The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7rBiHQCFU
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5Mmnt5uAN
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VjtEc6XSU
35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh8TdP4uWl
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? 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5PwhGC8G5
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhXOWeiZeB
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95riy9dOcD
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.” 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddjnUUdAIa
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkBTaOuA8K
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0H5BfjdyG
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjdmlbHYGg
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. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo9QkzqUxk
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFE9GJK6DI
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2Bfkmi00a
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIENDBQ7Dxj
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT1EDBXZg3
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, 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6wfhvjzbN
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68cqdY2ADI
Vision unfocused. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdGbRCS1Hb
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE3ZIPlD0k
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ssK2ySMYr
His breaths weren’t loud, 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK2d8R8YBH
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, 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7AZ7IIBc9
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ6oP7XXtb
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUdJZFg2D8
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkVvtVhDq2
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, 35Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVy3KFcocW
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
ns216.73.216.238da2
