Novels like Day One of College: I Start Running with the Underworld!
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Day One of College: I Start Running with the Underworld!, best match first.
- 51 Reborn, So Why Would I Still Be the Big Boss? 都重生了,谁还当大哥啊? [Reborn + Business + Powerful father-in-law + Lots of brothers + The straight and narrow + Law-abiding] Back in 2006, Chen Tianjun, who had taken a bullet to the back of the head, suddenly finds himself returned to the day his father-in-law showed up at his door with a dozen men... Now that I'm back, I can never get mixed up with the underworld again. I'll lead my father-in-law, my wife, and all my brothers down a golden road paved with money! “Chen Tianjun is the real deal! He's got nearly a th 157Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 52 Black or White? No, I'm a Business Mogul! 非黑即白?不,我是商业巨擘! [Reborn + Business + Lots of Brothers + No Sycophancy + Punishing Evil and Promoting Good] Gangster Shen Fei is reborn in 2008. Should he stick to his old ways and remain a gangster, or abandon his brothers and go straight? No more gang life! He’ll lead his brothers down the straight path! Make a fortune! Drink the strongest liquor! Date the wildest women! Every one of Shen Fei’s brothers! Will stay away from gambling and drugs! “Isn’t he your chairman? Why does the whole company call him Big Br 142Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 53 Black Panther: The Bloodstained Throne 黑豹:血色王座 [Black Gangster Revenge Thriller | Two Powerful Leads Raised Together | Strong Female Lead’s Growth | Ensemble Cast | Love Triangle Chaos] At twenty, she became the youngest female gang leader in Dong Province. But her story began in a corner of Dawnlight Orphanage, where Xiao Mo gave her a name. “A smile that can beguile Yangcheng and captivate Xia Cai. I want you to bloom into the most dazzling flower in the world.” She thought they would be together forever, until he fell into the hands of B 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 54 The Black Son of Heaven 黑天子 [Realistic Underworld + Everyone Is Smart + First-Person] An unconventional workplace in a bygone era, where people deal in social connections as well as bloodshed. This “workplace” is hidden behind two veils. One is called the world beyond the law, and the other is called the underworld. My name is Chen Chunsheng, a survivor who experienced both worlds firsthand. 30Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 55 I’m a Top-Tier Heir from the Righteous Path, So Why Did I Get a Mafia System? 我正道顶级二代,给我黑道系统? After I transmigrated, I thought I had no System, so I chose to lie flat. Then, out of nowhere, the System showed up. But... the System seems to have gotten one thing wrong: I'm a top-tier heir to a powerful family on the side of justice, yet you gave me a System for a nobody from the underworld to rise to the top?! The rewards are ridiculously good, sure, but are your missions even difficult for me? One has me infiltrate my own father’s inner circle, another has me recruit two hundred men... Ch 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 56 The Underworld: A Life in the Jianghu 黑道:人在江湖 What is the underworld? No one can really say. To me, the underworld is the jianghu. The jianghu has its own rules and its own stories. It’s not all fighting and killing. More than anything, it’s about human relationships and navigating the ways of the world. In 1996, a film about young gangsters influenced countless young people, leading them down a path of no return... That same year, after four years in prison, I walked out through those heavy doors and regained my freedom. My name is Fang We 206Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 57 The Jiangnan Undertaker 江南送葬人 (No clichés, no invincibility, no System, no brainless characters) After the 1990s, the jianghu in the eyes of people from Jiangnan was very different from that of other places. People from Jiangnan weren’t tall, nor did they have powerful physiques. They hardly ever swore, and they didn’t roam the streets, fighting without restraint. Their jianghu was no longer about blades flashing in plain sight. They preferred ruthless schemes and power plays behind the scenes. If someone hit you, would you 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 58 Tales of the Second High School 二中之风云往事 For all three years of middle school, my whole class ostracized me. Second-year students cornered and humiliated me, and everyone treated me like trash and walked all over me. They thought I was weak and easy to bully, but they didn’t know that a boy backed into a corner has nothing left to lose. From this day on, I’ll give my life to anyone who protects me, and pay back anyone who bullies me twice over. This isn’t a novel. It’s the bloody path of my youth, the one I truly walked. “My name is Ba 258Reads—Score10914d adds
- 59 Tale of the Twin Flood Dragons 双蛟记 [Brothers bound by deep affection, sharing life and death] [A flood dragon lies hidden in deep waters. After enduring bitter hardships, it can emerge transformed into a dragon.] 693Reads7.1Score10114d adds
- 60 The Godfather of the Underworld 黑道教皇 Brothers for a day, brothers for a lifetime. Their vow of loyalty rings out amid the fanfare of youth: impulsive days, blazing passions, love that lasts until death, and brothers who stand together for life. Whose youth isn't filled with fire? “What do they call you?” “Long.” “I asked for your name.” “People like me don't have names.” “But one day, the world will tell you mine.” “People today don't recognize a tree that will reach the clouds, only praising it once it has grown that tall!” 648Reads7.1Score—14d adds
- 61 Dongguan, I Am King! 莞市,我为王! What kind of legendary path will Li Feng carve out after leaving martial arts school and arriving in Dongguan? In the bright days of youth, ride proud and true. Make the most of your time, and know where you’re headed. May you roam the world for half your life, then return still young at heart... (The original cast of strongmen who rose from vocational school reunites. A new story, a fresh start!) 393Reads7.3Score—14d adds
- 62 Jinbei Storm: A Black-Market Outlaw 晋北风云:黑道狂徒 Yanbei City is known as the Coal Capital, and coal is also called black gold. Crowds of gold seekers pour into Yanbei City, hoping to get a share of the coal industry. The various factions stop at nothing to achieve their goals. In their eyes, everything has a price, including human life. What is the underworld? The underworld is face. The underworld is brotherhood. The underworld is money. They say the coal of northern Shanxi is black, but few realize that human hearts are blacker still. After 4.2kReads9.0Score22614d adds
- 63 The Absolute Kingpin 绝对枭雄 After transferring schools, I find out my beautiful desk mate is actually my former enemy. And then... New book: Call Me a Con Artist. I hope you’ll check it out and show it some support! 279Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 64 What Gang Boss? Call Me a Philanthropist 什么黑老大?叫慈善家 The ratings have just come in, so feel free to give it a try! Rebirth + business + lots of loyal followers + staying on the straight and narrow + law-abiding + women, but no female lead! A top underworld boss is reborn. He rises from humble beginnings, making use of every resource around him. He brings along the brothers who followed him in his previous life and were forced to take the fall and go to prison! He founds the Hanhai Group! Drinks the strongest liquor! Dates the wildest women! Yet no 125Reads5.5Score—14d adds
- 65 Heading South in 1996: I Take My Young Aunt and Conquer the Underworld 九六南下:我带小姑奶闯江湖 [Period] [Fleeing an arranged marriage] [Heading south for work] [Passionate underworld] [Multiple heroines] New Year’s Day, 1996. Chen Yaozu, a poor lad from southeastern Henan, flees south overnight with his young grandaunt, who is being forced into marriage. As soon as they arrive in the Pearl River Delta, his classmate’s cousin kicks him out of her rental, leaving him homeless. He steps in to help someone, only to be hunted by gangsters. At the factory, he’s bullied, and people even set thei 802Reads—Score10114d adds
- 66 The Rise and Fall of a Nobody 混子风云 [Adult-themed story] [Ensemble cast] [Not mindless] No saintly protagonist, no System Are his parents' divorce the final straw that breaks Li Qian? Absolutely not. His ambition will drive him ever higher. If nobody believes in me, then I'll climb over their heads and become the king of Laicheng. This story does not promote violence in any way. We hope everyone will obey the law. Anyone who breaks the law will be severely punished. Society won't go easy on you. You alone are responsible for every 75Reads—Score—14d adds
- 67 The Jianghu: A True Account of Half a Life in the Underworld 江湖:混社会的半生真实经历 A chaotic age, filled with flashing blades and clashing steel! The martial world is like a cup of tea. Everyone tastes it differently. My name is Zhao Long. Back then, most people called me Long Si, Brother Si, or Fourth Master! I'm not exaggerating when I say my reputation back then was almost as great as that of the famous Fourth Master Qiao up north! I was a poor kid who couldn't afford a meal. Through sheer grit and ruthl 4.7kReads7.1Score20114d adds
- 68 The Gangster Heir Falls for Me 黑道少主爱上我 A cold, aloof young underworld boss, both righteous and wicked, VS a sweet and charming counseling psychologist. A cold, scheming big bad wolf sets his sights on a naive little white rabbit. They seem like parallel lines, yet somehow they can't stop getting tangled up with each other. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 69 Reko High: The Strongest New Student in Suzuran's History! 热高:铃兰史上最强新生! [Fiery battles]+ [System + dual transmigration]+ [One heroine]+ [Slow burn] Lin Feng, whose life was a sea of gray, unexpectedly transmigrates into the world of Hot-Blooded High School and is reborn in the body of Suzuki Blade, a first-year student at Suzuran. Watching his classmates shout about fighting every day, he finds it all dull and spends his time slacking off. But the appearance of an unexpected figure gives him a new reason to keep striving in this world! From that day on, a new Suzuki 1.5kReads6.2Score—14d adds
- 70 An Age of Turmoil: The Gangster Who Rose from a Village 混乱年代:从村走出来的枭雄 After leaving the military, Wu Wenjun drifted around the village, looking for a trade to take up. Just then, the village was holding an election for village chief. His Third Uncle, the former chief, was provoked at a banquet. Enough was enough: if you can dish it out, you can take it. How could he stand by while someone bullied a man in his own village? He stepped forward at once, and so began his life in the underworld. When he looked back, he had become a famous young boss in the criminal worl 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 71 Tales of the Underworld 黑道风云往事 This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental. This book urges people to choose the right path and serves as a warning to those who have gone astray. At eight, backed by my uncle, I planted the seeds of violence with a kitchen knife and blood. At sixteen, yearning for the world of the underworld, I plunged headfirst into its maelstrom. I saw its filth and darkness, its betrayals and its worship of profit, with only the faintest trace of loyalty. I s 61Reads—Score214d adds
- 72 I've Got a Ton of Brothers, and I'm the Yakuza Boss in Tokyo 兄弟亿点多,我在东京当黑道大哥 Gao Qiang came to Tokyo in Sakura Nation to study abroad and unexpectedly awakened the Big Brother System. By spending a certain amount of resources, he could recruit countless good brothers who were always willing to go through fire and water for him. The good brothers earn the money, the big brother spends it. Not a penny goes home! From then on, Gao Qiang began his journey to the top. At first, everyone thought he was just a Dragon Nation student abroad with a bunch of poor relatives... Until 26Reads—Score—14d adds
- 73 Hot-Blooded High School: A New Era 热血高校:新时代 Times have changed in Huyaliu City, and the major factions have all taken on a new look. Just then, a Chinese student named Xu Shilong transfers to Suzuran. Let's see how he rises step by step to the top of Suzuran and claims the title of Huyaliu's strongest. 70Reads—Score—14d adds
- 74 The Rise of the Wind and Clouds in 1990, Starting in Niujia Village 风云1990,从牛家村开始崛起 Name’s Goudan. The only college student in the village? Bullshit! Now all I want is to be the biggest bastard around! That old lecher Wang the Lame thinks he can touch Liu Xue, the goddess I’ve had a crush on since we were kids? And he even wants to strip her naked in front of everyone? My brother gets beaten, my goddess gets humiliated. How the hell am I supposed to swallow that? The old Goudan died with that slap. Let me introduce myself again: I’m Goudan. “Dog” as in son of a bitch, “dan” as —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 75 The Tiger Descends the Mountain 2 虎出山2 Fanfiction, fanfiction, fanfiction!!! [Who Can Match Me] [Young King] [Dragon Raises Its Head] [Tiger Emerges from the Mountain: Sequel] [Tiger Emerges from the Mountain: Fanfiction] [Tiger Emerges from the Mountain: Extra] After Li Hu defeated the Butcher, the Red Chamber honored him for his service, presenting him with a personally inscribed commendation and a wealth of honors. Later, he returned home in triumph to Xiang County and settled into a simple life. Unexpectedly, he ran into his ex-g 160Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 76 Out of Prison, I Unlock the Underworld Overlord System! 出狱后,解锁黑道霸主系统! “I'm finally out!” Qi Yuan had just stepped out of the prison gates. Bathed in brilliant sunshine, he savored the warmth and freedom he had missed for so long and greedily drew in a breath. “Kid, don't look back later. Just keep walking straight ahead.” As Qi Yuan looked out at the scenery by the window, a fragment of memory suddenly flashed through his mind. 301Reads—Score—14d adds
- 77 After Prison, I Became the King of the Underworld 出狱后,我成了地下王者 One accidental assault completely turned the wheel of my fate! By the time I returned from prison, a path to kingship lay before me! It seemed to have been waiting for me all along, awaiting my awakening! I set out on the journey to the very top... 20Reads—Score—14d adds
- 78 Look, That's the World Beyond the Heavens 你看那叫,天外天 (This isn't a wish-fulfillment story, but one about an ordinary man's rise) (This story is completely made up! Don't overthink it!) A tribute to the classics: Brothers, let's go! A student at a university in Northeast China, he grows step by step into a local power player! Through connections, brotherhood, fate, and his own efforts! He bursts onto the scene and takes command of an entire region! Thousands roar his name: Beyond the Heavens! 101Reads8.8Score—14d adds
- 79 The Toughest Man in Yunnan 云滇第一狠人 {Urban Fiction + Power Fantasy + Nonstop Action} In high school, an accident landed me in prison for five years. Thanks to the guidance of a benefactor, I got out and worked my way up from nothing. Build big! Rise again! Rule Yunnan! 441Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 80 Reckless Youth: No Way Back from the Jianghu 放肆青春之江湖不归路 My name is Wang Hao. Because I was a coward, I transferred to Chenghua, where I met five brothers who shared my hardships and stood by me through thick and thin! We went from being bullied to ruling the school, going through so much and making so many sacrifices together. With one foot still at school and the other already stepping into the underworld, what happens in the end? Let me tell you the story! P.S. The story is set around 2006, and all the major characters are adults. (The ages, educat 509Reads—Score—14d adds
- 81 The Golden Years of Wancheng 莞城流金岁月 [Underworld] [Realistic] [Ensemble Cast] [Passionate] [Not Mindless] At first, Zhao Qingfeng came to Guancheng at his mother's urging to seek refuge with Zhang Ting… Later, for certain reasons, he joined Dihao as a security guard and met a group of brothers who would stand by him through thick and thin… Thus began his journey through this perilous underworld. Watch as they make every faction stand in line, one by one. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 82 A Life Gone Awry 错乱的人生路 This book tells the story of a young man from a county town in the 1990s who accidentally ends up on a path that was never meant to be his. The old days of the underworld are gone. (This story is entirely fictional. Do not take it as fact.) The book warns readers never to set foot on such a path, no matter what. Good and evil bring their own consequences, and fortune and misfortune follow one another. You must bear the consequences yourself; no one can do it for you. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 83 My Years as a Delinquent 我当不良的那些年 The year I began to remember things, my parents left for reasons unknown. The moment I stepped into Seventh High, the story began, and a legend unfolded. There is no tree that reaches the heavens. Everything has something that can bring it down… 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 84 Hot-Blooded District: Conquering Onizuka High 热血街区,制霸从鬼邪高开始 Long Yuan accidentally transmigrates into the world of "High & Low", at Housen Academy. From the start, he gets the signature moves of three boxing champions: Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and George Foreman. To unite the SWORD districts, he sets out on a fiery path! [This book is entirely fictional. All characters and groups are made up, the timeline has been rearranged, and power levels are only tentative. Fans of the films and TV shows, don't nitpick!] 184Reads—Score—14d adds
- 85 Who Says the Boss Has to Be a Gangster? Lawyers Can Be Bosses Too 谁说老大一定是混混,律师也可以 [Urban, underworld, big shots, outlaw!] Gao Tian was executed in 2026 during a crackdown, but unexpectedly returned to the 1990s! This time, unwilling to repeat his old mistakes, he chose to enroll in the police academy! But just as he was trying to go straight, he saw the scumbag who had been abusing his beloved older sister since childhood. In a fit of rage, he killed the wife-beater with three punches. Now behind bars, Gao Tian’s career on the straight and narrow was over for good. With no ch 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 86 The Underworld Boss Who Came Out of a Martial Arts Academy 从武校走出来的黑道大佬 [Youthful passion + Ruthless + Absolutely no saintly do-gooder] What kind of legendary life will Gu Feng write for himself after returning from martial arts school? A young man in fine clothes, riding a spirited horse: may he make the most of his youth and live without regrets! May you wander far and wide, yet return still young at heart! 15Reads6.5Score314d adds
- 87 Rise to the Top of the Underworld! 引领黑道巅峰! [Power fantasy] + [Undercover agent] + [Clash of black and white] + [Decisive and ruthless] + [No System] + [Patriotic] Three years, then another three years, and another three years! Jiang Wuqing, you’re a cop! No! I’m the gang’s top enforcer! If you weren’t a cop, why wouldn’t they arrest you when they took down the gang? I play both sides! Years later… Please, when you take them down, take me with them. I can’t take it anymore! There’s really no crime left anywhere in the world. I’ 853Reads6.9Score10614d adds
- 88 I've Been Through This Underworld! 这江湖,我来过! Back then, Beijing's nightclubs were dazzling and intoxicating, full of romance and temptation. Its underworld was a jumble of all sorts, a place where all kinds of people mixed. And its beautiful women were dazzlingly diverse, each with her own allure! Watch me carve out a world of my own in this glittering city! I settled a few scores, made a few brothers, and had a few women! I lived it up! I went wild! I hurt! I cried! Heart-pounding and soul-stirring! Looking back... I have no regrets! 188Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 89 I Chopped Until My Blade Chipped, and You Say I Hit the Wrong Person? 刀都砍崩了,你说我砍错了人 [Underworld + passionate jianghu + ruthless and decisive + a true kingpin] To stand up for the girl I loved, I blinded the village bully in one eye and spent three years in prison. When I got out, the goddess never came to greet me. Instead, I received an invitation to her wedding to the village bully... The jianghu is colorful and exciting, but it’s also rife with bloodshed, schemes, and deception. Brothers may share life and death, but there’s no shortage of betrayal, infighting, and estrangem 16.3kReads7.8Score1.1k14d adds
- 90 Tokyo: My Girlfriend Is a Ruthless Yakuza Princess 东京:女友是恶劣的黑道公主 [Romance] [Mild Yandere] [One Female Lead] [Yakuza] [Urban Daily Life] [Japanese Light Novel Style] In an island nation dominated by conglomerates, Sakurai Tsukasa is just a poor kid from the countryside. Thanks to his knowledge from a previous life and his hard work, he managed to get into Tokyo University in this parallel world. As someone who transmigrated, it's not unreasonable for him to want to escape poverty and make something of himself, even if he's not trying to rule the world. One day 56Reads7.6Score—14d adds
- 91 From Rags to the Top of the Underworld 白手起家,干到黑道之巅 [Crime syndicate fiction + brotherhood + passion + shocking twists!] Beneath the gods and Buddhas, all are believers. First, crush the Azure Dragon, then wipe out the Divine Gang. I! Will become the one and only peerless gangster! 351Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 92 Bloodstained Memories 血染的往事 (This story is entirely fictional. The places, people, events, and everything else in it are not real.) In the early 1990s, on a silent winter night, two muffled gunshots rang out beneath the darkness over an old neighborhood. A five-shot hunting rifle with a sawed-off barrel brought more than a scene of underworld vendetta. It also laid bare a hidden storm of bloodshed. Some say he was a loyal and righteous brother. Some say he was an ambitious kingpin. Others say he was a vicious monster, crue 37Reads7.5Score—14d adds
- 93 You Were Told to Join the Underworld, Not Hit on a Mob Boss’s Daughter! 让你混黑道,但没让你找上黑道千金啊! After getting out of prison, Lu Feng becomes a manager at an upscale club in Linhai City, enjoying a carefree, happy life. Then one day he meets a mob princess, and his life changes completely. He rises to become a formidable underworld boss! I'm not good at writing blurbs, but the story is absolutely thrilling. 149Reads—Score—14d adds
- 94 The King of the Underworld, Forged in the Dark District 从暗黑区走出的黑道之王 (Tough gangsters + big shots from every walk of life + rich young heirs in the capital + starts at school + ruthless + a thrill ride from start to finish) The first book, The King of the Underworld: From the Dark Zone, is complete. Read with confidence, there isn't a dull moment. The sequel, King of the Underworld: I Rule with Unrivaled Power, is currently updating. The author can post ten thousand words a day, so remember to threaten him in the comments. One day, twelve young men came from the 414Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 95 The Underworld Prince and the Sweet Female Undercover Agent 黑道太子爷与乖乖女卧底 [Love at First Sight + Both Leads Are Inexperienced + Male Lead Is a Hopeless Romantic] An Hemo is pure and gentle, with a kind heart. Without even trying, every glance and smile of hers can stir the heart, bringing the flutter of first love. Her warmth and friendliness make people want to draw close to her without even realizing it. She seems like a sweet, gentle little white rabbit, but her heart is set entirely on her undercover mission. Xi Siye is brimming with a bold, roguish wildness, yet 115Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 96 Underworld Storm: Southeast Asia 黑道风云之东南风云录! In the 1990s, the southeastern provinces were a chaotic mix, with criminal gangs flourishing everywhere. They controlled the underworld, disregarded the law and morality, and kept crime rates high… In Min City, Minzhou Province, Li Tianju is forced back onto the road of no return after getting out of prison. He rises like a storm, crushing all challengers until he becomes a crime boss in his own right! (This book has no harem, no formulaic tropes, no invincible protagonist, and no filler. It’s h 140Reads6.8Score—14d adds
- 97 The Actor and the Pawn 戏子与棋子 Passion, the martial world, ambition, the line between black and white: these were all words that once seemed far removed from my life. A chance confrontation pushed an ordinary student like me to a crossroads. Life is like a vast chessboard, with everyone playing a different role. This is my story, and it could be yours, or theirs... 2Reads6.4Score—14d adds
- 98 Don't Call Me Boss, I'm a Law-Abiding Entrepreneur 别叫我大哥,我是守法人民企业家 [Reborn + Reformed Gangsters + Business Empire + A Cast of Drama Queens] Jiang Che is reborn on the eve of the Green Dragon Gang's bloody killing spree. He tears up their machete permits and declares, "From today on, anyone who talks about fighting and killing again gets their performance bonus docked!" While his rivals wait for him to make a fool of himself: • Three hundred underlings sweep the streets before dawn and land a contract to supply disposable tableware to restaurants across the city 104Reads—Score—14d adds
- 99 Reborn in ’88: I Won’t Retire from the Game 重生八八:金盆不洗手 In his previous life, he was the underworld emperor of Dongjiang Province. In the end, he died alone at the defendant's table. Reborn in 1988, Lin Tianqiang swore to rewrite his fate. All he wanted was to lead his brothers down the straight path and make honest money. But the world wouldn't leave him in peace. Enemies cut off his livelihood, while thugs bullied his brothers, forcing him step by step back into the crucible. With nowhere left to retreat, he went with the flow and built a gray empi 1.2kReads7.4Score10114d adds
- 100 The Crown Prince of the Capital: Don’t Mess with Me, My Mom’s a CEO 京城太子爷:别惹我,我妈是霸总 Li Ye is the heir to the Li family, known as the Crown Prince of the Capital. His father is a famous and powerful figure. His mother founded a financial empire! He is the king of the underworld, unrivaled in its ranks. He is a master of the eighteen martial arts as well as the traditional arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, a genius in both letters and arms. He is a university student, and the campus kingpin of Qingbei University. 361Reads6.3Score—14d adds

















































