Zheng Shuang’s (郑爽) ex-boyfriend, Zhang Heng (张恒), dropped a bomb on January 18, revealing he had been staying in the US to take care of his two infant children. NetEase Entertainment then claims Zhang Heng’s friend had provided them with two alleged American birth certificates showing Zhang Heng and Zheng Shuang as the parents of a baby girl and a baby boy. The friend was also the one who provided pictures of Zhang Heng with his babies from birth to spending Christmas together. They also claim Zhang Heng is stuck in the US “because Zheng Shuang wouldn’t cooperate on many legal procedures”.
Rumors started circulating Zhang Heng and Zheng Shuang birthed their babies through surrogacy. Zheng Shuang was never seen pregnant and the babies were born in different states and weeks apart from each other. Hours later on January 18, NetEase Entertainment released two audio clips claiming it was provided by Zhang Heng’s friend once again. The clip is allegedly of someone suspected to be Zheng Shuang and her parents discussing the plans for the pending birth of their babies with someone suspected to be Zhang Heng’s father.
Audio Clip 1 identifies the alleged people speaking in the following order:
Female Party’s Father: “What we’re doing now is to discuss what we’re going to do with the children. Discussing that…we don’t want them. Because of this situation, 2 people have separated, since they’ve separated, there is nothing…no one is able to raise them. Just say to the hospital, just abandon them.”
Female Party’s Father: “No, no. I am telling you, just say “if you can, just abandon”…”
Zhang Heng’s Father: “This is illegal in the US. Do you know that?!”
Female Party’s Father: “Then what are you going to do?! We need to at least do…”
Audio Clip 2 identifies the alleged people speaking in the following order:
Zhang Heng’s Father: “I can’t be like the two of them”
Female Party’s Father: “With these two children, one sentence…can’t keep them! If them two really can’t reconcile, (Zhang Heng’s Father: “They’re so young”) then these two children can’t be kept.”
Zhang Heng’s Father: “What do you mean can’t keep them? It can’t be solved right now.”
Female Party’s Father: “What can be done…[give it up for] adoption in the US.”</p><p>Female Party’s Mother: “We consulted with that lawyer. We…”
Zhang Heng’s Father: “What does it mean to adopt in the US? I don’t understand.”
Female Party: “No, really. We actually don’t understand this aspect either. So that’s why when we found out at the time, I was thinking about this matter by myself. I was actually really mad because I want to ask Zhang Heng. Now that he knows about this matter, what does he want to do, but first help us resolve this current matter. What to do about these children? Yes, I was especially anxious at the time. I want to say we must take responsibility for our lives and everything we do.”
Zhang Heng’s Father: “I understand. Whatever he says, I won’t…I won’t say. He said that thing…”
Female Party’s Father: “Ask the American side…[they] should know. They have that.”
Female Party: “These babies are 7 months already, really can’t abort them. (ta ma de), I am so annoyed.”
Female Party’s Father: “Can’t abort them, just want that, [give it up for] adoption.”
Female Party’s Mother: “Our thinking is this…just that…we consulted with a lawyer. As it involves two lives and they can’t be aborted. Overseas, don’t even talk about 6 months and up, it’s just 3 months. Some don’t let you do this (abort), you know. So there is still one way, that is the two of them aren’t mature right now. Since they are not together, the harm to both parties is extremely great. So we’re saying, don’t keep them. The other way is to [give it up for] adoption. Just let them be born and…then give it to someone else. The both of you will be completely forgotten. Right, completely forgotten.”