The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2lXWmvn47
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtIcceNZzd
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rUZhvBrHr
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4vSuPIl80
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? 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7btxTCrKyH
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dYk7xKYwz
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj09s5rB7T
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.” 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RHo4BykJ5
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvd4uqym2T
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpa9v7f7hS
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyetu8ZZGNa
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. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhFJE4Y5fo
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXhnlExd2D
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKzx5Dajat
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGW3llIg2f
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GWyWrDNWp
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, 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpJL9JmX09
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtYI8gtjt2
Vision unfocused. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWvbV6tbZo
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzSVjBf97E
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfTC9wBAaW
His breaths weren’t loud, 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1IZLyRaEI
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, 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzDmbOfhHg
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFToXRTN8B
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUgTlO9FMT
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVmtdMOygg
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, 96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHQU01Zte5
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
ns216.73.216.139da2
and then Add to home screen.