Deviant: No Longer Human

The space bore a timeless charm, clean and orderly, with a small tatami table at its heart, its surface polished to a mirror-like sheen and cluttered with scattered papers.

Nearby, a woman of striking beauty rested beside the table.

Her skin was as white as driven snow, a clear contrast to the simplicity around her.

Each breath she took seemed to stir the air, sending her hair dancing gracefully in the gentle breeze that slipped through a large sliding glass door.

This portal to the outside world stood ajar, revealing a serene mini courtyard that invited the outside in, mingling fresh breezes with the quiet interior.

Her presence was almost otherworldly; an ethereal aura enhanced by the snow-like color of her fluttering hair and the elegant white dress she wore.

The garment was tastefully daring, with a cutout at the chest that revealed a glimpse of her graceful bosom.

Her intense eyes, clear and crystalline, were occasionally clouded by a fleeting, lost expression.

The dress, finely crafted, featured daring slits along each leg, exposing her smooth thighs and well-formed calves.

She sat positioned above her knees, an elegant statue in repose.

Beneath her gaze, Wang Xiao lay with his head resting just above her knees, his own eyes gently closed.

In this moment, he seemed utterly detached from the world around him, including Eleanor\'s charm, lost in his own world.

"Didn\'t find anything again?" After a brief flicker of hesitation shone in her eyes, Eleanor gathered her courage and posed the question, her voice tinged with a mix of hope and skepticism.

She wondered if he had unearthed any clues about the mysterious woman named Aurora this time.

Her gaze pierced through the calm as she studied Wang Xiao, whose eyes slowly opened, unveiling a soft smile that caressed her face like a gentle breeze.

"Why must you rub salt in the wound, Eleanor? Or.... Perhaps my last present not to your liking?" His words were sharp, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint as his lips twisted into a mocking smile.

Eleanor\'s features tensed, her voice a whisper barely escaping her lips, "You forced me."

"Haha..." Wang Xiao\'s laughter cascaded around them, warm and inviting like a spring breeze. "Yet, I\'ve resolved two of your biggest concerns."

He extended his hand, his fingers delicately tracing her soft, snow-like skin before gently pinching her cheek.

Eleanor\'s eyelashes quivered fiercely, her heartbeat thundered in her ears, and a blush tinted her cheeks—a sight seldom seen.

Since Wang Xiao had made his home in Xianthera, he would occasionally visit Eleanor, perhaps coming to meet someone truly special.

And who, indeed, could deem themselves special enough to warrant a personal visit from Wang Xiao?

There was only one answer...

"Whoosh!"

As if propelled by the wind, the door swung open abruptly on the left.

A figure, scarcely half Eleanor\'s height, slipped into the room.

Eleanor turned, her smile tight and tinged with dissatisfaction. "Xuelan, why have you arrived so late?" Her gaze then flickered towards Wang Xiao, who affected an air of nonchalance.

With a pause that betrayed her inner thoughts, she added, "Your father has been waiting for you."

"Father?"

Xuelan\'s soft cherry lips formed a small \'o\' of surprise.

She stood by the door, her delicate frame making her appear almost like a porcelain doll—so flawless and still that one might doubt she was a living being, if not for the charming gestures she made while removing her shoes.

Her face, as adorable as a doll\'s, eyes as deep as the ocean, and slender, fragile hands defined her as the daughter of Wang Xiao and Eleanor, born a year after Yue and Wenxi.

This was the surprise Wang Xiao had offered Eleanor.

From that moment, the grown woman\'s spirits had dipped...

She had envisioned Wang Xiao inheriting her position, but instead, he had gifted her with this presence.

How could she not feel a sting of displeasure?

Though this irritation never touched her interactions with Xuelan, towards Wang Xiao?

She harbored a simmering resentment...

"Lanlan, did someone trouble you at school today?" As Xuelan\'s soft footsteps echoed gently against the wooden floor, she drew nearer to where Wang Xiao lay resting in her mother\'s lap.

Her expression might have seemed indifferent, but her eyes sparkled with joy, and her arms were already reaching out.

With a warm smile, Wang Xiao swiftly drew her in, lifting her onto his chest and expertly removing her school bag to set it aside on the table.

At just four years old, Xuelan seemed to melt into Wang Xiao\'s embrace, her cheeks coloring with a tender blush. "It was... Aunt Amelia..." she whispered, her voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment.

Wang Xiao had noticed something was amiss the moment he saw her.

Her dress bore stains, a clear sign that not all had gone well at school, and her demeanor was somber.

Wang Xiao — extremely sensitive to the expressions of those around him, even if he doesn\'t always show it.

And now, seeing Xuelan come in with dirty clothes, he appeared ready to spill some blood today.

"Amelia beat you?" His voice rose in surprise as he looked into Xuelan\'s soft, tender eyes.

Beside them, Bing Xueli\'s curiosity piqued. Her eyes flickered—the previous flash of anger dissolving into a mix of deep curiosity and concern.

Confronted by two pairs of scrutinizing eyes, Xuelan felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. She buried her face in Wang Xiao\'s chest, seeking refuge from their gaze.

"I... failed one of the physical tests and fell..." Her voice, muffled and tinged with embarrassment, seeped out from her hiding spot.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiao, who had been holding his breath in anticipation, finally exhaled in relief, his tension melting away.

Eleanor, too, visibly relaxed, her posture easing.

"Mother..." Xuelan suddenly lifted her head, her eyes wide with childlike curiosity as she glanced at Eleanor.

Her words, sweet and innocent, tumbled out earnestly, "I heard from friends that you are too scary and father is scared of you. Is that why father doesn\'t come home often and stays away in the mountains?"

"!?"

Eleanor\'s expression darkened, her eyes narrowing slightly as she turned to Wang Xiao, who was struggling to suppress a grin.

"Haha... Lanlan, your friends are probably right. Your mother is so scary—look how she\'s glaring at me now." Wang Xiao whispered conspiratorially into Xuelan\'s ear, eliciting a brief giggle from her before she faced Eleanor again.

"Mother... Is it true?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of wariness.

She tightened her grip protectively around Wang Xiao\'s neck, her small hands surprising him with their strength.