Deviant: No Longer Human

24th April, 2026!

As Wang Xiao approached the abandoned villa that served as his temporary stronghold, the air was thick with the night's unresolved mysteries. The villa's silhouette against the morning sky, seemed to echo with the secrets it housed.

Yin Yue's voice, usually so certain, carried a note of doubt. [I think there's something off about that flower girl.]

Wang Xiao's brows arched in mild surprise. "You took this long to figure that out? Is she the one we've been searching for?"

Yin Yue's response was tinged with skepticism. [I'm not sure... The energy traces we've been following are of a powerful hell spirit, but her... she's an.... I can't say for sure if they're the same.]

"Next time, we'll ask her directly," Wang Xiao resolved, his voice firm with determination.

As they reached the entrance of the villa, a mutual understanding settled between them. Yet, that resolve was abruptly shaken when Wang Xiao pushed open the door.

Grumble...

"..."

As he finally entered the villa, a deep, unsettling sound reverberated through the darkened halls of the villa, halting them in their tracks.

The atmosphere filled with the unknown, he found not a lurking spirit but a far more terrifying scene.

Anran, sat hunched over in the dim light, her figure small and solemn.

Her eyes, usually so bright, were shadowed with the unmistakable signs of fatigue and frustration. The sight of her, so dejected, momentarily pushed away the night's eerie events from Wang Xiao's mind.

"What happened to you...?" Wang Xiao's voice trailed off as he took in Anran's disheveled appearance, momentarily lost for words.

Anran, who had been lying listlessly with her head on the table, suddenly perked up, her movement reminiscent of a zombie returning to life. "You're finally back," she said with a weak chuckle, "Hehe...I was beginning to think I'd die here, just like this."

Wang Xiao's lips twitched in bemusement as he approached her, his eyes scanning her for any sign of illness. "What in the world happened to you? Did you eat something strange?" His tone was laced with both concern and suspicion.

Anran grasped his hand gently, shaking her head with exaggerated weariness. "No, that's just it.... I didn't eat anything....The kitchen is empty, and I don't even have any spare clothes. I've been recycling the same underwear..." Her voice was a mix of melodrama and genuine discomfort.

Wang Xiao, at a loss for words, just stared at her, his expression a mixture of confusion and bewilderment.

Anran, leaning into her act, let out a dramatic chuckle. "Well, at least now I can die in peace..." With that, she collapsed against him, her head resting on his shoulder.

Just then, a distinct aroma caught her attention, and her demeanor shifted instantly. 'So many women in a single night...?' she thought, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced up at Wang Xiao. But then, she noticed the cluster of flowers in his hand.

"Hey, are those for me?" she asked, her posture straightening as her eyes lit up with newfound energy.

Wang Xiao, taken aback by her sudden change in behavior, remained silent. 'Was she acting all this time?' he wondered, still trying to make sense of her dramatic mood swings.

Before he could respond, Anran snatched the flowers from his grasp and inhaled deeply, a look of bliss crossing her face. "They smell so refreshing... Ah, I feel like my energy's coming back."

Anran, still clutching the flowers, leaned forward impulsively and planted a kiss on Wang Xiao's cheek. "Thank you for the flowers," she said, her voice tinged with a playful melodrama. She continued her performance, her eyes glistening with mock tears that might as well have been borrowed from a crocodile. "This is the first time in my life someone has brought me something so nice..."

Her eyes, brimming with exaggerated sorrow, met Wang Xiao's, conveying a pitiful yet somewhat true look.

Wang Xiao's expression shifted from one of mild frustration to realization as Anran's antics inadvertently highlighted their actual need for supplies. "Go upstairs and wash your face. We're going out for a bit," he instructed, his voice tinged with a newfound sense of purpose.

Anran's eyes widened in surprise. "Heh? Really...?" Her tone was a mix of disbelief and excitement.

He nodded in affirmation, prompting her to jump into action. "Give me five minutes!" she declared enthusiastically, placing the flowers carefully on the table before hurrying upstairs.

Once she was out of sight, Wang Xiao murmured to himself with a wry smile, "Take ten... You'll be carrying the bags anyway..."

Yin Yue, [...]

Settling into a chair, Wang Xiao's gaze fell on the flowers left behind by Anran. He picked them up, bringing them closer to inhale their scent. "They are indeed refreshing," he murmured, a gentle sigh escaping him. The aroma of the flowers, simple and natural, provided a momentary relief from the complexities of his life.

Yin Yue's sudden interjection caught Wang Xiao's attention, pulling him from his brief moment of tranquility. "Wang Xiao... The flowers..."

"What about them?" he asked, his interest piqued.

Yin Yue continued, [They are refreshing.]

"Yes, so?" Wang Xiao wasn't sure where she was leading.

[It's been a day already, but why haven't they started showing signs of withering? There is something wrong.]

At her words, Wang Xiao's casual interest shifted to alertness. He picked up the cluster of flowers again, examining them more closely. "It is indeed as fresh as yesterday..." he murmured, a frown creasing his brow as he noted the unnatural vitality of the blooms.

Yin Yue's next instruction was firm, [Dissect them!]

Without a hint of surprise at her suggestion, Wang Xiao walked to the kitchen and retrieved a knife.

Returning to the table, he began to methodically dissect the flowers one by one.

His movements were precise, the result of years of handling more than just flowers with such tools.

As he worked, the room filled with a tense silence, broken only by the soft sounds of petals being carefully separated and stems being sliced. Wang Xiao's focus was absolute, his mind racing with possibilities.

What secret did these seemingly innocent flowers hold?

And how did it connect to the flower girl who had given them to him?