Former Hong Kong actress Gigi Lai recently marked her father’s 88th birthday with a simple dinner surrounded by loved ones.
On Monday (Feb 2), the 54-year-old shared a series of photos and videos from the evening, including snapshots highlighting her father’s paintings.
The carousel also featured pictures of Lai with her parents and younger brother Stephen, all three of whom are seldom seen on social media.
“Dear dad, happy 88th birthday! Your love for Chinese literature has deeply inspired me. Every poem and painting is a reflection of your spirit.
“Each day spent with you has helped me grow. May you continue to write poetry, create art and stay with us,” she captioned her post.
According to Singapore’s CNA Lifestyle, Lai grew up in privilege as the granddaughter of pioneering Hong Kong filmmaker Lai Man Wai and actress Lim Cho Cho.
However, her family faced financial difficulties early on in her life and had to move to a more modest neighbourhood after her father lost the ability to work due to meningitis.
Lai left school when she was 14 to enter showbiz and support her family.
She joined TVB in 1991 and is best known for her roles in The Heaven Sword And Dragon Saber, War And Beauty, The Charm Beneath and The Dance Of Passion.
In 2007, Stephen was involved in a serious car accident that left him in a coma for three months and resulted in him being wheelchair-bound.
Reports indicate that Lai left the entertainment industry in 2008, after shooting the drama The Gem Of Life, to care for her younger brother and manage his skincare clinic business.
She tied the knot with businessman Patrick Ma that same year and later welcomed three daughters with him – 14-year-old twin girls Patricia and Gianna, as well as 13-year-old Pegella.
