The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm75ugA385
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKlmYYQMmc
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLqwRF5he6
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhTsLNGHkd
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? 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6tDlOOELx
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehOiyPU93n
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCChu8V2dRY
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.” 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusLpe0dd2S
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VnN3NdV6Z
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryBbCOvk65
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4auejz5Lw
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. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuXiRrmiTo
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpJrmTYotb
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHz98DjJQy
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz297LhNP7
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXpiIMEut6
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, 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraTd2ORHzU
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VkKqIP88J
Vision unfocused. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm0zMMWrnT
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8lo4UOdLE
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E6PFe7Et2
His breaths weren’t loud, 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL86ogGCML
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, 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2gKgWjw82
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rmNs0z79b
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkxMGLILiI
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EpEUmBUEz
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, 20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Kc3z2WBZW
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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