KUALA LUMPUR: A 26-year-old female hotpot restaurant owner known as Qin in Chongqing, China, has become an Internet sensation with her unique "robot" service.
Videos by diners show her moving in a stiff and jerky motion as she attends to her customers, including in greeting them, serving their food, pouring tea and even sharing a toast.
Many viewers have briefly mistaken her for an actual robot as her moves are executed with precision and real-like mechanical mannerism.
Videos of her in action have gone viral after a report about her unique robotic motion was reported on the South China Morning Post recently.
According to the article, the eatery owner immediately shot to fame thanks to the videos shared by her patrons. They were mostly praises for her movement.
One bewildered commenter even questioned whether she was really a robot, highlighting the remarkable authenticity of her movement and ability to not blink.
However, some viewers noticed the pores on her nose and the slight flaring of her nostrils as she breathed as evidence of her corporeality.
Qin, in an interview with a Chinese news agency, said she is a professional dancer who has been dancing since 12. She said the rhythmic and mechanical movements of robots are similar to that of street dancing, which makes it easy for her to replicate them.
"Eye expressions are definitely acted, but the moves rely on muscle control. When customers or friends come to the restaurant, we dance together. By chance, they thought my impersonation was very realistic and recorded a video of me, which was then uploaded online," Qin was quoted as saying to the local news agency, Jiupai News.
"It's about having fun using my talents and adding a unique feature to the restaurant," she added.
The viral fame surrounding Qin underscores the power of social media in amplifying unconventional talents and quirks, turning everyday moments into global phenomena.
Her robotic-like has not only entertained online audiences, but also showcased the creativity and innovation found within the realm of hospitality, adding a touch of novelty to the dining experience in Chongqing.