Lucas, Tse’s eldest son with ex-wife actress Cecilia Cheung, was recently admitted to Cambridge’s Faculty of Physics, attracting widespread media attention. In recent months, Tse has frequently appeared with Lucas, including during a car racing trip in Dubai, according to Dimsum Daily.

The sudden visibility led some netizens to comment, as reported by Swamp: “Nicholas Tse finally remembered he is a father.” On Weibo, users accused Tse of being a “part-time father,” questioning why he was rarely seen during Lucas’s formative years but now appears alongside him as he achieves success.

Critics noted that Tse was in Paris three years ago when Lucas won gold in a mathematics competition, and filming a cooking show five years ago when Lucas first tried piano. Most of Lucas’s school and leisure activities were reportedly spent with his mother, Cheung. Tse now publicly praises his son and accompanies him to events, which critics argue creates the impression he had been present all along.

Lucas was raised primarily by Cheung. At 15, he skipped a grade and entered a leading international school in Singapore. A robotic arm he designed was also displayed at the Hong Kong Science Museum. Cheung was consistently by his side, attending parent-teacher meetings, taking him to the library, and even converting their garage into a physics lab to nurture his interest.

In contrast, Tse was mainly recognized for establishing a large fund to secure his son’s financial future, a gesture that some fans said was his most notable contribution.

The father-son relationship has since become a trending topic on Chinese social media, drawing divided opinions. Supporters defended Tse, saying: “Only the child has the right to judge his father’s role, not outsiders.” Others argued his financial support was essential: “Without the father’s fund, could Lucas have gone to Cambridge with such confidence?”

Tse has remained silent in response to the criticism.

Tse and Cheung, both 45, married in 2006 and divorced in 2011. He has two sons with Cheung: Lucas and his younger brother, Quintus.

Tse began his entertainment career in 1996 and made his acting debut in 1998, quickly rising as one of Hong Kong’s leading actors and singers. Cheung rose to fame in 1998 after appearing in a lemon tea commercial and later starred in Stephen Chow’s 1999 film “King of Comedy,” a box office success that established her career.