Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 351



Self-Reflection

Chorop.

Chorop.

Chorop.

“Ah, these little brats are so noisy.”

We were sitting around a café table.

Since university students often did their assignments here, there was a large table.

Thanks to that, ten people could sit at the same time.

By the way, the girls hadn’t arrived yet.

“Why aren’t they coming?”

“It’s a power struggle. They’re pretending to take their time on purpose.”

“Even after showing Chanwoo’s face, they’re still playing power games?”

Look at them sipping coffee and glancing around. Every single one of them is looking towards the café entrance.

“Service.”

At that moment, senior Joohee brought us a cake.

Since the exam period was over, she said she would help out occasionally on weekends.

“Service?”

“Oh, Joohee, thank you.”

“Thank you, senior.”

The senior didn’t say much.

She just stared at me with a strangely cold gaze.

“Ahem, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

When I asked carefully, the senior said it was nothing and just left.

She had also gone to the girls’ table earlier.

She must have heard what today’s meeting was about.

“Ahem.”

I feel guilty for no reason.

The girls are sitting by the window.

Since our large table is in the center of the café, there’s a bit of distance between us.

It was still clearly visible, though.

Just as expected, Seo Yerin’s eyes met mine, and she gave a bright, little wave.

‘Ah, I just want to go sit over there.’

A strong urge to ditch all this and go sit next to them is bubbling up.

Why am I stuck here among these sweaty, lust-fueled slaves instead of with the kids?

“Hey, honestly, I’m not the type to ask this kind of thing…”

I ask, glaring at the instigator, Ahn Hyunho.

“You really broke up with Lee Gyua? I got dragged all the way here, I can at least ask that much, right?”

Was everyone else curious too, or what?

They all sneak peeks at Ahn Hyunho.

“Haa, we haven’t broken up yet.”

“Then?”

“But, I saw her shopping with another guy.”

“Aigo.”

“Tsk.”

“It’s alright, let’s just go to the army together.”

Is that his version of comfort?

Even if he tried, it didn’t feel like it would help much anyway.

‘It could be a misunderstanding though.’

Considering Lee Gyua’s past actions, I can understand why Ahn Hyunho is reacting this way.

Right on cue, a group of girls walked in.

The moment he sees them, Han Gang immediately stands up, smiling.

“Hello, over here!”

Students from Chungshim University.

I heard they were from the dance department, and their looks and figures were definitely all stunning.

‘If it’s Chungshim University, I’m also connected to them.’

That’s where Jung Minji, Choi Yiseo’s friend, goes to school, isn’t it? I still have the memory of messing with Jung Minji’s ex-boyfriend who went there.

Back then, I never imagined that I’d become this close with these guys.

Things moved quickly.

We introduced ourselves, exchanged greetings, talked about this and that.

The one leading the conversation was mostly Kang Han-gang, and the one the women were most interested in was, of course, Jung Chan-woo.

But the others weren’t exactly unattractive either, so instead of fighting over Jung Chan-woo, it was becoming a time to get to know each other.

‘Surprising.’

The most surprising part was that they didn’t know about me.

I thought I had become quite famous, but they didn’t seem to have much interest in me.

Rather, it seemed like they didn’t even glance at me.

Thanks to that, I could see the guys secretly sneering at me.

‘Well, I don’t really care.’

Still, it does hurt my pride a bit.

If it was going to be like this, there was no need for me to come.

“Chan-woo, have you ever modeled? I think I’ve seen you before.”

“Oh, yes. I do part-time fitting model work.”

“I thought so!”

“What should we have for dinner? Is there anything you want to eat?”

“For me, first of all, alcohol?”

“Alcohol! Alcohol is good!”

Ah, these guys.

They’re having so much fun.

While I was sitting in the corner, just sipping my coffee.

“Excuse me?”

A woman approached our table.

It was Seo Ye-rin, who had a beauty that naturally drew everyone’s attention.

Especially today, she had dressed up so nicely that everyone in the café had to look at her at least once.

Seo Ye-rin politely called me.

And then she subtly handed me her phone.

“Can I have your number?”

“……Pardon?”

I wondered what was going on.

“I like you. Your face is exactly my type, and you have a fresh vibe that I find appealing.”

“……”

“What do you think you’re doing?” I glared at Seo Yerin, and she responded with a playful wink.

The other men were staring blankly, not understanding the situation.

The women were just watching cautiously.

It was indeed a very rude action, but Seo Yerin’s appearance was too overwhelming to stop her.

“Um, we’re in the middle of a meeting right now.”

“Oh, I see. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Who here wouldn’t know that this was a meeting?

“Then, if you don’t find a match by the end, give me your number.”

“……”

And with that, Seo Yerin left coolly.

We all just stared blankly at her back.

* * *

“How was it? Was it awesome? Did I just boost your spirits?”

Seo Yerin asked with a grin as she returned to her seat.

“It was good.”

“As expected, Seo Yerin’s face is the best.”

Choi Iseo and Yoo Arin gave her a thumbs up in praise.

“Sigh, we’re the only ones who care about Woojin’s pride.”

Kim Woojin, who was being excluded from the meeting with Chungshimdae.

At first, everyone was toasting with drinks, saying it was great.

But as time went on, I started to feel strangely upset.

“Do those girls have no eyes? This is ridiculous.”

“That’s what I’m saying! No matter how you look at it, Woojin is the best-looking one there.”

“That’s a bit…”

Choi Iseo said with an awkward laugh, but the other two immediately retorted.

“What’s not to like? Honestly, Jung Chanwoo looks so weak and unimpressive. I’ve known him since high school.”

“Who does Woojin lose to among them? Explain it according to the six principles, Choi Iseo!”

“…Yeah, Kim Woojin is the best.”

They say you can’t think straight when you’re in love.

It seems like they’ve really got rose-colored glasses on.

Choi Iseo just decided to keep quiet and sipped her drink through a straw.

“Hey, but don’t they watch YouTube? Kim Woojin must already be known as the youngest son of the Woojin family.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Honestly, I thought there would be people approaching Woojin for his money!”

“Guys, we’re still college students. It’s not the age to approach someone for money.”

“What are you talking about? College students can approach for money too.”

“Besides, Woojin has so many reasons to be approached other than money!”

“Haa, I didn’t want to say this.”

Finally, Choi Iseo decided to take the lead and spoke up.

“I think you guys are too obsessed with Kim Woojin.”

“What are you talking about? Seoye Rin might be, but not me.”

“I am! I only see Woojin’s good points!”

It’s understandable in a loving relationship, but there is definitely a need to moderate it.

In the case of Seoye Rin, she tends to go overboard even though she knows it herself.

Yoo Ah Rin pretends not to, but she gives in to Kim Woojin a lot.

Choi Iseo first gave advice to Yoo Ah Rin.

“Ah Rin, you do everything Woojin wants. That’s why he has no brakes.”

“Huh, funny? What did I do?”

“Coming here was also led by you. You suggested we monitor Kim Woojin’s meeting. Isn’t that basically allowing the meeting?”

“……”

“And last time at the Taekwondo gym. I heard from Yoon Ji Han what you guys did.”

“No, that was-!”

Yoo Ah Rin tried to say something but eventually kept her mouth shut.

It’s not wrong.

Memories of not rejecting even when she could naturally came to mind.

She even had a desire for him to be a bit more forceful.

Kim Woojin knew this well and acted as Yoo Ah Rin wanted.

“Um, what did you do?”

Seoye Rin, who was eating cake, asked with a fork in her mouth.

The only person who didn’t know what happened at the Taekwondo gym.

“Nothing.”

“It was nothing.”

“What?!”

The two chose to keep their mouths shut.

If it got out, there was no predicting what kind of actions Seo Yerin might take.

‘You never know what that girl will do.’

‘Let’s not provoke Yerin.’

Seo Yerin, huffing and puffing, quickly devoured the cake.

Choi Iseo’s target this time was Seo Yerin.

“Yerin, don’t you think you’re being too much?”

“Nope.”

“……”

Such a confident answer.

Yoo Arin immediately stepped in to support.

“You need to listen. If you’re too easy, they’ll get bored quickly.”

An overly devoted lover can actually become tiresome quickly.

Isn’t that a cliché often seen in dramas or movies?

However.

“Hmph.”

With a sneer, Seo Yerin confidently placed her hand on her chest and retorted.

“Me?”

“Damn, it’s hard to argue with that.”

“I like your confidence.”

Seo Yerin’s response, implying who would dare get tired of her, was indeed arrogant yet also persuasive.

“From the start, Woojin isn’t the type to get tired of anyone. You guys know that.”

“……”

“……”

This time, both of them had no choice but to keep their mouths shut. Unless they left, Kim Woojin would continue to stay with them.

All three of them knew this very well.

Emotions can’t last forever.

But strangely, they could easily accept that he would.

“How long are you going to stay?”

Min Joo-hee, who had approached, asked as she collected the empty cups.

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Ah…”

The meeting members were already leaving the café.

The three of them quickly stood up and went outside.

There, everyone had left, and Kim Woo-jin was left alone.

“Guys, am I really that bad?”

Kim Woo-jin, who was sniffling, had been rejected by all five women who came today.

“No, I wasn’t really interested either. But when they said they were going to the second round, they suddenly told me not to come.”

“……”

“……”

“……”

“They said I’m not appealing? That I don’t feel like a man? That it’s uncomfortable to be with me? All five of them said that.”

Ha ha, ha ha ha ha!

Kim Woo-jin laughed in disbelief.

Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin linked arms with him on either side.

From noble mtl dot com

“Our Woo-jin! Let’s go eat something delicious today!”

“Hey, you idiot! What are you talking about with goddesses much prettier and more beautiful than those girls on either side of you?”

“Guys.”

“Those girls have no taste! How could they like Han Kang-senpai or Hyun-ho?!”

“Jang Chan-woo and Pyo Jin-ho are the same! You can tell they’re empty inside just by looking at them! Anyway, those half-baked guys have weird eyes!”

Watching Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin comforting him on either side, Choi Yi-seo chuckled.

Anyway.

Everyone is too obsessed with Kim Woo-jin.

‘I need to stay sane.’

She needed to watch from a distance.

As Choi Yi-seo was thinking that,

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The sound of Choi Iseo’s phone ringing.

She steps back and answers the call.

It was her roommate, Minji.

– Iseo, are you done?

“Yeah, everyone went for dinner. I’m here alone.”

– Ugh, why does that guy even bother with meetings?

Choi Iseo chuckled as she looked at Kim Woojin’s back, hearing Jeong Minji’s grumbling.

“He stepped up to help one of his few friends. I couldn’t just stop him.”

– But it went well, right?

“Yeah, thanks.”

– You’re treating me to tteokbokki tomorrow, okay? I really had a hard time persuading and threatening those dance department kids.

– Luckily, Kim Woojin is famous. I warned them not to mess with him if they didn’t want to get on the bad side of the Wooju Group, and they were really scared.

“Okay.”

Choi Iseo quietly approached Kim Woojin and ended the call.

The smile on her lips hadn’t disappeared yet.

“Good job.”

“Hmm?”

Who was she talking to?

Kim Woojin? Or Jeong Minji?

Whoever it was.

“Let’s go quickly. Have you decided what to eat?”

A quiet cat always gets to the stove first.

“This guy wants to eat stir-fried pork?”

“Ah, Woojin! Stir-fried pork is a bit much!”

“Weren’t you trying to comfort me?”

“Stir-fried pork? Hmm, okay. I’m in.”

Just as Choi Iseo said at the cafe.

Even rational people can have their thoughts blurred when it comes to love.

And Choi Iseo was no exception.