A student from Central South University in Hunan, China, unexpectedly went viral after his striking good looks caught the internet’s attention.

To encourage students preparing for China’s upcoming National College Entrance Examination, the university recently posted a motivational video featuring students cheering on their juniors ahead of the exam.

As part of the school’s yearly tradition, which also doubles as a promotional video for admissions, two male students appeared in matching school polos. 

One of the students instantly became the centre of attention online, with netizens pointing out his “sharp facial features”, “flawless skin”, and looks that seemed as though he “had a beauty filter on”.

The video has performed far better than usual, racking up over 200k shares and 300k likes within just five days of being uploaded.

“He looks like an AI-generated model,” one netizen gushed. Another added: “It’s like a 2D anime character in real life.” 

One even quipped: “I’ve watched too many AI short dramas recently, so I thought the guy on the right was AI too.”

Others suggested he should go into content creation, with some predicting he might soon be approached by talent scouts.

True to form, internet sleuths wasted no time in uncovering the student’s identity, and their research was surprisingly detailed.

The student was identified as Gao Yuheng, a fourth-year student at the Dundee International Institute of Central South University. The Fuzhou native has received offers from several prestigious universities, including the University of Hong Kong, but ultimately secured a postgraduate recommendation to Tongji University in Shanghai.

Beyond his academic achievements, he's said to also enjoy basketball, skiing, and calligraphy.

When interviewed by Chinese media, Yuheng, who keeps a relatively low profile on campus, said the idea to film the video came from one of his juniors. Since he also has two younger cousins taking the national exam this year, he quickly agreed to take part in the motivational video.

He never expected to go viral for his looks. 

“It was completely an unexpected surprise,” he said. “Before filming the motivational video, I never imagined this would happen.”

Upon learning that netizens were describing him as having an “AI-generated face”, Yuheng appeared slightly embarrassed and said: “Everyone’s comments are too exaggerated. I’m just an ordinary university student. The AI-like atmosphere in the video mainly comes from the image enhancement effects. In real life, I’m very ordinary, pretty much the same as everyone else — maybe just slightly more presentable.”

He said that he simply wanted to send a sincere blessing to his juniors, and hoped more students taking the exam would consider his university.

When asked if girls often ask for his contact details, Yuheng admitted he usually “doesn’t refuse anyone who asks”, but added that conversations don’t tend to go very far because he worries they might feel awkward.

He also revealed that he’s currently single, which immediately sent his newfound fanbase into overdrive. 

Some jokingly asked: “Is it still possible to apply to Central South University now?” 

Others claimed they were “suddenly very motivated to study,” while a few went as far as wondering if university recruitment has “reached a new level”.

He’s also strong both academically and outside the classroom, with hobbies including basketball

Photos: Douyin, SingTao News, Chinapress