She is a source of inspiration for his songs but Mandopop singer Victor Wong's girlfriend still wants to stay out of the limelight.

At a recent concert of his in Hong Kong, she had wanted to present flowers to him on stage but backed out eventually.

Wong says: 'She decided not to do so in the end because she did not want to be in the glare of the spotlight.'

He has revealed little about his girlfriend, except that she is based in Hong Kong and does not work in the entertainment industry.

In town last Wednesday to promote his latest album, All For Love, Wong - better known by his Chinese name, Pin Guan - said that although their relationship is stable, marriage is not yet on the cards.

What is he waiting for?

'The pressure from the media is high. Marriage should be a natural development in a relationship between two people. If everyone keeps asking, it creates a strange pressure instead,' says the boyish-looking 37-year-old with a laugh.

Marriage is even less pressing now that there has been a death in his family. His paternal grandmother died in her hometown of Penang last Wednesday.

According to Chinese custom, weddings and other celebrations should not take place too soon after a family bereavement out of respect for the dead.

Because she had died peacefully at the venerable age of 104, however, the singer and his family are taking it well.

'She left with a smile,' he said.

Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Pin Guan began his career as one half of pop duo Wu Yin Liang Pin, also known as Guang Liang Pin Guan. The other half was Michael Wong Guang Liang.

The pair split up in 2000 and Pin Guan embarked on a solo career that has gone on to yield 10 albums.

All For Love, his latest work, was released in Singapore on June 26. It comprises a CD with seven new tracks and seven past hits, and a DVD of the aforementioned Hong Kong concert, held on Feb 18 this year.

The new songs include a duet with Malaysian singer-actress Lee Sinje, When You Think Of Me, and Thinking Of You More Than I Imagined I Would, which is dedicated to his girlfriend.

All For Love is also the theme of Pin Guan's concert tour, which kicked off in Taiwan last month. The singer is looking to tour Malaysia and Singapore next.

'It's direct,' he said of the theme.

'It sums up the sentiment I want to convey in all of my songs.'