Donation Surges to Nearly 60 Million
At 3:17 AM, Ms. Lam Vi was abruptly awakened by the ringing of her phone. The mobile notification illuminated her dark room and revealed a shocking transfer notification from the bank for a donation of 680,000 Chinese yuan (approximately 2.5 million Vietnamese dong). This marks the third time Ms. Trần Minh has received such notifications this week, as donations have recently ranged from 500,000 to 800,000 Chinese yuan.
As the sunlight streamed into her office, she saw her husband still immersed in his work, wearing headphones and intently focused on his computer screen. On his face was an expression of excitement that she hadn’t seen in a long time. While the couple’s financial situation has been precarious, she refrained from interrupting him as she didn’t want to disturb his concentration.
This financial windfall comes at a time when Lam Vi is preparing to put a down payment on a house, hoping to provide a stable environment for their daughter. After checking her family’s financial status, she was dismayed to discover a significant deficit over the past 14 months, as their money seemed to evaporate. Notably, Ms. Trần Minh has recently made headlines for donating a total of 16 million Chinese yuan (nearly 60 million Vietnamese dong) to three female streamers during live broadcasts. This sum represents nearly 18 years of the family’s savings, covering educational expenses for their children and healthcare costs for their parents.
“I think he is working extra hours at his new job, and he deserves to give gifts to those in need whom he has never met,” Lam Vi remarked, her voice trembling with emotion. Her left hand unconsciously brushed against the ring on her finger.
Marriage Struggles with Financial Burdens
The revelation of her husband’s financial struggles left Lam Vi feeling devastated. In addition to the direct loss of 16 million, Trần Minh had also borrowed nearly 4 million through various online lending platforms.
What further troubled Lam Vi was witnessing the personal messages from her husband and other streamers online:
“Hey, why didn’t you come with me today? I miss you”;
“Yesterday, you gave a gift to someone from the program, and I cried for a long time.”
Trần Minh’s responses were filled with heartfelt sentiments like, “I love you, don’t hide it,” and “I will always love you.” His voice conveyed a deep sincerity, bringing forth emotions that were perhaps more powerful than any words could express in their marriage.
“When I saw those recordings of our conversations, I realized that I was living a completely different life behind the screen,” Lam Vi shared.
Social Media and Its Impact on Relationships
Trần Minh, 42, is a mid-level manager at a technology company, earning an income complemented by various incentives that exceed 1.5 million Chinese yuan annually. He owns two properties in Beijing and is considered a standard middle-class citizen. However, the pressures of work and the emotional toll from marital issues have taken a significant toll on him.
“In the boardroom, I need to be the one who always maintains composure; when I return home, I have to be a father and a husband who carries the entire emotional weight. Only in the live streaming room can I momentarily let go of all my burdens and be my true self,” Trần Minh reflected during a mental health counseling session.
During a consultation, Trần Minh admitted that whenever he made a donation, other streamers would often express, “Sir, you are amazing!” which provided him with a sense of fulfillment. He noted, “The feeling of being the center of attention and receiving recognition is even more rewarding than winning a major award.” In those moments, he felt like he was in his prime, reliving his youth.
After the donations, Ms. Lam Vi sought new ways to manage finances, as her husband had previously “thrown money into a bottomless pit.” However, this process proved to be particularly challenging. According to the law, donations made during live broadcasts are often considered “gifts” and are very difficult to recover unless there is clear evidence of wrongdoing by the recipient.
Lam Vi and her husband have resolved to seek a divorce.
With a shattered family and tight finances, Trần Minh later realized that his personal accounts had been compromised during his attempts to connect with other streamers. He also had to remove himself from a “VIP support group” that he had once been a part of. The so-called “friendships” that were formed during this time have since faded away.
“What was the biggest betrayal? I realized that ‘those girls’ had made me excited when I was first introduced to them as professional performers, even though they were only in their twenties, and I knew their names and ages,” he lamented. Yet his virtual world collapsed, leaving behind a message from the bank, and his family had never been able to recover as they once did.
According to 163.com
