Things didn't go as planned. When Saturday finally arrived, Qi Xi completely chickened out. A giant in words, a dwarf in action – that was her. After all, she didn't really want a relationship. Suspecting her motives for attending weren't entirely pure, she felt a pang of guilt and suddenly dreaded the mixer. In the end, it was Zhao Yiran who dragged her there, kicking and screaming.
Fortunately, the matchmaking atmosphere wasn't overwhelming. Besides singles from the court and prosecutor's office, there were also quite a few people from law firms and the labor inspection team. The atmosphere was relaxed, filled with laughter and conversation. Everyone belonged to the legal community, so they had plenty in common. Even if it wasn't for dating, simply making friends and networking within the legal circle wasn't bad.
Qi Xi relaxed in this casual environment. She ended up having a pleasant chat with Liu Zhen, a young male judge from the civil court. He wasn't overly enthusiastic or suggestive, admitting he'd also been dragged to the mixer by a colleague. He spoke to Qi Xi with a brotherly air, explaining key details and points of attention in handling various civil dispute cases. They had a good conversation about their work, exchanged contact information, and Qi Xi even suggested consulting him again if she had any questions.