Deviant: No Longer Human

"Alright, you can study in peace now..." Wang Xiao said with a smirk, standing up after a few minutes of thoroughly 'harassing' her.

"…"

Yue looked up at him, eyes wide and watery, cheeks flushed as she rested her head on the table, lips forming a small, helpless pout. She looked like a scolded kitten, adorably flustered and unable to do more than stare at him with a confused, almost pleading look.

"Peace…?" she mumbled under her breath, barely a whisper. How was she supposed to study in peace now? Every spot he'd touched was tingling, her skin practically burning with heat she couldn't shake off.

Wang Xiao had just wanted to see how she'd react… but instead of getting flustered or resisting, she'd been too stunned to even protest.

Her dazed expression left him unexpectedly thrown off, and with an awkward little excuse, he turned and left.

As his figure disappeared down the hallway, Yue let out a small, shaky breath, lifting her head from the table and gently patting her warm cheeks.

"What… what just happened?" she muttered to herself, voice barely above a whisper.

Did he really just come in here… to harrass me? she thought, blinking in confusion. "Does he… does he do this with all of his daughters?" Her voice was so soft, as if saying it aloud made it even stranger.

Heart still pounding, Yue let out a quiet sigh, her small pout returning as she tried to process it.

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'Was this some new whim of his?' To barge in, completely fluster her, then just leave without a word?

She puffed her cheeks slightly, muttering, "It's like some kind of… torture."

She couldn't believe he'd come up with such a creative way to torture his daughters...

Glancing at the doorway, she muttered, "What's next? Another… 'visit'? Like this?"

"Mm..." Fully misunderstanding, Yue gave a determined little nod to herself, cheeks still pink, deciding that Wang Xiao was the kind of father who enjoyed randomly tormenting his daughters for his own amusement.

She'd just have to be 'ready' for the next time he appeared out of nowhere.

______

16th November, 2031

"Mmnn…"

Wang Xiao blinked his eyes open, only to realize he was completely pinned down. Limbs tangled and warmth all around, he found himself buried under a cozy yet overwhelming pile of bodies.

Last night, he'd only come to Wang Mei's room for a chat, and somehow ended up asleep between his sisters, Wang Mei and Wang Xueying. But now, he was trapped beneath not just the two of them, but with two additional bodies sprawled atop him—his daughters, Yue and Wenxi, who must have quietly sneaked in during the night.

Each had their own distinct scent—jasmine, peach blossoms, peonies, fresh roses combined with refreshing chilly mountain air—that mingled in the room, creating a heady, almost enchanting fragrance.

He could feel Yue's head resting against his chest, her hair tickling his chin, while Wenxi's arm lay draped over his shoulder, her lips pursed in a faint, adorable pout.

Wang Mei and Wang Xueying flanked him on either side, still snoozing softly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Rustle, rustle... he tried to shift his arm, but Yue's weight held him firmly in place. He sighed, a quiet huff, as he began the delicate, inch-by-inch task of freeing himself without waking the entire pile of sleepers.

But as he slipped out, the bed creaked with a small creak, and four pairs of sleepy eyes blinked open, landing on him.

His sisters and daughters stared at him in drowsy unison, each giving him a different variation of a sleepy, disapproving look.

Wang Mei raised an eyebrow, confused; Wenxi squinted up at him, her face adorably confused.

"Leaving already...?" Yue mumbled, voice muffled as she rubbed her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of complaint.

"Just—yawn—where are you sneaking off to so early?" Wang Xueying added, eyeing him suspiciously, though she was still half-asleep.

Wang Xiao suppressed a chuckle, waving them off as he rose from the bed with a soft whoosh of blankets. He knew better than to linger and endure their sleepy protests, as he had pressing tasks today.

After freshening up and donning proper attire, he left the room quietly, heading towards the Huangpu River.

Today, he intended to catch up with Chen Meili and finally settle a mystery that had been there for too long: discovering the true identity of Zhenxi's mother.

But his plans didn't end there. Tonight, he'd be heading deep into Hollow Earth to free Aurora. Aura had scouted the area, confirming Aurora's coordinates, so he was ready to take action.

On his way, he'd also be picking up Zhenxi's two dragon cubs, Lanmei and Baixue, who would be reunited with Aura. With a full day ahead, he felt excitement simmering within as he made his way to the river, the crisp morning air filling his lungs with a sense of purpose.

____

Huangpu River!

Ding-a-ling!

The small bell above the bakery door chimed as Wang Xiao stepped inside. Instantly, he was met with the sweet, warm aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries. The smell was so tempting that he considered trying a few treats—something he rarely did, as others usually brought food to him.

As he approached the counter, his eyes landed on someone unexpected.

"Hey, Wang Xiao!" a familiar voice called out.

Wang Xiao blinked. It was Chen Li, an old schoolmate who, he noted with some surprise, had put on a considerable amount of weight.

Chen Li used to be his partner in mischief back in the day, sneaking off to splurge on street food whenever they'd scraped together some stolen change.

But that was years ago—he hadn't seen Chen Li in at least seven years.

"Chen Li?" Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow, still processing his surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Chen Li chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

After signaling for a helper to cover the counter, he led Wang Xiao outside, weaving through the crowd along Huangpu River.

Whoosh~!

The air was filled with the scent of fresh bread, but as they stepped outside, the cool breeze cut through, bringing with it the familiar bustle of the city.