Math prodigy's social media appearance sparks concern

Chinese mathematical prodigy Wei Dongyi has recently launched personal social media accounts, drawing widespread attention and sparking public discussion concerning his health.

Wei, an assistant professor and researcher at the department of mathematics, School of Mathematical Sciences at Peking University, made his debut on Douyin and Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, by posting a short self-introduction video.

"Hello everyone, I am Wei Dongyi," he says in the video, standing in front of a blackboard. Within a week, his Douyin account garnered more than 24 million followers, while his RedNote account attracted over 540,000 followers.

Wei's unexpected appearance on social media quickly went viral. However, it also raised concerns among netizens about his health. Many viewers noticed apparent dental issues in the video and called on the university to offer more support to the young academic.

According to Hongxing News, Wei stated that he would not make any further public responses. He also acknowledged that the recent wave of public attention has had an impact on him.

Renowned in China for both his extraordinary mathematical talent and modest lifestyle, Wei was born in 1991 and won gold medals with perfect scores in the 49th and 50th International Mathematical Olympiads while in high school. He later enrolled at Peking University, where he earned a doctorate and began working as an assistant professor in 2019.

Wei first drew national attention in a 2021 interview in which he was seen carrying a water bottle and a bag of steamed buns, an image that quickly resonated with the public and added to his reputation for simplicity and dedication.

In response to the growing public concern, the school said that it has long been attentive to Wei's oral health. Medical consultations have already been conducted, and a treatment plan has been proposed. The school will continue to support his access to medical care.

At the same time, the school urged netizens to help maintain a quiet environment conducive to scholarly research, allowing Wei to focus fully on his teaching and academic work.

Peking University also expressed gratitude for the public's concern, emphasizing that, while respecting Wei's wishes and lifestyle, the university has provided comprehensive support in terms of work, daily life and healthcare, with proper arrangements and guarantees in place.

Wei's account launch coincided with the national college entrance exam, prompting a flood of wishes from students hoping for strong performances in the mathematics section.

However, Wei's popularity also led to the emergence of numerous impersonator accounts on social media, using names such as "God Wei" and "Wei Dongyi Select" to capitalize on the trend. One fake Weibo account under the name "The Real Wei Dongyi" was identified and subsequently blocked by the platform.