'Nowadays, anyone can be a paparazzo'

Photographs of them going on numerous dates in Hong Kong and Taiwan have gone viral.

But Elva Hsiao insists on playing coy.

Asked if she is going to be a "Singaporean daughter-in-law" soon, the Taiwanese Mandopop singer laughed softly and protested: "No! You guys are thinking too much!"

Never mind if her relationship is already an open secret.

Hsiao, 35, and her Singaporean boyfriend, Mr Elroy Cheo, 30, have been photographed together many times by regional paparazzi.

One photograph even shows them sharing a spontaneous kiss on an escalator in a Hong Kong shopping mall.

Hsiao had flown into Singapore a few days earlier with Mr Cheo to spend private time with him before her appearance at ION Orchard's red carpet gala event yesterday evening to celebrate the mall's fifth anniversary. 

FRUSTRATED

And that arrangement would have been kept a secret, if not for a photograph snapped by a fan at the airport.

The photo, showing Hsiao and Mr Cheo together at Changi Airport in matching black outfits, had gone viral on social media after the fan uploaded it.

Referring to that photo, a guarded Hsiao looked a little frustrated and said: "Nowadays, anyone can be a paparazzo.

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"Everyone knew I was in Singapore earlier because of that photo. I guess I can't do anything about it and just have to accept it."

She added: "I am kind of used to being photographed in public, but at the same time, I am still not that used to it.

"I hope everyone will give me some space to enjoy my privacy."

Hsiao had been linked to Mr Cheo following her split from Taiwanese actor Kai Ko in May. 

Mr Cheo, whose elder sister Arissa is married to Taiwanese singer Van Ness Wu, reportedly comes from a wealthy family and is currently working on city development projects in China.

The pair got to know each other during Wu's wedding in Los Angeles, and Mr Cheo flew to Taiwan to console her after hearing about her break-up. He also reportedly flew to Korea and China to accompany her when she was there.

When asked what kind of woman she is when she is in love, Hsiao said: "I follow my heart. I am a carefree and casual person in a relationship.

"I won't keep restricting myself because there are already many restrictions at work."

She added: "My character is just like a guy. I am very direct with my emotions. When I am happy, I'm happy, when I am sad, I'm sad. I don't conceal my feelings."

Hsiao was also asked if her views on love have changed since her previous relationship.

She said: "I have always been the same. I am someone who puts in a lot of work to make a relationship work. If it still doesn't work after all my efforts, I'll give it up."

The singer said Singaporean men are thinner compared to Taiwanese men, and joked: "Is it because Singapore is hotter? The men perspire more and that's why they are thinner? Or is it because they take too much spicy food?"

But she added, perhaps referring to Mr Cheo: "The Singaporean guys whom I know around me are very gentlemanly and nice though."

jocelee@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Oct 17, 2014.
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