Name: Criminal Genes
Author: South Branch, Three or Two

Synopsis

-[1] On Christmas Eve 15 years ago, Cheng Jinyan, a famous psychology professor in Linhai City, suddenly went berserk and turned a dagger on his family. Cheng Mo, the only one to escape with his life, bore the stigma of being a murderer's son as he moved silently through the crowd.

Fifteen years later, Cheng Mo, now a graduate student in psychology, wants to uncover the truth behind his father's murders.

But he discovers that a hidden force has been trying to stop him all along.

Eventually, that force pushes him into the spotlight. There, he meets someone: Xie Fei, captain of the Linhai City Criminal Police.

Rumor has it that Captain Xie may be flamboyant, but he's actually gentle and righteous.

But Cheng Mo thinks there's something different about him, something... a little too flippant?

Xie Fei: Have we met somewhere before?

Cheng Mo: No. I don't know you.

-[2] Xie Fei, a well-known rich second-generation heir in Linhai City, turned down a fortune worth hundreds of millions and became a police officer instead.

Everyone was waiting for him to make a fool of himself. Instead, he solved every case.

Then he met a young man, one of his suspects. He was also the only person Xie Fei ever misjudged.

Nor did he expect that, starting with the Clown Serial Murder Case, he and that young man would work together to uncover the truth behind one horrifying case after another: the bodies buried in cement, the child corpse at a construction site, the demon inside the ivory tower...

"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."

[Cool, sensitive criminal consultant bottom] VS [Refined but incredibly skilled criminal police officer top]

[Reading Guide]

1. A crime investigation story. The author is not a professional, so it's all made up.

2. Modern alternate setting, with original worldbuilding.

3. Dual POV.

4. The top has a loving family and a warm home life. He's accepting and kind by nature, so he feels a strong urge to save the bottom, who is mired in darkness. You get the idea.

5. Rekindled romance, with the powerful duo joining forces to uncover the truth from years ago.

6. The top isn't bisexual. His brief school romance happened because someone pursued him, and they weren't together for long. He realized his orientation late.

7. Fraternal twins really don't look exactly alike, but I searched some social media platforms and found a few who look quite similar. I used that setup for the story, so please don't mind it too much.

8. [The evil that men do...] is from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Follow the ongoing novel and add it to your collection: ==== Notes on Raising a Demon

[Blurb]

After being pierced through the heart by a sword, the fearsome demon lord Lin Shu arrives in the 21st century. When he opens his eyes, he discovers that not only has he lost his magic, but he's also deaf and frail.

He came here because he must earn 9,999 merit points to be freed.

In the 21st century, where he doesn't fit in and socialism is championed, Lin Shu finds himself stymied at every turn. Then a talent agency takes notice of his "presence" and good looks, and he becomes a streamer.

Account bio: Metaphysics master. Specializes in all kinds of difficult ailments. Revitalize yourself from the inside out.

But on his first day at work, Lin Shu sees someone and immediately loses his mind. That person looks exactly like the one who pierced his heart.

Lin Shu shouts, "You damned sword immortal! Give me back my life!"

To his surprise, the person across from him simply smiles, his eyes seeming to look at an idiot.

The agent immediately explains, "Master Lin! That's our boss! He's the one who pays you, so watch yourself!"

The boss? The one who feeds him?

Lin Shu can't help feeling awkward. He's offended the person who pays for his meals on his very first day at work. He may have been a force to be reckoned with in his previous life, but he knows when to bend.

Lin Shu: "Ahem... Your heavenly court is full, your jaw is broad and square, and your features are handsome..."

Song Zhuo keeps smiling. "What kind of charlatan are you?"

Lin Shu: "I, I heard that you get meat to eat every day if you work here..."

The boss may be a pain to look at, but they can work things out eventually. So Lin Shu throws himself into his work, diligently performing exorcisms to earn merit and escape from Song Zhuo as soon as possible.

But he never expected that he wouldn't just rely on Song Zhuo for food, but even his exorcisms would depend on him.

That day, surrounded by a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, Lin Shu thought he wouldn't make it out. Then Song Zhuo came striding over the remains, covered in blood, half his body torn apart, yet smiling at him with shining eyes as he said, "I'm late."

Just like in his previous life, Lin Shu was isolated and helpless. But this time, when faced with someone who looked exactly the same, he was saved.

After that, Lin Shu decided it wouldn't matter if he never finished the task. The longer it took, the more time he could spend close to Song Zhuo.

**

Lin Shu has heard that his boss, Song Zhuo, is the perfect socialist successor and opposes all feudal superstition.

But one day, while catching a ghost, he sees Song Zhuo pull out a talisman, draw a spell right there, and beat the ghost until it howls.

The ghost bursts into tears.

Lin Shu: "...There are no ghosts in this world?"

Song Zhuo smiles so charmingly. "Of course not. What do you think, Master Lin?"

Lin Shu: "There aren't any..."

The ghost cries even louder.

Rebellious demon lord in his previous life / reborn and wise enough to adapt / handsome charlatan bottom

Gentle and easygoing / secretly scheming and unhinged / refined scoundrel CEO top