'Authoritative' Fan Bingbing turns 'submissive girlfriend' to Li Chen
PUBLISHED ONJune 04, 2015 9:08 AM
Reel-life turned real-life couple Fan Bingbing and Li Chen have been hogging the headlines after openly declaring their relationship on May 29.
Fan and Li were in Tibet a few days ago to promote a charity event. They walked the streets hand-in-hand wearing identical outfits, with Li gallantly sheltering his girlfriend from the sun's rays with a pink umbrella.
Eagle-eyed netizens also spotted Fan with a ring on her finger, speculating that Li had already proposed to her at the famous Potala Palace in Lhasa.
Fan responded to the rumours with good humour, saying: "Let's see if someone is hardworking enough!"
In a candid interview with Chinese media that delved into her personal life, Fan says Li has many good qualities that she appreciates.
She mused: "I've also read the news which said this is the first time in 18 years that I have gone public with my relationship. Perhaps it is because of him, maybe he's the one I'll grow old happily with, I didn't think about anything else."
Chinese news reported that Fan is often called "Fan Ye" ("Master Fan") in the media for the power she wields and her authoritativeness. However, next to Li, she reportedly transforms into a "submissive girlfriend".
According to Fan, Li gives her a sense of security and she enjoys the feeling of "being protected" when she is with him.
When asked to describe his place in her heart, Fan said he is a combination of "Guo Jing" (the main character in Lous Cha's Legend of the Condor Heroes wuxia novel), as well as the animated character Baymax in Big Hero 6.
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Revealing more about their relationship, Fan added that they have known each other for many years, and started off as friends. Li is also known to be loyal to friends and will not hesitate to help out a friend in need, a trait which she shares, said Fan.
As to whether she worries there will be more problems now that their relationship is exposed, Fan shared that there definitely will be, because of rumours that are generated and circulated.
But she says they hope to lead a normal life doing regular things that couples do, and to continue filming and doing their work well.
When asked if she would have a 'flash' or quick marriage, Fan says how it happens is not important, what is important is that two of them know each other well enough.
candicec@sph.com.sg