IT'S over. Wushu hunk Vincent Ng and beauty-queen-turned-actress-host

Ling Lee have broken up.

The couple ended their two-year-plus relationship three weeks ago,

much to the surprise of their family and friends.

Both had spoken to Lianhe Zaobao about their romance recently,

and Vincent even revealed plans to settle down in three years.

Ironically, the article appeared on 20 Mar -

the same week they decided to go separate ways.

So what caused them to split?

It wasn't their 10-year age gap.

'Love is beyond age differences,' Vincent, 33, said.

Nor did they have a big fight. 'We're not the squabbling type,' he insisted.

Third party?

'No, I definitely won't do that to anyone,' Vincent said resolutely.

Maybe it was because he was 'too nice' to her, if there is such a thing.

Although Ling, a former finalist with The New Paper New Face contest in 2004, did not respond to our calls yesterday, she told The New Paper in an interview last June that Vincent is 'more husband material than boyfriend material'.

'Yah, he's very nice. It's good, no mind games,' she had said then.

'But sometimes, girls like to play mind games, you know.'

So, is it possible that she bailed out now because he was too nice to her?

'Maybe... I don't know,' Vincent said hesitantly in a phone interview yesterday.

'But in every relationship, what's important to me is that I treat the other party sincerely and whenever I give, I never expect anything back.'

Vincent also ruled out Ling getting cold feet about marriage because he has not popped the question yet - despite telling the media last October that he was 'all prepared' to get hitched.

Instead, the former actor insisted the split was a mutual decision.

He said: 'The closest reason is probably that our views are different now. We're at a stage where we're pursuing different dreams and I respect her decision to lead her own life.

'We think we would be happier to just focus on our careers.'

Incidentally, both of them have left MediaCorp to pursue other interests.

Vincent now manages a wushu school and is exploring business ideas. Ling, who was last seen in the local film Men In White in the middle of last year, works in abank.

PROTECTIVE

Vincent would not delve into details, and you get the feeling he is trying to protect his 23-year-old ex-belle.

He said he would rather not 'brood over the negative' or 'say anything that will hurt the people who care about us'.

'I'm sad but it's not the end of the world. Life still has to go on, so I will just look forward and focus on the things I should do,' he said.

He would not discuss what he learnt from the relationship, or reveal what saddened him the most.

'A relationship is between two people. There's no need to tell the whole world about it,' he insisted.

Romance had blossomed after they met at a charity show in 2005.

Ling was offered a part-time acting/hosting contract by MediaCorp after emerging as Miss Beautiful Skin and Miss Body Beautiful at the Miss Singapore Universe pageant in 2005.

The story goes that she visited Vincent when he injured his knee and was hospitalised for treatment, and he was drawn to her sweet, caring ways.

Like most couples, Vincent said they used to meet on weekends to 'search for nice food',

watch movies, or hang out with other friends.

With Ling out of the picture now, he has been spending time instead with his close pals,

such as celebrity couple Ix Shen and Ericia Lee.

Vincent also picked up golf and is making travel plans to visit the desert in Ningxia, China.

Is there a chance of them getting back together?

Vincent said: 'Who knows what will happen in the future? But for the moment, I'm just going to focus on my career.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on Apr 10, 2008.