Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 361



Chicken and Pickled Radish

Today, the atmosphere in the digital marketing team was serious and heavy.

The day of the decisive battle.

Everyone was reviewing documents with the mindset of soldiers before a battlefield.

But their gazes were directed elsewhere.

‘What’s up with him today?’

‘Didn’t he go home yesterday?’

‘Judging by his clothes, it looks like he came back to the office after the company dinner.’

Even the team members who had resolved to come early were watching Kim Woo-jin cautiously.

Already on his third can of energy drink.

His drooping eyes contained a madness born from helplessness, and everything in the world seemed to displease him.

“Hello, I’m Lee Chul-woo from Sales Team 1- Huh!?”

Since Kim Woo-jin’s desk was near the entrance, people from other departments who came for today’s meeting were startled every time they saw him.

“Yes, thank you.”

Kim’s colleague, Lee’s friend, received the documents with a smile. Everyone in the company already knew about Kim Woo-jin, so they wanted to ask why he was like that.

“……”

“Um? Do you have anything else to give?”

But they just watched cautiously and didn’t ask, returning to their seats.

Click.

The door closed, and Deputy Oh stretched and clicked his tongue.

“How many teams have come already? Your colleagues are busy today?”

“Haha, reconnaissance is a worker’s job.”

As Kim’s colleague said.

The reason they came in person instead of sending the documents by email or fax.

It was to scout the atmosphere of the digital marketing team in advance.

The first forced collaboration request from the digital marketing team.

Manager Yoon sent the employees to get a rough idea of how things were being prepared.

But what the employees encountered was an owner who looked extremely displeased.

The red suit that stood out even more today seemed to represent his anger.

The employees who scouted the digital marketing team had no choice but to describe the ominous atmosphere of Kim Woo-jin.

* * *

“Understood.”

“It’s possible.”

“It’s not difficult.”

“Give me a little time and I’ll try.”

“Don’t worry.”

These were the answers the digital marketing team heard at today’s meeting.

Originally, it would have been right to coordinate opinions, engage in psychological warfare, or clash each other’s logic.

Like a castle with its gates wide open, all the other teams responded positively to the digital marketing team’s requests.

Although the digital marketing team’s logic was solid from the start, all the answers came out while glancing at the young man in the red suit sitting at the far end.

‘He’s wearing the same clothes as yesterday?’

‘I saw on his time card that he came in really early.’

‘Is he putting that much effort for Manager Yoon?’

‘Why is he working so hard?!’

Office workers don’t express everything in words. You had to be perceptive, and that was basic, inferred from people’s trivial actions or attire.

The same red suit as yesterday.

Energy drink cans scattered around the desk.

Slumped shoulders and the documents handed over promptly when Manager Yoon requested them.

To the other team leaders, it seemed like Kim Woo-jin had come in early and worked hard today for this.

In reality.

‘Damn, my groin hurts so much.’

Kim Woo-jin sighed with his eyes tightly closed, expressing a different concern.

His groin really hurt.

It was so sore that he wanted to apply some kind of ointment.

Especially in the bathroom, it was really tough.

Kim Woo-jin was feeling a similar kind of pain that women who complained about their legs and back hurting because of him might have felt.

“It ended too easily.”

The other teams left, and the digital marketing team, who had gained a lot today, was tidying up the meeting room.

“Hahaha! Isn’t that great?! We can finally get to work!”

Oh, the Deputy Manager’s shout, filled with excitement, made Team Leader Yoon nod in agreement, not looking too displeased.

“But we have to nail this one. This is really our last chance, isn’t it, Team Leader?”

“Deputy Manager Choi is right. If we mess this up, we really won’t have any more chances.”

Deputy Manager Choi, the calm second-in-command, reined in the overly excited digital marketing team, yet.

A smile played on Choi’s own lips as he spoke.

That’s how much the digital marketing team had been suffering, and how full of anticipation they were for this quarter’s work.

“…….”

Watching them, Kim Woo-jin felt some of the heavy fatigue that had been clinging to him finally start to lift.

The fact that these people were so happy just because he’d lent his name, someone with no real abilities, wasn’t so bad.

“So, are we having another company dinner tonight?”

“Haha! Shall we just grab a quick drink?”

Team Leader Yoon nodded, smiling.

But Kim Woo-jin’s expression instantly crumbled, and he shook his head.

“I’ll pass.”

* * *

“Ugh, I’m dead…hhaaa.”

I clocked out and collapsed straight onto my dorm room bed.

I’d taken a nap during lunch so I hadn’t put anything in my mouth all day, but getting rid of the fatigue was more important than being hungry.

I want to shower.

I want to eat.

I want to sleep.

Why can’t I do all three at the same time?

Muttering to myself, I squirmed on the bed, changing my clothes.

‘Okay, let’s just sleep and think about it later.’

I hadn’t slept properly for two whole days, all because I’d been having s*x and going to work, drinking and having s*x again, and going to work again.

‘Thinking about it like that, I’m really like a piece of trash.’

While continuing to lightly scold myself, I fell asleep.

“Ughhhm.”

When I opened my eyes again, a sense of listlessness washed over me, instead of any feeling of freshness.

The room was so dark I couldn’t see a thing, no idea how long I’d slept.

“Ugh, whatever.”

Still tired.

I closed my eyes to try and sleep again, but then felt a strange sensation in my arms.

‘What’s this.’

I slowly opened my eyes.

So dark I couldn’t even see right in front of me.

I fumbled around, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Soft, cozy, and warm.

Even with my head still foggy, I naturally guessed who it was.

“Yerim-ah, I’m too tired today. Just let me hold you and sleep—”

I figured Seo Yerim, who watched that live s*x broadcast on her phone yesterday, couldn’t hold back and scurried into my room again today.

‘Wait, this smells different?’

It wasn’t Seo Yerim’s scent.

Not only that, but the fullness of Seo Yerim that always felt like she was pressing on my chest was somewhat lacking.

The scent was definitely familiar though.

Just not in a particularly welcome way.

It was a scent that used to be a kind of trauma for me.

The faint rose scent you only find in high-end shampoos.

My eyes started to adjust to the darkness.

There, nestled in my arms, was Oh Yoonji, staring blankly up at me.

“Why are you here?”

I asked politely, and Oh Yoonji answered lightly without much thought.

“I was a little late because of homework. I was too lazy to go home, so I thought I’d sleep over.”

“Do you think that makes any sense?”

“Whatever, let’s just sleep. I’m so tired.”

“I’m tired too. I just woke up because of you.”

I threw off the blanket and got out of bed.

Looks like I had been holding her while I slept, I was a little sweaty from the heat.

“You shouldn’t go around hugging people while they’re sleeping.”

I warned her, but Oh Yoonji just snorted and retorted,

“You’re the one who suddenly hugged me when I was just sitting on the bed, right?”

“…Don’t lie.”

“It’s true.”

Looking at Oh Yoonji still lying on the bed, I felt a slightly chilling sensation.

Considering her personality, when she’s this confident, it usually means she’s not lying.

“Ahem, well, there’s nothing I can do about it while I’m asleep.”

It’s not like I did it on purpose.

I grab my underwear and clothes to change into first. I’ve wanted to shower ever since leaving work, but now I *really* can’t stand it.

“You, disappear by the time I get out of the shower.”

I warned her sternly, and Oh Yoonji, sitting cross-legged on the bed, said,

“Can’t you wear something other than those panties? The color is too drab, I don’t like it.”

“What business is it of yours what color my underwear is?”

“You never know. I might be the one who takes them off.”

“……”

“Or I’ll close my eyes, so you can pick something else to wear. It’ll make it exciting to see what you’re wearing when I take them off.”

“Get lost, ex-girlfriend.”

“It could be said to be the most heart-stirring words for a man. First love and ex-girlfriend.”

I flinched, my body shivering.

Oh Yoonji grinned and rested her chin on her hand.

“Unintentionally, I ended up having both of yours, huh?”

“No, my first love is Uehara A*.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Hurry up and take a shower.”

“Tch.”

I grumbled and went into the bathroom.

It was humid inside; it seemed Oh Yoonji had already showered.

“Haa…”

I don’t know how long it’s been since it’s just been the two of us in a room like this.

I told her to get out, but by the looks of it, she’s not going anywhere.

‘What am I supposed to do with this?’

Yeah, but kicking her out now feels too late.

With Oh Yoonji, I always struggled to be firm.

Like she said.

First love and, you know, ex-girlfriend.

‘Not doing anything is the default, right?’

Besides, the lower half of my body still hasn’t fully come back online.

From noble mtl dot com

It’s recovered, but not in its prime, not yet.

In this state, I didn’t have to worry about my s*x drive kicking in.

After a quick wash, I go out and there she is, still on my bed, Oh Yoonji.

Just in red underwear, looking at her phone, it suddenly brought back memories of freshman year summer break.

She was like that, on my mattress, all the time.

Anyway, that’s beside the point.

“Why didn’t you leave?”

I ask, drying my hair with a towel, and she just smirks, replying,

“What am I gonna do out there now? It could be dangerous.”

“Our country is super safe, what are you talking about?”

“It’s dawn! Seriously, you were just gonna send me out like that?”

“……”

“I won’t touch you. Don’t worry so much, just rest. You looked tired.”

“Huh?”

How did she know?

She knows I work at a company, but not what I’ve been up to these past few days?

“You talk in your sleep when you’re really tired, you know? I could tell you were pretty worn out.”

“Ahem.”

“You probably hungry, so I’m gonna order something. You want anything?”

I’m pretty much an expert at late night eats now.

‘Still, this is a bit awkward.’

Even if nothing happened, spending the night in the same room with Oh Yoonji won’t look good to the guys.

I’m still trying to figure out what to do when…

Knock knock.

“Woojin Siiiii.”

Choi Jina’s voice echoed from outside the door.

Startled, Oh Yoonji looked at me, but I was already opening the door.

“Why are you here again?”

“Please, please hide me for a moment.”

“What?”

I noticed she was holding a black bag, and a savory aroma was wafting from it.

‘Ah, perfect timing.’

I stepped aside to let her in, and Choi Jina entered.

“Hello?”

“Uh…”

She came in nervously, then hesitated when she saw Oh Yoonji, before giving me a piece of advice.

“Stop eating late-night snacks.”

“…”

“I, I’ll leave. I shouldn’t be here.”

Choi Jina, preferring to go outside and eat alone.

But I blocked the entrance and shook my head.

“No, you have to stay here tonight.”

“…What?”

Choi Jina’s eyes trembled as she dropped the black bag.