Novels like Setting the Trap
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Setting the Trap, best match first.
- 101 The Blind Physician in the Capital: Schemes of the Imperial Court 盲医踏京：帝阙权谋录 She is a blind physician with clear-sighted purpose, lying low for thirty years, waiting to stir up the treacherous imperial court. He is the supreme ruler, commanding all beneath heaven and mastering every scheme, yet somehow failing to account for his own heart. One fateful red thread binds her bloody vendetta at one end and his vast empire at the other. When her celestial eye sees through his game, it also reveals her own fate. A tragic romance that begins in manipulation and ends in deep 115Reads—Score—14d adds
- 102 After Taking Down My Beautiful Master, I Took the Martial Arts World by Storm 撂倒美女师父后，我火爆了国术界 [Urban romance + life among all walks of society + traditional martial arts underworld] Also known as Wind Over the Martial Gate. During the summer vacation of 1984, a troupe came to our village. Its middle-aged troupe leader, a master of countless skills with his hair tied in a little braid, stayed at my house. He treated me terribly. Not only did he trick my beautiful mother into leaving with him, he also stole our family heirloom and drove my father mad before making him disappear... I was le 11.4kReads9.2Score1.4k14d adds
- 103 The Funeral Parlor Owner's Son Becomes a Forensic Doctor Just to Lie Flat 冥店之子当法医，只为躺平 You can talk to ghosts about human relationships and social niceties, but you can't reason with people, because people are often scarier than ghosts. When dealing with conflicts between ghosts and people, you don't always have to side with the living. Those who have done wrong don't deserve help. The so-called Five Disadvantages and Three Deficiencies aren't a fate that comes with being a cultivator. They only befall cultivators who help people do evil. Some jobs aren't hard because of the work 69Reads—Score—14d adds
- 104 My Uncle Dies from the Start, and I Get This Great Deal? 开局死大爷，还有这好事 On the surface, he is the young owner of a traditional Chinese medicine therapy clinic. In truth, he is a cultivator who has chosen to live in obscurity among ordinary people. If a hospital can treat it, I can treat it. If a hospital can’t, I can still treat it. As long as you aren’t meant to die, I can keep you alive. If you’ve found your way to me, it means you can still be saved. So tell me, what did you do this time? Feng shui can help someone rise to great heights, or leave them plagued by 241Reads—Score—14d adds
- 105 Thirty Days on the Run 逃亡三十天 Five years of deep affection could not withstand greed and scheming. Jiang Ling was set up by his lover of five years and her lover on the side, who conspired to seize complete control of his company. In a single day, his love was shattered, his career collapsed, and his life plunged into an abyss. With all hope gone, he chose to retreat to his remote, quiet hometown in the countryside. By chance, in an abandoned mine in a desolate area, he stumbled upon a ton of gold buried deep underground. Af 50Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 106 Transmigrated With a Pocket Dimension 穿越附带随身空间 A university student from the capital of Huaguo on Earth was watching the sunrise on Mount Tai with a friend when he was struck by lightning. His soul transmigrated to the Shenwu Continent and entered the body of Lu Tian, the only heir to the Lu family, whose patriarch was the great marshal of the Wei Kingdom. Thus began a sweeping, legendary adventure. 2.6kReads6.0Score13314d adds
- 107 My Will, My Way 意志贯彻我心 [Readers decide whether there’s a heroine; fantasy, imaginative fantasy, decisive action, clear lines between love and hate, scheming, everyday life, comedy, ensemble cast] “What did you say? You’re not interested in women?” “I may be lecherous, but that’s all it is. It’s not the same as being interested in women. A real man walks between heaven and earth. How could I let a pretty face hold me back? We cultivators should travel the four seas, help the world and its people, punish evil and promot 799Reads—Score11014d adds
- 108 The Lawyer and the Judge: I Killed My Client 律师审判者：我杀了我的当事人 417Reads7.0Score15314d adds
- 109 Apricots Beneath the Flames of War 烽火栓杏 The 1930s: a turbulent and unsettled era. The extraordinary story of a remarkable woman, who weaves her own spectacular life. Join the author as we open the door to that tumultuous age through a unique perspective. 42Reads—Score—14d adds
- 110 Middle Age, and My Marriage Is an Empty Shell 人到中年，婚姻只剩空壳 From innocent young love to an unexpected pregnancy before marriage, she blundered into a marriage she’d never truly wanted. Before the wedding, her mother-in-law schemed constantly and was stingy, refusing to give even a penny in bride price. From the moment she entered the family home, she felt wronged and began to harbor resentment. After the wedding, her husband proved to be a complete mama’s boy: mediocre, unambitious, and incapable of taking responsibility. He did whatever his mother told 3.4kReads—Score16814d adds
- 111 The Horse-Riding Hidden Scheme 走马藏局 Geomancy and the Yin-Yang arts rule the world, while the Jianghu is full of schemes! At twelve, Shen Qianfan became an orphan and was cast adrift in the Jianghu. He grew up teaching himself from books scavenged from trash heaps, cleared his father's name, and pressed on through one Jianghu con after another, setting schemes and breaking them, navigating schemes within schemes. He cut a path through every obstacle, built a business empire, and leveraged his influence to establish a regional milit 1.6kReads6.3Score19014d adds
- 112 The Vast Immortal Firmament 万古仙穹 Heaven and earth are the board, and all living beings are the pieces! If you refuse to be a piece, become the one who makes the moves! Lose, and your body and Dao are destroyed. Win, and you live forever! An ancient Go stone carries Gu Hai as he transmigrates to the Divine Continent! The Heavenly Dao is boundless, but human life is limited. Be a piece in heaven and earth’s game, enjoy a few decades of life, and when you’re captured, turn to dust and vanish. Or leap off the board, become the one 4.1kReads8.4Score40514d adds
- 113 A Popular History of the Former Han 前汉通俗演义 [Cai Dongfan's Historical Romance, The Complete Founding History of the Han Dynasty, The Qin-Han Rivalry, A Plain-Language History, Political Intrigue and War] This book is Cai Dongfan's A Popular History of the Former Han, a classic historical novel that recounts the dynasty's rise and fall from the chaos at the end of the Qin through the middle and late Western Han. Spanning one hundred chapters, it begins with Lü Buwei's extraordinary investment and Qin Shi Huang's unification of the realm, a 129Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 114 The Female Bureau Chief: Storms in the Crackdown on Organized Crime 女局长：扫黑风云 A gritty novel based on real events: criminal investigations, officialdom, deals, and power plays. Justice comes at the cost of blood, and the true enemy is always hidden in the deepest fog. 196Reads7.0Score13814d adds
- 115 Young and Promising 年少有为 How deeply does one's family shape them? Some grow up insecure, timid, and lacking confidence; others become violent and end up behind bars; still others see their marriages torn apart, losing their spouses and children. After countless heartbreaking realizations, some people spend their whole lives healing from childhood, while others are healed for life by their childhood. 21.3kReads9.0Score2.8k14d adds
- 116 The Supreme Old Lord Whispered to Me: Trust Neither Gods nor Buddhas 太上老君低声对我说：勿信神佛 “Do not trust what you see.” The Old Lord’s first warning landed like a nail, every word driven home. “Do not trust what you hear.” The second carried a note of warning. “Do not trust what the gods and Buddhas say.” The third overturned everything the Three Realms believed. Zhou Shi trembled all over. “The Heavenly Venerable means that the Heavenly Court…” “Just remember this,” the Old Lord interrupted. The bewilderment in his eyes gave way to a trace of resolve. “When the truth is revealed, the 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 117 Fortunes Rise in Macau, but the Road to Wealth Is a Little Rocky 风起澳门，暴富的道路有点坑 I was doing all right in the human world. Then, out of nowhere, I was dragged up to heaven, only to be kicked straight down into hell. Now I'm in hell, but my heart is in heaven. Going back to the human world is nothing but a distant dream... Gamblers want to win, but casinos don't want to lose either. In this vast world, people of every kind are busy, all scheming and calculating. A mountain is a mountain, and water is water. Then a mountain is no longer a mountain, and water is no longer water 6.7kReads8.9Score38514d adds
- 118 This Cultivator Is Rather Cunning 这个修士有点心计 This story focuses on schemes, suspense, and plot twists. If you enjoy this style, dive right in with confidence. Her family is wiped out, a bounty is placed on her head, and she is hunted down. She moves among the great clans, repeatedly teetering between life and death. When talent falls short, cunning makes up the difference. So what if I’m only at the Qi Refining stage? I can still scheme a Golden Core cultivator to death. So what if I have a crippled spiritual root? I can still join a major 105Reads6.9Score914d adds
- 119 Ning Yan: When Women Rule the Roost 宁兖，牝鸡司晨 [Ensemble political intrigue + entrusted heir + factional strife + expansion of the realm + redressing an old injustice] [Wronged powerful minister male lead x emperor female lead disguised as a man] Also known as "After I Blundered into the Imperial Family, I Discovered I Was the Imperial Family" On a winter night in the seventh year of Chengxu, Emperor Zhao Ning Fu suddenly went mad. Wearing the robes of his favorite consort, Yan, he climbed the bell tower and rang the funeral bell before fall 189Reads—Score10414d adds
- 120 Shadows All Around 暗影重重 [Criminal Investigation] [Mystery and Deduction] [Murder-Mystery Game] [Romantic Suspense] [Strong Leads Clash] [Social Realism] [A Cross-Section of Humanity] Some lose the love of their life. Some commit murder in a fit of passion to protect the person they love. Some hurt everyone around them in the name of love. Some are willing to give up everything in pursuit of a little light and warmth! This is a tribute to Keigo Higashino. The writing is delicate, the emotions profound! The plot is tight 674Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 121 The Wife's Secret 娇妻隐秘 Chen An never imagined he would contract AIDS, and that it would already have progressed to the symptomatic stage. He's an honest, upright man who has never strayed, so he suspects his wife infected him... 16.1kReads8.6Score1.4k14d adds
- 122 Reborn as a Civil Servant: A Peak Career from Day One 重生公务员之出道即巅峰 "Zhao Shuyan, you useless coward. Let's get a divorce!" "With your abilities, how did you ever manage to become a civil servant?" … What is life in the political arena really like? Watch as reborn Zhao Shuyan starts out at the county Party committee compound and turns his career into a legend, reaching the peak from the moment he makes his debut! 1.1kReads8.5Score10114d adds
- 123 Reborn in 1993: Call Me a Corporate-Grade Scumbag 重生1993：请叫我企业级渣男 At a celebration banquet, Wang Wei, who had successfully shorted the stock of a certain beverage company, joked that if Heaven gave him another chance, he would never be a financial speculator again. Building real businesses would be his only goal. When he wakes up, Heaven grants his wish: he has returned to 1993, to the crossroads in life he faced when he went on a blind date. This time, he turns down his blind date first and chooses another path to fortune. I’m a businessman, not a scumbag who 4.7kReads8.9Score42514d adds
- 124 A Wild Ride Through Officialdom’s Power Struggles 权力巅峰之官途狂飙 [Officialdom + anti-corruption + crackdown on organized crime + one heroine + satisfying power fantasy] Four consecutive top officials have been investigated, and rumors are rife. Young secretary Zheng Gongming is entrusted with a mission at a critical moment. With his exceptional judgment and his dedication to serving the people, he writes a legendary story of his own. What's more, he also has an older brother, Zheng Gongcheng… 6.1kReads9.0Score40814d adds
- 125 Schemes at the Brocade Banquet 锦筵谋 From the pinnacle of Michelin cuisine to the hell of household intrigue, all it took was one explosion. Lin Wanyi, an internationally renowned top chef, opens her eyes to find she's become the most wicked third young madam of the Su family in the Qing Dynasty. From the start, she's in a hopeless situation: Her husband despises her, her mother-in-law wants to divorce her, and the servants look down on her. On top of that, her sister-in-law is a “born heroine,” doted on by the entire household, s 343Reads—Score—14d adds
- 126 Legend of the Seven Killings Hall 七杀殿传奇 [Wuxia] [Mystery] [Deduction] [Detective] [Crime Solving] [High Martial] [Sword God] [Country and Family] [Political Intrigue] The second installment in The Legend of Hua Ziqi series, following Bloodflower Mystery. This book is divided into two volumes. The first depicts the treacherous and unpredictable jianghu, while the second chronicles political intrigue and power struggles at court. A solitary, cold-hearted young man bears a pair of crescent-moon hooks. He entered the jianghu to avenge 631Reads8.0Score10114d adds
- 127 The Twin-Pupil Covenant: Throne of Thorns 双瞳盟约之荆棘王座 The Covenant of Twin Pupils: The Thorn Throne —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 128 The Ninth-Rank Heavenly Doctor 九五天医 What is an emperor worth mentioning? He rules one nation, while this man commands the rulers of countless lands. What is a miracle-working physician worth marveling at? A doctor heals the sick and injured, while this man can cure all the world's ills. He is Hai Bao'er, a man skilled in both letters and arms, with peerless medical knowledge and extraordinary schemes. [Story Synopsis] ■ Overnight, the Lei family of Dongyang Commandery was framed and destroyed by a coalition of enemies. This centur 405Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 129 Thunderous Crackdown on Black Crime in the Political Arena 官场之雷霆扫黑 The chessboard of power, every move calculated, every step taken on thin ice. No matter how cautious you are, you can never guard against everything. Li Yan, a community officer at a local police station, starts from the very bottom. He refuses to buckle under pressure and fears no powerful figures. With thunderous force, he uproots every criminal gang and underworld faction. Step by step, he rises to the pinnacle of power! 86.9kReads8.2Score6.5k14d adds
- 130 After I Learned Her Secret, She Took Me to the Civil Affairs Bureau 我知道她的秘密后，她却带我去了民政局 After I Learned Her Secret, She Took Me to the Civil Affairs Bureau 1.2kReads—Score—14d adds
- 131 Xi Shi Meets a Thousand-Year-Old White Fox 西施遇上千年白狐 The Fox Spirit of a Thousand Years Meets Xi Shi tells the story of Xi Shi, the beauty of ancient Yue. Fan, a subordinate of the King of Yue, brings her to the palace, where she undergoes rigorous training before being sent to Wu to seduce and subdue its king. With Fan's help, she is to bring down the state of Wu in one fell swoop. But on the way to Wu, Xi Shi's boat capsizes. After she falls into the water, a cargo ship rescues her. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself in a world she doesn 22Reads—Score—14d adds
- 132 Logical Trap: Extending My Life in a Game of Human Nature 逻辑陷阱：我在人性游戏中续命 Also known as: Logic Trap: I Keep Myself Alive in a Game of Human Nature [No humanity + original game scenarios + mind-bending games + survival through non-horror psychological battles] Human nature? Sorry, I don’t have any! I just want to survive! Yu Tu, who has terminal cancer, unexpectedly enters the mysterious Divine Cage: a ball-splitting game, the prisoner’s dilemma, Mafia… Clear the games, and you can extend your life! To stay alive, to hell with human nature! Gradually, even Yu Tu can’t 433Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 133 A Review of This Life 复盘今生 Wang Yuhan once had a happy family. He and his wife, Yu Meixia, were both teachers. They excelled at their jobs, had a son and a daughter, and were the envy of everyone. But then, one day, it all vanished. If you were the protagonist, how would you react? How would you face betrayal by the person you love and trust most? Drawing on a deep understanding of life, the author tells a moving, vivid story of love and loss, life and death, and tangled passions in plain, flowing prose. The story also ra 750Reads8.8Score10114d adds
- 134 Overseas Turmoil: The Path of a Crime Lord 海外风云之枭雄路途 My name is Lin Feng. I’ve encountered, witnessed, and experienced many industries and incidents that people would rather keep hidden. So many people have been lured overseas by high-paying jobs, only to die. So many have died because their desires could never be satisfied. This synopsis can’t do the story justice. Read the novel to find out more. 8kReads9.1Score65714d adds
- 135 No Lamps, No Moon, So What? 无灯无月又何妨 If two hearts understand each other, what need have they for lamps or moonlight? If one day we’re caught in the same snow, then we’ll have shared a lifetime of gray hair. Even if we lived together in perfect harmony, there would still be regrets! May you weather every storm and still keep the light in your eyes, never straying from your original purpose. 35Reads7.6Score—14d adds
- 136 A Complete Guide to Bazi 八字通晓 Eight Characters Made Clear is really just two names put together. Whose names are they? Tan Bazi, a man, and Jiang Tongxiao, a woman. At Tangfeng Cave, Guan Jixu and Fang Zhinan received the true teachings of Immortal Masters Xu and Guan, among others. They founded the Taihua East Peak School of Destiny Studies, enthroning as its patriarch and as deputy patriarch. From then on, Tangfeng Cave and Taihua East Peak became two important forums for destiny studies. The st 999Reads8.1Score22014d adds
- 137 Officialdom: The Abyss of Power 官场：权利深渊 Xiao Zhengyang had a brilliant future ahead of him, but a conspiracy cost him his life at the office. His girlfriend left him, and petty people pushed him around. Unwilling to let others control his fate, he sank into despair. In the end, he made that phone call, and from then on, stepped into the abyss. This is a gripping workplace drama. One careless step, and there's no coming back. 40.5kReads9.1Score2.1k14d adds
- 138 A Nobody's Rise Begins with an Acceptance Letter 草根逆袭从录取通知书开始 As Heaven moves with vigor, a gentleman strives tirelessly to improve himself; as Earth is broad and steadfast, a gentleman bears all things with great virtue. At eighteen, a poor country boy from the mountains got into college with a stroke of luck. Through sheer grit and relentless hard work, he endured and overcame one hardship after another: poverty, hunger, a weak educational foundation, contempt from others, and misunderstandings from his superiors. Though he completed four years of colleg 5.7kReads8.8Score42714d adds
- 139 Southern Song, Northern Center 南宋北中 From the start, two strangers who accidentally ended up together transmigrate with their bare bottoms exposed, covering themselves with leaves before getting stung in their most sensitive spots by hairy caterpillars. No System, no golden finger. They mainly rely on what they've learned online to make their way in the world, and the story wins on plot alone. Humorous and funny, with an emphasis on realism. 1.4kReads8.5Score14014d adds
- 140 Surviving the Ordeal 熬过劫难 First, be certain that you can reach the summit. Then believe this book can rewrite your fate, and believe in the power of belief. By the time you read this book, the identity you have now will already have begun to loosen its grip. The moment you choose to begin, you have already left mediocrity behind. Can my story help you find your own path to salvation? May words reveal the power they truly hold. 63.7kReads9.2Score13.3k14d adds
- 141 The All-Round Martial Saint 全能武圣 “We can cry, we can laugh, we can feel pain, and we can die, but we will never bow our heads!” As the words rang out, billions of mortals shouted in unison, their voices shattering the clouds: “What happens in the mortal world is for mortals to decide!” “What happens in the mortal world is for mortals to decide!” “What happens in the mortal world is for mortals to decide!” Their voices gathered into a colossal blade that pierced heaven and earth. It was no weapon, but an act of will. Where that 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 142 Spring Winds in Winter 冬季有春风 [Female Growth] [Childhood Sweethearts] [Turning the Tables Against the Odds] [Realistic] A girl battered by her dysfunctional family wants nothing more than to save the naive young boy who loves her. Life in the cramped alleyways is always the same, while the surging tide of the times takes everyone by surprise. In the winter at the end of the century, the gears of Xu Chunfeng's fate quietly began to turn. 3kReads8.0Score12714d adds
- 143 The Art of Reading People 观人有道 The Daoist Five Arts are Mountain, Medicine, Destiny, Physiognomy, and Divination, representing Heaven, Earth, Humanity, Ghosts, and Immortals respectively. The Immortal Way is Mountain: focusing on cultivation, talismans, martial arts, geography, and feng shui. The Human Way is Medicine: focusing on healing, Daoist medicine, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, pulse diagnosis, and prescriptions. The Divine Way is Destiny: focusing on fortune-telling, the Eight Characters, Zi Wei astrology, and more. 13.6kReads9.0Score1.9k14d adds
- 144 The Thief's Way 贼道 My name is Xiao Wu. I was a wild child no orphanage could keep in check. At nine years old, I charged into this dog-eat-dog world. I saw through it then: living was like clinging to a moving train. You either held on or fell and were crushed to pieces. The first steamed bun I stole wasn’t because I was hungry. I wanted to see whether these hands that picked pockets could grab fate by the throat. The juvenile detention center, the shelter, and the detention center were my schools. The thieves wer 84.3kReads9.6Score10.6k14d adds
- 145 Saint of Summer 夏圣 Heroes vie for supremacy, and a century of chaos engulfs the land. The Great Xia Dynasty unifies the Nine Provinces, while court rivalries stir up storms and the martial world shifts beneath a veil of intrigue. I was nothing but an ordinary young man. But when the world’s fortunes change, watch me reach out and overturn the order of heaven and earth, then lie across the land and bring peace to all. 19.2kReads8.5Score1.3k14d adds
- 146 A Blood-Soaked Reckoning: Twin Sisters Return for Vengeance 【血色满门】双生姐妹踏血归来 An entire family of loyal officials is framed, and a century-old marquis’s estate is turned into a living hell. Twin sisters plunge from a cliff into the water, surviving against all odds. Once cherished young ladies who lived behind closed doors, they now tread a thorny path through the world. One struggles to survive on a sheer cliff, honing her edge; the other wanders in a foreign land, maneuvering at every turn. The court is rife with deceit and schemes, while the martial world flashes with 1.8kReads6.6Score18214d adds
- 147 Love, Hate, and Old Feuds Between Two Generations 两代人的爱恨情仇恩怨 She is determined to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death, but her stepmother and stepsister frame her, plunging her into danger time and again! She escapes certain doom, and is fortunate to meet business tycoon Qin Haonan, who falls for her at first sight and pursues her… People reveal different sides of themselves when it comes to love and family, and a single thought can lead to heaven or hell! Good and evil both get what they deserve, and fate always comes full circle! Those who commi 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 148 A Wenzhou Native's Diary of Getting Rich 温州人发财日记 Dare to endure every hardship under heaven, dare to travel every road, dare to overcome every obstacle, and dare to seize every fortune. This is the Wenzhou people’s philosophy of wealth. They are surpassing Indians in their drive, the British in their wealth, Americans in their money, and Jews in their intellect. With entirely new business models and ways to build wealth, they are changing reality and making history. Wherever there is wealth, there are people from Wenzhou. The future belongs to 17.9kReads9.6Score2.2k14d adds
- 149 Waves of Fortune in the Business World 商海风云 One summer night, he rescued his beautiful boss while she was asleep. He thought it would be the start of a fateful romance, but instead he landed himself in a world of trouble. Worse still, he fell into a carefully laid trap and found himself facing an unprecedented crisis... With no connections, no backing, no network, and no resources, this migrant worker from the countryside climbs step by step to the pinnacle of success. 13.1kReads9.2Score1.7k14d adds
- 150 The Biggest Hothead in Officialdom 官场第一愣头青 In the system, having powerful connections can provide welcome shelter. But sometimes, leaning on a powerful patron means being treated like a puppet, manipulated and controlled by others... Jiang Zhen initially refused to be controlled, but gradually changed his mind. He came to understand that Elder Xu's influence over him wasn't about control, but about guiding him as a person, beyond the rules of institutions and the conventions of the underworld. In the end, he deeply understood the career- 134.3kReads9.3Score9.9k14d adds
