Chapter 176: Chapter 176: "Sandwich Cookie

A blush instantly bloomed across Su Yaoyao’s cheeks, as radiant as the evening glow, and her eyes flashed with shyness and panic.

Augustine’s directness left her at a loss, and she subconsciously bit her lower lip.

That simple motion made Augustine’s eyes darken, and he slowly drew closer to Su Yaoyao’s lips.

Su Yaoyao’s heart suddenly hammered in her chest. She could feel Augustine’s warm breath on her face as an unnameable emotion began to permeate the air.

Slowly, Augustine’s lips drew closer, full of a gentle yet undeniable dominance, and softly covered Su Yaoyao’s. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

In that instant, Su Yaoyao’s mind went blank. It was as if the entire world had stopped spinning, leaving only Augustine’s intoxicating kiss. She instinctively closed her eyes.

However, just as the two were lost in the moment, Lucia began to struggle in Su Yaoyao’s arms, letting out a series of urgent yelps.

As if waking from a dream, Su Yaoyao suddenly remembered she was still holding Lucia.

Startled, she instinctively tried to push Augustine away, her protests muffled against his lips.

But Augustine refused to stop. He held Su Yaoyao tightly, showing no sign of letting go.

He only released her lips reluctantly when her struggles grew more intense, but he had no intention of stopping.

His breath came in short pants as he leaned close to her ear and whispered coaxingly, "We were already interrupted this morning. This time, let me kiss you to my heart’s content, Yaoyao."

The words had barely left his lips when he kissed Su Yaoyao again, his mouth claiming hers with possessive force. This kiss was hotter, deeper, as if to make up for the earlier regret.

His arms wrapped around Su Yaoyao, wishing he could meld her into his body.

He paid no mind to Lucia, who was unable to take human form, completely engrossed in his intimacy with Su Yaoyao.

Under Augustine’s intense onslaught, Su Yaoyao gradually stopped struggling. She found herself involuntarily responding to his passionate kiss, lost in the sensual atmosphere.

Squashed between Su Yaoyao and Augustine, Lucia—now the unwilling filling in a human sandwich—saw his once-lively eyes fly wide open, becoming like two round, crystalline gold gems.

His fur bristled with rage, making him look like a small firecracker with a lit fuse. An aura of pure fury radiated from him.

And how could Lucia not be furious? Just moments before, he had been snuggled affectionately against Su Yaoyao, enjoying a cozy moment that was theirs alone. But Augustine’s sudden move had shattered everything.

Now, he was pinned tightly between them, unable to move an inch. The stifling frustration felt like being a wild animal trapped in a tiny cage.

’So this is His Majesty the Emperor? Hmph!’ Lucia thought resentfully, his little face a mask of fury and contempt. ’How shameless!’

He cursed him again and again in his mind, his little paws swiping at the air as if that could somehow release his burning rage.

He glared daggers at Augustine, wishing his gaze could actually carve holes into the man’s body.

’Hmph, I’ll remember this! I swear I’ll get my revenge!’ he vowed silently. Lucia’s chest heaved with fury. His nine fluffy tails thrashed about irritably, stirring the air with a WHOOSH, as if announcing his rage and displeasure to the entire world.

Lucia’s expression changed in a flash. The anger on his puffed-up face was instantly replaced by an utterly pitiful look. His round eyes welled up with tears, glistening like a pair of crystal dewdrops and shining with a heart-wrenching light.

Then, his little mouth trembled and he began to whimper. The sound was so pathetic, as if he had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.

Su Yaoyao, still dazed from Augustine’s kiss, felt her heart clench at the sudden sound of crying.

Almost instinctively, she shoved Augustine away without a second thought.

Su Yaoyao’s gaze immediately flew to Lucia, her eyes filled with concern and heartache.

With tears welling in his eyes, Lucia looked up at Su Yaoyao, the very picture of misery.

His small body trembled as he stared at Su Yaoyao with wet, unblinking eyes. His gaze seemed to plead, "Yaoyao, it hurts so much." The look was a sharp arrow that shot straight into Su Yaoyao’s heart.

"Oh no, I must have pressed on his wounds!" Su Yaoyao cried out, her voice filled with self-reproach and worry.

As she spoke, she cradled Lucia carefully, her movements as gentle as if she were holding the most precious treasure in the world, terrified of hurting him again.

The faint smile on Augustine’s face instantly froze. His brows knitted together, forming deep furrows.

He knew perfectly well that he’d been careful. He’d left plenty of room; there was no way he could have crushed Lucia.

’But this little fox...’ Augustine narrowed his eyes, a flash of understanding in their deep-set gaze. He knew the little fox was just putting on an act.

Su Yaoyao, however, was completely oblivious to Lucia’s little trick.

Her thoughts were consumed by the network of wounds covering Lucia’s body, and her heart ached for him.

The memory of Lucia’s injuries was still vivid, the ghastly wounds seeming to float before her eyes. Now, his cries felt like an invisible hand squeezing her heart, making it ache terribly.

"Lucia, where does it hurt? Let me see," Su Yaoyao cooed, carefully examining his wounds, her eyes filled with anxiety and pain.

Watching this scene, Augustine couldn’t help but feel a frustrated helplessness. There was nothing he could do about the little fox.

Lucia let out a few more pitiful cries, his voice so frail it seemed a gust of wind could carry it away. Each sound made Su Yaoyao’s heart twist tighter.

While crying out, he took advantage of Su Yaoyao’s rapt attention to turn his head slightly. With a sly glint in his little eyes, he shot Augustine a look of utter triumph.

His gaze was filled with cunning and provocation, a silent declaration. ’See that? I’m the one Yaoyao cares about most right now.’

Augustine saw every one of Lucia’s subtle, scheming little movements.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched the corners of Augustine’s lips. He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in his deep eyes. ’A cunning fox, indeed,’ he thought to himself. ’And quite practiced at these little games.’