Deviant: No Longer Human

The relationship between Yue and Wang Xiao, as Wenxi once explained to Seraphina, defied the boundaries of common understanding.

Those who saw their interactions as mere clashes of wills were gravely mistaken.

Yue held her father in the highest regard, revering him with a devotion that bordered on worship.

Her demeanor toward Wang Xiao was often formal, with a touch of distance, as if she maintained a respectful space between them.

Wang Xiao understood the 'reason' behind it, though he chose not to bring it to light.

Some truths were better left under the graveyard.

Yue's long lashes fluttered gently as she spoke, her voice calm yet laced with a sweet, almost melodic quality. "From the moment we draw our first breath, we are shaped by the world around us—its views, its culture, its ideals... So many strangers leave their marks on that blank canvas we start with. But I would rather have it be you, Dad, who turns that blank canvas into a beautiful painting."

In her eyes, all beings manipulate; it was an inescapable truth of existence.

But if someone were to shape her, she would prefer it to be the one she trusted most—the one whose influence she welcomed.

At least then, she knew it would not harm her. Anger never took root in her heart because Wang Xiao had never concealed his intent.

His actions were as clear as the morning dew on a lotus leaf.

To Yue, 'manipulation' was not the nefarious force that others might see it as.

Where most would perceive manipulation as a dark tool wielded with selfish intent, Yue saw it as an intrinsic part of life.

Wang Xiao had taught her and her siblings that all forms of communication are designed to influence.

At its core, the world itself is a grand interplay of influences—a vast, intricate dance of subtle manipulations, both benevolent and malevolent.

Even parenting, as Wang Xiao had imparted to her, was a form of cultivation—a careful grooming of the mind and spirit, shaping them according to the parent's vision.

If her father guided her path, she believed he did so with the utmost care and wisdom, always choosing the best course for her and her siblings.

As for anything beyond that… Yue wasn't entirely sure. If her father ever sought to influence her in deeper ways, she knew she wouldn't resist. But whether she truly desired such influence… that was a matter she had yet to fully contemplate...

Sometimes, her heart would beat with a rhythm that felt foreign, a flutter that she knew she shouldn't feel for her.

Yet, there were other times when, even sitting so close to him, looking directly into his eyes, not a single wicked thought crossed her mind.

In those moments, her eyes were as clear as still water, reflecting only the purity of her affection.

It was a mystery—a riddle she couldn't quite solve.

No matter how hard she tried to understand it, she could find no guidance in the teachings she had read, no wisdom from the sages to explain this contradiction within her heart.

What was it?

This duality of feeling, this strange oscillation between the forbidden and the innocent?

Naturally, Yue didn't mention that she knew—knew that in the deep of night, when the world was quiet and the stars hung lazily in the sky, his hands would sometimes leave Wenxi's side and wander towards her own.

It was in those moments that she felt an indescribable fluttering, a sensation that both thrilled and confused her.

So why not now?

Why, when they were so close, did her heart not stir in the same way?

It was all so mysterious.

As Yue gazed into Wang Xiao's eyes, he couldn't help but blink, sensing that same strangeness within himself.

It was as though they both hovered on the edge of something undefined, yet neither was willing to cross that invisible boundary.

Even so, they both respected the lines that had been drawn

Yue eventually turned away, resting her back against his chest, a comfortable silence settling between them as she pulled up the plans for the marriage event on her tablet.

The screen glowed softly as she ran her fingers over it, reviewing the details that had already been laid out by Lisa.

There was little left for her to add, but the routine of it brought her some peace.

Wang Xiao, however, couldn't fully let go of the thoughts that had been stirred.

His brow furrowed slightly as he contemplated the matter she had mentioned earlier.

Another Wang Xiao?

Imposter?

The very idea was unsettling.

He thought Naomi was keeping a close watch on his family, ensuring that no threats would slip through unnoticed.

So what had gone wrong?

What was really happening?

As his thoughts churned, Yue's voice broke through the silence, her tone light but inquisitive. "By the way, about Charlotte ... wasn't there a better way to solve problems than killing?" She asked, her attention wandering from the tablet as she remembered Charlotte.

The event planning had exhausted her, and her mind drifted back to that incident.

She had been the one to hire Charlotte, after all, and naturally, she'd felt a certain fondness for her.

But when those feelings were weighed against her loyalty to Wang Xiao, they didn't stand a chance.

She hadn't hesitated to discard them.

Wang Xiao's response was almost a murmur, as if the answer were too simple to warrant much thought. "Who said that? Killing is the fastest solution."

"Fastest, but not the wisest," Yue repeated thoughtfully, her voice gentle, as if she were trying to reconcile the two ideas in her mind.

Wang Xiao's gaze remained steady as he responded, his tone patient yet firm. "Who told you to look at the world in such black and white? You should see only what benefits you and what harms you. And who said it's not the wisest?"

Yue's eyes blinked slowly, her mind processing his words. "I just think... it often brings more enemies. Being wise is important."

Wang Xiao shook his head slightly, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Being wise is indeed a type of strength, but strength itself surpasses wisdom. As long as you're more powerful than others, you shouldn't concern yourself with what they say. Do not let the words of mortals dictate how you, an immortal, should feel or act."

He paused, letting his words settle before continuing. "Only the words of those who have walked the same path, who have achieved the same heights, can truly be trusted. The weak should not presume to instruct the strong on how to live. If they knew, wouldn't they be strong themselves? Asking mortals about the way of immortality is as senseless as asking the blind to describe the dawn."

"As for enemies," he added, his tone growing firmer, "if you can't deal with them, it only means you aren't strong enough yet."