Deviant: No Longer Human

"You've seen her, haven't you? Up close… all of her. Tell me, Rui, what's the verdict?"

Ruixin's sanity shattered. Images of shared baths flashed unbidden—Jiarong's figure, her skin glowing under the water's sheen, her curves more pronounced, her posture confident. She bit her lip harder, cursing herself for even thinking about it.

"I don't know!" she whispered, turning her face away.

"Liar," Wang Xiao chuckled, his lips brushing her neck, sending shivers down her spine. His hand slid lower, teasing the soft curve of her waist. "You know. You've compared. Tell me the truth, Rui. Hers or yours?"

Ruixin trembled, "Hers…"

He smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Thought so," he whispered, his lips finding her exposed shoulder. "Her lips, too… they're fuller, aren't they?"

Ruixin's heart pounded. Her gaze flickered again to Jiarong, her delicate fingers tapping away at the desk, her soft, tempting red lips slightly parted in thought. She swallowed hard, her voice catching in her throat.

"Don't say things like that," she whispered, her tone almost pleading.

"But I mean it," Wang Xiao continued, his voice a devilish caress. "Don't you think they'd taste sweet? Maybe sweeter than yours?" His hand slid higher, teasing the edge of her skirt.

"Xiao… stop," she whispered again, her hands weakly pushing against him. Her face burned brighter, her body betraying her completely.

"You know, Rui…" he murmured, his fingers brushing against her thigh. "I wonder how soft she'd feel. Do you think she'd let me?"

Ruixin's voice cracked as she clung to his shirt. "No… She wouldn't…"

He smiled, tugging her closer until her body pressed against his. "Then I'll stay here," he murmured, his lips brushing hers. "Your lips are softer anyway."

His hand slipped under her skirt, his touch deliberate, slow. "And you're beautiful," he murmured, capturing her lips in a kiss that left her trembling.

Ruixin melted into him, her protests silenced by the heat of his mouth, her fingers clutching at his shoulders as though she might fall.

But somewhere in the back of her mind, her thoughts on Jiarong, unaware of the storm brewing mere feet away.

"Hm?"

Wang Jiarong had long abandoned her assignment, tossing it aside with a sigh. Pulling her hair into a loose bun, she held the rubber band between her lips before tying it tightly.

Her phone buzzed on the desk. Picking it up for a distraction, she noticed an old, unread message from a friend she hadn't spoken to in ages.

Life in the capital introduced you to all kinds of people. Women, especially, came from every background imaginable. Some were from wealthy families, polished and unshaken even in a bustling metropolis. Others, though, arrived from small towns or underdeveloped villages, burdened with an inferiority complex they couldn't shed.

Those girls often found solace in nightclubs. The first visit was innocent curiosity. The second, a convenient escape where no one judged them. And then, one visit blurred into another until the world of flashing lights and dark corners became their new reality.

Jiarong had a friend like that once. A party girl who spent her nights drowning in neon lights and music. She'd tried inviting her over once, but the answer had been a polite, definitive no.

Today, though, felt different. She couldn't keep Wang Xiao and Ruixin cooped up here forever. Maybe taking them out would do everyone some good. Besides, she was curious herself—about what the night might bring.

"Hey, guys—"

She turned around with the idea fresh in her mind, her lips already forming the invitation.

But the words died on her tongue.

Her body stiffening as her eyes landed on the indecent scene on her bed. Your journey continues on empire

Qian Ruixin was half-naked, her flushed skin glowing under the light. She was sprawled out, panting softly, one trembling hand covering her lips to muffle her sounds.

And her brother? Wang Xiao hovered over her, shirt halfway unbuttoned, his hands wandering.

Jiarong froze, her mind blank. For a moment, all she could do was stare, disbelief coursing through her veins.

Then she found her voice.

"Get out! — both of you! Right now!"

Her words slapped through the air like a whip, snapping both of them out of their trance.

"Uh…" Wang Xiao tried to form a explanation, but Jiarong wasn't interested.

"Out!"

Her tone left no room for argument. There was nothing to explain, and she didn't want to hear it.

Sighing, Wang Xiao stood up, the smirk on his face betraying his satisfaction. "Someday, I'll teach this girl a proper lesson," he muttered to himself, basking in his imaginary victory. Whistling smugly, he strolled out, far too pleased with himself.

Qian Ruixin adjusted her clothes quietly, her bare feet brushing against the cool floor as she prepared to leave.

"Rui," Jiarong's voice stopped her at the door.

"Hm?" Ruixin turned, her steps halting, her soft gaze meeting Jiarong's.

Jiarong's eyes flickered, unable to mask the conflict within them. Her gaze, almost unconsciously, on Ruixin's neck, the faint reddish marks there, and her lips—slightly swollen and far redder than before.

A strange sensation rippled through her chest, like a pebble breaking the calm surface of a still pond.

Shaking off the feeling, she composed herself, her voice steady yet carrying a subtle meaning. "You're not 'free' like him. Don't forget that... And please... don't drag him into any unnecessary trouble."

Her words echoed in the air, heavy and tinged with a sober tone.

Ruixin nodded faintly, her eyes lowering. Jiarong's words rang true—she had been wrong to let things continue like this. Even if she tried to forget how Wang Xiao had pulled her into his orbit, the truth remained: this could bring trouble, not just to him, but to herself as well.

But…

That was before.

"I'll take care of him."

Her voice was soft yet steady as she raised her head, her lips curving into a small, confident smile. Unconsciously, the smile transformed her face, like the first bloom of spring after a long winter—fresh, radiant, and brimming with quiet determination.

Even Jiarong froze, momentarily stunned. For a fleeting moment, she could see the younger Ruixin, mischievous and carefree, as though she had stepped out of a long-forgotten memory. Then, just as quickly, Ruixin turned and walked away, her bare feet barely making a sound.

"..."

Jiarong's expression darkened, frustration brewing in her chest. Why couldn't her cousin understand her meaning?

But Ruixin had understood everything perfectly.

She knew the risks, the complications, the tangled threads of their situation. But in her heart, she was certain—Wang Xiao could handle those. Her role was clear now: to focus on him, without hesitation, without restraint.

One cannot rewrite the past…

But the future? It was as beautiful as one dared to make it.