Content Warning: This work is intended for mature (NC17) audiences. If you are younger, please kindly leave this site.
~~~
"You! Why does Em's father hate my guts so much?"
"Because he doesn’t want a son-in-law like you."
"I'm a good person!"
"Yeah, I won’t argue with that, but your face screams villain."
"You heartless mob!"
For the Great Khun Pond, having his close high school friends gather for a weekend get-together is pure joy. Usually, one person is busy, then another, then work gets in the way, or someone has to go home. Especially that damned friend Ae, who has been missing in action for almost a year. Now that he's finally back, it's naturally a cause for celebration.
But… his own mood isn't quite in a celebratory spirit.
After all… he just had a clash with his future father-in-law.
So, to tell the story properly, we have to go back several hours, when he was out with his beloved romantic partner, whom he has been with since their freshman year in college. They just celebrated their six-year anniversary a few days ago, and he took Chae-em home before heading to meet his friends.
But…
"Why are you late? You’re almost an hour past the expected time."
Em’s father, standing at the front of the house with bared teeth, is a sight that seriously offends the eyes.
"What curfew? Whoa, does your father still set a curfew for his daughter? Sigh, why is Em so pitiful?”
"You! I’ll smack you so hard you’ll hit the ground! Setting rules is my business! You’re the one who has to follow them!"
That’s what Em’s father said, while Chae-em rushed to calm him down. But…
"If you hit me and I become stupid, your daughter will end up with a future husband who’s an idiot, you know." Chae-em interceded.
"Who’s your future husband!?!
...I haven’t accepted you! Don’t even dream of becoming Em’s Phua in this lifetime!"
There he went—Em’s chubby father, shouting until his face turned red, while Pond grinned widely and declared with confidence:
"Alright, then I’ll just abduct her."
"Pond!!!!!"
"Dad, Dad, calm down! Calm down! Pond is just joking… right, Pond?!"
When his romantic partner turned to glare at him, the one who really wanted to say he’s serious could only put on a pitiful face, pressing his fingers at the corners of his eyes to make wrinkles.
"Yes, I’m joking. I just wanted Khun Father to laugh… But it looks like his face got even more wrinkled."
"Pond!!!!!"
That second roar is when the young 3S man truly panics—because Em’s father suddenly grabs a garden shovel, ready to chase after his so-called future son-in-law. Pond had to yell toward the back of the house, where a middle-aged woman was laughing so hard she doubled over.
"Good evening, Khun Mother! I’ll come back when Khun Father isn’t home!"
"Sure, Pond, I’ll call and let you know."
Hearing that, the person who intended to confront him turns to confront his wife instead. Pond, of course, made a quick escape when Chae-em nodded and said it’s fine…
…And that’s why he’s now sitting here, looking as wilted as a car tire that’s been peed on by a dog.
"How do I look like a villain?" Pond mutters, pulling out his phone to check the front camera. After all, he’s been with Chae-em for six years, so why hasn’t her father accepted him yet?
"With a face like yours, it looks like you’ve got three wives and two kids. Plus, your mouth is so slick, I might as well give you three more mistresses," Diao, who has just returned from studying abroad on a scholarship and earned his PhD, sums it up perfectly, making the half-Italian man rub his face.
"So, am I too handsome? Too smooth with my words?"
The words make Sun burst out laughing, then he says bluntly, "Did you even listen to Diao from the start? He said you’re slick, man!"
Pond fires back immediately. "I’m not half as bad as you. You’re worse than an eel, aren’t you, Dīe?" the half-Italian man argues, turning to look at his cute friend who’s still giggling on the phone, probably talking to his husband since he’s not here to supervise today.
"Ask Phii Riu, man. I don’t know. I’m talking to my kid," Dīe chimes in, mentioning Alice, the adopted daughter he shares with Phii Porch, making Pond cover the screen with his hand.
"Between friends and kids, which would you choose?" Dīe asks, baring his teeth.
"My kid, obviously. Someone like you, I’d ditch in a heartbeat," he says, pulling his phone back to call his beloved daughter, who’s probably waiting for Daddy Dīe to come home and give her a goodnight kiss.
"You heartless mob!"
"Come on, come on. If he won’t accept you, just get her pregnant. I guarantee this plan is foolproof…"
Smack!
"Like hell you will! Keep that shitty brain of yours to yourself," Ai'Mai speaks up at that moment, and just the same, Ae smacks their friend right on the head too, his voice cold as he warns him not to stir things up with Ai'3S. Otherwise, he might actually do it for real. But that just makes Pond shake his head.
"I'm not going to do that!"
"Huh!?" This time, everyone at the table immediately snaps their heads toward him, surprised at how uncharacteristically serious he looks.
And the person speaking only doubles down with an intensely serious tone.
"A rushed wedding costs way more than planning it out properly, you guys. Right now, my’s savings aren’t ready for a wedding yet."
Pfft Snort! "And here I thought you were a decent guy!" Ai'Dīe actually stops talking to his daughter just to curse at him, making Pond keep his serious face.
"What? I’m just being honest. Right now, Em’s salary is even higher than mine. I can't afford to get married yet. I need to save up so I can build a family first. Give me three or four more years, and if my father-in-law still won’t accept me, I’ll just borrow Ai'Mai’s method…"
Smack!
"Oww! Ai'Ae, why the hell did you hit me!?"
"I'm smacking you so you'll think, Ai'Pond!" Once again, Ae lands a smack on his friend's head, making Pond clutch his skull—only to grin wide and ask in amusement,
"Ai'Ae, how many years has it been? You still never change, always so serious."
"What am I not thinking about?"
"Since you started messing with Em’s dad from the very first moment the first time you met him!" Ae states firmly, knowing his friend’s love life all too well.
I mean, where the hell have you ever seen a guy meet his girlfriend’s dad for the first time and, before even properly settling things with Chae-em, walk up, press his hands together in a wai, and say, "Hello, Father. I’m your daughter’s romantic partner."
At that time, the girl was only eighteen! It’s already a miracle the old man didn’t chase him off swinging a walking stick.
"How was that messing with him? I was just introducing myself normally," Pond argues, making Ae let out a long sigh.
"Introducing yourself normally, huh? Right… ‘Hello, Father-in-law’—that part right there!"
And just like that, Pond bursts out laughing, remembering his girlfriend’s dad’s dumbfounded face. It’s absolutely hilarious.
"It was funny! Man, you should’ve seen it yourself—his mustache twitched tick tick like crazy." As he speaks, Pond even mimics stroking an imaginary mustache, making Ae shake his head.
"I'm not even surprised if her dad hates you. If someone like you came after my Nong Yim, I’d punch your face in."
"I agree. No way would I accept a son-in-law like you either," Dīe immediately chimes in, sounding like he’s super protective of his adopted daughter, making the guy getting ganged up on groan.
"Ai'Sun, look at your friends! They’re ganging up on me!"
"They’re just sitting there, man. Where’s the ganging up?" Sun teases right back, making the half-Italian man pull a face.
He looks around for someone to back him up, only to find Ai'Mai and Ai'Diao looking all too ready to join in. In the end, he just raises his hands in surrender and turns back to his original target—Khun Sun.
"Alright then, tell me, what do you suggest I do? How did you manage to get past Phii Riu’s big-sister-gang?" He throws out a question that drags his friend’s romantic partner into this, making the guy sipping his drink raise an eyebrow slightly.
Before he can respond, Ae interjects, "Chae-em has three younger brothers. Meanwhile, your romantic partner has three older sisters. The exact opposite. And since she’s their only daughter, of course, her father is going to be overprotective."
"Why do you know so much about my love life, Ai'Ae?" Pond puts on an exaggeratedly wide-eyed look, his tone laced with mock suspicion as if his friend is planning to steal his girl.
Ae, in response, just smirks at him. "You’ve got a dirty mind."
"Come on, I was joking! Okay, okay, you know because I forced you to listen to me rant. Happy now? Anyway, Ai'Sun, tell me what to do," Pond turns back to the real expert—the guy who successfully cleared the toughest obstacles to his romantic partner's family.
Sun simply rubs his chin, a look that screams I’m just stalling to mess with you.
"This meal's on you."
"Bloody fucking cur! You’re charging me for just this!?"
"Yeah, I gotta save money to take care of my Mia, dammit." Sun beams, making the listener pause for a moment.
"Just you, huh… Stop right there, Ai'Diao! You get a monthly allowance, and you're still trying to leech off your friends? No way in hell am I paying for you!" Pond calls out the miser just as he is about to open his mouth, making the bespectacled guy chuckle and wave his hands like he’s saying, Fine, I won’t ask. Meanwhile, Sun smirks mischievously and motions his friends closer.
"You ever hear the saying, 'If wit won’t work, trickery will'? Well, you don’t need either. I’ve got a magic spell to teach you."
And judging by the look on Ai'Sun’s face, everyone at the table can swear—Ai'Pond’s romantic partner is in for a hell of a ride.
~~~
"You’re hopeless, Pond."
"Whoa, Em, you think I’m hopeless?"
After strategizing with his gang of friends, the very next day, Pond heads straight to his romantic partner’s house and lays out his plan. The listener’s expression turns odd as they shake their head in disapproval because—it’s completely ridiculous.
"Of course it is! My dad might be a bit strict, a little too firm, but if you just stay consistent, he’ll eventually accept you," Chae-em explains rationally, even though she secretly pities her romantic partner for having to face her overprotective father.
Ever since their school days, Chae-em has always feared that one day she and Pond might break up. His flirtatious nature is one thing, but another reason is… her father himself.
Since she is the only daughter in the household, with three younger brothers, her father is especially protective of her—afraid she will meet the wrong kind of guy, afraid she will fall for a man with bad intentions. And when faced with someone who clearly looks like a notorious flirt, her father can’t help but be wary.
At the same time, Chae-em also worries that Pond might give up and go after a woman whose family is easier to deal with.
But… over the past six years, Pond has proven that while he has plenty of bad habits, his loyalty is second to none.
Believe it or not, throughout their entire university life, their relationship has never gone beyond kissing.
Chae-em tells him that they are still young, not mature enough, not yet capable of fully taking responsibility for themselves. So she stays firm, refusing to go further. And Pond understands—never asking for more than just a kiss.
It isn’t until they graduate, find jobs, and settle into work life that they take their relationship to the next level. Chae-em doesn’t consider herself a modern woman per se, but she also isn’t old-fashioned to the point of believing marriage must come first. She simply wants to be sure—to see if their relationship is stable enough before taking that step.
That’s what she thinks.
What she never expects is…
The moment they become intimate, Pond starts talking about marriage.
Not right away, not in a year or two, but he already paints a picture of what their wedding should be like. And that’s when Chae-em knows—this is the man.
The man everyone calls a flirt, a trickster, a busybody—but also the man whose devotion is unwavering. This is the man she wants to spend her life with.
Over the years, many assume they will eventually break up—that Pond won’t be able to tolerate her strictness, and that she won’t be able to stand his lack of seriousness.
But the truth is, Pond isn’t unserious. He just acts like it.
Pond is responsible. He loves his friends. He loves his family. And even though he constantly teases her, he always keeps her in mind wherever he goes. Otherwise, how else would her mother and brothers have accepted him so easily?
The only real hurdle left is… her overprotective father.
"You’re not waiting until thirty, are you?"
"No way, Em! I don’t want to be an old dad."
See? This is exactly why—no matter what—Pond always finds a way to make her smile.
"If you keep this up, you'll get even darker."
"Oh, come on. I'm not dark, just sun-kissed."
"Aren't you basically sun-dried pork? And look at this—you're getting a potbelly," Chae-em says, unable to hold back her laughter as she grabs her romantic partner's waist, making him groan in protest at the undeniable truth.
Ever since he started working, his appetite has only grown. Damn it, he's not fit at all.
Brrrmmm.
At that moment, the sound of a car approaching makes the couple turn their heads sharply. Instinctively, Pond nudges his romantic partner inside the house. And then...
Plop.
The great Pond drops to his knees right at the entrance, making the driver furrow his brows deeply.
"What the hell are you doing in front of my house?" The future father-in-law starts the battle immediately, making Pond lift his head to meet his gaze.
"I'm here to seek your forgiveness, sir."
The older man scowls even more as the mixed-race young man continues, his expression sincere.
"I know I've annoyed you a lot in the past, so I want to apologize. If I've ever done anything to upset you, I'm truly sorry. And I also want to ask for your approval for my relationship with Chae-em..."
"Not a chance! Stop making that sad face! I don't believe you! Sit there in the sun all you want, you damn pup!"
After battling for six years, the older man already knows his tricks, so he just walks past him into the house, assuming the boy will come running after him. But no—Pond stays kneeling right at the entrance, repeating Sun's advice in his mind.
Make yourself look pitiful. Make yourself seem like the victim. Eventually, he'll start feeling guilty.
But Pond seriously wonders—did Sun really win over his romantic partner's family using this method?
Still, despite his doubts, Pond remains in place.
Today is the day I'll win over my future father-in-law!
Meanwhile, inside the house, the father-in-law pretends to watch TV, acting all relaxed. But his eyes keep darting toward the entrance, where the supposed son-in-law remains unmoving.
His wife's voice drifts into his ears, followed by the voices of their three younger sons, who are blatantly siding with the boy outside. And... he's starting to feel like he's the villain here.
"Dad, you're so mean."
"Poor Phii Pond."
"It's noon, Dad. Phii Pond might collapse."
"Sigh... I really pity Phii Pond for having to deal with such a ruthless father-in-law."
"Just leave him there. Who told him to kneel in the scorching sun?" Pond's future father-in-law responds.
"Well, he's here to apologize, and you won’t forgive him. Of course, he doesn't dare come inside," the future mother-in-law says first, clearly taking the son-in-law's side.
Then, a chorus follows.
"Yeah."
"Yeahhh."
"Yeahhhhhh."
“Are you guys my children or his?”
“Of course, we're your kids. How could you not know that?” Their father sighs heavily as his sons, who have clearly spent too much time with Pond, tease him into silence.
“Come on, Father. Em has been dating Pond for six years already. Maybe ease up a little on being so overprotective.”
“That’s right, Dad. If you let Pond slip away, Em might end up an old maid.”
Once again, he finds himself outnumbered, making him feel even more guilty. When he turns to look at his daughter, he sees her peeking toward the front gate, clearly worried about her boyfriend. He sighs heavily once more.
She is his only daughter, after all!
He knows full well that Pond isn't a bad guy. Despite his good looks, he hasn’t shown any signs of being a heartbreaker who would leave Em suffering over a string of side flings. But still, it’s hard to accept letting go of the daughter he raised with his own hands, knowing that in a few years... she will likely get married.
“Ugh, you lot!” Finally, he gets up, prompting his beautiful daughter—who has been anxiously waiting—to pull out her phone and call her boyfriend, who has been keeping it on silent, because...
Riiing!
The moment the phone in his pocket starts ringing, the man outside, who now wears a hat, holds a fan, and even has a bottle of cold water, quickly tosses everything under the creeping vines.
Then, he dives back into his kneeling position, putting on a face of utter exhaustion just as... the front gate swings open.
“What do you want?!”
His future father-in-law’s sharp tone makes Pond put on a pitiful expression.
The young man presses his hands together in a respectful wai.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I know I’ve done a lot to upset you over the years, but I really want you to accept my relationship with Em. I’m serious about her.”
Pond speaks with an uncharacteristic sincerity, making his listener maintain a stern facade.
“What guarantees do you have?”
“I may not have anything tangible right now, but I will prove to you that I love your daughter and that I truly want to build a future with her.”
Pond's firm voice and earnest demeanor begin to soften the older man's resistance. Seeing him kneeling like this, he starts to recognize the young man's sincerity.
“Please, Dad. Let me be with Em.”
“Did I ever say you couldn’t?!” The father’s gruff response sounds irritated, but it lacks the previous hostility. Pond, sensing victory, suppresses a grin and quickly adopts a solemn expression, speaking in a deeply grateful tone.
“Thank you, Dad. Thank you so much.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s not like I want to accept you. The whole family is ganging up on me! But if you ever make my daughter cry, I swear I’ll kill you!”
With that, the older man turns back into the house, but his expression has softened. At least now, he probably won’t scowl every time he sees his future son-in-law.
As soon as he disappears inside, the triumphant Pond bursts into laughter.
“See, Em? Told you it would work,” he says, clearly pleased with himself, making sure his opponent is out of sight before pulling Em toward the backyard. His girlfriend sighs.
“You trickster.”
“Oh? But the old man is softhearted,” Pond says with a chuckle, grinning as he leans in. Em can’t resist pushing against his forehead—hard.
“Come on, don’t go being a trickster elsewhere, got it? If I ever get hurt, Father will kill you!” she warns, scrunching her nose. The sight makes Pond unable to resist pinching her small nose and wiggling it playfully. Feeling an irresistible urge, he leans in to kiss her cheek.
“Hey!”
“It’s my reward for winning over your dad.”
“You haven’t won anything yet. He’s just starting to accept you.”
“Then I’ll take a reward for my patience in getting him to this point.” Pond, ever the smooth talker, closes his eyes and tilts his face forward. Em is tempted to poke him right in the eye, but in the end, she gives in.
“Fine, fine. A reward it is.”
Pond grins wide, eagerly awaiting the sweet moment when—
Grab!
“Pond! What the hell is this?! Hey!!!”
Just as Em’s lips brush his cheek, a sharp voice slices through the air. A middle-aged man appears, still clutching his hat and fan, just in time to witness his daughter’s affectionate moment with the slick young man. His fists clench as the realization sinks in—he’s been fooled!
“Pond!!!”
Whoosh!
No need to call his name twice. Before the shout even fully fades, Pond bolts for the back of the house, sprinting for dear life with the furious father hot on his heels. Left behind, Em can only sigh heavily.
“Dad, I was the one who kissed Pond just now… Sigh.”
She mumbles to herself, knowing full well that no matter how much she explains, her father won’t listen. Judging by how things are going… This battle is far from over.
And so, the love life of this meddlesome man continues smoothly—if only his future father-in-law would fully accept it.
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