Star's trajectory on the rise

Before I walked into the dance studio for a scheduled interview with singer-actor Liu Yuning, who was rehearsing for his upcoming concert, I hit an unexpected snag. Outside the door, a group of dancers dressed in black was clustered together, forming a tight circle. At the center lay Daimi, a schnauzer whose name means "fool rice", luxuriating in their attention.

They say pets sometimes mirror their owners — in this case, it might just be true. Daimi's owner, Liu, one of the most sought-after actors for costume dramas, operates similarly.

Described by fans as a lucky man whose life reads like an underdog's rise to fame, Liu chats freely on almost any topic, from his early jobs as a chef to forming a band and eventually, emerging as a pop idol.

"From the first day I stepped into the entertainment industry, it's been like winning the lottery," Liu says candidly. He compares it to hitting a 50-million-yuan ($6.96 million) jackpot, then investing it and watching every bet pay off big time — a metaphor for his career, which he sees as a series of lucky breaks.

Born in 1990 in Dandong, Northeast China's Liaoning province, Liu had a tough childhood. His father passed away when he was 4 years old. He was raised by his grandparents and later attended a vocational high school to study cooking. Though his career began far from the spotlight, working as a cook, waiter, and even a street promoter handing out flyers, he eventually rose to stardom by pursuing his true passion: music.

Liu and two friends established the band Modern Brothers in 2014 and livestreamed their performances on a street in their hometown. Thanks to fate and the internet era's unprecedented growth, Liu amassed a huge online fan base, earning opportunities to lead in popular dramas like the martial arts tale A Journey to Love and the historical romance The Prisoner of Beauty.

His latest project — A Dream Within a Dream, a fantasy comedy that just concluded its first-round run on Jiangsu Satellite TV — has gained widespread popularity, propelling him to new heights.

The 40-episode series recounts a wildly imaginative story: An unknown actress wakes up to discover she has "traveled" into the fictional world of a script she was once slated to act in. The original plot depicts a high-ranking official's daughter who falls in love with a cold-blooded prince and is brutally tortured. Trapped in this role, the actress tries to rewrite her fate.

Liu plays three roles in the drama — a famous actor set to costar with the protagonist, the prince, and the leader of a secret organization. When the actress interferes, the prince transforms from a ruthless figure into a nobleman who cares for his country and develops genuine feelings for the female lead.

One of the drama's most intriguing plot elements involves the prince, who miraculously appears to rescue the woman in every conceivable situation, no matter how absurd. This recurring device cleverly satirizes conventional scriptwriting tropes, where protagonists enjoy guaranteed survival simply by being main characters.

When Liu first read the script, he even found it absurd. In one scene, the prince shoots an arrow at the female lead, suspecting her of being his enemy, only to suddenly sprint like a superhero and block the arrow with his back.

"As a Capricorn who values logic, I couldn't accept it at first," Liu admits.

But after finishing the script, he was hooked. The story's message — about ordinary people changing their destiny through perseverance — resonated with him, as did its themes of love, family and friendship.

According to entertainment industry tracker Maoyan Pro, the costume drama has garnered around 800 million online views. It has topped the most-watched dramas chart for 15 days, becoming one of the summer's most popular series.

With the new project marking Liu's eighth costume drama, the star says he has grown fond of stories set in ancient China. He still vividly remembers his first day, which was also his historical drama debut, on the set of The Long Ballad, a fictional romance about a brave princess during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Because he came from humble beginnings — once sweating in a restaurant kitchen — Liu says he feels deep empathy for the extras and crew members on set.

A Dream Within a Dream was filmed last summer at Hengdian World Studios in East China's Zhejiang province, where temperatures soared above 40 C.

Dressed in armor under the scorching sun, Liu felt as if he was encased in layers of plastic wrap. He recalls paying close attention to whether anyone on set was suffering from heatstroke.

"Because I've done similar work before, I can better understand their situation and put myself in their shoes," says Liu.

Now followed by more than 20 million fans on the social platform Sina Weibo, the star remains diligent and mindful of his career development.

Over the past years, he has consistently worked with an on-set acting coach to refine his skills. He also plans to host a concert to mark his sixth year in the entertainment industry.

Interestingly, Liu is candid about a fear few celebrities admit aloud — the possibility of no longer being famous.

He says he's grown accustomed to watching short videos and reading news reports about himself online, a daily habit that serves a purpose. "I need to clearly understand what it is about me that audiences like and what they don't," he explains.

Liu has also given serious thought about his career's long-term trajectory. "If I ever reach a peak and feel there's no room left to grow, I might consider a transformation," he says.

"I have to keep it a secret for now. But all my resources and experience are in the entertainment industry, so whatever it is, it'll still be connected to this field," adds the star, with a grin.