The makeup room is quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. I'm already in costume - long hair extensions cascade down my back, and the thin silk robes of my character cling to my skin. Tony enters without knocking, carrying two cups of tea, his own costume half-done with the hairpieces still on the table beside him.

He sets a cup down beside me and doesn't immediately leave. Instead, he stands behind my chair, studying my reflection in the mirror. His gaze is intense, not professional assessment but something more personal.

"You look perfect," he says quietly, his fingers brushing the hair at the nape of my neck. The touch sends a shiver through me despite the warm room.

I try to meet his eyes in the mirror, but the intensity makes my breath catch. "Thanks, Tony Ge." My voice comes out softer than intended.

He moves closer, his body almost pressing against my back as he adjusts a hairpiece at my temple. His fingers linger, tracing the line of my jaw. "Last night..." he begins, then stops.

I know exactly what he's referring to - the dream we both mentioned having, the one where we were characters from the Ming Dynasty story, tangled together in a river. The one I can't stop thinking about.

My pulse quickens as his hand slides down to my shoulder, his thumb brushing the exposed skin where the robe has fallen slightly. "We shouldn't..." I whisper, but make no move to pull away.