Deviant: No Longer Human

"That's Lanmei..." he said under his breath, unable to stop a wry smile from tugging at his lips.

He had almost forgotten about these two.

Baixue, the white dragon cub, had already claimed the co-pilot seat, sitting calmly like royalty.

It was clear she had no intention of moving, her snow-white scales reflecting a soft glow, as if the moonlight itself had kissed her skin.

The two cubs were the children of Aura, a dragon Wang Xiao had crossed paths with in the past.

Somehow, they had tracked him all the way here, likely drawn to the faint aura he gave off even while attempting to blend into the mortal world.

Lanmei spun playfully around Wang Mei, her black scales shimmering as she danced through the air.

Wang Mei flinched, clearly uneasy. "Why is it… circling me?" she muttered, a little overwhelmed by the lively little creature.

Lanmei, however, seemed to be having the time of her life, joyfully flying around her head in tight, excited loops.

Baixue, meanwhile, sat dignified in her spot, as if she were the true owner of the car, her presence regal and unbothered.

Wang Xiao leaned back against the car, crossing his arms as a knowing smile crept across his face.

"If they're here…" he mused, glancing out toward the distance.

His gaze sharpened as he looked beyond the creatures, confirming his suspicion.

In the distance, a young girl was walking toward them, her steps slow and hesitant.

She was clutching the hem of her robe nervously, her fingers twisting at the fabric as if trying to ease her anxiety.

Her appearance was hard to miss—her cheeks were dusted with a delicate blush, like peach blossoms blooming in early spring.

Wang Xiao recognized her instantly, a wave of memories hitting him.

'Zhenxi…' He almost chuckled to himself. 'How does she always end up near me?' He watched as she approached, her anxious expression softening as she noticed the dragon cubs.

"Who's that?" Xinyue Zhilan asked, raising an eyebrow as she noticed the young girl making her way toward them.

"Hm?" Wang Mei and Wang Xueying both exchanged curious glances, wondering why this girl seemed so intent on reaching them.

As Zhenxi came closer, her wide eyes sparkled with an innocent joy, and the nervousness from before seemed to melt away. Her hair, loosely tied up in a messy bun, swayed with each step, a few loose strands framing her face like soft willow leaves.

Her jade hairpins twinkled in the light, catching the attention of Wang Mei, who unconsciously admired them for their simple beauty.

The girl's green robe, though simple, flowed gracefully around her, the fabric fluttering like bamboo leaves in a gentle breeze.

Every step she took carried a natural charm, though she was clearly shy.

Zhenxi's gaze locked onto Lanmei, her eyes lighting up as she broke into a small run, her excitement finally getting the better of her.

"Meimei~!" she called out with a giggle, her voice filled with childlike joy.

Wang Mei blinked, her mind racing in confusion. "Me?" she muttered under her breath, looking around to confirm.

'What does this little girl want with me?' She shot a glance toward Wang Xiao, who was simply watching the scene, his amusement barely contained.

But Zhenxi wasn't referring to Wang Mei.

She darted toward Lanmei, the black dragon cub, who immediately flew into her waiting arms, squealing in delight.

Zhenxi caught Lanmei easily, her small hands cradling the dragon with the care one might give a fragile flower.

Despite her earlier nervousness, she now looked completely at ease, as if this was where she belonged.

Wang Xiao watched, leaning back with a smile. 'She's always been like this… easily flustered, but never scared when it comes to these little ones.'

"Hey, there..." He remarked casually, catching Zhenxi's attention instantly.

"!"

Her eyes brightened at the familiar sound, but she began looking around, her gaze unfocused as if she couldn't quite pinpoint where it was coming from.

Wang Xiao knew—her lack of eyesight contributed to this small moment of confusion, a fleeting misery she carried with her.

Wang Xueying raised an eyebrow, watching the girl and then glancing over at Wang Xiao. "You know her?"

Wang Xiao shrugged nonchalantly. "Nope."

"Daddy~!"

The moment he spoke again, Zhenxi perked up, her ears locking onto his voice.

She immediately headed in his direction, her small legs carrying her toward the sound with determination.

Unfortunately, she completely misjudged the distance and—

Bam!

"..."

"..."

Wang Mei and Wang Xueying exchanged glances of shock and confusion.

Daddy?

They both thought simultaneously.

Wang Xiao was only nineteen, there was no way he could have a daughter this old—five or six years, at least.

Xinyue Zhilan, meanwhile, appeared calm though curious, watching as little Zhenxi clutched her head in pain, tears welling up in her large, doe-like eyes.

Without a word, she bent down and gently scooped the girl up into her arms.

Click!

At that moment, Wang Xiao casually opened the car door and stepped out, looking down at the little creature that was now rubbing her forehead and squirming slightly from the embarrassment and pain.

"You know her?" Xinyue Zhilan asked, her curiosity piqued as she glanced between Wang Xiao and the girl clinging to her.

Wang Xiao nodded, offering a simple explanation. "Met her a few weeks ago in the neighborhood… I don't know much else. She just roams around aimlessly. I'm guessing she's run away from home."

"Oh..." Xinyue Zhilan's eyes softened as she looked down at Zhenxi.

She didn't seem at all phased by the fact the girl had called her son 'daddy.'

Children often attached themselves to adults they liked, and this seemed no different in her mind.

If anything, it made her look at Wang Xiao with a newfound sense of approval.

'If he's good with kids, maybe grandchildren won't be too far off…' she thought, her hopes for a future generation resting firmly on his shoulders.

Her daughters, still unmarried, had left her with little hope for the time being.

But Wang Xiao? He was already showing promise.

Wang Xiao, on the other hand, was far from entertained by the idea.

While his mother's thoughts drifted to grandchildren, he was thinking about how much he disliked children—unless, of course, they were his own and incredibly cute daughters.

Without a word, he scooped up Zhenxi and gently placed her in the co-pilot seat of the car.

Her small body fit perfectly as he carefully strapped her in, the seatbelt clicking into place. "Let's give you a ride," he said with a teasing smile, then closed the door and got back into the driver's seat.

Wang Mei and Wang Xueying, standing outside the car, were left blinking in confusion.

"That happened too fast..." Wang Xueying muttered, glancing at her sister, who could only nod in agreement.

They had been completely ignored.

"Yay~!" Zhenxi's gleeful cheer echoed through the car as they sped off, leaving the rest of the family behind.

As they drove further from the house, Wang Xiao's simple driving turned a bit more reckless.

He hit the gas, causing the car to zoom forward, nearly grazing pedestrians and cars.

The Porsche roared like a beast on the open road, weaving through traffic with ease.

But while Wang Xiao expected Zhenxi to be scared or at least startled, her reaction surprised him.

She was laughing—loudly.

The sudden acceleration seemed to thrill her, her innocent giggles filling the car.

"Guess this girl doesn't fear demons or gods," Wang Xiao muttered under his breath, glancing sideways at her.