Lexus

Lexus (雷子, 雷子哥), a golfer from Shenzhen claiming friendship with Zhang Zhehan. Also known as lingzhilexus, Edwin Ling. He is suspected of having access to the Zhangzhehan_super3 account. Lexus has posted photos supporting EHzZ on his personal IG account as well as photos and videos of social gatherings that were implied to include Zhang Zhehan.

He graduated from Arizona State University on a sports scholarship.

Relationship to Zhang Zhehan

Lexus has likely met Zhang Zhehan in the past and played golf with him (can be dated to March-May 2020). He is present in a photo with Zhang Zhehan and other golfers, which he posted to his Weibo account on May 14th, 2020. This photo is now deleted. There is also a wakesurfing video on his Instagram from October 6, 2020 with some comments in what is assumed to be Zhang Zhehan's voice.

Photo of ZZH with Lexus, 2020
Original weibo post, May 20, 2020

He was present in the yacht photos, but never provided any clarifications on behalf of Zhang Zhehan.

Role in the scam

Lexus has been mostly used to provide more legitimacy to the EHz.Z brand and to spread photos or videos in which one of the participants is supposed to be Zhang Zhehan. Based on his prior acquaintance with Zhang Zhehan (one documented instance from May 2020) fans are supposed to assume that all he is doing is supporting Zhang Zhehan's activities post-cancellation. The photos he posts are clearly doctored and he avoids ever mentioning Zhang Zhehan's name or tagging him in any of his online activities. Associating himself with Zhang Zhehan has resulted in his Instagram account gaining over 8000 new fans since April 2022 (a 2000% increase).

Number of his followers on April 2, 2022, just before he unprivated his account
Number of his followers on January 1, 2023

Lexus is an aspiring singer. Since mid-2022 he has been posting multiple singing videos to his Douyin to little acclaim. However, he has still managed to gather a small group of Zhang Zhehan fans who participate in group chats with him. He seems to have used that group chat to chat up fans, asking if they were in Shenzhen and offering to invite them to a meal.

Translation: "Are any of you in Shenzhen?" "Hahaha, you're all so naughty." "When we have the chance I'll treat you (to a meal)."
Translation: "you're all too horny, the chat is going to get banned"
Translation: "only when I'm drunk do I get the chance to do some things that I don't do when I'm sober"

In October 2022, he started promoting a different sports brand, IMI OLA. He joined the launch ceremony of an IMI OLA store in Shanghai on October 23, 2022, along with Danny and Vincent. Many fans (almost all decked out in EHz.Z merch) appeared as well.

Activity timeline

May 2020: Lexus posted a group photo with Zhang Zhehan at a golf course on his Weibo.
February 2021: Lexus appeared in the yacht photos used in the girlfriend rumors.
In December 2021 and January 2022, he posted a number of photos or IG stories that were later used to tie him to Zhang Sanjian:
- December 24th, 2021: a screenshot of his IG story from that date surfaced during the boyfriend rumors (see below). The story reads "It's going to be a good day". This was later connected to the fact that Zhang Zhehan's police report was finally accepted on December 24th.
- January 20, 2022: he posted a photo on his Instagram of his outfit for the day. It was tagged at hotel Intercontinental in Changsha. The photo was later used to tie him to Zhang Sanjian by comparing the clothing (hat from a matching set of black and white, pants worn in a supposed airport sighting).
- March 30, 2022: he posted a photo on his Instagram wearing shoes that were matched with an airport sighting of ZSJ. This post is now deleted.

Supposed IG story on Dec 24, 2021
IG post on Jan 20, 2022
IG post on Mar 30, 2022
Airport sighting released by Xie Yihua

April 2, 2022: a xnb appeared saying that Zhang Sanjian had a new boyfriend, at first naming photographer 于辛辣, then Lexus. The photographer was quick to deny the rumors. Rumors spread at the same time:
- Some of the guitar videos ZSJ he has been posting on his Weixin blog were taken at the "boyfriend's" place. A comparison appeared between the videos and Lexus' flat, highlighting the similarities, prompting the rumor that Zhang was living with him.
- His clothing was compared to what Zhang wore at the airport sighting.
- Lexus himself suggested he had a roommate in his IG stories (date unknown). His Instagram account was private up to the date the rumors started, then was unprivated and allowed new followers immediately.

于辛辣 denying the rumors
Comparison of Lexus' flat to a ZSJ video
Clothing comparison
IG story about a supposed roommate

May 8: he posted two IG stories from the opening of the teashop, one depicting the logo at the entrance, the other a short video with Kele.
May 9: he posted an IG story clarifying that he only likes women. This was taken as a response to the rumors from the beginning of April.

June-July: multiple posts and IG stories showing off EHz.Z merch (Jun 5, 15, 18, 21; July 4)
July 13: he posted two golf stories on his IG. The first one has a voice only a comment that is supposed to sound like Zhang Zhehan. The second shows someone walking under an umbrella in the distance, again suggesting it was supposed to be Zhang Zhehan.
July 14-15: in his IG stories, he shared a photo and then a video from a game of football/rugby. The photo contained some familiar faces: Danny, two unnamed girls, Lexus, Zhang Sanjian, Sui Ran, and Billy. He posted the video to his Douyin on July 15.
July 17: He posted a video of himself playing basketball with Zhang Sanjian at a Powolves basketball court.
July 18: He posted a group photo in his IG stories, then videos of himself playing the piano in an EHz.Z hat. In the group photo: Sui Ran, Mark, Billy, Danny, Zhang Sanjian, two of Lexus's friends, Lexus.
July 19: One more basketball video with Lexus was uploaded to Weibo by a former cpf account who earlier spread original voice SHL clips to gain popularity.
July 20: Yang Huan compared a photo of food recently posted by Lexus with an old photo from Zhang Zhehan's IG, pointing out a similar tabletop. This was intended to encourage shipping.

July 23: He posted sports photos without ZSJ.
July 30: He posted IG stores from a karaoke spot (KTV) with Zhang Sanjian and Danny.

August 4: he posted a karaoke video of himself singing while wearing EHz.Z merch on Douyin.
August 5: he no longer wanted Zhang Zhehan's name to be mentioned in his IG comments.

September 17: He livestreamed with Peter.
October 21: He posted IG stories with Zhang Sanjian in a mask, a selfie with Danny and one more person, and a video of supposedly Zhang Sanjian singing.

October 31: He unfollowed the Super3 IG account.
January 20, 2023: He appeared in two photos posted in the Super3 IG account, along with Danny, Mark, and Billy.

Suspected control of the Super3 IG account

Since its reactivation in January 2022, the Super3 IG followed a number of accounts that would be out-of-character for Zhang Zhehan. Some of them have overlap with Lexus's follows or interests. As of January 24, 2023, almost 25% of all accounts followed by the Super3 IG account are shared with Lexus.

Super3 IG following Kendall Jenner
Lexus liking a Kendall Jenner post at the same time
Accounts followed by both Super3 IG and Lexus IG on January 24, 2023

On July 30, 2022, the Super3 IG account responded to a fan comment in a very rude way. The wording and grammar make it sound very similar to Lexus. This was compared to how Lexus claimed he would forever support Xie Yihua in a Douyin comment just a few hours later.

Super3 IG defending Xie Yihua on July 30, 2022
Lexus defending Xie Yihua on July 31, 2022

Social media accounts

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lingzhilexus
Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/1705761455 account name: Lexus0zzz
Douyin: https://v.douyin.com/2v8gNuJ account name: 凌志Lexus0z
XHS: http://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/5a24e776e8ac2b67f680cdcf account name: 凌志Lexus

Trivia

Lexus uses the tag "short game chef" a lot. He even has it in the description of his Chinese socmed accounts. This is actually a title used by golfer Parker McLachlin, even as his website address https://www.shortgamechef.com/.