Deviant: No Longer Human

"We need bait!" Zhao Chen exclaimed, his gaze piercing as he narrowed his eyes at his brother, Zhao Yang.

A shiver ran down Zhang Yang's spine, unaware that Zhao Chen's ruthlessness exceeded his imagination.

Even Hao Zemin couldn't hide a hint of fear as he asked, "What are we going to do?"

Zhao Chen gestured forward, his plan unfolding, "First, we'll find an empty clif, with secluded spot nearby. We'll lure Wang Xiao there, corner him, and apply pressure until he's on his knees, begging for mercy. We won't let him leave."

Hao Zemin pressed further, "That's it? We aren't going to beat him?"

Zhao Chen shook his head, a sly smile playing on his lips, "The teachers would catch on if he leaves with visible bruises."

Hao Zemin nonchalantly nodded, a disinterest in Zhao Yang's impending sacrifice evident on his face. A few beats later, a symphony of laughter erupted as the unfolding spectacle captured everyone's attention.

"Hey, what in the world is that? A pig on skates!"

"The mountain's going to crumble!"

"It's an avalanche! Run for your lives, haha!"

Amidst the uproarious laughter, Zhao Yang's countenance soured, morphing into an unsightly expression as he shot an accusatory look at Zhao Chen. "Chen, seriously? Is this necessary?"

Zhao Chen, with an air of reassurance, replied, "Trust me, it's all part of the plan."

An intrigued Zhao Yang pressed, "What plan?"

With a mysterious glint in his eye, Zhao Chen grinned, "You'll understand when the time comes."

An uneasy Zhao Yang questioned, "Do I really need to learn skiing for this plan?" Anxiety painted his face as he glanced down the slope, a shiver coursing through him.

Zhao Chen chuckled, "Relax, you can handle it! We've got time until they come back."

"..." Zhao Yang fell into a contemplative silence.

'Time until they come back? How much time do we have? 10 minutes or 20 minutes?' He couldn't fathom mastering skiing in such a brief window.

Of course, he couldn't, and that's precisely why Zhao Chen had chosen him.

Meanwhile, Wu Shenji hovered near the junior high students' section, anticipating the return of Wang Xiao and the others. They had vanished before he could intercept them, and now he found himself already too late!

________

"Would you fit in this?" Zhang Sisi asked, her concern evident.

"Don't worry, he would," reassured Wang Xueying.

Wang Xiao spoke confidently, "I'll find a way to fit in."

Zhang Sisi persisted, "But it's too small, and you're too big!"

Wang Xiao chuckled, "Big things often fit in small places!"

Zhang Sisi, still uncertain, questioned, "But what if it breaks?"

Wang Xiao's response was unwavering, "Then it might as well be broken."

Zhang Sisi raised an eyebrow, seeking clarification, "Are we still talking about the same thing?"

Wang Xueying smirked, "Of course, fitting in is all about perspective."

Wang Xiao added sagely, "Sometimes you just need to adjust a bit to make things work."

"No, it absolutely won't fit! How many times do I have to repeat myself?" Zhang Sisi's frustration rang through her words, a hint of exasperation coloring her tone.

On the sidelines, Wang Xueying's face flushed with realization, catching the subtle nuances of the conversation and the mischievous smirk playing on Wang Xiao's lips beneath the surface. "Enough of you two r!" she declared, abruptly putting an end to Wang Xiao's ambiguous language.

"What's gotten into you now?" Zhang Sisi inquired, genuinely perplexed by the sudden flustered demeanor of Wang Xueying.

Wang Xiao chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Even she's annoyed now. Come on, let's all just take a seat."

Wang Xueying's embarrassment deepened as she faced Wang Xiao's teasing gaze. "I-I'll step down; you guys can go first," she stammered, swiftly making her exit from the ski lift.

The lift, designed for two adults, presented the challenge of accommodating three, and while it seemed physically possible, Zhang Sisi hesitated, her concerns for safety prevailing.

Just as she contemplated stepping away, Wang Xiao, donning a mischievous smirk, seized the moment and pulled her up.

"Ah!?"

Wang Xueying staggered, her features frozen in a mix of surprise and fear, perfectly timed with the lift's sudden upward motion.

"Wang Xiao!? What in the world are you doing!"

Panic etched across Zhang Sisi's face, while Wang Xiao stifled a chuckle between them. Now, with Wang Xueying perched above him, the lift continued its ascent.

"It's done; she slipped, and there's no turning back. Right, sister?" Wang Xiao's eyes, filled with amusement, locked onto Wang Xueying, making her shiver involuntarily, despite not meeting his gaze directly.

"..."

She nodded, her voice shaky yet determined, "Y-Yes... He, uh, protected me from falling. Thank you..." Her embarrassment was growing, but beneath it simmered a resolve to settle the score with Wang Xiao later, teeth gritted.

Wang Xiao pivoted toward Zhang Sisi, a hint of displeasure etching his features, "See, I'm not the villain every time..."

Despite Zhang Sisi reluctantly acknowledging his point, suspicion lingered in her eyes regarding Wang Xiao's role in this.

As the ski lift whisked them upward, Wang Xueying turned around, her eyes shooting daggers at Wang Xiao before she twisted uncomfortably in her seat.

Observing her evident discomfort, Zhang Sisi attempted to be accommodating, suggesting, "How about you sit in the middle?" She began to shift, unknowingly setting off a chain reaction that caused the entire ski lift to sway.

!!

Instantly, she halted her movements, exhaling a sigh of relief, "...That was scary..."

Wang Xueying managed an awkward smile, "It's alright. Just a few more minutes, and we'll be at the top." In secret, she attempted to discreetly swat away Wang Xiao's hand, which had been playfully pinching her.

Unable to contain herself, Wang Xueying leaned forward and whispered, "...My dear brother, is your mind always filled with such wicked thoughts?" The irritation in her tone was evident, and she couldn't resist the urge to imagine sinking her teeth into him.

Wang Xiao responded with a seemingly innocent smile, "Not really, only when I'm with you..."

Caught off guard, Wang Xueying blinked, momentarily wondering if someone had replaced her brother with a smoother version.

"What's going on with you two whispering in hushed tones?" Zhang Sisi couldn't contain her curiosity.

Wang Xueying tensed momentarily, but Wang Xiao, wearing a stoic expression, replied, "We were strategizing on what to do if the lifts break down in the middle due to excessive weight."

An indignant thought flashed through Wang Xueying's mind, 'Does he really consider me excessively heavy?'

Zhang Sisi, unimpressed by his explanation, scowled, "Wang Xiao, cut out the nonsense!"

Wang Xiao couldn't resist a chuckle, teasing, "Are you afraid of taking a plunge?"

Zhang Sisi's eyes widened, a nervous gulp escaping her, "I-It's so high!"

Wang Xiao continued to chuckle, and Wang Xueying seized the moment to scold him discreetly, silently vowing to address the matter with him later in private.

"Later? .... How?" Wang Xiao couldn't conceal his curiosity.

Wang Xueying hesitated, nibbling on her lip before finally confessing, "M-My room is empty. I managed to secure one in the teacher's allotted area since all the student rooms were taken."

Wang Xiao's eyes sparked with delight, "Seriously?"

Wang Xueying nodded cautiously, "...B-But you won't cross any boundaries, right? You promised!"

Wang Xiao, putting on an innocent facade, insisted, "Definitely not..." However, a suppressed laughter hinted at his inner mischief. He had meticulously prepared for this day; the contraceptives neatly arranged, ready for the opportune moment.

Now, with the chance right in front of him, how could he not take it?

Only an ennuch would miss such open invitation!

Wang Xueying couldn't shake the feeling that she shouldn't have divulged this information. The arrow had already left the bow, and now she could only hope Wang Xiao would keep his promise, even though deep down, she doubted it.

As Wang Xiao basked in the glory of his day's victory, Wu Shenji and the others spotted them coming down. The trio appeared geared up for another round, a competitive spirit and a touch of betting adding excitement to the air.

However, before the festivities could kick off, a collective sulk enveloped the onlookers.

"Did our goddess got swept away?" A curious voice questioned, eyes narrowing at the compromising position in which Wang Xiao was seated.

Even Dong Kai, with a raised brow, couldn't hide a trace of envy. "What is he? The main character or something?"

"Boom!"

!!

Simultaneously, a resounding punch landed over Dong Kai's head. "Idiots, she's his sister! Stop talking inappropriately about them unless you want to get beaten!" Chen Li intervened fiercely on Wang Xiao's behalf, quashing any potential rumors from spreading. The warning echoed through the crowd, ensuring that respect replaced gossip in the aftermath.

"Sister!?"

"Sister??"

Dong Kai, his eyes lighting up with hope, couldn't resist asking, "Does it mean we still have a chance...?"

"Sister or not, your chances are still zero, Dong Kai. And you better not utter those words in front of him," Chen Li sternly warned.

Dong Kai nodded, swallowing the bitter truth of his slim chances to rival someone senior.