Deviant: No Longer Human

Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow, amused by her sudden embarrassment.

He didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he watched his daughter vacate her seat with such bashfulness. "Alright, then," he said with a soft chuckle, taking the seat she had offered.

As he settled into the chair, a lingering sweetness filled the air, a subtle fragrance that reminded him of delicate flowers.

He couldn't help but look at Yue, his gaze lingering on her soft cheeks.

They looked like the most tempting white peaches, perfectly smooth and inviting.

The thought crossed his mind that they would taste as sweet as they looked—a thought that made him smile inwardly.

Yue noticed his gaze, recognizing the glint in his eyes. 'He's thinking of something not so good again,' she thought, a light blush creeping up her neck.

To distract herself, she moved to the side, where a small silk-colored handbag was kept.

She opened it with delicate fingers, taking out a small, intricately designed circular container.

Wang Xiao's curiosity was piqued. "What's that?" he asked, watching her closely.

"Violet cake," Yue replied, her voice gentle as she glanced at him, her eyes shimmering with excitement.

"Violet, like the flowers?" Wang Xiao asked, a subtle surprise flickering across his features.

It wasn't often that something caught him off guard, but the idea of a cake made from flowers intrigued him.

Yue nodded, her cheeks dimpling with a small, proud smile. "Try it," she said, placing the small violet cake, perfectly cut into a circle, in front of him.

She watched him expectantly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Wang Xiao looked at the delicate cake, its pale purple hue almost too beautiful to eat.

But the look in Yue's eyes—those shimmering, expectant eyes—was impossible to resist.

He picked up the small cake, its texture soft and airy, and took a bite.

The flavor was as exquisite as the cake itself. The subtle sweetness of the violet flowers mixed with the light, fluffy texture, melting in his mouth like a gentle spring breeze.

Wang Xiao closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the taste, letting the sweetness linger on his tongue.

When he opened his eyes, Yue was watching him intently, her own eyes wide with hope. "How is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if the answer was of the utmost importance.

Wang Xiao smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes. "It's good," he said softly, seeing the happiness that lit up her face.

Yue's smile blossomed like a flower in full bloom, her joy as delicate as the first morning dew on lotus petals. "Only good... Not perfect?" she questioned, her voice lilting with a mix of relief and happiness. "I made it especially for you, so I was worried it wouldn't turn out well."

Wang Xiao chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with a satisfied light. "Well, it would have been perfect if it were made from soft white peaches instead."

"Peaches?" Yue's eyes widened, blinking with a look of sincere consideration as if she were genuinely contemplating the idea.

She pursed her lips, her expression taking on a slight pout, like a kitten suddenly met with an unexpected puzzle. "How could I get you that instantly? You'll have to wait... At least... one day... No...

ummm... maybe eight hours... I think six! Yes, six hours!"

In truth, Yue had been carrying the violet cake with her for days, crafting a fresh one each morning in the hopes of sharing it with him.

But for the past week, her father had disappeared, leaving her both anxious and slightly pouty, as if he had been avoiding her on purpose.

Wang Xiao's expression softened as he gazed at her, his smile holding a quiet affection. "You don't need to make anything," he said, his tone gentle yet full of meaning.

Yue blinked in confusion, her heart fluttering as he reached out, his hands warm against hers.

Before she could fully process what was happening, he pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist in a firm and tight hold.

His head rested against her shoulder, the closeness making her heart skip like a pebble over a still pond.

"Here is my peach cake," he murmured breathing warmly into her neck, leaning in to press his lips gently against her cheek, as if savoring the sweetness of the moment.

"!"

Yue's breath caught in her throat, her body tensing for just a second before softening against him.

She could feel her cheeks warm, and she let out a small sigh, her earlier irritation dissipating like mist, "Dad, do you think I'm a cake?" she asked, her voice as soft as a breeze rustling through cherry blossoms.

Her long lashes fluttered slightly, adding a touch of innocent charm to her expression as she glanced up at him.

Wang Xiao pulled back slightly, just enough to meet her gaze, a warm smile curving his lips. "Well, you're sweet enough to be one," he added.

Yue's lips curled into a small smile, her heart settling into a gentle rhythm as she leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. "You're so careless…" she muttered softly, her breath light against his skin.

"Careless?" Wang Xiao's eyebrows lifted in surprise, her words catching him off guard. What brought that on?

He looked down at the delicate figure in his arms, feeling as though he was holding something precious yet unfamiliar.

Yue had grown so much, blossoming into someone he could no longer entirely see through.

It made him realize that even in his caution, he might have missed something.

Yue tilted her head up, her smile charming and just a touch mischievous, making Wang Xiao's heart skip a beat as if her smile had lightly pecked at it.

"We've received the guest list for the upcoming event," she began, her voice light and playful. "It's up to us to arrange their stay, and guess what? There are several names that start with 'Wang.' And one of them…" Her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief. "One of them is named Wang Xiao."

Her words have a accusation hidden behind her bright gaze.

Wang Xiao's expression froze.

He released her gently, taking a step back as if he needed a moment to process this unexpected twist.

"Dad…" Yue's voice turned more serious, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she looked up at him. "Are you hiding a secret family somewhere?" There was a mix of genuine curiosity and playful accusation in her tone.

Bonk!

Wang Xiao lightly flicked her forehead, both to snap her out of her thoughts and because he was stunned by the question himself.

"Don't speak as if I don't already have enough to handle," he said, though his tone was more teasing than defensive.

"Hmph! But you didn't tell us about this one!" Yue pouted, lifting her chin with a feigned air of indignation.

Her serious expression was quickly overtaken by a playful glint in her eyes as she reached for her handbag.

She pulled out her phone, her slender fingers softly tapping the screen as she navigated through her gallery. "See! We even have pictures!" she declared triumphantly, holding the phone out to him.