Taipei - Television host Patty Hou is engaged to a businessman, three years after her hot romance with pop superstar Jay Chou crashed and burned, say reports.

The couple and their families had a low-key celebration in a restaurant on Christmas Day, reported Nownews website, quoting an unnamed source. China Times cited other sources as saying the party was on Christmas Eve or the day before.

A producer of Hou's show, Azio Superstar, said she was later than usual for the taping last Friday.

The 31-year-old star's agent said: 'She has never denied having a good boyfriend, nor has she denied there will be a wedding in the near future, but it's really not so soon.'

Hou's boyfriend, who is older than her and working in finance, is worth more than NT$10 billion (S$436 million), said Nownews.

American-educated like her, he is the son of a construction mogul. Little else is known about the mystery man, other than his surname, Huang.

Hou was with Chou for more than a year before their break-up.

Asked about the reports of his ex-girlfriend's engagement, Chou, who is on a publicity tour for his film, The Treasure Hunter, said: 'I can answer but can this not be the headline?'

But his staff stepped in and stopped him before he could comment.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.