He Sent Her Three Million Yuan Over Seven Years. They Never Met Once.

Seven Years, Three Million Yuan, Zero Meetings

In 2017, Zhao met “Chen Lele” in a game.

Her profile picture was a side profile, with a floor-to-ceiling window in the background. Her WeChat Moments were full of car logos, afternoon tea, and night views of the Bund. She said her family did real estate in Shanghai. Her father had died, and her aunt was fighting over the inheritance. She sent him a message: “My aunt brought people to the company again. I’m alone in the office. I don’t dare turn on the lights.”

Zhao transferred the first sum. Twenty thousand.

She replied with a voice message, her voice low: “When my mom comes back, you’ll be the first person I see.”

Zhao’s family ran a business. He had money, but in front of “Chen Lele,” he made himself small. She mentioned property management fees. He transferred money. She mentioned nanny fees. He transferred money. She mentioned an investment. He transferred money. She mentioned bride price. He transferred money. Over seven years, the transfer records filled his phone. Bride price, villa utilities, nanny fees, investment funds. More than three million yuan in total.

He had asked to meet. He bought a plane ticket to Shanghai. The night before the flight, she sent a message: “My aunt suddenly came to the house to make a scene. I can’t get out.” He refunded the ticket. The fee was eight hundred yuan. He stared at the deduction text message and put his phone face down on the table. After a while, he picked it up again and asked her, “Are you okay?”

She said, “I’m fine. I just miss you.”

Seven years. More than two thousand five hundred days. They had never video chatted. She always had a reason. The family business was busy. She had to fly out of town to discuss projects. Her parents were strict and wouldn’t let her casually meet internet friends. Something came up at the last minute. Zhao had pushed once before. She didn’t reply for three days. He checked his phone every ten minutes. After that, he stopped asking to meet.

In March 2024, Zhao couldn’t come up with money anymore. For the first time, he said, “I have nothing left.”

She replied: “Think of something. My mom comes back next week. I’ll pay you back the three million with interest. Then we’ll get married.”

Zhao stared at the two words “get married.” He screenshotted it and saved it in his album. That night, he tossed and turned. At three in the morning, he opened WeChat and sent a message to the supplier: “There’s a batch of round steel. Urgent order. Can you ship first?”

He fabricated an order and defrauded the supplier of round steel materials worth more than 430,000 yuan. Then he sold it all to a scrap yard at about 2,500 yuan per ton. In exchange, he got more than 260,000 yuan in cash. Most of it went to “Chen Lele.”

He sat at the scrap yard entrance, clutching the receipt. The wind rattled it. After transferring the last sum to her, his balance was a few dozen yuan. She sent back a kiss emoji. He folded the receipt and stuffed it into his pocket.

The supplier didn’t receive payment and called the police. Zhao was investigated for contract fraud. He was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years. On the third page of the judgment, the words “contract fraud” were printed clearly.

Both Zhao and Cao had met “Chen Lele” on the same gaming platform and were each other’s in-game friends. The two teamed up to run a dungeon. Cao said, “My girlfriend’s been asking for money too. She says her mom is overseas.” Zhao typed, “Is her name Chen Lele?” Cao replied half a minute later, “How do you know?”

They agreed to meet at an internet cafe. Cao pushed his phone across. Zhao saw the same profile picture. Neither spoke. Someone in the internet cafe yelled, “Top lane!” Zhao stubbed his cigarette out in a Coke can.

They called the police.

The police found out: “Chen Lele” was really Wang, married with a child. The photos came from the internet. The Shanghai villa, the nanny, the family business. All fake. The 550,000 yuan “bride price” Zhao transferred, she used it to buy her husband a BMW. The 195,000 yuan she obtained under the names of property management fees and nanny fees was used for tea purchases and daily household expenses. The promise she made to Zhao, “When my mom comes back, I’ll transfer you three million,” was never fulfilled by a single cent. From late 2024 to early 2025, she used almost the same method to defraud Cao of more than 180,000 yuan.

Seven years, two “boyfriends,” 3.49 million yuan.

The Rui’an Municipal People’s Procuratorate prosecuted Wang for fraud. The court sentenced her to ten years and nine months in prison and a fine of 100,000 yuan.

On the day of the verdict, Zhao did not attend the hearing. He scrolled through his phone at home. Seven years of chat logs were still there. The last message was “Hubby, help me one more time.” He didn’t reply. The screen went dark and reflected the copy of the supplier contract on the wall behind him.

Wang’s husband drove that white BMW to pick up their child. The car stopped at the kindergarten entrance, hazard lights blinking a few times.

During his probation, Zhao reported to the judicial office every week. The game icon was still on his phone, but he never opened it again. One day he passed the scrap yard. The owner asked if he had any more round steel. He shook his head. The owner said, “That last batch. You sold it too cheap.” He smiled and walked away.