Novels like A Crooked Road Through Life
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as A Crooked Road Through Life, best match first.
- 151 They Stole My Credit, So I Slacked Off and Made the Whole Industry Panic 抢我功绩？我摆烂后卷哭全行业 When your boss takes credit for your work, when the results of your all-nighters become someone else's reward, what do you do? Lin Zhou's answer: he slacks off on the spot! He refuses 996 work schedules and empty promises, and vanishes the moment quitting time comes. Everyone thinks he's washed up, but little do they know that the instant he smashes the sign proclaiming him a "workaholic," he awakens the [Anti-Grind God-Tier System]! The harder he slacks off, the bigger the rewards! He uses a te —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 152 The Black-and-White Workplace 黑白职场 The book has three main female leads: Meng Hong, a wealthy, beautiful daughter of a powerful family; Han Yiran, warm and down-to-earth; and Xi Wenni, a tragic figure. I was swept up in Han Yiran's happiness, grieved over the fate that left Meng Hong with no control over her own life, and blamed myself for giving kind and beautiful Xi Wenni such a tragic fate. I felt as though I had committed a sin by brutalizing and destroying a pure rose… This is a love story about one man and three women —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 153 Reborn, I Only Want to Build My Career, but I Keep Finding True Love 重生后我只想搞事业，偏偏遇真爱 Rising from the ashes, she leaves old dreams behind. She devotes herself to business and breaks free of her confines. She never meant to fall in love, but love found her anyway, and both her career and romance flourish. That year, Su Wan was reborn with the regrets of her past life and vowed to escape her tragic fate and focus on building her career… “In my past life, I let love ruin everything. In this life, I’m chasing money and never looking back.” Drawing on her knowledge of the future, she 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 154 You're the One I Love Most 你是我最爱的那个人 [Series: 1. You Are the Person I Love Most] [Series: 2. Moonlight at Our Desk, Scattered Across Two Cities] [Urban]+ [School life]+ [Romance]+ [First-person narration]+ [Semi-autobiographical] Chen He is me, and I am Chen He. During their noisy high school years, filled with the cries of cicadas, Chen He and Xiao Yao spend three years as deskmates, together every day. The strands of hair that fall across her face as she bends over her homework, the bright smile in her eyes when she shares snacks 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 155 Greyhound 灰狗 In real life, a “gray dog” is a private investigator. Unlike the detectives in movies and TV shows, who fight crime and uphold justice, real-world gray dogs are criminals who illegally profit by invading other people’s privacy through stalking, taking secret photos, bugging, tracking, and entrapment. You may never have encountered a gray dog, but they are very much among us. This book is a warning to the world: the law is inescapable, so do not stray onto the wrong path, and always protect your 33Reads—Score—14d adds
- 156 No More Love-Brain Syndrome!!! 拒绝恋爱脑！！！ Say No to Love-Brain Syndrome!!! 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 157 The Caregiver Who Came to Repay a Debt 还债的保姆 Yan Yan had always lived a pampered life, but when her husband was in a car accident, everything fell into hardship. She spent all her savings and racked up a mountain of debt. Their two children needed money for school, and her husband required ongoing treatment. With no one to turn to, she went alone to the big city to find work and earn a living. 67Reads—Score114d adds
- 158 The Househusband Who Lives Off His Wife 家庭主男，软饭硬吃 A Househusband Living Off His Wife, and Loving It 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 159 Hai Nange's Second Book 海楠哥的第2本书 [Work + romance + plot + personal growth + lighthearted everyday life] Xu Liangfeng had just graduated from high school when he went to the big city to look for work. He ran into setback after setback, but he didn't lose heart and kept working hard. As he changed jobs frequently, he learned plenty of practical skills. Still, at every workplace, his managers both loved and hated him. They loved his competence and his humble, sincere nature, but hated how argumentative he could be. “Liangfeng, can 298Reads—Score—14d adds
- 160 Life, with Nowhere to Land 人生，无处安放 By middle age, Li Shu's life had become a complete mess. Her marriage had turned cold and distant, her grown son was going down a rebellious path, and her body and mind were steadily wearing down. How could she go on living such a miserable life? 745Reads8.9Score10114d adds
- 161 The Sassy Sister and Her Rascally Husband 飒姐，痞夫 A female surgeon and a male psychologist find their way to each other. At their first meeting, he lets himself into her home and says, “You take care of the outside, and I'll take care of the inside.” She is bold and spirited, but carries hidden wounds. He is a roguish ray of sunshine who openly warms and heals her. You head west to conquer, while I rely on Nan; we seem completely mismatched, going in opposite directions. He had loved her for a long time, through all the days no one knew about. 397Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 162 Better Late Than Never. There's Still a Long Road Ahead 迟到但无妨，来日且方长 Chu Mingxi thinks of herself as a piece of charcoal and Li Cheng as a spark. Only when she meets Li Cheng does she grow warm and begin to shine. She was late to their promise, but in the days ahead, she’ll make a living from the simple pleasures of life and find love through poetry. She once thought beauty lay in partings and reunions, but in the end, even life’s everyday necessities are poetry. 506Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 163 The Workplace: Auntie Sent Me Undercover 职场：阿姨派我做卧底 Hou Xiaoqiang is caught cheating by his wife in bed, making Chen Sijie and Qian Guozhong, who work at the same company, feel that a storm is coming. Everything grows more mysterious. Watch Chen Sijie find his footing in this bizarre workplace…! 250Reads—Score—14d adds
- 164 Dongguan Memories: The Girls Who Loved Me Back Then 东莞往事：那些年爱过我的女孩 [Urban Slice of Life + Multiple Heroines + Underdog’s Rise + Workplace] In 2006, Lin Yu arrives in Dongguan just after graduating from college. The city is said to be full of opportunities and romantic adventures. There, he meets the women who warm and support him as he grows, while he slowly rises from a rookie who can’t even tighten a screw to a workplace elite. He struggles and fights for his dreams in the face of reality, but growth always comes at a price. No System giving him cheat powers, 988Reads—Score—14d adds
- 165 Beneath the Form 形体之下 A story about a woman, for whom beauty is both an asset and a sin. Yu Jie is thirty-one, an aerobics instructor who believes hard work pays off. When a real estate tycoon offers her a 180,000-yuan bonus and a 300,000-yuan endorsement deal, she scoffs, resists, then convinces herself to “get just a little closer.” She doesn’t know the rules of that world: once you step inside, there are no boundaries. From prized mistress to businesswoman, from a broken marriage to having nothing at all, it tak 63Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 166 Under the Influence of Dopamine 多巴胺作祟 [Mutual pining + reunion after years apart] Sweet, with a little angst, moving moments, warmth, and plenty to relate to. "Sweet, gentle, restless small-town exam ace" vs. "handsome, gentlemanly, brooding ABC" Everyone says Liu Yuqiu is the ideal man. Only Zhou Lingwei knows just how bad he can be. Everyone thinks Zhou Lingwei is harmless. Only Liu Yuqiu knows how ruthless she is. Where’s the love in the CBD? Where’s the romance? It’s all a contest between "bad guys" and "ruthless women." A thou 775Reads8.9Score10714d adds
- 167 Reborn in 2005, She Dumps the Jerk and Marries a Tycoon 重生2005，她踹了渣男嫁首富 [Dual rebirth + no golden fingers + revenge + wish fulfillment] After Tan Qian is angered to death, she is reborn in 2005, on the day she was wrongly accused of murder. She settles every score and takes revenge on every enemy. Not only does she reclaim what belongs to her, she also sends her scumbag boyfriend and third sister to prison. “Girl, aren't you in love with my husband? He's all yours!” ~ After her mother is imprisoned, Qin Yiyi's life falls from heaven into the depths of hell. Her fami 66Reads—Score—14d adds
- 168 The House and the Car 房子车子 House and Car 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 169 Reuniting with an Old Flame at Love's Crossroads 重遇旧爱，爱情的十字路口 Reuniting with an Old Love at the Crossroads of Love 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 170 Goodbye, I Still Only Like You 再见还是只喜欢你 In their senior year of high school, Fang Yin secretly starts dating Zhou Wenhao, the top student in their grade. During the college entrance exam, Zhou Wenhao misses one of his tests for personal reasons. He also receives a breakup message from Fang Yin. Seven years without contact later, Fang Yin unexpectedly runs into Zhou Wenhao at work. You shouldn't meet someone dazzling when you're young. No matter how far life takes you, you may find that you're still only in love with them. A campus rom 62Reads—Score—14d adds
- 171 The Woman Who Loves Square Dancing 爱跳广场舞的女人 Her name was Qiao Jinzhen, but the villagers called her Enoki. After her husband died, she and her two daughters had only each other. The food she could dig up from the fields was barely enough to fill their stomachs, and sending both girls to school cost money. With no other choice, she followed others to the big city to find work... where she met Zhao Shuanwa, who loved dancing and singing just as much as she did. 74Reads—Score—14d adds
- 172 The Tail Fire Tiger and Kui Wood Wolf 尾火虎奎木狼 As the old saying goes: Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles; traveling ten thousand miles is not as good as meeting countless people; meeting countless people is not as good as spending every day with masters; and having an expert show you the way is not as good as reaching enlightenment on your own. Over the years, I’ve read plenty of books, traveled many roads, met many people, and experienced many things. I’ve also spent time with masters, and gained a fe 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 173 Reborn in 2005: The Invincible Farmer's Son 重生05：无敌小农婿 Liu Yiran was reborn in the summer of 2005, in the hallway by the stairwell corner of Class 1’s evening study room for second-year students at Haiming County No. 1 Middle School. From the start, he was confronted with a marriage ultimatum from Wang Tingyan, the prettiest girl in the neighboring village. “Would you be willing to marry into my family? If you are, apply to a local university. That way, you can help take care of the family’s mountain forest farm!” “I’m willing,” Liu Yiran said, pull 8Reads—Score—14d adds
- 174 Are You Crazy? You Call This Lawyer a Fraud? 疯了吧？你管这叫水货律师？ 3.7kReads6.3Score10014d adds
- 175 Hello, System 您好，系统 The Human Devolution Report: Don't be fooled by this civilized getup. We're all lining up to take part in a grand pantomime of devolution. We meekly surrender our right to get lost, hand over our memory cards, and even turn our joys and sorrows into ready-made meals you can eat straight from the packet. Five poor souls twisted into knots by the times: an old sailor bets his life in a storm as the satellites fail; a gourmet can no longer taste the warmth of his father's last bowl of hand-pulled n —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 176 The Promise Between Me and the Goddess 我和女神有个约定 Also known as: "My Number 14 Pet Shop" A stubborn woman barged into my life. She could have stayed a goddess, but instead she insisted on living under the same roof as me... I love listening to G.E.M.’s song “Bubble.” Whenever it comes on, I listen closely to every word she sings. Bubbles in the sunlight are colorful, just like how I was happy even as I was being deceived. Why dwell on right and wrong in your lies, when you still love me? Beautiful bubbles, though they flare up for only an insta 1.2kReads8.3Score10814d adds
- 177 Single Piggy 单身猪猪 A deeply nuanced style, and an unconventional portrait of marriage and love. If corrupt officials are not punished, it is an injustice to ordinary people. A work of realism, peeling back the layers to examine the truth and reflect with cool, unflinching insight. 24Reads—Score—14d adds
- 178 Misty Nights in the Countryside 乡村夜朦胧 Wu Yiheng is an unassuming small-time contractor who unexpectedly takes on the major task of renovating a coffee factory. The owner, Liang Yimo, is a decisive businesswoman and elite executive who takes a keen interest in him, yet inexplicably keeps delaying payment. Wu Yiheng's wolf-like, steely demeanor quietly stirs her heart. But the delayed payment leaves Wu Yiheng in a bind and makes him question Liang Yimo's intentions. Just as their relationship grows complicated, all sorts of people beg 47Reads—Score—14d adds
- 179 Never Turning Back 誓不回头 Also titled: The Ideal Life Is One Where You Can Soar Without Cheats. This is an amusing story with a touch of melancholy. Fresh out of school, Ma Yiming feels lost. “What's a life plan? Adults make plan after plan, but in the end, all they get is a measly paycheck?” His friend Chen Guangxu is just as lost. “...Four of us were sent to intern at the fitness center, and I was the only guy they assigned to sell memberships. I'm a boxing major. What am I doing selling memberships? Damn it, all the 3.7kReads9.1Score40814d adds
- 180 Reborn with 1.87 Million in Debt 187W负债重生 Chen Mo is a Beijing guy who used to have it good. Then the pandemic hit, his business went under, and he wound up buried in debt, including online loans. The collection calls came more reliably than his alarm clock. He thought his life was pretty much over. But guess what? Someone was willing to pay for his “experience of failure.” Turns out, taking that fall landed him a whole new line of work. Where were these people when he needed them before? This is a story about digging yourself out from 9Reads—Score114d adds
- 181 Middle-Aged and Alone, With No One to Lean On 人到中年，无人可依 A middle-aged couple have no sex life and barely communicate. With elderly parents to care for and children to raise, they hit a dead end at work and struggle through a life full of endless chores. Then suddenly, an unforeseen and terrifying crisis sweeps them into a storm. What should they do next? Can they keep going? How can they turn things around? 240Reads7.4Score12914d adds
- 182 A Ten-Year Dream in the Officialdom 十年官场梦 What ordinary people see as a grassroots success story may actually be nothing more than a pawn in the hands of powerful figures, sent out to fight on their behalf. To make the pawn serve its purpose, those figures grant it a measure of power and status for a time. Perhaps that's all a grassroots rise to success really is. The protagonist, Chi Mingyu, may be just such a pawn. During the ten years after leaving university and entering public service, he once enjoyed great success. But in the end, 9Reads6.7Score—14d adds
- 183 Xiaoming's Guide to Business 小明的生意经 [Urban] [Workplace] [Romance] Life is a business, and love is, too. It all depends on how you manage it... Mutual benefit is the secret to a lasting business. Don't expect to strike gold in one go. You might get away with cheating someone once, but next time, you could be the one who gets cheated... Wang Dongming takes that same approach: building things up little by little and putting himself in other people's shoes. He wins over influential people, clients, family, lovers, and friends with his 326Reads9.2Score—14d adds
- 184 The Evening Breeze Never Asks When You'll Return 晚风不问归期 In a bustling, noisy city, Lu Ze is a struggling programmer, weighed down by heartbreak and the pressures of daily life. Lost and lonely, he no longer knows where he is headed. This is a story about loss and growth, a journey through love and self-redemption. Perhaps we have all lost our way in the evening breeze, but there will always be a light waiting to guide you home. 211Reads—Score—14d adds
- 185 What? I Freaking Became a Cat 什么？我他喵的成了一只猫 A loser drifting in Beijing, he’s known for being a pushover and a shut-in. An accident turns him into an orange tabby. This is a story about rescuing stray animals, rethinking one’s attitude toward life, settling scores, finding oneself again, and healing. 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 186 Love Is Always Part of Life 人生总有爱 Li Ming came from a rural family. At university, his teacher, Zhao Qiang, introduced him to his daughter, Zhao Na, and the two married. During their fifteen years of marriage, they had a son named Li Xuan, who is now a first-year high school student. Zhao Na had a knack for business, and her company thrived. She bought the family home and car. Li Ming worked diligently as a university lecturer. Every month, he gave two thousand yuan to his parents, kept fifteen hundred for himself, and used the 225Reads5.8Score—14d adds
- 187 Intern from the Start: Making the Heiress of a Top Family Chase After Me 开局实习生：让顶豪千金倒追我 The day her family sent her to the bottom rung of the company as an intern supervisor, Gu Zhaotang spotted her prey in the employee cafeteria. The future tech mogul who would drive a rival company into bankruptcy was now hunched over a cold steamed bun, fixing bugs. With a crape myrtle flower in her hair, she sat down in front of him. “Work for me, and I’ll get you onto the industry’s Hall of Fame within three years.” The crowd scoffed. “What’s an intern doing, pretending to be some big-shot CEO 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 188 Pick Up the Phone! No, Mom 接电话啊！不了，妈妈 This is not an isolated tragedy, but the “acceptable” waste produced by a finely tuned social machine. Reporter Lin Yue goes through the files of four children: a prodigy in Beijing, a dreamer in Hangzhou, a top student in Nanjing, and the pride of a small town. She discovers that what pushed them to the brink was not failure, but precisely the “one right path” to success laid out for them by their families, schools, and society. The report ultimately reveals how we conspired as a society to tur 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 189 I Only Wanted My 10,000 Yuan Back 我本来只想要回一万块 I used to be just an ordinary programmer. In 2019, I moved to Chengdu and joined a company that didn’t look like much, but would change the course of my life. At first, I thought I’d simply run into a poorly managed small company that couldn’t keep its promises: my probation period dragged on, my salary was changed, they failed to pay my social insurance, mishandled my housing fund, and kept putting off raises until next month, the second half of the year, year-end, or after the company reforme 10Reads8.5Score—14d adds
- 190 The Black Diary 黑色的日记本 I'm a reporter. By chance, I stumbled upon a death. The victim: Zhao Man, female, 22, a visual communication student at C University. Who killed her? The truth can never be buried by death. A black diary gradually reveals the answer... 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 191 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
- 192 Conflict and Choice 矛盾与抉择 Leng Yan was an attractive, capable, energetic woman with a master’s degree. Thanks to her looks and abilities, she became the office director at the Commercial Bureau of District X before she turned forty. By chance, she met Gao Jian, a fitness trainer. Over time, a special bond developed between them. One day, her husband, Li Mo, learned of their intimacy, and their marriage of many years came to an end. Just then, Leng Yan’s career was beset by one crisis after another, leaving her barely abl 358Reads—Score—14d adds
- 193 Where There's Light in Your Heart, There's a Road Beneath Your Feet 心中有光脚下就有路 Where There Is Light in Your Heart, There Is a Path Beneath Your Feet —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 194 The Wife I Met at the Civil Affairs Bureau Turned Out to Be a Millionaire 民政局捡到的老婆竟然是个富婆 Zhao Muyuan was delivering divorce papers to his boss when he found himself a wife outside the Civil Affairs Bureau. “Why do you carry your household registration booklet around with you?” Xiang Qiu was at a loss for words. Zhao Muyuan held the booklet, eagerly waiting for her to act on impulse. “Congratulations, you are now legally married.” 1.6kReads6.6Score23614d adds
- 195 Aunt Mei 媚姨 Male Lead: Ding Yuan Female Lead: Liu Meiyi No one is reborn, and there is no System. This is an era of struggle belonging to the older generation! That year, Ding Yuan earned top marks in the imperial examinations, only to have his life stolen from him when his stepmother conspired with her family to switch his results. His father, unaware of the truth, set out on a rainy night to sell goods in the mountains and raise money for Ding Yuan to retake the exams. But the tractor overturned in a ravi 5.8kReads8.8Score47714d adds
- 196 Foolish in My Youth, I Finally Found True Love 年少不懂事的我，终于找到真爱 When I Was Young and Foolish, I Finally Found True Love —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 197 A Different Kind of Youth 不一样的青春味道 Everything came so suddenly, as brief as dew... But she had to learn to accept the unexpected losses life brings: spilled milk, a lost wallet, a friendship broken, a lover gone astray... Overnight, her stable career was swept into a tangled struggle of competing interests, and she nearly lost her job... In a single day, the boyfriend she had loved for years turned and walked away, with a reason that sounded so noble... In an instant, one look seemed to last a lifetime. You suddenly appeared befo 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 198 Sorry, I Have a Romance System 对不起，我有情圣系统 "Southeast Asia" "No Harem" "Realistic" “I chased after her for three years. I just couldn’t afford a house that cost 11,000 yuan per square meter, and I even ruined my family...” “Now, just when she’s finally entered the adult film industry, you insist this is an illicit relationship.” “How would I not know whether this love is real?” —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 199 Marriage Before Love: Mr. Fu’s Beloved 先婚后爱：付先生的掌心宠 Because of her family background, Xiang Zhaozhao had always been determined never to marry. That same family background left her with no choice but to compromise and go on a blind date with Fu Shiyu. Xiang Zhaozhao thought their marriage would be nothing more than two people sharing a life. She never imagined it would turn out so blissful and sweet! A love story about a first-generation entrepreneur and a woman marrying later in life! 983Reads8.7Score11914d adds
- 200 The Legend of a Huacheng Programmer 花城程序员传 The story takes place in a beautiful flower city in the south. A group of IT professionals from a major metropolis have gathered to form a community they grandly call the “Flower City Programmers’ Home.” In truth, it’s a motley crowd: mostly IT elites and code slaves (programmers), mixed in with bosses, HR staff, stock-market gurus, lawyers, accountants, the unemployed, club princes, and nightlife goddesses. As the saying goes, wherever there are people, there’s a world of its own, and every day 27Reads7.1Score—14d adds
