Qin Yuheng sensed the furtive little glances from the person beside him. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he gently rubbed his thumb over the knuckle of his index finger.
His fingertips seemed to retain the sensation of that earlier touch, even though it had only been through thick fabric.
Xie Lingfeng's father swallowed and offered a placating smile. "Surely there's no need to go this far?"
Seeing them standing stiffly, Qin Yuheng seemed a little puzzled. "What? Didn't you come to make amends?"
Xie Lingfeng was both mortified and angry. Other people had always been the ones kneeling before him. How could he possibly kneel and apologize?
The smile on his father's face was close to slipping. It was bad enough that Qin Yuheng showed him no respect, but humiliating him in front of this young man was an unbearable disgrace.
He took two deep breaths before swallowing his anger. "Yu Heng, why take things this far? Can't we talk this through calmly?"
"We came here in person today to show our sincerity. Besides..." He glanced at Yu Nian. "Didn't this friend of yours slap him back then, too? I let that go out of respect for you, didn't I? Why don't we both give a little?"
"Both give a little?" Qin Yuheng let out a cold laugh.
"Sister-in-law Chen, show them out."
Xie Lingfeng's father stared at him in disbelief, straightening in anger and pointing a trembling finger at him. "Qin Yuheng, I am your elder, at least! You've treated me like this time and again, and I've let it slide, but now you're going too far!"
Sensing his hostility, Spike barked furiously at him several times.
Yu Nian crouched down and stroked Spike's fur, afraid the dog might actually go over and take a bite of that low-grade