Across town, in a completely different world, Lee Yomi, 22, was having a similarly disastrous evening. Dressed in a simple dress she'd borrowed from her older sister, she sat across from a man who was droning on about his stock portfolio.
Yomi was the epitome of ordinary. She lived at home with her parents and younger brother. She was a recent graduate with a degree in graphic design, but the job market was brutal. She helped her mother with household chores, looked after her mischievous younger brother, and tried to contribute to the family income by working part-time at a local coffee shop.
Her parents, worried about her future, had also arranged a blind date. They hoped she would find a stable, respectable partner. She understood their concern, but the thought of settling down at 22 felt stifling.