Deviant: No Longer Human

Chapter 654 Grand Reveal!



1st December, 11:00 AM

The sun hung lazily in the sky as Xinyue Zhilan stepped into the house, her navy-blue suit impeccable despite the chaos of the past few weeks. The faint shimmer of sweat on her brow betrayed the pace she'd been keeping. But at least the cases were over.

They'd won. Not one, but two lawsuits—clean sweeps. Evangelion Technologies surrendered without a fight. It should've been a victory, but her instincts told her something was off

Of course, she had no clue her darling son, Wang Xiao, had already broken Evangelion's CEO. Not just figuratively. Literally. The once-proud woman now groveled at Wang Xiao's feet, calling him "Master" in private.

This was just the latest in Wang Xiao's series of power plays. Evangelion had been linked to Renji, a long-dead schemer who fancied himself the region's puppet master. Renji's ultimate plan? An army of juiced-up soldiers capable of toppling anyone—including Wang Xiao.

Too bad Renji had been stupid enough to get tangled with the Skin Walkers. Those freaks had no leash and no sense. When their experiments went sideways, Renji tried to cut ties, but Wang Xiao was faster. One call to Ji Xuehong, and Renji's head rolled before he could say, "Let's negotiate."

Now all the old "Guardians" were gone. Their positions? Filled by Wang Xiao's people. Why let outsiders run the show when he could install loyal dogs instead? Ruthless? Sure. But practical.

_____

Zhilan sighed as she slipped off her shoes, the cool marble floor soothing her sore feet. Home. Quiet. Peaceful.

Or so she thought.

"What did you just say?"

Her voice slapped through the air like a whip, making Wang Xiao glance up lazily from his throne on the sofa. In his lap sat Zhenxi, the shy little girl from the neighbor's house.

She clung to him, her small hands curling into his shirt, while his arm rested casually around her like she belonged there.

"I said," Wang Xiao drawled, as if explaining the obvious, "she's moving in with us."

Zhilan's eyes narrowed. She pointed a trembling finger at him, then at Zhenxi. "What nonsense are you spouting now? Stop acting like this girl is your—"

"She's my daughter," Wang Xiao interrupted, his tone light. Too light.

Zhilan froze mid-step. "… Your what?"

"My daughter," Wang Xiao repeated, his lips curving into a faint smile.

For a second, Zhilan just stared at him. Zhenxi? His daughter? How? She wasn't stupid—she'd seen the girl hanging around the for months, always with that female caretaker. And Wang Xiao? He was nineteen! Even if you worked the math backward, this claim was ridiculous.

Wang Xiao met her disbelief with infuriating calm. "Yes."

"Yes?" Zhilan's voice rose. "That's all you have to say...?"

Across the dining table, Wang Xueying was barely holding it together. Her chopsticks trembled as she fought back laughter, while Wang Mei silently sipped her tea, pretending to be invisible.

"Mother," Wang Xiao said, slowly and clearly, as if addressing a particularly dense child, "she's my daughter. She'll be staying here from now on. Simple."

Zhilan's brain short-circuited. "Your—! When—HOW?! What are you even—"

Wang Xiao smirked, leaning back slightly. "Well, you see, when a man and a woman—"

"SHUT UP!" Zhilan's face turned crimson as she cut him off. "Xiao Wang, stop spouting this nonsense. I'm not in the mood for your jokes today."

She spun on her heel and marched upstairs, muttering curses that were probably not fit for Zhenxi's innocent ears.

Wang Xiao blinked. That… wasn't the reaction he'd expected.

"Pfft..."

Xueying's stifled laughter finally broke free. She slapped the table, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Oh my god! That's it? That's your 'grand reveal'? Brother, I've seen tofu crumble with more drama!"

Wang Mei, composed, hid a small smile behind her teacup. "She barely even yelled at you."

Wang Xiao's gaze darkened, though there was no real heat in it. "What are you laughing at?"

"You!" Xueying gasped, her voice trembling with joy, "You always act like the world revolves around you, and Mother didn't even take you seriously! She just left! I can't—this is gold."

Wang Xiao leaned back against the sofa, one hand absentmindedly stroking Zhenxi's hair. "She'll come around," he said, as if it were inevitable.

"Oh, sure," Xueying said, wiping tears from her eyes. "Right after she figures out which broomstick to smack you with first."

Wang Xiao ignored her, though a faint smile bloomed. His mother's reaction had been… unexpected. Usually, when he spoke, people didn't just listen—they obeyed.

But this? She hadn't even argued.

He glanced down at Zhenxi, who was looking up at him with those wide, trusting eyes.

Whatever. She was here now. And if anyone had a problem with it, they'd find out the hard way why his name sent shivers down spines.

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"Hmmm… Daddy, it seems she doesn't like me," Zhenxi muttered, her gaze on Xinyue Zhilan's retreating figure.

Her big eyes blinked innocently, but the flicker of amusement in them betrayed her true feelings—she didn't care all that much.

Wang Xiao smiled, leaning back lazily. "She's just adjusting. Women take their time to warm up to things, you'll see."

Zhenxi's lips twitched. Then, covering her mouth, she giggled. "When will Mother move in with us?"

"..." Wang Xiao's eye twitched. This brat. Her voice was sugary sweet, but there was no way she wasn't doing this on purpose.

Still, he kept his composure. He wasn't planning on staying permanently with Zhenxi anyway—she'd stay wherever she liked for now. He'd deal with his mother later, easing her into the idea of her granddaughter's existence. One step at a time. He couldn't have her collapsing when he eventually introduced the others.

And Fu Yuxin?

Wang Xiao's smirk widened. That woman was already simmering over this "shared custody" nonsense. Another tantrum waiting to happen. But really, with a queue of angry women in his life, what was one more?

Zhenxi tilted her head, studying him. The moment his smirk deepened, she knew exactly what he was doing.

"Daddy, you're plotting something again, aren't you?" she asked, her small shoulders shaking with barely restrained laughter.

Wang Xiao raised a brow. "What do you think?"

"Of course you are!" Zhenxi laughed openly now, as if conspiring with him was the most natural thing in the world.

"Just wait here… I'll be back in a few minutes with your… grandma." Wang Xiao suddenly stood up, setting Zhenxi down on the sofa with ease.

The rest collectively paused. Everyone's eyes were on him, curiosity practically radiating off them. What was he planning now?

Wang Xiao's steps were unhurried as he adjusted his cuffs, exuding an air of casual authority. Of course, he was going to meet Xinyue Zhilan. These things were better handled with a cool head. He wasn't a child who got frustrated over a little resistance.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Under three pairs of curious eyes, he climbed the stairs to the second floor. Each step echoed softly, carrying a faint rhythm of his calm but deliberate stride.

Arriving outside his mother's room, he paused. For a brief second, he considered knocking.

But then again—why bother? What could she possibly be doing in there that wasn't just… being his mother?

Click!

Without hesitation, he opened the door, stepping in like a man about to deliver a royal decree.

"Mother," he said, his tone calm but commanding, the kind of voice people instinctively obeyed—except, apparently, her.@@novelbin@@

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