"Finally," Ye Yun murmured with excitement as he spotted Ivanka in the distance.
He had waited four full days for this exact "coincidence." It might be his only chance—if he missed it, it'd be gone for good.
Taking a deep breath, Ye Yun bent down as if to tie his shoelaces. At the same time, he subtly patted the golden retriever beside him on the head and pointed toward Ivanka.
Golden retrievers are among the smartest breeds, and this one had been carefully chosen by Sebas at Ye Yun's request. Receiving Ye Yun's signal, the dog let out a happy bark and dashed straight toward Ivanka.
After giving the dog a short head start, Ye Yun quickly put on a flustered expression and took off running after it.
It didn't take long for man and dog to converge with their target.
"Ah!"
Ivanka gave a startled cry. Focused on her run, she was caught off guard by the golden retriever suddenly charging toward her and instinctively stopped in her tracks.
But instead of jumping on her, the golden retriever sat obediently at her feet, panting with its tongue out, gazing up at her with a goofy charm.
"Whose dog is this? It's so cute…"
Seeing the adorable golden retriever, Ivanka's brief annoyance instantly melted away. Smiling, she bent down to stroke its head.
The dog responded with affectionate calm, nestling down by her feet.
Its gentle demeanor only made Ivanka like it even more, and for the first time, her cold, proud face softened into a genuine smile.
And that was when a certain method-acting heartthrob finally arrived on the scene.
"Sorry… are you alright?"
Ye Yun jogged over, panting slightly, casting a nervous glance at Ivanka.
"This your dog?"
Ivanka was still petting the retriever as she looked up at him.
Ye Yun nodded, wearing a sheepish smile. "I didn't hold the leash properly, and it slipped away. I hope my dog didn't scare you, beautiful miss?"
His body language, tone, and expression were flawless—not a single slip. Even Ye Yun was impressed by his own performance.
"I'm fine, don't worry. What's its name?"
Clearly fond of the golden retriever, Ivanka asked curiously.
"That's a relief… its name… uh, it's Da Huang," Ye Yun blurted out, naming it after a dog he'd had in the past.
"Pfft—"
Ivanka couldn't help but giggle, the icy chill on her face instantly melting. The moment she smiled, her entire demeanor brightened like the morning sun.
Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled as she looked at Ye Yun and said, "That's… quite a name."
"Ahem, thank you," Ye Yun replied awkwardly, then smoothly changed the topic. "By the way, may I ask your name?"
Ivanka hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, "I'm Ivanka."
"So it's Miss Ivanka. I'm Ye Yun. Very pleased to meet you."
Ye Yun flashed a warm, sunny smile and extended his hand. After a quick handshake, the two began to chat naturally.
Ordinary approaches wouldn't have worked—Ivanka was far too cool and aloof to respond to random pick-up attempts.
But the golden retriever provided the perfect bridge. Ye Yun's first impression was already favorable, and since the topic was about dogs, it naturally piqued her interest.
With the system's background support, Ivanka's favorability toward Ye Yun shot up rapidly.
After chatting for a long while, Ye Yun glanced at his watch, then feigned surprise. "Wow, is it that late already?"
Ivanka noticed the time too. Thinking Ye Yun was about to leave, a trace of disappointment flickered in her heart.
She genuinely enjoyed their conversation. The black-haired, dark-eyed young man had left a deep impression on her.
Just as she was about to politely take her leave, she heard Ye Yun chuckle and say, "My estate isn't far from here. Miss Ivanka, would you like to join me for breakfast? It's the least I can do to apologize for this silly dog's mischief."
He had directly invited her to breakfast.
Ivanka, being Western and naturally open-minded, found Ye Yun likable enough and didn't see a reason to turn him down.
"Sure, I'll take you up on that."
"The pleasure is mine."
Ye Yun laughed heartily, secretly thrilled that his plan had worked.
"Let's go, Da Huang."
After giving the leash a gentle tug, Ye Yun strolled alongside Ivanka up the mountain path, chatting and laughing as they went.
…
"This is…"
As Ivanka followed Ye Yun into the Rose Estate, she glanced around in amazement.
The grandeur of the estate was even more impressive than her own family's!
The place radiated understated luxury, blending refinement with artistic beauty—exactly the kind of first impression most people had of Rose Estate.
"Rose Estate. This is my home—pardon the humble surroundings,"
Ye Yun said with a modest smile. He led Ivanka across a carefully trimmed lawn toward a classical-style villa.
Once they were seated in the dining room, the maids swiftly brought out a breakfast that was simple yet exquisitely prepared.
Ivanka took in the elegant decor and the maids' impeccable manners, nodding to herself in approval. She turned to Ye Yun with a smile.
"I never imagined, Mr. Ye, that you would be the owner of the famous Rose Estate."
"Oh? Miss Ivanka, you've heard of my estate?"
Ye Yun raised an eyebrow.
"Of course. Rose Estate on the Big Island is known for producing Hawaii's finest Kona coffee beans and Koloa grapes. How could I not have heard of it?"
Ivanka gave a gentle smile and lifted her wine glass, taking a small sip.
The moment she did, Ye Yun's lips curved subtly.
Got her.
Ivanka's body jolted slightly. After a brief pause, she took another sip, savoring the flavor with narrowed eyes. Then she turned to Ye Yun, her expression full of shock.
"This wine… what is it?"
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]