Novels like Looks Like I'm Reading a Novel, but I'm Actually Studying for the CET-4
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Looks Like I'm Reading a Novel, but I'm Actually Studying for the CET-4, best match first.
- 51 The Truth the Japanese Army Tried to Hide: The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru 被日军掩盖的真相：里斯本丸沉没事件 [Lisbon Maru, Japan, World War II, prisoners of war, shipwreck, war] The Truth Hidden by the Japanese Military: The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru centers on a humanitarian disaster during World War II, bringing to light a chapter of history long buried. In October 1942, the Japanese cargo ship Lisbon Maru was carrying around 1,800 British prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Japan when it was torpedoed by an American submarine near the Zhoushan Islands. As the ship slowly sank, the Japanese military 75Reads9.2Score—14d adds
- 52 The Battle of Lake Changjin: The Turning Point of the Korean War 长津湖战役：朝鲜战争的拐点 Discover the true story of the Battle of Lake Changjin, a desperate clash of wills and faith. We salute the great soldiers. Those faces hidden beneath the ice, those who died under the bombs: they deserve to be remembered! More than seventy years ago, the Langlin Mountains were rugged and buried beneath heavy snow. The wind howled into people's ears, as loud as an exploding shell. Many lay in the snow. The charge sounded, but they could no longer move. Snowflakes settled on their eyelashes, and 658Reads9.4Score—14d adds
- 53 One Book Is All You Need to Read Chinese History 中国历史读这本就够了 Discover the truth of history through clear, accessible writing. A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese History is the magnum opus of the renowned historian Lü Simian. Organized chronologically, it covers politics, economics, culture, society, and much more. In this sweeping historical work, Lü Simian brings a series of vivid scenes to life with engaging prose and a rigorous historical perspective: from ancient legends of the world's creation to the gradual formation of ritual and musical civilization 46Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 54 Nana's Big Transformation 娜娜变大记 My new work is here! You’re welcome to read it on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support inspires me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 53.7kReads5.2Score2.2k14d adds
- 55 The Meaning of the White Tiger 白虎通义 The Baihutong, also known as the White Tiger Discussions or the White Tiger Treatise on Virtue, is a collection of proceedings from an officially convened meeting on Confucian studies during the Eastern Han dynasty, as well as an imperially sanctioned work interpreting the Confucian classics. It holds an exceptionally important place in the history of Confucian thought and Han political thought. In 79 CE, the fourth year of Emperor Zhang of Han’s Jianchu era, the emperor personally convened a la 28Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 56 The Secret Histories of the Four Great Beauties 四大美人秘史 The Secret History of the Four Great Beauties is a vivid, legendary novel about four famous beauties of ancient China: Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan, and Yang Guifei. Skillfully blending history and legend, fact and fiction, this work uses delicate prose and rich storytelling to reveal the important roles these four beauties played in their respective eras and the influence they had. During the Spring and Autumn period, Xi Shi used her beauty to beguile King Fuchai of Wu under a plan devised b 127Reads9.2Score3814d adds
- 57 The Secret Histories of the Four Great Beauties 四大美人秘史 [The Four Beauties, classical historical romances, complete uncensored public-domain editions, stories of celebrated women in history, ancient tales] This complete collection contains the original, unabridged texts of The Romance of Xishi, The Romance of Wang Zhaojun, The Romance of Yang Guifei, and The Romance of Diaochan. It recounts the turbulent lives of the Four Beauties, whose beauty was said to make fish forget to swim, geese forget to fly, the moon hide, and flowers blush. Together, thes 526Reads9.2Score10014d adds
- 58 History of the Song: Annals of Emperor Taizu 宋史·太祖本纪 He may have been the best “actor” among the founding emperors in Chinese history. In 960 CE, a carefully orchestrated “forced enthronement” at Chenqiao Station propelled Zhao Kuangyin from a general of the Later Zhou into the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty. Over drinks, he stripped the founding generals of their military power; amid the shadows of an axe and candlelight, the mystery surrounding his bizarre death remains unsolved to this day. Some call him a wise ruler who ended the chaos o 147Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 59 A History of Chinese Warfare: Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods 中国战争史之春秋战国 [History + Military + Warfare + Strategy] On the battlefield, split-second decisions to kill or spare can determine a nation's fate. From Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony under the banner of “revering the king and repelling the barbarians,” to the rise of Qin's fierce army after Shang Yang's reforms; from the gleam of blades in the Wu-Yue conflict to the strategists' cunning schemes and verbal battles with scholars, every detail is steeped in the turmoil and bloodshed unique to the Spring and Autumn a 148Reads9.2Score4114d adds
- 60 The Way of Changes Can Reach the Divine 易可通神 If you seek the spark of wisdom, step into this book. It shares only profound teachings, suited to those with spiritual insight and mature minds. These are lessons from my own experience. I will write with care, and you can read with care. That's how fate works: it comes unbidden, sparked by a single thought, and deepens into devotion... May we help one another flourish and find fulfillment. 3.1kReads7.4Score63014d adds
- 61 The School of Mind in the Ming Dynasty 大明心学 This is a sweeping historical novel starring Wang Yangming. The story begins with Wang Yangming’s birth in 1471, the seventh year of the Chenghua era, and ends with his death aboard a boat in Nanan, Jiangxi, in 1529, the seventh year of the Jiajing era. Spanning fifty-eight years, the novel paints a vivid, panoramic portrait of the extraordinary life of one of the Ming dynasty’s greatest figures: the omens surrounding his birth, his youthful ambitions, his enlightenment at Longchang, his campai 1Reads—Score114d adds
- 62 A Half-Hour Cartoon History of China (Complete in Five Volumes) 半小时漫画中国史（全五册） Read comics for half an hour and master three thousand years of history, with a crystal-clear timeline you can recite backward as soon as you finish. Using nothing but hand-drawn illustrations and jokes, Er Hunzi lays out the grand sweep of history with impressive clarity: the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods were like a classroom; the Qin dynasty burned brightly and died young; the Three Kingdoms era came down to three great battles; the chaotic Wei and Jin period was full of oddbal 2.3kReads9.6Score55514d adds
- 63 A Handy Guide to I Ching Ramblings 易学碎碎念宝典 [A practical guide to the I Ching + fortune-telling + feng shui + luck + arrangement + adjustment + psychology] How can you harness good fortune and make life better with every step? How can the I Ching move beyond ancient books and become an everyday tool for seeing through patterns and solving problems? This is my open-source I Ching project. I'm sharing the underlying principles of Bazi, feng shui, Plum Blossom numerology, and physiognomy with you. Practical and verifiable. No obscure termi 434Reads8.5Score10114d adds
- 64 Mastering the Book of Changes, Rising to the Heavens in One Leap 易学纵横一步登天 Cultivation, Qi Refining, esoteric arts, feng shui, and sacrifice: everything you’ve heard of and everything you haven’t is in this book. Each technique is clearly explained and effective in practice. By the first few chapters, readers in the know have already realized that people outside would charge hundreds of thousands for this information, if they were willing to share it at all. Some readers even exclaimed that after searching for years, they’d finally found a shortcut to cultivation, only 8.8kReads8.8Score1.9k14d adds
- 65 Wu Zetian's Four Great Mystery Cases 武则天四大奇案 [Historical Mystery + Four Great Cases + Ancient-Era Deduction] From strange cases in the countryside to courtly intrigue, Di Renjie carefully unravels the truth at every turn. Newly appointed magistrate of Changping County, Di Renjie is immediately faced with a bizarre murder: a merchant from Huzhou is found mysteriously dead at an inn in Liulidun. The local headman, Hu De, abuses his power, but the identity of the real culprit raises even more questions. Disguised as an ordinary traveler, Di R 391Reads9.5Score—14d adds
- 66 Unofficial History Isn't Necessarily False 野史未必假 [The full-cast audio edition is now available. Give it a listen!] From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the Ming and Qing dynasties, discover the truth behind popular unofficial histories! This book examines 22 popular historical tales from China’s earliest dynasties through the Ming and Qing, using vivid reconstructions, close study of historical sources, and logical analysis to uncover the truth behind them. Was Qin Shi Huang’s biological father Lü Buwei? Did Emperor Taizong of Song m 30.6kReads9.6Score5.3k14d adds
- 67 The Code Immortal Realm: I Am the Heavenly Dao 代码仙域，我即是天道 My name is Tian Yingxue, and this is the tenth time I've been reborn. The Heavenly Dao played a cruel joke on me. On one hand, it granted me a golden finger of an opportunity, giving me a natural fire spirit root, letting me establish my Foundation at ten, form my Golden Core and keep my youthful appearance at nineteen, and reach the threshold of ascension at a hundred. On the other hand, it made me perish in the tribulation lightning as I ascended, then sent me back to the day before I was to j 17Reads—Score—14d adds
- 68 A Humble Family’s Path to Officialdom, Part One 寒门仕途【一】 New Book: The Humble Official’s Path [Realistic Period Drama] [Rise from Poverty] [Political Intrigue] [Ambitious Struggle] [Rural Cadres] [Urban Life] In the 1970s, in Xiaochenzhuang, southern Henan, a family of three siblings lives in poverty. They are supported by the state, their father died young, and their mute mother is forced to remarry, leaving them to fend for themselves. The sisters choose Chen Shouzheng to continue his studies, and he devotes himself to his books, eventually becoming 7.2kReads8.8Score72914d adds
- 69 Southern Song, Northern Center 南宋北中 From the start, two strangers who accidentally ended up together transmigrate with their bare bottoms exposed, covering themselves with leaves before getting stung in their most sensitive spots by hairy caterpillars. No System, no golden finger. They mainly rely on what they've learned online to make their way in the world, and the story wins on plot alone. Humorous and funny, with an emphasis on realism. 1.4kReads8.5Score14014d adds
- 70 The Saga of Wagang Stronghold 瓦岗寨演义 The Tale of Wagang Stronghold is set amid the chaos of the late Sui dynasty and vividly recounts how the heroes of Wagang rise up to resist tyranny. The story follows bold outlaws such as Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong, Shan Xiongxin, and Xu Maogong, chronicling their legendary exploits: gathering at Wagang, seizing the imperial tribute, rebelling in Shandong, and joining forces with eighteen rebel kings to fight the Sui court. The book features both bloody battles amid flashing blades and clashes of w 869Reads9.5Score10714d adds
- 71 Rigid Justice 刻板正义 If you were born to be humanity’s savior, destined to sacrifice yourself, would you accept your mission? [Great Calamities] are extinction-level natural disasters that occur every few years: tsunamis, meteorites, swarms of insects, collapsing stars. Only the most powerful superhuman, known as [Justice], can end them by offering up their life. Against this backdrop, humanity has developed all kinds of unique social systems, and the world’s balance of power and relations between nations have bec 630Reads8.6Score10614d adds
- 72 Ingenious Inventions of Ancient China 中国古代奇技淫巧 The authors of this book searched through vast collections of historical records, painstakingly gathering hundreds of long-lost secret arts and techniques passed down through the centuries. These include forging antiques, identifying treasures, alchemy, health practices, beauty techniques, fortune-telling by characters, martial arts, and spiritual cultivation. Their scope ranges from contemplating the heavens and earth and making uncanny predictions to calming the mind, curing illness, and riddi 8.5kReads9.5Score1.4k14d adds
- 73 The Eight Characters of Destiny Are the Ancestors of Science 八字是科学它祖宗 Newly released books tend to get low ratings, but everyone who has read this one gives it five stars. Many readers enjoy it so much that they have to read it twice. Some even ask, "Why isn't a book this good popular? Is there no justice?" Haha, thank you for your support. [This book follows the principle of "observing the Way of Heaven and carrying out its course": understand your own fate, find the bugs in your System, stand at the highest point of the Heavenly Way, and look down on all living 13.2kReads8.9Score3.4k14d adds
- 74 EN Don’t Read This Book, or You Might Defy Fate and Change Your Destiny 别看这本书我怕你逆天改命 This is nothing more than an ordinary online novel. It is nowhere near as miraculous as fellow readers claim! The only reason you can click to read it is that your luck has already begun to change. When you start from the first chapter and read carefully, the gears of your destiny may already have begun to turn. 392.5kReads9.4Score61.6k14d adds
- 75 I Died on Mid-Autumn Night, and Mr. Lu Went Mad with Regret 我死在中秋夜，陆总悔疯了 I died on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and General Manager Lu went mad with regret. 515Reads—Score—14d adds
- 76 The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, Explained with Laughs 黄帝内经爆笑讲解版 Still missing out on China’s millennia-old treasures of health and wellness because classical texts are so hard to understand? This book breaks free from the dry style of traditional texts and uses laugh-out-loud language to unpack the foundational classics of Chinese medicine! It is divided into three volumes. The first offers clear, accessible explanations of the chapters of the Suwen, breaking down the underlying medical principles of yin and yang, the five elements, the organs, and qi and bl 12.8kReads8.7Score1.6k14d adds
- 77 I Sell Secondhand Mirrors Online, and the Buyer Says Someone in the Mirror Is Watching Her 我在闲鱼卖二手镜子，买家说镜子里有人在看她 I sell secondhand mirrors on Xianyu. The buyer says someone is watching her from inside the mirror. 2kReads—Score2114d adds
- 78 The Night Draws Me Into His Arms 夜色诱我入怀 She focused on wielding her blade and taking revenge, while he quietly cleared her path and dealt with the aftermath. She never wanted someone to tell her to be kind. She wanted the certainty of knowing that, whatever she chose to do, he would stand behind her without question. When she wanted hatred, he handed her the blade; when she wanted love, he gave her everything. The world saw only her dazzling sharpness. He alone understood that the cause he protected was never some lofty ideal, but her 3.1kReads—Score17314d adds
- 79 The Book of Fortune-Telling 算命簿 I am a fortune-teller in real life. I was 83 years old when I wrote this book. No one knows what sort of writing an 83-year-old man might produce, and neither do I. I just want to write a book while I still have time, and finally put one matter to rest... Synopsis: A wandering fortune-teller speaks of hidden mysteries, yet has a past unknown to all. This forbidden volume records a century's worth of secrets about practitioners of the occult. In the instant when dark arts clash with fate, the mys 3.3kReads7.0Score48514d adds
- 80 The Grand Princess from Ancient Times Is a Science Prodigy in the Modern World 古穿今，长公主她理科超神 [Ancient-to-Modern Transmigration + System + Top Student + Strengthening the Nation] In her previous life, Chen Lingying needed only three thousand light cavalry to strike down the enemy's commander. The people of Great Zhou called her the Eldest Princess of Chen, with both reverence and fear. When she opened her eyes again, the princess who had stood second to none had become a modern high school girl. Mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology; The International Mathematical Olympiad, internatio 4.1kReads9.3Score66214d adds
- 81 A Comeback: Back to Sixteen 逆袭之重回十六岁 [An inspiring school-life story about a top student. The heroine isn’t a genius; she turns her life around through hard work.] The underachiever Jiang Ning returned to age sixteen. In this life, she set herself the goal of studying hard and turning things around to become a top student. But why does the boy who seemed so distant and impossible to win over in her previous life seem to be getting closer and closer? …“We’ll meet at the nation’s top university.” Jiang Ning read the message again and 7.3kReads9.2Score80414d adds
- 82 The Food I Deliver Has a Recipient Who's Been Dead for Three Years 我送的外卖，收货人死了三年 The person who received the food I delivered died three years ago. 1.5kReads—Score—14d adds
- 83 Zeng Guofan's Methods of Scholarship 曾国藩治学方法 This book explores three dimensions: self-cultivation, managing affairs, and reading. Its discussion of self-cultivation advocates integrating “resolve, insight, and perseverance,” building a foundation for body and mind through meditation and a regular routine. Its approach to managing affairs reveals, through practical examples such as running a household and leading an army, the unity of hands-on action and institutional innovation. Its discussion of reading emphasizes “mastering one field” a 356Reads9.0Score15614d adds
- 84 The Phoenix-Tortoise-Borne City 凤凰龟驮城 The story of a heavenly brat coming down to the mortal world, and my life as a top-tier star among humans: I ruined Jiang Ziya's retirement, stole the Thunder God's hammer, and smashed the Jade Emperor's palace... In short, I stirred up everyone's wrath, so they sent me to the mortal world for a little experience. But I never expected the dazzling world of mortals to be so captivating. I got involved, I ran away, I tried it all, and I endured every kind of hardship! I thought I could make a name 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 85 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: Li Jin’s Secrets and the Triangle Star Pattern 丝路玉鉴：李烬秘事之三角星纹 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: Li Jin's Secrets, the Triangular Star Pattern 6Reads—Score—14d adds
- 86 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: Li Jin's Good Fortune, the Stunning Beauty 丝路玉鉴：李烬幸事之绝色佳人 Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: Li Jin's Good Fortune and the Peerless Beauty 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 87 Livestream: Teaching Kids to Write Essays and Be Good People 直播：教孩子写作文，学做人 Writing compositions is easy! This book shows parents how to guide their children in writing and in learning how to be good people. Drawing on traditional Chinese thought, it explores methods and techniques for parent-child education. 59Reads—Score10114d adds
- 88 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: Li Jin's Destiny as an Undercover Agent in Chang'an 丝路玉鉴：李烬宿命之长安卧底 Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: Li Jin's Fate as an Undercover Agent in Chang'an 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 89 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: The Li Family Jade Pendant, Key to Hexi 丝路玉鉴：李氏玉坠之河西密钥 Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: The Li Clan's Jade Pendant and the Secret Key to Hexi 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 90 The Ancient Prophecy: The Return of Saling 先古之谕萨灵归来 In ancient times, shaman mages used their mysterious powers to protect the balance of the land. They lived in harmony with nature, using spiritual energy to preserve the peace of the mountains and rivers and the well-being of their tribes. But their peaceful days were shattered overnight when a rift suddenly appeared in the sky, and monsters and demons from distant star systems surged toward their tranquil homeland like a tidal wave. The shaman mages rallied at once, knowing that the fate of the 162Reads7.9Score214d adds
- 91 Reading Books Grants Stats: The Path to Godhood 看书加属性，成就通神之路 [Boosting Stats vs. Gaining Abilities]+ [Personal Growth vs. Plotting Across the Universe]+ [Protagonist vs. Author]+ … [Blurb 1: Reading books boosts your stats. The more you boost them, the more you read; the more you read, the more you boost them. And so you slowly grow stronger. Since the protagonist grows by reading, the change happens gradually. Give it a try if that sounds like your kind of story.] … [Blurb 2: Whether in fiction or reality, reading books gives you knowledge. What would 830Reads7.3Score10614d adds
- 92 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: The Zhao Clan's Spells and the Secret Treasure of Anxi 丝路玉鉴：赵氏符咒之安西秘宝 Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: The Zhao Clan's Talismans and the Secret Treasure of Anxi 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 93 Strike Against Mary Sue 创击玛丽苏 [Mary Sue + secret identity + melodrama] Liu Li, the world’s number-one princess, whose full name is Liu Li. Bingjing. Dieying. Feiwu. Ruoli’er. Xue. Luoying. Qiangwei Meigui Lei. Zidian. Shangxue, falls in love with Lei Ting, the world’s number-one prince, whose full name is Lei Ting. Gaba. Ye Ao Nai Wo He. Wudi. Kuang Zhua Ku Xuan. Baolong Zhanshi. Pili. She is obsessed with his breakdancing, bewitched by his arrogant, wicked charm, and even jumps off a building, donates her brain, and has hem 489Reads8.8Score10514d adds
- 94 From Pangu to Puyi 从盘古到溥仪 [A Tomato-style Records of the Grand Historian + a blessing for audiobook listeners + grounded in historical sources + told with the flair of a novel] [Also known as From Pangu's Creation of the World to the Last Emperor's Abdication] A million-character epic spanning from Pangu's creation of the world to the last emperor's abdication. This isn't a mindless power fantasy: it combines historical authenticity with an engaging, nuanced touch. The book tells the whole story of Chinese history, from 615Reads8.3Score13014d adds
- 95 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: The Su Clan's Astrology and the Buddhist Caves of Longyou 丝路玉鉴：苏氏星象之陇右佛窟 Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: The Su Clan's Astrology and the Buddhist Caves of Longyou 10Reads—Score—14d adds
- 96 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: The He Clan's Hydrology and the Shule River Valley 丝路玉鉴：河氏水文之疏勒河谷 Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: The He Clan's Hydrology and the Shule River Valley 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 97 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: The Lin Clan's Joinery Art and the Soul-Hanging Staircase 丝路玉鉴：林氏榫卯诀之悬魂梯 Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: The Lin Clan's Mortise-and-Tenon Technique and the Soul-Hanging Ladder 7Reads—Score—14d adds
- 98 My Mom Regretted It After She Forced Me Into Prison 把我逼进监狱后我妈后悔了 After Driving Me Into Prison, My Mother Regretted It 2.3kReads—Score—14d adds
- 99 Silk Road Jade Chronicles: The Tale of Li Chongan, Jade Keeper 丝路玉鉴：守玉丞李崇安传 Jade Appraisal Along the Silk Road: The Story of Li Chong'an, Keeper of the Jade 31Reads—Score—14d adds
- 100 Stock Market God: Turning 50,000 into Enlightenment 股神：5万本金悟道 At thirty, Li Chenggang should have been settling down. But after a divorce crisis, he was also fired from his company for trading stocks during work hours. After taking a double blow to his love life and his livelihood, Li Chenggang decided to go all in. He made a decision that looked crazy to everyone else: he would trade stocks full-time! With his entire life savings of 50,000 yuan, he plunged into the stock market and began a legendary career. 61.4kReads9.2Score6k14d adds
