According to Chinese media outlet Sina, the unusual situation began in 2014 when Li Jinming participated in the reality program Celebrity Comes to My Home, a show in which celebrities experience life in rural communities. During the program, Li Jinming temporarily played the role of a newlywed bride living with a farming family in Yunnan Province.

While the arrangement was purely part of the show’s concept, the family reportedly began treating the situation as if it were real. They allegedly believed that Li Jinming had genuinely become their daughter-in-law and started imposing household duties on her during filming. Reports claimed that she was forced to perform difficult manual labor, with family members insisting that harsh treatment was a form of care.

The situation reportedly escalated when the mother of the family encouraged her son to enter the actress’s room late at night in hopes of turning their fictional relationship into a real one. When filming ended, the family allegedly resisted Li Jinming’s departure, insisting that she had already become a member of their household.

The family later filed a lawsuit against both the television program and the actress, demanding that she fulfill what they described as marital responsibilities and seeking compensation of 200,000 yuan. The court ultimately rejected their claims.

Over the following years, the family reportedly continued their fixation. They preserved leftovers from meals Li Jinming had eaten during filming, kept her former room untouched, and frequently posted messages online expressing how much they missed their “daughter-in-law.” Some posts claimed they were saving livestock for her future return, while others suggested that the family’s son still missed her presence.

Even in 2026, the family is reportedly continuing to use Li Jinming’s image and name. They allegedly use wedding photos from the reality show as profile pictures on social media accounts and continue introducing themselves as her relatives. Some posts still refer to the actress as their daughter-in-law, with one message from the so-called mother-in-law claiming she regularly enters Li Jinming’s old room because she misses her smile and scent.

Li Jinming rose to fame through her role as Chen Meijia in the hit television series iPartment. Known for her youthful and cheerful image, the actress faced unexpected criticism after appearing on Celebrity Comes to My Home. At the time, the family publicly accused her of being arrogant, leading some viewers to believe she looked down on rural people.

Because the public was unaware of the full story, Li Jinming’s reputation reportedly suffered. In the years that followed, she gradually withdrew from public activities and has appeared less frequently in television productions over the past five years.

After renewed attention surrounding the family’s actions surfaced online, Li Jinming stated that she was not severely affected by the situation and did not suffer lasting psychological harm. She also revealed that she had no plans to take legal action against the family despite their continued use of her name and image.

Many netizens, however, believe the family’s behavior crossed the boundaries of normal social interaction long ago. Critics argue that the family blurred the line between reality television and real life, continuing to harass the actress for more than a decade while benefiting from her fame.

Sources: K14