Students, after finishing their first session of the national college entrance exam or gaokao, rush out of the exam hall in a school in Yulin, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on June 7, 2025. A total of 13.35 million students participated in this year's gaokao. Photo: VCG

Wei Dongyi, an assistant professor and researcher at the School of Mathematical Sciences, Peking University, opened an account on a short video platform on June 6. A video of just 4 seconds caused quite a stir, garnering more than 1 million comments within 24 hours. By June 9, the number of fans had exceeded 23 million, becoming a "phenomenal" event. The protagonist of the event, a "promising mathematical talent," became one of the most followed on the internet, which vividly shows that the values of advocating knowledge and caring about talents are being prioritized by today's Chinese society.

In 2021, a self-media interview video brought Wei, holding a steamed bun and a mineral water bottle, into the public eye for the first time. The scholar's minimalist style of material and full dedication to academics was like a clear stream, leaving a deep impression on people. Now, Wei has become a smash hit for the second time, but what has attracted great attention from netizens is his teeth and health. The relevant person from the School of Mathematical Sciences of Peking University made a response on June 9, thanking the public for their concern for Wei, and said that the school has given him full care in terms of work, life, medical care, etc. on the basis of respecting his wishes and living habits, and has made corresponding arrangements and guarantees. The whole society is also concerned about his living conditions and hopes that he can live a better life. For this "new internet celebrity scholar" who is "testing the waters" on social media platforms, all aspects of society are conveying the cherishment and care of talents, showing that the value of respecting knowledge is constantly being refined and upgraded in China.

Large internet traffic needs to be based on positive energy. In the face of netizens' "star chasing," the media and platforms need to calibrate their values and guide them. Since Wei's "second smash hit," there are still many accounts that are impersonating and faking his identity, many of which have been quickly reported by netizens and restricted and banned by platforms. Paying more attention to the professional contributions of intellectuals rather than focusing on their private lives; jointly protecting the quiet environment in which scholars can concentrate on their studies, and at the same time respecting the right of scholars to interact benignly with netizens - all these have become the main tone in China's public opinion sphere. In creating an atmosphere of respect for knowledge, China's media and platforms are on a path of growing maturity and perfection.

In today's China, respect for talents and esteem for knowledge represent the mainstream value of society. The popularity of Wei coincided with the occasion of China's college entrance examinations. Most of Wei's fans are young people, especially students in school. In the "College Entrance Examination Wishing Pool" under Wei's account, many students hope to get a taste of the "aura of academic genius," and some people leave messages hoping that "God Wei" will share more mathematical knowledge. From these sincere messages, people see the respect of Chinese society for knowledge and purity, as well as the spirit of China's young generation who are eager for knowledge, hardworking and enterprising.

At every stage of development in China, there will be a surge of outstanding intellectuals with the characteristics of the times, and the whole society cannot do without the exemplary power of outstanding intellectuals. From Zhang Guimei, whose deeds have been repeatedly adapted into literary works, to Tu Youyou, who was awarded the "Medal of the Republic," to Mao Erke, the radar expert who created the "Chinese Clairvoyance," and Li Xiaowen, the "cloth shoe academician" who became popular on the internet for teaching barefoot in cloth shoes, people find some similar personality charms in them, including selfless dedication in their profession, simplicity and low-key in their personal lives, indifference to worldly fame and fortune, etc. Their purity and dedication deeply arouse the universal resonance of Chinese society for knowledge, ideals and values.

Wei's "traffic code" is deeply rooted in the country's vigorous development of basic science. His second smash hit is not only another tribute to intellectual talents witnessed in the digital age, but also reflects the deep-rootedness of the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education in China. Let outstanding young talents stand in the center and become the worthiest "stars" to pursue, which is increasingly becoming the consensus and conscious action of Chinese society. Hopefully Chinese society will continue to provide these "dedicated and pure" individuals with soil and a broad stage for growth, and every teenager who is taking the college entrance examination can draw strength from the role models and embrace the next wonderful chapter of life.