My Forensic Pathologist Nemesis Has Been Plotting This for Ages

[Coming soon: Bound by Fate to the Villain of a Supernatural Story (Transmigration into a Book). Blurb below. Visit my author page and add it to your wishlist!]

Master Magician vs. Major Crimes Forensic Pathologist

Master magician Ye Zhuxi has hated Xu Jiu since high school.

Xu Jiu always seems so capable and in control in public, but to Ye Zhuxi, she's clearly just arrogant!

And she likes the same person Ye Zhuxi does. Everything about her gets on Ye Zhuxi's nerves.

The two clashed throughout all three years of high school, trading wins and losses and taking the top two spots in every exam. Their classmates joked, "If Ye was born, why was Xu?"

After graduating, they lost touch, until a major criminal case brought them together ten years later. Xu Jiu took the initiative and asked Ye Zhuxi to work with her.

Ye Zhuxi thought it would be an ordinary collaboration: each of them would get what she needed, help each other out, and then go their separate ways, owing nothing to the other.

But reality had other ideas: the woman she couldn't stand was incredibly warm and considerate, including but not limited to:

1. Private car service

Xu Jiu: "Teacher Ye is our consultant, an outside hire. I should look after you."

2. Taking care of all three meals, and even her breaks

Xu Jiu: "I happened to be passing by, so I brought you breakfast."

3. Constantly checking in on her

Xu Jiu: "I keep a new scarf in the car, in case I need one someday."

Gradually, Ye Zhuxi realized she was bringing Xu Jiu up more and more often around her family and friends...

She spent the whole night in a panic, unable to sleep. I'm doomed!

Xu Jiu had a secret very few people knew: she liked Ye Zhuxi.

Even though Ye Zhuxi was conceited, theatrical, and loved the spotlight... and even though she mistakenly thought Xu Jiu was her love rival,

her flustered little outbursts were just so cute that Xu Jiu had remembered them for ten years.

When they met again ten years later, Xu Jiu decided to seize her chance and lay bait, little by little, hoping Ye Zhuxi would take it.

[Please note]

1. Modern criminal investigation. The main plot focuses on fighting gambling and organized crime, with episodic cases on the side.

2. Her high school crush was a girl. They never got together.

3. Both are each other's first love. Slow burn.

4. Neither female lead is perfect. Please don't read if that's not for you.

5. The entire main cast is female. Please don't read if that's not for you.

Bound by Fate to the Villain of a Supernatural Story (Transmigration into a Book)

Si Tong, who was born with the ability to see spirits, transmigrated into a supernatural story with no romance, becoming a cannon-fodder NPC who was used by the original female lead to gain experience.

To change her fate and stay alive, Si Tong did everything she could to avoid Qin Du, the villainous BOSS from the book. She even pretended not to see her when they stood face-to-face.

Qin Du was a specially appointed expert in the Archaeology Division of the Cultural Relics Bureau. She was an aloof beauty, cool and peerless, and countless people wanted to join her team.

But only Si Tong, who knew the plot, knew that Qin Du was a ghost, and not just any ghost: she was a Ghost King of unfathomable power!

She was also the villainous boss who would ultimately be killed by the female lead!

Si Tong kept her distance, but no matter what she did, she couldn't avoid Qin Du. She was even assigned directly by her superior to be Qin Du's assistant!

On the day they formally met:

Qin Du: "You seem to dislike me, Si."

Si Tong: "Not at all. Professor Qin, you're so knowledgeable. I admire you and have always wanted to learn from you... It's just that I'm rather slow, and I'm afraid I'll be a bother..."

Qin Du gave her a faintly amused look. "You won't be. I'd be happy to help."

Si Tong wanted to cry. "..."

Si Tong was forced to work as Qin Du's assistant, serving tea and water, and even massaging her shoulders and back...

Until that night:

By day, Si Tong looked like a bookish student. By night, she was a spirit medium, running a funeral shop that catered exclusively to ghosts.

She took on a job and accidentally fell into a vengeful ghost's trap. Si Tong thought her borrowed life was finally over, but then a pair of strong hands pulled her out of the thick fog.

After surviving by a hair's breadth, Si Tong realized a powerful ghost must have saved her. She was about to express her gratitude, but when she saw the ghost's face, all her thanks turned to shock. Why was it Qin Du again!?

Her chest suddenly grew hot. Si Tong looked down in surprise and saw a faint red thread connecting her to Qin Du.

At that moment, the red thread burrowed into their flesh and reached deep into their souls.

Color returned to Qin Du's pale lips, and in the moonlight, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

One day later, a new intern at the Cultural Relics Bureau searched everywhere for Professor Si, but couldn't find her.

They had no idea that in the cramped changing room nearby, Qin Du had Si Tong pressed against the door. She whispered, "Shh. Teacher Si wouldn't want her students to hear, would she?"

Only Si Tong knew that the Ghost King, with her snow-white skin and icy, peerless beauty, could also burn hot enough to melt someone.

Theme: Face hardship with courage, and seek the truth even in adversity.