From QQ:

There Really Are People “Buying Out Odd Number Movie Seats” on Valentine’s Day

Valentines Day on February 14th is almost here, a sweet day for couples, but also for singles to come and ruin it. A few days ago, a netizen who is also single launched a campaign to “buy out all odd number movie seats” [every other seat, to prevent couples from sitting together], which was met with wide support. Yesterday, the Shanghai Xintiandi theater’s prime time Valentines Day movie showing times were “attacked and occupied”. Not wanting to reveal his real name, the organizer accepted an interview with this Shanghai Morning Post reporter, saying he had just broken up with his girlfriend last year, and that this was just a joke, and he “hopes couples will understand”. Many netizens who participated however did so with the goal of “meeting new friends”, hoping to turn a “prank” into a “blind date”.

Comments on Weibo:

啊蒲2011：

An act lacking consideration for others and without any social responsibility, this kind of person will never accomplish anything important, no wonder he doesn’t have a girlfriend.

山水恶：

If you had the guts [ability], go out and book all the hotel rooms. Now that would be an expression of resentment.

神左倾：

If this isn’t mean, what is it? No wonder he is single!

王姑娘是个女汉纸：

Such narrow-mindedness, no wonder he doesn’t have a girlfriend…

营口纽约纽约：

So retarded! You don’t think people will just switch seats!

北京田天：

If he bought the white seats, he could’ve saved 9 tickets.

regas：

It seems that when buying tickets online you must buy tickets adjacent to the seat that was already bought.

草珊瑚309：

This is [fake news], only capable of fool people who have never watched a movie [at a theater]. Theaters typically don’t sell tickets with only a single seat open beside them.

老猫阿贝：

Must be the act of a ticket scalper. Girls should let the boys off the hook this time, and not go watch a movie [for Valentine’s Day]. Then let’s see what those who have the tickets do.

你包容勇敢了我：

No choice but to go on a blind date now.

路痴的石头：

This is the dream for many singles, finally coming true.

梦想家的唯一：