The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVC4ziTC33
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0Z8X2foFL
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mf23AcZQ7
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RdHbYIigC
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? 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacOeW9qLEK
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRjo0idDbH
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpZmna1cWz
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.” 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3bx3nAjyA
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbKymBfSP6
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWpGYJMHHx
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnqdNYoXNx
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. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1rBWra5Ta
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzXrQdB2mh
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIZYdYAiBC
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmJOhOcvLW
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIXQFPfkVK
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, 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjBgyaAi5i
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVvNw8hguO
Vision unfocused. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3SK1lH9hs
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7Tie8tZPV
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNoba86lEx
His breaths weren’t loud, 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz46Ke0yFXi
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, 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR3IYQCe6s
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pfbC48Zn4
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GNU8z2RwY
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH4Nhpv01L
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, 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWekUmN2s8
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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