---
title: "The Price of Ambition: How a Conflict Over 'The Three-Body Problem' Led to the Execution of a Top Executive in China"
description: "In China, Xu Yao, a former top executive at Yoozoo Games, was executed for poisoning his boss, Lin Qi. The conflict arose over the rights to the Netflix series 'The Three-Body Problem.' The magnate's death shocked the industry, and the killer was executed four years after the crime. ⚖️🎮"
date: 2026-05-28T12:24:59.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/the-price-of-ambition-how-a-conflict-over-the-three-body-problem-led-to-the-execution-of-a-top-executive-in-china
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# The Price of Ambition: How a Conflict Over 'The Three-Body Problem' Led to the Execution of a Top Executive in China

![Xu Yao in the courtroom surrounded by guards before the verdict for the murder of Lin Qi](https://xab.info/media/2026/05/28/v-kitae-kaznen-otravitel-vladelca-igrovoy-imperii/suy-yao-v-sude-za-ubiystvo-lin-ci.webp)

In China, a verdict has been carried out that marks a dark chapter in one of the most prominent esports and film stories of the decade. On May 21, Xu Yao, a former top executive at Yoozoo Games, was executed after being found guilty of poisoning his boss, Lin Qi. The death of the magnate, who was instrumental in the creation of the popular Netflix series 'The Three-Body Problem,' shocked the industry, while the fate of the killer serves as a grim reminder of the price paid for corporate intrigue.

### A Blood Feud Over Adaptation Rights

Lin Qi, the founder of Yoozoo Games, died in December 2020 at the age of 39. While the official cause of death was listed as illness, the investigation revealed a different picture. Xu Yao, who previously headed the film production department, poisoned his own supervisor. The motive was a sharp management conflict: shortly before the tragedy, Lin Qi had reduced Xu's salary and removed him from a key project—the adaptation of Liu Cixin's novel for Netflix.

Poison was mixed into the food and drinks. Lin Qi was hospitalized and died nine days later. Four other company employees were hospitalized with signs of poisoning but survived. Xu Yao was arrested almost immediately after his boss was hospitalized. In March 2024, the court sentenced him to death, which was carried out in May.

### The Empire of Games and Cinema

Founded by Lin Qi in 2009, Yoozoo Games became one of the leaders in the online gaming market. Under his leadership, hits such as League of Angels, Drakensang Online, and a game based on 'Game of Thrones' were released. However, the entrepreneur's ambitions were not limited to game development. In 2015, the company acquired the rights to adapt 'The Three-Body Problem,' and in 2020, it struck a deal with Netflix.

The series, released on the streaming platform in 2024, became one of the most discussed projects on the platform. Lin Qi was posthumously credited as one of the executive producers. His death was a shock to the entire industry, and the magnate's net worth at the time of his death was estimated at 6.8 billion yuan (approximately $941 million).

### Justice Prevailed

On May 26, Yoozoo Games officially confirmed the execution of Xu Yao. In a statement from the management, it was noted that "justice has prevailed." The company expressed deep sympathy to the family of the deceased founder, noting that his contribution to the development of the industry will remain in history forever.