Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 398



In the Middle of Organizing

“Why again.”

I responded curtly to the call from my eldest brother.

Now that I knew the kids’ pregnancies were a lie, I was avoiding contact with the family as much as possible.

If my father found out that the three weren’t pregnant, I had no idea how things would turn out.

Of course, I know that my father is not the type to go back on his word.

But still, you never know.

I didn’t want to waste the hard-earned permission I had received.

– What are you doing?

“What is it, all of a sudden? Why are you asking?”

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– Hoo, I was just asking how you’ve been.

“So why are you asking all of a sudden?”

It’s not like you to do that.

If there’s no contact, we understand that we’re doing well, right?

– I’m asking because you’re going to the army soon.

“Ah, damn.”

It wasn’t my big brother’s fault, but I snapped at him anyway. He didn’t really say anything about it.

“I’m busy. It’s finals period. We’re quite busy too.”

– How’s your studying?

“What, are you Dad? Why do you care about my grades? I’m going to the army soon, do you think I’m studying hard?”

I’m just looking at the notes that Lee Seo organized for me. Even if I tell him he doesn’t have to, he stubbornly hands them to me.

I haven’t even enlisted yet, but thinking about life after discharge doesn’t feel real.

– Yeah, I understand that feeling.

“Did you feel like this when you were going? Did you feel down and stuff?”

– I didn’t show it like you do. If I did, Dad would be disappointed.

“I’m glad you’re a filial son.”

When I honestly complimented him with a smile, he seemed embarrassed and let out an awkward laugh.

“Thanks to you, I don’t feel too guilty about driving a nail into Dad’s heart.”

– Feel a little guilty.

It wasn’t a compliment, and my big brother sighed and got to the point.

– Dad is retiring now. He can’t stay in that position anymore due to health reasons.

Even though I’m going to the army, I didn’t think he called just to ask how I’ve been.

“Yeah, is he very sick?”

– Not that much. It feels more like he’s stepping down a bit forcefully to pass the position to me quickly.

“He’s faking it.”

There was no suitable rebuttal, so my brother pretended not to hear and let it pass.

– So now, Father is organizing things in various ways. He says the universe he led and the one I will lead will be different.

“Father?”

– Yes, Father.

My brother’s voice was light as he spoke.

There was a strangely excited atmosphere.

It wasn’t that he was happy the Universe Group would be his, but that Father acknowledged him.

“Huh, he really seems to have changed.”

– Yes, it seems so.

Father, who intended to hand over the company to the son who resembled him the most, acknowledged my older brother’s unique way of doing things.

Father, who was stubborn, must have experienced a significant change.

– If suddenly three daughters-in-law increase, wouldn’t anyone’s view on life be shaken?

“…….”

– I was surprised too.

“Oh, so the eldest sister-in-law contacted me.”

– What?

“She said if I made you have strange ideas, she’d kill me. She said she worked hard to win you over, and if you learned from me and brought other women, it would be the end.”

– ……She wouldn’t do that.

“Right? I thought so too. She has that intellectual career woman vibe. But it seems she felt a sense of crisis.”

She doesn’t hesitate to criticize my brother.

“It’s your problem. You need to properly say you love her. Like I do.”

– This is my problem? Not yours for creating this situation?

“Ahem, can I hang up?”

Knowing that continuing the conversation would be disadvantageous to me, I tried to end it.

My brother added as a final note.

– Come down to the main house with the kids. They want to see you.

“Father? Or Mother?”

– Both.

“I’m not going to get hit, am I?”

– Mother has recently started doing 108 prostrations.

“Mom, you’re not even religious.”

– She says she’s practicing kneeling to apologize to her daughters-in-law.

“…You’re joking, right?”

– Go see for yourself.

“Sigh.”

I really want to stop dragging this out, so I roughly summarize the conversation.

“Alright. I’ll take the kids and visit sometime.”

Honestly, I don’t want to go.

First, I need to reveal that the kids aren’t actually pregnant.

‘But they’ll eventually find out while I’m in the army.’

In that case, it might be better to just go together and settle it once and for all.

I need to make sure they can’t do anything while I’m gone.

– Woojin, you did this when you went to the army. And now that your father is retiring, it’s the same.

“Huh?”

– When you leave, you need to clean up after yourself.

“……”

– I believe you’ll do well.

Click.

My older brother hung up the phone.

I felt a strange sensation.

As I sat there blankly, my thoughts naturally began to organize themselves in my head.

About the things I need to do.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The ringing phone interrupted my flow. I wasn’t too disappointed.

– Choi Iseo –

I quickly answered the call.

“Hey, Iseo.”

– You’ve been on the phone for a long time.

“Ah, I was talking to my older brother.”

– Ah, so where are you now?

“Me? I’m in the dormitory. I was going to study at the library, but there were too many people, so I just came back.”

Even though I know there will be a lot of people during exam period, I still go to the library once in a while.

I didn’t actually study, but I tried. The environment just didn’t cooperate, making me feel like I couldn’t do it.

– You weren’t studying, huh? That’s great.

“Great?”

I wondered what he meant out of the blue, but Lee Seo said with a smile.

– Let’s go out.

* * *

It didn’t take long to meet Lee Seo.

Because he was waiting right in front of the dormitory.

With two other people, no less.

“Woojin-ah!”

Seo Yerin came running and hugged me.

I hugged her back, but Yoo Arin came up and pulled her away.

“Hey, hey! What are you doing! Other people are watching!”

A few people passing by glanced at us.

Anyway, we were somewhat known, so we had to refrain from showing affection in public.

“Go out? It’s exam period right now.”

I asked in confusion, and Yoo Arin pointed at Choi Lee Seo.

Choi Lee Seo was standing in front of an electric bicycle he had borrowed from somewhere, with a luggage compartment at the back.

“Let’s go camping, Woojin-ah. It was on your bucket list, right?”

“Camping? We did plan to go, but you mean now?”

I didn’t have any other plans or appointments. In fact, I was happy to spend time with the kids now.

But isn’t this too sudden?

And there’s only one bicycle.

No matter how much we squeeze, four of us can’t go on that.

“Wait. I’ll just call the security team.”

They used to take me to and from work at Wooju Global, so we’ll get to the glamping site quickly.

“No, no, today it’s just you two going.”

“Yeah, that’s right, Woojin!”

At Yua-rin and Seo Ye-rin’s outburst, I stare at them blankly for a moment.

When I ask if they’re serious, Yua-rin flips me the bird and shouts,

“So, yeah, have a good trip!”

“Arin-ah, you’re swearing right now.”

“That’s what I really mean. Fuck, may it rain on those shitty b*stards.”

“……Why are you swearing at me too?”

As I stand there, confused, trying to figure out the situation, Seo Ye-rin steps in to sort things out.

“Arin and I, it’s… you know, that time of the month!”

“You shitty b*tch! Why lie about *that* specifically!”

Yeah, there’s no way Ye-rin has any ability to sort out situations.

“Haa, Seo Ye-rin and I, we’re… uh, what was it… Ah, right. We’re meeting up with some high school friends.”

“That sounds like a blatant lie?”

As I stare intently, Yua-rin’s face scrunches up and she starts to think of another excuse.

Then.

“Fuck it, just go.”

She gives up, throws up a double middle finger and mumbles.

“Because today is the day Yiseo prepared everything! Glamping, food, bikes, and even Woojin! So we’re sending you two off!”

“She prepared *all* of that? No, why? Just tell me. Where does a college student get that kind of money?”

“I work a part-time job, too? And you’re a college student too.”

But I’m a little different, aren’t I.

But I don’t think they’ll be convinced with just that reason.

“Haa, it’s because you’re going to the military. We talked a bit amongst ourselves. Decided to spend some time apart.”

“For the record, I refused! Woojin only looks at me anyway!”

Seo Ye-rin gives a thumbs-up.

When I ask why she isn’t going with us, her expression rapidly darkens.

“A stranger came to my mom and told her to stop my daughter from being an actress.”

Huh?

“What are you talking about?”

I ask, seeing it looks serious, but Seo Ye-rin just mumbles with dead eyes.

“My daughter is pregnant, so don’t force her to act. Even the agency mentioned it, so she’s going to the hospital today.”

“……”

Is this something I can just play around with Lee Seo?

I think the people who don’t know are probably sent by my father.

It must have been hard to see my daughter-in-law working while pregnant.

“I, I’ll go with you.”

“Will you? I’ve roughly thought about what to say when we get there.”

What to say?

“I’m going to lie and say it was a phantom pregnancy.”

I definitely shouldn’t go if it’s like this.

At that moment, Yoo Ah-rin smacks Seo Ye-rin on the back of the head and starts cursing.

“I wondered how far this b*tch would go with her novel. She’s doing everything she can to make sure I can’t go!”

“Etkyung!”

Seo Ye-rin sticks out her tongue and laughs.

“Was it a lie?”

“About half? The agency is subtly worried about my health, and they don’t want to take my schedule for next quarter. They even booked the hospital for me.”

“Ah.”

Since YS has ties with our family, I think my mother might have put some pressure on them.

“So don’t go, Woo Jin-ah.”

Seo Ye-rin grabs me.

As I’m wondering what to do, Yoo Ah-rin steps in before me.

Squeeze!

Yoo Ah-rin puts a chokehold on Seo Ye-rin’s neck.

From what I learned from senior Joo-hee, it’s quite skillful.

“Kkiek?!”

“Hey, I’ve got this b*tch, so go quickly!”

“Let go! Woo Jin-ah! Don’t go!”

“Ugh, you said you understood earlier!”

“I don’t want to! Seeing it in person, I don’t want to! Woo Jin-ah!”

“Just tell her to go with you and come back safely!”

“Rain, come! Pour down and drench us completely!”

“Is she crazy?! I hope her bicycle tire gets a flat!”

Why am I suddenly joining in on cursing while scolding Seo Yerin?

“Screw it! I hope the glamping site is ruined when you get there!”

“Kim Woojin, I hope you suddenly get erectile dysfunction!”

“While grilling meat, I hope you eat garlic and can’t kiss!”

“I hope Choi Iseo makes you study!”

Both of them are flipping us off and cursing us out.

But watching that, Choi Iseo is blushing like a bride being sent off on her honeymoon.

“Let’s go, Woojin.”

“Uh, yeah.”

You’ve gotten stronger, Iseo.

Not even fazed by those curses.

“Screw it, just wait until next time! I’m going to spend time at an insanely awesome place!”

“When you’re with me, you don’t need to pack clothes, Woojin! Because you won’t be wearing any!”

Receiving their intense support, we get on the bicycle.

“Huh?”

“Hmm?”

We both reach for the handle, looking at each other.

“No, Iseo. I’m the guy, so I should drive. You sit in the back.”

“I’m stronger and have more stamina than you.”

“Iseo, but I’m still a guy. And I’ve been working out, so I’m not weak anymore.”

Choi Iseo slyly extends her hand.

Is she challenging me to an arm-wrestling match?

“Ha, I don’t want to use my strength.”

Even though I don’t like using my strength against my girlfriend, I can’t just sit in the back like a wimp.

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“aaah! aaah! It hurts! Iseo, it hurts!”

What is this girl?

Is she a Super Saiyan?

Choi Iseo lets go of my hand and looks at me smugly.

I hesitated for a moment, then slowly sat in the back seat and shouted.

“Sister Dalryeong!”