On September 11th, 37-year-old male star Yu Menglong, who rose to fame with the drama “Eternal Love”, tragically fell to his death in a building in Beijing. The incident, which took place at a friend’s residence, was swiftly ruled out as a “non-criminal accidental fall” leading to strong criticism and public outcry. Reports have emerged online indicating a surge in listings for sale in the “Beijing Sunshine Dong” community where the incident occurred, with many tenants also requesting to sublet their units, and auction videos taken by real estate agents circulating widely on the internet.
The “Beijing Sunshine Dong” community is a residence favored by many celebrities, but in light of the recent tragedy involving Yu Menglong, residents and tenants have been living in fear and apprehension. A whistleblower pieced together fragmented videos and recordings to construct a narrative surrounding Yu Menglong’s “timeline of events leading to his death”, which allegedly involves imprisonment, abuse, and power struggles at high levels within the Chinese Communist Party, painting a chilling picture.
According to information from websites like “Fangtianxia”, there has been a sudden increase in listings for sale in the “Sunshine Dong” community. Videos and images uploaded by real estate agents showcase the spacious layouts of the properties in the community, characterized by prominent floor-to-ceiling windows, glass balconies, and areas exceeding 300 square meters. Many agents are attempting to sell or sublet properties in the community at reduced prices. Listings in the “second-hand homes” section of the website indicate that there are currently up to 93 units available for sale, priced between 11.5 million to 16.5 million Chinese Yuan. The data on the website shows that the community was built in 2006, consisting of a total of 2,483 units spread across 30 buildings.
One self-proclaimed “Beijing lawyer” and former resident of the Sunshine Dong community revealed that she lived in Building 15, while the incident involving Yu Menglong occurred in Building 18. In a live stream, the netizen stated that if Yu Menglong’s fall was indeed accidental, there should be visible signs of damage, as the windows in the building open inwards, making it highly improbable for someone to accidentally fall out while intoxicated without a running start. Another former homeowner publicly stated that the height of the windows in the community is indeed too high, making it nearly impossible for someone to fall out accidentally while drunk.
However, these questioning videos were swiftly deleted, prompting concerns among some netizens: “Hope this lawyer stays safe and healthy.” “This is too eerie, people speaking the truth need to be careful.”
Following the exposure of selling listings on platforms like “Fangtianxia”, netizens have been commenting, with some expressing worries about potential reprisals: “They are afraid of being targeted for sharing what they heard and saw, hence the collective sell-off and escape.” “The collective panic selling by homeowners hints at the severity of the situation”; while others sarcastically remarked, “If they don’t run, are they waiting to be silenced?” “Who would dare to live there with unsettled spirits around?”
Yu Menglong, born in Xinjiang in 1988, rose to fame after participating in the talent show “Happy Boys” in 2010, eventually establishing a career in both music and acting. In 2017, he gained widespread popularity for his role as “Bai Zhen” in the drama “Eternal Love”, captivating audiences with his fresh and sunny image, only to meet a tragic end on September 11th by falling from a building, shocking the entertainment industry and society at large.