Here’s where things get shady.
Before they set off, Li told Liya she would have to take a later flight as she had family matters to attend to. Liya then departed for the Philippines alone and has been uncontactable since.
Did Li ever show up to meet Liya in the Philippines? No one knows.
In June, Liya shared two posts on Xiaohongshu, but those who tried contacting her realised her phone was turned off.
Li also shut all her social media accounts later that month, leading people to suspect that she had something to do with Liya’s disappearance.
A clip of Liya locked up and abused also started circulating online, and it was rumoured that her family was asked to pay 800K yuan (S$148K) in ransom.
Here’s the latest update.
Recently, a netizen claimed that they spotted Liya working as a hostess in a casino in Cambodia.
In the photos shared, a woman they said was Liya was wearing a tag with the number 66. The netizen claimed that she had multiple cosmetic procedures done to her face and body.
Since that post, others have come out to say that they have also seen Liya. Many believe that she is being “controlled by an establishment” which provides “an array of services”.
Rumours now claim that Li and her mum had scammed Liya to go to the Philippines. There, she was “sold” to human traffickers in Cambodia, where she is essentially being held against her will.
Here’s hoping that Liya will be able to return home soon.