The evening had settled into a calm hush, the city lights flickering beyond the tall glass windows of Daniel’s living room.

Inside, however—

There was nothing calm about the discussion.

"I’m telling you, this is a critical situation."

Shawn stood in the middle of the room like a man briefing a high-stakes mission, his expression grave, his hands moving as if he were mapping strategies in the air.

Henry sat beside him, equally serious, nodding along like this was a matter of national importance.

Across from them—

Daniel lounged comfortably on the couch, one arm resting lazily over the backrest, his expression completely uninterested.

"...He’s proposing," Daniel said flatly.

"Yes," Shawn replied sharply. "Exactly. Which is why we need a plan."

Daniel blinked slowly.

Henry leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "This isn’t just any proposal. This is Ethan’s proposal."

"And?" Daniel asked.

"And?" Shawn repeated, scandalized. "You’re saying and?"

Daniel shrugged slightly. "People propose all the time."

Henry stared at him. "Boss did not just reduce this to ’people propose all the time.’"

"I did."

Shawn ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "This is why you’re not helpful."

"I wasn’t trying to be."

Henry exhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright. Let’s approach this logically."

Daniel raised a brow. "This should be interesting."

Shawn clapped his hands once. "Step one. Location."

Henry nodded. "Yes. It has to be meaningful."

Daniel glanced at them. "Anywhere works."

Both men turned to him slowly.

"...Anywhere?" Shawn repeated.

"Yes."

"Like where?" Henry asked.

Daniel shrugged again. "A room."

Shawn looked like he might faint.

"A ROOM?" he exclaimed. "You want him to propose in a room?!"

"It’s where people usually are," Daniel replied calmly.

Henry leaned back, staring at the ceiling like he was questioning his life choices. "Why are we even asking him?"

"Because he’s supposed to be good at this," Shawn snapped.

Daniel smirked faintly. "That’s acting."

Henry pointed at him. "Exactly! Which means you should at least have some idea."

Daniel thought for a moment. Then—

"Make it simple."

Shawn froze. "Define ’simple,’ boss."

Daniel’s gaze shifted slightly, his tone still nonchalant. "Something that matters to her."

There was a pause.

Henry blinked.

"...That’s actually not bad," he admitted.

Shawn frowned. "Wait—are we agreeing with him?"

"I think we are."

Shawn looked deeply conflicted.

Daniel leaned forward slightly now, resting his elbows on his knees.

"He’s overthinking it," he added. "Which means whatever he plans will probably end up awkward."

Henry snorted. "That sounds accurate."

"Very accurate," Shawn agreed.

Daniel continued, "So instead of something complicated, he should just focus on what Kathrine would feel."

Silence.

Shawn and Henry exchanged a look.

"...Why does that sound like real advice?" Shawn whispered.

Henry whispered back, "I don’t know. I’m scared."

Daniel glanced at them. "You’re both overreacting."

"We are not!" Shawn protested.

Henry suddenly snapped his fingers. "Wait—I’ve got it!"

Both men turned to him.

"Candlelight dinner," Henry declared confidently.

Shawn gasped. "Classic."

Henry nodded proudly. "Romantic. Elegant. Safe."

Daniel leaned back again. "Overused."

Henry’s confidence cracked. "Excuse me?"

"It’s predictable," Daniel said.

Shawn frowned. "Predictable isn’t bad."

"It is if it feels forced."

Henry crossed his arms. "Okay, genius. What do you suggest then?"

Daniel didn’t answer immediately.

Which already made both of them suspicious.

"...You have something in mind," Shawn said, narrowing his eyes.

"Not really."

"Liar."

Daniel sighed faintly.

"Something private," he finally said. "Somewhere she feels comfortable."

Henry blinked. "That sounds... nice."

Shawn nodded slowly. "Wait... wait... what if he proposes at home?"

Henry gasped. "YES!"

Daniel gave them a look.

"What?" Shawn said defensively. "You literally just said that."

"I said somewhere comfortable. Not necessarily home."

Henry leaned forward again, excitement building. "No, no—this could work. Think about it."

Shawn joined in immediately. "He decorates the place. Lights, flowers—"

"Not too many," Daniel cut in.

Both men paused.

"...Right," Henry said. "Not too many."

"Then he cooks," Shawn added.

Daniel raised a brow. "He can’t cook."

"...Orders food," Shawn corrected smoothly.

Henry nodded. "Yes. High-end. Fancy."

Daniel looked unimpressed. "You’re turning it into a restaurant."

Shawn threw his hands up. "Then what do you want?!"

Daniel looked at him calmly. "You’re missing the point."

Henry leaned closer. "Which is?"

Daniel’s gaze shifted slightly, thoughtful now.

"It’s not about how it looks," he said. "It’s about what he says."

The room went quiet.

For once—

Neither Shawn nor Henry had an immediate dramatic response.

"...That was deep," Henry said softly.

Shawn nodded. "Too deep."

Daniel sighed. "It’s basic."

Henry pointed at him. "No, no. That’s actually important."

Shawn added, "Because if he messes up the speech, no amount of candles will save him."

Daniel smirked faintly. "Exactly."

Henry suddenly stood up. "We need to train him."

Daniel blinked. "...Train him?"

"Yes!" Henry said. "Proposal rehearsal!"

Shawn’s eyes lit up. "Like acting practice!"

Daniel stared at them.

"No."

"Yes," Shawn insisted.

"No."

"We’re doing it."

Daniel leaned back again, completely done. "You’re both insane."

Henry ignored him. "We’ll make him practice lines."

Shawn added, "Work on his expressions."

"And timing," Henry nodded seriously.

Daniel rubbed his temple faintly. "This is a bad idea."

Shawn grinned. "This is a great idea."

Henry pointed dramatically toward the door. "We start tonight."

Daniel didn’t move.

"Not my problem," he said.

Shawn smirked. "Oh, you’re coming."

"I’m not."

Henry crossed his arms. "You’re the closest thing we have to someone who actually understands emotions."

Daniel gave him a look.

"...That’s concerning."

Shawn laughed. "Exactly why you’re needed."

Daniel sighed.

Long.

Tired.

Resigned.

"...Fine," he muttered.

Both Shawn and Henry froze.

"Wait—you agreed?" Shawn asked.

Daniel stood up slowly. "Don’t make me repeat it."

Henry grinned. "This is going to be fun."

Daniel walked past them, already regretting his decision.

"It’s going to be a disaster," he corrected.

Shawn clapped his hands excitedly. "Even better."

And just like that—

Ethan’s proposal planning officially turned into chaos, with the men completely ignoring him the entire time.

"It was a mistake to ask for them to help"