There was no response.
Shen Yangge's brows knitted so tightly they almost formed ripples. He lowered his eyes and noticed something wrong with the hand cupping his chin. Veins bulged on its back, as though its owner was forcing himself to keep his touch gentle, struggling not to hurt him.
The thunder came again. At first, Shen Yangge had thought little of it, but it kept growing louder, with other sounds mixed in. His heart suddenly lurched.
He caught Chu Xuanzhen's hand and raised his voice over the deafening thunder. "Your Highness!"
Perhaps the worry in Shen Yangge's eyes was simply too obvious.
Chu Xuanzhen's open eyes half closed as he looked down at the man in the large wooden tub, his fingers stroking the smooth fingers nestled in his palm.
His voice was hoarse. "It's nothing. Wait here, and call someone if you need anything."
With that, Chu Xuanzhen rested his head on Shen Yangge's shoulder for two or three seconds, then lifted it and left the room. Once the door closed, shutting out everything outside, the vague unease in Shen Yangge's heart grew even stronger.
After the rumbling thunder came another burst of strange sounds. He moved his still-limp tail, and golden specks of light rippled through the water before it soon returned to its original appearance.
The drawback of becoming a mermaid was that he could no longer simply walk around. He also had to keep his body wet at all times.
Remembering the strange look on Chu Xuanzhen's face when he left, he called out twice.
The door opened, and Xia Zao stepped inside, his face full of panic and dread. He immediately shut the door behind him, looking just like a little rabbit fleeing a hungry wolf.
After closing the door, Xia Zao lowered his