Ever since the “shirt incident,” the layer of window paper between Arthur and Shen Yanzi, though not yet completely shattered, had become as thin as a cicada’s wing liable to break with a single breath.
The two maintained a tacit understanding. Every glance and every minute movement felt like a silent contest of wills and probing. Throughout the day, the air was thick with molecules that were cloyingly sweet yet crackling with electricity.
As the project progressed smoothly, it happened to coincide with the climax of the British racing season the Royal Ascot.
For such an occasion, the attendance of Royal Family members was a standard expectation. Arthur’s eyes twinkled as a plan formed in his mind. Carrying an exquisitely crafted invitation, he sauntered into Shen Yanzi’s office.
“Ahem,” Arthur cleared his throat, knocking ceremoniously on the open door and poking his head inside. “President Shen, there’s a business hospitality box for the Ascot races next week with a few vacant seats. Would you like to come along? Consider it… an experience of traditional British culture?”
He tried his best to make his tone sound professional, but his flickering gaze and slightly reddened earlobes betrayed him.
Shen Yanzi looked up from his documents, his gaze sweeping over Arthur’s face before landing on the invitation. A brow arched almost imperceptibly. How could he not see through the little prince’s intentions? This “business hospitality” was clearly a case of using public office for private gain.
He remained silent for several seconds. Just as Arthur thought he was going to refuse and his heart began to drum, Shen Yanzi spoke flatly: “Fine. Send the time to my assistant.”
The little person inside Arthur’s heart immediately performed a celebratory somersault! On the outside, however, he had to maintain his composure. “Great! I’ll make sure you experience the most authentic British horse racing culture!”
On the day of the races, the weather was impossibly good. The sun was brilliant, the turf was a dazzling green, and the ladies wore a competitive array of fascinators while the gentlemen were clad in morning dress. The entire racecourse looked like a massive vintage fashion show.
Arthur had dressed meticulously today in standard morning dress, which highlighted his slim waist and long legs. Topped with a classic gray top hat, he looked both handsome and noble. He led Shen Yanzi through the crowd toward the Royal private viewing box.
Shen Yanzi remained his usual cold self, wearing a well-fitted dark suit. He looked somewhat out of place among the sea of morning coats, yet his aura was in no way inferior—in fact, it made him even more conspicuous. Along the way, they drew many stares and whispers.
The box was perfectly situated, directly facing the finish line with a wide yet relatively private view. Waiters brought over champagne and exquisite tea refreshments.
Arthur’s mind was not on the race at all. He leaned closer to Shen Yanzi, pointing at the racing program in his hand, his eyes shining brilliantly. “Hey, President Shen, just watching is boring. How about we place a bet? Let’s wager on the next race to see who picks the horse with the higher rank. The loser… treats the other to dinner?”
Shen Yanzi glanced at him, took the program, and flipped through it casually. His gaze landed on a horse named “Night Crawler.” “Fine. I’ll choose Number 3, ‘Night Crawler’.”
Arthur saw that the horse’s recent form had been mediocre, and its odds were quite high. Secretly pleased, he quickly picked a frontrunner: “Then I’ll choose Number 7, ‘The King’s Emblem’! It’s settled!”
The race began shortly. The gates flew open, and the steeds surged out like arrows from a bow! The thundering sound of hooves rose, and the spectator stands instantly erupted into a fever pitch. Arthur gripped the railing nervously, his eyes fixed on “The King’s Emblem” as he muttered incessantly, “Fast! Go! Overtake them!”
Shen Yanzi appeared much more composed, holding his champagne and looking at the track with a calm gaze, as if winning or losing meant nothing to him.
However, to everyone’s surprise, the favorite horse Arthur had backed seemed to lose steam midway and gradually fell behind. Instead, “Night Crawler” the one Shen Yanzi had picked at random surged in the final stretch. Like a bolt of black lightning, it overtook several horses in succession and ultimately crossed the finish line first with a lead of half a horse-length!
“WAHOOO!!!” The entire crowd cheered.
Arthur was stunned, his mouth hanging open for a long time. Shen Yanzi unhurriedly took a sip of champagne and looked at the dazed Arthur, the corner of his mouth curving into an extremely faint arc. “It seems Your Highness is definitely treating me to dinner.”
Arthur: “…”
With a mournful face, he grumbled defiantly, “…That was just lucky.”
“A bet is a bet.” Shen Yanzi set down his glass, picked up a newly opened bottle of rich red wine, and poured himself a small glass. He then gestured toward Arthur’s empty glass. “Or does Your Highness wish to settle the wager in another way?”
Still feeling frustrated, Arthur didn’t even think before holding out his glass. “Fill it up! A loss is a loss! If I have to drink, I’ll drink!”
An undetectable glint flashed in the depths of Shen Yanzi’s eyes as he poured a rather generous glass. Arthur, acting out of spite, raised the glass to drink.
“Wait.” Shen Yanzi suddenly pressed down on his wrist.
Arthur looked up in confusion. He saw Shen Yanzi pick up his own glass of red wine, but instead of drinking it, he tilted his wrist slightly
The deep red, viscous liquid was poured accurately and fully into the champagne glass Arthur had just emptied. Because he poured it so full, several drops of crimson wine overflowed, sliding down the side of the glass and dripping onto the white tablecloth, blooming into a small, startling patch of red.
Arthur was stunned. “What… what are you doing?” Who drank like that?
Shen Yanzi set down the bottle and picked up the glass a mixture of champagne residue and a full serving of red wine holding it out to Arthur. His gaze was deep, yet his tone was flat. “Drink this. I lost; I’ll drink with you.”
Arthur looked at the “special blend” with its bizarre color, then at Shen Yanzi’s unreadable eyes. He felt a bit apprehensive, yet he didn’t want to back down. He steeled himself and took the glass. “I’ll drink it!”
He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, taking a large gulp.
The mixed liquid tasted strange, dominated by the richness and spice of the red wine. He drank a bit too fast, and a streak of red escaped the corner of his mouth, sliding along his jawline and over his slightly bobbing Adam’s apple before disappearing into his shirt collar.
“Cough, cough…” Arthur was choked by the wine and began to cough, physiological tears pricking his eyes. His lips were dyed a moist, vivid crimson by the liquid.
Shen Yanzi’s gaze darkened instantly, like a predator fixing its eyes on its prey. He locked onto that stretch of neck and the Adam’s apple, which was stained with wine and shimmering with moisture.
Completely oblivious, Arthur was still wiping the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, complaining, “Cough… what a weird taste…”
Before he could finish, Shen Yanzi suddenly moved!
He lunged forward not to reach for a napkin, but to press his own thumb directly against Arthur’s Adam’s apple, using the slightly rough texture of his pad. That was the place where the wine had finally disappeared.
“!!!”
Arthur’s entire body went rigid. His coughing stopped from the shock, and his eyes went wide as he stared at Shen Yanzi in disbelief.
Shen Yanzi’s thumb carried a scorching heat, pressing down with force even a hint of ferocity as it ground against that slightly protruding, sliding piece of cartilage. The movement carried an indisputable sense of aggression and… erotic intent.
Arthur’s breath caught instantly. Every drop of blood in his body seemed to rush to the spot being touched; that patch of skin felt sensitive enough to catch fire! A very soft, startled whimper escaped his throat, and his body instinctively tried to retreat.
Shen Yanzi would not allow him to shrink back.
His other hand moved even faster, wrapping around Arthur’s waist and pinning him firmly in front of him. His thumb remained on Arthur’s Adam’s apple, feeling the rapid pulse beneath it, while his gaze moved slowly up from the throat to fix intently on Arthur’s lips parted in shock and stained with wine.
His eyes were terrifyingly dark, swirling with naked desire and possessiveness.
“You had a stain.”
Shen Yanzi’s voice was so low it was almost a whisper, sounding like sandpaper grinding against a heart.
Arthur’s mind was a total blank. He could only stare at him with misty eyes, his body as stiff as a stone, having forgotten even to struggle.
Then, under Arthur’s terrified gaze, Shen Yanzi slowly lowered his head, moving close to the thumb that had just ground against his throat.
He looked into Arthur’s eyes, opened his mouth, and extended the tip of his tongue. He unhurriedly, provocatively licked away the small, crimson wine stain from the pad of his thumb.
Throughout the entire process, his gaze never left Arthur’s face, as if he weren’t licking his own finger, but Arthur’s skin.
Arthur sucked in a breath, his entire body trembling violently. His cheeks exploded in red, and even his toes curled in shame!
This gesture… was far too much!
Shen Yanzi slowly pursed his lips as if tasting a delicacy, his gaze growing even darker. The hand locked behind Arthur’s waist suddenly tightened, pulling the distance between them even closer close enough that their noses nearly touched.
His hot breath, mixed with the aroma of red wine, fanned across Arthur’s scorching face. His voice was low and dangerous, carrying a lethal temptation:
“The taste…”
“…is indeed not bad.”