Deviant: No Longer Human

Anran's eyes snapped shut, and she blurted out her confession in a rush. "I told them you're my boyfriend and that you love me very much!"

Wang Xiao, 'Lie'

Yin Yue agreed, [Liar]

Whoosh!

Anran's eyes widened in shock.

"Ah!?"

The sound was barely out of her mouth before she found herself airborne, the ground suddenly disappearing beneath her feet.

Splash!

The cold embrace of the sea enveloped her, silencing her exclamation.

She surfaced moments later, sputtering and wide-eyed. "Eh?" she gasped, her earlier confidence replaced by utter astonishment.

Floating in the water, Anran looked up to find Wang Xiao standing at the guardrail, a slight smile playing on his lips. In his hand, he held the single blue rose she had painstakingly chosen earlier.

After a moment, Anran, now thoroughly drenched, clambered out of the water and trudged back to her previous spot on the guardrail, her mood a mix of sulkiness and disbelief.

Wang Xiao watched her return, his expression a blend of amusement and mild curiosity.

As she sat down, Wang Xiao extended the rose towards her. "Here," he said, offering the flower as a peace offering.

Anran, still dripping and a bit disheveled, looked at the rose, then at Wang Xiao. Her sulky expression slowly shifted into a reluctant smile. "You didn't have to throw me in," she said, her voice carrying a mock reproach but softened by the hint of a smile.

Wang Xiao shrugged, the ghost of a smile still on his face. "Consider it a reminder not to lie. Or at least, not to get caught," he replied, his tone light but an underlying threat.

Anran accepted the rose, her fingers brushing against his as she took it. "Fine, I'll be more careful next time," she conceded, her spirits lifted by the gesture.

The rose, once a simple object of beauty, had now become a symbol of this memory for her.

However, Anran's reaction was quick, almost comical, as she noticed Wang Xiao's hand moving towards her once more.

In a swift, fluid motion, she hopped off the guardrail, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Ah, please forgive me! I swear, I won't ever try to lie to you again!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with a slight seriousness.

Wang Xiao paused, his hand mid-air, and then let out a soft chuckle. He hadn't intended to throw her in again, but her dramatic response amused him. "I'll hold you to that, lie to me again and you would die," he replied, his tone light yet firm.

Anran looked up at Wang Xiao with earnest eyes. "I won't, I swear! So can we go and get me new clothes? These ones are already wet!" she implored, lifting her drenched hands to emphasize her point.

Wang Xiao gave a nod of agreement. "That's fine. But I'm curious – how do you know the language here so well? And your acting... It's quite professional," he inquired, genuinely intrigued by her skills.

Anran's response was a sudden freeze, her body going rigid as if turned to stone. She then dramatically flopped down onto the ground, beginning to draw circles on the polished road with a finger. "I knew it... We spies are always overshadowed by assassins... People don't even remember us in the story...." she murmured with exaggerated sorrow.

Wang Xiao's lips twitched involuntarily. His gaze fixed on her, unblinking, he played along, "Let's go back then, no shopping anymore—"

Whoosh!

Before he could finish his sentence, a shadow leaped forward. "Big brother!" Anran's voice rang out as she clung to his legs, as if holding to her dear life.

Her sudden, affectionate outburst drew murmurs and stares from the people around them.

Wang Xiao's expression darkened with mock anger. "This insolent creature!" he exclaimed. In a swift motion, he lifted Anran and tossed her back into the water, this time further out, ensuring she'd have a longer swim back.

"Eh?" Anran's eyes widened in surprise as she once again found herself airborne, the ground swiftly receding beneath her. "I hate you, Wang Xiao!" she shouted mid-air, sticking her tongue out in a playful gesture of defiance, moments before splashing into the water.

Wang Xiao stood at the edge, watching her. Despite his stern expression, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Anran's splash was a small spectacle, drawing more attention from the onlookers.

Wang Xiao watched with a hint of resignation. 'If not for Li Zhiming's loyalty, she would have died a thousand times already...' he mused silently.

His own patience was often tested by her antics, he wasn't particularly a peaceful person, who likes jokes and dramas.

______

Two hours later, the atmosphere had settled into a more peaceful rhythm. They were back at their earlier spot, surrounded by a collection of shopping bags from various high-end stores.

Anran was quietly enjoying her ice cream, a look of contentment on her face, while the bags near her legs held an assortment of new clothes for both her and Wang Xiao.

Throughout their shopping spree, Anran's uninhibited behavior had been on full display.

At one point, she had boldly approached Wang Xiao in the middle of a store, holding up two pairs of panties and asking him which he preferred for the night.

Needless to say, the subsequent events had been anything but tranquil for her.

Now, as they relaxed, the blue rose petals floated aimlessly around the city. Leaning against the guardrail, Wang Xiao caught sight of a broken petal drifting in the sea. He turned to Anran and asked, "... Do you like the blue color?"

Anran paused, then looked at him with a hint of understanding. "You mean why I chose the blue rose?" Her tone was unusually serious. Wang Xiao nodded, prompting her to continue. "It's my mom, she liked thos— hm?"

But before she could finish, a loud burst of music filled the air. Anran's head whipped around, her expression shifting instantly.

There was a flash of recognition in her eyes, and a sudden urgency.