The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUXRt6nF4U
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW70w6LjOdP
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWXIK4forl
34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpaBUVHP00
9:30 a.m. The meeting room had turned into a makeshift audition stage.
The table was lined with water bottles, scripts, and——a first aid kit? 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxAj8aKQbN
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6GHgVscbk
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GwSUzqzd0
The screenwriter was in a corner, reviewing the shoot schedule rundown.
The art lead stood off to the side, holding a color palette, eyes wandering as she watched the shifting shadows on the wall.
Everyone was present—except one.
“Hey.” 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5PQi8dNcg
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Hb5wuaeJ
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkNdQnQh7w
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p6xzIYojJ
Fair enough. That explained everything.
Just then, the door opened.
It wasn’t “pushed” open——it was opened by sheer presence.
Jiang Zhilin stepped in first——clean-cut casualwear, easy smile, unhurried steps. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5lrAHDmP4
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzYK8eICxV
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwtcQgBgl1
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JMxltkSFT
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG2MGaeLji
Just for a beat.
The director set down the light control panel and opened the script.
“Let’s jump right into a few scenes.”
“This one’s where Jiang’s been drugged. Shen, at first, just finds it amusing—so he walks over and asks if he needs help.”
The two exchanged a look. Jiang Zhilin gave a nod and stepped into position, regulating his breathing.
And in the next second, 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz9BfKSmIY
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpNbZJmssK
Vision unfocused. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodWnT7NpBF
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkeY0TQiDW
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcAxHJ3Kub
His breaths weren’t loud, 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6t541s8hA
but somehow they slipped into everyone’s bones.
And Shen Yanxing—didn’t move.
He simply stood there, observing.
Then, like something had piqued his curiosity, 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM1L0p83mr
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt7jo2Lt77
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktYdMLz0TL
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RDqbykJPY
It teased. It tested. It claimed.
From the back row, the art lead sat with lips slightly parted.
Halfway through the scene, her hands moved on their own—covering both her mouth and nose.
One hand wasn’t enough. She had to use both.
It looked like she was witnessing forbidden performance art.
The screenwriter glanced at her expression, utterly speechless.
“Wipe your damn drool.”
“Seriously, do you even realize who you’re starting to resemble?”
The tone wasn’t angry——just deeply, deeply unimpressed.
The art lead blinked, confused.
“…Like the boss.”
“I can’t believe I’m seeing _his_ expression on your face.”
At that, she snapped upright like she’d been doused in cold water, forcing herself to look away.
“I didn’t expect… to like this…”
Her voice trembled as she wiped at imaginary drool.
“Did I… just stumble into a whole new world…?”
The manager, beside her, added casually:
“That was just the first scene. What’re you planning to do with the rest?”
“Feels like you’ve already hit peak delusion on the first hit.”
“Look at the boss’s OTP——still busy building sandcastles by the sea.”
The art lead shut her eyes and tried to recall the rest of the script.
Then——
“…"
“…Ha.”
“Hahahahahahahahahaha.”
The laughter carried a strange mix of horror, awareness, and looming descent.
Watching her spiral into madness, laughing just like the boss, 34Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEUAfoCKlS
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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