Novels like My Years as a Gangster
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as My Years as a Gangster, best match first.
- 1 My Wild Youth: From Being Bullied to Becoming a Gang Boss 混过的青春：从被欺负到黑帮大佬 How does a timid boy who's bullied every day gradually rediscover the courage he lost in his youth? How does he finally redeem himself? And how does he rise step by step to the pinnacle of the underworld? What secrets lie behind it all? Find out in The Days We Lived Through. 5.3kReads—Score34914d adds
- 2 The Kingpin of Jincheng 晋城枭雄 Qin Mu is bullied by his classmates at school. By chance, he hears about the most powerful gang boss in the district. He completes the gang’s initiation task, becomes a wanted man, and gradually builds up his strength until he finally retires from the underworld. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 3 A Kingpin in the Making 黑道之少年为王 Sometimes, campus life is dark, and society is cruel. Through my eyes, I’ll take you along to experience every hardship I endured on the road from boyhood to ruling Longcheng. My name is Qi Yu. In elementary school, I followed a group of older boys and caught a glimpse of young men showing off on motorbikes, scraping steel pipes along the ground. A gust of wind, carrying the cold gleam of steel pipes, swept past my ear. Flames sprang up in the boy’s chest, and even his breath burned like molten 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 The Edge of Youth: Blade of Contention 少年锋芒之峥刀 [Underworld story] [Fast-paced plot, no filler] [One heroine] [Revenge] [Urban] Lu Zheng grew up in the old district of Qingxi County, raised by his father, Lu Zhenting, who ran a repair shop. Outsiders all laughed at his father, calling him a useless roughneck who dressed in greasy rags and did nothing but fix junk cars. Then one day, a classmate spat out an insult in front of everyone: “Lu Zheng, your dad’s a pathetic loser from the bottom of society!” With all the fire of youth, Lu Zheng st —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 The Road of No Return: Tales of the Jianghu 不归路之江湖风云录 Everyone says the jianghu is wonderful, but every year, people meet their end in it. You can make a fortune out in the world, but how many can escape judgment? Street toughs and gangsters end up unable to afford even a bowl of rice. Brotherhood never ends, but once you’re in this life, you’ll have to pay your debts... 178Reads—Score814d adds
- 6 My Wild Youth 凭我少年狂 From a cowardly student to the true boss of the South District! Students, street punks, gangsters: three levels, each step paid for in blood. The protagonist, a ruthless enforcer, and a scheming strategist: together, they take on the underworld. Follow a big brother who stands by his friends, fighting from the school all the way to the South District. No showing off, no cheats. He earns his place with brains and grit. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 Young Master Yuan: Lord of the Four Districts 元少：四区龙主 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 I Fell for a Honey Trap and Became the King of the Underworld 路遇仙人跳，我成黑道帝王 Zhou Li was the general manager of a company, but he never expected to be driven from his hometown by extraordinary means. After arriving in Black City, Zhou Li will set off countless bloody storms. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 The Reckless Years of Youth: Yucheng Fei 不良之年少轻狂宇城飞 Yu Chengfei, once the toughest man in Beiyuan City, had already left the underworld behind and settled into a peaceful life with his brothers, Wang Hao and Ye Zhan. Then an anonymous bullet shattered the calm: “The Viper has escaped prison.” Three years ago, Yu Chengfei personally sent a Yunnan drug lord to prison, never realizing he’d left behind a deadly threat. Now his enemy has returned for revenge, and his pregnant wife, Nannan, is the first to suffer. “Touch my family, and you’re dead!” Yu —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 Youth! The Road of No Return 青春！不归路 Xu Tiancheng comes from a good family and has impeccable roots, but his grades are terrible, so his parents send him to a county boarding high school. He never expected his classmates to be a pack of demons. In this violent environment, six rebellious teenagers gradually set foot on a road of no return. —Reads—Score114d adds
- 11 Chen Yu Xiao's First Book 辰御枭的第1本书 Sold by his birth mother for money and cursed by the world as a “bastard,” Fan Chen’s childhood was nothing but mud and fists. He crawled out from beneath a bridge in a small town in northern Anhui. At school, he fought fire with fire; on the streets, he paved his way with blood; in the underworld, he left no enemies alive; and in business, he turned the world upside down. His brothers took knives for him, and women fell for him. Policewomen, heiresses, actresses, and formidable businesswomen —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 A Stunning Figure in the Sea of Stars 星海惊鸿 The stunningly handsome powerhouse Shen Jinghong makes a dramatic entrance in Xinghai, his teasing allure irresistible and his many talents godlike! He wins over the aloof, protects the sweet and charming, dotes on the gentle, and flirts with the bold. Every close encounter draws them deeper into temptation, while every face-slapping blow strikes hard. Across all of Xinghai, only he shines like a marvel! —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 The Dragon's Path, Destined for Greatness 龙途天纵 The down-and-out youth Jiang Yi hides the bloodline of a Black Dragon, lying low at Cangcheng High School with protecting his own etched into his very bones! To protect Xia Wanxing, a sweet girl with a pure spirit body, his bloodline awakens and the Black Dragon Art emerges. One punch rules the campus; one battle shakes the underworld! He meets Su Ningshuang, a beautiful, powerful, and dashing heiress who cultivates immortality, and they face life and death side by side, building a battle-harden —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 The Unyielding Woodenhead 不沉默的榆木头 Youth is an age full of charm and temptation. Being active is youth, being curious is youth, and having fun is youth. Taking life lightly is youth too. Everything about us is youth. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 15 Reborn into the Underworld? Making Money Is the Way to Go! 重生混社会？搞钱才是正道！ [Urban + reborn + business rivalries + gathering underlings + powerful connections + full-throttle rise] Jiang Chen, who became a major underworld boss in his previous life, met a bad end. When he opened his eyes, he found himself reborn in 2007. China was in the midst of rapid economic growth, and Jiang Chen decided to live differently this time. He joins forces with his old comrades to establish Shengqiang Group, using his information advantage to build the company into a powerhouse! Get invol 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 Rise of the Dragonborn: From the Bottom to the Top of the Underworld 龙裔崛起：从底层到黑道巅峰 In the shadowy corners of Binhai City lived a boy named Lin Feng. Orphaned at a young age, Lin Feng had to fend for himself on the streets, enduring every kind of humiliation. Yet a flame of defiance always burned in his eyes, refusing to let him settle for an ordinary life. One day, Lin Feng witnessed a gang war in the streets. On one side was the powerful Tiger Gang; on the other, the rising Cheetah Society. Amid the chaos, Lin Feng saved Lei Yaotian, the Cheetah Society's leader. Impressed b —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 Campus Kingpin: The Years I Ruled the School 校园枭雄：我称霸的那些年 He's a nobody from the countryside, and also the most powerful crime boss ruling the North China Golden Triangle! He's a marginal figure in the city, and also a legendary underworld tycoon whose name is known far and wide! What kind of ending could do justice to all the hardship along this journey? What kind of resolve does it take to keep moving forward in a world of deceit? My name is Zhou Zichen. I rose from the bottom to become the strongest! My story starts here... 4Reads—Score314d adds
- 18 The Evil Tyrant 恶枭 [Ensemble Cast + Slow-Burn + Urban Martial Arts + One Female Lead] I don't know whether the world has gone wrong, or I have. I see the gods and Buddhas of the myriad heavens enthroned above us. I see monsters and demons running rampant among humanity. I see people eating people. This isn't a fast-paced power fantasy. Take your time and savor it. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 19 The Delinquent's Bold Reign 不良少年之张扬跋扈 I’ve had no enemies on this road, just teachers, each giving me another hard lesson. They crushed my innocence, killed my childishness, and steeled my body, teaching me that only failure and humiliation can forge a mature self. When everyone else falls, I’m still standing, and that means I win. Heroes are as plentiful as carp crossing the river, yet even the best among us struggle to take a single step. How could ordinary folks like us expect life to go smoothly? The stream doesn’t fight to be f 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 20 From the Start: Sentenced to Prison, I Begin a Jianghu Legend 开局：我被判入狱，开启江湖传奇 [Dongguan] [Multiple Women] [Underworld] [Feel-Good] Prisons are full of hidden talents. The jianghu is a world of bloodshed and turmoil. Lin Yang went to prison because of a woman, then fought his way through the jianghu for another. Please give it a read. Thank you. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 21 Reborn: I Went on a Killing Spree in the Underworld 重生后我在黑道大开杀戒 [Everyday urban life + wild imagination + powerful lead + scheming + reborn + billionaire + thrilling and suspenseful + laugh-out-loud comedy + invincible face-slapping + underworld + big boss] Li Wei’s family is hounded by loan sharks until their lives are destroyed. Fleeing for his life, Li Wei loses his footing and falls to his death from the 21st floor. To his surprise, Li Wei is reborn as Mo Lingfeng, the son of the billionaire Mo Xiaotian. He gets his revenge using underworld methods. Afte 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 22 Peerless Dragon Soul 绝世龙魂 A passionate tale of a student, a nobody who loves life, fighting his way forward and crushing every enemy. Once I set foot on this thorny road, I was destined to fight to the bitter end. I will have the world bow to me alone! 794Reads7.0Score10314d adds
- 23 King in My Youth 年少称王 We were young then, and always imagined the future would be wonderful. As it turns out, other people’s stories are only a guide… 209Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Leaving the Fortieth Parallel 离开北纬四十度 I fell from the capital to the bottom of the school food chain in a county town. Three years of humiliation forged my courage and won me brothers. I fought fire with fire. It looked like I had won, but in the end, all I could do was flee in disgrace. There are no heroes in this story, only a survivor who refused to remain a victim. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 25 Where Do the Falling Leaves Drift? 落叶飘向哪儿 (Underworld, school life, mind games, high martial arts) In middle school, a misunderstanding made Jiang Wanlin the target of a gang of petty thugs. Just when things looked desperate, Brother Hao appeared and showed him that in a dog-eat-dog society, only the strong avoid being bullied. So when he started high school, Jiang Wanlin refused to be pushed around any longer. He clenched his fists and plunged into the world of street gangs, dragging his good brother Liao Linfeng in with him. From stre 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 26 The Reckless Youth 不良之狂妄青春 “Smash anything you see! Hit anyone you see! Flatten No. 6 High School!” I’m Zhang Ling. I’d only just started high school when I crossed the school’s resident delinquents. At first, I fought back just to protect myself. But as one problem after another came along, it wasn’t so easy to walk away. Before I knew it, I’d become the top delinquent in the school... 18Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 Bloodshed and the Rise of a Young Man 血染，少年崛起 (This work is set in a fictional world and contains science fiction elements.) This is a story about brotherhood and the code of the underworld... Do good people really get what they deserve? Do so-called bad people have their own reasons...? In these chaotic times, perhaps the only way forward is to join the underworld. The saying that good and evil are always repaid in the end is nothing but words meant to comfort people. Before true power, perhaps we are no more than ants. Perhaps only after 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 28 Huh? The Underworld System Begins with a Heartfelt Duet on the Rooftop 啊？黑道系统从天台深情对唱开始 [System + underworld gangs + one female lead + absurd humor] “I am sworn enemies with the underworld System...” [Host, what did you say?] “Uh, I said I’m happy to share the same sky with you.” —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 Who Can Compete? The Victor Takes the Crown 谁与争锋之胜者为王 [Underworld + passionate + anti-triad + ensemble cast + realistic] Chu Lan was just an unknown nobody until a lucky chance to ride on someone else’s influence made him the top dog of the second-year class. 18Reads—Score—14d adds
- 30 My First Steps into the Real World! 初闯社会！ A mischievous little punk back in his school days, he somehow ends up getting into police academy through a twist of fate. During his time there, he transforms from a rebellious teenager into a mature, steady, hardworking cadet. Then, by chance, he is sent undercover to infiltrate a criminal organization, gradually building up his own influence... 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 31 I Didn’t Stab a Man, I Stabbed This Rotten World 老子捅的不是人，是世道 [Urban Underworld | Reborn Comeback | Brotherhood and High-Octane Gang Battles] 1991. Fu’an. Heavy snow. Fang Xiao knelt on the storeroom’s concrete floor, Zhao Changshui’s blood still on his hands. He was reborn, carrying memories of his brothers’ horrific deaths and his family’s ruin in his previous life. This time, he wouldn’t take the blame for anyone or be anyone’s lackey. He would wade through the filth and lead a band of brothers who had been dragged through the mud, determined to make 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 32 Legends of Jiangbei 江北风云传 Jiangbei is a tangled city, its underground forces deeply entrenched in a balance of power that no one has been able to shake for decades. No one could have guessed that the person to stir up this muddy pond would be a transfer student at a vocational high school. Su Yan transfers in and plunges straight into a school rife with conflict and chaos. Faced with the law of the jungle, he neither hides nor backs down. He makes his fists his blade and his courage his edge, carving out a place for hims 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 33 The Rise and Fall of a Nobody 混子风云 [Adult-themed story] [Ensemble cast] [Not mindless] No saintly protagonist, no System Are his parents' divorce the final straw that breaks Li Qian? Absolutely not. His ambition will drive him ever higher. If nobody believes in me, then I'll climb over their heads and become the king of Laicheng. This story does not promote violence in any way. We hope everyone will obey the law. Anyone who breaks the law will be severely punished. Society won't go easy on you. You alone are responsible for every 75Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 Decades in the Underworld: From Hidden Dragon to King 黑道十几年之潜蛟成王 [Not a wish-fulfillment story] [Follow a small-time student thug as he climbs step by step to the top of the underworld] [Not too serious, entertainment comes first!] In a forgotten corner of the city stood a notorious school: Municipal Third Songmu Middle School, known as “Third Songmu.” It was no ordinary academy, but a miniature jungle where hidden talents lurked and the weak were preyed upon. Beneath its peaceful facade, conflict churned like an underground current, and fighting was its eter 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 Youth and Passion: Our Crazy Middle School Days 青春热血，我们的中学疯批岁月 Yuanxiang Middle School suddenly shut down for rectification, forcing five boys who had grown up together to transfer as a group to an unfamiliar school. An unfamiliar campus, hostile upperclassmen, a mysterious and withdrawn new roommate, and undercurrents swirling beneath the school's placid surface. Wherever there are people, there are rivalries. With their brothers by their side, they have nothing to fear from the storms ahead. These passionate young men face every challenge with open hearts 24Reads—Score214d adds
- 36 The Reckless Youth: A Passionate Heart 不良之热血方刚 Underworld + school life + passion + brotherhood + supremacy struggles + multiple heroines One day, I’ll rise like a dragon and conquer the underworld in a river of blood. Through flashing blades and piles of bones, I’ll stand at the front to shield my brothers. Shen Xiao, a freshman in high school, looked so frail that on his first day, a teacher made an example of him in front of the whole class. After class, he went to the restroom. As soon as he stepped out of a stall, he was kicked to the f 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 The Underworld: Ruling the World 黑道：雄霸天下 An honest man avenges his wife and mother, wiping out the killer’s entire family in a single night! Wang Chao: “You violated my wife and broke my mother’s leg. If I had another chance, I’d do it all over again!” Wang Chao: “If nobody will step in, if nobody dares to, then I’ll take matters into my own hands!” 953Reads6.8Score10414d adds
- 38 Underworld: Making a Name for Myself 黑道：扬名立万 [Underworld swindlers + smart characters + both sides of the law + big shots + neither wholly good nor evil + double undercover agents + Part Two of the Northern Frontier Storm] For a man… what does it mean to be alive? To drift through life accomplishing nothing? That just means you’ve lived. It seems that for a man, making something of himself, bringing honor to his family, and making a name for himself… That’s what it means to be alive! My name is Han Yangming. I used to be a top student, but 365Reads6.6Score—14d adds
- 39 Who in Their Right Mind Joins the Underworld? 正经人谁当极道啊 My name is Miyazaki Hama. My high school life after being reborn hasn't exactly been ideal. I've arrived in a parallel version of Tokyo, my biological father has passed away, and I don't get along with my stepmother or stepsister. If they feel like it, they could throw me out at any time. Wait, what the heck is this Yakuza Overlord System? What respectable family raises a yakuza? On my first day in Tokyo, I obeyed the law and studied hard. On my second day in Tokyo, I cared for my classmates and 348Reads5.4Score11214d adds
- 40 I’m Just a College Student. So What If I Become a Red Pole? 我一大学生，当个红棍怎么了 Qin Yu thought passing the police academy entrance exam would let him escape the harm caused by his family. Instead, his parents framed him and made him take the blame for his younger brother. He met a benefactor in prison, but after his release, how will he rise step by step to become the underworld's overlord? Stay tuned. The coming-of-age story of a college student in the criminal underworld: a classic, blood-pumping power fantasy with no System, astronomical combat power, and a young man who 130Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 My Life in the Underworld 我的江湖人生 I, Li Qiang, have made my way in the underworld on three things: being ruthless, being loyal, and having plenty of brothers… The jianghu is a world full of legends and strife, where blades flash and chivalry meets tenderness. 9Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 Jianghu Tales: The Chain Reaction Caused by a Pack of Cigarettes 江湖往事：一包烟引发的连锁反应 The author is a devoted fan of Aixiaoyan Zhong and hasn’t missed a single episode. I’d also like to ask everyone from Sandao Street to send the author a free gift. Thank you! A pack of cigarettes sets off a chain reaction: from the internet cafe to the school, from the school to the city, from the city overseas, from overseas to foreign countries, from foreign countries to the nations of the east, west, north, and south, and from those nations to Tiger Nation. There’s no single main character. A 20Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 Dongjiang County: The Invisible Hand 东江县：无形之手 Li Jing, deputy head of the provincial investigative team, has barely arrived in Dongjiang County when she encounters a bizarre case: Zhang Meng, a construction contractor, beat a man to death in the street, yet at trial the victim’s family all changed their testimony. In a rundown teahouse in town, she runs into the boy she secretly loved back in school. Now he stoops, his fingernails caked with tea stains. When Li Jing takes out the graduation photo she has treasured for years, a flicker of em 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 The Winds of Ye City 邺都风云 My father was dead, but his debts remained. 140,000 yuan, two people, one county town. Zhou Ye only wanted to study hard, but some people wouldn't let him. Why should a son have to pay off the mess his father left behind? He refused to accept it. Then He'd beat them into submission. 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 Ruling the Delinquent World Starts with Tokyo Manji! 制霸不良界从东万开始！ [Tokyo Revengers + High & Low + High School Heroes + Weak Hero + Crows Zero + Original Factions] [Ensemble Cast + Local Protagonist + One or Two Heroines + Slow Burn + Fighting Prodigy] A once-in-a-century fighting prodigy, Yamashiro Miya, transfers to Shibuya No. 7 Elementary School in Tokyo for personal reasons. After accidentally knocking out a delinquent several years above him with a single punch, he forms an unbreakable bond with Senju Kawaragi. Their pure friendship is like a stone tossed 433Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 Blood and Darkness 血黑 “Is the martial world far away?” “We're already in it. How could it be far away?” The underworld is simply the shadowed side of the martial world. The martial world has never been about black and white, only life and death. The strong remain standing; the weak are buried within it. From campus to society, we never back down! 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 A Dragon Among Men: Entering the Underworld 人中之龙：人入江湖 Five young people, newly arrived in the martial world, are swept up in a massive storm. How will they respond, and what challenges will they face? Where will this deadly gamble, staked on blood, lead them: to dominate the world or to fall and never recover? No one knows. 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Underworld: The Shadow's Return 黑道之暗影归途 Setting The story takes place in the fictional coastal city of Binhai. Beneath its glittering surface, undercurrents churn, and several major criminal syndicates hold sway. As the economy races ahead, competition for the city’s resources grows fiercer, creating fertile ground for gang warfare. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 49 I Joined the Underworld to Pay Off My Debts, and Became a Big Shot 我，混黑道，从还债开始当大佬 After his father dies suddenly, leaving behind 300,000 yuan in debt, Lin Mo is forced to enter the rough-and-tumble underworld to pay it off. He becomes the least important underling in the Loyalty Hall. When he first arrives, he's mocked for his soft, delicate appearance and bullied by old hands. The Red Hair Gang, a rival outfit, also marks him as a thorn in its side. But no one knows that this seemingly meek young man hides a fierce streak and a calculating mind. When others make trouble fo —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 50 Rascal High School 痞子高校 My name is Zhang Yan. After graduating from junior high, I started high school at No. 5 Middle School. The days that followed were nothing like what I had hoped for. It was as if an abyss was staring at me, and I had to use every ounce of strength to contend with it: falling into the abyss, struggling within it, and finally climbing back out. 17Reads—Score—14d adds
