
The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAn4BhmYOxkl
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 25Please respect copyright.PENANAYRLSaKYVB1
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”25Please respect copyright.PENANAC5KPi2s4Ou
25Please respect copyright.PENANAMW46m61uSy
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? 25Please respect copyright.PENANAxhcQ2il95f
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAwF6HJqJteK
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 25Please respect copyright.PENANANigC4AkWeV
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.” 25Please respect copyright.PENANAVN1T7xsJyP
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAV3rUt8Ogk1
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 25Please respect copyright.PENANANVXRdlMWNL
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 25Please respect copyright.PENANApgUymouPAr
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. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAXEGjN5kGRN
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAAr4IgolRpQ
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAHjmWUoKuJx
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 25Please respect copyright.PENANA29O024xqex
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 25Please respect copyright.PENANARduU5Uw023
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, 25Please respect copyright.PENANAyqN3MBvB9B
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 25Please respect copyright.PENANARkCiUiwmKh
Vision unfocused. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAEzAaYK4tUx
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 25Please respect copyright.PENANACPY1Nq2WLk
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAneLolz3FHF
His breaths weren’t loud, 25Please respect copyright.PENANAjDfBM5Wqm9
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, 25Please respect copyright.PENANAmZt5FeueP0
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 25Please respect copyright.PENANAAqJNB51cR7
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 25Please respect copyright.PENANAmHaYMQe6ho
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 25Please respect copyright.PENANAwM2TN3OqVt
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, 25Please respect copyright.PENANAoPS82mPbpL
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
ns216.73.216.146da2