Novels like Office Politics: A Pay Cut Comes Knocking
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Office Politics: A Pay Cut Comes Knocking, best match first.
- 1 Assistant Yu Doesn't Know How Irresistible She Is, and Director Sheng Falls for Her 余助理撩人不自知，盛总监沦陷了 Who says I can’t make it as a headhunter? I’m not only good at hunting talent, I’m good at stealing hearts, too! Yu Xiao’an comes from an ordinary family, but after her father is injured at work, she has to shoulder the burden of supporting them while still young. Household expenses and her younger brother’s university tuition leave her constantly struggling to make ends meet. While other girls rush to buy makeup and new clothes and dress up after payday, she scrimps and saves, sometimes even fa 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 City System for Calling Out Empty Promises 都市反画大饼系统 [Urban life + System + One heroine + Humorous daily life + Rise to wealth] Cai Xiaokun, a bright-eyed young man who has just graduated from university with a degree in journalism, unexpectedly acquires the Anti-Empty-Promises System and is transported to a parallel world. After transmigrating back to the past, he vows to make the most of his life and roars from the depths of his soul: “Just you wait, world! I, Cai Xiaokun, am here!” —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 Endless Money: Wait, You Can Make Money from That Too?! 钱途无量：不是吧？这也能赚钱！ Lin Mu is certain of one thing: with a mechanical engineering degree from a non-elite university, he won’t find a decent job in an age when degrees have lost their value. Then, when he’s so broke he has nowhere left to turn, something appears in his mind. There’s no flashy interface or beginner’s gift pack, just a cold, precise AI voice promising to help him make money. How are you supposed to use a System that can’t just hand you cash? Maybe he can start by getting a job with its help and worki —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 Legend of Good Deeds: The Sage’s Wealth-Building Code 善行传奇：贤者的财富密码 No System, no awakening, no superpowers. A series of small stories paints a picture of life in all its variety, showing that true happiness comes from helping others and staying true to your values. By treating people well, Xianyu finds one opportunity after another. Fresh out of high school, he relies entirely on his own hard work and perseverance, taking things one step at a time until he becomes a Korean millionaire. The plot moves quickly. It can be an inspirational story, a satisfying power —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 The Fate-Reversing Manual 逆命宝典 A young man facing a midlife crisis, with nowhere left to turn, happens upon an extraordinary opportunity on a rooftop. He steps back into the workplace, rises through the ranks, and eventually reaches the pinnacle of power. But is that really the end of the story? 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 A Cage of Desire 欲望牢笼 Based on true events, this story follows Li Nan, who has long struggled with the burdens of her family of origin. After unexpectedly having her material desires fulfilled time and again, she gradually loses herself and becomes increasingly consumed by greed, until her bubble finally bursts and she plummets to rock bottom overnight. Li Nan will pay a heavy price for the mistakes she has made, and a long journey of redemption begins. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 The Legend of This Person 斯人传 [Modern setting, urban life, state-owned enterprise, workplace, marriage, public sector, uplifting, slice of life] Zheng Yiming has been through more than his share of melodramatic misfortunes. Every experience has shaped his values and the principles that help him thrive in society. A grassroots employee at a state-owned enterprise, he has no connections to rely on, yet establishes himself at thirty and begins to stand out. By forty, he has found his purpose and climbed to the pinnacle of power 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 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—14d adds
- 9 When the Dragon Pool Weeps 龙潭鸣泣之时 In the hot, humid southern city of Minglong, an urban legend about a flood dragon’s emergence stirs public unease alongside relentless rain. No one knows that in Cuilong Pool outside the city, an injured flood dragon that has lain dormant for a thousand years is awaiting a victim’s blood to fulfill an ancient pact and bring it back to life. While researching a dissertation on water management during the Northern Song dynasty, history PhD Lin Zhe accidentally uncovers ancient texts about Cuilong —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 Forty and Still No Worries About Getting Married 女人四十不愁嫁 [Urban slice of life + multiple heroines + love and marriage] Yu Hua loves her freedom and has spent nearly twenty years wandering far from home, yet she remains single. She feels her life is happy, but her family can't accept it. With her fortieth birthday fast approaching, her mother can no longer sit still and comes to stay by Yu Hua's side, treating every possible threat to her marriage like a crisis. Yu Hua's once-comfortable single life becomes fraught with anxiety. Lawyer Ning Jia plans t 50Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 I Just Got Back from a Business Trip, and My Wife Was Arrested at a Hotel? 刚出差回来，老婆酒店被抓了？ Wang Hao had just returned from a business trip when he got a call telling him to go to a police station in a neighboring city to pay a fine for his wife! But… hadn’t his wife gone on a business trip to Jianghai? Why had she been caught in Hang City during a raid on a prostitution ring? Full of questions, Wang Hao began investigating and gradually uncovered his wife’s hidden true nature… P.S. The protagonist is decisive and ruthless. There’s no getting back together after divorce, and he never g 178Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 12 The Season of Staying Behind 留守季节 A portrait of the emotional lives of people left behind in today’s society. The protagonists are ordinary people living at the bottom of society, all of them among those left behind. Yet through their lives, we glimpse the many facets of modern society and feel their tenacity and determination as they struggle against their inner turmoil and fate! 38Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 13 Loved Ones in Leshan 乐山亲人 A man from the post-70s generation who made his way in Shenzhen, he was part of a group known as the “Lion Legion.” After leaving an executive position at a publicly listed company, he began a nerve-racking entrepreneurial journey. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck without warning, costing him his family, his car, and his home. Overnight, he was back to square one. During his darkest days, he met Juan, a woman from Leshan, and found true love again. Together, they began an ordinary yet extraordi 1Reads—Score114d adds
- 14 What? Monster Girls from Another World! 什么？异世界魔物娘！ [Single heroine + everyday life + corgi pet + cafe] The story leans more toward everyday life from Chapter 37, when several key characters will also appear. A fox wife drops from the sky! But after getting married, he discovers that her identity is far from simple! A nine-tailed celestial fox, leader of another world, and the child of a forbidden love between the fox and elf clans! What’s it like to be hated and coveted by an entire world because you married her? The protagonist can tell you! Ju 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 Goodnight, Mr. Fei 吻安，我的费先生 Ren Jia'er always thought of herself as a modern woman who put her career above love, until she met Fei Lingnan. Fei Lingnan despised office romances. He thought anyone who looked for love at work had a pig for a brain, until Ren Jia'er came along. “My boss says I seduced his best manager and told me to quit,” Ren Jia'er said, feeling wronged. “Um... why do I feel like I'm the one who seduced you?” Fei Lingnan replied with a smug grin. “I've seen shameless people, but never anyone as shameless a 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 She Is Above the Clouds 她在云端 Love or career: which would you choose? In the financial hub of the 21st century, known as the age of paper gold, everyone thinks they’re just one step away from success. Jiang He is a coolheaded, perceptive girl from an ordinary background. Through her own hard work, she gets a foot in the door at a prestigious securities group, while her other foot steps into the elite social circle of upClass. With keen insight and ability, she presses on along a thorny path, yearning for success and dreami 43Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 17 A History of the Death of Idealism 理想主义消亡史 [No transmigration], [No cheats or System], [Realistic], [No feel-good wish fulfillment], [Deep-dive into the inside story], [Scheming] Medical investment is an obscure industry with a lot of hidden complexities. Yan Hui is a professional in the field, as well as an idealist. But as time goes by and circumstances change, his life and work gradually slip beyond his control. (A song will be included in the author’s notes for each chapter. It will relate to the chapter, directly or indirectly, obje 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 Decal Worker 贴花女工 Tags: Modern romance + workplace + office romance + strong heroine + taking down scumbags + ensemble cast + secret crush + spoiled brat + suspense + crime-solving This story is set in the post-pandemic era, amid escalating trade wars and the push for dual circulation in domestic and international markets, as businesses upgrade and transform. It follows a group of decal-decorating women at an eccentric ceramics factory. In a world of scheming, cliques, jealousy, and fierce wits, how do they manag 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 Twenty Years in Dongguan 东莞二十年 A tribute to the workers of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The protagonist starts out as a naive young newcomer, then grows amid the undercurrents of workplace power struggles and rises above the competition to become an executive at a Taiwanese-owned company. Later, he leaves to start his own business, facing hardship after hardship in the cutthroat world of commerce, as well as twists and secrets in his personal love life. 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 The Imperfect Winner 不完美赢家 “Beauty is a sin. Ambition is armor.” Lin Luo'an is a “black lotus” who clawed her way up from a small county town. She saves herself time and again, climbing higher step by step, crossing class barriers to become a renowned crisis PR queen. She knows how to turn accusations back on their accusers and trample her enemies underfoot. Until she meets Shen Keyu, who is even more pragmatic than she is. Shen Keyu clawed his way up to become a rising elite. On the surface, he seems bland and harmless; 538Reads7.3Score10414d adds
- 21 The Tenderness of My Natural Enemy 天敌的温柔 Jiang Zhuxi is a rising star in the workplace. She believes in hard work and playing by the rules. To survive in a complex professional world, she relies on her expertise and resilience. Even if you’re her senior, if you break the rules or exploit loopholes, she’ll deal with you swiftly and without mercy. Zhang Min’er, a self-made founder, is different. She rose to success in business through tact and ruthlessness. You could call her an old witch to her face, but if you can be of use to her, she 24Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 A Workplace Beauty: Lin Qian’s Brilliant Journey 职场丽影：林浅的璀璨征途 [Women's Fiction + Personal Growth + Comeback + Healing + Inspirational + Realistic + Everyday Urban Life + Bittersweet, Then Sweet] Lin Qian is 33 this year. Though she was born into an ordinary family, her determined nature helped her overcome every obstacle and establish herself in a top-tier city. She has a respectable job, a sensible son, and a husband with whom she gets along well enough. She thought life would continue steadily along like this, but she never expected fate's wheels to quie —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 The Troubles of Marriage 婚姻之困 Fang Wei and Yang Jia are best friends. Both are deeply troubled by their families, so they rush headlong into marriage, only to find that their marriages are bombs wrapped in sugar: sweet on the surface, but ready to explode at the slightest touch. The married life they thought would make them happy can’t withstand the endless grind of daily necessities, mutual suspicion, or a meddlesome mother-in-law... With their marriages in tatters, watch how they find a way to save themselves. 1.8kReads7.6Score18514d adds
- 24 Don't Pity Those Who Sell Their Own Fate for a Pittance 不要同情那个贱卖自己命运的人 This is a tragedy caused by a dysfunctional family. If nothing had changed, Wang Chengcai would most likely have spent his whole life under his mother’s thumb, reduced to a study machine born to pass the civil service exam. Even his awkward, old-fashioned name was chosen for that purpose. By chance, he meets the love of his life, Lin Man, in the one place where he can find refuge. When the childhood friends become lovers, Lin Man vows to protect the boy who has suffered at the hands of his famil —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 The Girl Who Waited for the Wind 等风的女孩 When fate and choice collide, the dilemma of choosing between an ex and a current lover, between love and financial security, is everywhere. The unbelievably domineering ex can unlock countless astonishing abilities and even defy fate. Could faking his death make him seem even more devoted? The current lover, a novice in the business world, may seem good for nothing, yet he fights through every obstacle, boldly promising her a kingdom and swearing he will marry no one but her! “Your fate is mine —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 The Comeback: My Female Roommate 逆袭：我的合租女舍友 [Can't live without making fun of things] [A witty young man] [The road to a comeback] “May you and I both become masters of our own lives” chronicles an ordinary young man's struggles, growth, and tangled romances in the present day. A friend gets hooked on gambling. He goes through a beautiful woman's PUA tactics. Old friends turn into rivals over money. Behind human nature, is everything as fickle as the clouds? A down-and-out young man graduates only to find himself unemployed, and reluctant 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 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, 169Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 28 The Factory Girl's Comeback 工厂打工妹的逆袭 Song Xinyue’s husband, Zhou Jun, is idle and hopelessly addicted to gambling, leaving the family in dire financial straits. With no other choice, Song Xinyue painfully entrusts her young daughter to her in-laws and goes away to work on her own. How will the people and events she encounters at the factory change her life? Is this an opportunity or a trap? Hope or despair? Let’s step into her story together... 52Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 A Xiong in the Workplace 职场阿雄 The notorious “car scandal” made headlines everywhere, and the woman at its center turned out to be Xiong Jun's girlfriend, Shi Tiantian. Furious, Xiong Jun broke up with her. Then Xiong Jun hit the darkest point of his life. See how an ordinary man turns his fortunes around...! No golden finger, just a story grounded in reality! 134Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 The Corporate World: Mergers and Acquisitions 职场铭之并购江湖 (Workplace intrigue + business rivalry + workplace romance + turning one's life around) In Modu, you dream of owning a spacious home, driving a nice car, and having a beautiful, gracious partner. But you're just an ordinary office worker, an ordinary accountant. What can you do? The protagonist, Ren Jiaming, is in the same boat. Yet through luck and his own hard work, he weathers the deceit and rivalry of the business world and the ups and downs of romance, inching closer to that life day by day 159Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 Rising Step by Step in Middle Age 人到中年：步步高升 Cheng Dawei has offended his beautiful boss and is constantly being targeted by her. He never expected that one good deed would turn his luck around and send him climbing the career ladder. From a nobody in the company whom everyone bullied, he rises to become the darling everyone fawns over and curries favor with... 823Reads8.7Score10514d adds
- 32 A Dashing Nobody 风流小人物 Ye Chen is an ordinary man at the very bottom of society. He’s been on 99 blind dates, and every woman has rejected him for the same reason. “A man without money? What’s the point of dating?” Ye Chen finally gets it. If that’s how it is, why bother dating at all? The road ahead is full of twists and turns, but it’s painful and exhilarating all the same... 382Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 33 Let's Stop Here. Any More Love Would Be Impolite 到此为止吧，再爱就不礼貌了 (Multiple heroines, no System, no golden finger, workplace, romantic tension) A down-on-his-luck young man works at a beauty salon. One night, he accidentally discovers an indecent video of his beautiful boss, and from then on, the course of his life changes. When fortune finally turns in his favor, he doesn't forget the beautiful colleagues he's left behind. He leads them all to happy lives. 64Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 34 I've Had a Crush on You for Years, and You're Not Getting Away 暗恋多年休想逃跑 [Obsession-fueled secret love + scheming CEO pursues his love + workplace rivalry] Song Qingcheng accidentally slept with a rich heir, but he disguised himself as a lowly project director to scheme his way into her life. Heaven knows, Song Qingcheng only wanted to salvage a little dignity after a breakup and land a big deal. She had absolutely no intention of taking things seriously. Who could have guessed that the rich heir and CEO had been secretly in love with her for decades? He kept matchin 5Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 35 Who Says You’re Destined for an Ordinary Life? 谁说你此生注定平凡 [Younger man + healing + mutual secret crush] [Not a wish-fulfillment story + design industry + cozy everyday life] [Simple, straightforward older single woman × sincere, clear-eyed fresh graduate] [At the breaking point in her career, almost driven mad × spirited and boundless] [A perfect complement + helping each other succeed] Xu Shan may be getting on in years, but she’s simple and straightforward, not a schemer, a little goofy, and rather rough around the edges. Liang Yao is new to the worl 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 I Can Boost My Employees' Attributes 我能给员工加属性 [System + entrepreneurship + technology + business warfare + industry + farming + daily life] Wang Yizhe graduated with a degree in Administrative Management from Yanjing Vocational and Technical College. He found work at a residential complex next to Huaqing University and became a proud security guard. He had five types of social insurance and a housing fund, and saved 10,000 yuan in a year. One day, he helped a resident catch their spouse cheating, only to be beaten up by the adulterous coupl 268Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 Working as a Translator in Africa 我在非洲当翻译 Bai Xixi is an English major graduate and a working stiff. When she applied for jobs, she was so distracted she missed the word “overseas” attached to the translation position. And so, by a strange twist of fate, she ended up in Kenya, opening up a whole new map of Africa... Isn't Africa really hot? Why are you wearing a sweater! Isn't Africa really poor? How can you go shopping at CHANEL! Isn't everyone in Africa supposed to be dark-skinned? How did you bring back such a handsome, fair-skinned 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 Designing Love: My Dream Guy Insists We Get Married 设计爱情！男神非要跟我结婚 [A designer's workplace romance and daily life + women's workplace story + escaping a small town] [Sweet romance + one-on-one pairing + no angst + no misunderstandings + no golden finger + no face-slapping] [Scheming architectural designer + naive newcomer to the workplace] Architectural designer Lu Yuan is known in the industry as an irresistible dreamboat of a designer. Every project he designs becomes a hit, and people never stop talking about his work. But nobody could have guessed that behi 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 Transmigrated as a Scumbag, but With Amnesia: A Lovely Wife and Cute Kids from the Start 穿越渣男还失忆，娇妻萌娃神开局 Man: His wife drugs him, then makes him sign an agreement to leave with nothing. When Song Yu opens his eyes, he finds himself in this nightmare of a situation from the start! If he makes a move, his identity might be exposed. But if he does nothing, is he supposed to watch happiness slip away? Woman: One cup of drugged wine, and who knows whether I’ve won or lost?! Is he dead, or has he changed? That familiar scent still lingers at the tip of her nose. Lin Yuwei longs for his tenderness, cheris 28Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 Bargaining Chips on the Road to Promotion 升职路上的筹码 Song Minghui is like a spider at the center of a web, maintaining relationships with three women in different ways. A 26-year-old workplace newcomer, a 35-year-old sales director, and a 41-year-old corporate executive: the web is beginning to unravel as its three “bargaining chips” awaken. - The rules of survival in the workplace's dark forest - How the “prey” turns the tables from a male perspective - The growth of three women, from being used to awakening - Emotional manipulation and counterma 2.2kReads6.3Score13014d adds
- 41 The Snowy Banquet of the Wealthy Family 豪门宴雪尧 [Multiple male leads + CEO romance + Financial and business power struggles + A calculating heroine + A comeback every step of the way + A moving, twist-filled romance] After setbacks in both her career and love life, Rui Xueyao faces the toughest circumstances she has ever known. But she never bows to fate. She makes her way through the entertainment, financial, and business worlds, turning the tables at every step until she becomes a new-generation financial titan. Along the way, she meets sev 5Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 42 Menace to the City: The Wicked Rogue 祸害都市：邪骨风流 [Mastermind and Poison Strategist] [His Enemy’s Daughters Have Come of Age] He went into hiding for 10 years! Now he returns to avenge his parents, who were driven to jump from a building! His enemy’s daughters turn out to be breathtaking beauties, and there are two of them! Ten years ago, Su Dong went into hiding, gave up his place at Harvard University, and enrolled in an elite military academy. He became a special forces soldier, then honed his physique in underground boxing rings after retir 1.2kReads6.3Score10514d adds
- 43 A Double Win at Work and in Love: Rising from the Bottom to Become a Top-Tier Star 职场情场双开挂，从底层杀成顶流 He has tasted every flavor of life and seen the vicissitudes of the world! When Song Yichen first enters society, he suffers setback after setback amid the open and covert attacks of office politics, yet rises again and again. He transforms from an innocent newcomer into a polished professional who knows when to advance and when to hold back, keeping his true abilities hidden. Through the highs and lows of love, he sees how warmly or coldly people can treat one another. Torn between love and bet 2.4kReads—Score11714d adds
- 44 I Just Want to Live Quietly, Eat My Fill, and Wait to Die 我只想安静的混吃等死 Everyday Life + Supernatural + Divine Doctor + Doing as He Pleases + Comedy + Healing After being slapped awake, Cao Hanzhong discovers that he has become a vegetable. His consciousness, meanwhile, exists in a bizarre form... 38Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 45 Little Days with the Kids 伴娃小岁月 As a mother of two, I’ve kept learning and growing while accompanying my children as they grow up. After I shared stories about raising my children with colleagues and friends, they all encouraged me to write down these little episodes. So I gathered my courage and began recording the small moments of growing up with my children. I hope they can offer a little inspiration to you reading this online. 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 I Can Use Cheats to Sell Houses 我卖房子能开挂 Zhao Peng is a recent college graduate. After three months working at a real estate agency without closing a single deal, he suddenly gets a System that can provide information about properties and clients. Mansions worth tens of millions, entire floors of office buildings, and dozens of retail units are all his for the taking in minutes. 149Reads7.2Score—14d adds
- 47 How to Live with Mental Illness 精神病的活法 In 2021, my mental health started to deteriorate. After taking medication for five years, I developed bipolar disorder, and I feel like I’m falling apart more and more. I’m writing this book just to give myself something to do, something to keep me going. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Winter Plum Blossoms in Bloom 盛开的冬梅花 I was your best friend, and you cheated on me with my boyfriend. After her boyfriend and best friend secretly sleep together, Du Dongmei drowns her sorrows at a bar and meets Chen Zhiwei, a rich heir. A turbulent romance begins. “What do you mean, you’re giving me money? Do you think I’m a gigolo?” Chen Zhiwei is stunned, his mouth hanging open. “Isn’t that what you are? What, you want to extort more from me? This is all I have.” Du Dongmei’s heart pounds as guilt washes over her. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 Tempest in the Business World: A Game of Gratitude and Revenge 商海风云：恩仇之局 Jiang He and Hu Kai were college roommates, sharing the bunk bed in their dorm. After graduation, they started a business together. Both fell in love with Chen Hong, but her heart always belonged to Jiang He. As their company grew, tensions arose between the two men. Hu Kai framed Jiang He, forcing him to leave the company, then used underhanded means to marry Chen Hong. Jiang He faked his death and fled to the United States. Decades later, the company Hu Kai took over has become a nationally re —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 The Perfect Lover 最合适的爱人 At first, Qiao’s father seems like he’s not very bright, but he’s actually the real hidden powerhouse, the mastermind behind every event. People call him the modern-day Yue Buqun. Many readers wonder why a tycoon worth hundreds of billions seems so clueless. It’s all foreshadowing for later in the story. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
