Bamboo Forest Manager

Meeting Choi Yiseo unexpectedly was more delightful, joyful, and beautiful than I had imagined.

Yes, was it because it had been so long since we last saw each other?

Her hair had grown slightly, and that just made her exude an even more sophisticated charm than before.

“How did you come here?”

It would have been nice to have a place to talk privately, but since we were surrounded by mountains, we just walked along the path.

“Hmm, I took the bus.”

She answered playfully with a small laugh.

Seeing her breath puff out in the cold air, I couldn’t help but smile slightly.

“No, I meant how did you know I was here.”

“Ah, I see.”

If that was the case, wouldn’t it have been easier to talk to Seo Yerin or Yu Arin instead?

Choi Yiseo didn’t bother to explain in detail, and I didn’t pry either.

Since we met anyway, what does it matter.

“When’s the concert again?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“…Good thing it’s a day off. What would you have done if it wasn’t?”

It seemed unlike Choi Yiseo to come here so unplanned.

She glanced at me and then replied with a slight smile.

“Then I’d just come to see you.”

“……”

I was at a loss for words without realizing it.

The gentle smile, as if that was enough, held a kindness directed at me.

“What have you been up to?”

“Ah, um… I’ll tell you later.”

“Huh?”

I had heard she had something to do during winter break. Yoon-ji had contacted her for help before.

‘Is it related to Yoon-ji?’

Because it’s Choi Yiseo.

Believing that there must be a reason for hiding it, I didn’t press further.

“What about you? Is it hard working here?”

“Don’t even mention it. Do you know what happened this time…?”

I started explaining to her, step by step, about the things that happened at Gold One, while smiling.

Since so many things happened here, the stories were endless, and Choi Yiseo occasionally smiled, maintaining a decent atmosphere.

Before I knew it, we arrived at the Building C Hotel.

“Are you using this as your lodging?”

I nodded with a smile at Choi Yiseo, who asked in surprise.

“Yeah, they said there weren’t enough staff lodgings, so they gave us this. Thanks to that, I’m living comfortably.”

“Wow.”

“Did you make a reservation for a place to stay? It’s peak season now, so it must be hard to book.”

“Oh, there’s a motel nearby, so I’m booked there. As you said, Gold One is quite expensive.”

“Hmm.”

I don’t think it’s particularly bad.

Still, the thought that one might never know crossed my mind.

This city is teeming with thugs and gangsters.

It was a place where trouble could easily arise, so I was worried about Choi Yiseo.

But I couldn’t just tell her to stay at our place…

“Ah!”

Then, I remembered Yu Arin’s keycard.

There was a room that my sister-in-law had left, so I thought I could give it to Choi Yiseo.

“Come on. There’s a spare room here.”

I took Choi Yiseo, who seemed reluctant to leave, into the hotel.

“A spare room?”

I grabbed Choi Yiseo’s wrist and led her, as she questioned me.

There was a rule that men couldn’t go into the girls’ rooms, but just talking for a bit should be fine.

We quickly arrived and met Yu Arin.

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“No.”

Yu Arin, with her arms crossed, retorted to me, pouting. Her casual attire gave her a different feel, but I had no time to pay attention to that.

“That was given to me. For us to use.”

As Yu Arin blatantly pointed at me and declared, I couldn’t help but feel my hair stand on end.

“……”

However, Choi Yiseo, standing behind me, responded without much change in expression.

“Alright, don’t make a fuss. I have a reservation somewhere anyway, so I’ll just stay there.”

‘Hmm?’

It wasn’t like the usual Choi Yiseo.

Normally, I would have expected her to make a remark and push forward in situations like this, but today she was just letting it pass calmly.

I should have felt it was lenient or that she had matured.

But today, it strongly felt like she was holding back.

In a somewhat twisted manner.

Nonetheless, Yu Arin was resolute.

“I can’t give you the room. Instead… stay in our room. I’ll let my roommates know, so it should be fine. You’re only staying for a couple of days anyway.”

An unexpected counteroffer.

It was possible because all the roommates were close friends.

But looking back, I wondered if Choi Yiseo might feel uncomfortable.

“Sure, let’s do that.”

Rather, Choi Yiseo seemed pleased and walked past me into the room.

I stared blankly at the two people who suddenly had to live together.

“Then, Woojin. I’ll contact you later.”

“Yeah, sure. Let me know if Yu Arin bothers you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Choi Yiseo went inside just like that.

Before Yu Arin closed the door, I asked about something that had been bothering me.

“By the way, didn’t you make some sort of promise with Seo Yerin?”

“None of your business!”

With a curt tongue-out, Yu Arin shut the door.

It was a bewildering situation, but thinking that at least things were somewhat settled, I returned to my dorm.

Kim Woojin left.

Yu Arin, who let Choi Yiseo into the room, was unexpectedly nervous.

Hadn’t she basically declared that she would steal a man who was about to get along with another woman?

For her, it was a meaningful moment of breaking out of her shell, but from Choi Yiseo’s perspective, it was just cheating.

It seemed to be nothing more and nothing less.

‘I feel a bit sorry seeing her in person.’

Resolving her feelings for Kim Woojin and dealing with Choi Yiseo were somewhat different issues.

Choi Yiseo briefly greeted the people inside.

No one really disliked her, and for some reason, even Se-ah apologized to Choi Yiseo, but it was brushed off for now.

“Tada! Here’s where Yiseo will sleep!”

Especially since Seo Yerin was quite close with Choi Yiseo, she gladly welcomed her and even made a spot for her to sleep next to her.

Is that boldness or just thoughtlessness?

Regardless of Yu Arin’s complicated feelings, the three ended up sleeping together.

After a simple dinner, they spent time chatting, and before they knew it, it was already 9 PM.

It was time to start preparing for bed to go to work tomorrow.

‘Come to think of it, I missed my chance today.’

While brushing her teeth, Yu Arin remembered what she had forgotten due to the unexpected guest.

She had planned to have a spicy talk with Seo Yerin today, but it became impossible with Choi Yiseo sharing the same room.

“Spit.”

Is this for the better?

Leaving only a strange feeling behind, Yu Arin finished brushing her teeth and entered the room.

Inside, Seo Yerin and Choi Yiseo were chattering away.

‘They’re impressive.’

They were talking casually, knowing exactly what kind of relationship they had, without needing to discuss it further.

Even…

“So, that time Woojin suddenly claimed he could push five carts at once!”

They were in the middle of talking about Kim Woojin.

“We all told him not to do it, right? But in the end, he spilled all the carts and got scolded.”

‘Ah, that time.’

It was when Kim Woojin was showing off to Seo Yerin who had come to visit.

Thanks to that, they had a hard time cleaning up afterward.

“Arin! Come here too!”

Seo Yerin patted the seat next to her, calling out to Yu Arin who had entered the room.

‘She’s really…’

If she’s like that, isn’t she not socially adept but just dumb?

Thinking that inwardly, Yu Arin sat next to her to avoid any awkwardness.

Three people sitting in a circle on the bedding, facing each other.

Seo Yerin tried to say something, but Choi Yiseo spoke first.

“I came here to watch the concert with Woojin.”

“I heard! It’s the UI concert, right? I’m so jealous.”

“How did you manage to get the tickets?”

Seo Yerin, envious, and Yu Arin, pouting.

Choi Yiseo, looking back and forth between the two, takes a breath. It seems she had something to say, but judging by the shadow on her face, it wasn’t good news.

“Do you guys…like Woojin?”

“Can we get to the point?”

Before Seo Yerin, who was about to answer, Yu Arin quickly waved her hand, changing the subject.

She didn’t want to waste time on an obvious answer, nor did she feel like confessing such things in front of Choi Yiseo.

Choi Yiseo, seemingly not considering it important, just moved on and continued speaking.

“I worked with Yoon-ji during the winter break.”

Oh Yoon-ji.

There wasn’t anyone here who didn’t know her name. A girl who had taken a leave of absence in the first semester and whom they’d seen only a handful of times.

Kim Woojin’s ex-girlfriend.

“There seemed to be some misunderstanding between Yoon-ji and Woojin… There was something like a letter that Yoon-ji left behind, but it never reached Woojin.”

“A letter?”

Yu Arin thought that it must be much more heartfelt than leaving a message on a cellphone.

“So, Yoon-ji said she talked to Woojin and that they would try to make things work again. She also said she was working with Woojin’s second brother because of Woojin.”

At those words, Yu Arin scratched her cheek and interjected.

“Vice Chairman, no…I also heard from Kim Woojin’s eldest brother. Oh Yoon-ji might return to school. She’s working because of Kim Woojin.”

Thinking of Vice Chairman Kim Jae-woon, who had visited her during her shift early that morning, she spoke.

“Huh?”

Seo Yerin, looking back and forth between the two, felt like she was the only one left in the dark.

But postponing the explanation, Choi Yiseo continued speaking.

“I’m Yoon-ji’s friend, so…I got to know the whole story between the two. I’m scared to approach recklessly.”

Choi Yiseo didn’t seem to like the idea of competing with her friend for a man her friend used to date.

Especially since she found out that they didn’t just break up, but it was due to some misunderstanding, it seemed to weigh even more heavily on her mind.

Moreover, Kim Woojin hadn’t completely let go of his feelings for Oh Yoon-ji yet.

“If they clear up the misunderstanding, they’ll get back together. I wanted you to know in advance.”

Kim Woojin had plans to attend the concert, but she came here personally to deliver this message to Seo Yerin and Yu Arin.

Yu Arin, who only now realized this, was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Then, about going to the concert…”

“……”

She kept her lips tightly sealed, but no answer came out.

However, there was no one here who didn’t know the answer.

Choi Yiseo, in her own way, needed time to sort out her feelings.

Leaving Seo Yerin, who was deeply contemplating something, alone.

“Hey.”

Yu Arin, with a much more relaxed expression, smiled brightly and spoke to Choi Yiseo.

“Got rid of one.”

“……”

“You might have been friends with Oh Yoon-ji, but I barely even remember her face. I don’t see any reason to hold back because of her.”

“Kim Woojin still has feelings for Yoon-ji, you know. Last time he got drunk and even called her. I heard the recording.”

“I don’t know what you heard, but okay. I’ll be lovey-dovey with Kim Woojin, so stay out of it.”

“……”

Choi Yiseo, who had been wearing a complicated expression since arriving here today.

Her face, which had been as gray as storm clouds, seemed to have gained a bit of color.

Though she was still frowning.

“What does it matter what that bastard feels for Oh Yoon-ji? I’ve already braced myself for getting involved here.”

‘It’s no big deal if the number of enemies increases here.

Of course, I’ll beat the crap out of Kim Woojin.’

“Right, Yerin?”

Seo Yerin, who had finished contemplating, smiled brightly and shouted when Arin requested support from her, who was in the same position as her this time.

“Then get pregnant!”

“That girl has no sense!”

Yu Arin immediately threw a pillow to cover Seo Yerin’s face. Choi Yiseo stared blankly at Seo Yerin.

“Ugh! S-save me!”

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

After hitting Seo Yerin a few more times with the pillow, Yu Arin returned to her original spot, panting.

“Hic, only Woojin can get on top of me.”

Seo Yerin, who had been lying down and sobbing playfully, sprang back up.

“But I might already have one, so I just said it.”

As she spoke while stroking her belly, both of their gazes simultaneously turned back to Seo Yerin.

“What?”

“You, you! Didn’t you use anything?”

In response to their questions, Seo Yerin made a V sign and smiled.

“What are you going to do!”

“You know your life could get seriously messed up?!”

At their urgent shouts, Seo Yerin stared blankly at them, then let out a nasal sound with a victorious smile.

“Ahaha, I guess I’m the only one who did it raw?”

“……”

“……”

“Oh come on, I didn’t think Woojin would do that.”

“Grab her.”

As Yu Arin lunged again, this time Choi Yiseo, unable to hold back, joined in.

A few minutes later…

When Seo Yerin’s delicate screams and tears soaked the blanket, the two finally stopped.

“Jealousy of a woman…”

Looking down at Seo Yerin, who had collapsed as if leaving her last words, the two caught their breath.

Then their eyes met, and Yu Arin asked with a sneer.

“See? In the end, you’re the same.”

“……”

“Jealous like this, what are you trying to give up on?”

She wasn’t wrong.

Just hearing this made her want to run to Kim Woojin right away.

“It’s not jealousy.”

But Choi Yiseo pouted and crossed her arms, denying it. If she didn’t deny it, she felt her conscience would be pricked.

“Oh? It’s not jealousy?”

Yu Arin pulled her pajama top aside to reveal her shoulder to Choi Yiseo.

There was a red mark.

“Look, Kim Woojin left this mark last time.”

“…!”

“He was so rough. It was hard to keep up with him. But he likes it, so whatever.”

“Ah, is this a naughty story?”

Seo Yerin, who had been lying down, immediately got up and started explaining her own experience.

It was a night when Choi Yiseo’s face, once dark with worry and grayness, gradually turned red.

The next day.

After work, I came straight to meet Choi Yiseo.

“Oh!”

“This! This! Crazy person!”

There was a woman who suddenly started punching.