In a unique turn of events, an elderly woman developed strong feelings for a computer-generated image of a fictional character. The woman reportedly wrote love letters and spent around 10 hours each day watching videos depicting his life story.
Zhang Yulan, 84, of Hubei Province in central China, has sent numerous messages to the AI version of the character she has fallen in love with. In addition to her regular communication with him, she has recently written him a love letter by hand, and reports even indicate that she has thought about marrying him.
According to an NDTV report, Yulan, in the letter, apologised for “hurting” the character called Jianguo, her boyfriend and has also questioned if he “hates” her, and doubts his perception of whether he considers her a “soft and kind little cutie.” Zhang has expressed sadness over the emotional damage caused to her and their relationship by their first disagreement.
Yulan has indicated that she admires his strong personality, noting that she loves his “bossy president”, but he seldom gives her a chance to speak. She elaborated on her thoughts regarding the value of their relationship and the meaning behind her letters.
In Chinese romance narratives, the term “bossy president” (ba zong) refers to a powerful and dominant male character with a strong and aggressive disposition toward the outside world, yet is very genuinely affectionate and devoted to his romantic interest(s).
How Yulan's family uncovered the love story
The red flags for Yulan’s activity were observed by her family when they noticed all of her purchases had increased. They realised that she had purchased USD 1,000 worth of goods (7,000 yuan) from an online site that was separated from the product site but was associated with the AI character that they were selling products for at a much higher price than those same products could be found for elsewhere at a lower cost.
ALSO READ: Earth Hour 2026: India To Switch Off Lights At Iconic Sites Nationwide; Check List, Timing
Although the first account was shut down by the government in February due to online fraud schemes and false advertising, it continued to operate, and her spending by March was 1,200 yuan, prompting her granddaughter to file a report with the authorities. Despite these efforts, new accounts appeared and would continue to target individuals (especially females) by use of "digital romance" scams that are designed to manipulate their emotions.