A man who terrified his girlfriend after an argument by faking a suicidal leap into a lake was later found to have swum to the opposite bank and gone home, reports Beijing Morning News.

The 20-something couple got into a quarrel on the southern bank of Houhai Lake on Tuesday morning. The man then jumped into the water while his girlfriend turned away to take a call.

Upon realizing that her guy was missing and recalling hearing a splash while talking on her mobile, the woman immediately rang police for help.

Only after officers had searched the lake for half an hour did the man call his anxious girlfriend to say he was at home after swimming across the lake.

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