What was meant to be a simple blind date in Jilin province, China, spiralled into a bizarre legal battle after a man refused to foot the bill for his date — and her 23 uninvited relatives.
The man, known as Mr Liu, had been introduced to Ms Zhang through a matchmaker and agreed to meet her at a restaurant. To his astonishment, Zhang turned up with 23 family members in tow, all of whom joined them at the table.
A Bill That Shocked the Blind Date
According to local reports, Zhang’s relatives wasted no time ordering top-shelf alcohol, premium dishes, and even expensive cigarettes. When the bill arrived, it totalled nearly 20,000 yuan (about S$3,800).
Faced with the exorbitant cost, Liu promptly walked out, leaving Zhang and her family to deal with the charges. Zhang reluctantly settled the bill but later demanded Liu reimburse at least half. He agreed only to pay 4,000 yuan (about S$760) — a small portion of the total — which left the rest of the family covering their own consumption.
Court Rules in Favour of the Man
Feeling short-changed, Zhang’s relatives filed a lawsuit against Liu, hoping to compel him to pay more. However, the court dismissed their claims.
The judge ruled that Liu was only responsible for his own meal and Zhang’s, which together cost 1,400 yuan (about S$270). The decision sparked lively debate online, with the majority of netizens siding with Liu.
Many criticised Zhang’s actions as an abuse of social etiquette, arguing that bringing 23 relatives to what should have been a private blind date was unreasonable. Legal experts also pointed out that each individual must take responsibility for what they consumed, and Liu had no obligation to cover costs beyond his own share.
The story has since gone viral on Chinese social media, with many joking that Liu “dodged a bullet” by avoiding what could have been the most expensive blind date of his life.