During the preparation of "Dawn of the Mountains and Rivers", Ling Yichen and Jun Moran delved deeper into the roles they played. As their understanding of the characters deepened, the clash between their personalities was like shooting stars meeting in the night sky, bursting into dazzling sparks and injecting a unique and charming appeal into the drama.

Ling Yichen's portrayal of Chu Xiao embodies the untamed and innovative spirit of a modern soul. During rehearsals, he often employs unexpected performance techniques, stemming from his modern mindset and rich experience in film and television acting. For example, in a scene depicting Chu Xiao's first appearance at a palace banquet, traditional acting approaches might expect the character to display humility or forbearance when faced with the difficult behavior of high-ranking officials. However, Ling Yichen takes a different approach, having Chu Xiao respond with humorous, witty, and slightly sarcastic modern language, cleverly defusing the awkwardness while simultaneously showcasing Chu Xiao's disregard for the ancient hierarchical system and his inherent confidence.

Jun Mo Ran's portrayal of Ye Lin embodies the demeanor of a scion of an ancient noble family, exuding elegance and composure in every gesture. Every glance and movement of Ye Lin was meticulously crafted. In a scene where he discusses military strategy with Chu Xiao, Jun Mo Ran uses subtle changes in expression—such as a slightly furrowed brow, a focused gaze, and steady, powerful gestures—to showcase Ye Lin's thoughtful and rigorous attitude when facing matters of national importance.

When these two drastically different acting styles met in the rehearsal room, some friction was inevitable at first. During a rehearsal of a scene depicting their first meeting, Ling Yichen, based on his understanding of Chu Xiao, approached Ye Lin with a more casual and friendly attitude, attempting to quickly establish a delicate relationship that was both friendly and adversarial. However, Jun Mo Ran felt this was inappropriate for Ye Lin's identity and personality; he believed Ye Lin should maintain a certain distance and reserve when facing a stranger for the first time.

“Yi Chen, Ye Lin comes from a prestigious family. He wouldn’t easily become so close to someone he’s just met and who is behaving strangely. Such a performance would seem jarring to the audience,” Jun Mo Ran sincerely offered his opinion.

Ling Yichen responded, "Brother Jun, Chu Xiao comes from the modern world. He doesn't understand these ancient formalities. He simply makes friends in his own way. This contrast is the charm of the character and also foreshadows the conflict between the two later."

The two actors stuck to their own opinions, neither willing to give in, and rehearsals reached a stalemate. However, they both knew that this clash wasn't a bad thing, but rather a way to delve deeper into the characters. So, they decided to calm down and re-examine the script and the roles.

After some in-depth discussion, they found a balance. Ling Yichen appropriately toned down Chu Xiao's impetuousness in his performance, adding some observation and probing of the ancient environment, making his closeness seem more justified; Jun Mozhan also made Ye Lin, while maintaining his reserve, reveal a hint of curiosity about Chu Xiao's unique temperament, so that their first meeting had both differences in status and personality, and potential factors of mutual attraction.

As rehearsals continued, they encountered a pivotal scene that triggered a powerful emotional outburst. In this scene, Chu Xiao discovers that Ye Lin is forced to cooperate with treacherous officials in the court for the sake of his family's interests, leaving him feeling incredibly disappointed and angry. Meanwhile, Ye Lin is torn between family responsibility and friendship.

When portraying Chu Xiao's anger, Ling Yichen drew inspiration from techniques used in modern films to depict inner turmoil. Instead of shouting, he conveyed Chu Xiao's anger through a slight tremor in his body, the rage in his eyes, and a suppressed, low voice, vividly expressing Chu Xiao's deep pain and disappointment in Ye Lin. He felt this approach allowed the audience to better feel the intensity and complexity of the character's emotions.

In portraying Ye Lin's struggles, Jun Mo Ran fully utilized his strength in capturing the nuanced emotions of ancient characters. His expressions progressed layer by layer, from initial resolve to the pain and helplessness he felt when criticized by Chu Xiao, and finally to the resolute determination he had to make for his family. Each change unfolded like a scroll before the audience's eyes. His performance allowed viewers to deeply understand Ye Lin's helplessness and sorrow within the context of that era.

During the rehearsals for this scene, they constantly exchanged ideas and learned from each other. Ling Yichen learned from Jun Moran how to express deeper emotions in a more traditional and delicate way, making his performance more in line with the ancient context; Jun Moran also learned from Ling Yichen the techniques for portraying the inner world of a character from multiple dimensions in modern acting, making the character of Ye Lin more three-dimensional and full.

Beyond the clash of personalities in their scenes together, they also fully showcased the unique charm of their characters in their solo performances. In a scene where Chu Xiao is contemplating strategy alone, Ling Yichen vividly portrays Chu Xiao's intelligence and his loneliness and confusion in the ancient environment through pacing back and forth in the room, his expressions of sometimes frowning and sometimes relaxing, and his self-talk of modern analytical thinking.

In the scene where Ye Lin faces the family ancestral hall and prays for the ancestors' protection, Jun Mo Ran kneels on one knee with a devout and firm look in his eyes, holding the family's token tightly in his hand. Through the solemn sense of ritual and his calm aura, he shows Ye Lin's deep feelings for his family and his sense of mission.

As their characters matured, their chemistry deepened. During a rehearsal for a war scene, Chu Xiao and Ye Lin needed to coordinate and fight side-by-side on the battlefield. Ling Yichen and Jun Mo Ran's movements were perfectly synchronized; they seemed to understand each other's intentions. When Ling Yichen charged into battle, Jun Mo Ran always filled the gaps in defense; and when Jun Mo Ran launched an attack, Ling Yichen skillfully provided cover. Their eye contact reflected both the unwavering trust between their characters and the profound understanding they had cultivated during the performance.

This clash of personalities not only sparked within the rehearsal room but also gradually spread to other members of the troupe. Watching their rehearsals was a great inspiration to the actors, who began to re-examine their own roles, attempting to explore the characters' personalities and emotional depths from different perspectives. The overall performance level of the troupe significantly improved in this positive atmosphere.

Ling Yichen and Jun Moran are well aware that their efforts and explorations in character development are just the beginning. As the premiere of "Dawn Breaks Through the Mountains and Rivers" approaches, they will bring these two charming and vibrant characters to the stage to be judged by the audience. They hope the audience will feel the dedication they have poured into character development, and the unique charm created by the clash of personalities between Chu Xiao and Ye Lin, once again creating a sensation in the ancient entertainment industry and adding a brilliant chapter to their acting careers.