Deviant: No Longer Human

"....What's gotten into you?"

Qian Ruixin's lips tightened into a thin smile, her tone now more serious. "It's just... he's been sick for so long. Maybe he should start enjoying life a little, you know? After everything he's been through....You know, like indulge before they get tied down."

"Hah," Jiarong scoffed, shooting her a sideways glance. "He's not like that." She paused, realizing with a twinge of uncertainty that she hadn't really spent much time with him since he'd been ill.

Her eyes narrowed mischievously. "But hey, since you're so concerned, why don't you set him up with your best friend? I'm sure he'd love to 'indulge' her instead."

Qian Ruixin's smile froze, her eye twitching ever so slightly. "My best friend?" She thought about it for a second, about her little loli best friend going hand in hand together with Wang Xiao, the thought of it made her blush in embarrassment.

It wasn't a bad idea.

But the idea of throwing her friend into an unknown pit--no.

Wang Jiarong's colleagues might have been pretty, but they were trouble.

"At least my best friend's decent, can't let her become a fertilizer for your brother..." she muttered, shaking her head.

Wang Jiarong raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what, my friends aren't?"

"I mean," Qian Ruixin said, with the most exaggerated shrug she could muster, "those nurses you work with are famous for a lot of... 'good' things. You really want your brother getting mixed up with them? He might end up with more than just a girlfriend--maybe a disease."

Wang Jiarong burst out laughing, catching a few odd looks from passersby. "Okay, fair point. But I don't think he planning on catching anything anytime soon," she replied, wiping a tear from her eye. "He's barely healed, and you're already matchmaking like he's about to start his own harem."

Qian Ruixin gave a small, calm smile, her voice soft yet teasing. "Well, someone has to make sure he gets some excitement in his life. If you're too busy with work, maybe I should step in."

Wang Jiarong let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "Please, if I left it to you, he'd be spoiled rotten. You are just too kind."

Qian Ruixin's expression remained composed, her smile barely shifting. "Spoiled?" she said gently. "I'd just help him enjoy life a little more, you are just too strict of a sister! And don't underestimate me--I could probably turn him into a perfect gentleman."

Wang Jiarong sighed, giving her a sideways glance. "You're not usually this involved in these things. What's gotten into you today?"

Qian Ruixin pressed her lips together for a brief moment, then spoke quietly, her eyes reflecting a hint of nostalgia. "It's not that. It's just... not everyone stays cute, you know? But he was. Remember how he looked when he was younger?"

"Cute? Him?" Wang Jiarong scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I'm drawing a blank on that. And don't you dare say that to his face, or his confidence will shatter."

Qian Ruixin blinked slowly, unbothered by her cousin's tone. "I don't see what's wrong with it," she murmured. "I wasn't talking about now... but back then, when I used to visit, seven years ago. He had this... amusing way about him.

Always taking things personally and holding little grudges. I found it... endearing."

Wang Jiarong raised an eyebrow, almost laughing. "Endearing? That little brat? You've got a strange definition of adorable."

Qian Ruixin's expression didn't change, remaining serene. "Compared to my little sister, he was easier to understand. Slightly evil and plotting, yes, but at least with a little brother, you know what to expect."

Wang Jiarong sighed again, though there was a small smile on her face now. "Well, let's just hope he's same 'endearing' as you remember."

Qian Ruixin nodded gently, "He's been through a lot. He's probably changed. But if you're worried, maybe you should start vetting potential girlfriends for him."

Wang Jiarong let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. "I'll pass on the matchmaking, thanks. That sounds like a headache."

"Suit yourself," Ruixin replied softly, her calm smile returning. "Just don't be surprised if he gets attention from the wrong kind of people."

Wang Jiarong gave her a playful nudge. "That's why I'll leave it to you. You can deal with that while I deal with the medical crises."

Qian Ruixin's quiet laugh was barely audible, her gaze thoughtful. "If he's still anything like the boy I remember, I'll manage just fine. Probably even set up with my family Lingling!"

She kept her calm smile, her voice still soft. "You know, if you're not careful, he might get into trouble on his own. You should keep an eye on him. After all, he's not a little kid anymore."

Wang Jiarong chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Trouble? What kind of trouble are you talking about?"

Qian Ruixin glanced at her with an unreadable expression, but there was a subtle glint in her eyes. "You know... girls. He's not a boy anymore, and now that he's healed, you'd be surprised how quickly some might get interested." She paused, her tone still measured. "Especially those who might want to... nurse him back to full health, so to speak."

Wang Jiarong gave her a playful nudge, laughing. "*Oh please, like any of those my horny friends would resist throwing themselves at him."

Qian Ruixin raised an eyebrow slightly, her voice even softer. "And would that really be a problem? I mean, he's grown. You wouldn't want him to stay... innocent forever, right? He is a man, not a woman like us.

A man's world is different; I shouldn't have to explain that to you, right? He doesn't have his friends to push him forward anymore..."

"What are you suggesting?" Wang Jiarong asked, half-amused, half-scandalized.

"I'm just saying," Qian Ruixin replied calmly, folding her hands in her lap, "he could probably use some experience. Wouldn't want him to end up too shy around women. It might be good for him to... explore."

Wang Jiarong shook her head, laughing. "You're really suggesting I just let him loose with my friends? You know their reputation."

Qian Ruixin smiled faintly. "Well, I wasn't talking about your 'friends' specifically," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "But, if you're that concerned, maybe you should step in before someone else does."

Jiarong's face turned red, her eyes widening. "Excuse me?! You want 'me' to--"

"I meant introduce him to someone suitable," Qian Ruixin cut in, her calm demeanor never wavering, though the hint of amusement in her eyes was clear. "You know, before he starts making those decisions for himself. Once men start thinking with their... other brain, it's hard to control them."

Wang Jiarong groaned, covering her face with one hand. "Why are you like this today?"

Qian Ruixin blinked innocently. "Just looking out for him. He's my little brother as well, after all." Her lips twitched ever so slightly. "But he's not so little anymore, right?"

"Stop it," Wang Jiarong muttered, though a laugh slipped through despite herself. "You've barely been married and already turned into this? What happened to the innocent Ruixin I used to know?"

Qian Ruixin pressed her lips together, her expression calm but her tone carrying a hint of bitterness. "What marriage? It's just a change of houses... nothing more."

Wang Jiarong blinked, sensing the shift in her cousin's mood. "Rui..."

Qian Ruixin sighed softly, her voice dropping. "He's never home. Our wedding night never even happened. First, that attack, and then all the disasters that followed... It feels like fate doesn't want us together." She paused, folding her hands in her lap. "And don't even get me started on my mother-in-law.

It's less a marriage, more like... I've just been moved from one house to another. Nothing's changed."

Wang Jiarong's expression softened, the teasing tone completely gone. "I didn't know it was that bad..."

Qian Ruixin gave a small, almost resigned smile. "It's not terrible. Just... not what I expected. I guess I thought marriage would be about something more... Instead, it feels like I'm stuck in a never-ending performance--smiling, playing the role of the perfect daughter-in-law while everything else remains...

Same."