Debating on adding this one here. ML is painfully indifferent towards MC for the first part of their arranged marriage, while MC deals with never-ending... more>> grievances from the world. They eventually cultivate mutual feelings and love with a short happy period before INTENSE ANGST hits you like a truck. And it lasts quite a while. After a particular series of tragic and life-changing events, ML grieves for ~3 years, which I found sad ofc but also lowkey satisfying because of how he treated MC like he barely existed and didn't take action when his grandmother arranged for his late wife's sister to be his concubine. Speak up for once, loser. That's how the entire mess started, anyways, so ML should deal with some consequences, and he does. Glad it's HE but it takes a lot of sadness and MC suffering injustices to get there.  <<less

Absolutely insane levels of crematorium, wife-chasing, tragedy, indifference, and regret. Whew. Made ML suffer 95 chapters, not exaggerating. Somewhat overkill, imo. 

The resolution of the mistreatment occurs a bit differently from the standard wife-chasing style. Due to space-time shenanigans. So, it was quite interesting to read. 

Oh man, this one's good. Lots of misunderstandings caused by other people, with little chance for MC/ML to clarify them due to interference. ML also... more>> did what he could in his situation, and becomes more sympathetic as more details are revealed. <<less

BE, unresolved crematorium. Face eternal regret for your actions, ML!

ML can go rot, honestly. A genuine psychopath. More regret, more self-hatred, more active attempts at personal growth would have improved chances of me gaining any sympathy for ML. ... more>>

At least the extras are making ML realize just how badly he f*cked up in literally everything. MC already had so much trauma before even meeting him, and his time in the palace was just... horrible. There are no words to describe extent of ab*se and mistreatment he experienced. ML is finally figuring that out and is *trying* to help him heal from what he did, such as the carving tools and being gentle, but still, some wounds are so deep that they will never fully recover. And he finally figured out how to f*cking hold off on s*x when MC is clearly not physically capable of handling it. MC still genuinely sees himself as less than human, and it's really sad :( <<less

Overseas exchange students + social alienation. ML catfished MC, let's be real. However, he got too deep into the lie and caught feelings real fast. ML could have suffered more imo, but at least there was no long-term ab*se of any kind; more deception-heavy. ... more>>

P.S. smut is very very short and minimal. <<less

The ultimate crematorium danmei, truly unparalleled. 

I mean, technically it fits. The flashbacks and nonlinearity can cause confusion on this part, but it is quite an important part of their very... more>> complex (and also nonlinear) relationship development over so many years. HE, but you (and the characters rip) have to work for it with blood and tears.  <<less

Hear me out... you know I'm right. Except more like MDZS-like partner-chasing. Plus a lil clown of a nephew (i.e., useless until he's not, only... more>> the second major lightbulb, behind Yuchi Rui, his UNCLE who has very complex parental/other idk relationships with both main characters). He didn't have a chance. XSC had an adorable, ruthless, and badass mirror/fox/spirit husband locked down for multiple previous lives.  <<less

Three s*um gongs, the best one (the other two are still tr*shy) suffers sufficiently and gets MC back eventually. ML also had the least autonomy... more>> in his actions that initially harmed MC.  <<less

Rebirth of the s*um gong who has a lot of revelations and has to treat ML well in his 2nd life. MC is often honestly... more>> quite childish and immature, and the fact that he hurts ML during ~spicy time~ near the end of the story because he was jealous was really not it :((  MC should have left him out in the cold for that one tbh. <<less

I have many mixed feelings on this particular story, but it should qualify as crematorium, literally, even though the mistreatment part takes up most of... more>> the story :( Is ML's chasing and suffering sufficient? Honestly, probably not, but what else can be done atp? Ending was certainly a choice.  <<less

A comedic QTR version of this concept. 

Ok so, there’s fault on both sides for the misunderstanding that caused the initial conflict here. ML thought, due to available evidence and MC’s refusal to explain, that MC date-raped him. Frankly, in ML’s eyes, MC (reasonably) seems like a yandere. However, 4 years is a long time to spend in a relationship without any confrontation/communication about that incident. Also, MC, how did you nOT realize that your classmate was trying to date-r*pe that girl?? Asking you to book a room and the insistence on her particular drink??? Ten million bright red flags. And not clarifying anything afterward caused 4 years of emotional pain and neglect. ... more>>

Haven't finished this one, so I'm not sure whether this will stay on the list or not.  <<less

Mild crematorium, like very mild. However this is good, since the angst is relatively quickly resolved. Xiao Jiu's dedicated chase of his man eventually becomes... more>> his man chasing him back. Good. Appreciate this best boy like he deserves.  <<less

The righteous one chases the "evil" and realizes several life-changing truths when it's already far too late. Then some convenient plot.