Deviant: No Longer Human

10:30 pm, Frostgard

"Still thinking about what happened at noon?" Wang Xiao's voice was gentle, like a breeze passing through willow leaves, as he looked across the table at Mei.

They were seated in an elegant, private dining area of a luxurious restaurant, the glittering cityscape beyond the glass wall casting a soft glow over the room.

Mei sat quietly, her posture demure, her head slightly bowed as if burdened by thoughts too heavy to share.

She had been unusually silent, her delicate features tinged with an air of melancholy that did not escape Wang Xiao's notice.

"Mhm, we're just ordinary people..." Mei's voice was barely above a whisper, like a fragile leaf trembling in the wind.

She glanced down at her plate, her hand moving almost mechanically as she picked at her food, though her appetite had long deserted her.

The vibrant dishes before her seemed to pale in comparison.

Her life, so different from his, felt small and distant—mere ripples in a vast ocean.

Even after the great reset, the world of warriors and the lives of ordinary folk like her remained as separate as heaven and earth.

Wang Xiao's gaze softened as it fell upon her.

In the low light, Mei's fair skin seemed to glow with an ethereal softness.

The dress she wore, a gentle shade of blue, curved gracefully around her slender figure, subtly revealing the delicate lines of her collarbone and the soft slope of her shoulders.

The sight stirred something within him—how fragile she seemed, like a plum blossom just beginning to bloom, against the harsh winds of the world.

Without a word, he reached for the wine bottle and poured a glass for her, the rich liquid shimmering.

"I... don't drink," Mei murmured, her voice hesitant.

She looked at the glass as if it were a strange, foreign object, her lips pressed together in a faint line of indecision.

Her gaze flickered toward the entrance of the cabin, where she knew the two women who had accompanied her were standing watch.

Wang Xiao chuckled softly, a lightness to his tone. "Are you worried about your two new companions? They're not so bad—quite cute, don't you think?"

Mei blinked, her large, doe-like eyes widening in surprise.

Cute?

The thought almost made her laugh—if only she had the heart for it.

The women outside were more like stone statues, all muscle and bodybuilders.

The idea of calling them 'cute' seemed absurd.

Just then, Wang Xiao extended his hand across the table, gently taking hers in his grasp.

His touch was abrupt, his fingers wrapping around her own with a hold that caught her off guard.

!?

Mei stiffened slightly, unsure of how to respond, her heart fluttering like a startled bird.

"The bracelet," Wang Xiao said, his voice laced with curiosity as he traced a finger over the smooth pearls adorning her wrist. "Did someone gift this to you?"

Mei glanced down, realizing he was focused on the small piece of jewelry. "Y-Yes..." she replied softly, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

She wondered how long he intended to hold her hand, a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks.

In their culture, even such innocent touches between siblings were rare.

Though the modern world had loosened such traditions.... She still felt both flustered and shy, the simple gesture stirring emotions she wasn't sure how to handle.

The way Wang Xiao held her hand, so gently, so protectively, made her feel small and fragile—like a delicate flower in need of shelter from the storm.

A faint emptiness stirred within Mei's heart, as if a part of her long-forgotten memories was being filled in this fleeting moment.

"Mmm... so bitter..." she murmured, trying to escape the awkwardness that had crept in.

Using her free hand, she picked up the wine glass and took a tentative sip.

The moment the liquid touched her lips, she couldn't help but furrow her brows in distaste. "Why do people even drink this?" she muttered, her delicate features scrunching up in a rare display of disgust.

Wang Xiao chuckled softly, amused by the unfamiliar expression on her face.

It was the first time he had seen her react this way, and it struck him as oddly endearing.

"People don't really drink it for the taste," Wang Xiao explained, finally releasing her hand and leaning back in his seat. "They use it to hide the bitterness within themselves. Or, sometimes, when there's a big bad guy trying to trick someone."

Mei tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. "How can it be used to trick someone?"

Wang Xiao's eyes gleamed with a touch of mischief as he answered, "It's quite simple, really. Imagine a man and a woman, both slightly drunk. If a few 'accidents' happen during the night, by morning, the wine can be used to trick them—sometimes they deceive themselves, sometimes others... and sometimes even the courts."

"!"

Mei, who had been raising her glass for another sip, froze in place.

A slight shiver ran down her spine as she slowly put the glass back on the table, her fingers trembling just a bit. She grumbled weakly, her voice barely above a whisper, "Why do you always talk about blood and crime?"

Her heart pounded anxiously in her chest, an inexplicable unease taking hold of her.

They were blood siblings, after all.

The mistakes of childhood might be forgotten, but as adults, one should be more responsible with their words and actions.

Yet, despite this, there was a strange fluttering in her heart, a feeling she couldn't quite shake.

Mei wasn't like Xueying, who had became 'Budda' in her own way after Wang Xiao's disappearance.

Growing up, Mei had often felt they had crossed lines that shouldn't have been crossed, leaving her with a lingering sense of guilt.

But as the years passed, and after learning that such things weren't as uncommon as she once thought, she had tried to let it go.

'After all,' she had reasoned, 'the person involved is gone. There's no point in holding on to blame.'

She had resolved that if he ever returned, she would forget everything, bury the past, and never speak of it to anyone.

But now, with Wang Xiao sitting right in front of her, Mei found herself questioning the sudden brightness in his face.

The night was still dark beyond the glass walls, so why did he seem to glow when she looked at him?

And why was her heart beating so erratically?

A fluttering sense of nervousness welled up inside her.

They were siblings—this was undeniable.

But they were also strangers in a way, having not seen each other for years, almost like distant cousins.

He had been absent during her formative years, and now, with his return, she felt an unfamiliar pull, a biological attraction that she could not quite explain.

Though Mei didn't fully understand the complexities of these feelings, she knew one thing for certain: she must not let her thoughts stray into dangerous territory and spoil the sacred bond between them.

She had heard stories—stories of brothers who, through mere instinct, sometimes crossed boundaries, their innocent affection turning into something it should not.

But it was the sister's responsibility to ensure that the line was never crossed.

In the past, she had been unaware, but now, she was more vigilant.

Girls are never as clueless as people think..

In fact, those who act the most clueless often understand the most.

Wang Xiao noticed the discomfort flickering across her delicate features.

He had no intention of disrupting their relationship.

She was undeniably beautiful, but if she wanted to keep things strictly familial, he would let it be for now.

However, there was a problem...

A big problem—