Man, 36, marries woman, 23, whom he accidentally knocked down with his car 1 year earlier in China

A man was driving towards an intersection in the Chinese southern province of Hunan in December 2023 when his car ran into a woman riding an e-bike.

After the woman, surnamed Huang, was hospitalised for cracked collarbones, the man, surnamed Li, visited her every day at the hospital to take care of her, reported Chinese newspaper Xiaoxiang Morning Herald.

To Li's surprise, 20 days after the collision, Huang suddenly confessed her feelings for him over WeChat.

While Li initially did not reciprocate Huang's feelings, as he is 13 years older than her, they eventually entered into a relationship after spending more time together.

On Feb. 6, 2025, more than a year after the collision, Li, now 36, and Huang, now 23, held their wedding in Li's hometown, with the couple expecting their first child in June.

Woman left very positive first impression on man

Speaking to Xiaoxiang, Li shared that he knocked down Huang in 2023 because he was driving at "a slightly faster speed" to "attend to an emergency".

According to him, it was the first time he ever hit a person, and his mind "went completely blank".

"I didn't even know how to call for help. Other people at the scene helped me call the ambulance and the traffic police," recounted Li.

At the time, Huang was lying on the road after being thrown into the air.

However, when Li approached her to offer his apology, Huang immediately responded, "It's alright."

Li said Huang's reply made him feel that she was a "very honest and kind person" who "definitely would not extort his money".

Li visited Huang at hospital daily

After Huang was hospitalised, Li bought fruits and milk for her during visits, reported Xiaoxiang.

Li added that he was touched by Huang's parents, who never scolded him for their daughter's ordeal or asked him for compensation.

Thereafter, Li visited Huang at the hospital daily, bringing her breakfast, taking care of her, buying whatever she needed, and chatting with her.

Li also shared candidly that he did so initially because he wanted to fill his days so that his parents would not worry about him running into more car accidents.

According to him, before knocking down Huang, he was involved in five other car collisions over the course of two months.

Huang confessed her feelings first

About 20 days after the accident, the man received a long text message from the victim over WeChat at around 1am, according to Xiaoxiang.

In the message, Huang wrote:

"Although I am crystal clear that you are just someone I talked to for a few days, I still developed feelings for you. But you didn't reciprocate.

Even if you like me, I don't dare date you, because I have nothing to offer you, and you don't like me like that. You are only caring for me. [...]

I don't care how old you are and how you were like previously, I like all versions of you and fall for who you are today.

You didn't allow me to always look at you, but I wanted to. Even if one day, I can no longer see you, when I look back at these memories, I will still fall for you, and my feelings will not change."

At first, Li said he did not reply Huang as he "had never developed romantic feelings for her" and worried that her parents might oppose their relationship due to their 13-year age gap.

In response, Huang stated that "it was up to her to decide her personal affairs" and that people should confess their feelings fearlessly, even if they have zero chance.

Although Li continued to distance himself from Huang afterwards, including by not replying to her messages, he gradually developed feelings for her after they spent more time together.

Li didn't plan on getting married before meeting Huang

After Huang found out she was pregnant in September 2024, the couple began planning for their wedding, reported Xiaoxiang.

Li shared that before meeting Huang, he believed that marriage was not necessary, even though his singlehood gave his parents a headache.

However, Huang and her family members' care for him changed Li's mind.

"Every morning when I woke up, they would prepare water for me to wash my face and squeeze toothpaste for me. Sometimes, they would also wash my feet and help me trim my nails. Their gestures were really thoughtful," recounted Li.

He added that when he returned to Huang's parents' home, which is located near his workplace, her parents would cook for him even if they had already finished their meals.

Huang even returned Li the betrothal gift he had prepared for their marriage, which amounted to 188,000 yuan (S$34,698.24), because she wanted him to use it to pay off his debts.

Li shared that he is grateful for Huang's courage and their relationship, adding that he has never been involved in another car accident ever since meeting her.

Top images via 渣哥/Douyin