Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Guarded All Night

Su Yaoyao awoke to the chaotic and frustrating scenes of last night replaying in her mind.

She was filled with worry. In a fit of anger last night, she had kicked both men out. Augustine was her creditor for a huge debt; what if he went back on his word and didn’t give her that massive discount?

And Noah... He might seem sweet and docile on the surface, but once he got fixated on something, there was no telling what unexpected things he would do if he didn’t get his way.

At this thought, Su Yaoyao couldn’t help but sigh deeply in resignation.

She dragged her somewhat heavy body out of bed, tidied up her clothes, and approached the door with a sense of trepidation. She gently grasped the handle, took a deep breath, and slowly pushed the door open.

The scene before her made her freeze for a moment. Augustine was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and his eyes closed. The pure morning light draped over him like a gentle, golden veil, softening his usually stern features. He had less of an Emperor’s authority and more of a mortal’s tranquility.

Noah, on the other hand, was curled up on the floor, huddled tightly against the door. He must have been cold, as he unconsciously hunched his shoulders.

A wave of pity washed over Su Yaoyao as she looked at the shivering Noah.

She frowned slightly and sighed, then unhesitatingly slipped off her outer robe and gently draped it over him.

The robe still carried the warmth of her body, seeming to drive away the morning chill.

Noah seemed to sense the gentle gesture. He slowly opened his eyes, which were still heavy with sleep.

When he saw that it was Su Yaoyao, his eyes instantly brightened. "Sister," he called out softly. His voice was soft and drowsy, unique to the early morning, like a kitten that had just woken up.

Noah’s gentle call was like a crisp bell, startling the sleeping Augustine awake.

The moment Augustine opened his eyes, he saw Noah happily hugging Yaoyao. His brow furrowed, and jealousy instantly flared up inside him.

He strode over to Su Yaoyao’s side, pushed Noah away, took Yaoyao’s robe off of Noah, and placed it back on her.

"Don’t catch a cold."

His tone was laced with clear concern as he gently straightened the robe for her.

"Why did you two stand guard here all night?" Su Yaoyao’s gaze shifted between them, her eyes filled with a mixture of heartache for them, a hint of reproach, and a growing headache.

These two men—one a high and mighty Emperor, the other a stubborn and willful Prince of the Sea Clan—had both waited outside her door all night for her. The thought moved her, but also left her feeling helpless.

Noah clung to Su Yaoyao’s hand like a child craving affection. "Sister, I know you’re angry, so I waited here, hoping you’d forgive me." His eyes sparkled like stars, full of dependence on and affection for her.

His gaze seemed to tell the story of his all-night vigil of worry and persistence, causing her heart to soften.

"Oh, you... You always say you were wrong, but you never change." Su Yaoyao sighed softly. Her tone was chiding, but her eyes softened in spite of herself.

Hearing this, the corners of Noah’s lips turned up slightly. He knew Yaoyao had a soft spot for him.

"Because I really love you, Sister," he said, a strange light flashing in his purple eyes. It was a light that carried a hint of a nearly pathological obsession and undisguised possessiveness.

In his heart, Su Yaoyao had long since become an indispensable part of his life. He longed to possess her completely, a desire that burned within him like a raging fire.

"Sister, I really want to..." Noah leaned closer to Su Yaoyao, his lips parting. He had barely gotten a few words out when she, as if guessing what he was about to say, flushed red and hastily clapped a hand over his mouth.

’Oh, for heaven’s sake,’ she cried inwardly. ’I had a feeling he was going to say something mortifying. Please, the Emperor is right here! If Augustine heard Noah’s blatant confession, who knows what kind of ’war’ it would start.’

Augustine had been narrowing his eyes, staring intently at the ambiguous interaction between them. A whirlwind of emotions churned within him, and he felt deeply resentful. Watching Noah and Su Yaoyao be so intimate, jealousy gnawed at his heart like a viper.

"Yaoyao, I was indeed a bit impulsive last night. I shouldn’t have joked about the peace between our two peoples. That was my fault." Augustine’s voice was filled with remorse and self-blame. He gently took Su Yaoyao’s other hand, his movements soft and cautious, as if afraid of hurting her.

Then, he pressed her hand to his cheek, rubbing it gently, his eyes full of adoration and a desire to please. "If you’re really angry, you can hit me or yell at me, just... don’t refuse to see me. I really don’t know what I’d do without you by my side." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

His voice trembled slightly. Before the woman he loved, he had cast aside all his pride and authority, revealing his truest vulnerability.

Su Yaoyao looked at the two handsome men before her. One was the Second Prince of the Sea Clan, burning with a frantic, fiery love; the other was the lofty Emperor, now humbling himself before her.

Both stood before her, gazing at her with eyes full of love, the affection within them so deep it threatened to drown her.

The adoration from two powerful and passionate men left Su Yaoyao feeling both moved and flustered. Her mind was a complete mess, and she had no idea how to handle this complicated situation.

Her heart pounded in her chest like a frightened deer, a tangle of nervousness, shyness, and a dozen other emotions.

Blushing, Su Yaoyao suggested in a fluster, "Why don’t we have breakfast first?" At that moment, she desperately needed something to break the awkward and tense atmosphere and give herself a moment to breathe.

The two men nodded in agreement almost simultaneously. Although Augustine was brimming with jealousy, he knew now wasn’t the time to act on it. Noah, however, was overjoyed; as long as he could be with Su Yaoyao, he was happy to do anything.

The group moved to the dining room, where a sumptuous breakfast was already laid out on the table.

Augustine habitually took the seat at the head of the table, a long-standing habit that symbolized his supreme status.

Su Yaoyao, however, sat with Noah. This left a sour taste in Augustine’s mouth, but he kept his lips pressed tightly together and said nothing, merely casting glances their way from time to time.

The moment they sat down, Noah eagerly picked up his utensils, selected a delicate pastry, and held it to Su Yaoyao’s lips. "Here, Sister, have a bite. This is your favorite." He looked just like a child trying his best to please someone.