Source ( 🍓 strawberrymoon 🐷 🦋 🐮 on X)

1) OP: Chen Hui is a stark contrast to the characters you’ve played in the past! you deliberately "stripped away the polish" to portray a young man from a mining community. to better inhabit this role, what adjustments did you make to your daily habits and body language?

Xu Kai : the styling was actually finalized in consultation with the directors during the makeup and costume fitting session; we agreed that Chen Hui couldn't be portrayed as a clean-cut, pristine figure. after the initial haircut, we felt the hair was still a bit too long, so we gave it a few more rough snips, and just like that, it felt like we had truly captured the authentic "Chen Hui vibe." in terms of physicality, Chen Hui is likely in a constant state of guardedness, which is why he sometimes hunches his shoulders

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3) OP: Chen Hui is a character open to multi-faceted interpretation: legally speaking, he is a criminal; in his mother's eyes, he is a dutiful son; and for his lover, Gao Songge, he serves as a safe harbor. beyond these aspects, one particular symbol constantly surrounds him—that of the "hero"—a motif reflected in the names of the roller rink and internet café, as well as the posters adorning his bedroom walls. i’d like to ask the actor, Xu Kai: what significance does this symbol of the "Hero" hold for the character of Chen Hui?

Xu Kai : as i interpret him, Chen Hui is a man with a "hero complex"—the posters in his room and the name of his roller-skating rink all serve as proof of just how desperately he yearns to become a "hero." he wanted to shoulder Songge's medical expenses all by himself; he wanted to rely on his own wits to make his way in the world; and he wanted to open an internet café to demonstrate his foresight and forge a new life for himself. however, he took a wrong turn; his understanding of what it truly means to be a "hero" became distorted, leading him down a path of escalating errors until he found himself trapped in a corner from which there was no return

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OP: you crafted numerous physical details for the character Chen Hui: his hunched posture with shoulders drawn inward, the trembling of his hands while lighting a cigarette, and his physiological reactions when being physically strangled. among these "physical memories," which specific detail do you feel most effectively externalizes Chen Hui's inner sense of being torn apart? after filming the pivotal scenes in the final four episodes, how long did it take you to truly detach yourself from Chen Hui's emotional state?

Xu Kai : i believe it was a trembling of the hands. when Chen Hui strangled Brother Hai, he stared at his own shaking hands, he could scarcely believe that *these very hands* were the ones that had committed the deed. in that moment, he knew there was no turning back. in the presence of others, he was perpetually wearing a mask—never daring to let his guard down—but in that specific moment, he finally cast that mask aside. he was terrified, filled with regret, and had completely lost his composure

Xu Kai : actually, when we were filming, we shot out of chronological order; every time i finished a heavy emotional scene, i would remain in a somber mood for a while afterward. from Chen Hui's perspective, he is utterly desperate; he never imagined that things would spiral to this point. there’s a saying that puts it well: "excusable but unforgivable”

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OP: anyone witnessing this ending would feel heartbroken for Chen Hui. if one were to look back at his initial choices through the lens of his ultimate fate—were he given the chance to start over—would he still unhesitatingly embark on this path once again?

Xu Kai : in Chen Hui's eyes, giving up on his family is simply not an option. he is unwilling to lose Songge, just as he is unwilling to burden his parents with exorbitant medical bills. he would still leave Fengyang, firmly and decisive, but perhaps he would choose a new path: one marked by fewer regrets

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OP: the character Chen Hui has constantly been swept along by the currents of fate, invariably choosing the most intense path at every crossroads. as the actor portraying him, i’d like to ask: while immersing yourself in and grappling with Chen Hui’s inner turmoil, did you ever find yourself contemplating, on his behalf, that alternative possibility, that "what if"?

Xu kai : as bystanders, we have undoubtedly entertained the thought—what if there were a turning point? however, from Chen Hui’s perspective, the struggle at every crossroads represented a decision he was compelled to make in that very moment. in the scene where he strangles Tian Jinhai, Chen Hui looks down at his hands on the floor and asks himself, "how did i end up like this?"—in that instant, he truly was wondering, "is there no other way?" but by then, there was no turning back

Translation source by strawberrymoon🐷🦋🐮 on X platform

OP: the character Chen Hui is far from being a one-dimensional figure defined merely by black-and-white morality; rather, he possesses a complex and multifaceted inner nature. i’d like to ask Kai Kai: how did you interpret Chen Hui’s moral choices and human struggles while confined within such a limited space? furthermore, when shaping this role, which specific details did you choose to emphasize in order to convey the true state of mind hidden beneath his outward demeanor?

Xu kai : as i interpret it, Chen Hui’s fundamental nature is one of intelligence and kindness—it is simply that his cleverness was misdirected. he knows full well the difference between right and wrong; that is precisely why he lives in fear of being discovered by his father, engaging in a constant battle of wits against him. yet, each of his "wrong" choices—viewed within the context of the moment—seemed like the only path forward. he erred with full awareness, yet he had no other choice

Xu Kai : for instance, he originally intended to tell his mother that his father had locked him up at the police station, hoping she would intervene to disrupt his father's investigation. however, just before speaking, he grew concerned for his mother's health, fearing the distress it would cause her, and ultimately, he said nothing at all. in the scene where he kills Tian Jinhai, his hands were trembling, and his voice quivered; he was overcome with panic. in that moment, he realized there was no turning back, that he was destined to descend ever deeper into darkness. such details serve to demonstrate that he is not truly evil at heart