Angel Smile 242 Scene 242

"—Alright, shall we take a break? Let's take five."

It was afternoon and her Taekwondo class was in full swing. The coach had just given them a break and Yeo Ri had immediately headed to the side to check her phone.

As she scrolled through her texts, she spotted one from Park Soo Yeon. 'I received a call earlier and I have good news for you. Check your emails when you have the time!' It said.

Yeo Ri raised her eyebrows in wonder. Without any hesitation, she immediately logged into her email account and skimmed through her inbox.

'[Runaway Kids] Audition Result', one of them was titled. It was a forwarded email from Park Soo Yeon who received it from the production company of the film she auditioned for merely a day ago.

"That was quick," she muttered.

She tapped onto the email, and—

"Hm."

A smile bloomed on her face, lighting up her features.

She passed.

Just as she had hoped, Yeo Ri had snatched the leading female role.

She sent a quick reply to Park Soo Yeon, expressing her joy, to which the older woman replied with congratulatory words and the follow-up process. Since the artist herself was so busy, Park Soo Yeon had arranged for Secretary Kwon to pick up the script in her stead, and she sent over her updated schedule as well.

Yeo Ri was almost fully-booked all the way to September, but she didn't mind; more fame, more work, more money.

Fuelled by the good news, she practiced the Taekwondo moves with even more vigour, earning the coach's praise.

Half an hour later, she finally finished with the day's lessons.

Yeo Ri didn't have the time to sit down and eat, so after showering and refreshing herself, she had Secretary Kwon drive her straight to the set while she ate a simple meal of riceball and bottled water in the car.

"President Park sent a soft copy of the [Runaway Kids] script. Shall I print it out?"

"Yeah. Go find a stationary shop or something while you wait for me later. I want to rehearse my lines as quickly as possible."

"Yes, miss."

Silence filled the car.

Secretary Kwon felt the need to speak more but looking at the girl who was busy eating her food while reading another script, he suddenly thought that it was better not to bother her.

Kwon Tae Yang sighed inwardly. Why was it so hard to get close to the young lady? Should he just throw away his professionalism and treat her casually?

—No, he was bound to be made fun of if he suddenly changed his attitude. His usual personality and the stoic facade he adopted for work was completely different that the girl would probably heckle him for a long time over it.

Although his boss hadn't told him to get to know the girl, his own personal curiosity could not help but want to become closer to her. For some reason, he just felt as if he couldn't leave her alone even if he was pulled out from this job. He was genuinely worried for her and wanted to take care of her as a proper guardian.

Suddenly, he could hear the girl sigh.

"What is it this time?" Yeo Ri sighed again.

"..." Kwon Tae Yang toughened his skin. In any case, he had always been as straightforward as he could he with this girl. "Miss, I think you're overworking."

"Huh. Are you saying you're worried about me?" Yeo Ri scoffed.

Kwon Tae Yang tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he heard her snide tone. "That's precisely it, Miss Yeo Ri."

Seriously, Yeo Ri thought, just what was wrong with this Secretary Kwon?

"Do you really like me? Is that why you're acting like this?" She jeered. "Mind your own business."

"Miss, please. As your... manager, your wellbeing is my business."

"Whatever... you're overstepping your boundaries. Just keep quiet and be a good guard dog like what that man told you to be."

Kwon Tae Yang sighed. After they arrived at the filming location, he parked the car and took off his sunglasses.

He rubbed the bridge of nose tiredly before turning to look at her through the rearview mirror.

"Miss Yeo Ri, I really do like you. You're an honest and good girl. I don't want you to get hurt, and nobody else wants that too. It's my job to protect you, and it is also my duty to look after you. Can't you please at least take these thoughts into consideration? Look at your schedule—it's so full! I've never seen a child who is as busy as you, miss! Please, just don't be so hard to yourself! You're already doing very well. Can't you tone it down?"

Yeo Ri was unprepared to receive a lecture from the man. For a while, she could only stare back at him speechlessly. For the amount of time she had known the passive man, she had never heard him speak so many words at once.

"Are you confessing to me? I'll report it as statutory ****," she blurted.

"Miss! I'm being serious!" He snapped, turning his head to look back at her with helplessness and frustration. Just because she didn't like his boss, who was her biological father, nothing he said seemed to be getting through.

"..." Yeo Ri looked away, biting her lips. Fine, she might have been a little mean to treat him so badly since the beginning when all he did was make sure she was safe. Actually, Yeo Ri had already gotten used to Secretary Kwon's presence. Sometimes she even found it comforting that he was standing by her side. It felt nice, to have someone who was on her side at all times, waiting for her hand and foot.

"Sorry," she murmured.

Secretary Kwon could barely hide his shock as he gazed at her repentant visage. The stubborn young miss actually apologised to him?

"Oh, uh, I'm sorry as well... for raising my voice and being impolite."

He cleared his throat, recovering his cool. "Truce?" His voice carried a hint of playfulness that Yeo Ri thought he had been hiding quite well. So this was the real Kwon Tae Yang, she thought in enlightenment.

Yeo Ri rolled her eyes, a small smile pulling up her lips. "Fine."

A grin appeared on Secretary Kwon's face briefly before fading away. He resumed his bodyguard act, putting on his sunglasses again. He straightened his suit before exiting the car, then opened the backseat door for Yeo Ri to get out.

As she left the vehicle, her eyes lingered on Secretary Kwon's gloved hands.

"You don't need to wear those gloves anymore. I don't mind it." Yeo Ri bashfully began to walk away after saying her piece.

Secretary Kwon raised his eyebrows in surprise as he caught up to her.

"...Is it really fine?" He rubbed his gloved hands. Was it too late to say that he only kept wearing them because it made him feel like a secret agent?

Yeo Ri glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "Are you going to sexually harass me?"

"Goodness, no!" The man immediately answered with alarm. A principled man like him could never do such a thing! A proper sp—uh—secretary should never take advantage of his employer's child! Death to creepy b*stards who do that!

"Then it's fine," the girl simply said. Her mouth quirked as if she found amusement in his reaction. 

After clearing the air with Secretary Kwon, Yeo Ri leisurely went back to work mode.

Chapter end