I think Shen Wei's smile is intended to reassure, and he thinks it will work because that's what ZYL does.
I really don't think SW is thinking about it in the moment, or consciously mimicking ZYL's usual strategies - it's intended to reassure, yes, but he thinks it'll work because to him it's true, and IMO from his perspective, that's all he's doing: telling a reassuring truth. (Obviously he's wrong about that, LOL.) Agreed that he'd present this differently to CSZ, though! But then the situation wouldn't be as emotionally charged for him with CSZ.
Mostly though, I just love how many truths are exposed by this conversation
Yes! All of that! It's such a fantastic scene, every line hits hard. ♥ ♥ ♥
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I really don't think SW is thinking about it in the moment, or consciously mimicking ZYL's usual strategies - it's intended to reassure, yes, but he thinks it'll work because to him it's true, and IMO from his perspective, that's all he's doing: telling a reassuring truth. (Obviously he's wrong about that, LOL.) Agreed that he'd present this differently to CSZ, though! But then the situation wouldn't be as emotionally charged for him with CSZ.
Mostly though, I just love how many truths are exposed by this conversation
Yes! All of that! It's such a fantastic scene, every line hits hard. ♥ ♥ ♥