Jay Chou just hinted at Harlem Yu's penny-pinching ways, and the Chinese singer-songwriter is determined to prove the Taiwanese superstar wrong. Apparently, Chou was not so coy about revealing that Yu is rather stingy even from way back.

In fact, Yu has already set his mind to giving Chou a red Chinese envelope containing RMB$100 (estimated US$16.10) bills when they record the next episode of "The Voice of China."

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During a friendly banter common among mentors of any "The Voice" franchise, the two coaches exchanged embarrassing revelations about each other. Chou, who just joined the show on its fourth season, was persuading a contestant to choose his team when he unwittingly shared a story of how stingy Yu can be. According to Chou, he was a performer at a restaurant before he debuted as an artist when he encountered Yu.

"[Yu] wouldn't even give me a NT$100 (approximately US$3.20) tip," Chou disclosed.

In response, Yu readily quipped that he is just "very thrifty." The 53-year-old singer also revealed in later interviews that he already paid RMB$100 to Chou when the shoot ended. Apart from the paid due, Yu plans to hand Chou a hongbao as a token of discrediting Chou's good-humored claim.

One 2006 forum in Asiafanatics quoted Sohu.com articles featuring Yu as one of the four "most stingy" persons in showbiz. The forum's list included martial arts superstar Jackie Chan, Taiwanese heartthrob Jerry Yan, and C-Pop Queen Jolin Tsai.

Yu maintained that his exchange with Chou was just a lighthearted badgering and he does not make a big deal out of Chou's statement. The "God of Pop Music" added that he does not feel bad that the new father reportedly has the most attention in the show.

On July 19, Yu grabbed everyone's attention when he promoted his concert DVD "My Harlem Years." Wearing tight-fitting workout shirt and cycling shorts, Yu performed stationary bike exercises with fans. During the event, organizers and fans surprised him with a cake and gifts in advance celebration of his birthday.

Joining Yu and Chou in the roster of mentors are vocalist Na Ying and rock singer-composer Wang Feng.

TagsHarlem Yu, Jay Chou, Harlem Yu stingy, The Voice, The Voice of China, Jerry Yan, Jolin Tsai, God of Pop Music, My Harlem Years, Wang Feng, Na Ying