BEIJING - Kung Fu Hustle actress Huang Shengyi secretly had a son with her agent Yang Zi, said reports today.

Rumours went round about Huang's relationship with Yang after his father died last month and a photo of her wearing a hemp cloak and kneeling at the funeral surfaced, said NetEase website. In the picture, there is a boy at her side.

At a press conference for a reality television show today, Yang responded to the rumours for the first time and admitted obliquely that he is the father of Huang's son, said NetEase. Yang acknowledged having two children, and said he had kept quiet about them to protect their childhood.

He is known to have a daughter with his first wife, so his comment about having two children is an acknowledgement of his son with Huang, said NetEase. He declined to discuss the status of his relationship with Huang.

But without naming her, he said: "If a person is under pressure from rumours, in her heart, she will certainly be impatient to give a clarification. But she has chosen to be patient, tolerant, for the child's carefree childhood. I think it's worthy of respect."

Huang, 32, made her debut in the 2004 Stephen Chow comedy Kung Fu Hustle. Yang, 39, is also a producer and actor. His Juli Entertainment has produced movies starring Huang, such as the 2011 Jet Li fantasy The Sorcerer And The White Snake.