The Casting for The Untamed
When news broke that Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's beloved novel Mo Dao Zu Shi was being adapted into a live-action drama, it sent a ripple through fandom communities—and through Xiao Zhan's heart.
Despite the skepticism swirling around the project, despite how the entertainment industry still hesitated when it came to LGBTQ+ stories—especially BL (Boys' Love)—something inside Xiao Zhan stirred. He had read the novel. He had laughed, cried, and been shattered by it. It wasn't just a role to him—it was art. It was truth, wrapped in fantasy. And deep down, he wanted—needed—to be part of bringing it to life.
So when the auditions opened, he didn't hesitate.
People around him raised eyebrows. Some were subtle in their disapproval, others weren't. BL was still taboo for many. "Think of your image," they said. "It's career suicide."
But Xiao Zhan wasn't afraid. He wasn't reckless, either. He saw the potential—if done right, the project could be massive. Emotional. Important. And maybe, just maybe, it could be his break.
After long talks with his manager and persistent convincing, they finally relented. He auditioned.
He walked into that casting room holding onto one character: Wei Wuxian—brilliant, mischievous, tortured, kind. Xiao Zhan poured everything into the audition. Not just skill, but soul.
And weeks later, the call came.
He got the role.
Wei Wuxian.
The heart of the story. The sun and storm of The Untamed.
Some doubted the decision—some still do—but the casting team saw something no one else did: a light in Xiao Zhan's smile, and a depth behind his eyes. They believed in him.
---
Somewhere else, miles away, Wang Yibo scrolled through the headlines and froze.
"Xiao Zhan Cast as Wei Wuxian in The Untamed Drama Adaptation."
His heart didn't just skip—it somersaulted. The same boy with the gentle smile from the cafeteria. The one who sat across from him in silence that spoke louder than words. That smile, that presence—it had lingered in his memory, almost hauntingly so.
And now, he was cast as Wei Wuxian.
The other half of the story.
Yibo's breath hitched. He immediately opened his photo archive and searched for the picture he had submitted for casting. He had applied to be part of the show. He had hoped—dreamed, really—to play Lan Wangji.
But his photo had already been rejected. Twice.
Still, he didn't give up.
He threw himself into preparation. Lan Wangji wasn't just a role. He was restraint and honor. Quiet intensity. Loyalty that carved itself into silence. If he couldn't get in with his photo, he would win it with his presence.
When the live auditions were announced, he made a vow:
"I will become Lan Wangji."
Day and night, Yibo trained. Not just lines—but energy, stillness, posture, gaze. He studied, watched, and absorbed. He recited Lan Zhan's words until they were etched into his skin. He wanted to become so much like him that the difference between fiction and self blurred.
And then, the audition day arrived.
He stood in front of the casting panel with a controlled breath, calm on the outside—but deep inside, a storm raged.
When MXTX herself entered the room, everything changed. She observed him silently, for a long moment. Then her lips curved ever so slightly.
"He is Lan Wangji," she said quietly.
The decision was made.
The room erupted in quiet celebration. His manager clapped him on the back, casting staff offered congratulations—but Yibo barely heard any of it.
He stood frozen in place, expression blank. But inside…
'I am Lan Zhan... Xiao Zhan is Wei Ying…'
'I can finally act with Xiao Zhan.'
'I can get close to him.'
'Zhan-ge…'
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, none of them fully formed, all of them tangled in emotion.
He wasn't entirely sure what he was feeling. But one thing was certain—joy bloomed in his chest like sunlight after winter.
And for the first time in a long while, he let himself be swept away by it.
💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️🐢🐢🦁🐰🦁🐰🦁🐰