diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/SceneManagement/TimelineKit/DirectorHandler.cs b/Assets/Scripts/SceneManagement/TimelineKit/DirectorHandler.cs
index 1bb0b41b0..b82efe24c 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/SceneManagement/TimelineKit/DirectorHandler.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/SceneManagement/TimelineKit/DirectorHandler.cs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ namespace AibisDream
         private PlayableAsset _savedPlayableAsset;
         private Coroutine _pendingResetToStartCoroutine;
         private string _lastAddressableKey;
+        private bool _hasEverAppliedPlayback;
 
 #if UNITY_EDITOR
         /// <summary>
@@ -97,6 +98,12 @@ namespace AibisDream
             if (director == null) return;
             director.time = 0;
             director.Evaluate();
+            MarkPlaybackApplied();
+        }
+
+        private void MarkPlaybackApplied()
+        {
+            _hasEverAppliedPlayback = true;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -413,7 +420,8 @@ namespace AibisDream
             {
                 directorName = timelineName,
                 isActive = gameObject.activeSelf,
-                loadedAddressableKey = _lastAddressableKey
+                loadedAddressableKey = _lastAddressableKey,
+                hasEverAppliedPlayback = _hasEverAppliedPlayback
             };
 
             if (director == null)
@@ -422,6 +430,12 @@ namespace AibisDream
                 return entry;
             }
 
+            if (!_hasEverAppliedPlayback)
+            {
+                entry.phase = TimelinePlaybackPhase.Stopped.ToString();
+                return entry;
+            }
+
             var duration = director.duration;
             var time = director.time;
             if (duration > 0 && time >= duration - 0.01)
@@ -455,7 +469,11 @@ namespace AibisDream
             switch (phase)
             {
                 case TimelinePlaybackPhase.AtStart:
-                    Reset();
+                    if (entry.hasEverAppliedPlayback)
+                    {
+                        Reset();
+                    }
+
                     break;
                 case TimelinePlaybackPhase.AtEnd:
                     if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(entry.loadedAddressableKey))
@@ -468,8 +486,8 @@ namespace AibisDream
                     }
 
                     break;
+                case TimelinePlaybackPhase.Stopped:
                 default:
-                    Reset();
                     break;
             }
         }
@@ -486,6 +504,7 @@ namespace AibisDream
             }
 
             director.Stop();
+            MarkPlaybackApplied();
         }
 
         private IEnumerator RestoreAtEndFromAddressable(string addressableKey)