On February 2nd, Taiwanese actress Dee Hsu, also known as Big S (Xu Xi Yuan), passed away unexpectedly in Japan due to the flu at the age of 48. The timeline revealed by the tour guide showed that Big S had cold symptoms when she arrived in Japan, and her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to her sudden death within 5 days. The issue of custody of Big S’s two children and the handling of her inheritance has also sparked public attention.
According to Taiwan media outlet “Hong Kong Web,” Big S and her entourage arrived in Japan on the first day of the Lunar New Year (January 29), with Big S already showing signs of a slight cold. The tour guide reconstructed the timeline from the onset of her illness to her passing.
On January 29, when the tour guide met Big S and her family, she was already experiencing coughing and asthma symptoms. That day, they went to Hakone to begin their hot spring journey. On January 30 and 31, Big S continued to feel unwell. On the evening of January 31, Big S was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and returned to her residence later that night.
On February 1, the tour guide took Big S, Little S, and their families to Tokyo. Big S visited a local clinic, where her condition could not be confirmed. They then went to a larger hospital where she was diagnosed with “Type A influenza.” After receiving medication, they returned to the city.
That night, Big S’s condition worsened rapidly, and the tour guide immediately called for an ambulance for emergency treatment. Big S passed away at 7 a.m. on the 2nd.
During her final moments, Big S was accompanied by her husband, Xu Jun Ye, their two children, mother, younger sister Little S (Xu Xi Di), Little S’s husband, Xu Ya Jun, Little S’s daughter Lily, and youngest daughter Xu Lao San.
Following Big S’s sudden passing, the issue of custody and inheritance for her children has become a topic of concern.
In 2010, Big S married Chinese wealthy heir Wang Xiao Fei, with whom she had two children. In 2021, they announced their peaceful separation, and their two children have been living with Big S in Taiwan since then.
It is reported that on February 8, 2022, Big S married Korean singer Xu Jun Ye, and their 3rd wedding anniversary was just 5 days away.
Taiwanese lawyer Lu Qiu Yuan stated that according to Taiwanese law, after a divorce, if the custodial parent passes away, the custody of the children will transfer to the surviving parent. In the case of Big S, after her passing, the custody of the two children would legally go to Wang Xiao Fei, regardless of any will Big S may have left, as only a surviving parent can designate a guardian in a will.
If Wang Xiao Fei wishes to take the two underage daughters with him, it is permitted under Taiwan law. Despite Big S’s remarriage to Xu Jun Ye, since he did not adopt her two children, their relationship is solely that of in-laws, and parental rights will remain with Wang Xiao Fei in the eyes of the law.
Lu Qiu Yuan also pointed out that if Wang Xiao Fei wants custody of the children, Big S’s family can still fight for guardianship in court based on the “minimal change principle” and the “wishes of the underage children.” In this scenario, unless Wang Xiao Fei is willing to compromise, the legal battle would be challenging.
Shanghai Hansheng (Chengdu) Law Firm lawyer Cai Xiao Li mentioned, “After Big S’s passing, Wang Xiao Fei has a high chance of gaining custody of the two children.” Big S’s two children primarily reside in Taiwan, and according to relevant regulations in Taiwan, when a divorced couple recorded the custody agreement and one parent passes away, the custody usually shifts to the surviving parent.
In the practical process, both of Big S and Wang Xiao Fei’s children are over 8 years old, so the custody would typically consider the children’s own wishes as the primary factor. Additionally, factors such as financial conditions and the closeness of the parent-child relationship will be comprehensively considered to determine whether transferring custody of the two children to Wang Xiao Fei is in their best interest.