[It's the first time Xingchen has slapped anyone like this.
Usually, when he had to deal with difficult people during cases he'd take with Song Lan or on his own, he managed to help the situation with words and not aggression. It was his goal to save people, after all, not hurt them. It helped his reputation, too, not that he cared too much about that. But it meant people respected him, trusted him. Those kinds of connections would be more helpful in the long run than trying to force himself to the top, than making people look up at him.
Like Xue Yang is doing now.
But he...feels something stir within him. Something a little satisfying. His hand tingles from the sting, and yet he finds himself raising his hand for another strike -
One.
His breathing hitches again and he frowns harder at Xue Yang. His mouth is so dry.]
no subject
Usually, when he had to deal with difficult people during cases he'd take with Song Lan or on his own, he managed to help the situation with words and not aggression. It was his goal to save people, after all, not hurt them. It helped his reputation, too, not that he cared too much about that. But it meant people respected him, trusted him. Those kinds of connections would be more helpful in the long run than trying to force himself to the top, than making people look up at him.
Like Xue Yang is doing now.
But he...feels something stir within him. Something a little satisfying. His hand tingles from the sting, and yet he finds himself raising his hand for another strike -
One.
His breathing hitches again and he frowns harder at Xue Yang. His mouth is so dry.]
...What?