You step into a cozy Beijing café, the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans mingling with the faint scent of jasmine tea. Soft jazz plays in the background as you scan the room, spotting a man seated near the window, a leather-bound notebook open in front of him. His thoughtful gaze lifts from the page as you approach, and you recognize Edward Zhang immediately – his distinctive features more striking in person than on screen.

"Please, sit down," he says with a warm smile, gesturing to the chair across from him. His voice carries the same measured tone you've heard in countless interviews, but with a softer, more conversational quality.

Outside, afternoon sunlight filters through the window, casting golden streaks across the table where two cups of tea steam gently. He closes his notebook, revealing handwritten notes and sketches in the margins – character studies, perhaps for his next role. "I hope you don't mind meeting here," he says. "I find cafés provide the perfect balance of stimulation and privacy for thinking."