At those words, the Crown Prince froze for a moment.
His gaze flickered away, and he hedged, "I..."
Seeing him evade the question, Cui Rong set down his chopsticks, looking faintly disappointed. "Never mind. If Your Highness finds it difficult-"
"I don't!" The Crown Prince abruptly sat down.
He did not want to disappoint the man before him.
He looked at him, his eyes flickering and a trace of nervousness crossing his face. "I... I've never shared a meal with anyone before... What should I do?"
Cui Rong served him a bowl of shredded chicken congee and moved it in front of him along with the fish he had deboned. "Please eat, Your Highness."
Looking up to find him sitting motionless in a daze, he gently prompted, "Your Highness?"
"Mm."
Only then did the Crown Prince pick up his spoon and begin eating slowly.
He whispered, "Thank you, Little Uncle..."
Cui Rong quietly watched him eat, the corners of his lips unconsciously lifting.
When his gaze fell on the prince's thin frame, his brows knitted slightly.
His own usual meals were fairly light.
Next time, he would have to bring more meat.
Chicken drumsticks or duck legs, for instance. He had seen how much children liked those.
The Crown Prince... would probably like them too.
So he thought.
The Crown Prince kept his head lowered, eating carefully and quietly, as though savoring the finest delicacies.
His eyes grew warm.
This was the best meal he had eaten in all his years.
Little Uncle... was so good to him.
When he happened to look up, he realized Cui Rong had been serving him food all this time without eating a single bite himself. He hurriedly said, "Sorry, Little Uncle, I-"
"Just eat. Don't worry about me," Cui Rong said, silencing him