It's a boy for Nicky Wu and Liu Shishi, who's 5 months pregnant

There's another celebrity baby on the way in 2019, and he belongs to none other than 48-year-old Taiwanese actor Nicky Wu and wife, Chinese actress Cecilia Liu Shishi.

But the confirmation came not from the couple themselves, but from Wu's mother. 

The excited granny shared that Liu, 31, is five months pregnant, and as expected, "the whole family is very happy". The baby will be her sixth grandchild, and the fourth boy, reported Apple Daily Taiwan.

She also couldn't help but add that malicious reports about Liu having problems conceiving had given the couple "a lot of pressure", and revealed that the baby was conceived naturally. 

According to Wu's mum, Liu has been suffering from morning sickness, which has caused a concerned Wu to encourage her to eat more.

Could that be the reason why Wu has been putting on some 'baby weight' as well?

Just last month, a photo of a -- how do we say this nicely -- heftier-looking Wu was posted on social media. 

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From the photo, his clean-cut and chiselled good looks have been replaced by a shaggy mane and rounder features, making him barely recognisable.

Wu has been on a break from work recently and is keeping a low profile, said his mum. He didn't want to announce the happy news yet so that Liu can rest and focus on her pregnancy, she added.

The couple have since relocated from smoggy Beijing to Taiwan, where Liu is expected to give birth to their first child, Apple Daily reported.

On Tuesday (Dec 18), photos posted on Weibo by a netizen showed a couple resembling Liu and Wu on the streets of Taipei. The pair sported face masks and caps, with Liu donning a loose overcoat. Wu followed closely behind her, holding an arm out protectively as she got into a car. 

It was reported last December that Wu had purchased four apartments worth NT$190 million (about S$8.5 million) in Taiwan for himself, his parents and two brothers. 

Wu and Liu married in 2016, after falling in love on the set of the 2011 Chinese period drama, Scarlet Heart. Wu was previously married to Chinese actress Ma Yashu.

candicec@sph.com.sg