Deception and divorce: Man sues wife after raising non-biological daughters for 16 years

A high-profile divorce case gripping China reached court on Thursday, with a man seeking not only marital separation but also compensation after discovering the three daughters he raised for 16 years were not biologically his.

Chen Zhixian, a father in Dexing city, Jiangxi province, filed for divorce and monetary reimbursement "due to his wife's deception," his lawyer Yang Anming told Southern Metropolis Daily. The case also involves child custody, property division, and compensation for emotional distress.

Details remain obscured as the court closed the divorce proceedings and a related "personality rights" case to the public for privacy reasons.

However, Chen's public Douyin account, with over 560,000 followers, has offered glimpses into the ordeal.

Chen and his wife, surnamed Yu, married in 2007 and raised three daughters together. But doubt clouded their lives in March 2022 when Chen saw Yu leaving a hotel with another man. This prompted paternity tests, revealing none of the daughters were biologically his.

Frustrated and heartbroken, Chen sought legal recourse in August, sparking extensive online discussion. His 80 Douyin videos, one surpassing 750,000 likes, document the case's progress and draw sympathy from viewers.