Novels like Within the Perimeter
Books Chinese readers most often put in the same booklists as Within the Perimeter, best match first.
- 1 Code Red 一级警戒 (A friendly heads-up: the rating has only just appeared, so it's a little low. It'll gradually go up, so don't worry, the story's not the problem!!!) Two male leads, childhood friends, sweet romance with no angst! A talented, well-rounded, occasionally proud bottom X a capable, insanely strong, puppy-like top He Yanzhi and Gu Qingcheng grew up together, but two tigers can't share one mountain. They were always at each other's throats, competing over everything from school to work. As they kept c 9Reads7.1Score—Shelves
- 2 I Really Don't Want to Work Cases with My Rival 并不想跟死对头一起办案 [Reserved top × sharp-tongued bottom, episodic ancient mystery and crime-solving, happy ending] One-line summary: Aren’t we sworn enemies? So how come I hear you’ve been secretly in love with me for ages? Cui Hezhang: Love means restraint, reaching out to touch, then pulling your hand back. Yuan Yufang: Enough of that nonsense. My arm’s gone numb from holding it out. Are you going to take my hand or not? The serious blurb: “Bones cry out in anguish, the truth is hard to find. We may yet part the 4Reads—Score—Shelves
- 3 Criminal Investigation Records 刑事侦缉实录 [Zhu Chen × Shen Yuan] A story about an elite psychology professor and a disgraced major crimes unit chief joining forces to solve cases. Some cases are based on real events. "A Chen, what exactly are you hiding?" "Whatever I'm doing, A Yuan, you have to believe that I'll never hurt you." Everyone is desperately searching for the truth. But when it's finally laid bare, who can accept it with composure? 22Reads8.2Score—Shelves
- 4 Chronicles of Changqing: Spring Grass Grows Deep in the City 长庆纪事之城春草木深 [Two Male Leads + Younger Top, Strong Pairing + Mystery and Crime Solving + Love That Grows Over Time] In the autumn of the second year of Changqing, on the Double Ninth Festival, Xue Qi, Minister of Justice, is murdered in his own home. His death is bizarre: his head and feet are touching. The new emperor is furious and orders Li Xuan of the Court of Judicial Review to investigate the case thoroughly. Li Xuan travels to Luoyang to investigate and, together with the enthusiastic constable Lu Pin 47Reads—Score—Shelves
- 5 The Strange Cases of Ningzhou 宁州诡事录 (Fictional setting, two male leads, mystery-solving) A hostage prince from the Nan Yuan Kingdom and the crown prince of the Ning Kingdom join forces to solve one baffling mystery after another... Xiao Yan has grown up among corpses, and has always known that ghosts are born from the human heart. Sometimes, the true gateway to the underworld lies within us. 8Reads—Score—Shelves
- 6 The Chief Homicide Detective and His Psychologist 刑警大队长和他的心理学家 Someone once asked me, “Why did you study criminal psychology?” I remember my answer: “Because I want to commit a crime.” It’s like being drawn to a swamp even though you know what it is, unable to resist its pull. You willingly sink into it, with no desire to struggle, until you gradually become part of the swamp, learning secrets no one has ever uncovered. If I’m an evil spirit, then where is the human world? Once you tear down the wall between the human world and the underworld, there will no 11Reads8.2Score—Shelves
- 7 Dr. Shao's Psychological Trap 邵医生的心理陷阱 [Bottom + 1v1 + Both Pure + Slow Burn] Lin Yu was handsome and well-mannered. Everyone thought he had a bright future ahead, with success in both his career and love life just around the corner. Then he suddenly broke up with his girlfriend and was assigned to a tiny department that most people probably wouldn't even remember existed. H.A.D. Harassment Assessment Department. While everyone else sighed over his prospects, Lin Yu alone stayed sunny and optimistic, and got on with his work. “Capta —Reads—Score—Shelves
- 8 Sunset Glow 夕照 Main characters: Zhou Song and Han Feilu. (Two male leads) Even many years later, Zhou Song could never forget the day his father took him into the basement. The walls were covered with photographs of strange women. His father said they were captives, but later Zhou Song learned that they were wronged souls. From that day on, he had been haunted by them. People often say that the weight of life is unbearable, but he believes what people cannot bear is life's lightness: so light it is like wind, 3Reads6.9Score—Shelves
- 9 The Days I Was Forced to Solve Cases with a Handsome Police Officer 被迫和帅气警官破案的日子 A story with two male leads: Su Xiaozhai, an extreme homebody with severe social anxiety, and Ling Han, a justice-driven police officer dedicated to saving promising young people. Ling Han had solved countless murder cases in his life and kicked down the doors of countless vicious criminals. But no other door had ever opened to bring him such pure, soul-piercing… mental pollution as the one before him. And then it all came back to slap him in the face. He kept pestering the shut-in genius every 51Reads—Score—Shelves
- 10 Under Criminal Investigation, the Forensic Doctor Takes the Lead 刑侦之下，法医在上 A sly, puppy-like forensic doctor x an innocent, clueless team leader Behind every case lies an untold story of human emotion. Adapted from several real-life events, this crime investigation novel offers both meticulous deductions and heartbreak in spades. [Three's a crowd, but there's always a couple] There's no such thing as too outrageous, only more outrageous. Every corpse has secrets left unspoken. Locked-room mysteries? Body disposal? Staged murders? Delayed alibis? Nothing escapes detect 12Reads—Score—Shelves
- 11 The Mire Zx 泥潭zx [Rekindled romance while solving cases + fictional setting + remorseful pursuit of the husband + two male leads + handsome top and beautiful bottom + younger man/older man + 1v1 + queenly bottom + both leads are strong + healing + both are emotionally faithful + falling for him without realizing it] When someone falls into the mire, some fight desperately to escape, while others give up struggling. When a ray of light shines into the mire they’re trapped in, will those who have given up fighting 2Reads—Score—Shelves
- 12 The Demon-Expelling Temple 驱妖寺 A fated encounter brings two exceptional young men together, where they meet and come to understand each other. Will it make amends, or…? When midnight dreams return, who will be left heartbroken? Stay tuned. (A BO) 2Reads—Score—Shelves
- 13 Listening to the Night of Sin 罪夜聆听 Feel free to read at your own pace, everyone. Since ancient times, no one has escaped death, and Anning City is anything but peaceful. A story about Yi Nan, a superstar who can see what others can’t, and Lu Chengguang, an elite police officer, joining forces to solve cases. 4Reads—Score—Shelves
- 14 The Deadly Hound 死间恶犬 On a stormy night, twelve-year-old Jiang Ying watched his father die right before his eyes. He would never forget the hatred in his father’s gaze as he took his own life. Jiang Ying knew his father had died because of him: he had caused the deaths of his father’s lover and his half-sister. He lived on, burdened by a bloody guilt, until fifteen years later, when the waters beneath the sea’s frozen surface began to churn. Drawn into layer upon layer of conspiracies and bloody crimes, he watched th 86Reads8.1Score—Shelves
- 15 How Am I Supposed to Trust You? 我该怎么相信你 Chen Yu never trusted anyone. He had always preferred to rely on himself. Except for that policeman. Mo Chuan wanted Chen Yu to come back alive more than anyone else. Even Chen Yu himself hadn’t realized just how determined Mo Chuan was. 25Reads—Score—Shelves
- 16 Professor Gu, Could You Focus on Solving the Case? 顾教授你能不能专心破案 [The main story is nearly complete. The full text is being revised, and bonus chapters will be posted from time to time.] A person fell to their death at Dehui Construction. A witness claimed that a little girl in a red dress had pushed them. Gu Xingyun, a criminal profiler, was coerced into taking part in the investigation. The incidents that followed one after another all seemed connected to the fall, and the cases appeared to involve every one of them. Professor Gu, who wandered onto the wron 43Reads—Score—Shelves
- 17 The Private Detective’s Case Files 私家侦探缉凶录 This is a story about a righteous man who's deeply calculating and an arrogant, utterly unhinged person. The two join forces to solve cases as they test each other at every turn, searching for the truth behind a conspiracy. Qin Zhong: “I don't like being lied to. But if it's you, that's all right. From the very beginning, I've decided that I'll accept you completely, no matter what kind of person you are.” Shi Bai: “All right. Being with you is fun.” 31Reads8.4Score—Shelves
- 18 The Web of Sin 罪网 Evil is like a tightly woven web, and I am the one who patiently unravels it, drawing out its threads one by one until the true face of sin is laid bare… 9Reads7.6Score—Shelves
- 19 The Killer's Notebook 追凶手抄 In the darkness, we struggle to feel our way toward what true justice is. When blood and poetry intertwine above Huaian, sending waves of mournful cries across the city, are you still wearing a mask as you stand before me? Schemes and calculations form a fine, tangled web. Trapped within it, where can we turn? The truth is like the sun hidden behind storm clouds that day, impossible to see clearly. But Qu Xiaoyang still believes that the darkest night is always the prelude to dawn. 2Reads—Score—Shelves
- 20 I'm Not a Bandit, but You're Welcome to Come Catch Me 我不是山匪，但你可以来抓我 [Two male leads, equally matched, 1v1, mutual affection] [Scheming, gentle, emotionally steady beauty of a seme × upright, looks-loving, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted constable uke] Originally titled A Clear Distinction Is Worth a Thousand Gold, but I worried the name sounded too serious and no one would read it. An original historical setting with light mystery, solving puzzles, and a plot focused on growth. Ji Yi (also known as Jimo Yi) admires Xie Guannan's straightforward integrity and his 47Reads—Score—Shelves
- 21 The Banquet of Huai Jin: The Snow-Clearing Arc 怀瑾之宴昭雪篇 [Xing Luozhao is the male lead's original name. He later changes it to Lu Zhao.] Xing Luozhao is the youngest son of the Prince of Runan. Summoned back by the emperor's personal decree, he has no choice but to leave Runan and his family. The man sent to fetch him claims they met when they were children and spent some time together, but Xing Luozhao has no memory of their childhood friendship. Song Shaoxing's inexplicable familiarity leaves him at a loss. He can't even remember the man, yet he's 5Reads—Score—Shelves
- 22 The Court Judge Only Wants to Solve Cases 大理寺卿只想办案 A strange weaving workshop, a heap of mangled flesh, a blood-red lotus that strikes fear into the heart... The emperor summons Yang Yi, heir to the Loyal and Valiant Marquis, to the capital overnight and appoints him Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Word around town has it that the newly appointed minister is graceful and refined, handsome and charming, a rare and noble gentleman! Just one distant glimpse of him can cleanse the body and spirit and lead one straight to ascension. Thos 536Reads8.4Score—Shelves
- 23 Transmigration: You Think You're Better at Showing Off Your Love Than He Is? 穿越：吃狗粮，你有他专业？ Transmigrated into a book + reborn + devoted couple + drama king + fictional setting + happy ending Wen Baixu never imagined his death would be so pathetic. Most people get murdered, die in an accident, or, at worst, starve to death. But he managed to die because of his own stupidity. When he woke up again, he was in a village wiped out from the start, with a blade at his throat. Luckily, the next second, some kind of... dog-food System appeared and stopped time. That was the only reason he mana 2Reads6.9Score—Shelves
- 24 Dreams That Solve Crimes 梦境追凶 After a failed experiment, psychological researcher Shen Ran gained a special ability. At crime scenes, he can sense the strange obsessions the killer left behind in their victims. By chance, he joins the police force as a psychological consultant, where he meets Lu Cheng, deputy captain of the criminal investigation squad. Lu Cheng has been labeled a straight man, and has always been hopeless at remembering women’s faces. Practicing each day by memorizing three women’s faces hasn’t helped at al 35Reads—Score—Shelves
- 25 What Do I Do Now That My Archrival and I Are Crime-Solving Partners? 和死对头成为破案搭子了怎么办 [Two male leads] [Case-of-the-week mysteries] [Bickering couple] [Older love interest] Also known as Zero “Steady and reliable” criminal investigation captain × “sweet and obedient” prodigy detective Ji Yunxing is a genius, but even geniuses can stumble. One mishap earns him Zheng Xuanyue's lasting enmity. He thinks that will be the end of it, but then he gets dragged into several cases in a row and is forced to team up with Zheng Xuanyue. As they gradually solve the cases, the truth also begin 12Reads—Score—Shelves
- 26 Crime Investigation: Case Files 刑侦：罪案书 Sweet-talking veteran X genius doctor Shen Li met his first love at a summer training camp before his freshman year of college. Beautiful, sweet, clever: everything about them hit Shen Li right in the heart. He flirted with them for most of the summer, and just as things were getting intense, when he was about to kiss them, they ran away. What was that about? There seems to have been a heartbreaking misunderstanding somewhere along the way. While pursuing clues in a case, Shen Li infiltrates a 4Reads—Score—Shelves
- 27 Mad Brutal: Keep Your Hands Off His Beauty 疯批暴徒：禁止觊觎他的美人 [Dual Male Leads + Supernatural Crime Investigation + Two Powerful Leads, Sweet Romance + Rekindled Love + Flirtatious Tension + One-on-One Romance + Happy Ending] (A vicious and dangerous man who absolutely dotes on and fiercely defends his beloved top X a beautiful, strong yet tragic, equally dangerous and alluring sickly beauty bottom) Everyone knows that Team Leader Qin of the Xia Bin Supernatural Control Bureau is not someone to mess with. He may smile at you on the surface, but deep down, 46Reads7.9Score—Shelves
- 28 Criminal Investigation: Has Captain Lin Encountered a Murder Case Today? 刑侦：林队今天遇到凶案了吗？ Two male leads, two male leads, two male leads. Important things are said three times. Lin Yuan, captain of the criminal investigation unit, meets Gu Hong, sent from headquarters, during a case involving a body hidden in a basement. Together, they work their way through one case after another. Lin Yuan: “Good grief! What are you two doing, being all lovey-dovey? Are you Hannibal?” Gu Hong: “Are you the Grim Reaper? Why do people keep dying one after another?” Lin Yuan: “…” 13Reads8.7Score—Shelves
- 29 An Unconventional Profiler 非典型侧写师 [Audiobook now available. Give it a listen!] *Cold-faced team leader as the top × young profiler as the bottom Si Zhen: Catching criminals is his mission; solving cases and hunting down killers is his life! Yin Guihu: Observing humans is his side gig; teasing the team leader is his full-time job~ Two daily questions: Did Little Hu manage to flirt with Captain Si today? Did Captain Si "beat up" the delinquent boy today? The top saves the bottom. The story focuses on criminal psychology, with crim 70Reads—Score—Shelves
- 30 As a Court Investigator, Is It Really So Strange to Flirt with an Opera Star? 身为少卿，撩个花旦很正常吧 251Reads8.9Score101Shelves
- 31 Evidence Rewind! I Solve Cases at Lightning Speed! 证物回溯！我，破案飞速！ (Reborn + Criminal Investigation + Solving Cases + Deduction + Golden Finger + No Romance) After transmigrating and being reborn, Lin Que wants nothing more than a quiet, low-profile life. But he unexpectedly acquires an Evidence Replay System: simply by touching evidence, he can revisit the crime scene. Lin Que establishes a detective agency and sets out on a path of fighting crime. The word among criminals is: If you don’t want to die, never mess with Lin Que! 3Reads—Score—Shelves
- 32 The Young Court Official Is Off Duty Today 少卿今日不公事 [Two powerful leads + both devoted only to each other + two couples + sweet romance + solving cases early on, fighting for power later] A calculating yet gentle prince × a sickly but capable junior minister / a bewitching sect leader × a short-tempered temple official “Ji Chun, you’re a condemned prisoner. You escaped jail just to work as my servant? You must have a lot of time on your hands!” Pei Yue had long known that the servant at his side was no ordinary man. He’d assumed the other was, a 51Reads7.3Score—Shelves
- 33 Operation: Hunt the Killer 猎凶行动 A family massacre resurfaces in the capital, Jing City 30Reads8.2Score—Shelves
- 34 In the Darkness 在黑暗中 “There's always a pair of eyes watching you, in the dark, when you least expect it.” This novel explores a very ancient philosophical paradox: the Ship of Theseus. According to an ancient Greek legend, the people of Athens preserved the ship Theseus had sailed as a monument. But as time passed, its rotting wooden planks were gradually replaced until not a single original plank remained. Was it still the same ship? Crime investigation, mystery, two equally matched leads. Pairing: Shen Liufei x Xi 20Reads9.2Score—Shelves
- 35 I Was Mistaken for a Suspect from the Start, Then Stole the Show 开局被当嫌疑犯后我carry全场 When Song Lizi was very young, he fell gravely ill. That illness gave him the ability to communicate with ghosts and monsters. Years later, he met Shen Wen, a stoic, useless man, and joined Team Zero. Together, they solved a series of bizarre cases, including a cling-film murder, a body dumped from a high-rise, foul-smelling tap water, and human-flesh buns. Gradually, the two became more and more entangled. Excerpt One “When I was very young, I fell seriously ill. I was almost dead.” “My grandmo 194Reads6.1Score—Shelves
- 36 Shocking! Captain by Day, Lover by Night 震惊！白天当队长，晚上是爱人 [Happy ending + equally matched leads + detective work + sweetness + suspense + romance + devoted couple + no female lead] The head of the detective team and a fresh-faced newcomer join forces to solve cases and boldly venture across the world. Want to know what happens next? Come and read! Recently, a missing-person case has sparked heated discussion, with one mystery after another surrounding it. Just then, newcomer Qiu Jing reports for duty. After a moment’s thought, Chu Qingyu brings the roo 130Reads—Score—Shelves
- 37 The Days I Spent Solving Cases in Ancient Times 在古代探案的日子 [A devoted, super-sweet romance; no misunderstandings, just solving cases] Modern forensic pathologist Shen Xian'an transmigrated to Beiyang and was doing just fine as a low-ranking county magistrate. She spent her days solving old unsolved cases, collecting her monthly salary, and enjoying a little wine. Life was comfortable and easy. Then one day, an imperial edict suddenly summoned her back to the capital, where she was ordered to investigate the Crown Prince's murder alongside the Third Prin 230Reads6.2Score—Shelves
- 38 Sins in the Sun 2: Dangerous Liaisons 阳光下的罪迹2：危险关系 A strange necklace links several cases that seem to have nothing to do with one another. A mysterious criminal organization has been lurking for years. Who is the mastermind behind the crimes? 97Reads—Score—Shelves
- 39 Veiling the Clouds and Shrouding the Sun 遮云蔽日 Dual male leads + criminal investigations + equally strong leads + episodic stories + mystery and crime-solving Zuo Shiyi, newly discharged from the military, meets Ke Jingcheng, the forensic team's sharpest-tongued member. The stories keep unfolding as the forensic chief runs his mouth and repeatedly gets himself into trouble. A dismemberment and a body dumped in a pond, a girl with her throat slit, a missing set of genitals, a woman showing up at the station in the middle of the night to repor 63Reads6.6Score—Shelves
- 40 Haicheng Criminal Investigation Division 海城刑事犯罪调查科 [The second book, "Haicheng Criminal Investigation Unit II", is complete. Synopsis: [Crime investigation + two male leads + mystery solving + multiple personalities + multiple couples + power couple + undercover agent + ensemble cast] The west athletic field at Haicheng University has always been a paradise for sports enthusiasts. One day, the sight of a hideously disfigured corpse hanging above the podium shattered the usual 113Reads—Score—Shelves
- 41 When a Transmigrated Little Ghost Detective Meets a Two-Faced Prince 当穿书小诡探遇上双面王爷之后 [I dug a hole and never filled it. Serves me right for having to fill it myself.] [Two male leads + transmigrate into a book + solving cases + two-faced prince + political intrigue] A wisp of green smoke rises, and every injustice in the world is brought to an end. A mere novelist dares to leave plot holes unfilled, slacks off whenever the story reaches an important part, and even ignores readers begging for updates. Well, look what happened: for some reason, he transmigrated into his own unfini 55Reads8.6Score—Shelves
- 42 Tangchuan Police Station: Original Sin 塘川警局之原罪 At every moment, when people interact and clash, they commit evil and nurture darkness. You can’t stop people from committing crimes. Two years ago, after his girlfriend died by suicide, Su Liang resolved to help more people. Two years later, a case brought him together with Liao Chengshan. Liao Chengshan falls in love at first sight with the boy who has a story to tell, and is lucky enough to become his protector. He tries to understand the boy and find his way into his heart. “I couldn’t save 25Reads6.4Score—Shelves
- 43 Crime Case: Hunting the Killer 罪案缉凶 [Two male leads, childhood friends, crime-solving, powerful duo, both devoted to each other, happy ending] [There is a secondary couple with a significant amount of screen time. Please don't read if that's not for you.] A terrifying kidnapping in their youth forced He Minghan to bury his feelings for Xiao Ran deep in his heart. Though they cared for each other, they never crossed the line between close friends. When five male bodies were discovered in a wasteland on the outskirts of town, all st 775Reads8.4Score101Shelves
- 44 The Mastermind: CH Major Crimes 幕后真凶之CH重案 The “CH” case from more than twenty years ago left behind countless unanswered questions. Undercover police officer Chu Jianghe vanished, and every last batch of CH compounds disappeared. Fortunately, Ding Qiao, son of Professor Ding Kezhi, who developed “CH” back then, was arrested after fleeing overseas for twenty years. The vital “CH3” compound was also escorted back to China with him. Now, beneath the seemingly calm surface of Haizhou, dark currents are stirring. The death of a superstar inf 288Reads8.0Score129Shelves
- 45 I Set Out to Find the Real Killer, but Ended Up with a Husband 本想查真凶，却找了个老公 [Dual Male Leads + Love and Hate + Devoted to Each Other + Traditional Wuxia] A cold, sharp-tongued, socially awkward top vs. an innocent, passionate genius bottom The renowned hero Jin was murdered. Xue Yong was the only witness at the scene, and the only suspect. “What? You say Su Buting was the killer?! I think the two of you did it together!” With no way to clear their names, the two beat each other senseless while investigating the truth behind the victim's death… 6Reads—Score—Shelves
- 46 Everyone Covets My Criminal Psychology Expert 我的犯罪心理专家总被人觊觎 Behind every murder lies a reflection of the killer's psychological state. A criminal psychology consultant was parachuted into the Special Investigations Department, and everyone thought he was nothing but a useless pretty boy. But when he actually arrived “Teacher Lu is so capable, and so handsome.” “Teacher Lu is such a wonderful person. He's so gentle, I really want to pursue him.” … Before they could act on those thoughts, a certain furious boss beat them all to a pulp. He hadn't even won h 243Reads—Score—Shelves
- 47 So What If I’m Socially Awkward? Come Sit for a Portrait 社恐又如何，出来画像 [Mystery + two male leads + childhood friends] A case, an invitation, an investigation, a truth. Two childhood friends went their separate ways over an incident. Ten years later, another incident brought them together again. To uncover the truth behind a case, Tang Shi dragged Song Ci in to help without a word. The socially anxious Song Ci couldn't fight him off, so he swore at him instead. Having grown up with Song Ci and hearing him curse for the first time, Tang Shi was intrigued: “How about 138Reads—Score—Shelves
- 48 The Heart of the Hunt 猎罪之心动 Using the characters from Under the Skin as inspiration, this story imagines Shen Yi’s past without repeating the original plot. He and Du Cheng join forces to seek the truth in a tense and dangerous investigation full of unanswered questions. Along the way, they both slowly begin to realize how they feel about each other. One ends the turmoil of falling in love alone and bravely lays his feelings bare! 176Reads8.2Score—Shelves
- 49 Undercover Detective on the Killer’s Trail 暗探追凶 (No System, pure deduction, no female lead, somewhat graphic, mind-bending twists and turns) The darkest corners of human nature harbor the most unspeakable evil in the world. Serial dismemberments, near-perfect high-IQ crimes, and a depraved pervert addicted to mutilating corpses. One bizarre murder after another leads to a fated nemesis... A deeply cunning psychiatrist and an upright, principled police captain join forces to uncover the thought-provoking truth behind these bizarre and baffling 747Reads8.2Score124Shelves
- 50 Criminal Investigation: Consultant Shao Let the Wolf Into His House 刑侦：邵顾问他引狼入室了 Lin Yu was handsome and well put together. Everyone thought he had a bright future ahead, with success in both his career and love life just around the corner. Then, out of nowhere, he broke up with his girlfriend and was assigned to a tiny department most people might not even remember existed. H.A.D. The Harassment Assessment Department. While everyone else sighed over his misfortune, Lin Yu alone stayed upbeat and got on with his work. “Captain Lin, your girlfriend was so beautiful. Why did y 388Reads8.3Score—Shelves
