5566’s Ex-Manager, 65, Now Works At Hotpot Restaurant: “I Don't Want To Wait To Die”

He once helped shape the careers of Show Luo and popular noughties Taiwanese band 5566. Now, former celebrity manager Sun Derong is making headlines for a very different reason.

The 65-year-old was recently spotted working as a server at a hotpot restaurant, greeting customers, taking orders and serving dishes.

And no, he’s not doing it for the money.

He reportedly has a net worth of NT$300 million (S$12.5mil).

So why is he doing it?

“I don’t want to sit around and wait to die,” Derong said candidly in an interview.

The former showbiz power player stepped away from the entertainment industry years ago after being diagnosed with stage three bladder cancer in 2013.

He underwent surgery to remove his bladder and has since lived with an artificial one, dealing with ongoing health complications.

Derong fulfilled his long-time wish of becoming a father when he officially adopted a son, 26-year-old Weizhe, earlier this year.

Having a son has also given him a renewed sense of purpose, and staying active, both physically and mentally, has become a priority.

“He worries about my health, so I should move more,” Derong shared.

Which explains his new gig at the hotpot restaurant, where he works as a server every Friday and Sunday.

He treats it as a way to keep moving and doesn’t draw a salary.

Instead, he has just one request: that the restaurant owner buys an insurance policy for his son, while letting Weizhe, who is training to be an insurance agent, handle the application as a learning opportunity.

Aside from his restaurant shifts, Derong also works as a consultant at a design company from Monday to Wednesday, helping businesses transform.

“I’m not short of money,” he said. “I just want to push myself to stay active. This isn’t something I’ll give up halfway.”