Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 358



Girlfriend

The digital marketing team all left work on time today.

Since we’ll be terribly busy starting tomorrow, Manager Yoon suggested we leave a bit early today.

But the place the digital marketing team headed to after leaving work on time was a samgyeopsal restaurant near the company.

“It’s been a while since we had a company dinner.”

“Yeah. We should have had a reason to have one.”

I heard that usually people avoid company dinners. But since this team rarely had them, the atmosphere was rather welcoming.

If you ask if I wanted to go home since we left work on time.

I’d answer that I left work on time because there was no work to do anyway.

“It’s been a week since Woojin joined, but we haven’t had a welcome party yet. We should do it now that it’s mentioned.”

All eyes turned to me as I was pouring water into a glass. I didn’t expect that they would have a welcome party for me.

Actually, I didn’t know either.

“Is samgyeopsal okay?”

“Shouldn’t we be eating beef?”

Deputy Oh and Assistant Manager Jung glance at me, asking cautiously. They seem to think that because I’m from a chaebol family, I don’t eat things like samgyeopsal.

“I like samgyeopsal too. I can’t get enough of it.”

“Wow.”

Employee Kim looks at me in amazement. I thought the illusions about me would have faded after a week.

Anyway, we order samgyeopsal, and as the drinks flow, the atmosphere of the company dinner warms up.

Manager Yoon calmly explains today’s work report without exaggeration.

But the team’s reaction to hearing it is as exuberant as fireworks at a festival.

“Wow! Awesome!”

“I’ll coordinate with the sales team. They owe me, so they won’t dare to treat me poorly.”

“So, the request for support for the China export deal will come to us this time? Can you entrust that to me? I have some connections in China.”

Deputy Choi and Deputy Oh, who are directly under Manager Yoon, are particularly delighted.

They are already discussing how to divide the work and who will take on what at the dinner table.

“Let’s stop talking about work while we’re eating. We’ll have to talk about it endlessly from tomorrow anyway.”

Since the team members are happy, Manager Yoon also seems somewhat pleased, with a slight smile on his lips.

The drinks flow even more vigorously.

“Thank you, Woojin.”

Deputy Choi, the second-in-command, whispers as he pours soju into my glass.

“What did I do?”

“Heh, you’re cool. Woojin, you’re a better person than I thought.”

No one was unaware that this situation would never have happened without me.

But I didn’t want to take credit for it.

I was just quietly sitting there.

All the preparations were done by Manager Yoon, and if they had been sloppy, it would have ended in a debate.

“The one who seized the opportunity is Manager Yoon.”

When I said this, looking at Manager Yoon, the other team members also expressed their gratitude to him.

“Finally, we’re doing some real work.”

“Wow, this is great! It’s really nice to be able to work without having to watch our backs.”

“I’ll work hard and learn too!”

The company dinner is in full swing.

As time passes, the bottles of alcohol pile up.

“So, that’s how I ended up marrying my wife. By the time we had the wedding, she was already pregnant.”

Manager Yoon shared the stories he had promised to tell me earlier.

Dating the girlfriend he met in college and eventually marrying her was quite romantic.

From noble mtl dot com

It made me realize once again that Manager Yoon had an unexpected boldness.

“How about you, Woojin? Are you enjoying your college life? I realized later that those were the best times.”

Deputy Oh, who is somewhat hot-tempered, asked me with a smile.

He seemed to be in a good mood from drinking, as he usually doesn’t talk to me.

“Well, I’m having fun. I’m living my life as best as I can.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

Chief Jung, the only woman in the group, was quite enthusiastic about the topic of relationships.

She was also very active in talking about dating shows with Employee Kim earlier.

“Yes, I do. She’s really pretty.”

Maybe I was slightly drunk.

I ended up bragging without realizing it.

“oooh.”

“As expected, Woojin.”

“Everyone who has someone, has someone!”

Even the risky jokes, soaked in alcohol, could be laughed off now.

We were strengthening our relationships like that.

Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz!

A phone call came in at the right moment.

– Seo Yerin –

“I’ll just take this call.”

I quietly got up and went outside.

Other office workers who were also having company dinners were smoking outside.

“Hello?”

– Woojin, where are you right now?

“Me? I’m at a company dinner with my colleagues.”

– Uh…?

Seo Yerin, a bit flustered.

Wondering if there’s a problem, but Seo Yerin seems disappointed.

– I came to pick you up since you weren’t at the dorm. I guess I’ll just go.

“You came to pick me up?”

That’s not necessary, is it?

– Yeah, I thought you were working late. But if you’re having a company dinner, I’ll just go.

“…It’s near the office, do you want to come for a bit?”

– Is that okay?

“I don’t think I can join the dinner. I just wanted to see your face for a bit. I’d feel bad sending you away like this.”

Even if it’s not for long, can’t we at least see each other outside the place?

It’s only a five-minute walk from the office anyway.

A moment later.

Seo Yerin actually came.

Wearing a long denim shirt, black pants, and an octagonal cap, she looked like a model.

“Woojin-ah!”

Perfectly casual down to her flats, Seo Yerin ran to me and hugged me as soon as she saw me.

“Whoa!”

“The smell of alcohol!”

I almost stumbled.

Seo Yerin, burying her face in my chest and rubbing against me.

We were together all night yesterday, but she seems so happy to see me, it feels good.

“Sorry, I couldn’t skip today’s dinner. They were welcoming me.”

“No! It’s news that Woojin is finally pulling his weight at the company. But it’s not over yet, right?”

“Yeah, it seems like it.”

“Then I should let the others know.”

Let them know?

The others?

“They all decided to come. They said they were bored and wanted to join the surprise after-work date.”

“……”

“Fuck off, transmission-!”

“Woojin-ssi?”

The team leader’s voice from behind me.

Just turning my head to check, there were the team members who came out for a smoke.

Oh Deputy and Kim Employee’s eyes widened like they were going to pop.

They were utterly shocked to see Seo Yerin in my arms.

“Isn’t, isn’t that her? The famous one these days?”

“She’s one of the top ten rising actresses on YouTube… What’s her name…”

“Hello, I’m Seo Yerin,” she said, immediately adopting a demure posture and bowing politely.

The fresh smile on her lips was so perfect, it felt like acting.

“I came to pick up Woojin, but they said he was at a company dinner, so I was just going to see his face and leave.”

“Ah, we interrupted then.”

Team Leader Yoon scratched his head, looking awkward.

“No, it’s okay. Woojin needs to get some social experience. He grew up spoiled and doesn’t know anything.”

Look at her, smiling coyly while making jokes.

When it’s just the two of us, she’s all ‘s*x. I really want some s*x right now,’ or ‘You’re tired? Unzip your pants first, I need to check if you’re really that tired.’

But in front of others, she turns into Seo Yerin, the pure and innocent goddess of the English department.

“Hmm, if it’s not inconvenient, why don’t you join us for a bite?”

What?

I was so flustered by the team leader’s sudden proposal, I didn’t even have time to react.

“Oh! Really? Is it okay for me to eat with you?”

“Of course.”

“Oh my! Come on in! We need to clear a seat for you!”

“Auntie! One more order of pork belly!”

Deputy Oh and Employee Kim are making a big fuss, ushering Seo Yerin inside.

Look at those guys, they came out for a smoke and are going right back in.

“Team Leader…”

“She came to see you, didn’t she? We’re sorry for taking up your time.”

The team leader patted my back and put a cigarette in his mouth.

I sighed as I walked in, and Seo Yerin was already seated next to me, greeting the others.

“Yerin and Woojin, could it be…?”

Chief Jung asked with expectant eyes.

Seo Yerin beamed and linked her arm with mine.

“Yes! We’re dating! I’m Woojin’s girlfriend!”

“Wow!”

“So fresh.”

“Looks good. A perfect couple.”

“If I had a girlfriend like that in college, I would have had no other wishes!”

The atmosphere of the gathering, which had been warming up, heated up again with Seo Yerin’s arrival.

“When did you two start dating?”

“During the winter break of our first year!”

Are we going with that?

Back then, I was still at Gold One.

“Woojin, what do you like most about her?”

“I like how she pretends not to care but still looks out for me, her slightly silly side, and how she accepts whatever I do!”

“Wow, so fresh! Such a beautiful love!”

“Stay together for a long time. Really, stay together for a long time.”

“Wow, I remember when my wife and I were like that.”

“Mr. Choi, you complain about your wife every day.”

The conversation itself wasn’t a problem.

She knows how to choose the right time and place.

‘We can get through this.’

The drinking party grew even hotter as she revealed she was an actress.

Now, Seo Yerin was completely the center of attention, answering questions as they came.

“Here they are.”

“Oh, there they are.”

Two familiar women walked in as the door opened.

Choi Iseo and Yoo Arin.

I was startled and looked at Seo Yerin, who gave a sly smile.

I definitely told them to leave earlier.

Why did they come all the way here?

“Hey, Kim Woo- huh?”

“……What’s going on?”

Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo look at us in confusion. It seems they didn’t know we were having a company dinner.

The team members are just as bewildered.

When they were wondering who the two sudden visitors were, Seo Ye-rin answered.

“Sorry! I was supposed to meet my friends nearby!”

“Oh, oh! I see!”

“So, they are Ye-rin’s friends.”

“Wow, your friends are all beauties. Are they also actors by any chance?”

The team members, while making a fuss, seem disappointed.

They probably thought Seo Ye-rin would leave since her friends arrived.

“Oh, sorry guys. Our Woo-jin is in the middle of a company dinner.”

“……Our?”

Choi I-seo’s brows furrowed, sensing something off. She was trying to grasp the situation.

“Are you also close with these two, Woo-jin?”

Employee Kim asked a very appropriate, dog-like question.

If I were the boss, I would have docked his pay for that.

“Yes?”

“They’re your girlfriend’s friends, right? Are you close with them?”

Finally.

I realized why Seo Ye-rin had called the two of them.

And then, I felt as if nine tails had sprouted behind her back.

Seo Ye-rin quickly linked her arm with mine and said.

“Oh, of course! We’re close with Woo-jin too! They helped a lot when we were flirting since we’re in the same department! Right?”

“Huh, interesting?”

“Look at that girl?”

A mocking laugh and a cold voice.

Right now, at this company dinner, my girlfriend is Seo Ye-rin.

So, what about the remaining two?

I can’t reveal that they’re also girlfriends.

“Yes, I’m just a friend of Woojin. My name is Choi Iseo.”

“I’m Yoo Arin, from the same English department.”

Squeeze!

The hands of the two women press down on my shoulders from both sides.

‘Mom…’

I felt like I was about to cry out of fear, but I pretended to drink to wipe away the tears.