More than ten days passed, and the winter atmosphere in Budapest deepened. The scent of traditional Hungarian pastries wafted through the crisp air, and the lights along the Danube glowed brightly in the cold wind, adding a festive touch to the historic city.
At this moment, Dominik was nestled on the warm sofa in his villa, holding a cup of hot tea. His gaze casually swept across the TV screen, enjoying the relaxation of these past few days without O'Connor's work arrangements. Of course, Dominik would still occasionally go to Viktor's shop to run the simulator.
Dominik initially wanted to pay, but Viktor stubbornly refused. However, seeing a "Dominik Corvinus Official Training Station" plaque on Viktor's wall and the shop overflowing with customers, Dominik didn't insist further.
As he lay on the sofa, Katalin found Dominik increasingly lazy. Suddenly, his phone rang; it was a message from Hanna.
Looking at the words on the screen, Dominik unconsciously frowned.
"Dominik! You must come to my filming set today, or I'll tell your mom that you broke her favorite Herend vase when you were little and framed me!" Hanna's message carried that familiar threatening tone. How was this going to haunt him for his entire life?
When he was little, Dominik was mischievous and was hiding from Hanna in the garden with István. His arm had knocked over his mother's favorite hand-painted vase. After begging Hanna for a long time, she had kept his secret, and he had managed to escape a scolding.
Just as Dominik was about to find a subtle way to decline, his mother's voice came from the kitchen: "Dominikó, if you have nothing to do all day, go out and spend some time with Hanna."
Dominik sighed helplessly. In his mother's eyes, Hanna was like her own daughter. Under immense "pressure," Dominik had no choice but to get up and drive his car from the garage.
When he arrived at the agreed time, Hanna was already waiting at the gate. She was wearing a white down jacket and a fluffy hat. Seeing the Abarth, she immediately waved cheerfully and jogged over.
"I knew you'd come!" Hanna smiled as she sat in the passenger seat, carrying a faint scent of snowflakes. Along the way, she chattered excitedly about anecdotes from the set. Dominik only occasionally responded, his gaze focused on the road.
Soon, they arrived at the filming location. Dominik parked the car and walked onto the set with her.
Stepping onto the set, a bustling atmosphere immediately enveloped them. Staff members were busy setting up scenes and debugging equipment. Today was Hanna's last day of work before the new year; she was finishing the filming of a historical drama set in the Austro-Hungarian era. Dominik watched as she skillfully greeted the crew and walked into the dressing room. He was surprised; the Hanna who always relied on him also had such a professional side.
When Hanna, dressed in an elaborate period gown, appeared before him, Dominik was truly stunned. The exquisite hairstyle and magnificent attire, combined with her serious expression, made her seem like a woman who had truly traveled through time.
With the director's call of "Action," Hanna immediately immersed herself in the role, her eyes revealing a determination and tenderness completely different from her usual self. Dominik stood by, quietly watching. Every movement was perfectly delivered. Under the spotlight, she was completely absorbed, as if she had forgotten everything around her.
Watching her work, Dominik had to admit she was different from how he remembered her. The mischievous girl now displayed a professionalism and charm that made him look at her in a new light. However, this was still far from being called liking her.
After filming, Hanna changed back and resumed her lively demeanor. "Come on, Dominik, you have to buy me coffee!" she whined, linking her arm through his. Her agent, also on set, was nearly frantic, but due to Hanna's family background, there was nothing he could say.
Seeing Dominik hesitate, she narrowed her eyes: "If you don't take me, I'll call your mom right now and tell her you bullied me!"
Dominik gave a helpless wry smile. He knew she would do it, so he took her to a local café. To avoid attention, both put on hats and sunglasses. The shop was warm and quiet, with soothing music. Dominik led her to a corner seat and ordered coffee. Hanna ate cake while sharing stories from the set.
However, they didn't notice a person in a baseball cap in a nearby corner, secretly filming them. The paparazzi took photos of them arriving in the same car and posted them online that night.
Soon, the topic #HannaMysteriousMan trended. The reports only showed blurry figures, and Dominik's identity was not recognized. The media speculated she was dating an ordinary person.
When Dominik returned home, he found his phone blowing up with notifications. He opened social media, and seeing the trending topic, his heart sank. As an F2 racer, if his identity were exposed, it would cause unnecessary trouble. He paced anxiously in his room.
Just as he was feeling stressed, Hanna's clarification statement was released. She wrote: "Thank you for your concern, everyone! The person in the photo is a childhood neighbor and friend I grew up with. We often hang out, and today was just a gathering between friends~ @DominikCorvinusV can vouch for me!"
She included childhood photos of them playing in a garden in Buda, with István and other children blurred out. Pure smiles adorned their faces.
Seeing the statement, Dominik's heart settled. He messaged her to express his gratitude, and Hanna quickly replied: "Why are you being so polite! I wouldn't use such methods to make you like me. I want you to willingly admit it yourself!" Dominik stared blankly at his phone.
The next morning, they met for breakfast at a local neighborhood bistro. The shop was filled with the aroma of fresh coffee and pastries. Hanna brought her food and sat opposite him, saying earnestly, "I'm really sorry for the trouble yesterday. But I also won't use such bad methods to achieve my goal. I will work hard to show you a different me."
Dominik looked at her determined eyes, and a different emotion surged within him. He had always thought of her as a mischievous little girl, but her frankness made him feel a hint of admiration.
The sunlight outside spilled onto the table, adding a warm touch to the morning. They ate while chatting and laughing, as if nothing had happened. But in their hearts, some subtle changes were quietly taking place.