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The actively romantic version of this is Operation: Jealousy, while the spy version is Undercover As Lovers, but this third version is one where people pretend to be dating someone merely as a means of distracting either a foe or someone they know. They're not in disguise as anyone else, unlike Undercover As Lovers, but themselves pretending for a bit. It's just a tool someone employs as a misdirect to cover something up.
This can also be a tool used solely for practical reasons that ends up either revealing repressed feelings or ignite something romantic.
Obviously compare/contrast Operation: Jealousy and Undercover As Lovers.
Examples of Fake Dating include:
Anime & Manga[]
- Another Typical Fantasy Romance: The protagonist enters a contract marriage with the Duke of the North.
- Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion: Realiana and the male lead.
- Why are you Doing This Duke
- The Villainess Lives Again
- Lucia: The titular heroine and duke Hugo.
- The Duchess Without a Soul
- My In-laws are Obsessed with Me
- This is an Obvious Fraudulent Marriage
- Adelaide
- Faking it in Style
- Til Debt Do Us Part
- Concubine Contract
- I Seduced the Northern Duke
- One Husband Is Enough
- Light and Shadow
- My Husband Hides his Beauty
- Survive as the Hero's Wife
- Seal the Deal
- I Thought My Time Was Up!
Film[]
Literature[]
Live-Action TV[]
- Beverly Hills, 90210: Brandon and Kelly to avoid any detection of Brandon having an affair with a sociology professor. Complications of romantic feelings ensue.
- Gilmore Girls: Lorelai briefly pretends Luke is her boyfriend to get rid of an annoying suitor.
- Legends of Tomorrow:
- Zari and Nate pretend to be dating.
- Nora pretends that she's dating John Constantine to keep her murderous father from hurting anyone.
- Riverdale: Archie and Betty pretend to be dating in order to divert the attention of Stonewall students trying to murder Jughead.
- Tabitha pretends to be Jughead's girlfriend to help shield him from his ex. She later repeats the effort to annoy her prejudiced parents.