“The Vampire Diaries” is about a love triangle between the two Salvatore brothers, Damon and Stefan, who are both vampires, and Elena, an average girl next door. The show became very influential after its first season aired on the CW Television Network in 2009.

    I have immensely enjoyed the emotional ride with all the characters during the past four years. In fact, “The Vampire Diaries” has become an important part of my daily life. But I never dreamed of having a chance to meet one of its cast members.

    Unexpectedly, however, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to meet Ian Somerhalder in May at Canton Tower in Guangzhou City. Somerhalder stars in the “The Vampire Diaries” — which aired the last episode of its fourth season May 17 — as Damon Salvatore.

    The experience was very exciting for me. In the VIP section of Somerhalder’s “meet ‘n’ greet” session, fans and the media all waited anxiously for his arrival. The hostess explained to us that Somerhalder had not rested for the past 40 hours and really needed some food and rest.

    When he finally came on stage with his signature seductive, dangerous smile, all of the fans started to scream and shout his name. The atmosphere at the “meet ‘n’ greet” was fantastic. Somerhalder was a nice, down-to-earth and charismatic guy in real life. Even though he was exhausted after a long day of photo shoots for Femina Magazine and then heading straight to the airport to catch a flight to China, he still greeted the fans and media with enthusiasm.

    After the “meet ‘n’ greet” ended, Adam Roseman, the CEO of Fanstang, introduced me to Somerhalder and told me that I could ask him only one question due to his extremely tight schedule.

    So I asked him why “The Vampire Diaries” was so successful and able to stand out from the rest of the supernatural-related shows, and what is different from the “Twilight” film series.

    Somerhalder’s response was: “I think that (‘The Vampire Diaries’) has much more heart and it is very well-constructed. I think that people can really relate to it...” After he finished answering my question, he suggested taking a photo with me.

    Somerhalder is one of the most popular American TV actors in China. He is not only a very talented actor, but also a devoted philanthropist. He has his own foundation, which is named after himself. Also, he has always mentioned in interviews that he’s “humbled by (his) fans.”

    As a celebrity who’s been in show biz for more than a decade, I think it’s amazing that he’s kept a low-key life and also has such an appreciative attitude toward his family, fans, and work.

    It was really an unforgettable night for me, as it also was for many other fans who attended the event. I’d like to wish Somerhalder continuous success in upcoming years.