The Dinner

Pond had an important meeting with his Eden staff to prepare for the arrival of a major donor who had recently given a big donation. They were scheduled to arrive in Thailand in a few days, and Pond wanted to make sure that everything was perfect for their visit.

Pond gathered his Eden staff and started discussing the checklists to prepare for the warm welcome of the major donor. First on the list was to clean and organize the shelter to make sure that everything was presentable and tidy. They assigned different areas of the shelter to each staff member, and they started cleaning, sweeping, and organizing.

Next, they decided to showcase the animals that were rescued by the shelter, hoping to impress the donor with the successful rehabilitation and adoption rates. The staff made sure to groom and dress up the animals, making them look as presentable as possible.

To add a personal touch, Pond and the staff decided to create a presentation about the shelter's history, achievements, and future plans. They wanted to show the donor how their donation would help the shelter grow and continue to make a difference in the world.

Finally, Pond and the staff decided to prepare some Thai food and refreshments for the donor and their team to enjoy. They wanted to show off the local cuisine and hospitality, hoping to impress the donor and make them feel welcomed.

As they finished the meeting, Pond thanked his staff for their hard work and dedication, knowing that they would make the shelter look amazing for the donor's visit.

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After finishing work at Eden, Pond called Pim and she picked up after a few rings, "Hey Pond, how's work going at the shelter?"

Pond replied, "It's been busy, but we're preparing for the arrival of a major donor. I wanted to invite you over to my mansion tonight for dinner. I'll be cooking my special dishes for you."

Pim couldn't hide her excitement and replied, "That sounds great, I can't wait to try your special dishes."

When Pond arrived at Pim's bakery to pick her up, he was immediately struck by her stunning appearance. She was wearing a tight-fitting red dress that accentuated her curves and made her look even more alluring than usual.

Pim noticed Pond's reaction and couldn't resist teasing him, "Do you like what you see, Pond? Maybe you prefer a thick lady like Kate instead of a tiny girl like me."

Pond laughed and replied, "No way, Pim. You're perfect just the way you are. Let's head over to my mansion and get started on dinner."

As they made their way to Pond's mansion, they talked and joked about various things, their conversation light and easy. Pond couldn't help but feel grateful to have Pim in his life. He had always admired her hard work and determination, and now he was starting to realize that he might have deeper feelings for her.

Pond and Pim continued their conversation as they arrived at his mansion. "This is your family's house?" Pim asked, amazed. "Yes," Pond replied with a smile. "It's been in my family for many generations."

As they walked through the front doors, Pim couldn't help but marvel at the opulence of the mansion. The entryway was adorned with gold-framed paintings and intricate marble flooring, leading to a grand staircase that spiraled up to the second floor. The walls were adorned with silk drapes and antique sconces, casting a warm and inviting glow throughout the space.

Pim looked around in wonder, taking in the luxurious decorations and ornate architecture of the mansion. "This place is amazing," she exclaimed. "I can't believe how beautiful it is."

Pond laughed at her excitement. "It takes a lot of work to maintain this place," he said with a smirk. "But it's worth it to have a piece of my family's history alive and well." Pim jokingly replied, "Well, good luck cleaning this place all by yourself." Pond grinned and replied, "That's why I have staff to help me. And maybe someday, you can be my partner in cleaning crime."

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Pond led Pim to the dining room and asked her to wait there while he went to cook their dinner.

As Pim waited in the dining room, she couldn't help but ask, "What are you cooking, Pond? It smells amazing."

Pond replied with a smile, "I'm cooking my special dishes for you tonight. Crab Fried Rice and Thai Green Curry."

Pim's eyes widened with excitement, "Wow, those are my favorite dishes! How did you know?"

Pond chuckled, "I did some research on your preferences before I invited you over. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect for you."

As Pond cooked, he explained each step of the process to Pim, telling her about the special ingredients he used and the techniques he learned from his grandmother. For the Crab Fried Rice, he first cooked the rice and set it aside. In a wok, he stir-fried garlic, onions, and tomatoes before adding crab meat and the cooked rice. He then added soy sauce, oyster sauce, and egg before finishing it off with a sprinkling of green onions and cilantro.

For the Thai Green Curry, Pond blended together green chilies, lemongrass, galangal, garlic, shallots, and coriander root before cooking it in a wok with coconut milk and chicken. He added Thai eggplants, green beans, and bamboo shoots before seasoning it with fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice.

As they sat down to eat, Pim eagerly dug into the dishes, savoring each bite. She couldn't help but joke with Pond between mouthfuls, "I think I'm going to die of hunger if you keep cooking like this. I'll have to quit my job and become your personal taste tester."

Pond laughed and replied, "I'll have to make sure to keep you well-fed then. Maybe I can convince you to move in with me and take care of this big mansion."

Pim playfully rolled her eyes, "As much as I love your cooking, I don't think I'm ready to be a housewife just yet."

They continued to joke and chat over dinner, enjoying each other's company and the delicious food. Pond was pleased to see Pim enjoying his cooking so much, and couldn't help but feel happy that he could make her day a little brighter.

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The cool evening breeze and the beautiful night sky made the atmosphere on the balcony very pleasant. As they walked along, Pond and Pim couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of the surrounding scenery.

"Wow, this is such a beautiful view," Pim said, gazing out at the sparkling city lights in the distance.

"Yeah, I've always loved the view from up here," Pond replied, looking out at the same view.

As they continued to walk, they joked and teased each other about their past experiences. Pim recounted a hilarious incident that had happened at the bakery earlier that day, while Pond shared a story about a time when he accidentally spilled hot soup all over himself.

Their conversation was light and filled with laughter, the perfect end to a lovely evening.

"Wow, I think I'm going to be fat if you keep cooking like this," Pim joked, patting her stomach.

Pond chuckled, "Well, I think we'll just have to do something to burn off those calories, won't we?"

Pim grinned mischievously, "Oh, really? And what do you have in mind?"

Pond pretended to think for a moment before replying, "How about a game of tag? I'll even let you have a head start!"

Pim laughed, "I don't know if that's a fair trade, but sure, let's do it!"

As Pond and Pim were playing their silly game of tag, they were running around the mansion, chasing each other and laughing uncontrollably. At one point, Pond grabbed Pim by the waist and spun her around. As they came to a stop, their faces were inches apart, and the playful look in their eyes turned into something more intense.

Without a word, they leaned in and shared a sensual kiss. It started off slow and gentle, but quickly deepened as their passion grew. Their hands roamed over each other's bodies, exploring every inch as they lost themselves in the moment.

As they broke the kiss, they were both left breathless and flushed. Pond looked into Pim's eyes, his heart pounding with a mixture of desire and affection. He knew that he wanted to be with her, and he hoped that she felt the same way.

However, their moment was interrupted by the sound of a car entering the mansion gate. Pond quickly composed himself, and they both made their way back to the dining room.

As they entered the room, they found Palm waiting for them. Pond introduced Pim to Palm, who teased them about their suspicious expressions. He joked that they looked like they were up to something and that he didn't want to know what it was.

After a brief chat, Palm left to have his dinner, but not before sniffing the air and remarking on the delicious smell of Pond's leftover dishes. Pond and Pim said their goodbyes and Palm drove her back to her bakery.

As Pim hugged Pond goodbye, she whispered in his ear that she had a wonderful time and that she couldn't wait to see him again. Pond held her close, feeling a sense of happiness and contentment that he had never experienced before. As he watched her leave, he knew that he had found something special in Pim, and he was determined to hold on to it.

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As they logged into the game, the party received a new quest from a mysterious NPC, leading them to the 3rd ring of Cylina, the Goddess of the Moon and Tides. They knew that the boss monster awaiting them would be a lot stronger than the previous ones, so they carefully planned their strategy.

As they read the quest details, Pond began to explain the story of Cylina, the Goddess of the Moon and Tides, which he had read from an ancient relic of the old god. He described how Cylina was once a mortal woman who had been blessed by the moon goddess, granting her power over the tides and the ability to shift between human and mermaid form. The legend also spoke of a powerful artifact, the 3rd ring, which was said to be in possession of Cylina, and the party's mission was to retrieve it.

As they listened to Pond's explanation, each member began to prepare for the journey ahead. Xiao Ming sharpened his sword and made sure his armor was in top condition. Anastasia gathered various potions and scrolls to support the party, while Palm restocked their supplies and ammunition. Pim, as the party's healer, made sure her spells and healing abilities were at their peak.

As they continued their preparations, the members couldn't help but joke about who would be the owner of the 3rd ring once they retrieved it. Palm teased Xiao Ming about how he would look in a mermaid tail, while Pim joked that she would sell it to the highest bidder and split the profits with the party.

Pond chuckled at their banter, but deep down he knew that the ring held immense power, and the decision of who would wield it would have to be made carefully.