Xu Yao was executed May 21 after being convicted of murder in the poisoning death of Lin Qi, the billionaire founder of Yoozoo Games whose company held the adaptation rights to "The Three-Body Problem," the blockbuster Chinese sci-fi trilogy that Netflix adapted into its 2024 hit series.
Background
Lin Qi, 39 at the time of his death in December 2020, built Yoozoo Games into a major Chinese gaming company. The Shanghai-based firm secured the film adaptation rights to Liu Cixin's "Three-Body Problem" trilogy, which has been translated into more than 40 languages and spawned television, video game, and book productions worldwide. Liu became the first Chinese writer to win the prestigious Hugo Award for science fiction.
Xu Yao had served as head of a Yoozoo Games subsidiary and played a role in helping the company land the Netflix deal. However, he was sidelined by Lin shortly after securing the partnership, according to local media reports. The dispute over his diminished role reportedly fueled Xu's motive for revenge.
The Investigation
According to court documents and local media reports, including accounts from Shanghai business magazine Yicai Global and The Hollywood Reporter, Xu spent hundreds of thousands of yuan purchasing highly toxic substances online, including alpha-amanitin—a lethal compound found in certain poisonous mushrooms. He disguised the poisons as probiotic pills and concealed them inside coffee capsules, water containers, and whiskey bottles that he shared with Lin and other employees.
Lin was allegedly sickened by a cup of poisoned tea in December 2020 and was rushed to the hospital. He died a few days later at age 39. Several other company employees also fell ill but recovered.
Xu was convicted of murder in 2024 and sentenced to death. The Shanghai High People's Court confirmed his execution May 21, though the court did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lin's company issued a statement Tuesday on the Weibo social media platform confirming the case had reached its conclusion.
"Recently, the case concerning Mr. Lin Qi, the founder of Three-Body Universe, has finally reached its conclusion, and justice has ultimately been served," the company statement read. "All of us at the company are deeply grateful for the upholding of justice."
Key Takeaways
- Xu Yao was executed May 21, 2026, for the 2020 murder-by-poisoning of Lin Qi, founder of Yoozoo Games
- The killing stemmed from a professional dispute over Xu being sidelined after helping secure Netflix's "Three-Body Problem" deal
- Xu used alpha-amanitin and other toxins purchased online, disguising them in food and beverages consumed by victims
- Lin ranked No. 870 among China's richest entrepreneurs with an estimated net worth of $1 billion (6.8 billion yuan)
- Several other Yoozoo employees were sickened but survived the poisoning
What's Next
Yoozoo Games did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment. The company, now operating under new leadership, continues to manage the "Three-Body Problem" franchise and related properties. The case represents one of China's most high-profile corporate murder cases in recent years, drawing international attention given the global reach of the sci-fi property.
Lin Qi was remembered by his company as a visionary leader whose vision transformed Chinese science fiction into an internationally recognized industry spanning films, games, books, magazines and exhibitions.