The casting reveal left the crew in stunned silence. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEcGuESTtI
The art lead clutched her face, hands flailing in the air, 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8fBNs2AKU
while the screenwriter stepped in with a PSA: “Stop shipping already.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQTQ6fNeNM
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cFHNsC4br
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? 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS83sgwNJZv
Prop sketches and emergency camera plans covered the walls.
The director was adjusting the lighting. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjojsiyadY2
The manager was reviewing the run-down. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DLdIGY1SY
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.” 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCtVdNawQT
The screenwriter flipped through her chart and glanced at the door. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpV6Y2MvMv
“Where’s the boss? He’s not coming to the casting?”
The director didn’t even look up. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZqg47fN9T
His tone was so flat, it could’ve been a weather report.
“He only ships GL.”
“……”
The screenwriter nodded. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMOolsI0sw
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. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavfGDORK2W
But there was something in the air around him——like a spark walking in from the rain. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynp9ndIswr
Not yet lit, but ready to ignite with the slightest friction.
Shen Yanxing followed. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jZXu1UfSH
Even more casual——black T-shirt, khaki pants—but his eyes were steely, his back perfectly straight.
He moved like a silent current. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gfu9sZbWz
And when he crossed the threshold, the air itself seemed to rupture.
The room fell quiet. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6JjAkvTWa
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, 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzcKfBvoUh
it was like his entire presence had changed air.
Breaths growing heavier. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JHUZnTCx8
Vision unfocused. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Do6SyIJAW
Fingertips trembling—just slightly.
Knees nearly giving way. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEQPzaze53
Shoulders swaying with something not quite natural.
One hand braced against the wall, the other clutched at his abdomen. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4TQQWuIGV
His breaths weren’t loud, 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTajGyaLCk
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, 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSVaW7widh
he tilted his chin slightly, lips curling into an unreadable smile, and stepped forward.
His pace wasn’t fast, 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbnPB78jMw
but every step landed like a hammer to the chest.
When he drew close—— 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAltrbrYSt
that gaze wasn’t just provocative. 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6G1E0yQ9b
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, 54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD5391ODDS
the screenwriter quietly stepped back.
He came to a clear conclusion——
Shipping is a dangerous game.
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