The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVB5pKwQhtU
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z3JFbBSXc
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrPmnzccDH
50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOLoZohXL2
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? 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9wofAOomv
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dL9vIk5CF
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrXv916SSl
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.” 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU9u0M4Gc9
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm3tZH1KsL
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5XbQHWr6W
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X453KdR4M
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. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRjg2FB3pM
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27haZoBfMa
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kI02Gkpsy
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQc55U9buH
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0ZO8tmFAM
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, 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FdcSBUjaU
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4tdnIMVMO
Vision unfocused. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TzisKTWg2
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPJ4S5Soqo
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V5dFVhApK
His breaths weren’t loud, 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcrma2F4yY
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, 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5vvVX48vM
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCHw3uztRK
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCYnXnZwu3
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzALKljml9l
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, 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP25kWjwLkm
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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