In the early morning, golden sunlight filtered like silken threads through the carved window lattice, softly spilling into Su Yaoyao’s room.

At the chime signaling the end of her video call, Su Yaoyao rose from her soft bed, stretched, and then walked gracefully to the door.

She gently pushed the door open. Instantly, a gust of fresh morning air, carrying the cheerful songs of birds, washed over her.

Lifting her gaze, she saw the courtyard bathed in bright sunlight. Augustine was standing under a blooming cherry blossom tree, the sun tracing a soft halo around his form.

His long hair cascaded over his shoulders, and he wore a loose sleep-robe casually. The hem fluttered gently in the breeze, giving him an air of languor and ease unique to the early morning.

A flicker of pleasant surprise lit up Su Yaoyao’s eyes. A smile unconsciously touched her lips as she approached him with light, cheerful steps.

She tilted her head back slightly, her eyes filled with mirth, and called out in a clear, bright voice, "Ting." The name sounded like the first birdsong of the morning—crisp and melodious.

Augustine had been enjoying the morning tranquility with his eyes slightly narrowed. Hearing the familiar, intimate voice, he stiffened for a moment before slowly turning around.

In the sunlight, his eyes were like deep lakes, shimmering with a light that was a mixture of surprise and joy. His voice held a hint of disbelief. "Are you calling me?"

Su Yaoyao blinked playfully, her eyes sparkling with mischievous light. "I am. You don’t like it? If not, I have plenty of others. Like Little Aoao, Sting, Ah Ting... See? Which one do you like best?" She tilted her head, looking up at Augustine with an expectant expression, the very picture of cuteness.

The corners of Augustine’s mouth slowly curved upward into a doting smile.

’These nicknames that no one would ever dare say to my face... but coming from Su Yaoyao, they seem to hold some kind of magic that softens my heart.’

A surge of joy welled up within him. ’Finally, Su Yaoyao isn’t calling me by that distant, respectful ’Your Majesty’ anymore.’

’Does this mean the invisible barrier between us has faded a little more? That our hearts have grown closer?’

He gazed at Su Yaoyao, his eyes full of tenderness and affection, and said slowly, "I like every one of those special nicknames. As long as it’s you saying them, they all make me happy."

A gentle breeze swept by, sending petals from the cherry blossom tree fluttering down like snow.

Augustine instinctively reached out, his slender fingers steadily catching a single petal.

He gazed at the petal in his hand, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes before a gentle smile graced his features.

He gently lifted his hand and carefully tucked the petal into Su Yaoyao’s hair. His gaze was liquid tenderness as he murmured, "So beautiful."

His direct, affectionate praise made Su Yaoyao’s cheeks instantly flush a shade of red as vivid and tantalizing as a newly bloomed cherry blossom.

She lowered her head slightly, feeling a sweet shyness.

Watching her shy display, Augustine felt love surge through him like a tidal wave. Unable to restrain the impulse any longer, he slowly lowered his head and kissed Su Yaoyao’s lips.

His kiss was gentle yet fervent, as if he were pouring all his affection into it. Su Yaoyao closed her eyes, losing herself in the sweet moment as her hands unconsciously wrapped around Augustine’s neck.

Just as the two were lost in their passionate kiss, the faint sound of sweeping shattered the perfect moment.

It was a servant in charge of sweeping the courtyard, who stood nearby with a broom in hand, a look of terror on his face.

Startled by the sudden noise, Su Yaoyao’s eyes flew open. Her face flushed an even deeper red, and in her panic, she forcefully pushed Augustine away.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, her eyes darting about in panic and embarrassment. "I... I’m going back to my chambers to check on Lucia," she stammered. With that, she turned and fled toward her chambers like a frightened deer.

The servant’s face went pale with fright. He immediately dropped to his knees with a THUD. "Your Majesty, forgive me! I have disturbed you and the Holy Female."

Augustine touched his own lips, savoring the memory of Yaoyao’s—so soft and sweet. A rare, gentle smile appeared on his face as he said softly, "You may leave."

As if he had received a royal pardon, the servant scrambled to his feet and hurried away.

Su Yaoyao hurried back to her bedchamber. The moment she crossed the threshold, she sensed the heavy atmosphere inside.

Every one of the servants wore a panicked expression, their faces shadowed with worry, making the mood exceptionally grim.

Her heart dropped. A sense of foreboding crept over her as she rushed to the nearest servant and asked anxiously, "What’s wrong? What happened?"

The servant looked as if he had just seen a ray of hope in the darkness. His eyes lit up as he said hurriedly, "Holy Female, for some reason, this Nine-tailed Fox is fiercely resisting our approach. When we tried to get close just now, it started struggling violently, and its wound burst open and started bleeding again."

Another servant beside him chimed in anxiously, "That’s right, Your Highness. We meant well. We thought that since she’s injured and weak, we should feed her some nutrient liquid, but she hasn’t drunk a single drop of water since she was hurt."

The servant was so anxious that beads of sweat dotted his forehead. After all, His Majesty had solemnly ordered them to take meticulous care of this fox. If anything went wrong, they couldn’t possibly bear the consequences.

Su Yaoyao’s heart clenched when she heard this.

’Lucia is already extremely weak from her injuries. How can she refuse to eat or drink at a time like this?’

Burning with anxiety, she rushed into the room as if her feet had grown wings, her voice filled with worry as she cried out, "Lucia!"

At that moment, the Nine-tailed Fox, normally so glamorous and seductive, was lying weakly on the bed.

Hearing Su Yaoyao’s familiar voice, her drooping ears twitched. As if mustering all her remaining strength, she slowly, weakly opened her eyes.

The usual spark in her eyes was gone, replaced only by deep exhaustion and weakness.

Su Yaoyao rushed to the bedside in a few strides. The moment she saw the blood seeping anew from Lucia’s wound, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, and her eyes instantly reddened with pain.

She sat gently on the edge of the bed, her voice as soft as a spring breeze, afraid of startling the fragile little fox. "Good girl, Lucia. Let’s bandage your wound first, okay? I’ll be gentle. I promise I won’t hurt you."

As she spoke, she picked up the nearby gauze with trembling hands. She reached out slowly, her every movement cautious, as if she were approaching a priceless and fragile treasure.