Beijing Time, December 8, 2025 – In the era of social media, the glamorous lives of influencers often conceal unknown risks. Recently, a shocking kidnapping incident has stunned the entire online community: the well-known influencer Lan Zhanfei has suddenly disappeared, and the police have confirmed that he has been kidnapped by unidentified individuals. This million-follower blogger, who rose to fame with humorous short videos and lifestyle vlogs, has fallen from the spotlight into darkness in an instant, raising countless concerns and speculations among fans. This article will restore the course of events and analyze the potential reasons behind it.
Lan Zhanfei, whose real name is Lan Zhanfei, is 28 years old and was born into an ordinary family in Shanghai. Since 2018, he has emerged on Douyin and Xiaohongshu with his unique sense of humor. His video content mainly consists of daily life complaints, street challenges, and funny imitations, and fans affectionately call him "Brother Fei." Before his disappearance, he had over 5 million followers on Douyin, and his Xiaohongshu notes had exceeded 100 million views. Lan Zhanfei's success stems from his down-to-earth image: a messy hairstyle, casual clothing, yet always able to hit the pain points of young people with witty lines. For example, his classic series "Office Survival Guide" once reached tens of millions of views for a single video, attracting numerous sponsors, including several fashion brands and beverage companies.
The incident occurred on the evening of December 5th. Lan Zhanfei's last public appearance was at a fan meeting in Chaoyang District, Beijing. He wore his signature blue hoodie and joyfully interacted with fans, the live broadcast attracted 100,000 online viewers. After the meeting, Lan Zhanfei posted an update: "Beijing is really cold tonight, but the warmth of the fans is heartwarming! See you on the way home." This became his last update. Initially, fans thought he was just busy with work, but the next day, when his assistant found his apartment empty and his phone turned off, the situation took a turn for the worse.
According to the police's preliminary investigation, Lan Zhanfei went missing while returning from the meeting venue to his residence. His vehicle, a black Tesla Model Y, was found parked in a remote alleyway in Chaoyang District, with the doors wide open and personal items like a phone and wallet scattered inside. There were no obvious signs of a struggle at the scene, but there were slight scratches on the trunk, suspected to be signs of a struggle. Surveillance footage showed that around 10 PM that evening, two masked men approached the vehicle and forcibly dragged Lan Zhanfei into an unlicensed van. The van quickly sped away and disappeared into the night. The police have sealed off the area and reviewed all surrounding surveillance, but the kidnappers seemed to have been prepared, using jamming devices to avoid most cameras.
Lan Zhanfei's assistant, Xiao Li, was in tears during an interview: "Feige is usually very low-key and never makes enemies. Everything was normal at the meeting, who would have thought such a thing would happen?" The fan group exploded with activity, with someone initiating the topic "Pray for Lan Zhanfei," which quickly rose to the top of trending searches within 24 hours. Many netizens reminisced about Lan Zhanfei's videos, commenting: "He always said life is like an adventure, but I didn't expect it to be true." Meanwhile, some conspiracy theories began to circulate: some netizens speculated that this was retaliation from competitors, as Lan Zhanfei had recently exposed the "dark side" of a certain influencer circle, involving false advertising and inflated metrics. Another theory pointed to emotional entanglements, claiming that Lan Zhanfei had broken up with a female influencer with a complicated background.
The police quickly intervened, and the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau established a special investigation team. On December 6th, they issued a reward notice: a reward of 100,000 yuan for anyone providing valid clues. The head of the special investigation team stated: "The kidnappers have not yet made a ransom demand, which adds to the uncertainty. We suspect that this may be related to economic disputes." It is reported that Lan Zhanfei's commercial value is considerable, with an estimated annual income exceeding 10 million. His management company also issued a statement: "We are fully cooperating with the police and calling for the kidnappers to release Lan Zhanfei. Feige is a source of joy for everyone; please give him a chance to return safely."
After the kidnapping incident was exposed, online public opinion boiled over. Many influencer colleagues voiced their support, such as the million-follower blogger "Little Cutie" who choked up during a live broadcast: "Influencers are not iron men; we also need protection." This also sparked discussions about influencer safety: does frequently exposing personal information and increasing offline activities raise risks? Experts pointed out that influencers should strengthen security measures, such as hiring bodyguards or using encrypted communications. At the same time, this case reminds the public that the star life in the virtual world is not always smooth sailing, with hidden crises lurking behind.
As of the time of publication, Lan Zhanfei is missing. The police have stated that they have narrowed down the range of suspects, including Lan Zhanfei's business competitors and former partners. Fans have spontaneously organized an online prayer activity, with tens of thousands of messages flooding his account: "Feige, hold on, we are waiting for you to come back!" There is hope that this kidnapping case will be resolved soon, allowing Lan Zhanfei to return to the screen.
