过年“租女友”又火了！风险也来了
Spring Festival fuels rise in 'rent-a-person' services, sparking safety concerns

A recent investigation by Legal Daily into platforms like Xianyu, a popular online resale platform, uncovered a variety of services available for rent. These services range from "bridesmaids for rent" to "girlfriends for hire," and even individuals willing to impersonate parents or teachers.

The "girlfriend for rent" service offers companionship for activities such as shopping, eating, watching movies, and even meeting the renter's parents to deflect family pressures to find a girlfriend or get married. Charges for this service vary based on specific situations, usually involving a down payment and a balance payment.

In Jiangsu province, a woman surnamed Liu works part-time as a girlfriend for rent. She outlined her services online, clarifying that she relies on gift money from the client's family as payment, usually ranging from 500 yuan ($70) to 800 yuan. Any excess is returned to the client, and the client covers transportation and other service-related costs. Clients can specify age, personality, university, major, occupation, marital status, and family details.

When questioned about potential physical contact to simulate a romantic relationship, Liu emphasized the importance of verbal interaction. She stated, "There is generally no physical contact when meeting parents, as elders prefer well-behaved individuals. However, if faced with difficult questions, I will seek assistance from the client."

Interestingly, there appears to be lower demand for rented boyfriends compared to the demand for rented girlfriends as the Lunar New Year approaches.

These services aim to "solve problems in real life" and prices range from 1,000 to 3,000 yuan per day.

Forming temporary relationships through online transactions can pose unforeseen risks. Some netizens recounted instances where rented bridesmaids failed to show up after receiving deposit money, highlighting potential dangers.

Zhang Yuxia, a lawyer with Shanghai SUNHOLD Law Firm, explained that these services should be regulated under civil law as a form of labor employment relationship. However, the lack of written agreements may pose threats to personal security, and illegal activities such as prostitution could occur.

In response, Zhang called for stricter oversight and clearer guidelines to protect individuals from potential harm in these unconventional occupations. Additionally, Zhang emphasized the role of online platforms in regulating these services, urging intensified reviews of identity and related documents and swift actions in cases of criminal activity, including informing the police.