Novels like You're a Crime Boss, and You're Telling Me You're Taking the Civil Service Exam?
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as You're a Crime Boss, and You're Telling Me You're Taking the Civil Service Exam?, best match first.
- 101 The Legend of Lu Laoqi 陆老七传奇 In the province of Rehe during the Republican era, a catchy rhyme circulated through the martial world: “Lu Laoqi, Li Changjiu, undefeated throughout Rehe; the Beggar, Detective, and Master Shang; Dalong, Qingshan, and Zheng the Crooked; the Driver, Drunkard, and Wang Chaojie; Pockmark, Du Wu, and Liu Minghu; the Twin Fiends, Kou Haiyang, and Yu Xingba.” It vividly described the eighteen peerless fighters of Rehe at the time. Ranked first was Lu Yishan, a boy from a poor family in the province. 27Reads—Score—14d adds
- 102 A Fake Eunuch Goes Undercover in Dongguan's Underworld and Ends Up Seducing the Boss's Wife 假太监卧底莞城黑道，真撩了大嫂 [Undercover agent + urban + underworld + System + many love interests + power plays + hard-hitting thrills + ruthless killing] “A dead eunuch who's lost his manhood thinks he can protect our sister-in-law?” On a stormy night, dozens of gang enforcers corner Cao Kun. Right in front of him, they're about to tear Fourth Sister-in-Law Li Mi's dress off. “As long as I don't fall into the hands of those beasts, tonight... I'll be yours!” Fourth Sister-in-Law Li Mi clings tightly to Cao Kun's waist. “ 521Reads—Score10314d adds
- 103 A Gang Shootout Breaks Out at the School Gate, and I Scare Everyone Off 校门口黑帮火拼，我出现吓退全场 At noon, outside the gates of Harbor University. Two local gangs, nearly a hundred men in all and armed with knives, guns, and clubs, are about to fight it out here. At the sight, all the students are terrified and hurry to a safe distance. Only one young man in a white shirt strolls forward with his hands in his pockets, as calm as can be, as if he can’t even see the crowd. The moment he appears, every gang member tenses up. The two leaders nervously walk up to him and bow their heads. “Today’s 3.3kReads6.2Score23514d adds
- 104 The Peerless Young Master 公子无双 Lin Qi seems like an ordinary delivery driver, but in this city, whether they are business tycoons, renowned doctors, or underworld bosses, everyone treats him with the utmost respect and calls him, "Young Master!" 334Reads9.1Score—14d adds
- 105 I’m No Punk: Three of Us Together 我不是小混混之三人行 Determined not to become a thug, he knows that those who walk different paths cannot work together. Brotherhood, and the revival of the Eight Gates of the underworld. Is a sinister force behind it all, or is something far worse on the horizon...? 323Reads—Score1914d adds
- 106 The Long Dark Road of Hong Kong Noir 港综黑色长路 My new work is out! You’re welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 5.6kReads6.5Score17014d adds
- 107 The Underworld’s Final Ballad 黑道绝响 (Original title: Black Road, Final Echo) What is the underworld? Is it really not about fighting and killing, but about the ways of human relationships? Wrong. Only those who can still stand after all the fighting and killing have the right to talk about human relationships. My name is Luo Ping. I witnessed the so-called underworld in a corner of the southwest go from its golden age to its decline, until at last its echoes faded away. This is my story, and a glimpse into one corner of the underw 51.4kReads9.4Score5.6k14d adds
- 108 Seven Days, Half a Month Apart 七天隔半月 The old factory hadn't been demolished, but people's hearts were already in disarray. Some wanted to make a quick buck, some wanted to climb the ladder by stepping on others, and some just wanted to keep their quiet little lives, only to get dragged into all kinds of inexplicable trouble. Threats sounded like jokes, schemes like farces. Everyone thought they were the one moving the pieces, but they all turned out to be pawns in someone else's game, struggling between pressure and desire. One acc 12Reads8.3Score—14d adds
- 109 When an Honest Man Picks Up a Knife 当老实人拿起刀 This is a straight-up crime-world novel! It does start with the protagonist being reborn, but after that, the story has nothing to do with being reborn! In short, the plot is ruthless, satisfying, and wild... The underworld here is all about fighting and killing, but also about human relationships and social rules! 22.6kReads9.1Score1.7k14d adds
- 110 The Strongest Man to Emerge from Vocational School 从职校走出的强者 When Li Feng stepped into vocational school, his life began to change... Youth is meant to be lived boldly and without restraint! A legend is about to unfold! May you roam far and wide, then return still young at heart... 155Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 111 The Bloody Underworld: Thirty Years of Organized Crime in North China 血色江湖：华北黑道三十年 [Underworld + First Person + Period Setting] What is the underworld? It’s a place where even if you win in the end, you still feel like you’ve lost. No matter how much you gain, it can never make up for what you’ve lost. My name is Jiang Qiyao. I witnessed thirty years of the underworld’s rise and fall across North China, watching one boss after another rise to power, then fall. After thirty years in that world, I can’t call myself a good person, but at least I haven’t become completely rotten. 2.9kReads6.7Score13414d adds
- 112 Hong Kong Crossover: I Have Too Many Good Brothers! 港综：我的好兄弟太多了！ “Standing before you now is the boss of the Hong Kong police force! The uncrowned king of Southeast Asia's underworld! The old financial clans' lifelong nemesis! The creator of the Continental Hotel! The King of Technology! Renowned philanthropist and national entrepreneur, Mr. Zhang Jiayao!” “I, Zhang Jiayao, have made it this far through my brothers. Brothers, and nothing but brothers!” 55.2kReads8.3Score3.2k14d adds
- 113 I Shot the Mark from the Start, and I Don't Want to Be an Undercover Agent 开局枪杀上线，我不想当卧底 [Crime] [Political intrigue] [Political and business power struggles] [International] [Red merchant] A mole planted in a criminal syndicate is ruthless and merciless. After enduring countless hardships, he rises to become the syndicate’s boss and personally shoots dead the only handler who knows his true identity. With his extraordinary abilities, he wins the favor of many powerful figures. Since ancient times, officials and merchants have bee 4.3kReads8.8Score21114d adds
- 114 You Were Supposed to Go Undercover, and You Married the Mafia Godfather's Daughter? 让你卧底，你娶了黑道教父女儿？ Short drama: You were sent undercover, but you married the family heiress In his previous life, undercover cop Zheng Chuan personally sent his crime-boss father-in-law to the execution grounds. He never knew that his pregnant wife miscarried because of her grief. The moment she jumped from the building in despair, Zheng Chuan rushed forward, and the two of them fell together from the seventeenth floor. When he opened his eyes again, he was back ten years in the past. On one side was the chance t 12.7kReads8.2Score1.4k14d adds
- 115 The Butcher Who Walked Out of Prison 从监狱中走出的人屠 Being part of the underworld isn’t about fighting and killing. It’s about dealing with people. Su Bai had no connections, no powerful backers, and had just spent ten years in prison. After his release, he was penniless, so his older brother found him a job as a computer lab attendant. Watch him turn his life around and make his way in both the underworld and the legitimate world. In the underworld, he’s a big shot with people ready to answer his call. In the legitimate world, he has powerful fri 28.7kReads8.5Score2.3k14d adds
- 116 Fifteen Years in Hiding in the Capital, Now They Call Me the Night Emperor 京中蛰伏十五载，世人唤我夜天子 In this life, Xiao Yi transmigrates and is reborn as the heir of Prince Yuan of the Great Yan Dynasty. After wandering the martial world for five years, he returns to the capital, where Emperor Wu arranges his marriage to the Butcher Commandery Princess. The people of the realm laugh at him for clinging to a female warlord, never realizing that... Even the blind old servant by his side is a peerless spear immortal who once made every swordsman in the world bow! A casual move of his pieces can gi 7kReads8.5Score57414d adds
- 117 Jianghu Dragon: Underworld Storm in the Northeast 江湖枭龙：东北黑道风云 Three years in prison, and everything had changed. After his release, Lu Tao found himself at a crossroads in life. The snowstorm that year was so fierce it bent Lu Tao’s back. The friendship that year was so warm it helped him emerge reborn and fight his way upstream. Watch as a close-knit group of friends stand shoulder to shoulder, stride through a turbulent era, and build something magnificent! 18.8kReads9.1Score1k14d adds
- 118 The Gangster Tycoon Who Rose from the Hutongs 胡同里杀出来的流氓大亨 Previously published under the titles Dragon City Years and Thirty Years in a Bloodstained Underworld. This is a lawless age where every corner is ruled by a big shot. This is the story of a naive young man who turns into a bloodthirsty beast just to survive. This is an underworld tale full of thrills and passion! Welcome to the 1980s… 40kReads9.2Score3.8k14d adds
- 119 The Drifter's Road Home 混子的归途 With my brothers by my side and guns in our hands, let’s see who gets to call the shots in this underworld! I may stay out of the underworld, but once I step in, I’ll make every thug submit and every boss get out of my way. I’ll become the... king of this underworld! New book: Underworld Boss: Starting as a Veteran. Now serializing to great acclaim! 30.7kReads9.2Score2.3k14d adds
- 120 Making a Living on the Side in Australia 我在澳洲捞偏门 This story is based on real events. I came to Australia with a dream of studying abroad, only to be driven to the brink by reality. From a lowly street-level smuggler to a force to be reckoned with, commanding the underworld and crossing the world, I paved my way to power with cunning and bloodshed. Only when I stood at the summit and looked back did I realize that the most dangerous gamble of all is the one you make with human nature. This is a road with no turning back, but who knows which cor 28Reads—Score—14d adds
- 121 Hong Kong Crossover: From the Start, I Rule Sai Kung 港综：开局西贡清一色 (Hong Kong crime saga + gang member → gang leader → business tycoon → founding a nation) “Chairman Lin, people have given you many titles, such as film and television mogul, logistics tycoon, oil king, one of Hong Kong’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons, and the last godfather of the underworld. Could you share with our magazine’s readers how you went from being a gang member to becoming the ruler of Nanyang?” Lin Bin listened to the question from the Time magazine reporter before him, then slowly 15.6kReads6.1Score63814d adds
- 122 Reborn in 1979: My Wife Tells Me to Take Over Her Family’s Debts 重生1979，老婆让我接盘 [Period] [Hunting] [Reborn] [Mountain Foraging] Xu Ye woke up to find himself back in 1979. Though supplies were scarce and life was desperately poor, he was home, the place he’d yearned for with all his heart... Right from the start, his wife asked him to help her older sister... In his previous life, Xu Ye refused. As a result, his sister-in-law died of illness on a snowy night... His wife resented him for the rest of her life... and he blamed himself until the end of his days. Now, faced with 11.9kReads8.1Score81514d adds
- 123 Have You Gone Mad? The Eunuch Says He'll Restore the Qing Dynasty 疯了吧，老太监说他要复兴大清 I was fed up with all those cookie-cutter stories about Systems, stat-based power-ups, and immortal cultivation, so I thought I'd try writing one myself. My personal take on Systems is that they're bait cast by higher-dimensional powers into lower dimensions to harvest the universe's origin energy. I guess I was too young and naive. Readers these days might not go for that, but I couldn't bring myself to write a story where the protagonist just keeps clicking through upgrades with a System. I'll 160Reads6.9Score—14d adds
- 124 My Dad's on the Straight and Narrow, I'm in the Underworld 白道爹，黑道我 [Not invincible! Not invincible! Not invincible!] The martial world is a road of no return, and its people are pawns that have crossed the river! Where will the drifting ship in this forbidden zone finally end up? Watch as this wandering youth stirs up a storm! Black side: I've got countless brothers! White side: My backing is powerful beyond belief! Money is just something you can't bring with you when you die! [Entirely fictional. Any resemblance is purely coincidental!] 100kReads9.0Score7.2k14d adds
- 125 The Day I Went to Prison: She Blazed a Trail Alone and Smashed My Shackles 入狱当天：她单枪铺路，为我砸镣 [Not Reborn]+ [No System]+ [One Female Lead] The last big sister of the underworld! The day I went to prison, she broke into the jail and smashed my shackles, clearing a path for me with a gun in hand! If the rest of my life is destined to be without light, at least in this moment, she is by my side! Some even call her the last big sister of Southeast Asia! Truth is, she was just forced to take charge in a crisis, with no other choice! Since we're already fugitives, then let's take our dark love 271Reads7.9Score—14d adds
- 126 Reborn in the Great Heist, the Black Gold Tycoon Strikes Back 重生大劫案，黑金大佬逆袭记 [Urban rebirth + System + underworld boss + ruthless + scheming] A down-and-out middle-aged man unexpectedly reborn 28 years into the past. Caught in a shocking bank heist, he activates the “Black Gold System.” “Go ahead and make more money. It'll all become my fortune sooner or later anyway. Hahaha!” … Notorious bandit Ye Zhihuan: “Who's tougher than me in the underworld? Lin Dong? Never mind, then.” King of Thieves Zhang Ziqiang: “I once stole 1.2 billion from Li, the richest man in the coun 10.9kReads7.9Score53814d adds
- 127 Tales of the Northeast: The Turbulent Nineties 东北往事之九零风云 (Hot-blooded) (Brotherhood) (Youth) (Fast-paced, no dragging things out) The law-abiding worry all day, while the mighty sing all night. Those who harm others for their own gain ride in comfort, while the honest and fair go hungry. Those who build bridges and mend roads go blind, while those who kill and set fires have plenty of sons. I went to the Western Heaven to ask Buddha. Buddha said, “There's nothing I can do either.” This novel tells the blood-and-tears story of Shen Congwen, a great und 6.8kReads8.9Score43714d adds
- 128 The Underworld Heiress Makes a Fierce Bodyguard 黑道千金猛保镖 [Underworld] + [Urban] + [Multiple Female Leads] + [Power Fantasy] [Not for readers under 18] Wang Meng rose from bodyguard to godfather of the underworld, unifying both the criminal and legitimate worlds. His was a life of power and grandeur. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 129 Hong Kong Films: The Positive Energy System of a Hung Hing Big Shot 港片：洪兴大佬的正能量系统 After transmigrating into the role of Kun's top lieutenant, Feng Yun had planned to keep his head down and live this way until he had saved enough money to move overseas and enjoy a life of luxury. "Ding-dong! Congratulations, Host. You have activated the Positive Energy System." Feng Yun was dumbfounded. I’m a big-time villain, so why have you activated a Positive Energy System for me? What kind of joke is this? But then Feng Yun discovered that the items in the Positive Energy System’s shop we 604Reads8.9Score11714d adds
- 130 After I Got Into Qingbei, My Underworld Boss Dad Got So Mad He Landed in the ICU 考上清北后，黑道老爹气进ICU [Short drama in production] [Comedy]+ [Laid-back]+ [Positive energy] Lu Chen transmigrates to a parallel world and becomes the only son of the Lu family, the biggest underworld clan in the country! Going back to his great-grandfather’s generation, his great-grandfather was an arms dealer. His grandfather was a mafia boss, and his father was the godfather of the entire country. But in Lu Chen’s generation, he declares that he’s going to study hard, become a beacon of righteousness, and give back 3.6kReads8.3Score38214d adds
- 131 My Years in the Gang 我混社团那些年 The internet’s most authentic account of Hong Kong’s criminal gangs in the 1960s: Kowloon Walled City, the Four Great Detectives, the four major gang families, the Eighteen Tigers of Kowloon, the Twelve Beauties of Mong Kok, and the rise of influential bosses such as Crippled Ho and Fatty Kun, all revealed one by one! This story is adapted from the oral account of a senior member of a Hong Kong and Macau gang. As he is now over eighty, I recorded and adapted his story myself! For special reasons 20.1kReads9.1Score2k14d adds
- 132 Hong Kong Crossover: Helping Chan Ho-nam Do Hard Time? Not Even a Dog Would 港综：帮陈浩南蹲苦窑，狗都不干 The protagonist, Lei Yao, obtains a System from the start and successfully brings the crows under his control with its help. Then Lei Yao begins his journey of conquest. Jingkun, Big D, Han Chen, Dongguan Zai, Jia Qian Ge, Smiling Tiger, Situ Haonan, Sha Mang, He Yong, and other villains all end up on the list of people under his command. He aims to build the strongest villain army. This introduction can't do the story justice. Please read the main text… —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 133 Back to 1985: Don't Call Me Comrade, Call Me Husband! 重回85叫什么同志叫老公！ In Northeast China in 1985, an era known as the darkest of times: a young man, a hunting rifle, a heart full of passion, and a jianghu shrouded in gun smoke... In an age when might makes right, a man’s fierce devotion and true-to-life nature are what it takes to get ahead in the Northeast. A period novel, the rise of an ordinary man, one heroine, dual transmigration. 10.8kReads9.1Score76614d adds
- 134 Reborn in Hong Kong: The Rise of a Tycoon 重生香江之财阀的诞生 [Reborn in Harbor City + Business + Entertainment + Beautiful Stars] In 2024, a middle-aged lifelong bachelor is reborn in 1980s Harbor City, China, as the son of a business legend! From then on, he lives a life of reckless indulgence. He is an entertainment mogul, a tech tycoon, and a financial titan. This is the story of how he parties his way to becoming the richest man in the world! 11.2kReads7.7Score54714d adds
- 135 Underground Emperor: Starting with Helping My Sister-in-Law Escape 地下皇帝：从带着大嫂跑路开始 [Korean Variety Show World + Transmigration + Ruthless Protagonist + System + Power Players + Bodies Before Hearts] Gangsters, chaebols, politicians... When countless charismatic characters converge in the same era, what kind of sparks will fly? One act ends and another begins. Watch as the protagonist stirs up the winds of change, commands the world with one hand, and climbs step by step to the summit... My name is Ding Xin. I keep my word! 18.9kReads8.8Score1.4k14d adds
- 136 The Urban Underworld: Power and Influence 都市江湖：权势滔天 The short drama of the same name premieres on January 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. on Hongguo Short Drama: Urban Underworld: Power Overwhelming Chen Yi had never met his biological father. Then one day, his parents were summoned to school, and he watched helplessly as his teacher was beaten badly enough to end up in the hospital... 13.7kReads9.0Score45414d adds
- 137 I Was Reborn, So Why Am I Still a Loser?! 都重生了，我怎么还是混子？！ [Undercover in the underworld + ruthless and decisive + no sanctimonious do-gooding + sharp as a tack] Brothers, this book once had over 500,000 readers following it, and kept that readership for several months. Quite a few people have adapted it into absurd animated videos and AI short dramas. I’m not a touchy person. You can post videos without my permission, but shouldn’t you at least show me a little respect? Couldn’t you include the original book title and the author’s name? Using Foqin’s n 26kReads9.1Score2.7k14d adds
- 138 Black Desires of Youth 黑欲青春 (Not a wish-fulfillment story, and the hero isn't invincible. Enter at your own risk.) A youth stained with blood, vows made without regret, inexperienced love, sincere friendship, the cruelty of society, and the complexity of human nature. An unforgettable, turbulent era! A piece of underworld lore passed down to this day! A band of brothers who shared honor and disgrace, life and death! An unmatched era, with a flag-bearer standing at its peak! Laughing as we watch the tides of fortune, marchi 47.5kReads9.4Score4.3k14d adds
- 139 Rebirth in the Forbidden Palace 深宫涅槃 Reborn in the Deep Palace 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 140 Claiming an Island as King in a Time of Chaos 乱世占岛为王 "General, you're finally awake!" A soft, melodious voice reached Chen Nan's ears. He slowly opened his eyes and, through his blurry vision, saw a stunning woman sitting beside the bed, gazing at him with delight. The woman wore a pale blue gauzy dress. Her figure was graceful, and her lovely face was as radiant as a flower in full bloom. Joy sparkled in her beautiful eyes as she watched Chen Nan with concern. Chen Nan's throat felt unbearably dry, and his lips were cracked. He struggled to move 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 141 The Underworld's Turbulent Road 黑道风云江湖路 What is the Dao? It does not arise because of one person's goodness, nor perish because of one person's evil. Good and evil are determined by people; rise and fall are determined by fate. The people of the world think they are fighting for money, power, or pride. Only in the end do they understand that they were fighting for nothing but illusion. The Dao knows no black or white. All living beings are within the game. (Note: This book is extremely realistic and even somewhat oppressive. Re 135.8kReads9.2Score9.4k14d adds
- 142 A New World in Hong Kong Cinema 港综新的世界 A little weed nobody wants? A good-for-nothing nobody cares about? No. I have brothers, more than just one. And I have uncles and aunts who love me. It's just that my life has reached its end... Hong Kong crossovers have no fixed timeline. The characters' appearances and positions vary greatly, so please don't get hung up on the timeline. Thank you! 458Reads—Score514d adds
- 143 Hong Kong Dramas! I Have No Choice 港综！我没得选 Is Liang Kun my second uncle? Am I an illegitimate child of the Ni family? I want to make my own way. Someone gives me a chance? Do I even have the right to choose? When I try to turn back, I find no one behind me... 3kReads6.4Score10414d adds
- 144 Hong Kong Films: The New World 港片：新世界 He transmigrates into the world of Hong Kong movies! He’s just seen the Four Great Detectives off, only to find himself in the explosive boom years of the triads. Gao Bin becomes a rank-and-file member of Wo Shing Wo. From then on, Gao Bin sells counterfeit goods, gets into real estate, and makes movies. If it can make money, Gao Bin wants a piece of it. Then he goes international, takes on the world, unites the Hongmen, and builds his empire bigger and stronger! Years later, patriotic entrepren 27.7kReads9.1Score1.3k14d adds
- 145 The Young Tiger Leaves the Mountain, Sweeping the Capital's Rising Elite from the Start 幼虎出山，开局横扫京城新贵 [Urban + passionate + wealth fantasy + romance + one heroine] The moment the young tiger raised by the Lu family of the Northwest set foot in the capital, a storm was bound to erupt. Old feuds between the great families, clashes among the newly powerful: the young tiger was destined to become the lord of the mountain. “Stop picking me up all the time. It's embarrassing,” the little girl pouted in protest. Lu Wei scratched his head awkwardly. Even the lord of the mountain had to bow his head for 38.2kReads8.7Score3.8k14d adds
- 146 Don’t Be Foolish, He Only Likes 18-Year-Old Girls 别傻了，他只喜欢18岁小妹妹 “Ran, how long does it take to train like you?” Chen Nan asked curiously. His eyes shone with admiration and envy for Xiao Ran’s strength. Xiao Ran smiled faintly and replied with conviction, “I’m at Level Five of the Beginner Martial Arts rank now. I’ve been training for three whole years.” At that number, Chen Nan’s eyes widened in surprise. He murmured to himself, “It takes that long...” He seemed to feel a little pressure about the training that lay ahead. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 147 The Storms of Beicheng 北城风云 Synopsis: (This story is entirely fictional. Its original title was Northern City’s Turmoil.) What is the jianghu? Wherever there are people, there is a jianghu, and wherever there is a jianghu, there is conflict! The jianghu is about fighting, killing, and the law of the jungle, but it’s also about human relationships and social conventions. This book will take you back to the jianghu of the 1980s and 1990s, where you’ll witness the extraordinary path of Chen Yanan, a generation’s ruthless hero 13.3kReads9.4Score1.1k14d adds
- 148 The Allure of the Underworld 黑道诱人 [The short drama adapted from this book, From Here on, Rivers Flow into the World, is now available. Come watch!] [Urban + underworld + big shots + all-powerful + feel-good story + period setting + invincible protagonist + multiple heroines + ruthless and decisive] When I was little, my dad often told me that the path of the underworld was a road of no return. It was hard to walk, and few people ever came to a good end. I never understood what he meant. Instead, I thought the underworld was all 67.7kReads8.7Score3k14d adds
- 149 I Am the King 我为王 Betrayed by everyone, I was wounded by those closest to me! I cut off a finger to survive, then lay low for six years before emerging again. Through the grudges and warmth of the martial world, I’ve seen it all. I am the king! 1.7kReads8.4Score12214d adds
- 150 The Tiger Roars Across the Central Plains 虎啸中州 Three cups of wine for the mortal world, one pot of tea for a legacy that lasts a thousand years. What does it mean to truly live? Let me tell you what it means to unleash a ferocious tiger. Some ride horses, some sit in sedan chairs, while others push carts and shoulder their loads. I’ve never admitted defeat. You can beat me a thousand times, but I still won’t cry!!! 187Reads—Score—14d adds
