Chapter 119 - Are You VIP?

"It's useless. If Hunter Shin doesn't behave like an international actor, there's no point in him being dressed in the coolest clothes in the universe. He's the hottest man in the world, no doubt. Aishh, why did Hunter Shin have to be so shy?! Why did he have to be so rude? Why did he have to be sulky?!" the fairy stylist grumbled and complained to herself, early in the morning.

It was Friday, the day of the Fashion Ball, and Eun Ha hadn't been able to convince the older fairy, or find another solution. Having a cup of tea while looking out the kitchen window that drizzly morning, Eun Ha wondered if that was the end of her plan. It was depressing after all the progress and effort to perfect her plan. She had tested everything else.

She could transform an average rental car into a super luxury car. She could affect an area for cellphones and laptops to find entries about the fake actor's international hits for a few hours. She would get the invitations, and even, according to Professor Shin, she could have dolls transformed for a short time into 'robots' who followed basic commands. It was the alternative Shin gave her as an excuse for not being the international actor Eun Ha needed.

She had trained with a wooden mannequin for drawing. Eun Ha even understood where the Pinocchio legend came from. And next, she also tried with a Barbie doll.

The latter had a good result. Barbie looked like a sophisticated-looking android with the memory of a Tamagochi, able to follow only simple and very precise instructions. Androids would probably be useful as security guards and drivers, though.

But Eun Ha didn't need a Pinocchio or a beautiful, soulless android. She would already spend enough ephemeral conditional magic to create false information on the internet and keep it online for a few hours!

The stylist needed a live person celebrity.

A stunning celebrity with shining eyes that brought all the attention to her success as a stylist. Eun Ha didn't have the money to hire even a newbie model or actor, let alone pay a real celebrity's fee. Not to mention that she needed someone for tonight.

'Unless…' When Eun Ha's gaze went down to the side gate of the Yoo's Greengrocery, the fairy's idea's lamp immediately turned on over her head.

°°°

"Hidden camera?" asked Kang Dae, arranging the artichokes in a perfect pile. The grocery store was empty in the rainy morning. And besides Kang Dae, Chang Mi was studying at the register. Eun Ha was beside the handsome grocer, trying to convince him.

"Well, as I said, my friends recruited me and they also need someone with your profile. They pay well, they only take about three weeks. I did it once for them. It's fun and also very easy," Eun Ha knew that her scam was not the best in the world. But she had no better way to sway him to party crash a VIPs party, if it wasn't for a crazy story about friends doing a movie project.

"And the Fashion Ball's Producers allowed it. Totally allowed it. It's part of a film school project, it's a… what's the name… a mockumentary, I think", Eun Ha was getting desperate. The fashion designer had really hoped she could persuade Kang Dae, since he liked her. Normally she wouldn't attempt this kind of dirty thing, but it was for a noble cause.

"Aww, Kang Dae! Please, please! Help me tonight, will you?! Awn, please!"

Kang Dae smiled dimly, and spoke quietly, anxiously checking on his brother who was nearby,

"Okay, repeat what I need to do again. I don't think I got it right the first time."

"Sure!" Eun Ha opened the biggest smile,

"For this hidden camera, I'll be this fashion stylist, and you will be an action movie actor, who happens to like my clothes." While speaking Eun Ha shined a pumpkin, "Someone will take us in a luxury car, and we will make a grand entrance at this VIP party. You cannot reveal that you're on a hidden camera. You just have to pretend to work as an ascending action actor in Hollywood. The fact is that fashionistas aren't big fans of action flicks, and they will probably apologize for not knowing you. And if you don't understand what they are trying to talk to you about, it's not a problem. Just improvise!"

"Kang Dae worked on 'Zuchinnator', 'The Ultimate Greengrocer' and also, 'The Last Mango Fighter'!" sang Chang Mi, without looking up from the books.

"Eh… Eun Ha, really, Chang Mi is right. I'm a simple guy who only knows about vegetables. Chang Mi is younger and cool. He would be a better choice… Look at him. Hasn't my Persimmon an idol's looks? You should take him, over me. Huh?"

"Forget it. Mom will freak out. Tomorrow is Suneung," Chang Mi was red-faced, although he hasn't looked up from the book yet. Yes, Eun Ha considered the young student handsome enough, but Kang Dae was still a great option. However…

"Well, maybe I can talk to them to let Chang Mi drive the car. He could study while he waits..."

"Still, I would love to help, Eun Ha, but I don't think I could ... I can ruin your filming…" Kand Dae tried to cling to this opportunity to escape.

"It'll only be for an hour. So you can leave the party, even if I stay there," Eun Ha tried to manage the fragile layer of credibility of her lie to convince Kang Dae to accept. It would totally ruin her strategy if he didn't agree to do it.

"Eun Ha, I'll just ruin everything! I'm warning you!" Kang Dae seemed desperate to escape the situation, but Eun Ha couldn't afford to have mercy.

"Awwww Kang Dae! Please, yes?! Or I'll be mad at you! Yes, I will!" she made the more childish aegyo pose she could. Complete with big eyes, puffy cheeks and swinging of the body. The whole package of cuteness.

"Hyung CAN AND WILL, Noona! I'm sure that if Noona teaches this big guy to have some manners in front of the camera, until the night you will turn this turnip into an international actor!" Chang Mi spoke eagerly, like someone who's fl.u.s.tered and tired of watching the whole argument. Eun Ha shifted her gaze from one to the other. But why did she always have the impression that Chang Mi was a new student with little respect for his hyung?

"Persimmon, help me out here, yes?!" Kang Dae seemed to whimper. Eun Ha always found it funny when Kang Dae called the youngest by the name of a fruit.

"Noona, I really can't be the driver tonight, but I know that my hyung is going to do the BEST possible to help Stylist Eun Ha with her fellow filmmakers. Right, hyung?" the boy questioned his older brother with a slightly defiant expression and arched brows.

"YES! Yes, of course! I was just thinking I'd have to do everything by myself, but if Eun Ha teaches me to pose for the cameras, etc ... I will try my best!" the grocer looked anxious, but he kept a frozen smile on Eun Ha.

"Ah, that's good! How nice!" the stylist celebrated. The fairy knew she would have a busy day, but she'd focus only on the essentials.

Eun Ha took advantage of the grocery store's ample space to teach Kang Dae about posture, and thought he gained a few extra inches just by stretching his spine. After that, the fashion designer taught him to pose and face the cameras, between the rows of vegetables. At first, her grocer friend was a little confused, but then Kang Dae started to let go and act naturally. 

In fact, as Eun Ha already imagined, Yoo Kang Dae was a raw diamond waiting to be polished! He was tall and with a well-defined body. Besides the beautiful smile, Kang Dae had a manly face and a rustic and naturally sensual type. No one would imagine that when he opened his mouth, he was such a sweet and helpful person. Even a bit naïve! Furthermore, Kang Dae seemed to have only one thing on his mind: his beloved greengrocer. Sometimes Eun Ha even doubted whether he had ever had a girlfriend!

Then she taught him how to pose and even took several pictures of him, against the background of all those fruits and boxes of vegetables.

Her magic wand was discreetly put into action to treat the photos the way she wanted. 

It was laborious, but gratifying, to have a quick, albeit superficial, result in turning Kang Dae into his Cinderella Man.

The third and final step was to make him perfect. Then the fairy took him home, and submitted Kang Dae to a session of barbering, exfoliation and facial moisturizing, manicure, haircut, and makeup. After all, Eun Ha had the best products available in the world, thanks to her magic! And her own natural aesthetic talent, of course! 

Chang Mi gave a thumbs up for each improvement in his hyung's look, holding back his laughter, while spending most of his time studying alongside them. 

Finally, Eun Ha handed the clothes to Kang Dae to get dressed, and went to get ready too. She was just the stylist; she didn't need to be as fascinating as Kang Dae!

Upon entering the sewing room and looking for the clothes she had decided to wear, Eun Ha was intrigued as the box for the beautiful red dress was not in its usual place. It was the only evening dress she had ever created. And she did it for Ye Rim. 'Why did Ye Rim move him?'

But the young fairy didn't have time to think about it now.

When Eun Ha left, ready, and returned to the living room, the stylist saw her masterpiece waiting standing, looking like someone else completely. Even though she had known Kang Dae for a long time, Eun Ha was breathless!

Chang Mi entered between them, and said,

"Noona, good job. You really managed to turn a turnip into a celebrity!"

"Hehe! It was not difficult at all!"

"Eun Ha is really a fairy, as you say, Persimmon!" Kang Dae commented with a grinning smile.

Eun Ha looked at Chang Mi a little embarrassed, and he also immediately turned the color of a strawberry. 

'Could it be that…?'

But her cell phone rang. The Hunter was coming to take them to the Fashion Ball.

Then they said goodbye to Chang Mi, who wished,

"FIGHTING!"