Suspense propels film to top of charts

To better portray the character, the veteran actor created a brief biography for the protagonist, who leaves his hometown to seek success in the big city. After multiple jobs proved to be a poor fit, he finds work as a diving coach. One day, he happens to rescue a drowning diving student who turns out to be the daughter of a business tycoon. A spark ignites between them and they marry.

After setting the scene, Zhu explains that he created a detailed timeline so he could understand the character's inner world and motivations.

Zhu, a sports enthusiast, reveals that as part of this preparation for the role, he obtained an entry-level diver certification allowing him to scuba dive as deep as 20 meters. He says that made it easier for him to prepare for the role, which included underwater scenes such as a spectacular night dive.

Filming began in Hainan province in December 2021. The crew constructed sets to recreate Southeast Asian landscapes. They shot scenes in several coastal cities, including Haikou and Sanya. More than 1,000 crew members were tasked with building sets, at times working 15 hours a day, recalls Cui, the director.

Zhu says one of his most challenging scenes was when his character was confined to a hospital bed for surgery and had his hair forcibly shaved off.

"The crew members did shave off my hair, so the shot had to be done in a single take. I only had one chance to get it right," Zhu says.