The roar of the Hungaroring still echoed in his ears, and Dominik's impressive performance earned cheers from many Hungarian racing fans who hadn't known him before. More people were beginning to support Dominik Corvinus, the home-grown F2 talent.
His agent, O'Connor, had returned to his post-season demeanor, respecting Dominik's wishes for rest and promising to contact him only when something truly important arose.
Carrying this pleasant mood, Dominik stretched in the minivan on the way back to the Buda estate, only to find that Henrik's family of three had arrived for a visit before 5 PM.
Pushing open the heavy door, laughter and cheerful voices drifted from the living room. Dominik immediately spotted Henrik and his wife sitting on the sofa, and memories instantly flooded back to his childhood. Henrik, wearing a white sweater, smiled kindly, while Aunt Szilvia sat gracefully beside him, time seemingly leaving few traces on their faces.
"Dominikó!" His mother, Katalin, called out with a smile, "Come quickly, see who's here." The families were old acquaintances, so The Empress's warmth was nothing out of the ordinary.
Dominik quickly stepped forward and greeted them politely: "Uncle Henrik, Aunt Szilvia, long time no see."
Henrik and his wife immediately stood up, warmly holding his hand. "It's been years, Dominik has grown so tall! I heard you're an F2 driver now—one of the best in Europe? That's truly amazing!" Aunt Szilvia's face was filled with pride.
His father, Gábor, also smiled and said, "Yes, this kid is always running around on the track, never seems to get tired."
As they were chatting happily, Henrik suddenly remembered something and said, "Dominik, Hanna is in the garden conservatory. You young people haven't seen each other in a long time, go chat."
Dominik's heart tightened slightly. Hanna, the girl he had grown up with, was now a somewhat famous celebrity in the European entertainment industry. However, her carefree and slightly overbearing personality always left him feeling a bit flustered. But since the elders had spoken, he had to brace himself and walk to the back.
In the conservatory, Hanna was drinking tea. Since both families had lived in the same neighborhood since childhood, Dominik and Hanna were practically raised by Erzsi and László.
Erzsi was chatting next to Hanna. Hearing footsteps, both turned around, and Hanna's eyes immediately lit up: "Dominik! You're finally here!" After not seeing each other for a year or two, Hanna seemed to have shed much of her youthful innocence, gaining a touch of mature charm. Perhaps this is the effect of the industry, Dominik secretly mused.
"Long time no see." Dominik offered a polite smile.
At this point, Erzsi said, "You two chat well, I'll go prepare dinner now."
Hanna quickly walked over and unceremoniously linked her arm through his: "Come on, take a walk with me, I have so much to tell you!"
Dominik felt a surge of panic and discomfort, trying to pull his arm away, but Hanna held him even tighter. Fortunately, along the way, she just chattered on about the industry—from newly filmed dramas to eccentric directors—an endless stream of talk. He only occasionally chimed in, wishing time would pass faster.
Dusk fell, and dinner was served. The table was laden with a sumptuous Hungarian spread, and the two families sat together in a warm atmosphere. Henrik and Gábor drank red wine, discussing business; The Empress and Aunt Szilvia exchanged tips on beauty treatments.
Only between Dominik and Hanna was the atmosphere subtle. Hanna occasionally served him food, but Dominik always blushed as he thanked her, eating cautiously, as if she were the bold one and he the shy boy.
After dinner, outside the window, winter Budapest was draped in a silvery-grey veil. Streetlights swayed in the cold wind. Dominik gripped the steering wheel of the Abarth, the warm air from the vents fogging the windshield.
His insistence on not touching a drop of alcohol while the elders were toasting became his "evidence" at this moment. He was chased out by his family.
"It's been two years, let Hanna take you out to explore," Katalin said as he tried to escape upstairs. "Dominikó, you go out and see the new Budapest. Don't come back for at least two hours."
He mused, how could a parent be so hard on their son?
A faint scent of cedar drifted from the passenger seat, mixing with Hanna's unique perfume. "Let's go to Fashion Street and the WestEnd," she suddenly said.
Under the neon lights of the mall, the two put on caps and sunglasses. Dominik maintained a half-step distance, watching Hanna browse cosmetics. Passing a jewelry store, she picked up silver stud earrings. "Do you think these look good?"
Dominik stared at their reflections in the glass—two blurry figures like silent movie actors.
"Are you mute?" Finally, with no elders around, Hanna unleashed her true nature, making him shiver. He hadn't been this nervous even when battling Piastri.
He could only force a smile. "Looks good, looks good. You're beautiful, Hanna, everything looks good on you."
The bustling mall was the perfect cover. After carrying her shopping bags into a dessert shop, they sat facing each other. Hanna's gaze behind her glasses was more scorching than the cherry on the cake.
The return journey was even quieter. The blue light of the dashboard reflected on Hanna's eyelashes. The car stopped in front of the Buda villa. Hanna suddenly took off her sunglasses, her eyes brighter than the winter night: "Dominik, I still like you."
Dominik was terrified. Just as he was about to speak, she interrupted: "Don't rush to refuse. As long as you're not married, I won't give up."
She was the first to get out. As she turned, her scarf brushed against his hand, the soft touch carrying her warmth. With the sound of the car door closing, Dominik slumped in the seat, feeling a sense of relief.
Back inside, seeing Hanna had returned to her quiet demeanor, Dominik rolled his eyes so hard internally they almost went to heaven.
"Alright then, Dominik, you two arrange to hang out tomorrow," Henrik said, ending the gathering. Before leaving, Hanna, taking advantage of the parents not looking, stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes at him. Dominik thought, 'That should be my expression, shouldn't it?'