Deviant: No Longer Human

Xue Hanqin had casually reviewed his background before coming here. Now, she realized why Xinyue Zhilan's face had stiffened whenever her son was mentioned. A shadow of awkwardness crossed her elegant features. "...If you ever need anything in future," she finally said, voice softer, "you can ask me for help. The country doesn't treat it's veterans badly." An NSA agent might not compare to her status, but she still made the offer. Whether it was guilt, sympathy, or something else entirely—even she wasn't sure. There was something unsettling about this man, a presence she couldn't quite place. Instinctively, she felt the need to reassert her authority. Wang Xiao, however, didn't hesitate. "Aunt Xue, there is something I'd like you to handle for me." Her brows lifted slightly. She had said it on a whim, not expecting him to actually take her up on it. "What is it?" Xue Hanqin leaned slightly, a trace of curiosity in her voice. "You don't know, but your aunt is very powerful. As long as you weren't at fault, I can get it done." Wang Xiao had been staring ahead, focused on the road. But now? Now, he finally turned to look at her. His eyes locked onto hers—calm, deep, confident. Xue Hanqin's fingers tensed slightly. Not from his words, but from him. For the first time, she felt it. Pressure. Not the kind that came from rank, status, or wealth...But the kind that ignored all of that. The kind that stripped her bare with just a look. Xue Hanqin's breath froze slightly. A seasoned judge. A woman who had presided over countless high-profile cases, stood before men who wielded both power and brutality— Yet, this young man made her uncomfortable. "I ran over someone with my car a week ago." The words were spoken casually—too casually. Xue Hanqin blinked. There was no hesitation. No guilt. Just a statement of fact. Her fingers curled slightly over her handbag. For a split second, she expected shock to flood her system. But instead? Her mind instantly processed the information, calculating. "Where did it happen?" she asked, voice steady. "Did someone file a case against you? Do you have the court number?" Wang Xiao grinned. No shock. No moral preaching. Just business. This woman… is she really Zhilan's friend? "It's nothing," Wang Xiao said, tone casual, almost bored. "A mother was out with her four-year-old daughter. I accidentally hit them. I heard she was a widow… No one to file the case on her behalf." Each word was spoken with a relaxed ease, yet the weight behind them pressed against the air like a slow-moving guillotine. Xue Hanqin's fingers tensed, her heart skipping half a beat. An innocent widow. A child. Did this bastard just admit to killing them? Her throat felt dry. The warmth in the car seemed to dim, the silence stretching too long, too taut—until— "Haha… Aunt, I was just kidding." Just. Kidding. Xue Hanqin's expression darkened. Her frown dug deeper than ever before. Her lips parted—disgust, disbelief, and irritation mixing in a cold, cutting voice. "That was not a good joke at all." Whatever thin respect she had left for him? Gone. Buried. Labeled. Borderline weird. No—more than weird. Something wasn't right with this guy. Meanwhile, Wang Xiao, who had initially seen her as just another charming older woman with power, confirmed a few things in his mind. She wasn't normal. The way she reacted—not with horror, not with outrage, but with calculated disapproval—set off alarm bells in his head. Wang Xiao's smile deepened. Interesting. From the moment she approached his car, he hadn't sensed her presence at all—an anomaly that set off silent alarms in his mind. Yet, the moment she sat inside, everything felt normal again. What the hell was going on? _____ Back at the Villa! The dining hall was set, plates were arranged, fine wine poured—on the surface, it was a peaceful family dinner. But beneath the polished etiquette, tension simmered, waiting for the slightest spark to ignite disaster. "Luo Yang, are you in university?" Xinyue Zhilan's voice carried across the dining table, casual yet probing, instantly drawing all eyes to the young man sitting beside Xin Ruoling—the dark-haired girl who, despite the sudden attention, remained composed, her posture elegant, exuding quiet confidence in her choice. She was Xin Hanqin's niece, and while Xinyue Zhilan had posed the question just to ease the tension, it only served to highlight the awkwardness. The reason? Xin Weisheng—Xin Hanqin's older brother—and his wife, Liu Zixuan, sat on one side of the table. Xin Weisheng, a middle-aged man with a broad frame and an easygoing smile, seemed at ease on the surface, but a subtle stiffness in his posture betrayed his discomfort. Meanwhile, Liu Zixuan, a woman of refined beauty and noble bearing, maintained an air of composure befitting a lady of high society, though her perfectly held chopsticks trembled ever so slightly. Wang Xiao, watching the scene, had just learned an unexpected detail. Xin Weisheng wasn't an official. No—he was the personal chef of the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. A prestigious role, certainly, but not the political powerhouse he had anticipated. As for Xin Ruoling, she owned a fine-dining restaurant in the capital, though it was more of a passion project than a business venture. Her mother, however? Wang Xiao had no clue about her background—a mystery. The Unexpected Twist! Originally, this dinner had been arranged for Xin Hanqin to introduce her niece to Wang Xiao, but things had taken a sharp turn. An "accident" had changed everything. Xin Ruoling had gotten a boyfriend, and Xin Hanqin had only discovered the relationship a week ago—through another accident. A terrorist attack at the Supreme Court. Luo Yang had spotted a suicide bomber before he could detonate, neutralized the threat, and saved Xin Hanqin's life, along with many others. From that moment on, she had no choice but to acknowledge his relationship with her niece. Not just acknowledge—but develop a good impression of him. And now, both families had come together to formally discuss things, expecting awkwardness. Yet somehow… It was even more awkward than expected. Especially because Wang Xiao himself sat between Wenxi and Yue — his two "girlfriends." So now… both sides were already matched!? What the hell was going on? Sensing the stifling atmosphere, Xinyue Zhilan had casually asked about Luo Jiaheng's education, hoping to shift the focus. But Xin Weisheng coughed sharply, his face stiff. Xin Hanqin's smile faltered, turning slightly forced. The silence was telling. Across the table, Wang Xueying was already eyeing Wang Xiao, as if sensing an impending show, her lips curling into the faintest smirk. Luo Jiaheng noticed this exchange—and took the moment to assert himself. He smiled—confident, unfazed. "Auntie," he replied smoothly, "I dropped out a year ago and entered society directly." A sharp pause. "Oh." Xinyue Zhilan realized she had just stepped onto a landmine. "Well," Luo Yang finally said, dragging out the pause just long enough to let everyone stew in their own assumptions. "I may have dropped out, but I've built a small business worth about 500 million. Our investment company deals in various industries—jewelry, real estate, entertainment." A statement made casually, but the weight of it sank into the room like a slow-rolling avalanche. "…" "…" Silence. Luo Yang smirked. Exactly the reaction he wanted. The mention of jewelry? That was a strategic nuke. What woman didn't like it? And look at the table—wasn't it packed with beautiful women? He had come here just to back up Xin Ruoling, in case her family tried to pressure her. But now? Now he was walking away with more than he bargained for. Yet just as he was basking in the unspoken admiration— His 'Clairvoyant Eyes' activated. For a brief moment, his vision shifted, the world peeling away layer by layer—until— His face turned ugly. What. The. Fuck. On the other side of the table, Xin Weisheng, completely unaware of Luo Yang's internal crisis, let out a hearty chuckle. "Actually, Xiao Yang is too humble. His parents are just farmers, but in the past year, he built everything himself. And let me tell you, his jadeite skills?" He shook his head in admiration. "Those so-called industry experts? He's crushed every single one of them." The old bastard Huang, who spent decades bragging about his experience, had been humiliated in public. Luo Yang had shattered his pride like a cheap knockoff jade bracelet. Xin Weisheng couldn't have been prouder—his future son-in-law had given him enough face to last three generations. But Luo Yang wasn't listening anymore. His eyes flickered toward the two bodyguards standing behind him. He leaned slightly, voice low. "Catherine. You notice anything off about the people here?" The black-haired woman barely spared the room a glance before tilting her head slightly. Her face was blank, but her dark eyes curved with amusement, like a cat watching a trapped mouse. Beside her, Katherine—the opposite. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed, her lips curled in a faint smile, but her gaze was cold, hollow, as if she had already killed Luo Yang a hundred times in her mind. Neither of them looked remotely Chinese. Catherine's gaze drifted lazily before she lifted a delicate finger, first pointing at a white-haired girl, then at the blonde-haired Yue. "Boss, which one?" she asked, voice teasing. Luo Yang hesitated, suddenly cautious. "The blonde. Anything wrong with her?" Catherine barely blinked. "No weapons. No immediate threat. But you should be careful. Those two?" She exhaled, as if recalling a headache. "They were our clients before. Constantly running around unauthorized, causing trouble. Eventually, we had to terminate their contract." Luo Yang's brow arched. "Oh?" Now that was interesting. "Tell me more." Catherine smirked, knowing exactly when to deliver a bombshell. "Boss," she said slowly, savoring the moment, "unless you're in the mood to have the entire Russian Mafia hunting you down… you should probably drop whatever you're thinking." Luo Yang's smirk froze. "Russian Mafia?" Hold up. He had only been interested in Yue for… cientific reasons. Ever since he had awakened his 'Clairvoyant Eyes', he had developed a very healthy habit—whenever he met a beautiful woman, he'd take a peek. X-ray vision wasn't just for jade. It was for appreciating art. A tight waist? Perfect curvature? Natural or factory-made? He could tell. But this time? Nothing. He couldn't see through them. This wasn't just some regular blonde-haired beauty—this was a former client of Blackwater, a Western private military company that had seen more bloodshed than most warzones. And now he was sitting at the same table as her? Damn. Luo Yang exhaled, setting the thought aside for now. His special eyes weren't just for ogling. They allowed him to see through jade, making him an unrivaled master in the art of stone gambling. But wealth was just the first step. His real goal? To stand at the peak of the f***ing world. After failing the college entrance exams, he had been lying in bed, contemplating his useless existence. Then one day, he woke up with these eyes. And just like that, his world flipped upside down. Now? He was going to climb higher than anyone could imagine. "…" Across the table, Wang Xiao watched the entire exchange, his lips twitching violently. Not because he hadn't noticed Luo Yang. Oh, he had. Not just noticed him—noticed his ability. And at this moment? He wanted to curse the f***ing heavens. "DAMMIT." 'WHO THE HELL IS WRITING NOVELS IN REAL LIFE? THIS IS TOO F***ING CLICHÉ!' The worst part? Luo Yang was actually one of those people who used to binge-read these kinds of novels. That was what got him into jade gambling in the first place. Back then, he never thought he'd actually gain a supernatural ability. But in a world filled with Aether, anything was possible. And this? This was just the beginning. . . . [A/N: Chill the f** out, guys. Not dragging this nonsense any longer—trust me, the real star of the show is Xin Hanqin. You're not ready for what's coming. Luo Yang? Meh. Just threw him in 'cause I was bored.]