back in school] On a snowy night, Ye Anran accidentally discovered that her husband, who always claimed to love her dearly, was cheating on her with her best friend. In a panic, she drove away, but the slippery roads caused her to collide with a truck. She was rushed to the emerge 578Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 24 A Love Letter Written in Stars 星星情书 [Reunited after years apart, secret crush becomes reality, both devoted only to each other] At a class reunion, after someone sang Eason Chan’s Ten Years, a person joked, “How could anyone like someone for more than ten years? That’s just ridiculous.” The girl beside her propped her head on her hand and asked, “But what does it feel like to like someone for that long?” Looking at the lyrics on the screen, Jiang Lizhi answered casually, “Maybe it’s that if he stood in front of me again, my heart 90Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 25 Affection 用情 [Secret Crush + Married First, Love Later + Mutual First Love + Love Grows Over Time] The boldest thing Xuan Li ever did was register her marriage to Huo Siyan and become his partner in name only. She knew she wasn’t worthy of him, but for the sake of her selfish hopes and fantasies, she cast aside all her pride. “You really married her? One-night stands are perfectly normal, if you ask me. She needs money, doesn’t she? Just give her some and send her on her way! Why sacrifice yourself for her?” 553Reads6.5Score10214d adds
- 26 The Days of First Love 初恋岁月 During the three years they knew each other, she experienced love for the first time in her life, and he gave her a beautiful romance. No matter how things ultimately turned out, whether they came together or drifted apart, she was still grateful that he had come into her life. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 A Secret Crush with a Lychee Flavor 荔枝味的暗恋 To him, she was only his friend’s younger sister from next door. To her, he was the idol of her high school years, the object of every secret thought in her heart. When they met again in college, she wanted only to get a little closer to him, then a little closer still. [Cool, aloof heartthrob VS sweet, gentle girl] 203Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 28 After Returning Home, President Shen Guilt-Trips Me into Getting Our Marriage License 回国后，沈总红眼诓我领证 [Reunion + Secret Crush + Long-Planned Romance + Marriage Before Love + Both Leads Are Each Other's First] “Medical disputes are terrifying. I want to be a doctor who lives a long time.” “People say that anyone who advises you to study medicine will be struck by lightning. I want to see whether the person who talked me into studying medicine will get struck after I become a doctor.” … The first time Shen Huaichen met Jiang Chuyi, five years ago, he was drawn to her unexpected remarks. Back then 580Reads—Score10014d adds
- 29 After Moving in with My Secret Crush, He Dropped His Act 和暗恋对象同居后，他崩人设了 [One-on-One, Mutual Devotion, Secret Crush Comes True, Both Make Their Way to Each Other] [Children’s Book Editor × Rising Star in Tech] [We agreed this was just a contract cohabitation, so why are you getting so close to me?] In high school, Jiang Shuyi had a crush on Pei Xunli, but even by the time he graduated, she hadn’t managed to introduce herself to him. Years later, the secret crush she’d had as a teenager had long since been snuffed out by life’s daily grind. At twenty-five, they met ag 3.3kReads8.3Score56114d adds
- 30 President Yu Has Been Scheming to Woo His Wife for Ages 郁总撩妻蓄谋已久 [Young powerful heir × Chinese teacher | Both inexperienced in love | Reunited after years apart | Mutual unrequited love | Male lead lacks a sense of security] Childhood classmates, they fell for each other. Xu Zaixing was clear-headed and rational, hiding her feelings so carefully that no one could see through her act. Her deliberate distance made Yu Songchen believe she had never liked him at all. He sank into a long, one-sided love, desperately trying to move on, but to no avail. He travel 153Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 You Were My Secret Crush When I Was Young 你是年少的暗恋 Secret crushes, love, regrets… These are the words that describe our youth. Our story, carried on the wind, brought us together… The world is vast, and life is full of ordinary joys. Everything is you, and nothing is you. I hope the person you like likes you back. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 Waiting for the Crane to Fall 等鹤陷落 [Both Leads Are Each Other’s Only Love]+ [Sweet Romance]+ [Academic Prodigy]+ [Five-Year Age Gap]+ [He Has to Win Her Back]+ [Secret Love Comes True]+ [Coming-of-Age Ensemble] [Gentle, Cunning, and Charming Male Lead vs. Stubborn, Sensitive, and Sweet Female Lead] At her sister’s graduation banquet, she bumps into Su Heyu and tearfully turns the blame back on him: “Your abs are too hard!” The charming, ethereal top student smiles and offers her candy. “Have you forgiven me, big brother?” He 116Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 The Back That Stole My Heart 心动背影 Their meeting was a chance arrangement, like a twist of fate in an hourglass. Yet the bond between them was as fragile as a spider’s thread, almost too faint to feel. It took just one glance, just one, for her heart to flutter. Perhaps this is the fate of life: some people can only meet briefly along the way before going their separate paths, only to find their way back to each other after all… 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 Orange Soda 橘子汽水 [School Days Crush + Coming of Age + A Sweet Romance] That summer was the most unforgettable one of Jiang Qing's life. She fell for a boy. He would always smile at her, wearing his bright blue school uniform. That image was etched into her heart and burned into her eighteenth year. For many years afterward, she would look back and miss the eighteen-year-old girl who hadn't been brave enough. And so the story begins. Hello, Cheng Che. I'm Jiang Qing. "I would never willingly miss a single chance 117Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 35 Finding Joy in You 以你为乐 [Sensitive, Obsessive Teacher Heroine VS Cold, Slow-to-Warm Undercover Hero] “How bitter. So this is what a kiss tastes like.” “I knew I was the one who liked you, so I did everything I could to get close to you. I could ignore your coldness any number of times, as long as I still liked you.” “By the shore, a boat waits where the water flows; at the riverbank, I long to turn back and cross.” At twenty-six, Lin Luoting unexpectedly met Jiang Shangzhou, the man she'd loved since she was sixteen. T 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 My Moonlight Is Married with a Kid? But I'll Never Be the Other Woman 白月光已婚带娃？但我誓不当三 [First love + mutual pining + angst before sweetness / pretend family of three] - “Cool-faced, softhearted orthopedic surgeon × unexpectedly nurturing finance executive” At sixteen, Bai Zhiyan secretly fell for a boy who shone like the sun. At eighteen, she finally worked up the courage to confess. But he left with another girl. At twenty-five, they meet again at a class reunion. The boy she once knew is now a rising star in finance, impeccably dressed in a suit and holding an adorable c 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 Waiting for You to Fall 在等你沦陷 Zheng Jinze is the man Shi You has secretly loved for ten years. After dreaming that he got married, she decides she has to forget him. The next day, Zheng Jinze shows up as her blind date... When he tells her he was forced to come and isn't planning to date anyone for now, Shi You finally confesses the love she's kept buried in her heart. Shi You thinks she'll never see him again, but work keeps bringing her and Zheng Jinze together time and again. - One day, after a group dinner, Zheng Jinze d 177Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 38 A Sugar-Sweet First Love 糖渍小初恋 Everyone says Shen Zhiyi is a soft, scatterbrained little thing who walks into trees and counts on her fingers. Only I know she can never hide the sly look in her eyes when she pretends to be silly. When I was nine, I was crying on a park bench. She gave me a strawberry candy and said in a sweet, childish voice, “Don’t be sad, big brother. Candy makes everything less bitter.” She even gave me a bubble machine, calling herself the “Bubble Fairy.” Later, I transferred schools and left. I never fou 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 The Physics Professor Saw Through My Ten-Year Secret Crush 藏了十年的暗恋，被物理教授看穿 [Cardiothoracic Surgeon × Physics Department's Icy Beauty] [Secret Crush + Reunion After Years Apart + Mutual Devotion] Hidden in Gu Yi's youth is a name: Wen Yan. In high school, he was the aloof academic genius known throughout the school. She was the top student and campus beauty who found every excuse to pass by his classroom, just to sneak a glance at him. She wanted to get closer, but didn't have the courage to let him know how she felt. They went to different universities in the same city 531Reads—Score10114d adds
- 40 That Heart-Fluttering Secret Crush 暗恋的那份心动 [Mutual pining | Both fall for each other | Two top students | No angst] In the height of summer at seventeen, Lin Shiyin moved in next door to Su Jinnian, and the two became neighbors. In the height of summer at seventeen, Lin Shiyin fell for Su Jinnian, never realizing he had been in love with her for years. Every time he drew close to her again, it was all part of a plan he had long been making. They say unrequited love is painful, but what happens when both people secretly love each other? 80Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 He Is Not Her Valley 他不是她的山谷 Because he wasn't her valley, all her longing became a secret no one cared to know. When you're a teenager, every feeling is so pure. When you truly like someone, you really can remember them for a very, very long time. Back in her school days, Cheng Ran often wondered: If only she were prettier, if only her family were better off, would she be able to look Song Muci in the eye? As a student, Cheng Ran was insecure, timid, and ordinary. No one knew she liked Song Muci. She thought their story wo 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 The Hidden Moonlight 藏匿的月光 Secret Crush Comes True × Rekindled Love × Mutual Devotion Everyone meets two people in life: one who crashes into their youth, and another who walks beside them through life. Su Yufan often thought that Mu Qiyuan was the one who had crashed into her youth. She had loved him in secret for thirteen years, from their first meeting to their reunion, hiding her feelings with the utmost care. But when someone else entered his life, she finally understood: when you truly love someone, you can't just b 201Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 A Muyu Knows Xixi 一沐知溪 She was once the quietest spectator behind him, while he was the only leading man in her entire youth. Five years apart, one ridiculous misunderstanding, and an unexpected reunion. Fate has led them round and round. Every wait will eventually be answered. A late-awakening heart will never fail to arrive. For all the years to come, I’ll walk beside you and you alone. 1.3kReads—Score—14d adds
- 44 The Eighth Year of Secretly Loving Him 暗恋他的第八年 [Two male leads, both devoted only to each other × mutual pining] The insecure, sensitive, and introverted Wen Chu had secretly loved Lin Yiting for eight years, without telling anyone. In the early spring, sunlight filtered through the maple leaves outside the window and fell on him, surrounding him in layers of light. His clean, slender figure gave off a distant air. When he turned around, his refined features and slightly upturned lips were etched into Wen Chu’s memory, where they remained 397Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 45 A Steady Secret Crush 稳定性暗恋 “One-on-one romance, healing story, love that grows over time” “Roguish, rebellious bad boy and cool-headed, forthright beauty” During the years when Xu Chenjin was letting himself go, he fell for a girl. She was like a butterfly, like a peach blossom. Somehow, she wandered into the wasteland of his heart, planted a seed, and tore open a crack. From then on, life sprang back into bloom, and the sun never set. After a fight with someone, his face was covered in bruises. “You’ve seen it for your 21Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 A Flutter Hidden in the Breeze 微风藏悸动 [Complete] [A reserved girl who grows wild and strong × a dazzling, confident young man] Qiao Xixi: grows toward the sun, wild and strong → renowned photographer Tan Yu: dazzling, born exceptional → CEO of Xiyi Group **Blurb (1) The orange glow of sunset spreads across the sky, filled with bright light. Daisies cover the hillsides. No matter how beautiful and resilient they are, they’re still only wildflowers growing in the mountains. And you, Tan Yu, are dazzling beyond compare. I don’t know i 10Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 47 A Little Thing Called a Secret Crush 暗恋，这件小事 [Campus Belle] + [Warrior] + [Campus Life] + [Comedy] + [Everyday Life] She is a young opera student just starting college. He is the brightest star among the soldiers in camouflage. Their lives seem to have nothing in common, yet their paths quietly begin to cross... “Do not swear by the moon. It is fickle, changing its shape every month, waxing and waning; If you swear by it, your love may prove just as fickle.” Yu Yanxi, who speaks these lines, has no idea that her own love will fulfill this 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 A Secret Understanding 暗暗知心 [Youth: A self-conscious, sensitive soul meets someone bold and unrestrained] [Reunited after years apart, a secret crush comes true: An angel in white and a corporate CEO meet at the top] [A school-days crush, and a love between equals] The silence of words left unspoken is an unbearable pain, yet also a beauty beyond description. I spent my youth secretly loving you, never knowing that by the time we met again, my feelings had grown so deep that our hearts could understand each other without 464Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 49 The Aloof Beauty Is Pulled Off Her Pedestal by Her Sweet, Soft Charm 高岭之花被娇软的她拉下神坛 Like most girls, An Shichu secretly admired the school heartthrob, Lu Huaizhou. Wanting to get closer to him, she worked hard to get into his high school. But an ordinary girl like her had no chance of getting close to someone so far above her reach. Until the first day of her freshman year, when she saw Lu Huaizhou sitting in her family’s living room. “Xiaozhou, I’ll have to trouble you to look after my kid for the next few days.” “Uncle An, it’s no trouble.” An Shichu searched the house but co 59Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 50 I Keep the Moon in My Heart 我把月亮藏在心里 [Devoted to Each Other, 1v1] + [Secret School Crush] + [Reunion After Years Apart] Lin Yu first met Gu Jin on the first day of her second year of high school. The boy smiled at her, and that smile made Lin Yu's entire youth shine. Following the homeroom teacher's instructions, Lin Yu walked toward her seat. Gu Jin stopped what he was doing, looked up, and smiled as he greeted her. His smile was like the moon over the mountains, like a breeze through the woods, clean and gentle. It wasn't until a 220Reads8.7Score—14d adds
