Several days later…
"The damn investors can't they see we were here first? What right do they have to kick us out? And this measly compensation? Not nearly enough!"
The streetwise, gangster-looking food vendor stomped through the slum dust, muttering angrily. Thirty-something, barely scraping by, looking for work no one would hire him for since he had no qualifications. On top of that, his grandmother was sick in a public hospital, requiring expensive medicine and treatment costs not covered by the state.
Worries, pressure, and the growl of his stomach were gnawing at him so badly he couldn't think straight. Even his phone had been sold.
Still, he had agreed to the hellish twins' plan to flirt with his friend—but how would they even get in touch afterward?
Screeeech!!
"Fa-sai!"
The luxury car window opened, two voices harmonizing so loudly it made the man jump back from the curb.
"Hey! You hellish twins!" Fa-sai himself pointed at the two tall brothers in shock.
"Yeah, it's us! Where the hell have you been? We were about to lose it looking for you—calls went straight to voicemail!" The twins' excitement was so ridiculous it looked like they'd just found gold in a pile of crap.
"Lost? Can't you see the slum's getting demolished? Sold the phone already, had to pay for grandma's treatment. Just walking around trying to find work!" The street-smart vendor scowled.
"So that means you're in for our little job then, huh?" Ming slapped a hand on the wide shoulders and asked. The vendor shrugged and pushed the hand off with a loud smack.
"…Yeah!"
"Yes!"
The two posh twins, plus their "loser" sidekick, set out to completely transform this rough-and-tumble street vendor into a handsome, upper-class-looking guy—a birthday present for their friend. A full makeover operation, praying their friend could finally get over the heartbreak from an ex.
They went all out: cutting and dyeing his long, tangled hair, styling it sleek with gel; exfoliating, face masks, body scrubs; trimming nails; buying shoes, clothes, accessories, even a phone; building a brand-new persona on social media with a carefully staged image.
"Whoa~"
"Wow~"
"This is insane."
The two posh twins stood back, admiring their final creation: a tall, proportioned figure in a perfectly tailored suit, shoulders broad, standing like a supermodel… if only he didn't insist on strutting and tilting his head like a little gangster.
Even Fa-sai himself would be nervous if he ran into this guy.
"What the hell… my whole body's twitching! This is how posh people get their skin all perfect, huh? If you could reach inside me and polish me, I'd probably do it myself… damn! Who the hell is this?"
The street-smart vendor spun around to face the full-length mirror, seeing his reflection: a sleek black tuxedo, hair slicked back, sharp, handsome features like a deity.
"Turn this beast into a swan, huh? Hehe," Kwan teased, gripping his shoulder.
Whap!!
"You little runt! Wanna get smacked?!" Fa-sai swung a hand, messing up Kwan's hair.
"Ouch! That hit hard! I'm 180 cm, Fa-sai!"
"You're short because I'm 195 cm!"
Two worlds collided, the socialites and the streetwise vendor bickering like rivals, leaving Ming to act as referee.
"Quit fighting already. We've got everything. Let's go check out the condo."
Besides going all out on the makeover, they even lent him a condo right next to the target's room, since lately Ung-ing preferred being alone and didn't want to go home.
Inside the luxury condo suite, there were two bedrooms, a separate office, a spacious living area with a divided kitchen, and a wide balcony with a small garden perfect for sitting, lounging, or even having a picnic.
"This place is huge… and I get to stay here alone?"
"You'll just be borrowing it. I'll tell Ung-ing that you're just renting temporarily. We've already moved all the valuables out—there's nothing for you to steal."
"I'm not a thief!"
"Ha ha, just kidding. I know you're a good guy. Otherwise, you wouldn't have agreed to do this job, especially since you need the money to take care of your grandma, right?"
"You're sharp… did you guys have to dig into my background to make sure I wouldn't bail?"
"Don't worry about her. Just do your part. If you can make my friend happy, I'll make sure your grandma is well taken care of too."
"…Wow… your friend's lucky. Someone loves them this much, and they still make friends worry."
"That's how friends are. I'll write a schedule for you when she goes out for meals, hits the gym, swims, or goes to work."
"I don't even know how to use gym equipment!"
"No need to be serious about that. Just play along, it's like acting."
The rough-looking street food guy now looked even more striking in his new guise. Just a black shirt and pants, yet he could easily pass for a high-class gentleman; no one would guess he'd come from the slums.
The tall, broad-shouldered man walked around the condo, his sharp eyes landing on a framed photo on a shelf.
"The person in the middle… is that your friend I'm supposed to 'charm'?"
His large hand picked up the small photo. In the center stood the cute, doll-like twin, smiling widely in a fluffy winter outfit against a snowy background, radiating pure happiness.
"I'm only supposed to talk to them, just to ease the heartbreak," Ming emphasized again, though the street-smart guy still didn't fully get it.
"She's cute," he said, setting the photo back down.
"That was from a trip abroad, Ung-ing was still so small," Kwan chimed in, realizing the picture was several years old.
"When did your friend get all chubby after the heartbreak?"
"Not really chubby… more like toned and firm."
"Toned and firm?"
"Yeah, she hired a trainer for a year… you'll see for yourself. She's probably easygoing, right? If my friend's a bit bigger, that's fine?"
"I'm here to work, not pick a girlfriend. Why worry so much?"
"Good, great attitude. I like it."
"Don't flatter me, shorty!"
"I'm your employer."
"An employer can still get punched, I don't mind!"
"Brutal!"
Ming stepped between them to mediate the minor scuffle, summarizing the agreement once more:
"Here's the plan: you shower and rest. Tomorrow morning, Ung-ing goes to the gym, then orders coffee downstairs, comes back up, showers, and goes to work same routine every day. Oh, and sometimes she might knock for water she only drinks a specific brand of mineral water, never sweet drinks, and only rarely drinks alcohol."
"What a picky person… fine, fine."
"We're leaving now."
"Bye~"
Out of sight of the twins, only the tall, well-dressed man remained, pacing the condo while flicking his hair back and striking a handsome pose.
"Rich kids must really have too much free time… paying someone to flirt with a heartbroken girl. Well, the job's easy and the pay's good. I'm this good-looking, who wouldn't fall for me? If she falls head over heels, that's on her. Ugh, I wish I were ugly sometimes~"