The Girl Finally Relaxes to the Relief of Her Faithful Helper

The next day.

Yeo Ri had one last set of scenes to film for the historical drama, and these scenes were supposed to be the part where her character first interacted with the main female lead.

Yeo Ri thought that the main cast members would find the reshooting annoying, but they comforted her by reminding her that anything could happen while shooting a production, and an actor must be well-prepared for such situations. Thus, the veterans had not much complaints about it.

"It's a pre-produced drama anyways," Ryeon Jae Hwan, the Hyuk-lookalike, helpfully remarked. "So it doesn't change much no matter how many times we have to go to set and reshoot some scenes. At least the schedule is not as tight and unpredictable as shooting for a drama that's currently airing."

Yeo Ri nodded seriously as she digested his words, signalling her understanding. Still, being a new actress, she couldn't afford to be a burden to the team.

The shoot ended after the thirteenth take of her final scene. The director had insisted on shooting several versions of it, thus it took a longer time to film.

The main cast who were brimming with professionalism said their thank yous and farewells as they departed, congratulating Yeo Ri for her job well done. She smiled politely through the praises and the small talks as she, too, got ready to go home.

It had been a long enough time for Yeo Ri to get used to her job as an actress, and while it was fun to parade around as someone else, she was also dying to get some rest. The last few days had been hectic, discounting the fact that she had also experienced some emotional turmoils at the same time.

She had given herself half a day of rest, and was considering taking several days off as per the management's recommendation.

As she sat in the backseat of the car pondering about her choices, Yeo Ri switched her phone on and glanced at the date. July 18th, it read. Just a few days shy from her birthday.

Yeo Ri hadn't decided what she would do on her birthday after being freed. She had always spent it with her brother, either it was just with Gun or both Hyuk and Gun. A birthday party was just impossible—whether it was financially or domestically speaking—when she was younger, but she had always wanted one.

She had always been envious of the girls at school who would invite her to their birthday parties, and it was very rarely that she was able to attend one much less have one of her own. Lee Do Joon had been strict about it; she had missed out on a lot of social activities just because he didn't like it when she wasn't sitting at home 'like a good girl'.

But now—

—Now was different. There were no b*stard fathers telling her she can't do this or that, and there are no financial difficulties that would bar her from doing so either. Now, she could even buy ten cakes and it wouldn't make a dent on her savings. Though, she would never do such a wasteful thing.

A smile formed on her lips unconsciously as a plan formed in her mind.

Watching the girl smile so suddenly, Kwon Tae Yang felt a shiver run down his spine. What kind of nefarious deeds was she planning on doing this time, he screamed in his mind. He steeled himself for his unavoidable role in her future—potentially evil—scheme.

"Is there something the matter, miss?" he braved himself to ask.

"Hm?" Yeo Ri snapped back into reality, her smile still lingering on her face. "I was just thinking, isn't it time for me to take a break? At least for a day or two?" She had checked her schedule, and apart for a table reading and a few shoots, her schedule was pretty empty for the next few days. Perhaps it would be fine to postpone her scenes just for a few days?

Kwon Tae Yang's eyebrows raised in surprise. Instead of something dreadful or illegal, he was greeted by her rather pleasant proposition. He had always been worried that she might be working too hard—with so many continuous days of working and studying with no more than half a day's worth of free time at most—and that such reckless behaviour would soon cause her body to break down, so he was glad to know that she was at least entertaining the idea of taking a day off. Perhaps it would be nicer if she could rest for at least one out of the seven days in a week.

"That sounds like a great idea, miss," he agreed wholeheartedly. "President Park has also been telling you to take breaks, hasn't she? She will be happy to hear this."

"I suppose so," Yeo Ri replied wryly. Was her work-life balance so terrible that even her boss encouraged her to take a break?

Kwon Tae Yang nodded in response to her rhetoric, then paused to make a turn down the road. Once he straightened the steering wheel again, he spoke up: "Did you have something special planned for your birthday, miss? It's this weekend, right, if I'm not mistaken?"

Yeo Ri sighed, as if she was tired of his breach of privacy, though she still deigned to answer him. "Something like that," she shrugged. "I've been meaning to have a birthday party."

"That sounds wonderful, miss." Kwon Tae Yang allowed his relief to bleed into his tone, and despite his usual stoicism, a smile graced his lips in an easygoing manner. Even the way he drove subtly changed, appearing more relaxed.

Yeo Ri raised an eyebrow at his behaviour. She seemed to have cracked something in him after that time they dealt with the pest. His tone was less curt, and he even seemed more than happy to continue a conversation with her even though he had been so tight-lipped and stern before.

"Is there anything I can help you with, miss?" He was inwardly glad that Yeo Ri was planning something innocent this time. A birthday party for her sweet sixteen... it was rather juvenile and cute—and finally, he thought, she was doing something a girl her age would do.

"It's fine. It's just a small gathering with friends. Maybe I'll invite Jin Goo-oppa and In Guk-oppa too. You should take the day off too."

"That—" Kwon Tae Yang immediately started, reflexively making a sound of protest.

"—I'll just be at home the whole time. How dangerous could that be?" Yeo Ri added before the older man could say anything else.

Secretary Kwon quietened down, appearing to ponder her words. He was inclined to accept her offer; after he started following her around, he'd been so busy from early morning to late at night, and he barely had any time off. Working for Hope Entertainment had also increased his workload, and despite his intention to stay by her side 24/7, he was forced to do other things for the job away from his charge. He had company meetings to attend to, and he also had to meet with key figures in the industry in order to help Yeo Ri get suitable work. Although he was a road manager and not her agent, President Park had given him a lot of responsibilities since she was too busy to personally manage every detail of Yeo Ri's career.

"...Well, I suppose it's fine. Then, I'll inform Mr. H—" Kwon Tae Yang caught himself before he spoke the 'forbidden' name. He coughed, correcting himself: "—President Park, about this."

Yeo Ri rolled her eyes at his faux pas, but did not comment on it. She had no energy to care about that absent person when she could be spending her time brainstorming for her first ever birthday party.