A man from Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, has sparked widespread attention after spending a staggering 4 million yuan (about S$739,636) tipping a live-streaming host, all in the hope of hearing her call him “brother.”
His obsession drained his family’s savings and even led him to steal, leaving him financially ruined and facing arrest.
An Unhealthy Obsession with Online Recognition
The man, identified only by his surname Hong, became fixated on live-streaming earlier this year. He was drawn to a female streamer, whose identity remains unknown, and his desire to receive a simple greeting from her—being called “brother”—turned into an all-consuming obsession.
Hong spent vast amounts of money on the platform, hoping that his contributions would finally get him the attention he craved.
The Cost of Obsession: Family Savings Gone
South China Morning Post reported that Hong initially used his family’s savings to cover his tipping expenses. Concerned by the growing amount of money leaving their account, his family restricted his access to their funds.
But Hong didn’t stop. Instead, he resorted to stealing copper materials from his family’s hardware business during deliveries, selling the stolen items to recycling stations to keep his spending spree alive
Sacrificing Everything for a Simple Phrase
Hong’s obsession led him to make extreme sacrifices. He admitted to surviving on nothing but steamed buns, saving every yuan he could to send to the streamer.
Over the months from May to October, he stole copper worth about 2.3 million yuan (roughly S$425,248), and all of it was sent to the live-streaming platform
The Theft Exposed and the Man’s Confession
Hong’s activities were uncovered when the hardware business reported a significant loss of copper to the Hengjie police in October.
The investigation revealed a pattern of thefts, and when Hong was confronted with evidence of his financial transactions, he confessed to stealing over 40 times.
When questioned why he did it, Hong explained: “I didn’t want to meet her; I just wanted to hear her call me ‘brother.’”
Public Shock and Legal Consequences
The public’s reaction was one of shock and disbelief, with many criticizing Hong’s desperate attempt to gain online recognition.
While some found his actions laughable, it emphasized a more serious issue: the dangers of obsessive fandom in the digital age.
As a result of the investigation, over 1 million yuan (around S$184,874) was returned to the factory.
Hong has been arrested on suspicion of theft and is awaiting further legal proceedings.
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