Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 309



Accomplices

“Ahem.”

Having come out for breakfast, I forced a piece of food onto my fork and shoved it into my mouth.

I was hungry, yes, but more than that, I wanted to silence myself with food.

That way, I could avoid answering.

The sharp gazes of the three sitting before me pierced through the air.

Fortunately, the last remaining person, Choi Jin-ah, was eating without much interest, which was a relief.

“This is delicious, isn’t it? I didn’t try it yesterday.”

“…….”

“If you have a shrimp allergy, I guess they’ll leave out the shrimp. Usually, buffets don’t offer such services.”

“…….”

“I noticed that some dishes you usually have to order separately were available at the buffet. Make sure to try that today.”

“…….”

“Phew.”

Perhaps tired of trying to lighten the mood, Choi Jin-ah let out a deep sigh.

—

—

Then, she too, in the end, looked at me with a face twisted in sorrow.

In the midst of her resentful gaze, urging me to untangle this situation, I forced food into my mouth.

“Didn’t someone say that?”

At that moment, Choi I-seo, resting her chin on her hand, let slip a remark.

“That you only love the three of us.”

“Cough! Cough!”

Even as I choked on my food, pounding my chest, no one paid me any mind.

In the past, someone would have immediately offered me water or patted my back.

If Joo-hee and Yoo Ah-rin were here, would they have taken my side?

But both lay sprawled in my room like defeated soldiers, deep in slumber.

Truth be told, I wanted to sleep too, but Seo Ye-rin had called me out, dragging me from the comfort of my dreams.

“No… my feelings remain unchanged.”

I tried to explain that I had been swept away by the atmosphere yesterday, but really, what did that matter?

In the end, it was the fact that I had crossed that line that felt like garbage.

I had felt relieved knowing it was a lie that I had been with Joo-hee.

Yet, on that very day, I had actually been with Joo-hee.

‘Is there any chance they sell a gun here?’

For the first time, I wanted to blow my own head off.

“This is what it feels like to be NTR’d. Is this what it is? It’s dirtier than I thought…”

At that moment, Oh Yoon-ji muttered with a blank expression. The truth was, I wasn’t even dating her, so it wasn’t really NTR.

Still, it seemed her heart was tangled as well.

The three of us could manage, but I doubt she ever expected Joo-hee to be involved too.

Honestly, I hadn’t seen it coming either.

Thud.

Then, Seo Ye-rin slammed her hand on the table and suddenly aimed her fork at Choi I-seo.

“Wait, wait! Do you realize that aside from me, you can’t blame Woo-jin here?!”

“……”

“Who was it that suddenly made a gesture to include Oh Yoon-ji, breaking the wall between the three of you?”

Seo Ye-rin questioned like an interviewing announcer.

“Hmm.”

—

Choi I-seo’s expression darkened as if struck at the core, and she nodded in understanding.

“Well, they just provided a space for us to try.”

“That alone is a grave sin! That’s why U-jin goes around swinging his… you know, without a care in the world.”

It was hard to deny; it was true. He had been swinging it around recklessly.

“And Yu-ah-rin is a problem too! Using people like they’re nothing? She must have asked Senior Joo-hee for help, claiming she was struggling, right? It’s not fair to make those who are trying look like fools!”

Indeed, Seo Ye-rin had a sharp instinct when it came to such matters.

How could she pinpoint the truth so precisely?

Had she inferred it from what she saw during that three-way encounter last time?

“Do you understand what I’m saying? I-seo and Ah-rin need to get their heads straight. You two are the ones who made U-jin like this!”

“I-I’m sorry.”

It felt like the first time.

Seo Ye-rin had outmatched Choi I-seo with her words.

“And Oh Yoon-ji! You were the ex-girlfriend from the start. What are you talking about NTR for?”

“Hmm-hmm.”

Seo Ye-rin even managed to repel Oh Yoon-ji. Finally, she whipped her head around to look at me.

“So, who do you think is the biggest victim here?”

“…Choi Jin-ah?”

Isn’t she the one suffering by being dragged along on this couple’s trip? Even her parents found out about the s*x she didn’t even have.

Now that I think about it, I wonder how she resolved that.

Thud!

Seo Ye-rin, who had stepped on my foot under the table, smiled sweetly and asked, “Who did you say?”

“Seo Ye-rin.”

“Right? That’s me. I’m the victim here.”

I felt increasingly guilty.

“I wonder if it’s okay to brush this off so lightly, but when I look closer, I realize it’s not just U-jin’s problem; there are other issues at play.”

“No, that’s not—”

I wanted to intervene, confused as to why the blame was shifting to others when I was the one at fault.

“Shh.”

I fell silent at Seo Ye-rin’s firm response, not daring to retort.

“Today, I will have Ujini all to myself.”

“…Why does that conclusion follow?”

“Are you skipping to the result without the process? Why?”

Though Choi I-seo and Oh Yoon-ji asked in unison, Seo Ye-rin remained resolute.

“Do you think I can trust someone as lax as you two with Ujini? I’ll be keeping a close eye on her today to ensure discipline.”

Choi I-seo wore a look of disbelief, as if she couldn’t fathom hearing such words from Seo Ye-rin.

Yet, there seemed to be no solid rebuttal to offer.

“There’s scuba diving today.”

That was the only thing she could muster about the day’s agenda.

Choi I-seo had wanted to go scuba diving, so she mentioned it, but Seo Ye-rin pouted her lips in refusal.

“Do you really think you can go after what Ujini did?”

Choi I-seo shot a glance at me, her eyes flickering.

It wasn’t an incorrect statement.

After two consecutive days of activities, to be honest, even moving felt like a chore.

I was so exhausted I could have fallen asleep right then.

“Hmm.”

Yesterday, she had postponed the schedule because of her own reasons, leaving Choi I-seo with no further arguments.

“We were booked for three, right? You, Yoon-ji, and Jina should go and enjoy yourselves.”

“Eh? Me too?”

“Oh, I love scuba diving!”

Oh Yoon-ji wore a clear expression of dislike, while Seo Jina welcomed the idea with enthusiasm.

Whatever the case, Seo Ye-rin’s words, now backed by a semblance of justification, seemed to carry an air of absolute authority.

* * *

“…”

“…”

After Kim Woo-jin left for breakfast, Yu Ah-rin and Min Joo-hee were left alone in the room.

Min Joo-hee was trying hard to hide her embarrassment, her hands covering her face.

‘Is this really okay? Is it for real?’

The time spent with Kim Woo-jin had been pleasant.

It was a problem born of affection.

Here I was, just a mere bodyguard, while Kim Woo-jin had three lovers.

I had tried to steel my heart, promising myself I would no longer feel this way, but a few moments of skinship with Kim Woo-jin shattered that resolve.

“Ah, damn it.”

Beside her, Yoo Ah-rin wore a look of utter defeat.

“I must be insane.”

No matter how difficult it was, I shouldn’t have dragged Min Joo-hee into this. Yoo Ah-rin was drowning in regret.

Was I under some kind of spell?

Couldn’t I claim I was coerced?

I pondered this from various angles, but the conclusion remained: it was my own issue.

“Senior, are you awake?”

“……Yeah.”

“What do we do now? Ye-rin or Lee Seo will be coming for me soon.”

“Cough.”

“Ugh, this is maddening. Why did I do that? I must have lost my mind back then.”

“…….”

With her lips tightly sealed, Min Joo-hee listened to Yoo Ah-rin’s lamentations.

She had no idea what kind of relationship they were supposed to maintain from this point onward.

After a brief silence, Yoo Ah-rin broke the stillness.

“Why did you end up liking Kim Woo-jin?”

In a tone that suggested she didn’t really care, Yoo Ah-rin asked, and after a moment’s hesitation, Min Joo-hee replied.

“The first time I felt an interest was… when I saw you all at Gold One.”

Being honest, she laid it bare, and suddenly Yoo Ah-rin shot up.

“What?! If you’re talking about when we were at Gold One—!”

“I saw the three of you together.”

“Are you insane?”

Yoo Ah-rin’s head spun at the unbelievable answer, but then a strange thought crossed her mind.

“Why would that spark your interest?”

I could understand all the other emotions.

You could be fascinated, disgusted, or want to keep your distance.

But isn’t it a bit strange to feel drawn to someone?

“Ahem, well… he was the most manly person I’ve ever seen.”

“……”

“When I was in high school, I was usually the one fighting with the boys. So it was the first time I saw someone who looked stronger than me.”

The first time I felt that raw, masculine vigor.

That was how Min Ju-hee began to take an interest in Kim Woo-jin.

As time passed, they naturally found themselves spending moments together, and he settled into her heart.

“Don’t worry. I know what you two are to each other, so I have no intention of butting in.”

“……”

“Just think of it as making a nice memory.”

After hearing the story, Yoo Ah-rin flopped back onto the bed with a sigh.

“Ugh, I don’t know. I really don’t know anymore.”

She truly didn’t know.

She had already given up on chasing the situation in her mind.

She just wanted to let herself drift along with the current.

‘Damn it, if I think about it, I’m the latecomer here too.’

Knowing that Seo Ye-rin and Choi Yi-seo liked Kim Woo-jin, she had still managed to insert herself into the mix.

Bzzz! Bzzz!

Then her phone began to ring.

Min Ju-hee saw the name flashing on her phone and shot up, answering urgently.

“Yes, Vice President.”

‘Vice President?’

Kim Woo-jin’s older brother?

Yoo Ah-rin moved closer to Min Ju-hee, listening in on the call.

At first, Min Ju-hee tried to push her away, but ultimately, she failed to resist.

– There was no report yesterday. Is something wrong?

“Ah…”

She hadn’t made the regular report call yesterday, so he was calling her directly like this.

From noble mtl dot com

Min Ju-hee had no words to respond, lowering her head.

Feeling a sense of disillusionment as she glanced at her own half-naked form, clad only in her underwear.

“Nothing happened.”

– Hm?

The vice president’s voice trailed off slightly, perhaps sensing a hint of confusion.

– Yes, let’s keep it that way. Please be careful not to let any accidents occur.

Min Joo-hee trusted Kim Woo-jin’s restraint, so she didn’t pry further.

Her gaze fell upon Yoo Ah-rin.

She, who reveled without a care for condoms.

“Yes, I will do my best…”

Eventually, with tears brimming, Min Joo-hee ended the call and let out a long sigh.

“Ugh.”

Yoo Ah-rin, sitting beside her, chuckled softly, looking at her as if they were accomplices.