In the digital age, it has become inevitable for children to use electronic devices and access the Internet. However, the convenience of technology comes with unforeseen risks, especially regarding financial management. Recently, a heartbreaking story from China has shocked the online community, as the father’s savings—earned through three years of hard work—turned into a ‘gift’ for a beautiful streamer due to the carefree actions of his son.
The father is an ordinary worker with a modest income. For three years, he worked tirelessly, accepting the toughest jobs and cutting back on all personal expenses to save every penny for his son’s educational future. The amount saved was not small; it represented the effort, sweat, and silent sacrifices of the father. Yet, the 16-year-old son from Henan (China) spent all of his father’s three years of savings to donate to a beautiful streamer. This event has drawn significant public attention, ranking in the top 4 trending keywords on the Weibo platform.
From December 2024 to August 2025, the boy repeatedly topped up and spent money on a video platform. He wanted to show his ‘generosity’ to his idol and naively carried out a series of money transfer transactions in the form of ‘gifts’ (donations) to the female streamer. This amount was not a small sum, but over 30,000 yuan (approximately 110 million VND)—the entirety of the family’s savings for three years. The boy stated, “I felt enchanted; the female streamer made me feel relaxed. Especially, after donating, I felt very good.” His father was unaware that this money would be squandered by his son, only able to cry.
Lawyers have stated that for such “donation” actions, if they occur before the individual reaches 16 years old, parents can request a refund on behalf of their children. However, if the donation occurs after the individual turns 16, the chances of reimbursement are very low. In this case, most of the boy’s donation transactions took place before June of this year, when he was not yet 16 years old.
If a refund is not possible, compensation must be made according to the equivalent value. If both parties are at fault (for example, parents not managing the payment account well, or the platform not having strict oversight), the responsibility for compensation will be divided based on the fault of each party. If the platform has severe management loopholes and the parents can provide sufficient evidence, the court will typically require a refund of over 70% of the amount. If the parents clearly have faults in supervising their children, the refund rate may drop below 50%.
After the incident became public, the online community expressed deep sympathy for the father. Meanwhile, many people called for the platform and the female streamer to refund the money. Recovering the funds often faces many challenges, requiring the family to provide sufficient evidence proving the transactions were made by a minor. This process is complicated and time-consuming, but it is the only glimmer of hope for the father to salvage the labor of three long years.
According to 163.com