Bamboo Forest Manager

Resembling Person

“Hello?”

– …….

The call was answered, but there was no response.

I wondered if he was doing something else, so I called again.

“Hello? Bong-geun?”

– Hello?

What the hell is this?

“Bong-geun, I know it’s your number.”

– Hello?

“How boring, how come you haven’t changed since elementary school?”

– …….

Is he mad?

– Hello?

This guy is really stubborn.

Since I’m the one asking for help today, I should just give in.

“James, help me out a bit.”

– Suddenly you need my help?

“Yeah, do you have a girlfriend?”

– What, are you trying to set me up on a blind date?

“What are you talking about? Do you really want to only say things that sound like you, Bong-geun?”

– Ahem, I don’t have a girlfriend, but I do have a fiancée. We decided to get married when I turn twenty-five.

Hmm?

“What? Really?”

—

– I heard the parents reached an agreement, so it must be true.

“What kind of world is this that they still think like that?”

From noble mtl dot com

Both my father and Choi Jin-ah’s father. Sometimes I wonder if they’re still living in the Joseon Dynasty.

– This is how it is. And it’s also right. You have to meet someone on your level for feelings to develop.

“…….”

– Most of the kids I met in high school or college were pretty disappointing. I know it sounds harsh, but… it felt a bit like dating a kid.

“Shut up.”

– Huh, Woo-jin. You’re the one who’s strange. All the kids I know feel this way. Everyone can relate to this so much.

“That’s because you haven’t met a good girl. It’s just pathetic.”

– Did you call to pick a fight?

“Ugh, yeah. Let’s put that aside for now. I want to do something special, like an event, for my girlfriend. Do you have any advice? You’re good at this kind of stuff.”

Wasn’t the last alumni gathering quite grand? It was a party where I lost track of time in many ways.

– Hmm, for that kind of thing, visuals are important. If it were me, I’d probably start by renting a yacht.

What is this guy, Poseidon?

Why does he like boats so much?

“Hey, where does a college student get money to rent a yacht? Even if I had a lot, I’d have to keep it under 500,000 won.”

– What? 500,000 won? That’s not even enough to buy a bottle of drink!

“Your name is Mr., and you seem like you’d drink a lot of makgeolli, but what’s with this 500,000 won drink? When I invite you to a drinking party later, come out. I’ll show you how much fun you can have with just 100,000 won.”

– ……What does that even mean-.

Click.

I just hung up.

Isn’t that a bit too extravagant, even for a chaebol?

What do you mean you can’t buy a bottle of drink with 500,000 won? You could just buy a whole crate.

“Ugh.”

In the end, nothing had improved.

The idiots in the group chat were still chattering away, but now I couldn’t even guess who was saying what.

When I returned to the sofa, Choi Jin-ah was still in the middle of her game.

She glanced at me, who was deep in thought, and asked,

“Is something wrong?”

“Yeah… I have some concerns.”

—

“What’s going on?”

I glance at Choi Jin-ah.

Why did I trust Bong-geun more than Choi Jin-ah? Maybe it’s because she’s a woman too, so she might know something?

‘Ah, but it’s strange.’

Since Choi Jin-ah grew up like a flower in a greenhouse, I feel like she might have some peculiar romantic notions.

For example, she might like public confessions in crowded downtown areas.

After a moment of contemplation, I decided to speak up. After all, if it’s something I can filter out, then I can just filter it out, and there’s hardly anyone to help me from the start.

“I want to do a little event for my girlfriend…”

“An event? Suddenly? Out of nowhere?”

“Cough.”

I can’t say it’s because of the guilt from doing something terrible to Senior Joo-hee while leaving the kids behind.

Clearing my throat, I continued.

“So I’ve been thinking about it, but I don’t really have any good ideas. Even when I ask my friends, nothing specific comes up…”

“What kind of idea did you come up with?”

“A candlelight event.”

“……That’s something you absolutely shouldn’t do.”

From Yu Ah-rin’s reaction earlier, I think the same way.

“Do you want to do something grand for her? Like a surprise or something?”

“Hmm, I haven’t thought that far into it. It just started from wanting to make her happy, that’s about it.”

As I spoke, Choi Jin-ah slowly set down her gamepad and crossed her arms.

“Keep it simple.”

“Excuse me? Isn’t that a bit lacking?”

If it’s supposed to be an event, shouldn’t it be different from usual?

“Tsk tsk, how do you manage to date three girls like this, Woo-jin?”

“…….”

“It’s not about what kind of event it is. What matters is that you did an event for her.”

“Hmm?”

“It shows that you care about me and are making an effort. That’s the feeling. In fact, a little clumsiness makes it look cute and I like it.”

At her words, I nodded unconsciously. Choi Jin-ah’s words were more persuasive than I expected.

“Normally, if you were to watch a movie, on that day you would go see a play or a musical. You could go to a slightly more expensive restaurant than usual, or it wouldn’t be bad to prepare something yourself.”

“…….”

“It would be nice to give off a slightly more dressed-up vibe than usual. Like you’re trying hard to stand out. It’s not difficult at all. You could wear a different perfume or maybe a bracelet instead of a watch.”

I think I understand what she means.

And it didn’t seem particularly difficult.

But then there was an important issue.

“That’s a bit troublesome.”

“Excuse me?”

“I was planning to have a big event and reuse it.”

“…….”

What does that mean? Choi Jin-ah prompts me to explain in more detail.

“What I mean is, if we had a candlelight event, we could do it for one person and then reuse it for someone else… like that.”

As I continue speaking, Choi Jin-ah’s expression gradually deteriorates. By the end, she can’t hide her disgust.

“No, there’s also the money issue. It’s tough to do something different for each person. And doing it all at once would look bad too.”

“Woo-jin.”

“Yes?”

“Just don’t do it.”

Should I?

“Can’t it be a little bit reasonable?! Why are you trying so hard to become trash that can’t even be recycled?!”

Faced with Jin-ah’s sudden outburst, I start to defend myself.

“No, I just thought of this idea about the event a moment ago, so it was a bit spontaneous!”

“What if you do it for one person? Where is that person going to be? Are you going to do the event next to them when the next person comes?”

That’s true.

‘Since Ye-rin’s event is over, it’s now Lee Seo’s turn. Ye-rin, can you help me set up the candles again?’

Isn’t it going to go like that?

Hmm, I definitely shouldn’t do the event.

Just as I was about to declare my defeat, I felt a familiar presence behind the sofa where I was sitting.

Senior Joo-hee, dressed in a black suit, gives us a business-like warning.

“The mother is currently meditating. We would appreciate it if you could keep it down a bit.”

“Yes! Understood!”

I immediately shut my mouth, turn off the game, and sit up straight.

“Ah, I’ll take my violin too.”

Choi Jin-a, who often plays next to the meditating little sister-in-law, quickly stands up, saying she will go soon.

Senior Joo-hee is leaving as is, and as Choi Jin-a tries to follow her, she glances at me and asks.

“Um, did you, by any chance, make a mistake with Joo-hee?”

“Huh? W-wait, suddenly?!”

Choi Jin-a sends a suspicious look my way.

“No, it’s just that lately, every time I see Joo-hee, she seems to be really formal. Like, she listens really well.”

“Ha, haha! Well, she’s a senior in college.”

“Hmm?”

It seemed like she thought something was off with just that. However, Choi Jin-a silently headed towards the little sister-in-law.

“Haah.”

Since she’s around the same age as the little sister-in-law, I understood that Senior Joo-hee was in charge of her protection.

But every time I saw her, my heart would thump painfully, and I felt a bit guilty, which was somewhat tormenting for me.

* * *

“So?”

In Oh Yoon-ji’s office.

She sat in her chair, resting her chin on her hand, responding dully as usual.

She appeared unfazed by Choi Yi-seo’s words, who stood across from her.

“Even if I passed the chairman’s test, I still wouldn’t end up with Woo-jin—”

Oh Yoon-ji raised the corners of her mouth in disbelief, but it was clearly not a positive gesture.

“Are you saying I should just stop caring about it now?”

Hearing such words from a friend she had been getting along well with until now, Oh Yoon-ji felt like her recently suppressed temper might suddenly flare up.

But conversely.

Choi Yi-seo’s expression and tone were excessively calm.

“Why do you think I would say something like this to you?”

“Isn’t it that you want me to understand and just let go? Do you think I still have lingering feelings for him, from your perspective?”

“…….”

“What? Am I wrong? Other than this, it seems you have no reason to say anything.”

Oh Yoon-ji continued aggressively, speaking to Choi Yi-seo as if she were growling.

Recently, I’ve been feeling unusually weak, but after a long time, irritation fuels me once more.

But.

“Don’t regret it.”

To Oh Yoon-ji, who glared at her with a fierce intensity, Choi Yi-seo replied calmly, like a still lake.

“It’s not your fault.”

“Ha…”

“You should have treated me better, made me happier. Don’t have regrets like this.”

“…….”

“So stop deriving satisfaction from me. Honestly, it’s unpleasant.”

With those words,

Oh Yoon-ji’s emotions, which had been blazing just moments ago, inevitably cooled as if water had been poured over them.

She hadn’t even realized it herself, hadn’t thought about it, but—

It struck too close to the core.

She had given Choi Yi-seo advice multiple times, lent her event outfits, and even took time off work because her father called for her.

It seemed she had folded her heart in helping, and she was genuinely trying to do so.

But the fact that she had been deriving vicarious satisfaction through her friend, Choi Yi-seo—

“…….”

It was hard to deny.

Yoon-ji’s head slowly drooped. Her bangs obscured her expression, but a whirlwind of complex emotions swirled within her.

“So… did you come to tell me that? To let go of my lingering feelings and stop acting out?”

“If that’s how you want to think, then think that way.”

“…….”

“How you choose to accept it is your freedom.”

Choi Yi-seo’s calm, navy-blue eyes. As they locked gazes, Yoon-ji began to understand, even if just a little, why Kim Woo-jin liked her.

Choi Yi-seo slowly turned her body.

Just before stepping outside, she grasped the doorknob and added one more word with a sigh.

“You resemble her more than anyone I’ve seen.”

To the point of jealousy.

Thud.

The door closed.

Choi Yi-seo let out a faint sigh as she stepped outside.

It felt like she was doing something unnecessary, but it was still something she wanted to do.

Because she judged it to be the right thing.

“Hello.”

As she was about to return to work, Choi Yi-seo encountered a female employee trying to enter Oh Yoon-ji’s office.

Seeing the mail in the employee’s hands, she hurriedly blocked her path.

“Wait a moment. The boss has something on her mind right now… If you give it to me, I’ll pass it on.”

“Oh, is she in a bad mood?”

“Yes, a little?”

“Ugh, I can’t go in today. Thank you!”

The employee quickly handed the mail to Choi Yi-seo. Wanting to give Oh Yoon-ji even a moment to think, she leaned against the office door and waited for a bit.

Most of the mail wasn’t something she would be involved with.

“Hmm?”

Among the neatly arranged letters, one stood out with its unique format.

At first glance, it felt like a handwritten letter, but there was something strange about it. It wasn’t sealed properly, and it had a rough feel to it.

‘Is it a letter from a stalker fan?’

Since it was a company nurturing an internet broadcaster, there were many stalker fans. Thinking it was a letter that had slipped through the cracks, Choi Yi-seo sighed and checked the contents.

[You’re living well, you fucking b*tch, leaving behind your murderer of a father. It’s your father’s fault. Your father ruined us all. Oh Yoon-ji, you fucking b*tch, atone for it. Atone by committing suicide. Your father would probably be a bit sad if his daughter died.]

The letter was filled with twisted yet crude expressions, essentially threatening in nature.

“What, what is this?”

Flustered, Choi Yi-seo approached the female employee from earlier and handed her the envelope, asking.

“Why is this letter being given to the boss?”

“Oh, that one.”

The employee replied with a bright smile, seemingly unaware of anything.

“I don’t know. It’s been coming almost every day since last time. The boss told me to never throw it away and to bring it to her.”

“Yoon-ji?”

“Yes, so I’m just bringing it to her for now.”

“……”

Looking down at the letter, Choi Yi-seo crumpled it up and told the employee.

“If it comes again, give it to me. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Excuse me? But the boss….”

“Please. Just tell the boss that no letter arrived.”

“Hmm.”

“You know I’m close with the broadcasters because of sports. If anything happens, I’ll help take care of it.”

It was because the staff often found themselves frustrated with the self-centered behaviors of internet broadcasters.

“Chae, is Lee Seo taking responsibility for this?”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Choi Lee Seo, with a determined expression.

Now, she understood why Yoon Ji hadn’t seemed well since before the break.

And at that moment.

Clunk!

The door opened, and Oh Yoon Ji, wearing sunglasses, stepped out of the office and said,

“I’m taking a day off today. Everyone just work and leave.”

Her steps were quick yet not rushed, confident as she walked outside.

Choi Lee Seo, following behind her to the parking lot, asked,

“Where are you going?”

Oh Yoon Ji, who had charmed Kim Woo Jin last time, got into her red sports car.

“Where do you think?”

She lowered her sunglasses slightly and answered boldly.

“I’m going to fight.”

The engine roared harshly.

Without hesitation, she pressed the accelerator, and the sports car swiftly left the parking lot.

“Hah.”

Choi Lee Seo let out a self-deprecating laugh and muttered to herself.

“This is why they say we’re alike.”