Bamboo Forest Manager

Proposal

“Haah, why are the kids acting like this today?”

Standing awkwardly, she surveyed the displayed items, but nothing caught her eye.

“What’s the problem?”

Something felt very off.

Yoo Ah-rin suddenly got annoyed and suggested crossing her arms in a normal way.

Seo Ye-rin kept her distance, saying not to touch anything at all.

And Choi Yi-seo, on the contrary, was shouting that she wanted to have s*x.

‘This isn’t a movie. Did their souls change or something?’

Thinking this, she glanced at the three of them. They were looking at a suitcase, seemingly debating about its cost-effectiveness among themselves.

They seemed troubled by the price, but in any case, they would definitely buy one suitcase each.

To convey that, I need to get closer.

“Ahem.”

Strangely, the three of us felt off today, making it a bit hesitant to approach casually.

As I fiddled with what looked like professional-grade goggles, pondering what to do.

“Are you going to buy that?”

Choi Jin-ah, glancing at me from the side, struck up a conversation.

“Jin-ah?”

I didn’t even ask why she was here, but she answered first.

“This is our department store.”

“Oh.”

That explains it.

No matter how much money was offered, I thought there was something beyond money involved in renting out the VIP lounge like this.

Or maybe she had some connections.

So it was because it was Choi Jin-ah’s department store that they welcomed us like this.

“Really, you didn’t know? I thought you’d figure it out the moment you saw it.”

“I didn’t know. How would I know something like this?”

As I shrugged, Jin-ah’s eyes narrowed.

“In this case, it’s not that you didn’t know; it’s that you weren’t interested.”

“…….”

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“Does it really matter to Woo-jin whether this is our department store? You can just enjoy yourself with your girlfriends.”

“Why are you here then? Shouldn’t you be at home playing games?”

“I haven’t been doing that lately.”

“Really, are you still at our family home?”

“…….”

I was just probing, but to think she was still clinging there like a parasite.

At this point, I wondered if there was some kind of iron plate stuck to Choi Jin-ah’s face.

“Well, we’re technically engaged, right? So I have to accompany you on this shopping trip.”

“Does the chairman still think that way?”

“Yes, I haven’t returned home since that day.”

“Ugh.”

“Maybe you think I’m just getting a head start on living with my in-laws.”

Saying that suddenly made me curious.

“Don’t you watch TV, Father? You must have already heard all about me and Yoon-ji.”

It would be hard to accept if he knew that his daughter’s fiancé was spreading stories about his girlfriend on TV.

“I think it’s fine. Most chaebols around Woo-jin’s age usually have two or three girlfriends.”

“…….”

But what about Bong-geun?

I was momentarily curious but didn’t ask.

“Since it’s a political marriage in your father’s eyes anyway, Woo-jin’s past won’t be a big issue.”

“Well, that’s true. If he’s okay with it, then I guess it’s fine.”

Honestly, I didn’t care much. I wasn’t interested in the first place.

“More importantly, please go tell the kids. I’ll give them each a suitcase, so tell them to choose one regardless of the price.”

“Excuse me? Me? Woo-jin can just go and tell them himself.”

“The kids are a bit sensitive right now, so I’d rather not go.”

“Hmm? I don’t quite understand what you mean, but I’ll take note of it.”

With that, Choi Jin-ah walked briskly towards the kids. She greeted Seo Ye-rin warmly and naturally mingled with them.

Unlike the old Choi Jin-ah, she wasn’t maintaining a formal demeanor but rather wrapped in friendliness.

There was definitely a difference from the first meeting I had seen at the matchmaking event.

‘Come to think of it, she did say she still keeps in touch with those people.’

I heard she occasionally contacts the two women she drank and hung out with at the alumni gathering.

I wasn’t sure if the two would become good friends, but Choi Jin-ah was breaking the kind of elegance she used to possess.

That meant the teachings of the person who had instilled that elegance in her.

It signified the collapse of the lessons her father had built up.

‘Good things are good, I suppose.’

If she wanted to change, then that was all that mattered.

‘Hmm, then I should start choosing something too.’

I hadn’t bought anything for myself while following the kids around and helping them choose.

While the four of them were over there, I should indulge a little with my father’s money for the first time in a while.

‘I need to buy a suitcase too…’

Since the kids were choosing, I decided not to go over there for now.

I find my gaze drifting towards the sunglasses and I look around that area.

I do want to match with the kids in some way, but it feels a bit strange if all four of us are wearing the same thing.

“Hmmm.”

It’s ambiguous.

As I casually look around, I see luxury items like wallets, watches, and perfumes. It’s nice to see everything adorned with various designer brands.

But honestly, isn’t that something you use when you’re going on a trip, or when you’re giving a gift to someone?

“Oh, right.”

With a good idea in mind, I started picking up one item after another from what was there.

* * *

After the shopping was all done.

The three of us returned as the little thieves once again.

I thought they would come out wearing the mountain clothes, but they said it was too expensive to wear.

We didn’t take the items with us; they would be delivered, so our hands felt light on the way back.

“Wow, I never thought I would shop in a place like this in my lifetime.”

“It’s like something out of a drama. The female lead meets a rich male lead and has a luxurious time.”

Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin suddenly started talking about dramas. Hearing it like this, it definitely has that vibe.

‘I’m glad I was able to give them a good time.’

“But Kim Woo-jin isn’t as handsome as the male lead in dramas.”

“Why? I think Woo-jin is better than those male actors.”

“Do you perhaps prefer pork over beef?”

“Eh? How did you know? I actually like pork more than beef.”

“Now it makes sense.”

What is she saying right now?

“Are you saying I’m pork?”

As I stepped closer to ask, Yoo Ah-rin crossed her arms and chuckled.

“What are you talking about? I just asked about your meat preference, piggy.”

“Oink oink?”

“Haha! That’s so funny!”

“I’m serious! During the filming, Seong-ho sunbae also came, you know? But I think Woo-jin is better.”

“What?! Han Seong-ho came? Hey! You should at least get an autograph!”

Han Seong-ho was a male actor famous for his good looks.

“Hm? But Arin, is that really your type?”

“It’s Han Seong-ho. Among all the women in South Korea, who wouldn’t have a crush on him?”

“Not me.”

“That’s because you like pork. Most people prefer beef.”

“Aha! Then next time—”

Seo Ye-rin, who seemed to have something to say, hesitated for a moment before looking back at Yoo Ah-rin and asking,

“But why did you ditch Chan-woo? You two seem similar.”

“…….”

“Now that I think about it, didn’t we say in high school that handsome male actors were kind of cheesy and not our type?”

“…….”

“Are you saying that because Woo-jin is next to you, you’re just trying to make him jealous—!”

“Hey! No! It’s just that my taste changed when I became a college student!”

Hmph.

The corners of my mouth subtly lifted.

That sly girl.

As I struggled to contain my own smirk at her pouting expression, Yoo Ah-rin, blushing, shouted in frustration.

“Damn it! Don’t like him!”

“I didn’t like him.”

I slowly spread my arms wide.

“Want a hug from pork?”

“Get lost!”

“I like it!”

I was talking to Yoo Ah-rin, but Seo Ye-rin quickly came in for a hug. As I wrapped my arms around her, Yoo Ah-rin glared at us, huffing.

“See, the body is honest.”

People say they prefer expensive beef.

“But in reality, the body craves pork.”

As I gestured with a smile, Yoo Ah-rin awkwardly began to walk over.

Just as I reached out one arm to hug her too.

“Th-this isn’t right!”

—

Seoye-rin, who had been nestled in my arms with her nose buried in my chest, suddenly pushes me away and steps back.

“C-Cut back on the skinship!”

“But you were the one who hugged me.”

Seoye-rin wraps her arms around herself, creating distance.

Yua-rin, who was next to us, flinches slightly, as if recalling something, then clears her throat and offers a gentle smile.

“Woojina, what’s wrong?”

“……Huh?”

“Hoho, you can’t do that in front of everyone.”

She lightly taps my shoulder in a way that feels oddly unsettling.

“What’s with you? Why are you acting like this? What’s the problem?”

“What problem? We’re getting along just fine.”

“What do you mean! Why are you suddenly acting like this?!”

No matter how much I asked, the two of them wouldn’t respond.

“Boys and girls shouldn’t sit together!”

“Woojina, are you tired? Should I lend you my shoulder on the way?”

Suddenly, Seoye-rin has turned into a Confucian girl, and Yua-rin starts looking out for me.

It’s not just creepy; it feels repulsive, making me nauseous.

“I-I don’t know what kind of joke this is, but it’s really not okay, so stop.”

I don’t understand why they’re suppressing their personalities and acting strangely.

So I said a word, but both of them retorted harshly.

“The Three Bonds and Five Relationships! Zhuzi’s Ten Rules!”

“Woojina, you look tired. Want a massage?”

“……Just do whatever you want.”

I’m at a loss now.

I don’t know if I ate something wrong, but if I keep talking here today, I’ll just be ignored while they do as they please.

‘Do they want to change their image or something?’

If that’s the case, it seems they’ve misjudged the concept.

‘If they don’t change later, should I retaliate with my own strategy?’

I wonder if changing my own concept to “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” might lead to some realization.

“Woojina, are you leaving now? If you’re okay with it, the chairman said to drop by my family home tomorrow.”

—

“I’m meeting friends tomorrow.”

We decided to have omakase tomorrow.

“Friends? With Woojin?”

“Eunseo, let’s hurry up.”

Ignoring Choi Jina’s surprised expression, she calls out to Choi Eunseo.

But Eunseo just stood there, dazed, and replied.

“I’ll talk to Jina for a bit and then come.”

“With Jina? About what?”

It was so out of the blue that I wondered what was going on, but Choi Eunseo only smiled and didn’t provide any further answer.

“I’ll take Eunseo home. Don’t worry too much.”

“……”

I felt a bit uncomfortable, but I had no reason or justification to stop them.

So in the end, I had no choice but to get in the car.

“Ahem, do hurry along. I’d like to stop by the kitchen and have a drink or two on the way.”

“Woojin, if it’s hard for you to get in the car, should I help you sit down?”

The two of them, babbling strange things from behind, were starting to annoy me.

Yoo Yerim, who had taken on the excessive Confucian woman concept and had regressed to become a scholar, and Yoo Arin, whose strange consideration had now turned me into a patient.

“Ha.”

How was I supposed to endure the nonsense from the two of them without Eunseo?

It was just overwhelming.

* * *

After parting ways with Kim Woojin and his group.

I said I had something to discuss privately with Choi Jina, but in reality, the person Choi Eunseo really wanted to talk to was someone else.

Creeeak.

Entering the study.

Despite the late hour, there sat Kim Woojin’s father, the chairman of Wooju Group, deeply rooted like an old tree.

“Hello, sir. I heard you called for me.”

I bowed politely and greeted him, but the chairman got straight to the point without any pretense.

“I heard that Oh Yoonji and that kid Un are working at your company.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The chairman turns the page of the book he was reading. Even while conversing with Choi I-seo, his gaze did not shift toward her at all.

“Were the victims sending threatening letters to Oh Yoon-ji separately?”

“…Yes.”

How did he know?

Choi I-seo wondered how the chairman could possess information that only she and Oh Yoon-ji were aware of.

Rustle.

The page turns, yet the heavy silence remains.

“Why didn’t you use that?”

An unexpected situation, an unexpected question.

But she didn’t think it was meaningless.

Choi I-seo answered with all her sincerity.

“Because they are victims too.”

“….”

“If the bereaved families had informed Yoon-ji about the threatening letters, public opinion would have solidified even more in our favor.”

But that didn’t happen.

“The victim who became the perpetrator. However, I understood their feelings well enough, and I didn’t want to inflict any more pain than that. In fact, since then, no more letters have come.”

When the world turned in favor of Oh Yoon-ji.

She didn’t want the arrows to turn toward the bereaved families of the victims.

Even if they had done wrong, Choi I-seo wanted to avoid that.

“What if Woo-jin had failed? Would you have thought to use that then?”

“Yes.”

Choi I-seo was resolute.

Within her, there exists a standard.

It could be seen as a kind of line, and she is someone who always strives to uphold it.

But there are times when that line is crossed.

Rustle.

The page turns again.

After a brief silence, the chairman asked again.

“Don’t you regret what you said to Oh Yoon-ji?”

“…….”

“Thanks to that, Oh Yoon-ji moved, and I heard that the bond between the two became quite affectionate. The public is also supporting their relationship.”

And.

“I too, have no reason to oppose Oh Yoon-ji anymore.”

Now everyone in the world knows that she is an unilateral victim.

If I accept her here.

It would rather be seen positively by those around as a beautiful happy ending, free of prejudice, humane, and narratively appealing.

In fact, accepting Oh Yoon-ji could be more beneficial for the Universe Group at this point.

“Do you have no regrets?”

“…….”

“If that brat Woo-jin chooses Oh Yoon-ji here, then it’s the end. I will accept it, and they will start again.”

It was still the same.

The chairman’s gaze was still reading the words of the book.

“Precisely because of your choice.”

Such indifference was tightening around Choi Yi-seo’s neck instead.

“Friendship and love. It’s a cliché, but it’s often regarded as an old, unsolved problem. You chose friendship this time.”

“Both.”

Clench.

Choi Yi-seo, with her fists tightly clenched, took a deep breath and replied.

Her eyes, shimmering with a hint of blue, showed no sign of wavering even under this pressure.

“I will achieve both.”

“Hm, there’s nothing more unpleasant than the empty rhetoric of someone without ability.”

“But.”

Before long, a smile had formed at the corners of Choi Yi-seo’s mouth.

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“I will make it happen.”

In an instant.

The chairman glanced at Choi Yi-seo for just a moment and let out a hollow laugh.

“Greedy and selfish.”

Thud.

Finally, he closed the book.

“Looks like you resemble him.”

At last, the chairman’s lips relaxed slightly as he looked directly at Choi Yi-seo.

“Pardon?”

“You look like him, the way Woo-jin smiles when he boasts in front of me.”

“…….”

Hearing that, Choi Yi-seo felt a bit embarrassed.

“They say love makes you resemble each other.”

She pushed through her embarrassment to subtly express her feelings for Kim Woo-jin.

The chairman nodded slightly and then made a proposal to Choi Yi-seo.

“Marry Woo-jin.”

“……!”

“You’re more than enough. Compared to the other two kids and Yoon-ji… you’re better.”

Swallow.

Choi Yi-seo unconsciously swallowed hard.

The permission she thought would be the hardest to get from her father had been granted.

Moreover, the words that he would accept only her, dismissing others, made her heart race as if it would burst.

“That means…”

The smile that resembled Kim Woo-jin still lingered on her lips.

“I don’t think it means anything unless I hear it from Woo-jin himself.”

“…….”

“If you have nothing more to say, I’ll take my leave now.”

Choi Yi-seo bowed her head.

Even as she slowly stepped out of the room, there were no words calling her back.

Only.

Just before closing the door, she thought she saw a smile on the chairman’s face.