Deviant: No Longer Human

The gold bracelet on her wrist caught the morning light, sparkling like the seduction she didn\'t even need to try for. Yet, even her serene beauty couldn\'t hide the tension curling beneath her, amplified by the ever-imposing presence of her mother-in-law, Madam Li.

Madam Li—now she was a force to be reckoned with, quite literally.

She walked in a deep red cheongsam that clung to her hourglass figure like a second skin, the high slit revealing long, toned legs that seemed to go on forever. Age had done little to dull her sharp edges; instead, it had refined her, like a sword tempered in flame.

Pearls draped over her ample chest, resting just above the deep swell of her cleavage, and her high heels clicked against the floor with each authoritative step, drawing eyes to the power she exuded.

As Wang Jiarong approached, Madam Li\'s eyes narrowed, a sharpness in her gaze that demanded immediate compliance.

"Jiarong, good morning," she greeted with a voice that was as smooth as silk, yet hard as steel. "It\'s been a month now, and still nothing. I trust you\'ll be thorough with Ruixin this time."

"Auntie, good morning," Wang Jiarong replied, a hint of exasperation leaking into her polite tone. Her eyes flicked over to Qian Ruixin, who seemed to wilt slightly under her mother-in-law\'s unforgiving scrutiny.

Wang Jiarong bent toward her cousin, her voice low and teasing. "Rui, are you already here to check if there\'s a baby on the way? It\'s only been a month since the wedding, you know..."

A blush bloomed across Qian Ruixin\'s pale cheeks, her face flushing a delicious shade of pink that only added to her innocent beauty. "Rong\'er, it\'s not that…" she mumbled, her voice soft as she averted her gaze. "Actually… nothing has happened yet."

Wang Jiarong\'s eyes widened, amusement dancing in them. "Nothing?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

Qian Ruixin hesitated, her expression darkening as she leaned closer, her voice a trembling whisper. "Not even on the wedding night. We… we were interrupted. There was an attack again. Since then… it feels like something dark is hanging over us."

"Another attack?" Wang Jiarong repeated, her voice dropping to a scandalous whisper, intrigued despite herself.

Qian Ruixin nodded, her lips pressed into a tight line. "Every time we try to be together, something happens. First, there was a fire at the municipal office. Then, just a few days ago, there was an explosion near the city center. It\'s like we\'re cursed to never consummate our marriage."

Wang Jiarong waved a hand dismissively, though the edge in her voice betrayed her disbelief. "You\'re being superstitious. It\'s just bad luck, that\'s all."

"It feels like more than that," Qian Ruixin whispered, her delicate hands twisting in her lap. "What if the heavens are against our marriage?"

"I think—" Before Wang Jiarong could respond, the department door swung open, and Dr. Chen emerged.

The man was tall, his broad shoulders filling the doorway, his chiseled jaw and intense gaze enough to make even the most composed woman falter. His eyes locked onto Jiarong immediately, a smoldering intensity sparking in them that lingered a beat too long.

"Dr. Wang," he greeted warmly, his deep voice carrying a heat that could melt ice. "I didn\'t expect to see you this early." His gaze slid over her figure in that white coat, clearly appreciating what lay beneath.

Wang Jiarong\'s body stiffened, though her smile remained polite. "Dr. Chen, good morning. Just doing my rounds," she replied coolly.

Qian Ruixin, ever the perceptive one, smirked, leaning closer to whisper. "You never told me your department chief had such… intense feelings for you."

Wang Jiarong\'s cheeks burned brighter, but she waved her cousin off. "He\'s harmless," she muttered, though even she wasn\'t sure if she believed that herself.

"Harmless?" Qian Ruixin raised an eyebrow, her smile bitter but amused. "With that attitude, you\'ll never find a man."

Wang Jiarong rolled her eyes. "I have enough to deal with without worrying about men," she replied, her tone sharp, brushing off her cousin\'s insinuation.

Qian Ruixin sighed, her voice softer now. "You\'re lucky. You can afford to be dismissive. Meanwhile, I\'m dealing with a husband who\'s never home and a mother-in-law who\'s breathing down my neck for grandchildren."

Wang Jiarong peeked toward Madam Li, who was still in the exam room, her imposing figure a constant reminder of the pressure Ruixin was under. "Persistent, isn\'t she?" Wang Jiarong muttered under her breath.

"Persistent? Ha-Ha" Qian Ruixin laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "She\'s a nightmare. But what can I do? Refuse her?" Her smile was weary, as though she knew the futility of fighting a force like Madam Li.

Before their conversation could go any further, a nurse rushed over, her voice breathless. "Dr. Wang, Madam Li\'s check-up is done. She\'s waiting for her daughter-in-law\'s appointment now."

Wang Jiarong let out a soft sigh, casting one last glance at Ruixin. "Don\'t worry. I\'ll deal with her. Afterward, we\'ll talk more."

As she turned to leave, she could feel Dr. Chen\'s eyes on her, lingering, watching.

Qian Ruixin noticed too, her eyes narrowing in amusement. "You really should give him a chance," she whispered.

"Not a chance," Wang Jiarong muttered, not bothering to look back as she walked away, the heat of Dr. Chen\'s gaze burning into her retreating figure.

Qian Ruixin sighed, her smile bittersweet. "And you think I\'m the unlucky one."

In just a few minutes, Wang Jiarong had successfully managed to send away Madam Li, an accomplishment that deserved a round of applause—if only she could clap for herself.

The woman was more intimidating than her own mother. Jiarong sighed in relief, brushing off the imaginary weight Madam Li always seemed to leave on her shoulders, before grabbing Qian Ruixin by the arm.

"Let\'s grab some breakfast," Wang Jiarong said, exhaling. "What\'s your plan today? If you\'re free, my brother and sister are coming over in the evening. They\'re in the capital for a bit. Want to join?"

Qian Ruixin\'s eyes blinked in surprise. "Your brother? Is he really healed?"

Wang Jiarong\'s expression went blank for a second before she sighed, "That\'s what my mother says. And she wouldn\'t lie... but I kind of want to see with my own eyes."

Ruixin patted her back in a comforting gesture, her voice dropping dramatically. "Well, you know, if he\'s healed, you should probably set him up with one of your cute colleagues. Medical students are like… top tier, right?"

Wang Jiarong stopped dead in her tracks, rolling her eyes so hard she could practically see the back of her head. "My colleagues? You mean those vixens who can\'t go five minutes without trying to seduce someone? Absolutely not. Besides, my brother\'s barely at the age to start thinking about marriage. What\'s gotten into you?"