Deviant: No Longer Human

As the soft hum of the city life resonated in the distance, the riverfront villa, nestled on the bank of the Huangpu River, stood with understated elegance.

Its two stories held a quiet dignity, with the prime riverside location making it one of the most coveted properties in Shanghai.

The villa's interior was a sanctuary of warmth and light, the kitchen a heart that pumped the fragrance of home-cooked meals throughout the rooms.

Fu Yuxin, a young lady commanding the kitchen, moved with a practiced grace. Her delicate features were a testament to youthful beauty — her skin was fair and her eyes, framed by long, sweeping lashes, held a depth of warmth. Her hair cascaded in gentle waves, soft and dark, occasionally caught by the light to reveal hints of a deep, rich black.

It was as if she had stepped out of a portrait, her appearance effortlessly blending with the villa's serene atmosphere.

Though she was focused on her cooking, her attention was divided, constantly darting to the living area.

There, a small infant girl with tufts of black hair and cherubic cheeks babbled and played, her innocence a stark contrast to the river's timeless flow just beyond the walls.

In an instant of teetering balance, the infant wobbled, and Fu Yuxin's heart skipped a beat.

Whoosh!

With agility that betrayed her usual composure, she rushed from the stove to the child, catching her just in time, and letting out a sigh of relief.

"Zi'er, you're getting too troublesome lately. Can't you give me a break and stop giving me these mini heart attacks?" she whispered, a mix of relief and playful admonishment in her tone as she caught the little one.

Her eyes, momentarily wide with alarm, softened as she placed Zi'er gently back on the floor.

She was just about to pivot back to the stove when the entrance door clicked open. Chen Meili entered, the daylight from outside outlining her form as she stepped into the house.

Creak...

"Hm? ... Sister Meili, you've returned quite early. Is the bakery not receiving many customers today?" Fu Yuxin inquired, her voice tinged with surprise and curiosity, her eyelashes fluttering gently as she noticed Chen Meili at the entrance.

Chen Meili responded with a head shake, her lips curving into a warm smile as her gaze landed on the little one playing on the floor. She gracefully made her way to the couch and settled down, her eyes still following the child's antics.

"It's Chen Li again," she sighed, her smile tinged with exasperation. "He's been using the bakery as his hideout from school. I wonder how long it will be before Mr. Chen discovers it and gives him a piece of his mind."

Pfttt!

At this, a soft laugh escaped Fu Yuxin, the sound light and airy in the quiet room. "Are you hoping he'll get caught?"

Chen Meili's eyes twinkled with a mix of mirth and sternness. "He deserves a good scolding. But what about you, Yuxin? Have you thought about going back to university?"

The question prompted a bittersweet smile from Fu Yuxin. "I... don't think that's for me..." Her voice trailed off, carrying a weight of unspoken stories.

Chen Meili raised an eyebrow, a silent inquiry, urging Fu Yuxin to elaborate on her hesitance, opening the floor for a deeper conversation.

Fu Yuxin cast a protective glance toward the little girl playing on the floor, Zi'er, her unofficial charge. "Sister Meili, you can't pressure me like this. If I go off to university, who will look after Zi'er?" she argued, her pout evident even in her voice, signaling her resistance to the idea of further education.

"I could take care of Zi'er," Chen Meili offered generously, her tone gentle, trying to alleviate Fu Yuxin's concerns.

"And what about when I'm at university? Who will be here then?" Fu Yuxin countered, her point hanging between them, unanswerable.

"...", Chen Meili was momentarily silenced, the practicality of Fu Yuxin's question resonating in the room.

With a small, victorious smile playing on her lips, Fu Yuxin was about to elaborate further when their argument was abruptly interrupted.

*Boom!*

!!

Both women flinched, their hearts leaping into their throats. They whipped around, eyes wide with alarm, only to see Zi'er by the glass door, a look of stunned surprise on her tiny face after her collision.

"This child..." Fu Yuxin's sigh was a mix of affection and resignation as she swiftly closed the distance between them. Scooping Zi'er into her arms, she cradled the little girl, her movements tender and soothing.

Chen Meili couldn't help but smile at the sight, a soft warmth lighting up her eyes as she watched Fu Yuxin calming the child's tears.

Cradling Zi'er, Fu Yuxin turned to Chen Meili with a question that had been weighing on her mind. "Sister, why did we need to move into such a big house? The last apartment was new and more than spacious for the three of us, wasn't it?"

Chen Meili blinked, taken aback by the sudden query. She glanced at Zi'er, her eyes softening. "Isn't it for Zi'er's sake? She should grow up in a place where she's free to roam and explore, without any constraints. Besides, we're not exactly strapped for cash," she began, her voice carrying a light, almost teasing tone. But as she continued, her voice faltered, the atmosphere shifting.

"No amount of money can make up for her eye—"

Chen Meili abruptly stopped, the unfinished sentence hanging heavy in the air, filling the room with a solemn silence.

In a silent communion, Fu Yuxin and Chen Meili's gaze rested on the little girl, Zi'er, also known as Zhenxi, as she wriggled restlessly in Fu Yuxin's arms.

From her birth, Zhenxi had been showered with love and attention, with people dedicated to ensuring she would experience life's fullness.

Yet, ironically, she was barred from witnessing the world's visual wonders.

The two women had gone to great lengths, consulting various doctors in the hope of finding a cure for Zhenxi's blindness.

But the stark reality they faced was that her condition was untreatable—a genetic anomaly that medical science could not yet remedy.

Fu Yuxin tightened her embrace around Zhenxi, a protective gesture filled with unspoken love and a deep-seated resolve to provide the best for her, regardless of her condition.

The silence between them was heavy with the unasked question:

Was it fate's design that Zhenxi should live a life veiled in darkness?

_________