Taiwanese heiress criticized as 'cold-blooded' mother after son's suicide

Xu Lily, founder of Xuexue Culture and wife of Formosa Plastics Group president Lin Boshui, faces criticism for her alleged coldness in the aftermath of her eldest son Xu Zixiang's suicide during the Lunar New Year. Xu Zixiang, her son from a previous marriage, reportedly took his own life after struggling to adapt to the pressures and culture of his wealthy stepfather's family.

Sources close to the family have described Xu Lily as a "cold-blooded mother" for her perceived lack of empathy and focus on funeral expenses following her son's death. Xu Zixiang's wife, Tan Yixin, is said to be bearing the brunt of her husband's death alone, with minimal interaction from her mother-in-law.

“

If love is only given when you completely obey, then it is not unconditional, it is just a form of conditional recognition.

Xu Lily had previously stated that her son found his life's love at 49 and married Tan Yixin after a six-month courtship. She expressed heartbreak, believing he had finally found happiness with a supportive wife and in-laws, but lamented that family shadows and long-term pressure might have contributed to his depression and eventual suicide.

The article also details Xu Lily's complex relationship with her son. She lost contact with him for years after his father took him back to the paternal family home when she was training in Japan. They reunited when she pursued a master's degree in the U.S. and later supported his life and education there. He returned to Taiwan in 2017, and she assisted him with housing and starting a business, leading to more frequent interactions.

“

I always thought he could finally find his happiness, have a beautiful and kind wife, and in-laws who treated him like their own son, and start a happy family life. But heaven does not grant wishes; perhaps the shadow of an unhappy childhood, coupled with the pressure of long-term solitary struggle after growing up, made him finally choose to end his life in depression.