HONG KONG – Are Leon Lai and Maggie Cheung pairing off, 16 years after they played lovers in Comrades: Almost A Love Story?

In a report picked up by news websites on Monday, Oriental Sunday weekly said the stars had been seen on dates in China and Hong Kong, after they appeared in public together at a Unicef event last month.

Lai, 45, had announced in October the end of his marriage to model Gaile Lai, 32.

Cheung, 48, has moved back to Hong Kong from Beijing, after her break-up with architect Ole Scheeren, 41.

The actress, who has been trying her hand at music, wants to make an album without having to publicise it and Lai has delighted her by playing along, said the report.

Lai intends to have her record new songs and distribute them online through his record label, added the report.

Apparently, he has not only arranged for her to record songs in a professional studio but has also doubled as singing coach.

When she went to Shanghai for work recently, he followed, seemingly a devoted suitor, said the report.

She performed at a Vogue party in Beijing in October, talk-singing through her song Visionary in a husky voice over guitars and drums.

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