When Xiao Yun left her home in Zhejian, China, at the age of 14, her parents presumed her dead. They’d had an argument and after that day, they never saw her again. That was a whole decade ago.

But now they’ve discovered that their daughter had just been on the internet this entire time. She faked her own death without even trying to fake it. Police officers found her this week when they were doing routine checks on internet cafes, where it turns out she’s been living and gaming for the last ten years, according to Qianjiang Evening News.

Xiao’s daily routine was this: going to school every day, then playing first-personal shooter game CrossFire, washing in nearby bath houses and then taking naps in the cafes. She had a fake ID and relied mostly on the kindness of other cafe locals. Sometimes she worked as a cashier when she needed extra money. 

Instead of letting her hang out indefinitely at the internet cafes, becoming the world CrossFire champ, police went hard on her. She was fined 1,000 yuan (about £100) and taken back to her mum. “I have a stubborn personality and a short temper, so I used to scold her,” explained Mumma Yun. “But it’s been ten years and now she’s an adult. I will never scold her again.”

H/T Oyster