Singer Cheng Xiao, 25, denies rumours of affair with HK actor Tony Leung, 61

Chinese singer Cheng Xiao (left) has denied rumours of affair with Hong Kong actor Tony Leung. Photos: Cheng Xiao/Weibo, AFP

Chinese singer Cheng Xiao has rubbished rumours of her affair with acclaimed Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai – the husband of actress Carina Lau.

Speculations of a secret love affair between Cheng Xiao, 25, and Leung, 61, surfaced after they were spotted shopping together last year.

The gossip heated up recently after multiple reports claimed that the singer had given birth to an illegitimate child as a result of the extramarital affair.

Allegations that Leung had purchased a home in Japan for Cheng Xiao also went rampant on social media.

Responding to the rumours via her agency on Aug 12, Cheng Xiao quashed it as fake news, stating that “such rumours are not worth paying attention to.”

The agency added that it is preparing legal action against the relevant parties responsible for starting and propagating such “ridiculous allegations.”

Cheng Xiao’s legion of fans also came to her defense.

Many noted that it would be impossible for the singer to be pregnant as she had been participating in various shows, including a street dance variety programme.

Meanwhile, Leung and his wife are seemingly unfazed by the rumours.

In an Instagram post on Aug 11, Lau, 57, shared a snap of herself smiling as she posed in front of some flowers.

Her post was accompanied by a caption that read: “Jogging after the rain. I can clearly smell the scent of the grass, flowers and earth along the way.”

Leung’s friend, Hong Kong socialite Jane Louey, also posted a photo with the actor on her Instagram account two days later. Lau was also tagged in the post.

Leung and Lau tied the knot in a lavish wedding in Bhutan in 2008 after dating for 19 years.

The actor recently appeared in the music video, Cool With You, by the rising girl group NewJeans and has starred in many hit shows – including In The Mood For Love (2000), Infernal Affairs (2002) and Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021).

Cheng Xiao kickstarted her singing career as a member of the K-pop girl group WJSN in 2016 but took a hiatus from the group in 2018 to focus on her solo career in China.

She debuted as an actress in the 2020 series, Detective Chinatown, and has taken on many leading roles the following year in Chinese dramas like The World Of Fantasy, My Heart and Lie To Love.

Cheng Xiao left WJSN earlier in March. She is set to star alongside Angelababy and Wang An Yu in the upcoming drama, Back For You.