The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJccwocbnC
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBExlpV6QM
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasjCZhQGun
13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtoVW96kXm
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? 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qOJaT9uim
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhFsGmJcol
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMoClFhWsX
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.” 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSmFluXTVx
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgksWTySZ7f
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sbjUy5ejl
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcdcSO6058
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. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EG2LXJYEO
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY3Y3SnzYG
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVwThyo9cD
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCSUOaU3IN
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7B049oKKx
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, 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN0EUZuArs
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqBoe62ELH
Vision unfocused. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q63bHlURa
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvlkAIaFJD
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdyUMv54gc
His breaths weren’t loud, 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkHMbMOtYh
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, 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdzUuwHvIh
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisnScN0fk4
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0SPo3Cs1W
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mEUxaEAbo
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, 13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOkOtLof0b
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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