Chinese lonely hearts shop for sweethearts online
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A screenshot from Taobao.com |
Discounted fancy clothes, sparkling jewelry and high-end handbags have failed to cheer up 22-year-old Fu Jie from South China's Hainan province ahead of Singles' Day on Tuesday, a holiday marked by an annual national shopping spree.
Like most lonely hearts, what the lovelorn young woman needs most on "Double Eleven Day" is a lover.
And on Taobao, China's "you-name-it-we-have-it" online shopping giant, there are plenty of "lovers" in store.
A real-life version of the science-fiction film "Her," which depicts a lonely man falling in love with his computer operating system, is happening in China as "virtual lover rental" businesses gain popularity on Chinese e-commerce websites.
Customers can rent a girlfriend or boyfriend for a few days to offer sweet words, lend a patient ear, and other custom-made services, mostly through messaging platforms such as Tencent's QQ and WeChat.
"It's much safer to have a virtual boyfriend, and emotional care and support mean more to me than physical company at present," Fu said.
It costs about 20 yuan ($3.27) a day to rent a virtual girlfriend or boyfriend, who are categorized into different types according to their personalities and characteristics, such as cuteness, maturity, optimism and gentleness, to cater to various customer tastes. The photos listed on the online storefront depict cartoons or movie stars out of privacy concerns.
A virtual girlfriend, also called a "girlfriend in the cellphone," may call in the morning, chat online all day listening to a customer's stories and secrets, offer comfort or encouragement, and say goodnight before bedtime. Conversation via cellphone may require additional fees.
There are roughly 350 online stores with over 5,000 virtual girlfriends or boyfriends offering virtual lover services on Taobao. A popular online store named "Touching You" has served over 4,000 lonely hearts since it went into business in mid-August, with daily orders serving 40 to 50 customers.
