The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXD5NESXjT
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN7Y6dDCKr
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPJndFITdG
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ6q2wIVis
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? 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4xbHa9WyM
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J0wxYpU8E
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTh2tjWHux
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.” 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQxBrW53zR
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbqSm7K2w3
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBPpEjrVjJ
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwdFFvLI7k
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. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHWLgn6Vl5
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMbXEIp4Rq
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinrWtpAAob
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4pYDab4Kb
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpAELqPnOG
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, 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgDDwGay31
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4s3MbbT9J
Vision unfocused. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqX7gpmmh3
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJNQxA3IiR
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMyFkNjQJz
His breaths weren’t loud, 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhnZx2TQE9
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, 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvJlUf3CUa
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdHoU1D9HP
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpFi8nwe4n
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4D75HdMZ2
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, 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXDv2R0dyP
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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