Popular Chinese actor Zheng Shuang, who became a household name with the hit drama Love O2O opposite Yang Yang, has reportedly welcomed a baby with a Chinese billionaire, according to a report from Chinese news site 163.com, quoting unnamed industry insiders. Zheng’s career derailed in early 2021 after she got embroiled in a series of controversies ranging from tax evasion to surrogacy abandonment and fraud, following which the Chinese government banned her popular shows from streaming in the country. The report comes just days after Zheng was seen crying during livestreams, denying rumours and viral claims that she had become a rich man’s “mistress or surrogate.”
Also read: Hidden Love’s Sang siblings Zhao Lusi and Victor Ma reunite in a new Chinese show with a twist
Did Zheng Shuang give birth to child in the US?
The insiders who spoke to the website alleged that the actor had secretly given birth in the US, after which she was also rewarded with a luxurious villa and a limited-edition car by Ye Dianwei, a wealthy businessman who just happens to be on China’s most-wanted list. The child’s gender is still unknown, and there’s no hard proof yet, but the rumour has already taken over the internet. Back in March, following her livestream, netizens demanded Zheng prove herself, asking her to stand up and show her full body to prove she wasn’t pregnant. She refused and then, reportedly, on March 12, disappeared from the public eye, which only made the situation worse for her.
Days later, Fuerdai, a popular TikToker who claims to be Ye Dianwei’s son, made a startling claim on social media accusing his notorious father of cheating on his mother with Zheng, and said that his dad sent tens of millions of yuan to support the actor, who is keeping low-key in the United States. He even went as far as to claim that Zheng lives in a villa where his father has other kids as well. Ye Dianwei, according to reports, has been warned by the Chinese government and would be arrested immediately if he sets foot in the country. Industry insiders claim the Swords of Legends star started dating him in 2024 after struggling financially because of lack of work after she was blacklisted in China, and her debts in the US were piling up fast.
What happened to Zheng Shuang?
Zheng’s career was at its peak after she starred in globally popular shows like Love O2O, Swords of Legends, Meteor Shower, Hi Venus, and more. Later, Netflix bagged the rights to a few of her C-dramas, which skyrocketed the actor to global fame. However, in 2021, her career was suspended in China, and her shows were banned. Her reputation, jobs, and brand deals vanished overnight. Zheng was accused by her ex-boyfriend, Zhang Heng, of abandoning two surrogate babies in the United States. According to Zhang, he was left stranded in the US with the babies while the actor returned to China and provided photos and birth certificates to back his claim. A leaked phone recording, where Zheng’s parents allegedly suggested giving the babies up for adoption, made the situation worse.
After she was blacklisted in China, Zheng moved to the U.S., where she reportedly owes more than 200 million RMB (~$27.8 million), according to KbiZoom. She’s also been trying to sell her $21 million villa in the U.S. So far, neither Zheng Shuang nor Ye Dianwei has commented on these new claims.