Chapter 12: A Delicate Flower

Sophia watched Ivy head straight towards Kate, likely to get a photo together. She planned to wait until Ivy succeeded so she could join them for a picture, but her little sister chickened out so quickly! Sophia had assumed she was the only one who, under the pressure of being around Kate, couldn't gather the courage to even request a photo, despite her "social butterfly" reputation. Seeing Ivy act similarly made her feel oddly balanced.

Meanwhile, Kate had only seen Ivy's phone flash past, unsure if she'd even managed a photo, before the girl dashed away. Was she really that intimidating?

Just then, her phone pinged with a message:

[Actor David Green: Ms. Stone, thank you for looking out for my sister. I think she may feel a little shy with other women—hope everything's going smoothly on set?]

Shy? Ivy seemed to get along just fine with Annie and Sophia. Kate replied politely, "She's doing very well." Eating, sleeping, and socializing splendidly, in fact.

Kate had once made a cameo in one of David's films, playing his character's late love—a mere few seconds on screen but shot so beautifully, a single glance over her shoulder enchanted audiences. To this day, many fans joked they were relieved her character had met an early demise; otherwise, they wouldn't have survived watching her romance another man.

Ivy had never openly mentioned David, so most weren't aware they were siblings. Kate, however, was one of the few in the industry who knew.

[Actor David Green: Then I owe you a dinner to express my gratitude someday.]

Kate simply replied, "It should be her treat."

David didn't press, respecting Kate's famous reserve. Considering that so many attempts to invite her to dinner had been turned down, David took it as a mild success. He figured that with his sister around, he'd have enough excuses to keep up the conversation. Still, he worried Ivy might not even feel comfortable taking a deep breath, let alone relax, around someone as reserved as Kate.

"I just posted on social media and tagged everyone," Ivy announced to Annie and Sophia, her eyes curved in a smile. But when she saw Kate glancing her way, her cheerful expression faltered as she nervously glanced elsewhere. It was as if the playful "hold me" recording kept replaying in her mind, each glance reminding her of her own embarrassment.

"I love the photo Ivy posted of us," Sophia said, satisfied as she viewed the picture on her phone. She thought she looked better than Annie in it.

Annie felt similarly, thinking her own picture was superior. They both saw themselves as the standout, creating a surprising harmony with no one objecting to the shots.

Ivy refreshed her post to see both Annie's and Sophia's comments, promptly replying to each. This part of the job sometimes meant showcasing these friendships for fans to see, reinforcing the idea that they all got along. The nature of the show had attracted a lot of attention, and as a new face, Ivy wanted to demonstrate a respectful attitude toward her seniors.

Since Kate didn't have her own social media, Ivy simply mentioned her in the post, placing their blurry, candid photo together in the center of the frame, creating an unexpectedly artsy effect. Tagged with #StarLoveGuide, the post soon drew attention from fans who had never heard of the show before.

One user named "SugarShipper" flooded the comments with exclamations: "Did I miss something? Is Kate Stone on a romance show with another woman?!"

However, this comment soon faded into the sea of responses.

While Ivy and her two "sisters" were joyfully engaging online, Kate sat alone on the couch, drinking tea, seemingly uninterested in their activities. Their contrasting scenes couldn't have been more distinct.

Nervously, Ivy approached, gently tugging Kate's sleeve. Avoiding eye contact, she explained, "Since you don't have an account, I couldn't tag you."

"Mm," Kate answered curtly, without indicating if she minded.

Afraid that Kate might be upset, Ivy hesitantly added, "Maybe next time, I could tag your studio account, although it might feel a bit odd."

"No need," Kate replied.

Assuming Kate's distaste for social media, Ivy was ready to withdraw her suggestion when Kate added, "I've got an account now."

Not just "I have an account"—but "I have one now," as in, within the past five minutes.

Surprised, Ivy's eyes widened. "I thought you didn't have one?" she stammered.

Kate lifted her phone for a brief second, showing Ivy the account name "KateCan'tPickNames" before pulling it back, leaving Ivy with only a glimpse.

She barely had time to ask to see it again before a staff member appeared, announcing it was time to head to their date location. The thought of Kate's new account was pushed aside.

The camerawoman quietly filmed their exchange, eyebrow raised. Kate Stone seeking payback for the hasty photo? Adorably odd.

Their first "date"—well, as Kate preferred to call it, an "afternoon tea"—was set at a flower conservatory.

It was a vibrant place, filled with rare blossoms Ivy had never seen before and, to her delight, even a swing.

"Wow, the show's team really picked a beautiful spot. It smells incredible here!" Ivy exclaimed, spinning in the fragrant air before stopping beside the swing and taking a seat.

The staff chuckled, "Kate was the one who arranged this, actually. We wouldn't have been able to access the place without her help."

Just then, Kate sat on the opposite end of the swing, her quiet presence somehow calming everyone around her.

Completely absorbed by the flowers, Ivy had almost forgotten her morning embarrassment. She beamed at Kate, her eyes alight with enthusiasm. "I love this place!"

Kate paused briefly before replying, "You still have my date fund, so remember to pay me back at the end."

This was Kate's idea of a joke, delivered with such deadpan sincerity that even the staff, accustomed to her reserved nature, were taken aback. They knew she wasn't short on cash.

It was a little-known quirk among her longtime fans: early in her career, whenever she was particularly pleased, she'd humor people with dry, seemingly serious comments.

Ivy smiled sweetly, tilting her head. "Of course! I'll even cover your portion if you'd like." With a twinkle in her eye, she waved her hand near Kate's ear, and from seemingly nowhere, produced a white rose. She held it out, her eyes bright and full of delight.

In her understated way, Kate seemed visibly taken aback by the unexpected gesture. Her eyes lingered on Ivy, a flicker of surprise in their depths, before she reached out and accepted the rose with uncharacteristic gentleness.