The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nsjUY4145
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nYly7PouX
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxo0xscj4e
53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF53xAkolqS
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? 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmDtQiNVVF
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxcQqO1UoZ
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucDnSAqFQG
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.” 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeoreSbHlz
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BeHipXNNf
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbALwc1REG3
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOqZyDJjZf
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. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKz5VjRpmhj
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcXXyhW4dK
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMXJV61Lbe
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4e2cWwIzG
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjjaQ79jw8
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, 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ9wpqTenQ
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GE36k8tE4
Vision unfocused. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVNLQ9cTSZ
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWWy9MqMuO
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys7sfF7kyj
His breaths weren’t loud, 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk01axGQZo
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, 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQAXov8lEn
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MLtKjiiKa
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4h88u6mu9
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWXbPI3YH2
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, 53Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrPjss2sNw
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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