It's possible, but I think in reality, he really just knows how to play the part to get what he wants in the moment. He can be pretty smart when it serves him.
Ha! If you saw how much he eats, you'd know he's never empty. But then, if you saw how much he still begs for more food, you might be right back at square one. Lol.
Good news! You can rub your face in his belly fluff with very little risk to your life. I do it pretty regularly. But I do imagine that your cat is a bit more accessible.