Shen Xiaoai of SNH48 claims she was in romantic relationship with Lu XinYi - and accuses her of having 'emotional affair'

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Two of the biggest girl groups in Chinese Pop - commonly dubbed C-Pop - have been mired in a cheating scandal as one singer has accused a bandmate of cheating on her with a performer from another troupe.

Shen Xiaoai, 28, of supergroup SNH48 has accused fellow member Lu XinYi, 22, of having an 'emotional affair' with another idol - after allegedly being in a romantic relationship for two and a half years.

Taking to social media, Xiaoai penned a long letter addressing her unnamed ex, detailing the allegations, and claiming that she and her were together before she saw her getting cosy with someone else.

Fans were quickly able to deduct who she was talking about, as Xiaoai referenced a talent competition - Best Partners - where fans can vote for paired up members of groups during stages.

In a letter to the lover that scorned her, she explained that they 'agreed we wouldn't be partners for this year's Best Partners competition' as they had been previously - due to past arguments, and the fact that Xiaoai would be 'graduating', or finishing her contract, in 2025.

Shen Xiaoai, 28, (left) of supergroup SNH48 has accused fellow member Lu XinYi, 22, (right) of having an 'emotional affair' with another idol

Hence, XinYi paired up with Wang YuChen, 22 - of GNZ48. GNZ48 serves as a sister group to SNH48. Both are a part of the SNH48 Group network, which has dozens of members across different regions of the country.

'You hid our relationship from your partner at the very start,' Xiaoai accused, according to a translation from Pop Inquirer. 'The unacceptable thing is, for the past month, you used the excuse of "getting to know your partner better, for work" in order to chat with your partner from morning until bed time everyday.

'You two even played games after I've gone to bed and wore couple bracelets without telling me.'

She claimed that YuChen had even had 'suspicions' about her and XinYi being in a romantic relationship, and 'asked her four times' about it. 

'Your response has always been "friend, roommate",' she said.

Xiaoai also alleged that se 'endured heartache' as she would watch the pair get closer, two live broadcasts together 'right in front of her' and be physically affectionate.

She said that her tolerance of the situation 'led to things spiraling out of control' - but she couldn't bring herself to confront the pair at first.

Before long, she said she and XinYi started 'arguing about things like this all the time' and decided to go their separate ways. 

XinYi (left) has this year paired up with Wang YuChen, 22 (right) - of GNZ48. GNZ48 serves as a sister group to SNH48.

As reported by HYPE.my, Xiaoai alleged that XinYi (pictured) has insisted that there was no affair with YuChen

'The reason you gave me was that I didn't console you and stay by your side enough when you got laughed at and were in a bad mood; instead, I just argued with you endlessly. You couldn't stand days like this, so you decided to leave me,' she penned.

'Later, I reflected upon myself and thought maybe I really shouldn't have done such things. Maybe I should've coaxed you. Maybe I really gave you too much pressure.

'So, in the few days after saying our goodbyes, I kept coaxing you and held you close to me while sleeping on the same bed. But you messaged her and told her you'll sleep after she gets back.'

She continued on to say she realised that she 'made a clown of herself' after looking through XinYi's electronics when she went to pick YuChen up from the airport in April.

'I looked at all of your chat logs on the iPad,' she wrote. 'I only realized then that you started having an emotional affair a long while ago.

It is understood that their management is unlikely to release a statement on the issue. Left, Xiaoai, and right, YuChen

'When we broke up, we made a promise that if you two break things off, then I would never mention any of this again.

'I never imagined that even after your partner found out about our relationship, you still didn’t keep the promise. Those pages of lovey-dovey chat logs. All those pages of daily sharing from morning until late at night.'

As reported by HYPE.my, Xiaoai alleged that XinYi has insisted that there was no affair, and that she and YuChen only had a working relationship - but Xiaoai insists she has 'more proof'.

It is understood that their management is unlikely to release a statement on the issue. 

Xiaoai debuted with the group in 2017, whereas as XinYi joined in 2021. 

The SNH48 Group's concept offers fans idols they can know in 'real life' and their dozens of members - across various sister groups - perform in local theatres around the country and do fan events. They also communicate with fans via social media.

As explained by one fan on the SNH48 reddit, the sisters groups a part of a large network and has seen more than 600 members over the years.

The main group - called SNH48 - is based in Shanghai and has upwards of 70 members.

'The charm of having so many members is that there will always be one that fits you,' poster Creepy-Ad-7803 shared.

They explained that the members of SNH48 are split into four teams, which have roughly 16 members each. It is also possible for an idol to be in more than one sister group.

The SNH48 Group's concept offers fans idols they can know in 'real life' and their dozens of members - across various sister groups - perform in local theatres around the country and do fan events. They also communicate with fans via social media. Members of the group pictured in 2019

Members of SNH48 are split into four teams, which have roughly 16 members each. It is also possible for an idol to be in more than one sister group. Band members pictured in 2018

'Teams do interact! While each team has their own performances and activities, members often collaborate across teams, especially in special performances,' the Redditer added.

There are also a number of events that take place with fans' participation. The most important one is dubbed the 'General Election', where the top 48 idols are voted on and invited to announce their rank in a grandiose ceremony.

Another, called B50 (SNH48 Request Time Best 50), sees fans deciding exactly what songs they want performed by which members in a show.

Finally, the 'Best Partners Battle' contest lets fans vote for their favourite duos within the SNH48 group, often featuring sultry performances. 

Xiaoai continued on to say she realised that she 'made a clown of herself' after looking through XinYi's electronics when she went to pick YuChen up from the airport in April. Pictured, XinYi

Xiaoai claimed that YuChen (pictured) had even had 'suspicions' about her and XinYi being in a romantic relationship, and 'asked her four times' about it

A clip from the 2023 event on social media, shared by user @Ama_kxx_ shows a seemingly happy Xiaoai and XinYi grin as they speak to the camera.

However, a TikTok from user (@lalina297), showing XinYi and YuChen on stage together in April, appears to show a flirty chemistry between the two - although the C-pop supergroup is known for teasing fans with suggestions that members are romantically entwined.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in China for both men and women - but LGBT unions are not recognised by law. 

Couples in same-sex relationships can't marry or adopt, nor are they offered protections given to heterosexual partners. There are also currently no explicit anti-discrimination laws. 

In a TikTok, Chinese tutor and influencer Dr. Candise Lin - who is based in the US - explained that a lot of China is 'still a homophobic society'.

'Chinese netizens were shocked by this bombshell because they didn't expect there are actually lesbians in girl groups,' she said of the latest C-pop drama.

'Most of these idols do couple pairings,' she explained, even purporting a concept which 'literally translates to "selling gay" to tailor to female fans'.

'There's a saying in China,' she concluded. 'They who win female fans win the world.'