The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjFU7BzsAW
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTrFx7QjdR
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZabnDDLe2
345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z31o9eoby
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? 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAHPV2XNqg
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9rAoeP28N
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTScAsGjyh
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.” 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGMNRygnOe
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd1V3RNFhE
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUosfJP78y
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX2ruEBzxC
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. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfPOl5MiSy
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktl9SDJe6L
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mS1fBVgw2
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipSgW2qFea
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FjRAXHWyC
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, 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwHkQzuCPy
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgmIquYWnA
Vision unfocused. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVmIkIxYIN
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEiIJ7NxpX
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbPq7bvXhp
His breaths weren’t loud, 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR7eig9DJY
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, 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A6eEXsgKf
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow6u35uOCu
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH5VX7XY1R
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysnFVMVap3
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, 345Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2WFlCiYKo
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
ns216.73.216.98da2
and then Add to home screen.