"I hear ..." when telling it to the person you heard something from?

Hello,

There's a statement which someone I know uses, and I just can't seem to understand how it makes sense in a certain situation.

Example: I hear that you got yourself a girlfriend.

It makes sense to me if the one you say that to isn't the one who told you what you heard.

Dialog which makes sense to me:
A is talking to B
A: Did you know that C got himself a girlfriend?
B: I didn't! I'll call C right away!
moments later, B is talking to C
B: I hear that you got yourself a girlfriend!

I understand that B heard this rumor from somewhere, and wants to make sure it's true.

Here's the dialog which I have a problem with:
A is talking to C
C: I got a girlfriend last week.
A: Wow, I am so happy for you!
the following day, A is talking to C again
A: I hear that you got yourself a girlfriend!

Let's say that person A couldn't possibly have heard this from anyone other than C him/herself, because A only speaks to C. Person A could have forgotten whether C got a girlfriend or were dumped, or if the topic was completely different, or if A and C talked about this at all (but couldn't have it from anyone else).

If it is correct usage of "I hear ...", could you please help me understand how/why it is correct?

Thank you very much in advance!

- Steffen