My Secret Crush Is a Neighbor Who Works as a Hitman

Xie Qiaoqiao, eighteen. Her main job is a college student desperately trying to scrape through finals; her side job is hunting monsters. One day, while disposing of a monster's corpse, she runs into the neighbor's kid, the sort of overachiever who's on an accelerated track from high school through a combined bachelor's and master's degree. The overachiever has a paper in one hand and an iced Americano in the other. He's pale and looks like he's about to collapse. Afraid he might faint on the spot, Xie Qiaoqiao frantically tries to think of a lie that will get her out of this. Zhang Xueji takes out his phone, opens the encyclopedia, and tremblingly taps a video titled "How to Dispose of a Body After a Murder." Xie Qiaoqiao: "Uh, actually, " Zhang Xueji grabs her hand, eyes red-rimmed. "I know you must have your reasons. Let me help!" Xie Qiaoqiao: "…" Xie Qiaoqiao: "Thanks, but it's not a person who's dead, " Zhang Xueji sniffles, his voice breaking. "I'm, I'm tall. I can block the security cameras for you." Xie Qiaoqiao: "Thanks, but, " Zhang Xueji, eyes brimming with tears, sobs as he explains, "The video says burning the body is best. Then they can't figure out the exact time of death… Waaaah, I'll help you light the fire… Waaaah, Qiaoqiao, don't be scared. I'll protect you, waaaah…" * Xie Qiaoqiao often thinks Zhang Xueji is a lot like a dog. Clingy, lively, full of energy, needing a half-hour walk every day, and very good at acting pitiful. And He's great at loving someone openly and wholeheartedly. *Check out my friend's upcoming novel, How to Survive as a Herbivore in a Restricted Academy, by Wan Yi. It's an unconventional, harem-style pure-love story, with a carnivore x herbivore fluffy romance. *Also check out the upcoming novel Sword Cultivators? I'd Rather Not, on my author page. Lin Zhengdu has a crush on Xie Guanqi, a disciple of the Sword Sect. To win him over, Lin Zhengdu accompanies him as he slays demons, upholds justice, and roams the martial world with his sword. She'll do anything for him, except cook him a meal. It's not that Lin Zhengdu doesn't want to. It's just that Xie Guanqi has actually been poisoned unconscious by her cooking. After pursuing him for ages, Lin Zhengdu decides the time is right to confess. But on the eve of her planned confession, she accidentally sees the sword manual Xie Guanqi carries everywhere. On the first page, in Xie Guanqi's handwriting, is a note in black and white: Women will affect the speed of my sword. Lin Zhengdu thinks back carefully over all the time she's spent pursuing Xie Guanqi. When she accompanied him to slay demons, he did most of the demon slaying while she picked up the innocent bystanders accidentally injured by his sword aura. When she accompanied him to uphold justice, he went to punish the wicked while she collected the reward money, the red flower, and the honorary banner. When she accompanied him as he roamed the martial world with his sword, he wielded his sword while she looked at the rivers, lakes, and flowers. Lin Zhengdu is heartbroken to realize that Xie Guanqi doesn't just dislike her. This dog of a sword cultivator may not even think of her as a woman! He might just see her as a buddy to split meal costs with! * First note in Xie Guanqi's sword manual: Women will affect the speed of my sword. … Forty-seventh note in Xie Guanqi's sword manual: Lin Zhengdu's cooking is awful, but I'm in love with her, so I'll endure it. Forty-eighth note in Xie Guanqi's sword manual: Lin Zhengdu got seasick on the spirit boat and threw up all over me and my sword, but I'm in love with her, so I'll endure it. … Eightieth note in Xie Guanqi's sword manual: Lin Zhengdu has been ignoring me lately. Does she think I'm not the greatest sword cultivator and look down on me? … Last note in Xie Guanqi's sword manual: I've already beaten every sword cultivator out there! Why is Lin Zhengdu still ignoring me?! Theme: The sun shines equally on all living things.