Bamboo Forest Manager

The Family Home

A day spent at the family home had begun.

Since having breakfast together was our family rule, I reluctantly got up to eat with everyone.

There were two puzzling points.

One was that my older brother wasn’t there.

At first, I thought he might be working late at the company since he was the vice president. But later, I heard he had rented a place and moved out.

I wondered if he was living with his wife, but that wasn’t the case.

It was simply that my little sister-in-law was pregnant, and they thought having my older brother around would be stressful for her.

‘Kicking out his son for the grandchild.’

Of course, my older brother might have found it more convenient that way.

The second was that Choi Jina had joined us for breakfast.

It was truly remarkable that she was still hanging around our house instead of going home.

“Brat.”

As I muttered that while sitting on the sofa, Choi Jina flinched and glanced my way.

“Are you talking about me?”

“Then who else is here?”

“Well, even if Mother and the Chairman are here, it’s fine. They said it was a condition to play good music for the expectant mother regularly…”

“Seriously, didn’t you go on air boasting that you’re a world-renowned violinist? Is someone like that really waiting around to perform at our house?”

“W-well, you see. It’s amazing, right? My concert tickets aren’t something you can just get if you have money.”

“What’s the point of saying that now? Even if you’re a performer, isn’t it the same if you listen to it on good speakers?”

The good thing about being at home is that there are people working here.

Like a flight attendant, someone came over and left coffee for me.

“What?!”

Did I touch a nerve?

Choi Jin-ah shot up, clenching her fists tightly.

“Just wait!”

Then she strode toward the empty room on the second floor. A moment later, she returned with what appeared to be a case containing a violin.

The case itself was a luxurious item I had never seen before.

“It’s a case made by an Italian craftsman.”

“I’m also a son made by my mom herself.”

As if to say, “What does that have to do with anything?” Choi Jin-ah glared at me and pulled out the violin.

“Whew.”

With a deep breath, the performance began.

The refreshing and invigorating music, perfect for waking up the morning, provided quite a boost to the busy workers around.

A performance by a world-renowned violinist announcing the start of a calm day.

Before I knew it, my sister-in-law had come and was closing her eyes, fully immersed.

‘Surprisingly well adapted.’

I had worried at first whether my sister-in-law, who was a famous internet broadcaster, could fit into our patriarchal household.

But now it seemed she was settling in comfortably. She had gained a bit of weight, and her skin looked plump.

“Whew.”

Before long, the performance ended.

As the passing workers and my sister-in-law applauded Choi Jin-ah, she bowed gracefully in return.

If she hadn’t been in pajamas, she would have looked quite elegant.

I had no idea where she had gotten those bunny pajamas.

Were they hers?

“How was it?”

Choi Jin-ah, looking quite pleased with herself.

If someone like me, who knows next to nothing about classical music, thought it sounded good, then it was clear that Choi Jin-ah was a skilled performer.

“That’s impressive.”

“Huh.”

As she honestly compliments, Choi Jin-ah shrugs her shoulders.

I felt that the emotions of this woman, Choi Jin-ah, had become a bit more colorful since the last alumni gathering.

“But it’s a bit disappointing.”

“……What?”

Choi Jin-ah, who had been puffing up with pride, stiffens.

“Personally, I’m not really into classical music. I haven’t listened to much of it.”

Isn’t it rap or idol music that has deeply infiltrated our lives?

“How about idol songs? Like ‘Sugar Love’ by Miloki or something.”

“Oh, that’s good! You’re quite knowledgeable about idols, aren’t you?”

The younger sister-in-law, who is sensitive to trends, catches on immediately. It was a new girl group that had just debuted, and their song was quite decent.

“Honestly, I don’t know much, but their swimsuit photos popped up on my YouTube algorithm. So I watched them.”

“……You don’t get criticized for watching that?”

The younger sister-in-law doesn’t bother to mention who might criticize. She knows a bit about my complicated love life.

“I watched it together.”

But I am Kim Woo-jin.

Someone who transcends common sense when it is spoken.

“You watched it together?”

“Yeah, we watched it together. I asked if that swimsuit looked good. I wondered if that vibe would be nice when we go on our trip this time.”

“……You’re really something.”

“If it’s for research purposes, it’s fine, right? As long as you don’t look at it with lewd eyes.”

“How can you be so shameless?”

While continuing this high-class conversation since morning, Choi Jin-ah suddenly places the violin back on her shoulder.

She has a Bluetooth earphone in one ear, and it seems she’s listening to some music.

There was no hesitation.

Suddenly, a lively idol song burst forth from the violin.

“Yeah, this is nice.”

As she sways her shoulders and enjoys the performance, the younger sister-in-law next to her can’t contain her excitement either.

“Oh my, look at how it resonates in the body. I haven’t heard any songs like this while being here, but our sturdy one also likes it since it’s mom’s taste.”

The baby’s name was Strong.

Anyway.

Seeing her enjoy the lively songs of girl idols with a pregnant body is quite amusing.

My little sister-in-law, who used to be an internet broadcaster, must have preferred this kind of music much more.

She probably couldn’t listen because of Strong.

It feels a bit like a hybrid, but if it sounds good, isn’t that what matters?

After the performance ended.

“Whew! Whew!”

Breathing heavily, Choi Jin-ah gracefully bowed again.

This time, the applause was a bit more intense, and my little sister-in-law showed a much better reaction than to the classical music just before.

“Oh, it really energizes me. I can hardly contain my shoulders from bouncing.”

My little sister-in-law isn’t exactly old either.

To be honest, she’d probably prefer this kind of pop music over classical.

“Uh, what’s this song?”

“Can it be an old song? Flying Turtle. Can we do that? I want to hear it after such a long time.”

“Do you think I’m an MP3 player?! I’m done now!”

What a shame.

Choi Jin-ah said she was done and put away her violin.

Well, that doesn’t really matter.

“More than that, I’ve been curious since earlier—what on earth is that pajamas you’re wearing?”

“……”

I couldn’t help but ask where she got those bunny pajamas, seeing her wear them like that.

“Oh, it’s mine. I used to wear it often while broadcasting, but Jin-ah didn’t have anything to change into, so I lent it to her.”

“I-I didn’t want to wear something like this either.”

Then she could just go home.

I wanted to say that, but I held back.

Anyway, through her performance just now, I could somewhat understand why she was here.

* * *

Time passed, and it was evening.

“I’m so bored.”

I haven’t even spent a full day at the family home yet.

From my perspective, having injured my right leg, it was definitely comfortable.

They prepare meals for me, and I don’t have to worry about chores like laundry or dishes.

It feels like all I need to do is exist.

But the problem is, it’s just too boring.

‘It’s really, incredibly boring.’

Even when I try calling the kids, they say they’re busy and we can’t have a proper conversation.

Even if the calls are long, once they end, the boredom returns.

I asked them to set up a computer in my room, like Seo Ye-rin suggested, but it seems that won’t happen until tomorrow.

“I’m so bored.”

I’m just rolling around on the bed, playing games on my phone.

Knock, knock.

“Woo-jin? The bath is free.”

Choi Jin-ah peeks her head in.

She must have just taken a bath, as steam is still wafting off her body, and she’s still wearing the bunny pajamas I saw her in this morning.

Maybe she secretly liked it, even if she pretends otherwise.

“The bath is nice.”

As I get up from the bed and ask, Choi Jin-ah replies with a warm smile.

“Yes, I never thought there would be such a big bath at home.”

“Don’t you have one at your place?”

“We didn’t have one. I think there’s one at the vacation house, but I’ve never been there.”

Talking like this really makes me feel that we’re from a wealthy family.

Talking about whether there’s a bath at home or not.

I can’t get into the bath because of my leg, but even if I’m disappointed, I’ll wash up in the bath to lift my spirits.

I had music playing on my phone when a call came in.

– Seo Ye-rin –

“Hello?”

– Woo-jin! What are you doing?!

She must have just finished filming, as her voice is full of excitement, and I can’t help but smile.

“I’m washing up.”

– Shower? That’s so risqué!

“I don’t really feel that way about it.”

– Isn’t it a bit risqué if I say I’m in the shower?

“……It is.”

– Hehe!

Thinking of the water cascading down my cleavage and hips made my lower body tense up.

The only relief is that I’m alone.

– Ah, I haven’t seen you in a day, and I already miss you, Ujin. It was really nice when we lived together.

“Right? I miss you too.”

– Should we do a video call?

“I told you I’m in the shower, right?”

– Hmm? That’s exactly why I want to.

“…….”

– No, if we do, I feel like I’ll end up coming over there.

I decided to hold back, fearing that if we switched to a video call, we might cross some lines again.

– Have you talked to the others?

From noble mtl dot com

“Everyone’s busy. I couldn’t talk for long before hanging up.”

Since I was showering, I couldn’t have a long conversation anyway. Besides, Seo Ye-rin had just finished work and was tired.

Still, it was a moment that added some flavor to my otherwise dull day.

As I stepped into the living room while drying my hair, the powerful air conditioning greeted me first.

‘At this time, both my dad and mom should be home.’

The housekeepers had already finished their shifts too.

I wondered who was in the living room, and to my surprise, I found my little brother’s wife, Choi Jin-ah, and senior Joo-hee there.

“Hmm?”

An unexpectedly odd combination.

My little brother was enjoying a game connected to the large TV in the living room.

Senior Joo-hee and Choi Jin-ah were also holding game controllers, diligently playing their own game.

“What are you all doing?”

I asked, unable to imagine such a scene unfolding in my living room.

My little brother smiled awkwardly and began to explain.

“Ah, I used to secretly play games here when my in-laws were sleeping. So did Juhui.”

Juhui?

“There’s no other bodyguard my age, so we became close.”

“Oh, I see.”

I tried to brush it off casually, but seeing the game made it look fun again.

Moreover, watching it on the big TV was somewhat enticing.

Thinking about it, I had things to say to Senior Juhui, so I naturally got involved.

“But being here makes me feel like I’m a college student too.”

My sister-in-law smiled as she reminisced about her college days.

The age difference isn’t that significant, so it couldn’t have been that long ago.

“In our time, when we gathered, we used to chatter a lot. Is it still like that now?”

“Well, it’s similar, I guess?”

“I didn’t really go to college.”

Choi Jina must not have gone much since she’s always busy. Kids like her probably have their own systems in place to graduate and such.

“It feels like we’re on an MT! Back in our day, we drank and shared first love stories. How about it? I want to hear three first love stories!”

With my sister-in-law’s bombshell remark, I felt the simultaneous gaze of Senior Juhui and Choi Jina turn toward me.