Star's trajectory on the rise

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.