In early 2026, the "becoming Chinese" trend swept across Western platforms, with millions of young Westerners embracing everyday Chinese lifestyles. Is this merely a passing cultural craze? Can cultural connection bridge divides where politics falls short? To unpack this, we sat down with two leading scholars from Shanghai International Studies University: Professor Lin Ling, Director of the American Studies Center; and Professor Gao Jian, Director of the British Studies Center. (Produced by Ni Tao, Wang Xiangyu, Lin Rui, Chu Chu and Intern Zhi Yanyan)