Novels like The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as The Mastermind Behind the Scenes, best match first.
- 1 Loving You With All I've Got 拼尽全力爱着你 After graduating from graduate school, Hao Qiang found himself unable to get a job because his field of study was so obscure. He went to work at a construction site instead, but the foreman ran off with the money. Determined to get his wages back, Hao Qiang stood his ground at the unfinished building. There, he came upon a gang of thugs kidnapping a woman. He risked his life to save her, only to be beaten to the ground by the criminals... A moving, heartbreaking story... 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 The Road to Office and Commerce: My Wife and Child Are in a Parallel World 官路商途：妻儿却在平行时空 A lone wolf in the political arena, unstoppable on the official path: Zhang Ping, a minor county government clerk reborn, rises steadily through the ranks with his fragmentary memories of the future. He maneuvers across the political landscape and amasses tremendous power, yet remains utterly alone. When the timelines converge, he would rather give up his empire than seize back the life that belongs to him! 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 The Black Man 黑汉 We are a black male tribe. Neither dazzling nor romantic. Yet black itself is our precious glory! This is a story about the black earth and its little-known past. 85Reads—Score614d adds
- 4 My Beautiful Boss Won’t Leave Me Alone 美女领导缠上我 A female leader's driver saved her during an unexpected crisis, earning her trust from then on. He helped her cut through obstacles in the political arena, advance her career, and thrive at every turn. 6.2kReads7.6Score44514d adds
- 5 The Ultimate Benefactor 最强贵人 Bai Tao found a high-end Samsung W24 phone and couldn't put it down. Then it rang. The owner was a beautiful woman. He returned the phone to her, only to discover that she was the mine owner's daughter. She helped him rise to success... 723Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 The Storm in Officialdom: A Start at the Provincial Government 官场风云，从省政府开局 Tan Wen transmigrates back to 1992. Thinking of all the opportunities he missed in his previous life because he didn’t understand the rules of officialdom, he vows that this time, reborn, he’ll make his way through the political world and rise swiftly through the ranks. He’ll also seize the opportunities brought by reform and opening up to make his fortune the right way. 25Reads6.1Score—14d adds
- 7 A Chronicle of Officialdom 官场纪实录 The author works within the system and draws on real experience in officialdom. This is not a wish-fulfillment story; there aren't that many gratifying moments in the system. To make the story more entertaining, some things will be exaggerated and others invented. As for what is real and what is made up, readers can decide for themselves. The place names and personal names are deliberately mismatched, not what you might think. 553Reads—Score10614d adds
- 8 A Book by Zhanfu 栈斧的一本书 Chen Yuanmin hit rock bottom, but he never gave up. Confident that life would span two hundred years, he vowed to ride the waves for three thousand miles. In the end, he reached the pinnacle of power. 49Reads6.4Score1214d adds
- 9 The Pinnacle of Power: Reborn and Rising After Returning to Junior College 权力巅峰：从重生回大专开始崛起 [No System + Reborn + Pinnacle of Power + One Female Lead] In his previous life, Wang Yuanzheng was held back by his associate degree and spent his entire career as a low-ranking police officer. Then, by chance, Wang Yuanzheng got hold of a USB drive. That very drive led to the tragedy that befell him. In this life, Wang Yuanzheng draws on his foreknowledge to find the first rung on his career ladder: Zhang Tiejun. Using articles informed by the experience and insight he will gain over the next —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 The Power of Officialdom 官势 Lin Qingyan, a son of a farming family, tackles poverty alleviation and cracks down on organized crime, taking one steady step at a time. He builds momentum, harnesses it, and seizes every opportunity, racing ahead and rising through the ranks. In the face of temptation, he never forgets his original purpose; faced with threats, he never backs down. "I will never coexist with evil" is his motto, and serving the people is his way of governing... 550Reads6.2Score—14d adds
- 11 Rising Through the Ranks of Officialdom 官场之青云直上 He was promoted and appointed, only to be sent to a remote mountain township in the middle of nowhere. Was it a demotion, or was there another assignment? Ouyang Ming upheld his sense of justice and fought for the people. He cleared away the fog, broke through the deadlock, stood out, navigated political intrigue, and punished lawbreakers. Righteous and fearless, Ouyang Ming climbed step by step toward the peak of his life. 193Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 Power Struggles: The Organization Department Sends Me Down to the Grassroots 官场争锋：我被组织部下派去基层 This is a cathartic rebirth novel set in the world of officialdom. In his previous life, Qin Zhen was betrayed and turned into a tool for others to purge their rivals, meeting a tragic end. Reborn before the turn of the millennium, he sees through everything, rejects his girlfriend's arrangements, and joins a provincial government agency, becoming a deputy section chief in the Organization Department. Before long, he is sent down to the grassroots as a deputy township head. From then on, he soar 3Reads5.8Score—14d adds
- 13 Reborn: From Breakup to the Top 重生：从分手到巅峰 Reborn in a parallel world, he transmigrates into the body of a man named Qin Yi. From the start, he is a low-level employee, and because of his job, his girlfriend dumps him on the spot. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 The Debtor 欠债人 Bian Xiangyang was drowning in debt. Overwhelmed after his divorce, he jumped into a river to end his life, but Jiang Zihao happened to be there and stopped him. Jiang hatched a sinister scheme and hired him for two million yuan to murder his mistress, Wang Lili. But Bian was completely won over by Wang Lili's beauty and courage. He learned that everything she did was for revenge, came to understand her, and fell in love with her. He went on to climb the career ladder and begin a new life... The 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 Officialdom: The Road to Power Begins as a Police Officer in a Detention Center 官场：掌权之路从看守所民警开始 Yang Junbang, a police officer with the criminal investigation squad, was framed and demoted to work at a detention center. There, Yang Junbang met his benefactor and ultimately embarked on a path to defy fate and change his destiny. 1Reads—Score314d adds
- 16 The Road to Power: From Secretary to the Top 权力之路：从秘书走向巅峰 Song Siming, a master's graduate of Dongda, was recruited by Donghai Television through its talent program. He worked hard but had no knack for sucking up, so his immediate superior kept him down. His wife was unfaithful, and his in-laws looked down on him. The only thing keeping him going was his beloved son, until a paternity test report shattered him. Just when all seemed lost, a glimmer of hope appeared: an older alumnus from Dongda had become a prominent figure in Donghai City, and Song Sim 65Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 17 My Wife's Strange Behavior Filled Me with Resentment 妻子种种怪异的行为让我心存愤懑 My wife's strange behavior filled me with resentment. 25Reads—Score—14d adds
- 18 Officialdom: The Road to Triumph Against All Odds 官场：披荆斩棘之路 [Political intrigue + no System + no rebirth] A career in officialdom is a thorny road, and countless people strive to get ahead on it. As the saying goes, doing a good job matters less than being born into the right family. For an ordinary person with no connections to make their way through the thorns, the only option is to seize every opportunity. Chen Feng is one of those who knows how to seize an opportunity. He cuts his way through the obstacles and keeps moving forward… 383Reads6.8Score10214d adds
- 19 At the Crossroads of Love 爱情的路口 Where Love Begins 5Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 Staying True to Your Mission: The Way of an Official 不忘初心之为官之道 Reporter Zhuang Ziyou and prosecutor Lin Ruoxi fell in love at first sight while catching a Peeping Tom, and soon began a sweet and thrilling life together. Other couples go shopping to flirt. These two go shopping to catch thieves! Corrupt officials? They expose every one they find! The underworld? You’re not getting away either! As they take on corruption and organized crime, Zhuang Ziyou rises step by step from a humble reporter to a career in government. But the road through officialdom is f 124Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 A Benefactor on the Road to Power 权路贵人 After a junior employee named Ye Dong impresses his superiors with an outstanding performance, he earns their favor and begins climbing the ladder. The workplace is rife with undercurrents, and family feuds never cease. He proceeds cautiously, establishes himself amid complicated power games, and ultimately turns his life around! 6.2kReads8.6Score44714d adds
- 22 The Road to Power: Who Holds the Reins? 官路之谁主沉浮 Who will rule this vast land? His superior is murdered, his girlfriend betrays him, and Lin Feng reaches the darkest moment of his life. Demoted to the Bureau of Religious Affairs, he has nothing to do all day. Unwilling to waste away, Lin Feng finds a new way forward: he works with the Tourism Bureau, makes full use of his department’s role, and promotes temple construction and tourism. At the same time, he secretly assists Liu Qingqing, captain of the city criminal investigation brigade, in in 302Reads—Score—14d adds
- 23 The Pinnacle of Power in Officialdom 官场之权利巅峰 Officialdom is an invisible battlefield, rife with deceit, intrigue, and ever-shifting power struggles. Amid the chaos, Lu Weiming is like a breath of fresh air. Lu Weiming never forgets this: A good official serves the people and benefits the community. To be an official is to be a good one, with two burning convictions in your heart: kindness toward others and a sense of responsibility heavier than a mountain. With a heart full of passion and clean hands, Lu Weiming faces pressure from the p 68Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Officialdom: Rising Through the Ranks, a Female Leader Trains Me to Become a Party Secretary 官场：进部：女领导培养我当书记 There's a saying in political circles that people express in subtle terms. First, you have to be capable! Then, someone has to say you're capable! Finally, the person who says you're capable has to be capable too! The political arena is full of ups and downs and endless power struggles. Junhao has already risen to a fairly high rank. In the eyes of others, he's simply enjoying the shade beneath a powerful patron, having received an exceptional promotion after meeting a good boss. But after takin —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 My Wife Wants Me to Leave With Nothing, So She Set a Honey Trap 妻子要我净身出户设下美人计 My Wife Set Me Up with a Seduction Scheme So She Could Leave Me with Nothing —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 The Young Lady Kidnapped into a Demon’s Lair 被掳进魔窟里的大小姐 The Young Lady Captured and Taken into the Demon’s Lair 14Reads—Score114d adds
- 27 The Pinnacle of Power: After Breaking Up with My Girlfriend, I Soared to Success 权势巅峰：和女朋友分手后扶摇直上 Betrayed by his girlfriend, with his patron's career hanging by a thread, Lu Xiaoyang, a secretary in the municipal government, suffered a double blow to his love life and political career. Disillusioned, he planned to leave politics for good. But the arrival of one woman completely changed his fate, helping him soar up the political ladder and reach the top of the provincial government compound. 618Reads—Score11014d adds
- 28 The Righteous Path to Power 官途正道 This is a silent battle between good and evil, and a silent struggle between the polished public image of a county Party secretary and the darkness behind it. This is a journey through life that lays bare human nature, and a compelling story of a career in politics... This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental! 90Reads6.9Score10114d adds
- 29 A Life in Officialdom: The Stories of Women in Politics 人在仕途：官场女人那些事儿 (Realistic political workplace + case-based stories + no harem) It’s hard to be a person, harder to be a woman, and harder still to be a woman in politics. But women in politics have their own rules for survival. Drawing on my 17 years navigating the political world, with firsthand experience across township, county, municipal, and provincial offices, I’ll show you what a woman in politics is really like! 16Reads8.9Score—14d adds
- 30 The Game of Power 权利的游戏 Reborn in 2001, Gao Yuan decides he won’t lie flat anymore. He’ll ride the waves and fight his way forward in officialdom. Subtle dealings and favors, ruthless political power struggles, intense clashes of ideals, and the unpredictable ups and downs of a career in government. This is the story of a young official’s journey of transformation. 515Reads7.4Score10314d adds
- 31 My Best Friend Lured Me to Hell with a High-Paying Job 闺蜜以高薪骗我去了人间地狱 My Best Friend Lured Me to Hell on Earth with Promises of a High Salary —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 The Game of Sin, as Treacherous as a Scorpion 毒蝎般的罪过的游戏 A Game of Scorpion-Like Sin 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 The Official's All-Seeing Eye: Rising From the Bottom 透视官眼：从最基层开始崛起 Banished to a judicial office at the very lowest level, Wu Haoran watched the aging director, who had spent his entire career in this post and was nearing retirement, face a situation even worse than Qi Tongwei's. Now that his official's eye had been activated, Wu Haoran secretly vowed to rise from here and surpass Qi Tongwei. From that day on, he reveled in the company of beautiful women and wielded power over the realm, making his way through the officialdom. 19Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 34 Reborn in the Political Arena: I Can See the Trajectory of Fate 重生官场：我能查看命运轨迹 Hou Longtao never believed in fate, until he gained the ability to see the paths of destiny. Can a golden-scaled carp be content to stay in a pond? Once it encounters wind and clouds, it becomes a dragon! From then on, Hou Longtao, able to see the paths of destiny, charges ahead, making his mark in the political world. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 After the Divorce, My Official Wife Regretted It! 离婚后，官妻后悔莫及！ Some say the official world is all scheming and deceit, about choosing sides and making choices, a life-or-death struggle. For Liu Qing, the official world can make his ex-wife regret everything, help his family prosper, and bring benefits to the wider public... 2.8kReads6.4Score22014d adds
- 36 Tides of Officialdom 宦海沉浮 The most powerful relative in his family is his second aunt’s husband, a village deputy director, and their most valuable possession is a radio salvaged from a junkyard. Yet he not only made it to the city, but also became an official. Let the wind howl and waves crash, and I’ll stroll through the courtyard at my own pace. No matter how fierce the winds or rough the seas, I’ll cut through the waves! Spring breeze at my back, I’ll ride my horse at a gallop and see all of Chang’an’s flowers in a s 215Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 37 The Road to Power, Starting as a Deputy Town Mayor 通天官路，从副镇长开始 64Reads6.5Score—14d adds
- 38 Officialdom: There's a Beauty Named Xiaofang in the Office 官场：办公室有位美女叫小芳 He works hard, strives to improve, and longs for pure love. Career and romance, what’s hidden and what’s out in the open... His colleague Liu Xiaohua, his classmate Huanhuan. How should he choose...? And then there’s Tang Wan’er, whom he secretly loves... —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 A New Path in Politics for a Poor Boy 官场之寒门新途 Wang Xingyu was born on a state-owned farm in Northeast China. Though his family was ordinary, he excelled in school from a young age. At eighteen, he earned a place at a prestigious 985 university through his own hard work, where he studied public administration. Over the next four years, Wang Xingyu applied himself not only to his studies but also to student clubs, including the student union’s external relations department. Arranging sponsorships and taking on other practical tasks helped him —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 White Mountains, Black Waters 白山黑水 In a small forestry town in Northeast China, an ordinary vocational high school graduate steps into society. He starts out as a forest ranger, seizes an opportunity to transfer to a government office, and enters public service. By a stroke of luck, he gets involved in the seedling trade and becomes a profit-driven plant dealer, earning his first fortune. Gradually, he realizes that getting further in life requires the backing of power. So he earns money while cultivating his political career. A 130Reads8.8Score11914d adds
- 41 A Bloody Murder Sparked by an Affair 婚外情引起的一起血案 A Bloody Case Born of an Affair 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 Part One 局部一 The protagonist, Hu Weimin, navigates the ups and downs of officialdom while staying clearheaded, resisting all kinds of temptation, and holding fast to his principles. The everyday settings make the characters feel as if they’re right there beside you, perhaps even people just like yourself. 1.1kReads6.8Score10814d adds
- 43 I'm Just a Bystander Here, and You Want Me to Catch Corrupt Officials? 我一个吃瓜群众，你让我抓贪官？ [Transmigration + System + Officialdom + Urban Fantasy + Anti-Corruption Epic + Revenge on Every Grudge + Lighthearted Comedy] (The author has completed two novels of over a million words each, so you can read with confidence.) Zheng Haoran is a high school student and a typical onlooker who loves watching the drama unfold. By chance, he transmigrates ten years into the future and becomes the son of a high-ranking official, awakening a System along the way. He thinks it’s a godsend, but never ex 31Reads7.4Score514d adds
- 44 Reborn to a Career in Officialdom 重生之官运 Wu Zhuoran, a university graduate selected for a government post with no connections to rely on, stumbles into politics by chance. With his intelligence and courage, and through tireless effort, he makes like-minded friends, resists temptation, and challenges and defeats every obstacle in his way, step by step reaching the pinnacle of his political career and his life... 91Reads6.3Score—14d adds
- 45 A Wild Ride Through the Countryside on the Road to Power 官途之乡野狂飙 A low-level employee is bullied and finds his career going nowhere, until he runs into an old classmate and finally begins to rise through the ranks... 53Reads7.5Score—14d adds
- 46 Secretary Chen's Notebook 陈秘书笔记 The extraordinary life of a secretary. Chen, a highly capable secretary, watches his bright future vanish in an instant. Cautious and deferential around the powerful, he keeps a low profile among his colleagues, and through his own distinctive way of handling people, gradually achieves his goals in life. His notebook is a lament for a life. 996Reads—Score11314d adds
- 47 The Pinnacle of Political Power 官途巅峰 Three years ago, he was a low-ranking county government clerk, but he got caught up in a corruption case and saw his future destroyed. Now he’s determined to take control of his own fate and stir up storms across the land! 254Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 The Wins and Losses of a Workplace Fox 职场狐狸的输赢人生 The workplace is a strange place. After years of clawing his way up the corporate ladder, Lin Qi had no idea how many rivals he had taken down, how much he had gained, or how many people he had offended. Those who knew Lin Qi had given him a nickname: the Workplace Fox. To Lin Qi, the workplace was a zero-sum game, where there could only be winners and losers, never a tie. In the end, only Lin Qi himself could know whether he had won or lost, in the lonely darkness of the night. 156Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 A Smooth Road to Office: Starting as a Selected Graduate in the Provincial Party Committee 官道坦途：从省委选调生开始 [This story is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real events may be used as a reference.] Reborn in 2011, Lin Zhi becomes a provincial government selection-program official. His very first posting is at a provincial department, where he vigorously promotes the province’s industrial transformation and works to improve the lives of its people. Riding the wave of the emerging mobile internet, he deftly seizes the opportunity and founds a world-famous tech company. With a keen eye for opportuni 200Reads5.9Score—14d adds
- 50 The Throne of Power: Reborn as a County Official from the Start 权力王座：开局重生县城公务员 [Satisfying Political Drama] [Solid Logic] Senior Leader: Chen Donglai is a good kid. Make him a bureau chief! Organization Department: Chen Donglai, the senior leadership has decided to appoint you as bureau chief. Would you accept a position as head of a police station? Chen Donglai: My combat ability is too low. I’m afraid I can’t handle criminals. I refuse. Organization Department: How about becoming head of a research institute? You could work on lithography machines and nanoscale chips 485Reads6.7Score—14d adds
