Chang Fei and Fei Yu-Ching's Buddhist nun sister, former singer-actress Jenny Fei, is making her showbiz comeback after receiving a generous donation from a fan to repay her NT$30 million (S$1.4mil) debt.

The 70-year-old, who got ordained as a Buddhist monk many years ago and is now known as Venerable Heng Shu, reportedly racked up millions in debt after borrowing from more than 20 loan sharks to fund her diamond business.

During her virtual press conference on Facebook yesterday (Sep 7), Heng Shu revealed that in April, she started having negative thoughts and questioned if she should continue being a nun. “I said if Heaven doesn’t let me preach, then I will give it up. Show me a sign,” she said. Lo and behold, she received a message from a fan who wanted to support her comeback and remitted US$1mil (S$1.4mil) to her, which she used to clear her debts.

And lest you think that the generous fan is one of her younger brothers, Heng Shu is convinced he is not. She said: “My two brothers are ancient people living in modern times. They do not have Facebook accounts and refuse to adopt modern technology, so how can they appear in the live broadcast chatroom? There is no way they are my super fan.”

She added that she still keeps in contact with the fan and he constantly encourages her. “I cannot be greedy and keep asking for his help, so I have decided to make a comeback,” she said.

“I want to make a full comeback, whether it is on the internet, TV stations, public welfare activities, advertisements and endorsements, you will see someone who is ready to go all out, and a Venerable Heng Shu who is full of positive energy.”

In March, Chang Fei and Yu-ching threatened to cut off all ties with Heng Shu, claiming they have “had enough” after years of paying off her debts, to the tune of more than NT$200mil (S$9.5mil).

To this, Heng Shun responded: “Yu-ching did indeed help me with NT$30mil (S$1.5mil) to NT$50mil (S$2.4mil). He also faced the same predicament as me before, and I even sold a house at Dunhua South Road for more than NT$5mil (S$233,000). How come it does not count when I help him? I needed cash for my diamond business and when I borrowed from Chang Fei, I repaid him according to market rate. As for the NT$200mil (S$9.5mil), I think they got [the sum] wrong.”

In fact, Heng Shu said she had always declined her brothers’ help, so she was not upset when they refused to repay her debt. “A man should bear the consequences of his actions. Even though I am not a man, I reap what I sow. In the olden times, the father’s debts is borne by the son, I have never heard of a sister’s debts being borne by her brothers. Actually, I have always declined their help,” she said.

What about the NT$200,000 (S$9,300) monthly allowance that she reportedly got from each of her brothers?

She replied: “Though I was the one who helped kick-start their showbiz careers, I have never asked them for an allowance. 20 years ago, they did each give me a monthly allowance of NT$50,000 (S$2,400). Honestly, I needed this money 20 years ago but I was too proud and never asked for it. I accepted when they gave it to me.

She added that her brothers have begged her to return to secular life “but how can I return when I have no money?” she said. “If you each give me NT$100mil (S$4.7mil) maybe it is enough. But you only give me NT$50,000 (S$2,400) every month. As their original manager, shouldn’t I be rewarded with at least a 10 per cent cut? That’s not too much right? But never mind. Let them be.”

Heng Shu revealed that after Chang Fei and Yu-ching went public about her debt troubles, they did attempt to explain things to her. “But you cannot smear me in public then turn around and apologise in secret,” she said looking visibly agitated.

She continued: “Since you said I am your poor sister then we’ll talk after I make it rich. Perhaps I owe them in my previous life. From now on, I will walk my own path. You guys retire, I will make my comeback. I used to hide when they were around, so as not to steal their thunder. But from now on, there are no more obstacles.”

She added that she will not share the stage with her brothers if they were to come out of retirement. “It’s better that we go our separate ways. People with no common ground should not work together,” she said.

Heng Shu, when she was still known as Jenny, started out as a singer performing at a restaurant. In 1970, when she was 20, she was talent scouted and entered the TV industry. She later developed her career in Japan and was dubbed “Oriental Venus” due to her sultry image.

She decided to work behind the scenes when she was 30, and left showbiz more than three decades ago. At 40 she was ordained in San Francisco’s The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and became known as Venerable Heng Shu. Even though she’s a nun, she did not change her maverick ways and continued living a life of luxury.

Photos: Apple Daily, Heng Shu/Facebook