Mc having Strong and determined or clever character (not pitiful or damsel in distress) Mc trying to catch up with ml. Or self depreciating Mc (like chu wanning in 2ha) despite being strong
Hmmm, maybe 'My Evil Imperial Wife is Too Arrogant'. Female lead, male partner. - strong and determined and clever fmc - tick She definitely isn't pitiful or damsel in distress, BUT there are instances where she does get 'saved' from certain predicaments by ml. Other than that she is pretty independent and the ml doesn't even appear much and romance isn't quite the main focus, but it's there and it's sweet. - fmc trying to catch up with ml - kinda??? ml is stronger than her I guess initially until they somewhat balance out I think, but the fl is trying to become the strongest over all in this world, not just to catch up to male lead. - huge gap in status, as in, background etc? - I'd say tick. The male lead comes from a very strong and super well-known entity while the female lead comes from a general's house from a small, practically unknown kingdom in the bigger picture. https://www.novelupdates.com/series/my-evil-imperial-wife-is-too-arrogant/ Dunno, but maybe you can try XD
So the mc have to clever but also poor!? And ml definitely have to be rich!? The legendary master's wife ( mc trying to catch up with ml) Mistakenly saving the villian (just a teeny bit like 2ha) Transmigration of mian (relectuantly) to become his man (mc and ml both poor but ml is powerful and mc is clever) FOG Mist (clever protagonist not poor ) The horror movie male lead's winner so i didn't actually understand what you wanted but i think these covered those points!? Esp. the 1st one (TLMW)
Battle Through the Heavens (MC is from small family and FMC is from biggest cultivation family in world) Douluo Dalu Otherworldly Evil Monarch A Sword Master Childhood Friend Power Harassed Me Harshly, So I Broke Off Our Relationship And Make A Fresh Start At The Frontier As A Magic Swordsman. (childhood lover is sword master and MC gets bullied by her since she thinks she is superior to him) Everyone Else is a Returnee (MC likes angel?) I Can Do It (BL, novel about league of legends)