When Coco opened the hotel room door in Shanghai, she found a Valentino gown laid out on the bed, a set of jewellery beside it, and a note that read: “My dear Coco, this jewellery must be returned, it is my daughter’s, the dress is what I chose for you.”
The note, signed by 89‑year‑old veteran actor Xie Xian, known as “Fourth Brother,” became the latest flashpoint in a resurfaced romance that once shocked Hong Kong’s tabloids: a 12‑year relationship with a woman 49 years his junior that ended in 2018.
Coco, a mainland model who first met Xie Xian in 2004, has been revisiting the affair on short‑video platforms, describing how he warmed her hands inside his jacket on a cold airport send‑off, how he played hard‑to‑get over lunch, and how he once brought her to a badminton court to confront his own idol, Francis Ng, declaring, “You know? My girlfriend likes you. After she went out with me, she stopped liking you. Am I not better looking than you?” Ng’s reply, according to Coco, was a sheepish, “Big brother, you’re still the handsomest man in Hong Kong.”
The renewed attention comes as Coco details how Xie Xian borrowed jewellery from his daughter, Xie Tingting, to impress her — a gesture she found “interesting” but which online commentators have criticised as a sign of financial desperation, noting the timing of her revelations coincides with rumours of a HK$20 million (approximately NT$80 million) severance payment she allegedly received after their split.
Xie Xian’s romantic history is long and storied. He rose to fame in 1960 with The Return of the Condor Heroes, became known for a suave, womanising image, and has had five significant relationships, including marriages to actresses Gam Lun and Deanie Ip, with whom he has two children, Xie Tingting and Xie Shengfeng. His past liaisons also reportedly involved stars such as Jia Ling and Fang Fang.
The “grandfather‑granddaughter” label, coined as of the nearly half‑century age gap, initially drew scepticism when the pair went public, yet they appeared together frequently over the years, with Xie Xian reportedly supporting Coco’s studies in the UK. Despite the breakup, Coco has maintained a affluent lifestyle, frequently travelling to Europe and showcasing high‑end fashion on her socials.
Neither Xie Xian nor his representatives have responded to the latest allegations, and Coco has neither confirmed nor denied the HK$20 million settlement figure that has circulated in previous reports.
Why is Coco speaking out now after years of silence?
She has not explicitly stated a motive, but her recent videos on platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu suggest she is revisiting the relationship amid public curiosity and possibly addressing lingering rumours about the settlement.
What does the borrowed jewellery incident reveal about Xie Xian’s courtship style?
It shows a mix of grand gesture and practicality — he prepared a dress and accessories for her but insisted the jewellery, belonging to his daughter, be returned, highlighting both his attempt to impress and his awareness of propriety.