The relationship between JD.com CEO Liu Qiangdong and Internet celebrity "Sister Milk Tea" Zhang Zetian finally went public via Liu's Weibo message on Monday afternoon.

A group of pictures showing Liu and Zhang are dating in New York was posted on Weibo on Sunday morning. The two hugged and held each other on the streets of New York City.

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Liu updated his verified Weibo account on Monday afternoon, saying that "each of us has the right to choose and make decisions about our lives, and Xiao Tian (apparently referring to Zhang) is the most innocent and kind-hearted person that I have ever met. I regret that I did not provide enough protection for her. Thanks for all of your concerns, all I'm asking for now is to be able to hold hands [with her] and go down the journey of life together. [I] wish you all happiness!"

This was the first time Liu updated his Weibo since two years ago. In about two hours, the Weibo message has been reposted and replied to tens of thousands of times.

Recently, news of the unconfirmed relationship between Liu and Zhang became hot gossip on the Internet, but the two kept denying the news. Liu finally confirmed it on Monday.

Zhang also updated her blog after the pictures were published, saying "I know the day would come sooner or later, but [I] just did not think it came so soon and so thoroughly. Some comments online made me scared."

She added, "I think the public might forget that I am still a student."

Zhang emphasized that she is not a "goddess" with crown as the public perceives her to be.

"If I hurt the one in the eyes of you, [I am] sorry!" said Zhang.

Some media, however, speculated that the pictures and the Weibo thread are just marketing tools for JD's upcoming market listing in the U.S.