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Man offers 10K to be set up with a girlfriend, becomes viral sensation

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – Finding the perfect partner in life is no easy task.

That is why Ren Lu You said he is ready to try something unique and different. He is offering $10,000 to a lucky matchmaker that can set him up with a steady girlfriend that he dates for more than six months.

“After going on enough mediocre to bad dates, I figured I might as well try something new,” said You.

You created a website called DateRen.com, which spells out the basics: “Find me a girlfriend and I’ll pay you $10,000. Seriously.” To prove “he is not a Nigerian prince, strong AI, or two midgets in a trench coat,” he posted a handful of pictures.

You said his email inbox stays flooded with emails.

“Apparently Gmail has a limit on how many emails you can get in a day,” You said.

His website has been written up on several news sites from all over the world. That means he is receiving messages in different languages. However, he said local matchmakers have an advantage.

“When I’m sifting through emails, I’m definitely looking for people who are local first. I’m open to a long distance thing, but it’s just hard when you are trying to start a relationship that way,” You said.

All of this new found attention online has come with its share of heated opinions and criticisms.

“One lesson I’ve learned is to never read the comment section of any online news articles,” You said. “If a man saves a puppy from a river it’s like 60 percent hate mail. I think I’m doing ok relative to that standard.”

Some people have openly wondered that there must be something wrong with him, or that there’s some sort of catch he’s concealed.

“I think a lot of people will speculate by saying, ‘he must be a complete jerk. What is wrong with him, and why can’t he find a girlfriend?’ I’ve been on a lot of dates and I think I’m a pretty normal guy. I’m just the kind of person that wants to think outside the box,” said You.

The Harvard graduate lists a few things he would like to find in a date, including: “knows the difference between ‘Astronomy’ and ‘Astrology,’ finds it fun to think about ridiculous hypotheticals, and is intellectually curious.”

Overall, You said he is doing this “experimental approach to dating” for fun.

“If I just fall on my face and nothing comes of it, I’ll be back to square one. It will not be any worse than it was a couple of weeks ago,” said You.

Click HERE to help Ren find a girlfriend.