I. THE ENCOUNTER AND THE LURE OF AFFLUENCE

The heart often blinds itself to reality. When people fall in love, they may ignore the fundamental flaws of a relationship, convinced that love will conquer all.

This was the tragic fate of the woman in our story today. On June 27, 2000, a housekeeper reported to police after finding the lifeless body of a man covered in bl@od inside an apartment unit.

Apartment records indicated that the last person to enter the unit was a woman named Mira Yang. The woman was identified as Yang Yang (25), born in China in 1976.

Mira was raised by her single mother after her parents separated when she was young. Ambitious and a perfectionist, Mira graduated from a vocational course at 17 and began working as a flight attendant for Xiamen Airlines—a highly respected profession in China at the time.

After four years, Mira became a senior attendant and was recognized as one of Xiamen Airlines’ best cabin crew members. In 1997, Mira met Gao Shin (35), or Jian, the CEO of a real estate company.

Jian was on a business trip, and Mira was on duty. The wealthy CEO was instantly captivated by Mira’s beauty, persistently asking her for coffee, soft drinks, and, most importantly, her pager number.

Mira eventually gave in, thinking he wouldn’t call back. However, in the following days, Jian relentlessly called Mira whenever he was in Xiamen, where she resided, and invited her on a date.

At the time, Mira was focused on her career and studies, planning to enroll in a university in Beijing. She quit her job and moved to Beijing for college, unaware that Jian also resided there.

II. THE ROMANCE AND THE SHATTERING TRUTH

In 1998, a year after they first met, Mira received a surprise call in her dorm room. Jian, having tracked her down, had even visited her mother, who gave him Mira’s dorm number.

Mira was shocked that Jian had tracked her down after a year. The next day, Jian arrived at her university in a luxury Mercedes-Benz, bearing flowers, effectively starting his courtship.

Mira, now intrigued by his sincerity, accepted his persistent advances despite their 10-year age gap. Jian even enrolled in the same English class as Mira, determined to win her over.

When Mira injured her hand, Jian was the first person she called, and his concern solidified her growing feelings for him. Jian gave Mira a pager so they could communicate privately.

After three days of silence, Mira received a message that turned out to be a weather forecast, realizing then how much she truly missed hearing from Jian. For Mira’s birthday, Jian organized a party and bought her an apartment so she wouldn’t have to live in the dorm.

In late 1998, Mira and Jian officially moved in together. After graduating, Mira planned to return to work as a flight attendant, but Jian insisted she remain home with him.

Mira soon became pregnant, but Jian forced her to terminate the pregnancy, causing the first cracks in her trust. Mira also noticed Jian frequently spoke on the phone in a different language, which she didn’t understand.

Jian’s cousin accidentally revealed the shattering truth: Jian was married and had a child. Mira confronted Jian, who confessed, claiming he had planned to divorce his wife but was worried about their child.

Jian tearfully apologized and promised to divorce his wife and marry Mira. Mira, pitying him, believed his lie and stayed, unaware Jian had no intention of leaving his family.

III. THE POISON PLOT AND THE FINAL REJECTION

In 1999, during Chinese New Year, Jian returned to his wife and child. Mira hoped he would use this time to arrange the divorce.

On February 16, Jian returned, and a massive argument erupted when Mira discovered he had not initiated the divorce proceedings. Mira pressured Jian to call his wife, Tina, and reveal their affair, threatening to go to Tina personally the next day.

Tina dismissed the call as a prank. The next day, Mira and Jian traveled to Tina’s home, but Mira lost her courage and went home, simply telling Jian to divorce his wife.

Jian confessed the affair to Tina and asked for a divorce, but Tina furiously refused. Jian’s parents, unhappy with his infidelity, also disliked Mira, viewing her as a home-wrecker only interested in their son’s money.

Jian’s parents visited Beijing in March 1999 under the pretense of seeking medical treatment, intending to monitor Mira. They later accused Mira of stealing Jian’s Rolex watch and insulted her.

The accusation sparked a huge fight between Mira and Jian, damaging their relationship. Their arguments intensified, and Mira decided to move abroad to study hotel management in Switzerland in April 2000, seeking peace and distance from Jian.

However, Jian continued to call her, easily tracking her down, which convinced Mira she was still important to him. Mira returned to China during breaks, but the arguments continued.

Once, Mira found Jian flirting with another woman in a bar and humiliated him in front of his friends, leading Jian to strike her. In July 2000, Mira learned Jian had bought Tina a house in Beijing, realizing he would never marry her.

IV. THE LETHAL ACT AND THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE

On August 3, 2000, Mira was supposed to return to Switzerland. Jian dropped her off at the airport, unaware that Mira had no intention of boarding the flight.

Mira instead went to Tina’s house, posing as a social worker. She convinced Tina to drink a liquid, claiming it was medicine for a newly spreading disease.

In reality, the drink contained a poisonous chemical. When Mira noticed Tina was unaffected, she gave her another dose, claiming it was for her immune system, before leaving for Switzerland.

Tina felt unwell and told Jian about the “social worker” when he returned home. Jian rushed Tina to the hospital, where she recovered.

Jian suspected Mira, and he cut off all contact for several months out of fear for his family. However, he eventually gave in and contacted her again.

In April 2001, Mira returned to China after finishing her studies. They resumed their affair, but Jian still refused to leave his wife.

Jian paid for Mira’s apartment and gave her a monthly allowance of 46,000 RMB. Mira’s mother offered her a chance to move to Canada, having married a Canadian citizen.

Jian agreed to Mira’s departure, helping her secure her visa, and began seeing other women. Mira discovered this, confronting Jian. When Jian rejected her attempts to intervene, claiming he wanted to discuss her visa papers, a final argument erupted.

Jian threatened Mira with a knife, saying he should have ended her life sooner. During the struggle for the weapon, Mira stabbed Jian.

Mira felt a twisted sense of revenge for the pain Jian had inflicted. Jian succumbed to his injuries within minutes.

Mira left to buy a large suitcase to conceal the body, but upon her return, the housekeeper had discovered the scene and alerted the police. Mira fled, taking Jian’s money, watch, and car, and moved to another apartment to hide.

V. THE ARREST, CONVICTION, AND FINAL SENTENCE

Police quickly identified Mira as the last person with Jian. They found CCTV footage of Mira in the elevator two hours before Jian’s passing.

Three months after the criminal act, Mira was finally arrested on September 8, 2000, at the Canadian Embassy while applying for her visa. She confessed, claiming it was an accident and she had no intention to cause his passing.

Mira was charged with intentional homicide. During the trial, Mira was found guilty.

The judge stated that Mira was too driven by a selfish desire for happiness, despite knowing the relationship was wrong. In October 2002, Mira was sentenced to de@th.

Her lawyer appealed, arguing that Jian had initially deceived her. One year later, her sentence was commuted to life confinement.

In 2008, her sentence was further reduced to 16 years due to her good behavior in confinement. The tragic story of Mira and Jian remains a profound lesson on the destructive power of a forbidden love and obsession.