Dk and Minghao stepped into the jewelry shop, greeted by a cheerful staff member. As she displayed several diamond rings, the boys leaned over the counter, closely examining each one. Dk was visibly nervous, glancing between the rings and Nian's ring size. Meanwhile, Minghao picked one quickly and handed it over to the staff.
Dk blinked. "You chose that fast?"
Minghao chuckled. "Why are you so nervous? You weren't this shaky even on stage!"
Dk pouted. "This is different. This is important."
The staff stifled a giggle watching them. Dk finally made his choice and handed the ring to her. She smiled. "Are you proposing to your girlfriends?"
Both boys nodded, their faces glowing with joy.
"Then shall I pack them up in ring boxes?" she asked.
Dk stepped forward. "Actually… can you customize them?"
She raised an eyebrow. Minghao added, "Yes—these are meaningful to us. We have something special in mind."
He pulled out two small keepsake boxes. "Can you take the diamonds, place them inside these boxes, and make them transparent from outside?"
The staff looked stunned. "You want to hide the diamonds?"
Dk grinned. "This box is our love symbol. The design means more than the diamond itself. We'll pay extra."
She smiled warmly. "It will take about four hours. You can collect them tomorrow at 4 p.m."
The boys nodded and left with proud hearts.
---
Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, the girls paid the bill as Jun, Joshua, Woozi, and Wonwoo looked at them, still reeling from the secret birthday plan. Nian leaned in, "Remember—don't tell the others. If they ask, say you went to grab food."
Xuanye added, "And if they ask why it took so long, just say the place was crowded and you ate there."
The boys widened their eyes and smiled nervously. The restaurant owner returned with takeaway boxes. "Boys, finish this properly, alright? I made a lot just for you."
Jun assured him, "Don't worry, sir. These boys will lick the plates clean."
Everyone laughed.
Outside, the girls offered to drop them off at the dorm. As the boys got into the car, they sat stiffly, looking like they'd been kidnapped.
Xuanye glanced at them through the mirror. "Why are you so tense? Joshua, are you sweating?"
He wiped his forehead awkwardly. "I think it's just hot today."
Wonwoo deadpanned, "The AC is on."
Jun teased, "Joshua, you can't even lie properly."
When they reached the dorm, the boys scrambled to get out.
"Wait," Xuanye said.
Woozi turned and said, "We'll just say we took a cab, alright?" and walked off casually.
Xuanye stood frozen. "How did he know I was about to say that?"
Nian burst into laughter. "You guys really are in sync!"
---
At the dorm, the rest of the boys were gathered when the "secret team" walked in with food.
Scoups asked, "Where were you?"
Jun froze. Woozi whispered, "The girls knew they'd ask this…"
Hoshi added, "What took so long? We were starving!"
Panic-struck, the boys gave weak excuses and sat down.
Dk and Minghao entered a moment later, smiling brightly.
"What a surprise—everyone's eating early today," Dk joked.
Jeonghan leaned forward. "So? How did it go?"
Minghao said proudly, "We'll collect the rings tomorrow at 4 p.m."
The members clapped and Hoshi grinned. "Tomorrow is DK's birthday and the big proposal. Double celebration!"
The boys clapped with excitement. Vernon smiled but quietly wondered, Did they forget my birthday too?
---
The next morning, the girls picked up the cakes at 9 a.m.—one walnut, one cheesecake—and confirmed the midnight delivery. As Xuanye drove, Nian called Jun.
At the studio, while the boys were decorating with balloons, golden lights, and confetti, Zheng was setting up the smoke machine.
Jun's phone rang. Seeing it was Nian, he quietly stepped out to answer.
"Jun," she said. "What took you so long to pick up?"
"Sorry, we're decorating the studio," he whispered.
She grinned. "At 11:50 p.m., the cakes will arrive. Please collect them."
"Got it," Jun replied, smiling.
---
At 3:30 p.m., Dk and Minghao returned to the jewelry store to collect the custom rings. The staff beamed as she handed them the boxes.
"Congratulations," she said warmly.
Holding the rings to the light, both boys were giggling with joy.
"We love it," they said in unison.
Back at the studio, when they returned, their jaws dropped at the sight of the fully decorated space.
"This is… beautiful," Dk whispered.
Minghao added, "Thank you, guys. Really."
Scoups clapped his shoulder. "Don't get emotional. This is what family does."
Dk and Minghao hugged the members one by one.
"Now show us the rings!" Hoshi yelled.
Dk and Minghao opened the boxes. The boys gasped.
"They're more beautiful than diamonds," Woozi said sincerely.
The room was filled with laughter, pride, and an energy that could only mean one thing:
The proposal night was going to be unforgettable.