Novels like An Old Illness Returns
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as An Old Illness Returns, best match first.
- 1 You Still Think You Can Escape? 你还想逃？ [Cat bottom x dog top] [Two male leads + rekindled romance + mild coercion + bittersweet angst + melodrama + both are virgins] Cheng Yu, a music teacher, has two secrets. One is that he once had a passionate, unforgettable romance with Yunzhou City's youngest entrepreneur. The second is that he can't play the piano anymore. Qin Zheng, Yunzhou City's youngest entrepreneur, also has a secret: He still can't forget his first love from eight years ago. Their breakup was anything but graceful. His fi 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 2 The Dawn of a Billion Years 亿年之初 [ABO + dual male leads + both powerful and devoted + reunited after a breakup] Enigma who plays the pig to eat the tiger x Alpha who believes in lovelessness, 1v1, happy ending Zhuo Nian, a senior researcher at RG, lost all his memories from before the age of five in an accident during childhood. As an S+ Alpha with a special constitution, he was irresistible to Omegas of every kind. So he declared himself a believer in lovelessness early on, becoming the untouchable heartthrob of G City, ad 50Reads8.2Score—14d adds
- 3 My Ex’s Temper Changed Completely After We Reunited 重逢后前男友性情大变 [Two male leads + one-on-one romance + getting back together + both leads’ first and only love + bittersweet + happy ending] A sharp-tongued but soft-hearted top × a resilient, depressed bottom Young Master Gu used to be arrogant, flamboyant, and utterly carefree, but he was also terribly naive. Naive enough to believe that love could really last forever. Then, after four years together, Xu Yi ended things with a single sentence: “Let’s break up.” “A-Yi, can we please not break up?” Gu Xingchua 35Reads—Score—14d adds
- 4 Why Are You Like This, Young Master? 少爷为何这样 [Pampered, beautiful young master on the bottom VS restrained, arrogant, brawny CEO on the top; mistress mentality, playing dumb] [Dual male leads + both pure + childhood sweethearts + rekindled romance + reversed identities + intense push and pull + happy ending] After graduating and breaking up, Qin Zheng left for a foreign country, while Song Qiuyan indulged in a life of excess. Song Qiuyan thought of those four years as nothing more than a failed romance and moved on without looking back. Ye 89Reads—Score—14d adds
- 5 After Reuniting with My Ex, He Can't Stop Coming Back for More 重逢前男友后，他猛吃回头草 [Two male leads, one-on-one, both pure + second chance at love + showbiz + powerful families + healing romance with angst + romantic tension] A writing-practice work. Read with caution. [Gentle, teasing, guiding top × tsundere, easily flustered, adorable bottom] They meet again at a banquet, both pretending to be strangers. In the end, Pei Qinghuan can’t hold back. He hooks a finger around the other man’s tie, tugs him close, and bends down for a light kiss. “You’re so young,” Gu Jingmo says wit 200Reads—Score—14d adds
- 6 A Silent Dialogue 无声对白 Modern urban setting / Medical field / Rekindled love / Mystery elements Two male leads: a top surgeon and a rising star in medical technology, an eight-year time span, unspoken feelings amid professional clashes, and a medical accident mystery that reaches back into the past Jiang Lin, 25: A gifted surgical intern, calm and focused to the point of seeming cold. Born into an ordinary family and shouldering their expectations, he sees the operating table as his only sanctuary. He has astonishingl 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 7 After I Lost My Memory, My Ex Cried in Front of Me Every Day 失忆后，前任天天在我面前哭 After Losing His Memory, My Ex Cries in Front of Me Every Day 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 8 Willingly Imprisoned 自愿禁锢 Two male leads + one-on-one romance + happy ending + sweet, doting romance + a little angst Synopsis: Hahaha, this is a novel that does the gong dirty. There’s more focus on developing the shou early on, so the gong doesn’t appear very often. I originally planned to bring the gong in properly after a dozen or so chapters, but the further I wrote, the more I kept pushing it back. —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 9 Clouds Hidden Beneath the Inkstone 砚底藏云 That summer, Li Yunzhou met the benefactor who would change his life… P.S. A story about a boy living in despair as someone stays by his side and helps him grow… 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 10 A Cracked Mirror, Love Undiminished 破镜有痕，爱意无减 Their youthful, passionate gazes met, and they shared a secret crush through one entire summer. Lu Yan was proud and possessive, loving clumsily and intensely. He thought pushing Shen Juan away was a way to let him go, a way to protect him. Shen Juan was warm and sincere, giving his whole heart and chasing after Lu Yan, only to receive a cold breakup in return. Then, in a blink, five years stretched between them like mountains and seas. Reunited after all this time, amid the flickering lights of 50Reads—Score—14d adds
- 11 You Sentenced Me in the Name of Love 你判我以爱之名 Two male leads + mystery + secret love + scheming pursuit + wrongful imprisonment + second-chance romance + reunion after years apart. They sentence each other by making love a shackle, sending their beloved into a cage with their own hands. When love becomes an instrument of judgment, is atonement just another form of violence? 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 12 Brother, Please Stop Forgetting Me 哥，我求你别再忘了我 [Light Coercion | Two Male Leads | Childhood Friends | Amnesia | Caged Lover | Second Chance Romance | Hypnosis | Love and Discipline] Both the top and bottom have amnesia, and the story starts with them already reunited. Even without their memories, they fall in love at first sight. He'll use the despicable tactic of keeping you as a sugar baby if that's what it takes to keep you by his side. When they were teenagers, their parents caught them together and forcibly sent them to a conversion cam 61Reads—Score—14d adds
- 13 A Heart Fluttering Again at Our Reunion 重逢的再一次心动 Xu Xin and Zhou Yang haven't seen each other in seven years. They meet again at Zhou Yang's awards ceremony. “Long time no see. Why didn't you come back then?” “I…” They let go of the past, and clear up their misunderstanding as they spend time together. “Zhou Yang, if you still remember what you said tomorrow, then let's be together!” 4Reads—Score—14d adds
- 14 The Obsessive Lover’s Caged Bird 偏执攻的笼中雀 [Two male leads + rekindled romance + school life + forced love + both are each other's only one] [Brooding, unhinged top with an overwhelming possessive streak x kind, steadfast, sickly bottom] [Qin Huiyu x Chen Yixi] For Qin Huiyu, life had been shrouded in a stifling family atmosphere ever since the day he was born. There was no freedom and no love, only endless surveillance and control. He thought that growing up in such a family would gradually turn him into a cold, emotionless monster. Per 36Reads—Score10814d adds
- 15 So What If We’re Both Alphas? We’re Made for Each Other 都是A又如何，我们天生一对 [ABO, male-male romance, dual Alphas, second chance romance, wealthy families, forceful pursuit, both sexually inexperienced] [Unhinged, straightforward younger Alpha seme × Steady, restrained Alpha uke] The first time Yu Chengwang saw his ex-boyfriend An Tingsu in four years, An cornered him in the restroom and forcibly kissed him. An Tingsu even tried to bite Yu Chengwang's gland. But when An Tingsu lowered his head toward Yu Chengwang's neck, he suddenly retched and threw up. Yu Chengwang's 84Reads—Score—14d adds
- 16 At Peace with Whatever Comes 安时处顺 When Shattered Love Blooms Again [Two Male Leads + Rekindled Love + Realistic Setting + Ensemble Cast] [Unemployed Literary Teacher X Ambitious Investment Banker] [Content Notes: 1. Realistic yet heartwarming, with an uplifting message; 2. Both leads are strong in their own ways: Lu has thoughts and ambitions about education, while Lu has ambitions in finance; 3. A small ensemble cast, where even minor characters have distinct personalities; 4. Light educational content, including industry term 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 17 Borrowed Fortune 赊运 [Two male leads + entertainment industry + rekindled romance + two equally strong leads + both devoted and pure + reunion after a long separation + variety show] [Possessive, scheming puppy-like pursuer × doting, stubbornly in-denial recipient] [Former race car driver, now an obscure actor × hit singer-songwriter] Xu Mozhu joined a variety show featuring scripted murder-mystery games. It was only before filming began that he learned one of the regular guests, a young actor who had just entere 566Reads8.0Score—14d adds
- 18 The Cool Beauty Crooks a Finger, and Her Ex Gets Hooked Like a Puppy 清冷美人勾勾手，前男友被钓成狗 [Two male leads + rekindled love + both are each other's one and only + showbiz + reunion after a long separation] [Cool, aloof, chaste beauty bottom × clingy, intensely possessive top] Chen Zhu and Xie Qingzhou were together for six years, then apart for six. Their breakup was anything but pretty. To outsiders, Chen Zhu was a gold-digger who had “cheated” on Xie Qingzhou and dumped him without a second thought. - When the former lovers meet again six years later, their lives have changed beyond 4.3kReads8.2Score56114d adds
- 19 Big Brother, Didn’t You Say You Only Saw Me as a Little Brother? 哥哥，不是只拿我当弟弟吗？ [Two Male Leads + Childhood Friends + Coming of Age + Secret Crush + Healing + Both Pure] Proud, devoted older top who dotes on him + taciturn, scheming beauty of a younger brother he adopted Shi Linyuan loves Ling Yu. Love begins without reason and only deepens with time. It is not ruled by thoughts of gain and loss, nor constrained by the standards of society. Ling Yu is the only light in Shi Linyuan's dark life. But Ling Yu says that they can fool around and joke all they want, but Shi Linyua 70Reads—Score10414d adds
- 20 Embracing the Unmarkable 拥抱无法标记的人 Two male leads + ABO setting + classic old-school style + chasing his wife to the crematorium + the pursuing partner realizes his feelings too late + the other partner leaves first + clear-headed, dignified partner + possessive Alpha + a little angst (I thought it was mild, though many readers call it angsty. Everyone's tolerance is different.) This is not a story where both leads are each other's first and only, so be warned. If that bothers you, don't read! If you read it and leave a bad revie 61Reads5.2Score—14d adds
- 21 Second Chances: Mr. Shen's First Love Is Back 破镜重圆，沈总的初恋回来了 Shang Nan has known since childhood that people can be cruel with their words. After his family fell apart, he relied on financial aid to finish high school. After graduating from college, he worked hard and eventually became the general manager of a group company's branch. When he was little, his father would beat his mother because of rumors and gossip. It made Shang Nan insecure and quiet. His classmates, however, thought he was aloof and hard to approach, and gradually distanced themselves f 213Reads7.0Score1914d adds
- 22 Hear the Mighty Waves in the Silence 于无声处听惊澜 [Devoted actor Alpha × unhinged beauty Alpha | devoted bottom × beautiful top | ABO + double Alphas + mutual pampering + misunderstandings + light angst + chasing his wife + rekindled romance + healing + happy ending] [The top is complex and flawed, and at heart a lonely, bitter little melon. Please don't attack the author if the content isn't to your taste.] Shen Lan, a top Alpha and award-winning actor, had a secret: tattooed beneath his left hip bone was his ex's name. The owner of that name 1.5kReads8.7Score17914d adds
- 23 Mad Bones, Twisted Love: I Keep You Locked Up, Hate You, and Love You to Death 疯骸缱绻：锁着你恨着你也爱死你 [Love Born from Hate + Both Pure + Captivity + Two Crazies + Sweet on the Outside, Dark Within + Western Fantasy + Love and Hate + Rekindled Romance + Twists + Adversarial Couple + Fictional Setting] Qi Xubai was once the ruler of the Light realm. He constantly tormented and mistreated Mo Mingyuan, a fallen servant of the Dark realm, until Mo Mingyuan was driven to despair. Later, in the depths of desperation, Mo Mingyuan awakened devouring magic. He gathered his forces, seized power, and becam 13Reads—Score—14d adds
- 24 Fu Xiangting Has Been Waiting for You! 傅向停一直在等你！ Fu Xiangting was born into a wealthy family, but once had a lover whose family background was worlds apart from his own! Then, after giving him a brutal shove, the person he loved disappeared without a trace! Fu Xiangting has been single ever since! The person he thought he would never see again in this lifetime has returned! Since you dared to come back, don't even think about leaving! Fu Xiangting rolls up his sleeves, ready to settle every score! But, well, he just can't bring himself to 365Reads8.4Score—14d adds
- 25 After Driving His Wife Away, the Arrogant Top Alpha Cried Himself Unconscious 把老婆作跑后，傲娇顶A他哭晕了 The rating has just been posted and may rise over time. [Two male leads × unconventional ABO × large age gap × straight man turned gay × dog training × coercive, pathological relationship × groveling pursuit × sweet and angsty romance × both are each other’s first and only] [Mature, handsome, polished straight CEO Omega bottom × prickly, proud, clingy, devoted younger Alpha top who says one thing but means another] Before his thirtieth birthday, Huo Chaoyan was told by his parents that he might 4.9kReads8.7Score1.1k14d adds
- 26 Reborn Love 重生之恋 Qin Hao dies unexpectedly in a car accident, only to discover that he has returned to twenty years ago. When he meets Lin Xue, the love of his previous life, once again, Qin Hao is overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. The gears of fate begin to turn... 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 27 Putting on an Act 惺惺作态 [Mutually devoted, no cheating] [An ice-cold dominator who seems perfect but is empty inside × a beautiful mess who seems spoiled but is fragile beneath the surface] When Song Bo was eighteen, his world collapsed completely. A paternity test dragged him from the clouds into the mire: he wasn't the biological son of the Song family, one of Lancity's most powerful wealthy families, but an “impostor” who had been switched at birth and raised as their own for eighteen years. The classmate he'd once 4.9kReads8.4Score81814d adds
- 28 Late Autumn, White Again 晚秋续白 [Gentle, restrained older pursuer & sweet, seemingly innocent but secretly cunning partner] [Older/younger romance, the one who got away, showbiz, secret crush, mutual devotion, both each other's first and only, rekindled romance, healing, amnesia, a secondary couple, happy ending] The snow of Beicheng and the rain of Nancheng weave together the bond between Lin Wanqiu and Jiang Xubai, spanning more than a decade. As a child, Lin Wanqiu was a left-behind kid, isolated in a corner. Jiang Xubai wa 46Reads—Score—14d adds
- 29 Mending a Shattered Mirror: Long Time No See 破镜重圆之好久不见 Mending a Broken Relationship: Long Time No See Domineering top x crybaby bottom Ten years later, Duan Lao buys his bookstore and tries to take Jiang He’s home, too. The bedroom of the little house holds Jiang He’s secrets from the past ten years. One day, he catches Duan Lao bringing someone else home and calling them by a pet name that once belonged to him. Jiang He’s defenses, built up over ten years, crumble completely. He clears everything out of the bedroom, thinking it’s time to let go. B 22Reads8.6Score—14d adds
- 30 Kissing My White Moonlight: Dr. Cheng Kisses Way Too Hard 诱吻白月光，程医生他吻的太凶 [Complete] Rekindled romance + the pursuer’s road to redemption + refusing to take no for an answer "Cool-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside doctor gong x sweet top-tier star idol shou" Two years ago, Jiang Si pushed his Doctor Cheng away with the most hurtful lie he could think of. Two years later, clutching an allergy diagnosis, he gazed up with starry eyes. “Doctor Cheng, I’m really sick.” “What’s wrong?” “Here.” He pointed to his heart. “It aches because I miss you so much.” Everyone said 3.5kReads8.9Score37414d adds
- 31 A Single Lamp Breaks the Darkness 一灯破暗 [Proud heiress × taciturn, devoted rising star of the capital’s elite circle] [Reunion after years apart + tragic romance + revenge + mutual redemption] - At seven, Wen Zhao met the person who would save her for the rest of her life. “Hello, my name is Xie Chengyuan.” At twelve, he left Nanhu, and she said goodbye. At nineteen, burdened with all kinds of accusations and caught in a media storm, she was in America when he came to find her and told her that if she didn’t want to live, she should j 8.9kReads8.8Score1.2k14d adds
- 32 Divorced but Still Sharing a Bed: President, Show Some Restraint 婚离了，还同床，总裁前夫禁欲点 Wen Wanyu’s first husband, Leng Yuheng, has three great qualities: he’s a good man, he has a great body, and he has incredible stamina! Even when she asked for a divorce, this perfect husband made sure she had a wonderful time in bed, then obediently went to his study to write up the divorce agreement and leave with nothing. She got the villa, the cars, all their remaining savings, and even the baby in her belly. He was the only one she left behind. That woman is heartless! Five years later... H 886Reads6.2Score10914d adds
- 33 An Old Love in a Crumbling Tower 旧爱危楼 [Rekindled Love + Reunion After Years Apart + Winning Her Back + Push and Pull + Mutual Firsts] Free-spirited sculptor × Scheming, calculating man After breaking up with Li Shiyan, Wen Qiao became the heartless woman who got bored of people easily, according to his friends. But she was the one who had been hurt. Later, when Wen Qiao's father sent her to meet her prospective marriage partner, she discovered that he was the ex she had kicked to the curb eight years ago... Even worse, her father h 12Reads—Score—14d adds
- 34 The Fallen Young Master and His Cold-Hearted Sugar Daddy 【双男主】落魄少爷的阴鸷金主 [Male-Male] The Fallen Young Master’s Sinister Sugar Daddy 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 35 I'm Sorry, Young Master, I Never Loved You 对不起少爷，我从来没爱过你 I’m thinking of starting a new book: possessive love, two male leads, no-brain fun, and melodrama, something along those lines. I wonder if anyone would read it. T_T So frustrated. My new work is out! You’re welcome to check it out on Tomato Novel. I hope you’ll enjoy it. Your support motivates me to write, and I’ll do my best to tell every story well! 131Reads—Score11414d adds
- 36 Blazing Flames, Hard to Make Out 盛焰难明 [Coming of Age / Misunderstandings / Older Man Younger Woman / One of a Kind] Not a power fantasy + relationship-focused + misunderstandings pile up + reunion after years apart * Nan Que approaches Sheng Beiheng with an ulterior motive, but he is cold and completely uninterested in her. By chance, she learns that he and his ex-girlfriend had a purely transactional contract. She eagerly offers, “I want to sign an agreement with you too.” But he coldly scolds her: “Have you gone crazy thinking 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 37 My Childhood Friend Became My Ex: Where Can Yu Sheng Run? 竹马变前任，渝生哪里逃！ Title: Mu Sheng [Possessive CEO × Down-and-Out Ex][Mutual Firsts × Bittersweet Romance × Forced Love × Reunion After Years Apart × Reconciliation × Dissociative Identity Disorder] “Song Yusheng, could you please not leave me?” “I’ve always been here.” “I mean, I like you. Could we be together?” “If you don’t want to...” Song Yusheng cut him off. “Sure.” Chi Mu: “What did you say?” Song Yusheng: “I said I like you too.” “Song Yusheng, you lied to me...” “Song Yusheng, you lied to me again 46Reads—Score—14d adds
- 38 A Marriage of Convenience: Mrs. Gu, Mr. Gu Knows He Was Wrong 契约婚姻，夫人顾总知错啦 Contract marriage × Married first, love later × Each other's unattainable first love + A groveling pursuit + Both devoted to only each other + The sweetest romance ever Jian Ning never imagined she'd have to marry someone for the sake of her family's interests, especially someone she'd never even met. Fine. Before the wedding, she had already heard a mountain of gossip about him. The male lead didn't show up until the ceremony was nearly over, said just one thing to her, “Marrying you wasn't 11Reads—Score—14d adds
- 39 The Prince Keeps Pressing Me to Marry Him After My Fall from a Horse 坠马后王爷总逼婚 In the third year of Yong’an, Xiao Jin, the powerful regent, fell from his horse at the hunting grounds and injured his brain. When he woke up, he took the melodramatic historical romance he’d read before bed for real, deciding that the noble Xie family’s young master, Xie Heng, was the runaway wife he could never win over. He then staged an absurd “domineering prince forces love” drama for the refined scholar he had met only a handful of times. He sent a golden chain to declare ownership, built 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 40 Aren’t They Supposed to Be Mortal Enemies? 【双楠】他们不是宿敌吗 [Male-Male] Aren’t They Supposed to Be Mortal Enemies? 40Reads—Score—14d adds
- 41 The Frail Hostage Prince Is Always Pretending to Be Good 病弱质子他总在装乖 The Frail Hostage Prince Is Always Pretending to Be Obedient 23Reads—Score—14d adds
- 42 The Finance Department's Workaholic Vs. the Human Resources Department's Slacker 财务部卷王VS人力部摆烂王 The Finance Department's Workaholic vs. the Human Resources Department's Slacker 2Reads—Score—14d adds
- 43 After Reading His Mind, I Found Out My CEO Nemesis Has Had a Crush on Me for Ten Years 读心后，发现死对头CEO暗恋我十年 After I Gained the Ability to Read Minds, I Discovered My CEO Nemesis Had Been Secretly in Love with Me for Ten Years 21Reads—Score—14d adds
- 44 Your Highness, Your Fox Tail Is Showing 殿下，您的狐狸尾巴露出来了 Your Highness, Your Fox Tail Is Showing 3Reads—Score—14d adds
- 45 The Finance Streamer and the Sharp-Tongued Analyst Fight and Spoil Each Other Every Day 财经主播和毒舌分析师每天互撕又互宠 A Financial News Host and a Sharp-Tongued Analyst Bicker and Dote on Each Other Every Day —Reads—Score—14d adds
- 46 The Two Rivals of the Eighties in Beijing's Social Scene 八零年代“死对头”双雄在京圈 The Two Rival Powerhouses of the 1980s in Beijing's Elite Circles 1Reads—Score—14d adds
- 47 I’ll Make You Shine 许你闪耀 [Reunion after years apart + rekindled romance + childhood sweethearts + healing + both inexperienced in love + happy ending] [Cool jewelry designer X Proud, devoted young heir] Before she turned eighteen, Xu Yuan was the heiress everyone in Jing City knew, as well as a rising star in the world of ballet. She had beauty, fame, and a romance everyone envied. Chen Yao: “I'm willing to make all your wishes come true.” Xu Yuan: “My wish is to hold your hand and grow old with you.” That day, a blizza 92Reads—Score—14d adds
- 48 Claimed as My Own 占为私有 Cold-hearted playboy and clear-eyed, innocent college girl [Powerful families + star-crossed lovers + powerful man loses his composure + groveling to win her back] 1. The day Xin Yao met Jiang Linqian, she was at a funeral home. A funeral for an important figure was being held in the east hall. Jiang Linqian stood behind his father, looking weary. The guests who had come to pay their respects whispered behind his back. “The Jiang family's second son really is a spoiled playboy. His own grandfa 718Reads5.9Score11314d adds
- 49 Reborn: My Frail Ex Had Been Plotting Against Me for a Long Time 重生之病弱前任他对我蓄谋已久 Two male leads, reborn, rekindled love, HE Jiang Heng (a cold, proud top who is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted), Xu Ningbai (a beautiful, clever, determined bottom who pursues his husband) (Only the first chapter is in first person.) In their previous life, after the two broke up, Jiang Heng died unexpectedly. Devastated, Xu Ningbai was diagnosed with cancer and gave up treatment. Reborn, Xu Ningbai began doggedly pursuing his husband. Given how well he knew Jiang Heng in his past life, Xu Ningb 1.2kReads8.7Score12814d adds
- 50 Drowning in Starlight 溺星入骨 (Just got a rating, it’ll rise later) [Rekindled romance × reunion after years apart × both virgins × relationship-focused × angst first, sweetness later] [Cool-headed, stubborn, ordinary heroine × aloof, celibate heir to a powerful family] In high school, Jiang Nanxing was the envy of the whole school. Because Fu Siyan, the top student, was completely devoted to her. He tutored her every day and even planned to study abroad with her, laying out her entire future. But she didn’t cherish him and 2.9kReads6.6Score25914d adds
