Deviant: No Longer Human

"She's forming her own zoo..." Wang Mei whispered under her breath, slightly in awe and helplessness.

Wang Xiao just shrugged, entirely unbothered. "She liked it," he said as if acquiring a baby panda was the simplest thing in the world. "So I got it for her."

Ignoring the stupefied stares from his family, Wang Xiao bent down and scooped up Zhenxi, who giggled happily, the panda cub nestled comfortably in her arms.

She snuggled into his chest, completely oblivious to the chaos that had happened moments earlier.

"Where's her mother?" Wang Xiao asked, his tone casual as though the day had been nothing out of the ordinary.

Xinyue Zhilan blinked, shaking herself free of the shock. "She's inside, waiting…" she said, her voice carrying the slightest edge of uncertainty as she pursed her lips.

The scene from earlier was still fresh in her mind, and she wasn't sure how to process it all just yet.

As they made their way into the villa, Xinyue Zhilan spoke again, her tone now soft and almost motherly. "You shouldn't be so reckless," she said, casting a glance at her son. "If you ran over someone, it would've been trouble."

Wang Xiao didn't even bother looking back, his expression as calm as ever. "If you don't push back when someone bullies you, the world just keeps pushing harder," he replied, his voice tinged with confidence and authority.

Xinyue Zhilan sighed, shaking her head slightly. "You can't fight the world…" she muttered, the voice of a woman who had seen enough of life to know that some battles weren't worth fighting.

Youth, after all, was always hot-blooded.

Wang Xiao smiled faintly, though it was more thoughtful than before.

He could sense that she knew why the demolition team had shown up, but for now, he let it slide.

Instead, he turned his attention to the little troublemaker in his arms.

With a sly grin, he reached out and gently pinched Zhenxi's soft cheeks, pulling them until her face puffed up.

"You didn't even get out of the car when the fight started," he teased, his fingers still pinching her cheeks.

The girl let out a small, annoyed sound, squirming in his grip. "Mmm! Zhenxi wasn't scared!" she protested, her words muffled as she tried to free herself from his hands. "Zhenxi was just… being smart!"

Wang Xiao chuckled, clearly amused by her attempt at justifying her actions. "Oh? Smart, were you?" he teased, his fingers still tugging at her cheeks. "Hiding in the car the whole time while I dealt with the situation, huh?"

Zhenxi huffed, her tiny face still scrunched up from his grip. "Mhm! Zhenxi didn't want to get in the way!" she declared proudly, though her puffed cheeks and the baby panda in her arms made the whole declaration more adorable than serious.

Wang Xiao released her cheeks with a playful shake of his head, still smiling. 'Looks like she's upgraded her survival instincts,' he thought, 'from negative to… well, something a bit more functional.'

He ruffled her hair gently, causing Zhenxi to pout even more. "Alright, alright," he said with a soft chuckle. "At least you're learning."

Zhenxi grinned triumphantly, clearly pleased with herself, though she still held onto the panda cub tightly.

Wang Xiao, despite his usual indifference, couldn't help but feel a bit of warmth from the scene. 'Well… if anything, she's cute and.... Smart.'

______

"It's you!"

Wang Xiao paused as he stepped into his home, his gaze locking onto the girl sitting in his living room.

She had curly brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders, red plump lips, and a light brown dress that clung modestly to her figure.

Her almond-shaped eyes and fair skin immediately reminded him of someone—a younger version of an old acquaintance.

The girl—Chen Meili—smiled, but the smile was strained, a mixture of disbelief and nerves written all over her face.

She gave a slight nod, murmuring, "Mm."

Wang Xiao's brow furrowed slightly, studying her.

'Chen Meili? The proprietress of Velvet shadow?' He hadn't seen her in years, and yet here she was, sitting in his home like it was the most natural thing in the world.

But what caught his attention more than anything was the look on her face—the look of someone who had just seen a ghost.

'She thought I was dead.' Wang Xiao mused inwardly, watching her stiff posture and the way her fingers twisted in her lap.

Her eyes darted nervously between him and the little girl he was holding—Zhenxi.

Chen Meili's heart pounded in her chest, the sound deafening in her ears.

'How is he alive? Didn't he die?' But more than that, her gaze flickered to Zhenxi, and her pulse quickened.

'He doesn't know, does he?' Her mind raced.

If Wang Xiao found out Zhenxi was his daughter, it could be bad.

The thought sent a wave of panic through her, and she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Are you her mother?" Wang Xiao's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, calm but probing.

He sat down on the couch, still holding Zhenxi as if trying to reconcile the girl in his arms with the woman sitting across from him.

Their features didn't seem to match, and Zhenxi, now seeing a stranger for the first time, blinked up in confusion.

'Is this my mother?' Zhenxi's little mind whirled as she looked at Chen Meili, trying to make sense of the situation.

Something didn't feel right.

Chen Meili forced a smile, her voice steady but carrying a hint of tension. "I live with her mother," she replied, the words carefully measured. "She's my tenant."

Wang Xiao's sharp eyes flicked from Chen Meili to Zhenxi, who was studying her in silence.

It was clear from Zhenxi's expression that she didn't recognize the woman sitting before them.

Suddenly, Zhenxi's eyes lit up in recognition, her small hands waving excitedly. "Meili!" she chirped, her voice full of excitement. "You look so beautiful, Meili!"

Wang Xiao's brow twitched in response, glancing at the girl in surprise.

'Already buttering people up?' He hadn't realized how sharp Zhenxi was, even at her age.

She was more clever than he'd given her credit for.

Chen Meili's smile faltered slightly, but she managed to hold it together. "Thank you, Zhenxi," she said softly, her voice laced with a mix of affection and nerves.

However, her unease only deepened as she saw Zhenxi hop down from Wang Xiao's lap, still clutching the panda cub in her tiny arms.

"Zhenxi!" Chen Meili's eyes widened in panic.

Up until that moment, she had assumed the panda was some kind of stuffed toy—until it moved.

The sight of the living creature nearly made her jump out of her seat. "Careful!" she called out, her voice filled with concern.

But Zhenxi, unfazed, walked confidently toward her, holding the panda effortlessly as if it weighed nothing. "Look, Meili! Isn't he cute?" she said proudly, her small arms easily supporting the weight of the panda, which seemed far heavier than her small frame should've been able to handle.

"What!?"

Chen Meili, still standing in shock, could only stare as Zhenxi placed the panda right in front of her, the creature looking up at her with sleepy eyes.

The room grew silent for a moment, filled only with the soft breathing of the panda and the rapid heartbeat thumping in Chen Meili's chest.

Wang Xiao, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, his lips twitching in amusement. "Well, killing people with shock," he said dryly, leaning back in his seat. "She certainly takes after me."

Chen Meili, still frozen, slowly turned her gaze to Wang Xiao, 'Takes after him?' Her heart pounded louder.