The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl53NRtipp4
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8F21z0ikX
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXHcmiIbGC
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrL1UJYghz
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? 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3V36QUHUR
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7rmGgGoCf
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqtqparVDA
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.” 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT7192TQcb
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaEjtpIHxd
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHiaeqQfYL
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhlxm69xKd
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. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTML9zPcxP
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG802Nvjlqm
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouGd5kxbrp
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4susfmx0p
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I7uqMZzGn
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, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg1AsYztNs
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkh5b1v4Zj
Vision unfocused. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQuwQpphTm
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwgnnz5LjR
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDMHcidIgr
His breaths weren’t loud, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2YMJZBneN
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, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7ztV4Kf2K
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGJTmDIL9L
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0bbGXsGVB
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqDn1AtVV0
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, 18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpe3egSf3b
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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