Novels like Bittersweet Candy
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Bittersweet Candy, best match first.
- 1 I Secretly Had a Crush on Him in High School 我在高中偷偷喜欢他 That evening, Shen Zhiyi dragged her exhausted body home and, as usual, collapsed onto the sofa. Her phone suddenly rang. She picked it up absentmindedly, but the moment she saw the message on the screen, her whole body froze. It was from Fang Yichen. It read: “I'm back to be your director again.” Shen Zhiyi's eyes widened as she stared at the screen in disbelief. Tears blurred her vision once more. She was just about to reply when the world suddenly spun around her. When she opened her eyes aga 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 My True Story of a Secret Crush 我的真实暗恋故事 My True Story of Secretly Loving Someone 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 My Clock Hands Are Set to You 我的时针为你校准 [First love, secret crush, devoted affection, and a sweet HE! Childhood friends whose secret crush becomes mutual] At nine, whenever she was late, he always moved her stool into place ahead of time. At fourteen. “There’s a girl in our class who likes you.” “Who?” “Me.” “I like Cheng Man.” At eighteen, she went away to college. He could have applied to a better-ranked university in another province, but instead stayed in their city, where a train ride would let him see her. His reason: “It’s clos 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 South Branch Longs for the Sun 南枝独慕向阳生 (Complete) [College campus + unrequited love becomes mutual + cozy, slow-burn romance + healing and sweet] [Reserved, insecure, resilient good girl + refined, elegant golden boy] The first time Cheng Nanzhi saw Jiang Xiangyang, he stepped forward and stood in front of her. For the next six years, she filled her diaries with everything she felt about him. * In their seventh year, they meet again at university, and their parallel lines finally cross. He says, “I've realized you make me feel... so 163Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 A Secret Crush That Echoes Through the Seasons 响彻四季的暗恋 [Radiant Girl × Icy Lawyer, Mutual Pining + Reunion After Years Apart + The Chase to Win Her Back] In her sophomore year of college, Ji Anmian confessed to her crush of three years and was rejected. Heartbroken, she left the country, and stayed away for seven years. When they met again, her former crush had become her direct superior. But the man who had rejected her was acting strangely, offering to drive her home and secretly flirting with her. “Office romances? Not even dogs would get involve 477Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 Hidden in the Autumn Rain 匿于秋雨 [Secret Crush + Bittersweet Push and Pull + Redemption + Ensemble Cast] A taciturn, secretly affectionate puppy of a man goes all out to win her back later on. Sweet, innocent girl vs. the golden boy The first time I saw Duan Siran was on a damp evening after it had rained for a whole month. I was just going about my routine, buying a bottle of water, when I stepped outside with my umbrella and “happened” to run into him. My heart skipped a beat. The second time we ran into each other, I boldly 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 The Film Emperor I Secretly Adore Is Actually a Brain-Eating Lunatic 我暗恋的影帝居然是个恋吃脑 The movie star I've secretly loved turns out to be a foodie at heart. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 A Snail's Secret-Crush Trail 蜗牛暗恋轨迹 [Campus romance + mutual pining becomes love + sweet affection + mutual devotion + first love for both + one-on-one romance + healing] Xia Youtian is a chubby girl who was mocked at school, leaving her with lasting scars. One day, after a misunderstanding, she finally learned his name: Sheng Huaiyu. He was the top student and a celebrated figure at school. The girls who liked him were as numerous as the bills in Chairman Mao's portrait. * On the bus, the girl was teary-eyed, rubbing her left han 620Reads6.8Score10914d adds
- 9 The Echo of a Secret Crush 暗恋回旋 [An introverted, sensitive girl × a sunny, cheerful boy] [First love, devoted to each other, mutual pining becomes love, top students] Xia Yuanshuang had been secretly in love with someone since middle school. The boy was so wonderful that she couldn't forget him, and in their third year of middle school, she studied as hard as she could to get into the same high school as him. Hidden away in the corner of her drawer was a glass bottle filled with stars, holding the great secret of her girlhood. 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 Deep in the Forest, I Find My Farewell: Ten Years of Silence 林深见辞，十年如默 [Contemporary sweet romance | Secret crush comes true | Reunited after years apart | Rational and restrained] Ten years ago, she and he were high school deskmates. She hid every flutter of her heart where he was concerned. Ten years later, fate brought them together again, and she realized those feelings had never faded. At a reunion, during a game, she was asked if there was someone she liked. “I used to like someone.” Four words, delivered casually, revealed the edge of her secret. When the tr 4.6kReads8.8Score27914d adds
- 11 A Secret Crush Is a School-Day Thing 暗恋是学生时期的事 At seventeen, Li Hengjia transferred to Yuanchuan High School and happened to be assigned the seat next to Shan Xiaoshu. She thought her life was an ordinary, unremarkable chronicle, but from that moment on, his name filled the margins of every page. She began noticing his deep eyes, his pleasant voice, and his long, well-defined fingers. She began typing messages in the WeChat chat box, deleting them, then typing them all over again. She began feeling happy for a whole week just because he sai 100Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 Meeting the Stars in Midsummer 盛夏遇见星星 [Secret crush + mutual devotion + flirting] On a park bench in her freshman year of high school, Zhu Yu was feeling utterly dejected. A boy who was usually carefree sat down beside her and talked nonstop, trying to comfort her. That night, Zhu Yu’s heart pounded. A star had entered her heart. Only later did she learn that back then, he didn’t even know her full name. In her junior year of college, she met Yu Yanxing again. Hearing her heart race, Zhu Yu knew she still had feelings for him. She t 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 Do I Have a Crush on Him? 暗恋他，吗？ 1v1, mutual crush, youthful innocence “Shen, I really, really like you, even though you don't know me 🥺”, Ye Qingling “...Who? Who doesn't know you? Are you sure you're talking about me, Shen? 😊”, Shen Yan “Shen, a secret crush is a one-person whirlwind of chaos... 😭”, Ye Qingling “Ye, are you really secretly in love with me? 🤔 Then could you open the door? I can't get in at all 🥺”, Shen Yan 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 In This Little Town, There’s No One but You 里许元来无别人 [Elegant, gentle office worker] X [Proud, high-status, domineering boss] [Her perspective: secret crush comes true + His perspective: love grows over time + Sweet everyday romance + Both leads' first love + HE] * In high school, Gu Manqing always thought Shen Yuxiu was an aloof, proud top student, a snowy peak, a moon over the sea, a heaven-blessed genius beyond anyone's reach. She had a crush on him for more than a decade, but her feelings never reached his heart. She worked hard to keep up wi 331Reads8.2Score10314d adds
- 15 Echoes of a Secret Crush! 暗恋回声！ [Secret campus crush | mutual devotion | healing | everyday life | both virgins, happy ending] Su Ranran fell in love with a boy during an intensive art training program. After a brief parting, they reunited as classmates at university. - Her secret crush, unknown to everyone, came to an end on New Year’s Eve. Beneath a sky twinkling with evening stars, a tipsy Su Ranran summoned the greatest courage of her life and confessed: “Afei, the moon is beautiful tonight.” Xiao Fei didn’t understand wha 21Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 16 May You Find Peace and Happiness 许君安好 Maybe one person becomes special to another because they appear at a one-of-a-kind moment in their life. No matter who comes along afterward, no one else can ever take their place. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 Finding Joy in You 以你为乐 [Sensitive, Obsessive Teacher Heroine VS Cold, Slow-to-Warm Undercover Hero] “How bitter. So this is what a kiss tastes like.” “I knew I was the one who liked you, so I did everything I could to get close to you. I could ignore your coldness any number of times, as long as I still liked you.” “By the shore, a boat waits where the water flows; at the riverbank, I long to turn back and cross.” At twenty-six, Lin Luoting unexpectedly met Jiang Shangzhou, the man she'd loved since she was sixteen. T 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 Is My Secret Crush Really That Obvious? 暗恋这么明显嘛 Fate made us fall for each other at the wrong time, but our meeting was meant to be. So please, wait for me, okay? We stayed in a small county town, far from our hometown. But no matter how far I go, I still love you. So believe me, Yang Jinxing. I’ll love you forever and ever. I feel the same way. A little sweet romance, inspired by a love story I witnessed. I loved their story so much that I decided to write it down. I hope your secret crush comes true, too! Wishing you a bright new future! 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 The Back That Stole My Heart 心动背影 Their meeting was a chance arrangement, like a twist of fate in an hourglass. Yet the bond between them was as fragile as a spider’s thread, almost too faint to feel. It took just one glance, just one, for her heart to flutter. Perhaps this is the fate of life: some people can only meet briefly along the way before going their separate paths, only to find their way back to each other after all… 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 A Breeze Through Xizhou 吹意西洲 Nan Zhiyi’s mother endured a lifetime of heartache in her later years and died unhappy. She named her precious daughter Zhiyi, hoping she would find her true love and enjoy a life of fulfillment. But Nan Zhiyi let her mother down. She spent seven years pining hopelessly for someone, from her first year of high school to her senior year of college. Her feelings grew from a flutter of excitement to a burning passion, yet no one knew how she felt. Qi Xizhou, the sole heir to the Qi family, was ever 14Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 21 After the Stars Fell 星星坠落后 [Modern romance] [Reunion after years apart] [Secret crush] [Happy ending] Gentle, resilient third-year graduate student Linlin VS a dentist who is cold on the outside but warm inside - The summer before she started high school, Linlin realized she was alone again. By chance, she met her star in art class. He was 187 centimeters tall, with fair skin. His brow ridge was just right. Even a simple black T-shirt looked luxurious on him. Love at first sight. Later- She learned his name was Cong Zong. 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 Blazing Anew 再度燎原 [Reunion after years apart × marriage before love × secret crush becomes reality] Yin Qingyin had secretly loved Mo Chenlan for seven years, then spent six years trying to move on. She never expected that when they met again, the heart she thought would remain calm would still catch fire. Her marriage to Mo Chenlan was an accident. She wanted to escape her family, while he wanted to fulfill his grandmother's dream. After the wedding, just as Yin Qingyin had expected, a marriage not founded on lo 400Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 If You Like Me Too 若你也喜欢 Xia Xi thinks having a secret crush is hard. It's like walking through thick fog and catching sight of a faint, elusive light; like reaching out to a newly bloomed rose and getting your hand pierced by its thorns; like seeing a beautiful work of art but being able to admire it only from afar because it's so exquisite and expensive. That's because the person she likes is Zhou Yu. He can stand beside her, talk to her, and warmly call her “Classmate Xia,” but he doesn't like her. He has his own l 56Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 24 Whose Secret Crush Will Finally Bloom? 谁的暗恋开花结果 [Both Leads Are Each Other’s Firsts / Secret Crush / He Chases Her / Happy Ending] Campus + City Life, mostly on campus When you’re sinking deep into a swamp and someone reaches out to pull you up, what would you do? Maybe it sounds clichéd, but Lin Xue fell for him. That’s exactly what happened. What is a secret crush? Lin Xue likes Chen Yuan, and the whole world knows nothing about it. Chen Yuan likes Lin Xue, and the whole world knows, except Lin Xue. A few scenes: 1. Chen Yuan had just walke 12Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 25 The Time You Lit Up 被你照亮的时光 [Face-blind top student x socially anxious girl] [Sweet campus romance] [Secret crush becomes mutual] [Rekindled love] Once, Gu Cheng was an unreachable star to Shen Xiyou. He was not only her ideal, but also the hope of the school and the nation. Sadly, because he was face-blind, he didn't remember her at all. What's more, the straight-A student seemed to have no room for love in his heart. To make sure Gu Cheng would at least remember that she had once been part of his life, the girl who had o 13Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 26 A Muyu Knows Xixi 一沐知溪 She was once the quietest spectator behind him, while he was the only leading man in her entire youth. Five years apart, one ridiculous misunderstanding, and an unexpected reunion. Fate has led them round and round. Every wait will eventually be answered. A late-awakening heart will never fail to arrive. For all the years to come, I’ll walk beside you and you alone. 1.3kReads—Score—14d adds
- 27 A Pomelo Leaf 一叶沙田柚 A new work is out! Welcome to read my stories on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy them. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 A Teenage Draft: Wen Xia’s Hidden Feelings 青春草稿：温夏的心事 A bittersweet romance of sweetness and angst [Secret Crush Turns Real] [The Second Male Lead Wins] [Happy Ending] A cool, gentle golden boy vs. an insecure, sensitive girl vs. a stoic boy with a warm heart Back then, Wen Xia was an inconspicuous line on a sheet of rough paper, while Chen Yu was a gentle glow printed on the cover. A golden boy from a privileged family, with top grades and striking looks, Chen Yu had been the center of attention all his life. He was not only gentle, humble, and po 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 A Love Letter Written in Stars 星星情书 [Reunited after years apart, secret crush becomes reality, both devoted only to each other] At a class reunion, after someone sang Eason Chan’s Ten Years, a person joked, “How could anyone like someone for more than ten years? That’s just ridiculous.” The girl beside her propped her head on her hand and asked, “But what does it feel like to like someone for that long?” Looking at the lyrics on the screen, Jiang Lizhi answered casually, “Maybe it’s that if he stood in front of me again, my heart 90Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 30 Scorched Lotus 焦荷 [A shy, sensitive stutterer in the early chapters who becomes a warm and resilient screenwriter × a distant, aloof top-tier star who later turns devoted and clingy] [Both inexperienced in love / Secret crush comes true / Utmost devotion / Sweet romance in the entertainment industry] How long is ten years? Long enough for an entire girlhood to be filled with one person’s name. Everyone knows that top-tier star Wei Xing is cold and distant, an untouchable beauty in the entertainment industry. But 973Reads8.5Score20014d adds
- 31 Wild Summer, Late Winter 野夏晚冬 (The animated comic adaptation is now available~) [Arrogant, Unrestrained Young Master x Cool, Stubborn Girl] [High School Romance + Both Pure + Secret Identity + Mutual Pining + HE] Zhou Qiye is a famous blue-haired delinquent at Lin City No. 1 High School, a cold, brash boy who does whatever he wants. When people hear his name, they say, "Oh, that arrogant, awful rich kid?" Just as everyone wonders what kind of outstanding girl could win him over, Jiang Wan, a cool transfer student who keep 5.2kReads8.4Score90014d adds
- 32 Lend Me Your Warm Voice 予我暖音 Careful, unassuming girl x quietly falling for her [sweet romance + a little angst later to bring them closer + growth + wholehearted devotion] Song Wanyin first met Xie Binhe at her father's funeral. The boy casually picked a flower and gave it to her. When they met again, she temporarily moved in with his family because of a problem with her school enrollment. As they spent more and more time together, she understood what it meant to fall for someone after the college entrance exams. To avoid 107Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 33 Moonlight Never Turns Back 月光不走回头路 Also known as The Moonlight Will Find Its Way Home [Music producer × photographer] [Both inexperienced in love, happy ending / secret crush becomes mutual] His melodies hold a beloved figure in their heart, while my camera will help him see an even brighter light. 19Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 Fern 蕨草 [Mutual Pining + School Life + Pure Love + Bittersweet + Delicate + Happy Ending + Sweet Romance] Fang Shiyang had always thought that after that summer, she and Meng Qiuwen would never see each other again. It wasn't until they reunited in their hometown that she realized some fates were written in the stars. Meeting again was only a matter of time. The shy awkwardness of being eighteen had kept them from voicing their love. Now, five years later, that love had resurfaced, and they could final 46Reads—Score13714d adds
- 35 Always by Momo’s Side 茉茉相随 [Mutual pining | Younger man | Urban romance | Reunited after years apart | Dual POV | Amnesia] [An insecure younger man VS an emotionally steady woman who knows what she loves and hates] If unrequited love is one person's private chaos, then the bond between two people is a downpour no umbrella can keep you from. When 25-year-old Ye Zhimo and 22-year-old Ji Sui meet again, his tears reach her lips before his kiss does... In the second year after Ye Zhimo lost contact with Ji Sui, she founded he 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 36 Lime, With a Sweet Aftertaste 青柠，回甘 Secret crushes in youth are bittersweet, but if you savor them, they leave a faint sweetness behind. A crush missed in youth will find its way back to you if it’s meant to be. “Chu Yan, have you thought about what kind of university you want to attend?” “Huada.” Huada? A top-tier university. A crush that already seemed hopeless now felt even more out of reach. “Want me to tutor you?” “Why?” Why all of a sudden? “Lin Xiaoning, I don’t want to be the only one there after I get into Huada.” I watc 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 He Is Not Her Valley 他不是她的山谷 Because he wasn't her valley, all her longing became a secret no one cared to know. When you're a teenager, every feeling is so pure. When you truly like someone, you really can remember them for a very, very long time. Back in her school days, Cheng Ran often wondered: If only she were prettier, if only her family were better off, would she be able to look Song Muci in the eye? As a student, Cheng Ran was insecure, timid, and ordinary. No one knew she liked Song Muci. She thought their story wo 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 The Ultimate Campus Belle Is Secretly in Love with Me 极致校花她竟在偷偷暗恋我 On the night before graduation, the secret of her unrequited love came out by accident. From stunned disbelief to a growing attraction, Gu Yan began to take another look at the aloof campus beauty who had kept “running into” him, and found his own clumsy but sincere way to return her deep affection. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 Secretly in Love: You’re Beyond My Reach 暗恋，你是我的遥不可及 [Both leads have no exes + Partly set in the entertainment industry + Wealthy CEO + Reunion after years apart + Secret love comes true] Yan Xuan had a crush on Lu Xiaoye back in high school. One thing he said robbed her of the courage to confess. In college, Lu Xiaoye told her he had a girlfriend, and they lost touch after that. She never expected to meet him again years later through work. But fate had other plans: after one mistaken night, Yan Xuan fled. When they met again, she was a rising s 149Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 Congratulations, Your Secret Crush Is Over 恭喜，你的暗恋结束了 Congratulations, your unrequited love is over. 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 Synchronized Heartbeats Along the Star Track 星轨旁的同步心跳 [Classic introvert Yan Mu VS gentle top student Lu Zeyu] [Two top students|youthful campus romance|secret love|love at first sight|light ensemble cast] Yan Mu’s youth holds a secret she never dared to confess. She fell for Lu Zeyu, the school’s most admired boy, at first sight when they met in their first year of high school. From then on, she tucked her feelings away among the constellations and evening breezes. Reserved and quiet, she could only keep her distance and suppress every flutter of 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 After Getting Into Grad School, I Won Over the Academic Heartthrob 考研上岸后，我攻略了学霸男神 [Sweet Romance] [Hardworking Girl × Gifted Top Student: Famous Screenwriter × Low-Profile Actor] This is a story about a crush. Yan Le'an had imagined countless times what it would be like to meet Yi Xing, but she'd never imagined that it would really happen. For Yan Le'an, there were two strokes of luck in her life. The first was meeting Yi Xing, and the second was getting into Tsinghua University because of him. I fell in love with you before I even knew you. Thank you for becoming my hero in 8Reads8.1Score—14d adds
- 43 After Moving in with My Secret Crush, He Dropped His Act 和暗恋对象同居后，他崩人设了 [One-on-One, Mutual Devotion, Secret Crush Comes True, Both Make Their Way to Each Other] [Children’s Book Editor × Rising Star in Tech] [We agreed this was just a contract cohabitation, so why are you getting so close to me?] In high school, Jiang Shuyi had a crush on Pei Xunli, but even by the time he graduated, she hadn’t managed to introduce herself to him. Years later, the secret crush she’d had as a teenager had long since been snuffed out by life’s daily grind. At twenty-five, they met ag 3.3kReads8.3Score56114d adds
- 44 The Past of He and Chen 何陈往事 [He + Secret Crush + Mutual Pining] Winter 2013, when the students were assigned to their arts and sciences tracks. He Jinnian was an utterly ordinary high school girl when she became desk mates with the famous Chen Lugui. He was never short of admirers, and his girlfriends came and went, but he saw her only as a friend. As her feelings for him grew, He Jinnian carefully hid them all. When he tested the waters, she smiled and pointed into the distance. "I like that boy over there." A secret crus 139Reads—Score10314d adds
- 45 Fulfilling Her Wish 遂她之愿 Thankfully, through every chapter of her unrequited love for him, he quietly answered her feelings in his own way. At sixteen, Li Xiaohan fell in love with Yu Xiao at first sight. That year, she made two wishes: to become his classmate, and to have a passionate, unforgettable romance with him. At seventeen, Yu Xiao was always finding ways to tease her. He would block her path and ask mischievously, “Why won’t you look at me?” Blurb two: At twenty-seven, Yu Xiao slipped a cold ring onto her finge —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 May Visions Keep Coming One After Another 愿景络绎来 [From youthful heartbreak between childhood sweethearts to a sweet city romance after years apart, and finally, two people choosing each other for a lifetime] Youth in the ’80s generation! August 18, 2003: Enrollment and military training. June 8, 2006: The college entrance exam ends, and high school graduation follows. Early spring 2016: A reunion after ten years apart. The best Zhang Yuanjing and the best Jiang Luoyi! Time brought the right people back to each other. Luoyi takes Yuanjing’s han —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 Orange Soda 橘子汽水 [School Days Crush + Coming of Age + A Sweet Romance] That summer was the most unforgettable one of Jiang Qing's life. She fell for a boy. He would always smile at her, wearing his bright blue school uniform. That image was etched into her heart and burned into her eighteenth year. For many years afterward, she would look back and miss the eighteen-year-old girl who hadn't been brave enough. And so the story begins. Hello, Cheng Che. I'm Jiang Qing. "I would never willingly miss a single chance 117Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 48 Secret Crush, Flash Marriage: My Arch-Enemy Had Been Plotting This for Ages! 暗恋闪婚，死对头竟蓄谋已久！ [Sweet youth romance + ensemble cast] [Bickering rivals + mutual crush] [Reunion after years apart + marriage before love] [Deer type + stubborn + competitive + soft-hearted and sensitive + Xu Wan] [Wolf type + tsundere + possessive + brooding and unhinged + Fu Xi] “Hey, want to switch seats?” “No way!” Rejected? His pride! His stubbornness! Fu Xi silently made up his mind. “Xu Wan, we’ve got plenty of time. I’ll make you regret this and come begging me!” So while Xu Wan memorized her lessons, h 15Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 Cream Plum Candy's Secret Crush 奶油话梅糖的暗恋 [A timid, overlooked girl at first ✘ A bold, free-spirited rich boy] [High School Secret Crush + Reunion After Years Apart + A Secret Crush Comes True] In high school, Qin Xiangwan secretly fell for the boy everyone admired, Ji Yuzhou. The plum candy she slipped him was all the courage she could muster. Qin Xiangwan had a crush on Ji Yuzhou for nearly six whole years. Her bittersweet, tender feelings were like the creamy plum candy in her pocket: something she could only savor alone, never dar 744Reads—Score10214d adds
- 50 I Keep the Moon in My Heart 我把月亮藏在心里 [Devoted to Each Other, 1v1] + [Secret School Crush] + [Reunion After Years Apart] Lin Yu first met Gu Jin on the first day of her second year of high school. The boy smiled at her, and that smile made Lin Yu's entire youth shine. Following the homeroom teacher's instructions, Lin Yu walked toward her seat. Gu Jin stopped what he was doing, looked up, and smiled as he greeted her. His smile was like the moon over the mountains, like a breeze through the woods, clean and gentle. It wasn't until a 220Reads8.7Score—14d adds
