Keeping love hidden from 9 to 5

Antoine Li, and his girlfriend, Sophia Zhang, wait to catch the subway at Wudaokou station, pretending they are not in love. The couple was happy and visibly affectionate at their home just a half hour ago but they work in a nearby Internet company and don't want their coworkers, who might see them at the station, to know about their three-month-old relationship.

"The trip from our home to the company feels like a trip from happiness to sadness every day," the 24-year-old Li said.

"I think that our colleagues and my boss would worry about us focusing on each other rather than on work if we let people know about our relationship," said Li. "Some of our coworkers might feel uncomfortable and I do not want to adversely affect my colleagues."