The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVFeMk0qF3
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkvWxISzdA
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1paXpRMru
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu317lCxWsg
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? 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K4jWrCh46
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkyjh6pXsa
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBuY5lXNf8
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.” 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7s7kCG8vp
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCZ2cVJiH2
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbreUAJGaGG
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOPAfiZtkd
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. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0301Aimcsv
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4H2BFASYk
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqNqRVVRo5
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyNeCePZ5t
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yjjauIffc
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, 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqReSxuaDyF
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCwoaHJkjX
Vision unfocused. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD9Wf0pfaz
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkhMvspfVw
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIlcCuLS7A
His breaths weren’t loud, 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIYYn11gAx
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, 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rt7ToTVy9
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPloYRGMtjy
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUA4i2PQ3s
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI2qp8qgCo
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, 39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZRIzLftNX
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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