Mainland diva Na Ying recently released her first album in nine years – but the talk of the town last week was her relationship with former national football player Gao Feng.

Gao got hitched Thursday and posted an excitable microblog exalting his "first marriage," shocking fans who learnt that, after a 10-year previous relationship with Na, during which she bore his son, they were not even married.

Although rumors of their registration and divorce once fueled tabloids, both parties have confirmed they were never wedded. I recall Gao himself revealed that he'd married Na in secret and searching reports back then online confirms this.
 
Their relationship started in 1995 and they had a son,  Xing, in October 2004. Apparently, the fake marriage was necessitated to ease pressure about Xing's legitimacy, as having him out of wedlock could have  negative effects.

Merely six months afterward, they split up because of either an affair or work pressures, depending on who you believe. By 2004 Na had successfully expanded her singing career to Taiwan, while Gao had proved a failure in the hotel business after retirement from football. Gao has held a grudge ever since, especially when Na married a successful businessman in 2006.

His online announcement declaring his "first marriage" is therefore seen as a petty attempt to try to provoke and embarrass Na. 

Things haven't been going as planned, though: Na has won sympathy and the shame and criticism are on Gao, who, the majority agree, should  have thought to spare the feelings of Na and, more importantly, Xing.

Some still refer to Gao as Na's "former husband," which might be why, when promoting her latest album in Taiwan last week, Na scolded and threw her phone at paparazzi pestering about her mysterious marital status.