Taiwanese veteran musician “Little Fat Teacher” Yuan Wei-jen passed away in February at the age of 59. On the 10th, family members held a memorial service in the Zhi Zhong San Hall at Huaiai Hall, Jingxing Building, Taipei, for relatives and friends to pay tribute. Celebrity friends including Mo Fan, Matilda Tao, Lee Lee-zen, Phil Chang, Freddy Lin, Wang Zhiping, Sun Shengxi, Ella (Chen Chia-hwa), Kang Kang, etc., all showed up to say farewell. Yuan's ex-wife, and mother of his children, Lu Yuanqi, also arrived at the last moment.
Last month, Lu Yuanqi revealed in a social media post that someone had requested her children to “ask me not to appear at the funeral or memorial service.” In a follow-up post, she wrote: “Thank you to this world for treating me gently today, and thank you to my two precious kids for doing what I couldn’t do.” She indicated that while everyone was waiting for her appearance, she was as usual busy with work, feeling sorry that her daughter had little appetite recently and her son was still busy working: “With these two kids, I am satisfied for life.” Now, she broke through all “barriers,” wore a mask, and rushed to the scene.
Sitting in the audience, Lu Yuanqi frequently wiped away tears, showing her reluctance at her ex-husband’s passing. At the end, her friend Matilda Tao held her husband Lee Lee-zen with one hand and linked arms with Lu Yuanqi with the other, escorting her away. When asked by the media whether she was made things difficult for her at the memorial, Lu Yuanqi didn’t speak but only said: “It's not convenient to talk here, thank you.” When asked if she had anything to say to Yuan Wei-jen in heaven, Lu Yuanqi nodded and said, “Yes, I said a lot (in my heart), thank you.” Beside her, Matilda Tao said to her, “Leave with us first.” When asked why she came to say farewell to her ex-husband, Tao answered for her: “Of course, it’s only natural; you must come say goodbye to Xiao Pang (Little Fat).” Lu Yuanqi then said: “Because the kids are all here, it’s been a tough time for them, but they are all sensible and know what to do.” When asked if she still held any resentment towards Yuan Wei-jen, Lu Yuanqi waved and shook her head without saying more.
While alive, Yuan Wei-jen became widely known for his catchphrase “Keep it up, okay!” as a judge on the singing competition “Super Star Avenue.” The show’s host, Matilda Tao, spoke with a trembling voice in an interview, choking back tears as she said: “On behalf of Xiao Pang, thank you all. He was an annoying yet lovable friend. I hope he rests in peace.” Her eyes filled with tears as she recalled how, when Yuan collapsed from a brain hemorrhage in Shanghai in 2018, she was also in Shanghai. When Yuan’s children flew there to handle the aftermath, it was also her husband, Lee Lee-zen, who picked them up from the airport.
Matilda Tao, unable to bear seeing her friend struggle with illness and bedridden for eight years, choked up and said: “If there really is a next life, I hope he takes good care of his body and the people around him.” She also added: “Thank you for giving us so much good music, truly grateful for his talent.”
Yuan Wei-jen was bedridden for eight years. His close friend Phil Chang launched the “Little Fat Fund,” calling on about 30 friends in the entertainment industry to make regular donations towards his care. On the 30th, Phil Chang arrived wearing white hair, thick-framed glasses, and a black mask. Seeing the media present, he put his hands together in gratitude. Yuan Wei-jen once served as manager of the production department at “HIM International,” producing numerous albums for “Power Station” and “S.H.E,” and was a key figure behind both groups. After Power Station paid respects at the memorial on the 8th, Ella, who just held a concert in Xi’an, China, rushed back on the 10th to bid farewell to her former mentor, showing deep appreciation. Dressed in all black and keeping a low profile, Ella was seen crying so hard her nose turned red after the family ceremony, sobbing uncontrollably and unable to accept interviews, leaving only with the support of staff.
Source: Apple Online News + NOWnews Today Entertainment