A man in China ended up in a legal battle after walking out on a blind date who expected him to pay for her and 23 of her relatives.

The man, identified in local reports as Mr. Liu, found his prospective partner, Ms. Zhang, through a matchmaker and arranged to meet her at a popular restaurant in Jilin province.

To Liu’s surprise, Zhang arrived at the restaurant accompanied by 23 relatives, who joined them on their date.

The restaurant staff later informed Liu that the woman’s family ordered a significant amount of expensive cigarettes and premium alcoholic beverages.

When Liu was handed the bill amounting to nearly 20,000 yuan (approximately $2,812), he decided to promptly leave the restaurant and have Zhang and her relatives settle the cost. While Zhang did settle the bill, she still demanded that Liu contribute at least half of the amount.

Liu agreed only to reimburse a fraction of the total cost, offering 4,000 yuan (approximately $562), forcing Zhang to ask her relatives to pay for their share of the total bill.

Angered by Liu’s offer, Zhang’s family decided to take the matter to court, filing a lawsuit against Liu to force him to pay up.

The court, however, ruled in Liu’s favor, stating that he should only cover the cost of his own and Zhang’s meal, which was approximately 1,400 yuan (approximately $197).

The incident garnered attention on Chinese social media and prompted discussions regarding the boundaries of social etiquette during blind dates, with many taking Liu’s side.

Legal experts argued that the presence of 23 relatives during what was supposed to be a blind date surpassed far beyond generally accepted norms. Many also pointed out that the other individuals present should bear responsibility for what they consumed during the meal, absolving Liu of any obligation to cover their expenses.