The light conversation surrounding the story behind your new relationship with Yoongi and what may come in the future continued for some time, and it somehow helped the rest of the business meeting to continue more fluidly.

By the end of the meeting, a few arrangements were made at the table, involving Yoongi's company, Mr. Oh's business, and the prospect of their upcoming deal falling into place. You feel a sense of relief seeing how everything that Yoongi had planned today going smoothly so far, perhaps even better than both you and Yoongi had predicted it would.

Getting some inside scoop on what has been spreading recently in the rumour mills became an added bonus, allowing you to get some sense of what has been going on in the community while giving you the chance to bond a bit more with Mrs. Oh. Something that Yoongi deemed beneficial for your future plans.

Once the business lunch was over, Yoongi took you to another place for tea and light dessert. The place that he had chosen was a tea house located not too far away, which is quite well-known in the city. A place that seemed suitable for the two of you to continue your next agenda for the day.

"Thank you," Yoongi suddenly says after a brief silence passes between you.

"What?" you ask, your hand stopping as you lift the cup of your drink to your lips. "What are you thanking me for?"

The moment your eyes meet Yoongi's, your body shudders. The constant show of affection that Yoongi did throughout the lunch business meeting with Mr. Oh and his wife has overwhelmed you, that you can still feel your skin sensitive to the touch, your body still warm, and you're chest still tight. All you need is one look from those perceptive eyes of him and you start feeling all the same sensations again coming back, as if he is still touching you from across the table.

"Thank you for being there," Yoongi says with a smile. A genuine smile that warms your chest and your skin. A dangerous thing to face head-on if you want to maintain your sanity throughout this arrangement.

Entwining his fingers, Yoongi rests his hands on the table and leans closer. "The reason why Mr. Oh became more interested in the offer I was making, why he was open to talking about our business deal, and having the possibility of having him come to my office tomorrow morning with a new offer that might be beneficial for both of us or perhaps even a signed contract, was all because of you." He stops with a smile. "You made it happen."

Shaking your head, you start to laugh. "But what did I even do? I don't remember doing or saying anything that may help persuade him into agreeing with the deal you were offering him." Furrowing your brows, you try to recall everything that happened earlier and wonder out loud, "I don't even remember getting involved in your business talk before I joined Mrs. Oh to stroll around the gallery."

You smile as you remember that moment. To be able to give Yoongi and Mr. Oh a chance to talk about the confidential part of their business, you agreed to join Mrs. Oh to have a look around. Right outside of the restaurant was an art gallery, with more interesting things to see, more topics to talk about, and some space away from Yoongi's overwhelming presence. Other than being good company for the older woman, you cannot remember taking part in the discussion that put a smile on both Yoongi and Mr. Oh's faces by the time they were done.

"Because you were there, everything went as smoothly as how I imagined it would. A lot better, actually," Yoongi explains. "By the time you left our table, Mr. Oh acknowledged me of having a promising future as the leader of the company. In his eyes, he saw me as someone who could commit to a promise. Someone with a bright future, and as a man who runs a family-oriented business, he loves knowing that I have a vision towards the same goal as he does."

His smile deepens when he continues, "Meanwhile, you were able to win his wife's heart, and Mr. Oh is known to be sweet to his wife. I think the story that you shared with her was what got her interested in us the most."

"Well, I can't say I'm glad that I've become the subject of the recent gossip mill, but since that's practically our goal—"

Yoongi lets out a chuckle. "Rumours aside, you should know that Mrs. Oh was the defining factor in her husband's decision-making, especially when it comes to the business."

"Are they running the company together?"

Yoongi nods. "Ever since the beginning, starting from decades ago when they were still running a small business in the outskirts of the city, until they grew into what they are today. Mr. Oh might be the CEO, in name and in person, but the pair share equal standing at the top of the company."

"Well," you respond with an amused chuckle. He really did think of everything, you wonder to yourself. Every little detail. Always a step ahead. "I suppose I shouldn't regret sharing our story. I hope I made it good enough to keep her interested."

"You did amazing," he says. His praise brings back the warmth rushing through your skin, leaving you flustered and your face flushing that you have to look away.

Lifting your drink to your lips, you hide your face and keep your gaze away from Yoongi, while he leans back in his seat. You see him visibly relaxing when you steal a glance at him, while he keeps his eyes looking out windows.

Right on the other side of the window is the back garden, the part of the tea house that is known to be its main appeal for guests such as yourself. Those who are in need of a quiet place to think, to avoid any prying eyes curiously seeking a story to witness, or those searching to find some peace of mind.

But finding peace and calmness is not something that you can focus on at this moment, when your attention keeps getting drawn towards the man sitting before you. The streaks of sunlight coming through the window seem to highlight every part of him which is quite captivating to see. He looks as if he is glowing, a beacon of light that draws people—and you—in without even noticing it.

You have to admit that all the years that have passed between you have done wonders for him. Most of the features that you remember from the version of him that many years ago are long gone. You can see more sharp lines forming on his face; his jawline has become more prominent; his nose has grown just a tad sharper, only retaining softness in small places; even his gaze is now sharper and deeper, always filled with knowing and secrets at the same time.

The old Yoongi you knew is also still there. You see him when he smiles, oftentimes showing his gummy smile when he is more relaxed. His soft hair has grown longer, usually combed back behind his ears, yet you can still see his younger self when some strands fall over his forehead while he is looking down or reading something and does nothing to flick them away. You see it when he presses his lips or when the bridge of his nose crunches while he is joking around, playfully teasing you when the two of you are alone like this.

There are also new lines that you find from Yoongi which you don't particularly enjoy seeing. Just like the creases that often form between his eyebrows when he is thinking too deeply or when he isn't pleased with something happening around him. The frown forming around his mouth or the tight lines on his jawline that appear when he is holding back his anger. Or the haunted look in his eyes that you sometimes get a glimpse of when he lets his guard down and fails to notice that you are watching.

Just like now, when his gaze seems far away, instead of taking in the beautiful view of the garden in his silence.

"The weather looks quite lovely today, doesn't it?" he suddenly says, breaking the silence that lingers. He turns to look at you, undecipherable look in his gaze when he adds, "It's such a perfect day today, isn't it?"

You say nothing in return. Your heartbeat picks up when he smiles, knowing where this is going before he even asks, "Are you ready?"

Your eyebrows rise as you glance around. "Now? Here?"

His eyes seem to sparkle when his grin widens. Whether it's coming from the sunlight or the thought of him setting his wicked plans into motion, you have absolutely no idea. But it does make you feel self-conscious under his gaze.

"Why not?" he asks, shrugging his shoulders. "I've thought about how to do this and tried to think of all the possible options that we could do. Of course, the thought of taking you on a romantic date with dinner in a luxurious restaurant or flying across the continent for an impromptu trip has crossed my mind. But that sounds a bit too—"

"Artificial? Cliche?" you try to guess, getting a little understanding of how his mind works.

"Something like that." He grins. "Wouldn't it be more romantic to do it this way? In a place that isn't so"—his eyes sparkle—"cliche." He starts chuckling when he sees you rolling your eyes. "Wouldn't you think it's more romantic to make it so spontaneous?"

You let out a scoff. "Most people would prefer the cliche type of romance when they want to show off."

He scrunches his nose, making you laugh when his expression seems hilarious. "Not me, no," he quickly says, in a way that you remember he used to do back when you were kids and throwing jokes at each other. You feel relieved and somewhat privileged to see this side of him. A side which no doubt he has been keeping to himself, a side that he would never show to anyone else.

"A lot of people love being spontaneous and would say that it's more romantic when things happen unplanned," he continues, and before you can say anything, Yoongi quickly adds, "And those who know me well enough would know that I don't do cliches. I have my own way to play at romance."

Once again, you cannot help but laugh at his admission. "So—are you saying that you're more spontaneous? Is that it? You?"

Yoongi leans forward with a grin. "You don't believe me?"

Narrowing your eyes, you choose to challenge him instead. "Find, then. Show me."

His lips twitch to a sly grin as he rises from his seat. Walking to your side, he offers his hand to you, only for you to cock your head, not sure what he is up to. "Come," he says, smiling wide. "You wanted me to show you how spontaneous I could be. So come on, let's take a walk."

You gingerly take his hand, which he gently squeezes before helping you rise from your seat. While you are busy hiding your flustered smile, Yoongi immediately entwines his fingers with yours as he takes you towards the garden at the back of the tea house.

The same garden which he was watching so intently earlier during his silence.

Stepping out of the door, you arrive at the long wooden porch which stretches along the sides and the back of the tea house. There are outdoor seats placed here, with half of them occupied by guests who are enjoying the warm weather outside and the view that the tea house has to offer.

Walking past the porch, Yoongi takes you down the stone pathway crossing the widespread of green grass covering most of the garden. Flower hedges grow on either side of the pathway, with fresh petals blooming in pastel colours. More flower bushes are scattered beautifully across the plain, some petals falling to the ground, marking the upcoming change of season while adding soft vibrant colours over the blanket of green grass. There are large stone planters on the corners of the garden filled with white and red roses, reminding you of an old fairy tale that you once read when you were a child.

This open area is catered mostly for garden parties and small gatherings, sometimes for small outdoor weddings. And you can see why people love coming to this place as you walk deeper into the heart of the garden.

The stone pathway continues towards a patch of area in the garden that is covered in soft, white sand instead of grass, with stone lanterns and smooth boulders marking the edges, right where the green grass ends. A feature that you had only seen before in the Japanese paintings that your mother loves so much.

You continue walking, holding hands with Yoongi as the path rises into a wooden bridge arching over a small pond filled with clear water and koi fishes swimming leisurely at the bottom. You are still lost in the view, unable to resist admiring the view while you are standing at the center of it, when Yoongi suddenly comes to a halt right on top of the bridge.

You turn to look at him as he steps forward and positions himself right in front of you. Right as you meet his gaze, you can see in the corner of your eyes the sight of other people who are present; the guests lounging on the long porch who are now paying more attention to you; the ones strolling slowly across the garden; and those who are standing at the small gazebos nearby, all watching with their curious eyes.

"Enjoying the scene so far?" he gently asks you while taking your hand in his.

"Yes, I do. This is a very lovely place. You've made the right choice if you're planning to take my breath away. I'm beginning to see your concept of being spontaneous and romantic at the same time," you admit to him, only that you keep your eyes on him as you speak instead of taking in the view around you. "Do you think you've stalled long enough to get people's eyes on yes?"

Yoongi smirks at your question. "I can see some guests watching us, and I believe there are people who already have their phones out." He leans closer to whisper, "It wasn't so hard to do, after all. Seeing that you would've drawn enough attention on yourself just with your presence alone."

Warmth creeps across your cheeks at his compliment, that you are finding it harder to keep your gaze on him. "Flattery won't get you far. Not with me."

His smile widens. "It's enough to draw that beautiful bashful smile of yours," he says, which only deepens your smile and intensifies the flush of warmth on your skin.

You lower your eyes as they start fluttering close, as his gaze is getting too much for you to handle. "Will it be good enough for the onlookers, then?"

'It's perfect," he gently murmurs with a low voice. "With that beautiful smile of yours and the way you are looking at me, I know you can convince everyone looking that you are completely in love with me," he says as he leans down, pressing his lips on the back of your hand. You can feel his smile against your skin when he adds, "Just keep acting that way for a bit longer, and maybe you can convince me enough to start feeling the same way and fall for you."

An invisible weight drops at the center of your chest, catching your breath, yet you try to hide it by keeping a soft smile on your face. "Keep it up and I'll make you pay if you ruin my picture once it comes up on the internet tomorrow."

Yoongi makes an amused sound under his soft chuckle while you pull your bottom lip between your teeth. A gesture that draws his attention, briefly, before he slowly straightens up to his full height. "Shall we carry on before anyone decides to get a closer look?"

Taking a deep breath, you nod, signalling him to continue. His gaze never wavers from yours as he reaches into the inner pocket of his suit, pulling out a small box covered in red velvet, the fabric so smooth and a bit ostentatious that you have no doubt the small object will catch enough light that everyone can see if from afar. Without a word, Yoongi opens the box, revealing the diamond ring inside, glowing brightly like a star under the sunlight.

"Smile, beautiful. Act like you are saying yes to me," Yoongi teases with a deep voice, drawing a soft laugh out of you.

Smiling widely, you nod your head, playing along. Though you cannot help but murmur under your breath, "You really have thought of everything."

"You will soon learn that I can be quite meticulous," he playfully brags while he slowly puts the ring on your finger, sealing the start of the arrangement you made with him—and also your fate and your future—as the diamond ring settles nicely against your skin.

The soft murmurs of people whispering fade in the background, followed by the subtle sounds of camera shots. You barely care to pay attention to them, unable to look away from the ring, and from Yoongi's fingers that are still holding your hand gently.

But then he tilts your chin up with his gentle fingers, making you look up to him. He wears a gentle smile on his face as he slowly leans closer, his face getting close, only stopping when his lips are hovering close—too close—to yours. "To make it believable," he whispers against your lips, the last and only warning that he gives you before he brushes his lips on the corner of yours. A gentle, barely-there brush, yet still enough to draw a shudder through your whole body.

Your heart seems to skip a beat from being caught off guard by his sudden move, while your stomach flips with the same weight you felt earlier from his taunting words. You can easily tell how much he is enjoying this moment, how much he loves knowing how he can easily make you flustered, when he slowly draws back with a sly grin, the sound of a deep chuckle rumbling from his chest.

Blinking your eyes, you quickly regain your composure and make a quick decision to make this fair.

Two can play this game.

Reaching up, you press a palm on the side of his neck, stopping him from pulling away. Mirroring his smile, you rise on your toes and lean closer, mimicking his move as you move to hover your lips over his and whisper, "It's good to be doing business with you, Mr. Min," right before you press a chaste kiss right at the corner of his lips.

Yoongi makes a soft humming noise as your lips linger. His eyes are fluttering close as if he is enjoying this moment, relishing the warmth coming from your soft kiss. The white noise forming all around you fades further away, replaced by the rapid sound of your heartbeat—and his, evidently felt through the touch of your palms resting on his chest.

Right as you start to pull away, his hands move to your waist, keeping you close to him. With a sigh, Yoongi closes his eyes and leans down, brushing the tip of his nose on yours—positioning you together as if he is kissing you.

His words are nearly drowned by the sound of your heartbeat when he whispers in response,

"The pleasure is mine, beautiful. All mine."