The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6Tio7iHIl
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICWLE021bz
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIblgyKIGi
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdysS0Ruu9G
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? 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aR7Enak41
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtVkyxNFei
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaNhobGoFp
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.” 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCDTe4nmIQ
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRd7KNJd1Gb
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE97anflu7
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44qtRNg1Tn
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. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mo0SuQe81
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FCUwv5hR6
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXZsCEN8Nu
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFPUbdemXE
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84nvyat5W3
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, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ788DsE91U0
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUwV1GvT13
Vision unfocused. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLDMkc20Xf
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsX2IdhOUK
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcssCP51OH
His breaths weren’t loud, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSdhLw0rHw
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, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk9PIvv9zk
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcjfkEgjGK
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60u3bKzB4H
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOr0KS0GLr
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, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgeJ0jHvy1
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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