However, Chu Xuanzhen did not take things any further.
When a servant announced that the meal had arrived, he lowered the arm wrapped around Shen Yangge. The hand gripping his wrist merely stroked it "reluctantly" before soon letting go as well.
Once released, Shen Yangge looked utterly dazed, as though his mind were still wandering somewhere far away.
Only when the dishes were brought to the table one by one did he finally snap out of it.
[-After all that, he didn't tell me a single secret. He just took every damn liberty he could!]
[-That bastard! I knew I shouldn't have believed him!]
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
What Shen Yangge did not realize was just how flustered he looked. His entire face was red, and his neck and hands were flushed too, like a cooked shrimp.
Later, after barely eating a few mouthfuls, he announced that he was full and wanted to take a walk. Without waiting for Chu Xuanzhen's permission, he pushed his chair back and walked off on his own.
Watching his retreating figure, Chu Xuanzhen murmured, "He's really angry."
Then he continued leisurely enjoying his meal.
Shen Yangge kicked stones in the courtyard, thinking as he walked:
Next time that bastard Crown Prince gets handsy, I'm definitely fighting back!
Despite telling himself that, the image of Chu Xuanzhen sniffing his wrist kept flashing through his mind, along with that trace of... intoxication on his face.
Why did Chu Xuanzhen sniff my hand?
Could that be the secret he wanted to tell me?
There's no way he'd admit something so embarrassing. That's why he was fishing for information in a roundabout way, trying to find out how I developed skin hunger syndrome.
Shen Yangge's face cycled through red, green, and white.