Though Joelson was a cunning little man who could twist right and wrong, seriously, how could Gao Yi bear to kill him!
Forget about Gao Yi not wanting to kill Joelson, he would be the first to disagree with anyone who wanted to off Joelson.
"Don't joke," Gao Yi said. "Why would I kill you? We're on the same side now."
Gao Yi gestured with his hand and then earnestly added, "Killing you now brings me no advantage. Cooperating with you is how I maximise my benefits. So obviously, I can't kill you."
Joelson appeared surprised, but Gao Yi knew that Joelson was actually not surprised.
What Joelson said was a strategic retreat, but there was no need to spell out such rudimentary probing and strategy. First of all, it was clear Joelson didn't want to die, but that was as far as his expectations went—he didn't hope for more.
So then, it was Gao Yi's job to broaden Joelson's thinking.
It wasn't that Joelson couldn't think of it; he just didn't know what Gao Yi was capable of.