Deviant: No Longer Human

"Who's mad?" Wang Xiao scoffed, flashing a quick grin. "C'mon, let's get you to school."

He picked up Zhenxi, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek, catching both Chen Meili and Fu Yuxin by surprise.

"Wait…" Fu Yuxin began, but Wang Xiao had already grabbed Zhenxi's school bag, his intent clear. Chen Meili caught Fu Yuxin's eye and gave a slight shake of her head, signaling her to let it go.

______

Vroom!

As the car shot forward, Wang Xiao suddenly realized he didn't even know which school the girl attended.

"Zi'er, what's your school's name?" he asked, hoping he wouldn't have to call around and search for it.

Luckily, the kid seemed to have it handled. She tapped on the car's GPS, quickly entering the coordinates herself, making him raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"Smart, huh…" he muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Mmm…" Zhenxi had a pleased little smile on her face as she settled back, quiet and confident. Wang Xiao couldn't help but grin—smart, sharp, and even a bit reserved.

This kid had to be his.

If his body constitution hadn't completely transformed, he could've probably confirmed her DNA on the spot. But for now, he'd just double-check with Yue or Wenxi later.

Both were born before he'd disappeared into the Graveyard of Gods...

Official or not, he was sure about one thing—this kid was his, and there was no way he'd let anyone keep her from him.

As they cruised down the road, a faint hint of jasmine from Zhenxi's shampoo filled the car, mingling with the crisp morning air wafting through the windows.

She looked up at him, eyes wide with curiosity. "So… are you my official daddy now?" she asked, tilting her head in that serious little way, her tiny fingers adjusting the collar of her school uniform.

Wang Xiao let out a rough laugh, hah! glancing over at her. "Official? What's this 'official' nonsense? I'm the only one you've got!"

She giggled, "heehee~" as he ruffled her black hair, her light, sweet scent filling the air. "Then… does that mean I get to live with you now?" she asked, eyes bright and hopeful.

Wang Xiao smirked, catching the faint smell of fresh linen from her schoolbag, and shook his head at how direct she was. "Why not?" he shrugged. "I wouldn't mind dragging you back to my place." He gave a dark chuckle "Though, fair warning, telling my mother about you is probably gonna make her faint on the spot...But hey, she'll get over it soon."

Zhenxi looked thrilled for a second, but then her face turned serious. "Can… can Mummy come too?"

Wang Xiao raised a brow, staying silent for a beat. 'Of course she'd ask that.' But Zhenxi wasn't fooled by his hesitation; she lowered her gaze, fiddling with her backpack strap, which still carried the scent of warm bread from breakfast. "Mummy's… she's always sad. I heard her crying sometimes after fighting with Auntie Meili. And she doesn't like you…" she added softly, her voice trailing off.

With a sigh, Wang Xiao reached over and patted her head. "Doesn't matter if your mother hates me... I've got a spare room," he said with a devilish grin. "I'll just lock her in it if I have to. Problem solved."

Zhenxi broke into giggles, covering her mouth. "No need to tie her up, Daddy! I've got tricks—easy ones—that'll make her like you."

Wang Xiao's eyebrows shot up, impressed and amused. "Oh? You've got tricks now, huh?" he laughed, half-surprised. This kid wasn't just eavesdropping—she'd sized up the whole situation.

With a smirk, he reached over and ruffled her hair again, "Guess I don't have to worry, do I? With a sharp little mind like yours, we'll have everything settled!"

After dropping Zhenxi off, Wang Xiao noted that her teacher looked particularly good—a perk, he supposed, of primary school teachers being freshly graduated and still looking like they belonged in a magazine.

After exchanging contacts with her (for school matters, naturally), Wang Xiao turned back toward Fu Yuxin's place to clear a few things up. But just as he was about to hit the road, his phone buzzed with an alert from Anran.

His face stiffened immediately.

Neither Anran nor Mary had vanished—they'd been instructed by him to keep tabs on Yue in secret. Yet, here was Anran sending an alert, and moments later, Mary's message chimed in, confirming they'd both picked up on something unusual.

"Hah…" He chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. 'Just great.' He'd barely come to terms with Zhenxi, a daughter he didn't even know existed—probably his first child, no less—and now he had to deal with another headache.

A "bad apple" that had been spoiled beyond reason.

With a resigned sigh, he parked the car around the corner, his body fading into mist as he disappeared from sight. One way or another, he'd have to face Yue—and if need be, correct her with some… disciplinary measures.

____

Meanwhile, back at the villa near Huangpu River, things were far from quiet.

Fu Yuxin, startled by the racket outside, yanked her jacket over her exposed shoulders and hurried to the door. Near the gate, Chen Meili was arguing heatedly with someone, their voices practically echoing through the courtyard.

"What the hell's going on?" she muttered, stepping outside. But the sight that met her stopped her dead in her tracks. Not one, but an entire line of black cars stretched along the villa's front, with a team of people in sharp suits standing at attention.

The whole setup screamed "official business" in the least friendly way possible.

At the gate, Chen Meili was nose-to-nose with a middle-aged man in a stiff suit, flanked by several uniformed assistants, all clutching stacks of documents.

Their badges bore the seal of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau—the very department that handled child welfare and custody issues.

Fu Yuxin strode over, a frown etched across her face. "Uh… may I help you?" she asked, trying to keep her tone calm, though her mind was in chaos. What on earth could warrant a whole government convoy?

The suited man turned to her, giving a polite but firm nod. "Ms. Fu Yuxin, correct?"

She nodded, stomach twisting. The man flicked through his papers with all the grace of a drill sergeant. "Tang Wei, Deputy Director of Child Welfare and Family Affairs here in Shanghai. We're here about the custody arrangements for Chen Zhenxi."

Fu Yuxin's brow furrowed, her pulse picking up. "Custody arrangements?" she repeated, disbelief coloring her tone. "And… I'm sorry, but why would someone at your level be here personally for this?" She threw a bewildered glance at Chen Meili, who looked equally floored.

Tang Wei offered a tight-lipped smile, though his eyes stayed cold. "This case has been brought to our immediate attention by certain… high-level sources," he said. "We've been instructed to carry out a full review, and ensure all protocols are followed without delay."

"..."

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And just like that, it clicked.

Her face darkened, realization sinking in fast.

This wasn't some random welfare check or routine red tape. No, this entire damn parade—complete with the deputy director and his suited army—was courtesy of none other than Wang Xiao himself.

He was flexing his influence, making it crystal clear he wasn't messing around.

Fu Yuxin clenched her fists, her jaw tightening. She'd expected some kind of pushback from him, but this?

This was on a whole other level.