In Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam, lives a 66-year-old painter named Liu Gongxian. This artist has a unique habit—his nails have not been trimmed for 33 years. Over these years, his nails have grown long and twisted, becoming an inseparable part of his life. Liu Gongxian has admitted that he is terrified of nail breakage, so much so that for 33 years, he has never personally done any household chores, all of which are taken care of by his wife. As a painter, he even had to give up basic personal hygiene like washing hands, all because he didn’t want to damage his precious nails covered in paint and dust.

According to foreign media reports, this Vietnamese painter is extremely fond of his long nails, which have accumulated thick layers of paint and dust from not washing his hands for a long time. His wife supports him in his daily creations, helping him mix paints, prepare brushes, and canvases. Despite such inconveniences, Liu Gongxian’s artistic journey remains vibrant and unaffected; he can still quickly complete each piece.

Liu Gongxian often says, without his wife’s hard work, he wouldn’t have achieved what he has today. His wife is not only his life partner but also an indispensable companion in his career. Whether at home or working outside, his wife always takes on the responsibility of caring for the family, while he enjoys the results. Due to concerns about damaging his precious nails, the couple has also chosen to sleep in separate beds at night.

To care for Liu Gongxian, his wife has to be extra careful in daily life, even spending 10 to 15 minutes every day to help him dress and bathe. Some of Liu Gongxian’s clothes need special adjustments, like enlarged cuffs and custom-made buttons, to make it easier for him to dress. If they need to get up early the next day, preparations must be made the night before. What seem like simple daily activities are indeed a challenge for Liu Gongxian, who sometimes gets upset about the complexity of dressing, and his wife then persuades him to trim his nails.

Liu Gongxian’s wife says that her wholehearted care for her husband stems from deep love. Although she sometimes receives invitations to travel, she chooses to stay at home to care for her husband. She deeply loves her diligent, non-drinking, non-smoking, hard-working husband who never complains and lives a simple life, with whom she has raised four children together.

When asked why he values his nails so much, Liu Gongxian believes it’s a manifestation of his passion for art. Over the years, he has developed a deep emotional connection with his nails, and cutting them off would feel like an emotional loss to him. He recalls an incident when his nail accidentally broke, causing him such pain that he fell ill for days and couldn’t engage in artistic creation.

Once, he accidentally fell from a height of 6 meters while working. Instinctively, he raised his hands to protect his nails, resulting in fractured ribs. Although his family suggested he trim his nails, Liu Gongxian remained hesitant because his long nails had become a part of his life.

Liu Gongxian has complex feelings about his nails. He confesses that if someone offered 70 million Vietnamese dong (about $2800), he might consider selling his long nails. Over the years, he has grown accustomed to living with his long nails, and although he sometimes thinks about cutting them off as a gesture of love for his wife, he always hesitates whenever he sees how meticulously she cares for him.