Deviant: No Longer Human

She shook her head slightly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of amusement and sorrow. "Then why don\'t you marry already, Rong Er? Aren\'t you nearing the age of a \'Sheng Nu\'?" The teasing note in her voice was light, but the truth hit its mark.

Wang Jiarong\'s lips twitched.

Suddenly, the apple in her mouth tasted bitter.

She huffed, turning her attention away from the group, clearly annoyed. "It\'s not that simple, Rui. You of all people should know that."

\'Maybe I should be taking things more seriously,\' she thought internally, though she\'d never admit it out loud.

The room fell into a brief silence.

Ruixin sighed internally, knowing Jiarong had a point

But this is how the world works.

People with money have the luxury of looking beyond it for other things.

Those without it?

They must first secure their foundation before they can dream of more.

Society still hasn\'t completely shifted to Aether.

Money is still the primary foundation for achieving strength and status for ordinary people.

Ordinary people don\'t interact with mages and warriors every day.

Needs flow from bottom to top.

A frog at the bottom of the well cannot dream of roaming the world without growing legs.

Qian Ruixin glanced at Lingling, the only person in the room who seemed genuinely concerned for her well-being. "Thank you, Lingling," she said, her voice soft but sincere. Then, turning to the other two, she added with a sudden smile, "And you two, Linlin and Leilei."

"eh!?"

Zou Lin and Cao Lei were caught off guard by the unexpected warmth in her smile.

They exchanged awkward glances before nodding in response.

Women wouldn\'t break relationships openly or sever ties forever, no matter how much they might dislike someone.

Ruixin smiled, watching their reactions.

They are diplomatic by nature, knowing when to smile and when to keep distance.

But even then, the gratitude in her smile was genuine, catching them off guard.

Plastic sisters are sisters after all.

They can be quite dependable when it matters.

Men often wonder why women maintain these \'plastic\' friendships, but the answer is simple: they\'re helpful when they need to be, and in unfamiliar territory, they\'re often the only ones you can rely on.

Women\'s friendships might seem complicated to others, but they\'re actually straightforward—everyone understands the unspoken rules, the boundaries, and the roles they play.

You can trust them for certain matters without hesitation, knowing they\'ll have your back.

But you also know where not to trust them—like with a man, because they might just steal him away.

Being aware of these dynamics makes life easier.

Men, on the other hand, often blur boundaries, acting frank on the surface but keeping hidden intentions.

One day, a man might discover his best friend stole his girl, and he\'ll be left wondering,

How could this happen?

He was my true friend.

They forget to set limits, and the result is often heartbreak.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. "Rui, have you chosen the dress?" The voice was firm, yet pleasing to hear.

Ruixin hesitated before opening the door. "Ummm... Mom, we\'re still deciding."

Xin Meifang stood in the doorway, instantly commanding everyone\'s attention.

She wore a sleek, dark silk cheongsam that clung to her curves, wrapping her generous bosom, narrow waist, and the smooth flare of her hips. A high slit revealed her long, toned legs. A delicate gold necklace adorned her neck, drawing attention to her collarbones, while jade earrings swayed gently with each movement.

Her sharp amber eyes were piercing, both intimidating and captivating, framed by raven-black hair that cascaded down her back. Her deep red lips curled into a knowing smile, exuding confidence and mature sensuality.

She had an aura of authority that silenced the room—majestic, powerful, and tempting.

"Take your time," Meifang said, her voice pleasing and smooth but commanding. "It\'s important to make the right choice for tomorrow when receiving Xiao Shan\'s family. Don\'t embarrass us! And for the final wedding, wear this." She pulled a dress from the bag, revealing it to Qian Ruixin.

The dress was a masterpiece—an elegant gown of deep red silk, adorned with intricate golden embroidery depicting phoenixes and peonies.

The luxurious fabric shimmered under the light, designed to perfectly emphasize Ruixin\'s slender waist and enhance her graceful figure more.

Qian Ruixin glanced at the dress, knowing it was meant for the final wedding on September 5th—the ancestral dress, as tradition dictated.

\'The ancestral dress...\' she thought, feeling the weight of responsibility and tradition press down on her.

Satisfied with Ruixin\'s reaction, Meifang\'s sharp gaze shifted to Wang Jiarong, who had been trying to blend into the background. "Rong Er," Meifang said, her tone brooking no argument, "make sure Rui is well-prepared. We can\'t afford any mistakes."

Jiarong blinked, slightly taken aback by her aunt\'s commanding presence. She quickly straightened her back, feeling the need to stand taller under that piercing gaze. "Yes, Aunty. I\'ll take care of it," she replied, her voice tinged with nervousness despite her best efforts.

Meifang\'s eyes lingered on her niece\'s figure for a moment before she gave a curt nod. Just as she turned to leave, she paused and looked back at Jiarong. "By the way, Rong Er, were you present during the attack three days ago?"

"!"

The room fell into a sudden silence as everyone turned to look at Jiarong, their curiosity piqued.

Most of them hadn\'t caught the English news headlines that detailed the attack, and with flight delays keeping many guests away until yesterday, details were scarce.

All they knew was that there had been an incident, which was swiftly dealt with unknowing of the sheer scale that was censored.

Jiarong nodded, her expression darkening as the memory resurfaced. "Yes, Aunty... I was there."

Meifang\'s sharp eyes narrowed slightly, assessing her niece\'s reaction. "Did you know personally what happened?" she inquired, her tone a bit more probing.

Jiarong hesitated, feeling a flicker of unease under her aunt\'s intense gaze. "I... I only know that there was chaos, but..." Her voice trailed off, unsure of how much to reveal.

Meifang\'s expression softened, but her curiosity remained. She changed her approach, asking, "Did you see the Prince?"

"!"

Jiarong\'s eyes suddenly brightened, a stark contrast to her previous demeanor. She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I did! He was incredible! He subdued all the beasts within just a few seconds!"

Despite being already a lady, there was a childlike shine in her eyes as she spoke about the Prince, a clear admiration that made her momentarily forget the fear she had felt during the attack.

Ruixin and the others exchanged glances, noting the awe in Jiarong\'s voice.

It was impossible not to be impressed by the Prince, especially after hearing what he had done.

Who wouldn\'t admire someone so powerful?

They thought, feeling a mix of awe and wariness themselves.

But they all knew that the Prince was far beyond their reach, an untouchable figure that no one dared to casually comment about.

Even a mere mention of him on social media could lead to your posts being swiftly taken down.

He was truly untouchable.

People had to resort to using different acronyms to discuss him, or instead of daring to say \'Eighth Prince,\' they would simply refer to him as \'Prince.\'

Jiarong continued, her voice filled with confidence. "As long as the Prince is in the city, there\'s no need to worry about anything. He\'s... he\'s just too strong. And besides, the event management company handling everything has a very strong background. We\'re in safe hands."

Meifang nodded approvingly, pleased with Jiarong\'s response. "Good. It\'s important to know where we stand," she said, her tone final.

With that, she turned and left the room, her departure as commanding as her entrance.