Deviant: No Longer Human

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"Oh, so you finally made up your mind to come in after standing outside for precisely five minutes and thirty-two seconds…"

As the door swung open, Qian Ruixin jumped, startled by Wang Xiao's voice. He sat casually at the desk, fiddling with something on his tablet as if he'd been waiting all along, utterly unfazed.

Qian Ruixin froze, eyes locked on him. His laid-back attitude was almost infuriating.

"You…" Her lips parted, but the words refused to leave, her frustration clear. Wang Xiao's grin widened. He loved nothing more than turning people's expectations upside down, savoring the little storms he left behind him.

He'd known she would come. Someone like her—desperate to control every last detail—wouldn't storm off or file complaints that might risk her own reputation. And, of course, he knew how people could cling to their little delusions of power.

"Xiao Wang, I need to talk." Qian Ruixin finally gathered herself, taking a deep breath to keep her composure. 'Remember,' she thought, 'you're in control here.'

"Oh, by all means, come in and sit." Wang Xiao motioned to the edge of the bed, not even glancing up as he continued sketching on his tablet. After a moment of hesitation, she took a few cautious steps, then perched awkwardly at the bed's edge, her suspicion barely masked.

Silence fell as he kept his focus on his drawing, barely acknowledging her presence. His calm indifference began to wear on her nerves, making the empty room feel more like a trap than a safe place to negotiate.

"Y-you… two nights ago—" Qian Ruixin's voice trembled, but before she could continue, Wang Xiao spun his chair to face her directly.

"Two nights ago, I was drunk and ended up sharing a bed with you, Rui. Is that what you're here for?" he said, his smile unsettlingly calm, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

Her heart clenched at his casualness, the lack of guilt that seemed to seep from every word. "You… you also forced me to drink," she whispered, the memory burning behind her eyes, vivid and inescapable.

"Oh, right." Wang Xiao gave a small nod, as if she'd merely reminded him of some trivial detail. "But who would have thought that my own cousin cherished me enough to save herself for me… even after marriage?"

Qian Ruixin's face flamed with shame and anger, his words slashing through her composure. How had he known something so personal, so private? She took a shaky breath, forcing herself to stay steady, to keep the fury simmering beneath her voice. "It doesn't matter… what you did was wrong—sinful, even. We…." Her voice faltered, the words twisted on her tongue, making it sound as if she were hinting something that should never have been.

Wang Xiao's smile only widened. "So, what now? Since things have come to this, how exactly do you plan to 'make it right'? Or would you rather I throw myself off a cliff for you?"

Her hands shook, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted nothing more than to stap him, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain she felt. But even as anger flared within her, a cruel truth was: what could she demand?

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Her dignity was tarnished, her marriage fractured.

What did she want him to do?

An apology would be hollow, a mere mockery of what he'd taken from her.

Finally, she took a breath, her voice soft and trembling. "I don't need your apology. An apology from you would be meaningless."

Wang Xiao raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Oh? So, no apology. Then tell me—what's the better idea?"

She fell silent, battling with the mix of helplessness and frustration boiling inside her. She could tear his life apart if she wanted—but the damage to herself would be just as ruinous.

And so she was left with only one desperate plea.

"I… I want you to never mention it to anyone again. Not a word."

A smirk flickered across his face. "And?"

Her jaw clenched. "And… you will apologize to me," she forced out, though she knew it would feel hollow.

"Anything else?" He leaned forward, enjoying her struggle.

Qian Ruixin looked down, hands clenched in her lap. "You'll apologize to me… in front of Aunt Zhilan," she said.

Wang Xiao's brow lifted in surprise, "You'd tell my mother already?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. But I will. And after that, you stay away from me, Xiao Wang," She steadied her voice, forcing a tone of cold resolve. "I don't want to destroy you over this, but if you try to meddle in my life again, I'll have no choice...."

Her thoughts wandered briefly to Lingling's advice—to keep things private and avoid further scandal—and to Liu Yanmei's urging to "discuss this quietly."

Even they couldn't know how deeply this betrayal had shattered her.

But their lack of support in pursuing it definitely discouraged her a bit.

Wang Xiao tapped his fingers on the desk, an air of indifference around him as he considered her demands. "Anything else?" he asked, as if he were closing a simple business deal.

For her, though, this was the only chance at preserving whatever was left of her dignity.

"..."

Qian Ruixin's fists tightened as she stared at Wang Xiao, struggling to keep her composure. She had expected him to be shaken, maybe even desperate—begging her to keep silent, to cover up what he'd done.

She'd even prepared herself to stay strong if he tried to twist her emotions.

But his gaze was calm, almost amused.

"Alright, since you're done making demands," Wang Xiao said, a smug smile curving his lips, "why don't we continue?"

"Continue what—" she began, but her words were cut off as he moved faster than she could react, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close.

"Mmmghhh!?" Her protest was smothered as he pressed his mouth against hers, his grip iron tight.

She tried to push him away, her hands clenched tight against his shoulders, but he forced her back onto the bed, the world spinning as she struggled, her mind shaking.

She gasped for breath, trying to scream, but he covered her mouth, her words muffled as her voice broke against his hold. "No—! Stop—!"

Her hands clutched at the sheets, nails digging in, her heart pounding in her chest. Every time she tried to twist away, he pulled her back, tearing at her defenses, ignoring her cries and resistance. Her clothes came apart in his hands, fragments falling to the floor as her body burned, her mind clouding with a helpless fury.

____

One Hour Later!

Qian Ruixin's breaths came raggedly as she lay there, exhausted, her voice raw from shouting, her body bruised from resisting.

She managed to raise her gaze to him, glaring, the anger in her eyes sharp, though her body lay motionless, numb from exhaustion. "You—"

But her words failed her, cut off as he grabbed her waist again, pulling her up.

"Wh—nghhh!" she whimpered, her voice caught in her throat as he held her close, the intensity overwhelming. She shuddered, the helplessness making her feel as though her own body were betraying her, every nerve alight with fatigue and pain.

The world blurred around her until, two hours later, her voice was hoarse, her breathing labored, as she gasped for air.

"Haaa… haaa…" she whispered, her voice nearly a whimper as she stared at him, her eyes red with tears that refused to fall.

Wang Xiao gave her a once-over, an unreadable expression on his face. "You still have some strength left," he said, worried.

He noticed the faint lines her nails had left against his skin.

"Stay… away…" Qian Ruixin's voice trembled, her body filled with fear as she watched him move closer. She tried to pull herself back, but her muscles wouldn't obey. Her legs shook, her skin felt red and swollen, as though her whole body was on fire, each heartbeat painful.

He brushed a hand along her cheek, forcing her gaze up to his. "Rui, you still don't understand. Either it's me… or no one."

Her face paled, her lips parting in a final protest. "—mmmgh!" But he silenced her again, pressing her back, the last glimmer of resistance fading from her tear-streaked face as the struggle left her.

____

Evening, 5 PM!

The sun was dipping low as Wang Xiao stood on the balcony, shirtless, smoking quietly as he watched the city below.

His spirit flickered, his energy tinged with satisfaction.

Behind him, the room was littered with broken objects—a vase, the television, shattered glass scattered across the floor from Qian Ruixin's desperate attempts to fight back.

He cast a glance over his shoulder at her sleeping form, curled up on the bed, the blanket pulled tightly around her, as if to shield herself from the world. She lay there, her body coiled and tense even in sleep, and he knew the tears would come the moment she awoke.

This one had been different.

Unlike Mei, who'd resisted only briefly before giving in, Ruixin had fought him with everything she had.

Her resistance had been fierce, and if he hadn't exhausted her to the point of collapse, she'd still be hurling anything within reach at him.

As he took a final drag on his cigarette, he made a decision and dialed a number on his phone.

"Hey." His tone shifted, softening as he spoke.