When Love Turns Into a Ledger: A Viral Breakup Lawsuit That Sparked Debate in China
When Love Turns Into a Ledger: A strange breakup lawsuit from northeastern China has recently captured massive attention on social media, not because of its legal complexity, but due to how shockingly transactional it made a romantic relationship appear. The case involves a man from Heilongjiang province who sued his former fiancée, demanding repayment for money he claimed to have spent during their relationship. What followed was a courtroom drama that quickly turned into an online spectacle and ignited broader discussions about relationships, money, and modern dating culture in China.
The Background of the Relationship Dispute
The man, identified by his surname He, and the woman, surnamed Wang, were from the same village and had been engaged with plans to marry. He’s family runs a malatang restaurant, a popular spicy hot pot-style eatery. According to his claims, the relationship began to deteriorate due to what he described as Wang’s excessive spending and eating habits, particularly her frequent consumption of food from his family’s restaurant.
After their engagement ended, He decided to take the matter to court. He demanded the return of nearly 50,000 yuan, roughly equivalent to 7,000 US dollars. This amount included a traditional bride price of 20,000 yuan, along with an additional 30,000 yuan he said he had spent on dating-related expenses.
Claims About Food, Lifestyle, and Financial Burden
One of the most controversial aspects of the case was He’s complaint that Wang “ate too much.” He alleged that she ate malatang from his family’s restaurant almost daily and that the food portions sold were not sufficient for her appetite. He further argued that this behavior placed an unfair financial burden on him and his family.
Beyond food, He criticized Wang’s lifestyle choices, claiming she only took on “easy jobs” and did not contribute equally to the relationship. In his view, this imbalance justified his demand for reimbursement, as he felt he had carried the majority of the financial responsibility during their time together.
The Controversy Over Gifts and Personal Items
The lawsuit became even more sensational when details emerged about the specific items He wanted refunded. Among the expenses listed were personal gifts such as tights and underwear, along with money spent on meals, outings, and everyday dating activities. These details shocked many observers, as they blurred the line between personal intimacy and financial accounting.
He framed these purchases as unnecessary expenses that should be returned now that the relationship had ended. His argument suggested that romance, in his view, functioned almost like an investment that should yield returns if the relationship failed.
The Woman’s Response in Court
Wang strongly rejected these accusations during the trial. She described He as excessively calculating and reminded the court that all the expenses occurred while they were in a committed relationship. In a pointed response to his itemized list of gifts, she questioned whether he had benefited from the relationship as well, asking whether he had enjoyed the intimacy and companionship that came with those purchases.
Her defense emphasized that gifts exchanged during a romantic relationship are expressions of affection, not loans. She argued that treating them otherwise reduces emotional bonds to financial transactions, which undermines the very nature of a relationship.
The Court’s Ruling and Legal Reasoning
The court largely sided with Wang. The judge ruled that most of the 30,000 yuan claimed as dating expenses consisted of voluntary gifts with emotional and sentimental value. Such expenses, the court noted, are common in romantic relationships and are not legally recoverable after a breakup.
While reports did not clearly specify the final decision regarding the bride price, the ruling reinforced an important legal principle: money spent willingly during courtship is generally not refundable. Only in cases involving exceptionally large betrothal sums under specific circumstances do courts sometimes order partial repayment.
Social Media Reaction and Cultural Impact
Once news of the lawsuit spread online in December 2025, it quickly went viral. Social media users mocked He for what they saw as extreme pettiness, labeling him stingy and overly obsessed with money. Many questioned how someone could demand repayment for food and personal gifts after a failed relationship.
The case triggered widespread discussion about dating expectations, financial boundaries, and traditional practices like bride prices. It also highlighted growing tensions between modern romantic values and older transactional views of marriage. Ultimately, while the lawsuit failed to deliver the outcome He wanted, it succeeded in sparking a national conversation about where love ends and accounting begins.