Deviant: No Longer Human

His awareness of his actions and their intended outcomes set him apart from most people, who often navigate their relationships unconsciously, driven by emotions and unexamined desires.

Wang Xiao, in contrast, had a clear understanding of his objectives and acted intentionally to achieve them.

He saw how others, often unknowingly, reinforced or punished behaviors in those around them to meet their own goals, which they might not even fully understand themselves.

Josephine, in Wang Xiao\'s analysis, was driven by her desires for freedom and security—desires he was currently fulfilling. He understood that if he were to restrict her like her mother did, her feelings towards him would likely shift to annoyance or even disgust.

Humans, as Wang Xiao observed, are naturally drawn to those who support their goals, often without fully understanding why. Josephine, like many, would probably not be fully aware of the underlying motivations driving her behavior.

Instead, she might rationalize her feelings and actions, ascribing her own meanings to them, just as anyone else would.

As they reached the school and prepared to meet Josephine\'s brother, Wang Xiao was fully aware of the role he was playing.

He resembled Josephine, his actions driven by motivations akin to hers, albeit directed toward the achievement of his own goals.

Just as he played the role of the provider for Josephine\'s desires in her narrative, he delicately balanced his pursuits with her wishes, all the while pushing forward.

As long as both of their objectives were fulfilled, there was no room for conflict.

This was the secret to engineer human behavior — granting them their desires to facilitate the achievement of their goals.

_______

At Solna International Academy, William Sylvia stood out not just for his height, which was slightly above average for his fifteen years, but also for his distinct appearance. His lanky frame hinted at the awkward stages of teenage growth spurts, and his light blonde hair, styled in a deliberately messy fashion, gave him a touch of rebellion.

His sharp blue eyes, always gleaming with a hint of sharpness, surveyed his surroundings with keen interest.

Clad in the school\'s standard uniform, which he wore with a casual disregard for conformity, William was the center of a group of friends. Their conversation, a lively mix of school gossip and the latest tech trends.

As the school bell signaled the end of the day, a flood of students spilled out of the building. William\'s attention was suddenly drawn to his sister Josephine\'s car pulling up to the curb. His usual grin faltered into a look of surprise when he noticed a foreign man seated beside her.

The sight was intriguing and wholly unexpected.

His friends, quick to pick up on the unusual scenario, didn\'t miss a beat. They clapped him on the back, laughter erupting among them.

"Hey William, looks like your sister\'s decided to import her boyfriends now," one friend jeered, his laughter echoing the others\'.

"William! looks like your sister\'s found herself a new sugar daddy," another added, winking exaggeratedly.

Another friend, sporting a mischievous grin, added, "Maybe she\'s auditioning for a new stepdad for you, huh?"

"Watch out, Will. If they get serious, you might be becoming an uncle in no time!" a third chimed in, eliciting a fresh round of laughter.

"Shut up, you guys..." William retorted, rolling his eyes. His friends\' remarks were typical, but this time they sparked a deeper curiosity in him.

He had never seen this man before.

Who was he, and what was his relationship with Josephine?

With a mix of feigned annoyance and genuine intrigue, William made his way through the crowd towards the car.

Each step was a blend of his usual swagger and an increasing sense of anticipation.

As he drew closer, his gaze locked with Wang Xiao\'s.

William\'s sharp, discerning eyes seemed to cut through the surface as he approached the car, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and questions. There was a hint of protective skepticism in his posture, typical of a younger brother suddenly introduced to an important figure in his sister\'s life.

"Hey sis, didn\'t expect to see you here..." William began, his voice casual as he glanced at Josephine. His gaze then shifted to Wang Xiao, an eyebrow raised as he extended a hand in greeting. "And you are?" he asked, his tone polite yet probing.

Wang Xiao, ever composed, opted not to engage in the usual handshaking, an action that didn\'t go unnoticed by William. "I\'m Wang Xiao, a friend of your sister," he replied, his voice even and controlled, yet maintaining a hint of cordiality.

Josephine, sensing the underlying tension, lightly touched Wang Xiao on the shoulder, a silent question in her gesture about his reluctance to engage more warmly. She then quickly intervened, "William, this is Wang Xiao. He\'s been... helping me with some things. I thought it\'d be nice for you two to meet."

William, picking up on the nuances of the interaction, gave a nod and hopped into the backseat. He caught a glimpse of what he interpreted as a mocking look in Wang Xiao\'s eyes. "So, he\'s the guy who\'s been hanging out with you?" he whispered to Josephine as she started the car, his voice low but carrying a weight of curiosity and slight suspicion.

Josephine, frowning slightly, responded with admonition, "William, behave."

Unfazed, William retorted , "Just making sure he knows the family rules." Despite his teasing tone, there was a genuine interest in his voice, an indication that he was intrigued by Wang Xiao and keen to understand the nature of his relationship with his sister.

Josephine glanced at Wang Xiao, her voice soft and slightly apologetic. "Xiao, don\'t mind him, he\'s just a kid..." she whispered, trying to smooth over any potential friction.

William\'s frown deepened as he absorbed the interaction between his sister and Wang Xiao. \'Who the hell is this guy?\' he wondered silently. It was so unlike Josephine, known for her confidence and occasional arrogance, to show such consideration and deference to someone else.

Wang Xiao gave Josephine a brief, acknowledging smile. "It\'s no issue," he said calmly, then, pointing towards the edge of a beach, he requested, "Can you make a quick stop over there?"