Bamboo Forest Manager

Return

“Ha.”

Late at night.

The wind is cold.

Today is the day I left my family home and returned to the dormitory.

My mom, my younger brother’s wife, and Jina kept telling me not to go, but still, I broke free from the family home.

Anyway, my legs have fully healed, so there’s really no need for me to stay there any longer.

‘Why is Jina still here?’

I still remember Choi Jina’s expression when she asked me to stay and play. She complained about who would play games with her while snacking on treats in the evening if I left.

‘It’s about time to go home.’

From noble mtl dot com

To think that puberty only hits after turning twenty, the parents on that side must have had a tough time.

Squeak.

Senior Juhui, who brought me to the dormitory, glances at me.

She said she would help me unload my things, but I quickly got out of the car and grabbed my luggage from the trunk.

“Thank you for your hard work! Go on in!”

“Make sure you go in too, young master.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Returning to university, I felt the senior’s imposing presence once again. She made a strange expression as she watched me shout like a soldier reporting back, then drove off.

Since it’s late, she’ll probably head home just like that, right?

“Ugh, why is it that I had no luggage when I left but now I have so much?”

She packed a bunch of things for me, and I ended up with two suitcases.

Now that my face is well-known, there was a pile of luxury clothes telling me to wear something nice.

‘How much would this sell for?’

If I sold it, I wouldn’t have to worry about money until graduation.

I think I’ll take them and sell the ones I won’t wear.

“Congratulations on your discharge!”

A familiar voice rang out from behind me.

I quickly turned my head, and there stood Seo Yerim, Yoo Arin, and Choi Iseo.

“Hey, you guys!”

I had mentioned that I would leave the family home today and would probably arrive at the dorm around dinner time.

Did they know that and wait for me?

A wave of emotion washed over me.

I immediately reached out to hug the three of them, but Yoo Arin extended her hand to stop me.

“Let’s not. Romeo?”

“……What a Romeo.”

When I blinked and asked what that meant, Choi I-seo explained for me.

“It’s because of you and Yoon-ji. If you start showing affection here, it’ll get weird if it comes up.”

“…….”

I expected it, but it’s still really annoying.

“Uh, guys. I’m not trying to get back together with Yoon-ji or anything—”

“I know, you were just trying to help.”

“We heard the whole story! Wow! How can there be such terrible people out there!”

Yoo Ah-rin reassures me not to worry, while Seo Ye-rin gets angry on my behalf.

Right, what was I even worried about?

They’re not the kind of girls who wouldn’t understand this.

“Let’s go inside for now. Since it’s vacation, the dorm security guy goes home after dinner.”

“Really?”

I didn’t know that.

Choi I-seo takes the lead, pulling a suitcase behind her.

Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin, standing on either side of me, immediately start chattering away.

“Woo-ji, we prepared a surprise gift for your discharge!”

“Hmm? A surprise gift?”

If you say that, it’s not really a surprise, is it?

“Ugh, it’s just a discharge gift. It’s to help you get your act together.”

“Aha. By the way, have we decided where we’re going for our trip? It looks like we need to leave right away this week.”

Vacation is slowly coming to an end.

It’s really time to go now; it’s right around the corner.

“Uh, I talked to my brother-in-law about that.”

Brother-in-law?

Are you talking about my husband’s older brother?

“Your older brother?”

“Yeah! He said if it’s hard to decide, just go to Hawaii! There’s always that dream of going to Hawaii when you travel!”

What a dated dream.

Well, it does seem like a safe choice. After all, it’s a tourist spot, so the facilities should be well set up.

If only I had money.

“Yeah, the prices there are high. We should go while we can use someone else’s money.”

“But that’s your brother’s money, right?”

If he’s my brother, isn’t he still someone else?

“Hmm, I wonder what the weather is like in Hawaii around this time?”

As I awkwardly change the subject, the two who had already looked up the information immediately pick up the conversation.

“They say it’s super hot right now!”

“It’s the dry season. They say it rains maybe once or twice a month. Isn’t that a relief?”

“Too bad.”

It should have been a storm.

As I express my disappointment, Yoo Ah-rin stares at me intently.

“Why ‘too bad’?”

“Hmm? Well… because if it rains, it would be nice?”

“What’s nice about going on a trip and having it rain? You can’t go outside and just have to stay cooped up in the hotel.”

“…….”

I felt like I would get it wrong if I answered, but a response came from across the room.

“Correct! If it rains, we can’t go outside, so all we can do in the hotel is have s*x?!”

“Ahem! Ahem!”

As expected, Seo Ye-rin.

She hit the nail on the head.

“Sigh, if that’s the case, we might as well just go to a hotel in the country instead of flying all the way to Hawaii for that.”

Anyway, while chatting away, we finally arrived at my dorm room after a long time.

Choi Yi-seo opened the door and stepped inside, and I followed her in.

It seemed like Choi Yi-seo was getting really used to entering my room now.

“By the way, what’s the surprise gift?”

Even after looking around inside, there wasn’t really anything that looked like a gift.

I wondered if there was something special.

Click.

The bathroom door opened, and a woman with red hair stepped out.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere because I couldn’t get in touch, Woo-jin.”

Oh Yoon-ji.

“……!”

With eyes wide open as if they were about to tear, I looked around at the others. Before I knew it, they were blocking the front door, avoiding my gaze and making sure I couldn’t escape.

“Traitors! You traitors! How could you do this?!”

How did I manage to dodge all this!

I thought I might get killed by Yoon-ji, so I decided not to contact her for a while!

I took a step back in confusion, but Yoon-ji didn’t stop.

“Wow, if you knew what kind of feelings I had when I wrote that letter, you wouldn’t have done something like this!”

“Wait! I-I had my reasons! Anyway, it all worked out well, right?!”

“Do you know what kind of messages I’m getting right now?! I’m getting offers to appear on dating shows! They’re asking if I want to write a book! What the hell is this?!”

“…….”

“They’re asking if our broadcast personalities can come out as guests just once! The kids are only looking for me in the chat room!”

“Cough, th-that’s nice.”

“Nice? Nice?! Nice?!”

Yoon-ji rolled up her sleeves and strode closer.

The world needs to see this side of her.

They only know her as a pure, pitiful victim living solely on love.

Unaware that she has a strong-willed side.

“Wherever I go, all I hear is people cheering for me! Strangers look at me with pity! You know I hate that the most!”

Even if she lives a pitiful life, she refuses to be seen as pitiful by others.

That was Yoon-ji.

“Just come at me, Kim Woo-jin.”

Yoon-ji raised her fist threateningly.

I closed my eyes gently with a subtle smile.

“Kill me.”

As I declared I would meet a glorious end, a violent kiss soon followed.

Chuu.

The moment our tongues tangled, I opened my eyes wide without realizing it. Since I was used to Yoon-ji leaning against me, I continued the kiss.

“What the! Wait a minute!”

“Hey! Hey! She’s putting her tongue in, stop her!”

Was it an impulsive kiss that hadn’t been agreed upon with the others?

Seo Yerin and Yoo Ah Rin immediately rushed in and pulled Oh Yoon Ji away.

Choi Yi Seo just sighed deeply, crossing her arms and watching the scene unfold.

“Uh? Uh-oh?”

As I unconsciously lost strength in my legs and collapsed to the ground, Oh Yoon Ji licked her lips and laughed.

“Has it been a while? It’s so delicious, isn’t it?”

“It’s mine!”

Seo Yerin charged at me, pushing me down to the floor with her hands and continuing the kiss.

The intensity was such that my lips felt numb, my tongue was tingling, and our teeth clashed.

“Ah, damn! Why are you provoking her?”

Yoo Ah Rin started to argue with Oh Yoon Ji, and the situation became even more chaotic.

“Okay, everyone calm down. Let’s just go out. Woo Jin is here today and he’s tired.”

Choi Yi Seo immediately began to take charge of the situation.

But I’m not tired, though.

I thought that since the three of them were waiting, today would be the day we all had fun together.

I’ve been holding back at home, and I feel like I’m going to burst.

I looked at Choi Yi Seo with that kind of gaze.

“Right? You’re tired, aren’t you?”

“……Yes.”

I should hurry up and get ready to wash up and sleep.

* * *

In the end, the four of us came out, leaving no one behind in Kim Woo Jin’s dorm.

Oh Yoon Ji stood tall, straightening her back and shouted.

“I won’t give up.”

The gazes of the three who were caught in the moment turned towards her.

Naturally, the first to react was Yoo Ah Rin.

“Stop messing around! It’s already cramped as it is, and if another girl comes in here, I’m really going to get mad.”

“Three or four, it’s all the same, isn’t it?”

“Shut up! Is that even a valid argument? Hey! Choi Yi Seo! You brought her here! Do something about it! Or you can just get lost!”

“Woo Jin would probably refuse.”

Choi Yi-seo replied nonchalantly, already knowing how Oh Yoon-ji would react.

“I agree. U-jin thinks with his d*ck, but that’s not all he has.”

Even Seo Ye-rin agreed with Choi Yi-seo. It meant that Kim Woo-jin wouldn’t accept it.

“There’s evidence. When we kissed earlier, he didn’t get hard. But he did when he was with me.”

“…….”

Oh Yoon-ji stared blankly at Seo Ye-rin. She sent a questioning gaze that seemed to ask if she had always been like this, but no one answered.

“Ha, do you think I wouldn’t know that?”

Oh Yoon-ji knew as well.

That Kim Woo-jin helping her this time wasn’t due to some tender feeling of love.

That the three people already nestled in his heart were more solid than she had expected.

‘No, rather because there are three of them…’

She could confirm here that it was even more solid because of that.

But.

“The three could become four. One of you three could be replaced, right?”

With a provocative smile, Yoon-ji sounded the alarm on the stabilizing romantic front of the three.

“Ha, no. What’s there to like about a guy who likes three girls?”

As Yu Ah-rin asked, saying she really couldn’t understand, Oh Yoon-ji shrugged.

“Ask yourself.”

“…….”

“Sorry, but I can’t give up now either. I’ve become the girl who only likes Kim Woo-jin nationwide, where can I go? I’ve got the certification mark on my forehead. Oh Yoon-ji belongs to Kim Woo-jin.”

Yoon-ji liked the chilly silence.

“It felt like shit when I had to protect him.”

She warned the three with a refreshing hum.

“It feels good now that it’s time for me to take him away, doesn’t it?”

Indeed, she felt that this suited her.

* * *

Late at night.

Before leaving work, Min Joo-hee stretched and twisted her body after returning her car to the company.

“Ha.”

Today was another busy day.

Thanks to Kim Woo-jin’s relentless efforts to save Oh Yoon-ji, things had been quite busy lately.

Still, it wasn’t entirely wrong, so Min Ju-hee was able to work with a sense of duty of her own.

‘I think being a bodyguard suits me quite well.’

As Min Ju-hee began to get a rough idea of her future career path.

Tap, tap.

The sound of steady footsteps echoed in the parking lot.

When she confirmed the source of the sound, there was Vice President Kim Jae-woon heading to his car with his blonde secretary as he was leaving work.

“Good evening.”

Min Ju-hee greeted him with a perfect 90-degree bow.

With a clean and straightforward greeting, Kim Jae-woon looked at her and asked.

“Min Ju-hee, right? You used to attend Gyeonghyeon University and are now interning with the security team.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

What was this?

Was he not leaving but actually looking for her?

As questions arose, Min Ju-hee lifted her head to look at Kim Jae-woon.

“Is the work with the security team going well?”

“Yes, the seniors have taught me a lot. I’ve learned a great deal.”

“Good, I’ve heard many praises about you in the reports that came in.”

Min Ju-hee had a sharp personality, so she was the type to receive compliments wherever she went.

But it was a bit surprising that the vice president was receiving reports about an intern in the security team.

Though she had her doubts, they were quickly resolved.

“And you’re the only one in the security team that Woo-jin seems to be mindful of, right?”

“That’s correct.”

It wasn’t an incorrect statement.

Ever since she told Kim Woo-jin that he had done something to her while drunk, he had indeed shown a tendency to be attentive to her, following her words closely.

Seeing that, the seniors around them had envied how well she managed the most troublesome member of the owner family.

To be honest, Min Ju-hee felt a bit uneasy, as those actions made it seem like Kim Woo-jin was uncomfortable around her.

‘I did make it uncomfortable for him.’

With that in mind, Kim Jae-woon made a suggestion to Min Ju-hee.

“This week, that guy Woo-jin is going on a trip to Hawaii.”

“Yes, I know.”

Thanks to that, Kim Woo-jin’s security detail was canceled.

“You should go along as his bodyguard.”

“Excuse me? Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Right now, all eyes are on Woo-jin. It’s better for him to be out of the country.”

There was an air of concern on Kim Jae-woon’s face that didn’t quite match his words about needing to keep things quiet until it calmed down.

“But I’m worried he might cause some trouble.”

“Ah…”

Well, it’s true.

He’s going on a trip with three girls.

It wasn’t hard to imagine the girls who might suddenly find themselves pregnant.

From noble mtl dot com

“He’s not someone his family can keep a tight rein on. But for some reason, he pays attention to you and listens well.”

“That’s… true.”

“Please.”

Kim Jae-woon was genuinely hoping that Min-ju-hee would help.

“Make sure that kid doesn’t get into any trouble and go with him.”

After all, Min-ju-hee is an intern.

When the vice president asks, what choice does an intern have?

“Understood.”

That was the only answer she could give.

“Thanks.”

Just as Kim Jae-woon was about to turn and leave, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Min-ju-hee.

“And there’s a junior named Choi Yi-seo, right?”

Choi Yi-seo?

“Yes, there is.”

“Do you have her number? Can you give it to me?”

“Excuse me? You want Yi-seo’s number?”

Even so, one should know the purpose before giving out someone else’s number.

When the vice president was staring at her, Min-ju-hee, who was thorough in such matters, looked at him intently, and without any hesitation, Kim Jae-woon answered.

“Chairman said he wants to see you once.”