Deviant: No Longer Human

Yin Yue's observation brought a new perspective to the day's events. [Wang Xiao, the attack wasn't focused on you, they were more interested in attacking Anran,] she remarked.

Wang Xiao paused, a soft smile playing on his lips. 'You took that much time to figure it out? Wasn't that the reason I escaped?' he replied, his tone laced with a hint of amusement.

Yin Yue pressed on, [Oh, so it wasn't about keeping one of them alive?]

He shook his head slightly. 'The best way to ever sound credible while lying is to tell the half-truth,' Wang Xiao revealed, his voice calm and reflective.

Yin Yue's retort was tinged with humor. [Hehe, so I became the guinea pig for your social experiment now as well?]

Wang Xiao remained silent, his thoughts deepening. In truth, he used these mini-experiments on almost everyone he encountered, constantly testing and observing. But the attack on Anran had unsettled him more than he cared to admit. 'Did that old bastard actually trick me into taking over his responsibility?' he pondered, his mind racing with possibilities.

It was Wang Xiao's own story that had put Anran in the line of fire – a narrative he had crafted about someone wanting to kill her. Li Zhiming couldn't have anticipated that, could he?

The layers of deception and intrigue were complex, and Wang Xiao found himself questioning the true motive behind the attack.

Why target Anran?

Was the real target her, or her father, Li Zhiming?

But considering their relationship was kept a secret, it seemed unlikely that anyone knew about their familial connection.

Wang Xiao's realization sparked a new line of thought, his eyes reflecting the sudden clarity. "That hell spirit! It must have some connection with Li Zhiming and Anran!" he deduced.

Yin Yue's voice, ever present in his mind, questioned his logic. [How so?]

He considered the possibilities, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Not sure, but it's possible that since the hell spirit wasn't here for me, the next most influential person could be Li Zhiming. Or it might be a coincidence. But if we assume the hell spirit's target was Li Zhiming, it could indeed send people to attack Anran, especially if it knew about their father-daughter connection.

Right now, there are too many assumptions."

Yin Yue seemed to agree. [Your theory is plausible. For a hell spirit that strong, there are various ways to ascertain the blood relationship between two people.]

Wang Xiao nodded, still baffled by the unfolding situation.

The story he had fabricated was now aligning with reality in ways he hadn't anticipated. An unknown enemy was now a real threat to Anran.

The situation was evolving beyond his expectations, but he was no stranger to the unpredictability of life. He knew all too well that whatever could go wrong often did.

He stood up, his mind still processing the implications. The line between his fabricated story and reality was blurring, and now he had to navigate this new, more dangerous terrain.

Anran's safety was immaterial to him, but that of Li Zhiming was quite substantial, such figure of authority can only be controlled by limited means, which means now Wang Xiao had to look on both fronts.

Yin Yue's revelation added another layer of complexity to the situation. "Wang Xiao... I sense many presences lurking outside, but they're not attacking. They've been tracking you ever since you and Anran were on your way back to the villa, yet they didn't make a move. It seems like they've been warned not to attack her in your presence," she informed him.

Wang Xiao's expression turned serious. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier? If the person doesn't want to attack her near me, they must be aware of my abilities. That makes the hell spirit even more suspicious, considering it's likely the only entity capable of sensing my extraordinary nature."

Yin Yue interjected, [We shouldn't forget about the flower girl. She could also be behind the attacks.]

Wang Xiao paused, contemplating this new angle. "But why would she attack Anran and not me?" he pondered aloud.

Yin Yue half-jokingly suggested, [Maybe she's a hidden Yandere?]

"..."

Wang Xiao didn't entertain the notion, his face thoughtful as he shook his head. He made a decision to head upstairs and warn Anran. She needed to stay inside the house or only venture out in his company until they figured out what was happening.

For now, he had sent the photo of the attacker to Li Zhiming, asking him to identify the man or provide any information about something out of the ordinary.

As Wang Xiao ascended the stairs to Anran's room, his mind was preoccupied with the day's events and the potential dangers lurking outside. He opened the door without a knock, not fully prepared for the sight that awaited him.

*Click!*

The door swung open, and Wang Xiao was momentarily taken aback.

"Eh?" Anran, clad only in her underwear, stood frozen, holding a pair of soft, comfy clothes.

Her eyes blinked rapidly, registering surprise and disbelief at his sudden entrance. Then, as realization dawned, her face and neck flushed a deep red.

Whoosh!

In a blur of motion, Anran darted to the bed, diving under the blanket with only her head peeking out. "Hehe, I knew you were hungry for my body, I finally caught you! What are you pretending for, acting cold and indifferent all day long!" she teased, sticking her tongue out playfully. Her words were a facade, a humorous attempt to mask her embarrassment.

Wang Xiao, still processing the unexpected scenario, stood speechless at the doorway. 'What is she spouting about, even her breasts aren't that big,' he thought to himself, his mind still focused on the more pressing issues at hand.

Yin Yue, ever the instigator, chimed in, [Say it out loud, Wang Xiao! Let the world be on fire!]

*Gulp...*

Anran's nerves were on edge as Wang Xiao approached with a stoic expression. Her mind raced with possibilities, her earlier playfulness washed away giving way to uncertainty. 'He wouldn't actually get physical and beat me, right? Hehe...' she thought, trying to convince herself while inwardly feeling doubtful.

Putting on an awkward smile, tinged with tension and panic, she tried to diffuse the situation. "Hey, hey Wang Xiao... I was only joking... Why get violent over little things? Peace is the ultimate weapon, right? Let's make peace, shall we—"

Yin Yue's voice interrupted her thoughts with less-than-peaceful suggestions. [Peace was never an option, purge her!]

[Show her who is the man of the house!]

[Let's make her do acrobatics]

Amidst the chorus of voices, Wang Xiao remained focused on the real issue at hand.

He stopped in front of a slightly nervous Anran and said firmly, "Don't go outside from today without me."

"Huh?" Anran was taken aback, her mouth agape in surprise. 'Ehhhhhhhh?' Her mind was flooded with confusion and disbelief.

'Is this some kind of proposal?' she wondered, stunned and speechless. It was the last thing she had expected to hear.

As she looked at Wang Xiao, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and a newfound realization. 'He doesn't look bad...' she thought, her eyes scanning him from top to bottom.

Wang Xiao's confusion was evident as he tried to grasp the sudden shift in Anran's behavior. Her exaggerated reactions and nervous chuckles were uncharacteristic, even for her. "Proposal?" he echoed, clearly baffled.

Anran, misinterpreting his warning as some kind of romantic proposition, nodded vigorously, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and feigned enthusiasm. "Yes, yes! I accept it! Whatever the conditions may be!" she said, her head bobbing up and down as if agreeing to some unspoken pact.

"..."

Wang Xiao was at a loss for words. He stared at her for a few seconds, trying to make sense of the situation. Finally, he muttered, "... Why would I propose to someone like you with malnourished thighs?"

"..."

Anran sat in stunned silence, her expression a mix of shock and hurt. "M-Malnourished thighs...?" she repeated, her voice barely a whisper, as if trying to process the comment.

Yin Yue chimed in, her voice tinged with reproach. [Wang Xiao, you are too cruel.]

Wang Xiao defended himself matter-of-factly. 'How am I cruel? I didn't lie. Or are your thighs like hers, and you sympathize with her?'

Yin Yue, [...]

Wang Xiao nodded to himself, slightly amused by the situation. 'Another bamboo pole legs,' he thought.

Yin Yue remained silent, possibly pondering over Wang Xiao's unique way of handling situations.

That evening, Wang Xiao found himself inadvertently clearing the air about two misunderstandings.

It took him a good five minutes to explain to Anran what he really meant by his earlier comment. After listening to his explanation, Anran nodded in relief.

"So, you meant that, huh... At least I'm not the one with malnourished legs here..." she muttered, a small smile returning to her face.

Wang Xiao, sitting on the edge of the bed, peered into her eyes. Shaking his head gently, he clarified, "It has nothing to do with your legs. They are still the same."

Anran, "..."