A top executive with PetroChina was fired after being caught on video walking with his alleged mistress on the streets of Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The middle-aged man and the young woman smiled as they stroll hand-in-hand, both dressed in matching pink outfits.
The street photographer who unknowingly captured the viral footage, identified as Xiaomi, told media that the two were aware they were being recorded by multiple people and did not protest.
Social media users quickly identified the man as Hu Jiyong, an executive at a sub-company of the State-owned petroleum company, and the woman his colleague Dong Sijin. Some online sources denied Dong was Hu’s mistress, saying Hu has been divorced for two years, but no official source has offered confirmations as of press time.
Netizens seemed to care more about the couple’s financial status. Rumors claim that Dong, 27, has a master’s from the China University of Petroleum and leads a lavish lifestyle. Some claim the slim-fitting floral-print dress Dong was spotted in costs 90,000 yuan (US$13,000), while circulated screenshots suggest Dong spends around the same amount monthly on e-shopping site Taobao.
Many netizens speculated that Hu and Dong were involved in corruption. The two are under disciplinary investigation.
Following the scandal, sales of knockoffs of Dong’s now notorious dress spiked on Taobao, though the shop owner told media that around half had already been returned. While some netizens praised Dong’s beauty, most chided Hu and Dong for misleading young people that they can make fast money in immoral ways.
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