According to Fang, the recruitment process begins with a preliminary meeting to discuss the client’s requirements and to get their back story straight.

Typically, the pair will exchange photos and will have a rehearsal before going ahead with the rental.

Despite the detailed list of services and attempts – on both sides – to keep relations professional, some of the rent-a-boyfriends admit that it can, at times, be difficult.

‘It all depends on how you look at it,’ says another fake boyfriend, 26-year-old Xu Li from Yancheng City.

‘If you look at it as a business, then it’s much easier.’