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.