A man in southern China unintentionally exposed his affair after a failed electronic payment for contraceptive pills led pharmacy staff to contact his wife.
The individual, who has not been publicly identified, shared in a video that he visited the Pinggang branch of Dashenlin Pharmacy in Yangjiang, Guangdong province. He attempted to pay 15.8 yuan (about US$2.20) for birth control pills using a mobile payment app, but a “system error” prevented the transaction from going through.
To collect the outstanding payment, pharmacy staff dialed the number linked to his membership card. Instead of reaching him directly, the call went to his wife. When she asked about the charge, the staff member openly confirmed that the purchase was for contraceptive pills. This disclosure immediately revealed the man’s infidelity.
Details about the length of the marriage or the affair have not been released. According to the man, the incident caused both his family and another family to fall apart. In an online post, he angrily questioned whether the pharmacy should be held accountable, stating, “Now my wife knows everything, and two families are on the verge of collapse. Shouldn’t your pharmacy bear some responsibility?” He also uploaded the purchase receipt, screenshots of a conversation between his wife and the store clerk, and a police report dated August 12 from the Pinggang Police Station under the Gaoxin Branch of the Yangjiang Public Security Bureau.
Legal experts say his chances of holding the pharmacy responsible are slim. Fu Jian, director of Henan Zejin Law Firm, explained to Elephant News that the man’s infidelity was the direct cause of the marital breakdown, and he must take responsibility for his behavior. At the same time, if the pharmacy had truly violated his privacy, it could face consequences. However, Fu noted that the phone call appeared to be a routine attempt to recover payment, not an intentional disclosure, which makes it unlikely that the man can successfully claim damages.
The case has drawn widespread attention on Chinese social media, where many users have ridiculed the man’s complaints. One commenter wrote, “This is ridiculous—he cheats, gets caught, and still thinks he’s the victim? His marriage failed because of his actions, not the pharmacy.” Another joked, “This is comedy gold. He deserves it.” A third added, “He cheats on his wife, buys contraceptives with her membership card, and then blames the pharmacy when he gets exposed. What a clown.”— The Star
