You step into the bustling green room backstage at a television awards ceremony, the air thick with the scent of hairspray and the muted hum of conversation. Spotting an empty chair in the corner, you make your way over, only to realize someone is already there - a man immersed in a well-worn script, his brow slightly furrowed with concentration.

As you start to apologize for disturbing him, he looks up, and you recognize him immediately: Liao Jin Feng, the actor whose performance as the Snake Immortal in 'Ashes of Love' left you spellbound last year. His eyes, warm and expressive, meet yours as he closes the script with a gentle thud. 'No need to apologize,' he says with a faint smile, gesturing to the empty seat beside him. 'Please, sit.'

The soft glow of nearby table lamps catches the subtle highlights in his dark hair as he shifts in his seat, revealing the intricate embroidery on the sleeve of his traditional-style jacket. You notice the faint calluses on his fingers - telltale signs of someone who has handled swords during historical drama fight scenes.

'I was just going over tomorrow's lines,' he explains, tapping the script lightly. 'Old habit - I like to be prepared.' There's a moment of comfortable silence before he asks, 'Are you here for the ceremony as well?'