With Ye Yun showing no signs of nervousness, time quickly slipped by.
By late afternoon the next day, a black sedan cruised smoothly along the coastal road and pulled up at the gates of Rose Estate.
When the car came to a halt, an elderly man stepped out and looked up at the grand estate before him.
He appeared to be quite advanced in age, his hair completely silver.
Yet despite his years, he stood tall and straight.
He wore an impeccably tailored suit and leaned lightly on a lacquered crimson cane.
The man had the air of an old-fashioned British gentleman, exuding a quiet but unmistakable severity.
"What an impressive estate,"
the gentleman butler murmured in admiration after taking one look.
At that moment, the gates of the estate opened. Led by Sebas, the estate staff stood respectfully on both sides of the entrance in anticipation.
Sebas stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said with a polite smile:
"Mr. Brown, our Young Master instructed me to receive you here. Please, follow me."
This elderly man was none other than the world-renowned master sommelier—Murray Brown.
"Thank you,"
Murray Brown replied with a nod, then followed Sebas into the estate as the gates quietly closed behind them.
Though it was getting dark, the estate was gently lit in all the right places, giving the night a serene and graceful elegance.
The trickling sound of the fountain was like a soothing symphony.
Warm lights danced on the ivy-covered walls, swaying gently in the breeze,
conveying a sense of timeless history and classical charm unique to the estate.
As Murray Brown followed Sebas through the grounds, his gaze wandered, and a hint of awe flickered in his eyes.
There were only a handful of estates he had seen that could match this grandeur.
Just witnessing this was already worth the trip.
He couldn't help but become curious—what kind of person was the owner of such a remarkable estate?
After passing through the central courtyard, they arrived at a European-style villa, where several maids stood in waiting.
But what truly caught Murray Brown's attention was the young man standing on the villa steps, dressed in an elegant white suit.
This young man, of course, was Ye Yun.
"Welcome to my estate, Mr. Murray Brown."
Ye Yun descended the steps and gave Brown a brief hug in the British style, greeting him with just the right amount of warmth.
A faint smile broke through Brown's otherwise stern face as he responded in a calm tone:
"I apologize for the late visit. As a wine lover, I had heard of your rosé's reputation but found it nearly impossible to obtain, so I came all this way in the hope that I wasn't intruding."
Ye Yun chuckled pleasantly and replied:
"Mr. Brown, it's an honor to receive your visit. I've already prepared dinner and wine—I'll make sure you're well taken care of tonight."
With that, he led Murray Brown into the villa.
After the two were seated in the dining room, the maids began setting the table and preparing the courses. During this brief lull, Murray Brown struck up a casual conversation.
"I've been to Hawaii many times, but I'd never heard of Mr. Ye's estate until now. Had I known, I would've come to visit much earlier."
Ye Yun offered a faint smile and replied, "I only recently inherited this estate, and the winery was just established. Everything I do is for one purpose—to craft the best wine in the world. That's my dream."
His voice was filled with conviction and confidence—an Oscar-worthy performance, really.
"Admirable,"
Even Murray Brown nodded in respect, clearly moved by Ye Yun's ambition.
Soon, the maids returned, pushing carts laden with exquisite dishes.
Ye Yun glanced at the carts and looked up to ask Sebas, "What's on the menu tonight?"
Sebas replied smoothly, "Tonight's first appetizer is seafood brochette with French brown sauce, made with ingredients from Onoton. The second appetizer is pan-steamed foie gras from Strasbourg."
"The soup is a creamy sweet potato and chestnut soup from Alfheim. The main course is Matsudo-style beef steak, and dessert is Moscura fruit poached in white wine, topped with yogurt."
"We've also prepared a selection of ice creams, if the guest would like something chilled."
Sebas's eloquent recitation left Murray Brown momentarily stunned.
This dinner must've cost at least tens of thousands of dollars!
He turned to look at Ye Yun, who only smiled at him, as if asking, "Are you satisfied?"
Murray Brown said nothing. After all the dishes were served, Sebas stepped aside. Ye Yun took a bottle of wine and poured it into a decanter.
The moment the wine breathed, a rich aroma wafted through the room. Upon catching a whiff, Murray Brown smiled and remarked:
"Mr. Ye, this is a 1986 Lafite, aged in white oak barrels… from Château Lafite."
Hearing this, Ye Yun gave him a thumbs-up and praised:
"As expected of a world-class sommelier—just one sniff and you already deduced all that."
"But what I'd like to ask, Mr. Ye, is this—why use this wine to host me? Surely, you know the reason for my visit tonight. Are you trying to avoid having me evaluate your rosé by not letting me taste it?"
"If that's the case, then I must say, I'm disappointed."
Murray Brown's voice remained calm, but his gaze grew cold.
The dishes were indeed lavish and impeccable, but the wine—why Lafite?
Ye Yun quickly waved his hand and shook his head. "No, no, Mr. Brown, you misunderstand. I just thought…"
He suddenly smiled, looking at Murray Brown with a touch of mockery, and scoffed:
"I just thought, since Mr. Brown already has an opinion, what's the point of tasting the rosé? Orders are tight at our estate—I'd rather not waste a bottle."
"Besides, in my view, someone who's betrayed the sacred duty of a sommelier doesn't deserve to drink the wine I've carefully crafted."
As Ye Yun's words fell, the atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point. Even Murray Brown hadn't expected Ye Yun to tear off the pleasantries in such a blunt and brutal way.
Looking at Ye Yun, his wrinkled face turned pale, and his lips trembled with rage.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]