LayarHijau.com — An unexpected moment from the variety show Infinite Transcendence Class 3 (《无限超越班3》) has once again brought actress Zhang Ruonan into the spotlight. But this time, it wasn’t due to her latest film role—it was her unfiltered facial expression while watching Ding Zhen perform during an acting session on the show. A short clip of her reaction went viral on social media, spawning memes and becoming one of the hottest trending topics of the week.
Ding Zhen, a public figure from Tibet who first rose to fame in 2020 for his natural good looks, performed a monologue in Tibetan. In the performance, during a wartime-themed scene. while fellow “soldiers” were ducking for cover amid imaginary gunfire, Ding Zhen suddenly stood up, held out a purple flower, and smiled innocently—an action that felt oddly placed within the intense scene. His unexpected gesture left other participants and judges visibly confused.
— Layar Hijau (@layar_hijau) May 13, 2025
Zhang Ruonan, who appeared on the show as a guest and observer among professional young actors, was seen watching the performance from the monitor station. Her wide-eyed, surprised look, as she tried to remain composed and polite, was captured by the camera—and it quickly caught fire online. Netizens dubbed it “the most honest look of confusion this year.”
The clip was soon turned into popular meme formats, including a nine-grid panel of expressions. Some online captions included: “Me trying to understand my boss’s bizarre PowerPoint,” or “My face when my best friend tells me wild gossip.” The video has been viewed over 20 million times.
What made this moment go viral was its authenticity. In China’s entertainment scene—often criticized for being overly scripted—Zhang’s unrehearsed reaction felt refreshing and relatable. The contrast between her bewildered expression and Ding Zhen’s emotional performance unintentionally created a moment of comedy that stood out as a highlight of the season.
The viral buzz also brought positive attention to both stars. Ding Zhen’s acting drew praise from mentors on the show, including veteran actress Nancy Sit, who described his performance as “genuine and emotionally resonant.” Meanwhile, Zhang Ruonan was lauded for her sincere reaction, with netizens calling her a “walking meme generator.” Reports suggest several brands have already reached out to feature her in ads with a humorous or expressive angle.
As of May 12, 2025, the Weibo hashtag #章若楠看丁真演戏的表情 (Zhang Ruonan’s reaction to Ding Zhen’s acting) has garnered over 320 million views, making it one of the most viral variety show moments in China this year.