"I haven't brought anything with me which can be remotely used for this event", said Chung matter-of-factly.

"You never had any imagination, so I am not surprised by your answer", replied Li Jie.

"Show off! Considering you are the fas.h.i.+on expert amongst the three of us, why don't you only figure something out", remarked Chung caustically.

He heaved a sigh, "it is but obvious that I shall have to rise to the challenge. I can't leave it to your incompetent hands or Jia Li's uninterested mind, right? After we finish grabbing a bite, let us reconvene in Jia Li's room with some shortlisted options. Since you have a nice muscular built, I want you to think of Vin Diesel or something on those lines", he instructed Chung, waving his hands in the air.

Jia Li and Chung stood in identical poses, hands on hips, surveying the clothes which were now strewn all over the bed and the sofa in her room.

"I told you I can wear my black pants with a crop top. How does it really matter?" she huffed.

Li Jie gave her a piercing look and uttered softly, "it matters a great deal and you know it. So shut your mouth. I don't want you to distract me with your useless quips. Only speak up when you have something positive to contribute".

After an hour or so, Jia Li was transformed into Audrey Hepburn with the help of a short black c.o.c.ktail dress. Li Jie had poked his diamond brooch in her high piled hair and a pair of pearl strings had been borrowed from an ornate box of tissues which had been kept in the room, matching the décor. Li Jie had a.s.sured her that they would fix it back on the box once they returned from the party.

She had to do her make-up under his strict supervision. Unused to applying any sort of make-up, the winged eyeliner look took a copious amount of time for her to get it right. By the end of it, both Li Jie and she were ready to pull each other's hair.

"Now all we need is a cigarette holder, the long one, which Audrey sports in her most iconic avatar", he remarked, pleased with his efforts.

To say that Jia Li looked stunning was an understatement. The small romantic corner of Li Jie's otherwise cynical heart, fervently wanted his dearest friend to be lauded by the people who had hurt her in the past, intentionally or otherwise.

"If you have finished with your ministrations, Jia Li and I would like to arrive at the party sometime before it gets over", said Chung irritably.

"I am still in two minds about allowing you to come along with us in the first place. How can you even think about wearing a track pant with a muscle vest and go for such a chic affair", he shouted.

As for himself, he had donned an all-black ensemble with dark gla.s.ses & pushed back hair. He was hoping to pa.s.s as a good version of Neo from 'The Matrix'.

"If you can imagine yourself to be Keanu Reeves, I can definitely aspire to be Rocky Balboa", said Chung, puffing up his chest and imitating Sylvester Stallone's accent.

She intervened, "Chung, you look absolutely authentic, just like Rocky. Li Jie, we can't possibly arrange for a fancy cigarette holder at this hour. But I love the way you have decked me up. You are definitely my Neo, now can we please go to the event so that I can come back at some point in near future and catch some sleep".