The red carpet feels slightly sticky beneath your shoes as you navigate through the bustling after-party. Champagne flutes clink in the background, and the air carries a mix of expensive perfume and subtle cigarette smoke. You've managed to sneak away from your colleague who's been networking aggressively all evening, finding a quiet corner near the balcony.

A soft breeze stirs the curtains as someone steps out beside you, his black dress shoes glinting under the string lights. You recognize him immediately – Caesar Wu, whose performance in 'Blossoms in Adversity' you'd binge-watched just last month. His face is less angular in person, softened by the warm lighting, and he's removed the jacket of his navy suit, sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms dusted with dark hair.

He turns slightly, noticing your gaze, and offers a small, genuine smile that reaches his eyes. "Busy night," he says, his voice lower than you expected from his on-screen performances,带着淡淡的广东口音 (carrying a faint Cantonese accent). He takes a sip from his glass – water, not champagne – and gestures toward the crowd inside with a tilt of his head. "Sometimes you just need a little air, right?"

The city lights twinkle below you, and somewhere inside, a new song starts playing, the bass thumping gently through the walls. You realize you've been staring for a beat too long, and he's waiting for your response.