Rent-a-boyfriend service stirs debate

Men advertising "fake boyfriend" services on Taobao.com, one of China`s leading e-commerce providers, has prompted fierce debate online.
淘宝店家最近推出的“出租男友”服务引发了网络热议。

For an hourly fee, a boyfriend-for-hire will accompany the customer to visit friends or family, go shopping, have meals, and even kiss.
这种“出租男友”通常按小时收费，他可以陪雇主走亲访友，逛街吃饭，甚至亲吻。

More than 260 fake boyfriends are available on Taobao.com, with more popping up after news of the service spread across the Internet. Some advertisements are targeted at those anxious to bring a boyfriend home to meet their parents, while some are for those who only want to spend time with the opposite sex.
目前淘宝网上待售的“冒牌男友”商品数已超过260件，这一新闻很快在网上传遍开来，提供“出租男友”的店家也在迅速增长。一些店家的广告针对那些急需带个男友回家见家长的人群，而有些则瞄准了那些只是想找个异性来打发时间的人。

"I don`t have many opportunities to meet girls. The business is not for money. It`s just bored people meeting each other," said Xue Shuai, 22, from Qingdao, Shandong province, who rents himself out as a boyfriend.
“我平时没什么机会约女生。这生意也不是为了挣钱，只是两个无聊的人相互认识一下罢了。”来自山东青岛、22岁的薛帅（音译）就是“出租男友”中的一员。

Xue`s rented himself out for two years, but has only had about six customers, with their ages ranging from 19 to 26. He accompanies them to meals, movies, or the seaside, charging 20 yuan per hour.
尽管薛帅当“出租男友”已经有两年时间了，但他仅有过六位雇主，年龄从19岁到26岁不等。他陪她们吃饭、看电影、或者去海边，每小时收费20元。

An anonymous female buyer commented on his online store, "It`s good. I enjoyed the movie with this funny guy."
在薛帅的网店里，一位匿名女买家评价到：“很棒。我很喜欢和这个有趣的家伙看电影。”

Because he is still single, Xue is looking forward to a romantic encounter in his business.
但仍是单身的薛帅一直在期待能在做生意时邂逅一段爱情。

"I think others may also share my fantasies," he said.
“我想大家都有这种幻想。”他说。

"Some girls were not in a good mood, so I chatted with them. We only go to public places, for my own safety." he said.
他说：“有些女生心情不好，我就陪她们聊聊天。处于安全考虑，我们只约在公共场所。”

Gao Jianbing, 31, from Chengdu, Sichuan province, echoed Xue`s comments.
来自四川成都、31岁的高建炳（音译）十分赞同薛帅的说法。

He opened a store on taobao.com, offering similar services, with about eight men available for "rent".
他在淘宝开了家“出租男友”的网店，有大约8位男士可供“出租”。

He said it is just a part-time job and his main online store is a flower delivery service.
他说这只是副业，他的店主要提供鲜花快递服务。

"Customers just want to relax. It`s a bit like psychological consultation and they like to pour out their hearts to strangers," Gao says.
在高先生看来，“顾客只是想要纾解压力。这有点像心理咨询，他们喜欢向陌生人吐露心声。”

Beijing Normal University associate professor of psychology Lin Xiuyun said people use these services because they are lonely. Lin said people should have a positive attitude about being single and said the upcoming Spring Festival can be an opportunity to reflect on what one wants from a relationship.
北京师范大学心理学副教授蔺秀云称，人们之所以选择这些服务是因为孤独感。蔺教授说人们需要对单身保持一种积极的态度，而即将到来的春节也为人们提供了一个思考的机会，审视一下在一段恋情中你想要的是什么。