In the past, the late actress Ta Hien and former Miss Dich Ba Lap were a famous couple in the Hong Kong (China) entertainment industry.
Their two children, Ta Dinh Phong and Ta Dinh Dinh, grew up under the media's attention from a young age.
Later, information appeared that Ta Hien's real estate investment failed and suffered a debt of tens of millions of HKD. Ta Dinh Phong, when he was only 16 years old, was said to have decided to sign a long-term contract with Emperor Entertainment - an entertainment company under Anh Hoang Group - to officially join the entertainment industry with the aim of "paying off debts for his father".
Some sources said that when signing a contract with Anh Hoang, the company held more than 50% of Ta Dinh Phong's income. He had to work year-round without rest, at one point in his account there were only 99 HKD left, not enough to withdraw money. It was not until he was 31 years old that he paid off the last debt, using his youth to shoulder his father's debt.
However, both Ta Hien and Ta Dinh Phong have repeatedly denied this story.
Ta Hien once affirmed on many programs that there was absolutely no story of him "selling his son to pay off debts".
Nicholas Tse himself also denied the rumors, and said that the real reason he joined the entertainment industry was to pursue his own career.
Ta Hien once recounted in detail the process of his son joining the entertainment industry. He realized that Ta Dinh Phong really liked singing at home, so he let his son study basic vocals. The boy at that time diligently went to class every day.
In a gathering of friends, Ta Dinh Phong showed his singing talent in front of his father's guests and was noticed by Mr. Duong Thu Thanh - Chairman of Anh Hoang Group.
Ta Hien recalled: "Duong Thu Thanh is my friend for more than 50 years. He said:'Let your son sign with me, I will support him'. I even joked:'Selling him is not worth much, more than ten million is not worth it'. Unexpectedly, all kinds of rumors appeared from then on".
According to Ta Hien, the most important thing he told his son was not "pay your father's debt", but: "Once you step on stage, you must not step down anymore, you must work until you die".
Whether the story of "paying off debts" is true or false, the process from conflict to reconciliation between father and son is what moves many people.
In the early years, the relationship between them was once distant. When receiving the "Photo Emperor" Kim Tuong award in 2011, Ta Dinh Phong choked up and apologized to his father right on stage.
He said: "When I was 18 years old and won the Best New Actor award, my father once said to me:'When you were little, I acted in hundreds of movies'.
I immediately replied:''Father has acted in hundreds of movies, so has you ever won the Golden Statue award?'. Then, I put the trophy on the table.
I don't understand why that saying has been in my heart for 12 years. I hope you don't keep it in your heart as long as I did. I hope you forgive the arrogant, disrespectful child who didn't know heaven and earth that day.
Raising a difficult child like you, who has to smile at everyone every day, father is the Best Actor".
In his old age, Ta Hien was arranged by Ta Dinh Phong to live in an apartment overlooking the sea and hired 4 professional caregivers with medical expertise to take turns on duty 24/24.
After his father passed away, Nicholas Tse posted a memorial message on July 20, recalling the saying that Nicholas Tse always kept in mind: "The show must go on - The show must continue. Don't cry, don't be too sad. He will see that this is not in his best form".
