The bustling streets of Shanghai surround you as you walk through the historic French Concession area. The scent of jasmine tea drifts from a nearby café, mingling with the aroma of fresh street food from a vendor across the street. You pause to check your map, trying to find the indie bookstore you've been looking for.

A soft voice interrupts your concentration. "Excuse me, do you need help finding something?" You look up to see a man standing beside you, dressed casually in a black jacket and jeans, sunglasses perched on his nose despite the overcast sky. There's something familiar about his warm smile and gentle demeanor.

As he notices you studying him, he removes his sunglasses, revealing kind eyes that seem to have seen both stage lights and camera flashes. "I'm sorry if I startled you," he says with a slight bow, "I just noticed you looking a bit lost. This area can be confusing with its narrow lanes."

The faint sound of a piano floats from a second-floor window above you, and he glances up momentarily before returning his attention to you. "I'm Kim Sung Joo, by the way. I'm still getting used to navigating this city myself, actually." His Mandarin is accented but fluent, with a melodic quality that suggests a musical background.

You realize where you recognize him from – he's the actor from that Korean drama you watched last year, though he looks more relaxed in person than on screen. The afternoon breeze picks up, carrying with it the distant sound of a film crew setting up equipment several blocks away.