‘From show partner to life partner’: TV hosts Lulu Huang, Hank Chen Han-dian are getting married

Some relationships are so well-hidden, even a couple’s friends can be in the dark about their dating status.

That was the case with Taiwanese hosts Lulu Huang and Hank Chen Han-dian, who announced on social media on Sept 11 that they were getting hitched, shocking even their industry pals.

They were part of the presenting line-up of Taiwanese variety show Hot Door Night, which premiered in 2013 and ended in August.

The pair, whom nobody knew were dating, posted on Instagram photos of them laughing gleefully, with Chen, 41, holding a red box and Huang, 34, wearing the engagement ring.

She wrote in the caption: “This isn’t a hotly anticipated project – we are really getting married.”

And to reassure everyone she was not pulling a fast one, she added: “We know you are still waiting for the twist after reading this, but there are no more red ribbons to pull out and no hidden cameras either.”

Taiwanese TV personality Jacky Wu, their co-host on Hot Door Night, previously joked in an interview, reportedly conducted in 2023, that if the two got married, he would give them an NT$2 million (S$84,800) hongbao. If Huang gives birth to a daughter, another NT$2 million hongbao would be in store, the 62-year-old added.

So attractive was the proposition that Huang once quipped in another interview that if she and Chen needed money, they would register their marriage.

Wu’s nudging seemed to have had an impact on the couple’s relationship. Huang added in her Sept 11 post: “(Jacky) once said that what is more important than trust between partners is ‘compatibility’.

“I am so happy we have both found the person we understand best in life. We have decided to spend every happy and hilarious day together.”

A clip from a January episode of Hot Door Night has resurfaced online, showing Huang and Chen parodying the wedding of Taiwanese singer Jam Hsiao to his long-time manager Summer Lin in 2023.

Chen played the groom and Huang the bride, while Wu walked Huang down the aisle and took on the role of the wedding officiant as well. 

In the segment, Chen said: “Lulu Huang is my wife! I love you, Lulu!”

Huang and Chen also sang one of Hsiao’s ballads, A-Fei’s Butterflies, while holding hands. When the song ended, Huang said: “Thanks, everyone, for coming to witness our big day.”

Many Taiwanese personalities expressed surprise at the big reveal.

Actor Chang Li-tung wrote on social media: “Congratulations on going from a show partner to a life partner. I can only say that (Jacky’s) red envelope is really too tempting.”

Actress Amanda Liu added: “I never really believed it until this moment. My bridesmaid dresses are ready.”