Singaporean Man Offers ‘Boyfriend for Rent’ for CNY & Valentine’s Day | MS News
A Singaporean man is offering his services as a “boyfriend for rent” to help singles navigate the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) and Valentine’s Day festivities, charging S$500 per hour.
Dominic Neo, 52, a hawker, advertised the unusual service on Instagram (@liangjishiye) on February 11, 2026, with a brightly colored poster featuring himself in a yellow suit. The advertisement targets individuals anticipating awkward questioning from relatives about their relationship status during CNY reunion dinners.
The poster lists qualifications for the “perfect plus-one,” including punctuality, appropriate attire and the ability to eat quietly and smile politely. A key selling point is his promise to “automatically shut down all repetitive questions” from inquisitive family members.
Neo’s terms and conditions, outlined in the advertisement, include surge pricing for gatherings with more than three “aunties,” additional charges for pets and babies, and complimentary transport – though parking fees are the renter’s responsibility. Even as emphasizing the service is “purely optics, zero commitments,” the advertisement playfully suggests “romance is possible.”
In a caption accompanying the post, Neo marketed himself as a “2-in-1 promo” for both Valentine’s Day and CNY, stating the service is “not about $, but a shut their mouth up.” He also highlighted additional “skills” such as cooking, eating, and being loving, concluding with a call to action: “Just grab, rent a boyfriend.”
According to a report in MS News, This represents the second time Neo has offered this service, motivated by observing the difficulties many single women face in finding partners. As of February 15, 2026, he has received some inquiries but no confirmed bookings for CNY.
Neo explained to MS News that the S$500 hourly rate was set humorously, adding that it is negotiable. He offered a promotional deal of S$500 for both Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year combined.
The convergence of Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year in 2026 has prompted a notable retail response in Singapore, with businesses leveraging the dual-festival period for promotional opportunities, as noted in a recent blog post by Maxthon (When East Meets West on the Shop Floor). The Singapore Retailers Association projected that the 2026 dual-festival period would generate approximately S$1.2 billion in consumer spending.
Other events taking place during the CNY period include “The Colour Red – A Valentine’s Day & Chinese New Year Pop Up by TFS” at 35b Keong Saik Rd, level 2, Singapore, offering gifts and experiences (The Colour Red Pop Up).