Taipei - The Chiling Lin wedding rumour mill has gone into overdrive, after the Taiwanese supermodel's boyfriend reportedly announced their marriage plans.

Last Saturday, Chinese news websites from Sina to NetEase quoted bathroom equipment heir Scott Qiu, 35, telling Hunan TV in an interview: 'I'm really marrying Chiling Lin in the second half of this year.'

But he has denied saying anything of the sort and she has laughed it off, said Taiwanese newspapers yesterday.

Asked about his reported nuptial announcement, he told Apple Daily: 'How is it possible? I didn't say so. Why don't you wait till the programme is broadcast?'

In an SMS to the newspaper, all Lin, 34, would say was: 'Ha ha ha ha ha.'

According to China Times, she has been shooting Ci Ling, the period action film that co-stars Jay Chou, in Inner Mongolia. Her assistant told the newspaper: 'Chiling has to help promote Ci Ling at the end of the year. How will she find time for marriage?'

A Hunan TV producer said Qiu was interviewed on the subject of showbusiness investments.

The couple are family friends and have been linked since 2005, when she fell from a horse in an accident in China and he reportedly sent her a card that read 'missing you'.

She confirmed the romance when she said last year they were 'a bit closer than close friends'.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.