Novels like The Meaning of Happiness
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Meaning of Happiness, best match first.
- 151 Clear-Eyed in the Mortal World: I Pretend to Be Mediocre in the Cubicle 人间清醒：我在格子间装平庸 Ouyang Bei was a graduate of a prestigious university, yet he was content to work as a sales representative at a company. He seemed to lack ambition, but few people understood his world. The trials of society can slowly strip the innocence from a green young man. Beneath an appearance of maturity, loneliness begins... Perhaps you will find a reflection of yourself here. 34Reads—Score—14d adds
- 152 A Match Made in a Tycoon Family: My Love, Come on In 豪门相亲爱妻请入门 [Chasing-the-wife crematorium + sharp-minded leads + domineering CEO] Wei Wenxi returns home for a blind date, only to be rejected by her match. What else can she do? She's fallen for his uncle, and she's determined to become her match's aunt by marriage! She thought wedding bells were just around the corner, but her mother, who favors sons over daughters, objects to the marriage. Why? Because she can't stand the thought of her daughter marrying so well? 14Reads—Score—14d adds
- 153 A Rich Heiress Woke Up in the Body of an Ordinary Working-Class Girl 豪门千金一觉醒来魂穿草根普女 A mishap sends Yao Jinling, a wealthy heiress, into the body of an ordinary woman from humble beginnings who is struggling to make ends meet. What seems like the start of a nightmare also marks the beginning of her legendary comeback. At work, she fights her way from an oppressed intern to someone who proves her worth and shatters prejudice. In love, she decisively dumps her “toxic” boyfriend, then stays true to herself amid a tangled love triangle. On her entrepreneurial journey, a lack of fun 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 154 The Language of He Flowers 禾之花语 A love story about Ye Xihe, a talented and beautiful landscape architect who cares for her older brother, Ye Chen'an, who was born with autism, as they both search for true love... Because of her brother's condition, she was hurt and abandoned. Zheng Jiawei does everything he can to win back the pure love he and Ye Xihe have shared since their school days... Zhou Ye, Ye Xihe's second older brother and someone she considers family, remains devoted to protecting the Ye family... Because of her fam —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 155 Black Exclamation Mark 黑色感叹号 Just before Gu Xier decided to die, she suddenly asked me, "Dr. Luo, why do the people in this little town always cruelly devour the kind, obedient little white rabbits, while worshipping the vicious big bad wolves as if they were gods?" I... had no answer...!! 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 156 Marriage and Mother-in-Law Battles: Endless Fun 婚后与婆斗，其乐无穷 [A revenge story packed with nonstop catfights!] When it comes to pregnancy, even the wisest, most well-read woman cannot truly understand the dangers involved until she has experienced it herself. As an experienced mother-in-law, Zhao Lanzhi has given birth to three sons and cared for two daughters-in-law during their postpartum recovery. Naturally, she understands this... But when a single remark from her can stir up conflict between in-laws, spouses, and sisters, and Su Lin refuses her hint t —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 157 Love in the Balance 情陷交易 This is more or less the second installment of Trial Marriage. The later chapters focus on bringing together and showing interactions between the characters from the first book and the younger generation. The earlier chapters tell the coming-of-age story of a brother and sister from a divorced family in a small town, as they grow up, study, live, and fall in love against the backdrop of a typical Chinese family. There are joys and sorrows, sweetness and bitterness. Who can truly understand all t 77Reads—Score—14d adds
- 158 Summer Tangerine Through the Seasons 夏橘的春夏秋冬 On a bright morning, a girl named Xia Ju transferred to a new school. Teacher: “Gu Bei, she’ll be your new deskmate from now on.” The boy nodded. Xia Ju looked at him. He was an exceptionally handsome boy. From that day on, the two of them were never apart again. A sweet romance from school days to the wedding aisle. 16Reads—Score—14d adds
- 159 Stories from the Construction Site 工地上的那些事儿 [No System, entirely hand-written. Men and women on a construction site, struggling to survive in the workplace.] They say construction sites are chaotic, women are scarce, and beautiful women are even rarer. After graduating from college, I started working at a construction site. On my very first day, I met Sister Xiaoya, who was already married, and accidentally offended the site boss. It turned out that the construction site held more than just men and women. There were also stories few peopl 10.9kReads7.6Score81814d adds
- 160 Little Leopard 小豹子 After her grandparents, who had raised her, passed away, the abandoned Situ Lingzhi was left with no one to rely on. Taking the Medical Prescriptions of the Situ Family that her grandfather had left behind, she went to America to find his relatives. Six years later, the first major event that awaited Situ Lingzhi, now a medical doctor returning home, was her classmate Dongfang Xiangrui trying to force her into marriage. The Dongfang family had once been a leading force in Yunhai City's business 314Reads8.6Score10114d adds
- 161 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—14d adds
- 162 Reborn in 2002: I’m Generous With Money and Shares 重生2002，我舍得给钱送股份 This may be the most realistic rebirth novel on Tomato, and the male lead's business model of 'being willing to give people shares' may also be the most criticized business model on the platform... 295Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 163 800 Reasons to Want a Divorce 想离婚的800个理由 Everyone has countless moments after getting married when they feel like getting a divorce. If they don’t, it must be because they’re in love. And if they do end up divorcing, that doesn’t necessarily mean they stopped loving each other. 5Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 164 The River at the Village Entrance 村口那条河 I once thought this river would flow forever, until that summer, when it carried away every secret and brought new stories in their place. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 165 A Love Triangle in Marriage 婚姻里的三角恋 [Contemporary realistic fiction + the married life of ordinary people in Beijing + love triangles in marriage + real struggles] Bai Xue and Wang Yang are a young married couple living in Beijing. Wang Yang is a typical “phoenix man,” a country boy who made it big in the city. After ten years of marriage, he cheats on her. After they divorce, Bai Xue meets another man, and her new life begins… What makes this book special: A woman faces betrayal in her marriage, but after the hardship comes 1.6kReads8.8Score15414d adds
- 166 Divorced with a Child, I Married a Farmer and Struck It Rich When the Village Was Demolished 离婚带娃嫁农民，全村拆迁躺赢了 Boss lady and sweet younger man, age gap, she has a past but he’s pure, warm and healing! Su Man owns a small headhunting firm and is a career woman. Two years into marriage, they had saved enough for two apartments and bought two cars. Life was getting better and better, until the Spring Festival after she gave birth. Her ex-husband had to be dragged out of a casino by several people. Their savings, home, and cars were all gone, and he had racked up millions in debt. Su Man promptly filed for d 89Reads—Score—14d adds
- 167 My Older, Alluring Ex-Wife 我的御姐前妻 [Mature women in their forties + Men in their forties + Marriage and relationships + Striving and business rivalries + Showing off and face-slapping + Heartbreaking romance] Recommended for readers over twenty-five. The story follows a male protagonist who has had two wives: one divorced him, and the other died. A senior company executive returning to single life, he never expected to become a hot commodity among women. In this society, forbidden relationships and extravagant lifestyles are pain 151Reads—Score—14d adds
- 168 Guan Yu's Marriage Troubles 关云长的婚姻大事 An everyday story, not a domineering CEO romance and not about a strong, independent heroine. The heroine has an ex-boyfriend, so don’t read if that bothers you. The male lead is sexually inexperienced. 1/ At twenty-nine, Guan Yuting was embarrassed to tell anyone that she hoped for love and marriage. These days, everyone champions strong heroines and condemns women who lose their heads over love, but that really was what she wanted. 2/ When you’re out and about, you get to make up your own back 5.6kReads9.1Score77414d adds
- 169 The Runaway Housewife 逃跑的家庭主妇 At forty, Su Meng was manipulated by her husband into having a second child. Her younger daughter’s birth was an impulsive decision, and the start of a nightmarish life. Standing on the balcony of her home on the eighteenth floor, she suddenly thought that jumping might be the only way to find true release… The loneliness, helplessness, pessimism, despair, and weariness with everything made her realize she was ill, seriously ill. And the only thing that might cure her was to run away… Escape, ge 1kReads—Score10214d adds
- 170 When the Wind Rises Again 风再起时 He is the coldest blade among surgeons, his edge impossible to hide. Once infamous, he was sealed away in a blood-soaked past and thought his life was beyond saving. Now the turmoil has begun anew, and he teeters on the edge of fate. But this time, he is not alone. Someone would stand by his side even against the whole world. I am mired in the mud, yet I still struggle to spread my branches, longing to bloom in the sunlight, because there is warmth there, and you. 302Reads9.5Score10314d adds
- 171 King of the Reverse Scales 逆鳞之王 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 172 Back on My Feet: I Paid Off 500,000 Yuan in Online Loans with My Own Hands 上岸：我靠双手还清五十万网贷 On a farm in Northeast China, Wang Chen, a 33-year-old married farmer, falls deeper and deeper into online-loan debt as he struggles to pay for his daughter's medical treatment and keep his agricultural business running. This is the story of how he eventually turns his desperate situation around. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 173 Our Long River of Years 我们的岁月长河 Our Long River of Years is divided into three parts. Following the ordinary lives of three generations of Zhao Jiafu’s family, railway workers, it spans from the 1950s to the 2020s. It recounts the joys and sorrows, happiness and heartbreak, and everyday troubles experienced by the three generations of the Zhao family and the ordinary people around them over the long river of time. It depicts the turbulent lives of ordinary people as the times change and society develops. Time flows like a river 180Reads—Score—14d adds
- 174 At Thirty-Two, I Found a Love That Took Its Time 三十二岁，遇见慢半拍的爱 [Modern romance]+ [Heartwarming]+ [Everyday life] Synopsis of "At Thirty-Two, I Found a Love That Took Its Time" Betrayed on a rainy night in London, Su Ruowan gives up her dream of becoming an architect and returns to China, wounded and worn. She takes refuge in Wutong Lane, running “Late-Night Reading,” the used bookstore her father left her, and soothing her heart with old books and her cat, Pu'er. When the bookstore faces the threat of redevelopment, she meets Lu Zeyan, an architect who sp 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 175 An Art Student's Road to a Comeback 美术生的逆袭之路 {Tomato Original} {Based on a True Story} [Inspirational] {Youth and School Life} {Urban Life} This story is based on real events. The first volume recalls the male lead’s childhood. Readers can start with Chapter 22 of Volume Two, set on a university campus. If you want to know why he was afraid to accept Zhang Nian’s kindness, go back and read Volume One. It will all make sense! There are no thrilling tales of defying fate or shortcuts to instant success in this book. Only genuine poverty, gen 9Reads—Score114d adds
- 176 The CEO Falls for My Sister, and I Become the Leading Lady 霸总爱上我妹，从此我成了大女主 [Both Leads Are Chaste, Straight-Talking Male Lead x Career-Driven, Money-Minded Female Lead] The domineering CEO falls in love with her cousin, and suddenly the money starts rolling in. Her greedy uncle, her timid aunt, and her cousin, pregnant out of wedlock, all depend on her. A considerate, muscular hunk with eight-pack abs is worth a look. The elite lawyer at the boutique firm next door is worth getting to know, too. An “accidental” pregnancy? Marriage or no marriage, either way is fine. 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 177 Derailment: An Inverted Palette 变轨：倒置的调色盘 [Not a feel-good story] [Not pure romance] People say that if the water from your heater keeps turning hot and cold, there’s probably another tap sharing the same supply. But if the water is always cold, the only explanation is that you may no longer be the one holding the controls. And if it suddenly gets scalding hot, the same may be true. 1.1kReads8.1Score10014d adds
- 178 Orange Blossoms in the Night 迷夜橙花 Su Feilu had always admired her senior, Zhou Shuyu, a top student and campus heartthrob. Then came the year she was a senior and he had already been working for three years. He returned to give a speech as an outstanding alumnus, and she confessed her feelings to him. He turned her down, saying he didn’t like sweet girls. She fled to France to pursue further studies. Three years later, she returned to China as a top perfumer, while he had become a regional director at a conglomerate. She grew, h 10Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 179 In Tribute to Our Middle-Aged Years 致敬我们的中年岁月 This is a contemporary urban novel inspired by and shaped from real life. There are no golden fingers, supernatural powers, or wild flights of fancy. Readers who enjoy realistic urban life are welcome to read and follow along. Yao Chen and Piao Zong were classmates in middle school, good friends and close buddies, but they fell out over love. Ten years ago, Piao Zong took advantage of the situation and violated Yao Chen’s wife, Bai Jingjing, who died by suicide after being dishonored. The two me 59Reads—Score—14d adds
- 180 My Bankrupt Boss 我的破产女上司 [Urban slice of life] [Subtle emotions] [Modern romance] [Workplace and marriage] [One heroine] She was once the beautiful owner of an advertising agency, but in a single day she hit rock bottom. He went from an unremarkable couch potato to her most steadfast support. Life taught them how to go from being in love to finding peace together. With a small bracelet, she revealed how much she cared and how insecure she felt. After weathering the storm, they heal each other and grow together, little 288Reads—Score10114d adds
- 181 What's There to Fear About Divorce at 40? My First Love Has My Back 40岁离婚怕什么，还有初恋兜底 [A levelheaded housewife who knows when to retreat and when to advance + an icy doctor who advances by retreating] [Midlife struggles + parent-child relationships + redemption + mutual healing] Her husband is having an affair with his boss. Her son is a high school senior and has started dating. Zhu Yi, who quit her job three years ago, feels as if her world is collapsing. Then she unexpectedly runs into Yang Yiqing, her first love, whom she had lost touch with years ago. Suddenly, time speeds 111Reads—Score—14d adds
- 182 I Married a Veterinarian for My Second Marriage, and He Begs Me Not to Throw Him Away 二婚嫁了个兽医，求我别把他扔了 Lighthearted healing + funny and heartwarming + family life + slow-burn everyday romance + a touch of ensemble cast The male lead is a retired soldier who retrains as a veterinarian, switching seamlessly between fierce wolf and cuddly sweetheart. Amid rumors and life’s ups and downs, he remains entirely devoted to his muse. The female lead marries the wrong man on a whim and ends up divorced. Now she’s about to marry for the second time, so she’d better be careful. But why is someone calling her —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 183 The Watcher in the Wheat Fields 麦苗田里的守望者 I'll never forget that rainy summer night. The rain had turned the village's dirt roads to mud. One step could sink you in up to your calves. Clutching half a candle, I hurried home, stumbling through the muck, my heart pounding like I had a rabid rabbit inside me. Mom had promised she'd be home before dark, but it was already nine o'clock. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 184 Love Affairs in the Big City 大城情事 After my girlfriend and my best friend gave me a spectacular set of horns, I gritted my teeth and left my small town to make it in the big city. But as soon as I arrived at my new company, my coworkers started ostracizing me and setting me up... The big city is no paradise! It's a world of its own, full of all kinds of people and endless deception! As a nobody, I had to start out as a lowly network administrator, stumbling along until I finally built a small business of my own! But she was an ex 1.4kReads8.3Score13314d adds
- 185 A Working Girl’s Life Through Wind and Rain 打工女孩的风雨人生路 In the 1990s, a wave of migrant workers swept across the country, and countless young people left their hometowns for the big cities. The dazzling neon lights of the metropolis conjured one fantasy after another, while burying the youth of so many. Longing for a fresh start, the naive young Zhou Jie joined the great wave heading south. From getting a factory job to running away, from falling on hard times to fighting her way forward, she had to tread carefully at every step. She thought that a 259Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 186 Snow in Winter, Flowers in Spring 冬有雪，春有花 When Nan Xiu was fourteen, her father told her, “Be good, don't cry. Smile. When you do, you look like a little fairy from another world.” When she was twenty, her older brother told her, “Be good, don't cry. Find a good man. He'll take good care of you.” At twenty-two, Nan Xiu rode her little electric scooter back and forth between school and her mentor's shop, smiling sweetly as she called out, “Old Liu, I've finished today's tasks!” At twenty-four, Song Shimo told Nan Xiu, “I'll love you for 120Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 187 Dongguan: A Dusty Romance 东莞尘缘 Dongguan is a city full of memories, holding the youth and stories of countless young men and women. You’re only young once, so do you still remember the women who appeared in your youth? 4.6kReads7.8Score38314d adds
- 188 Dust in the Wind: The Days of Sharing a Job 生如尘埃：打工搭伙的日子 In a bustling city, how many people shine brightly, and how many struggle just to survive? The two protagonists in this book represent two very different kinds of lives. Only after going from innocence to worldly wisdom and enduring life's hardships can they slowly come to their senses amid the mundane world. 10.8kReads9.1Score88814d adds
- 189 A Heart-Pounding Marriage 怦然婚动 [Everyday life + Marriage Before Love + mutual devotion] Childhood friends Shatang and Shen Jingmo were both still single as they neared thirty. With their families playing matchmaker, they got married. On the day they registered their marriage, while they were having their full-body checkups, Shatang cornered Shen Jingmo against the wall. “Dr. Shen, would you like me to examine you now, or tonight?” The man trapped against the wall raised his brows slightly and replied in a husky voice, “Now is 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 190 The Door to Vault Three 三号库的门 The Door to Storage Room Three 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 191 Love After Marriage, Day After Day 先婚后爱朝朝暮暮 Marriage Before Love, Sweet Romance After breaking up with her boyfriend of four years, Zhang Tong turned around and got involved with Qin Chuan. At first, she was only looking to have some fun and get back at her ex. Who knew she'd take things too far and get pregnant! After getting pregnant, Zhang Tong somehow ended up marrying Qin Chuan. Then she followed him to live in the countryside, only to discover that it was nothing like the pastoral life she'd dreamed of. There was endless farmwork! T 114Reads—Score—14d adds
- 192 The Many Faces of Marriage 婚姻的姿态 Four ways to approach marriage: something you cherish, something you can live with, something you must endure, or something you abandon! How will three women struggling with different marital dilemmas choose their paths and save themselves? Will they rise from the depths and face their problems bravely, give in to despair and give up, or let out a helpless sigh? Choosing a marriage matters. Facing it matters. Making it work matters even more! Lin Yi is an elementary school teacher. Her pregnancy 2Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 193 After the Love Triangle Showdown, the Scheming Male Lead Drops the Act 修罗场后，绿茶男主他不装了 [Unrequited love becomes mutual + reunion after years apart + older woman/younger man romance + one-on-one + happy ending] Gentle, resilient flower shop owner x scheming, calculating college student The first employee at Wen Xu’s newly opened flower shop was a young man. He was tall and straight-backed, with a handsome face, and begged her pitifully to take him in. But later, the man who had always obediently called her “big sister” pinned her beneath him, eyes red as he demanded, “Why are —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 194 Shrinking 缩水 Shrinking —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 195 Nan Xu Heads South 南絮向南 [Not Purely Devoted | Age Gap | Female Growth | Workplace Ensemble | Slow-Burn Daily Life] In the summer of 2006, Qin Nanxu gave up her chance to pursue graduate studies, ended a relationship that had lasted over seven years, and headed south to Linghai alone, carrying her tennis racket. A steady job, weekend tennis, more novels than she could ever finish, and music she could never get enough of; Away from her family of origin, no marriage, no children; As for love, she could enjoy it, but its 105Reads—Score11614d adds
- 196 Late at Night, I Fell Under His Spell 深夜，对他着了魔 Their late-night story… It’s thought-provoking, and leaves you filled with regret. Was she too devoted, or was he too heartless? What can you even say about love? 218Reads—Score—14d adds
- 197 My Life After Escaping to Lijiang 我逃离到丽江的生活 A disillusioned young man at the lowest point in his life drifts from city to city, enduring one hardship after another. At last, he and a friend embark on a journey of redemption. When they reach the dreamlike city of Lijiang, he encounters a curious connection spanning three thousand kilometers and meets all kinds of fascinating people. His ordinary life takes a turn, and a story of love and hate quietly begins to unfold. 303Reads8.3Score2314d adds
- 198 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. 437Reads—Score—14d adds
- 199 The City of Woven Sand 织沙之城 [The first online novel set in Nansha District, Guangzhou, the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. A 2023 key project supported by the China Writers Association] A heroine’s coming-of-age story + the gentle flow of everyday life + women’s entrepreneurship What is home? What does one’s hometown mean? As the Pearl River rushes toward the sea, Mai Jiaying, a post-90s small-town exam ace, grows tired of her salt-scented, out-of-the-way hometown. All she wants is to fly to the ca 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 200 Young Master Yan Has His Eye on Another Man’s Wife 严少惦记上了别人家的媳妇 A playboy falls for a timid, long-suffering wife. He lives next door, and after watching her for long enough, he starts getting ideas. This story’s motto: Never let a little drama get in the way of a good show. Yan Hao had been called a scumbag for half his life. But after moving to a small town in the countryside, he compared himself to the husband next door and realized he wasn’t scummy at all. In fact, he even felt a certain masculine superiority. Compared with that guy, Yan Hao was practica 111Reads8.1Score—14d adds
