Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 312



Kim Woo-jin’s Talent

I felt as if we hadn’t done the typical tourist thing.

Surely, Hawaii had its own set of tourist routes, but we had indulged ourselves mindlessly, just the three of us.

So, one day, we decided to embrace the concept of tourism and set out.

Dolphin tours, national parks, lighthouses, and so on.

We spent our time visiting all the famous tours, and to be honest,

‘Damn, I’m exhausted.’

It was just tiring.

I had seen some magnificent landscapes, yet I often wondered why I needed to see them in person when I could just look at photos.

Today was no different.

“Wow, this one turned out great.”

“Right?”

The camera I had brought was now in Choi Yi-seo’s hands. She was the one who enjoyed today’s tour the most, in the healthiest way.

It was endearing to see her captivated by the natural scenery, her excitement making her chatter more than usual.

I decided that simply witnessing this different side of Yi-seo was enough for today.

“Are you okay today?”

As we entered the hotel, Oh Yoon-ji subtly approached me.

We had clearly agreed to go our separate ways at first, but at some point, we started to stick together.

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t really like this kind of thing.”

“True.”

“Remember when we went camping? You complained a lot when we hiked up that nearby mountain.”

“Did I? To be honest, there wasn’t much to see.”

“But you came down and enjoyed the ramen so much, didn’t you?”

“Truly, it was delicious.”

“And I had some too.”

“That was really—”

The carefree tongue suddenly froze.

I halted my steps, eyes darting around.

What if the others had heard?

Worry gnawed at me, but thankfully, Choi I-seo was busy with her camera, capturing Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin, who were huddled together.

“What’s this? Why does she look like that in the photo?”

“Ha ha! I’m using this as my profile pic!”

“Oh, me too!”

Their chatter was bothersome, yet I felt relieved that they hadn’t caught on to my earlier words.

“Ugh, I thought I was going to die.”

“…I heard you.”

As I subtly turned my head, Choi Jin-ah, trailing behind, shot me a pointed look.

“I see, you heard.”

I nodded lazily, brushing it off, but Jin-ah seemed displeased, muttering under her breath, though I chose to ignore it.

More pressing was Oh Yoon-ji’s predicament.

“Watch what you say about her. You know it’d put me in a tight spot if the others heard.”

“It’s just an old story. Can’t I talk about that? Do you still like me or something?”

“Why does the conversation veer that way?”

“Or you could just say it plainly. If you have no lingering feelings, why hide it so tightly?”

“Because the others would feel uncomfortable if they heard. You hated it when I talked to other girls back then.”

“When did I? That’s not true.”

“Not true? Who was it that grabbed my hair and threw me onto the bed when I came home late?”

“When did that happen? Wasn’t it when you said you were joining the band, but it turned out to be an all-girls otaku club?”

“Exactly. Oh, did you know? They’re still at it! They even sold stories at the festival last time.”

“What kind of stories?”

“Stories about guys rubbing their… you know. They got reported right away and had to pull out. You can’t sell adult content at a festival.”

“Didn’t they ask you if you were a boy or a girl back then?”

“When they asked, it sent chills down my spine. How could Chan-woo end up in a place like that?”

“Chanwoo? Jeong Chanwoo?”

“Ah, Chanwoo is gay, you know? Didn’t you know?”

“Really? Gay? Wow, I should definitely scout him properly later.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, with a face like that, there’s bound to be demand, and if he’s gay, he could have quite the impact!”

“Ahem, actually, I’m not gay.”

Caught off guard by their serious reaction, I reveal the truth, and Oh Yoonji pouts, disappointment flickering across her face.

“Well, with a face like that, it’s definitely worth putting a contract in front of him. Before we take him away, we should mark our territory first.”

“Can you set up a meeting for me?”

“From the way you’re talking, I feel like if we meet through your introduction, it’ll ruin the first impression, don’t you think?”

It’s clear now why he’s the boss.

How does he hit the nail on the head like this?

His instincts are sharp.

“I know a lot of good-looking guys. Want me to introduce you?”

Bonggeun would never do it, but Ahn Hyunho seems like a solid possibility.

Han River-senpai has to go to the military, so that’s probably tough.

“Being good-looking is convenient, sure. But you need charm too. Like you, for example.”

“…Me?”

“Pfft.”

A laugh comes from behind us.

As Yoonji and I turn around, we see Choi Jina covering her mouth.

“Sorry, it’s just funny.”

“What’s funny? Let me hear it too.”

“Because you said Woojin has charm.”

“Wow, you’re saying that outright?”

I thought she’d make excuses, but I didn’t expect her to charge in like a headbutting dinosaur.

“Am I supposed to be mindful of Woojin? He should be the one worrying about how to explain this to my father back in Korea.”

“Ahem.”

I subtly return my head to its original position and glance at Oh Yoonji.

“Do I really have charm?”

“Listen.”

It’s vague.

As I tilt my head, wondering what charm there could be, Oh Yoon-ji smiles softly and speaks.

“Woo-jin, I told you last time. Wasn’t there Ye-rin, Lee-seo, or Ah-rin in the first semester of our first year?”

“…….”

“But still, you chose me.”

Well, to be precise, back then, those three weren’t particularly interested in me, so calling it a choice feels a bit off.

I scratch my cheek, feeling awkward, but Oh Yoon-ji continues.

“It’s the same the other way around. I know there are good-looking guys in the English department, but I chose you, not them.”

“Cough.”

Hearing that is oddly touching.

It’s another point that this usually tough girl is acknowledging me.

“Moreover! You really have talent, you know?”

She brightens the atmosphere with her cheerful shout.

“What talent?”

I don’t seem to have any particular talent. I even wonder what talent in internet broadcasting really is.

“Your boldness in action. That’s your talent.”

“Ah, do you know why?”

From noble mtl dot com

“Hmm? Is there a specific reason?”

“Because I have high levels of male hormones. It’s almost like an athlete’s level of testosterone. The doctor even praised me for having such high levels, saying it’s impressive and enviable—”

“Did you hold back just to brag about it?”

“……They told me not to interrupt from behind?”

It was a chance to boast about my testosterone levels, which I had felt proud of several times.

Opportunities like this are rare, so I didn’t want to miss it.

But it seems I’ve already lost that chance.

“Look, if you do me a favor, Jin-ah, I’ll give you ten thousand won.”

“Wow, then go ahead and bang your head here.”

Choi Jin-ah suddenly thrusts her fist forward.

A snort escapes me.

“Hey, I’m the son of a chaebol.”

Crack!

“Ahhh! My sooon! I think it’s, it’s broken!”

What is this?

Unknowingly, my head was already tilting toward Choi Jin-ah’s fist.

Choi Jin-ah, who told me to do it, now whimpering about her own sore hand.

She goes to Senior Joo-hee, who’s on a call at the back, asking if she has any pain relief patches.

Pretend.

O Yoon-ji pulls out a ten-thousand won bill from her wallet and hands it to me.

What is this, a strange thrill bubbling up inside me.

It’s just ten thousand won, but is it the pride of having earned it myself?

Or is it the feeling based on the fact that I made ten thousand won from such a trivial act?

Whatever it is, I don’t feel too bad.

“I’ll give you ten thousand won, so go hit Yoo Ah-rin on the back of the head.”

“Hey, that’s too cheap. I’ll die.”

“Thirty thousand won?”

“Fifty thousand won.”

“Deal.”

Immediately, O Yoon-ji pulls out fifty thousand won and hands it to me.

With the bills in hand, she cheerfully runs over and smacks Yoo Ah-rin on the back of the head.

Crack!

“Ah!”

Yoo Ah-rin, suddenly struck on the back of her head, whips around.

I smile brightly, holding out the fifty thousand won.

“Ah-rin! I brought fifty thousand won! We just made sixty thousand won in five minutes!”

“What the hell is this punk saying? You’re challenging me, right?”

“…Maybe?”

Choi Yi-seo squints her eyes, glaring at me as if I’m up to some foolishness again.

Crack!

“Ah!”

At that moment, Yoo Ah-rin’s head tilts forward once more.

—

It was Seo Ye-rin, sitting beside me, who struck the back of my head.

“Ugh, if you can’t give me a valid reason for that within five seconds, you’d better brace yourself.”

Yu Ah-rin gritted her teeth.

Seo Ye-rin stared blankly at her own hand, her expression one of pure indignation.

“I couldn’t help it! I just couldn’t stand seeing Woo-jin getting hit! It’s all because of him!”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Hmm, Ah-rin’s head is really quite hard?”

“Seo Ye-riiiiin!”

And just like that, the chase began between the two of them.

In any case, thanks to this, Yu Ah-rin’s fury was now directed at Seo Ye-rin instead of me.

“Look, Woo-jin. You can just go for it, you know? Sure, it might stir up a lot of controversy, but you’ve got talent.”

Oh Yoon-ji, who had followed along, crossed her arms and nodded with satisfaction.

It didn’t seem like a completely wrong statement.

With money in hand, all I could think about was getting that done.

“Still, I won’t do any internet broadcasting. I don’t want my face out there.”

“Of course you shouldn’t. You’d be targeted so many times with all the girlfriends you have.”

“Ahem.”

Anyway, she wouldn’t admit that she was wrong, even if it meant death.

If I were to do something like internet broadcasting, I’d be prime prey, wouldn’t I?

The youngest of the Universe Group, and there was a scandal with Oh Yoon-ji, yet now she had three boyfriends.

‘And she’s even engaged to Choi Jin-ah?’

I reaffirmed my resolve to live my life without anyone knowing my face.

“What were you talking about?”

Choi Yi-seo asked as she set down the camera.

As we entered the hotel lobby, I briefly explained what had just happened.

“Well, you could say I know Kim Woo-jin pretty well.”

Choi Yi-seo, staring intently at Oh Yoon-ji, pulled out her wallet.

Whack!

“Ah!”

Oh Yoon-ji’s body lurched forward from the blow to the back of her head.

—

With both hands clutching the bruised spots, I turned to her, showing the fifty thousand won I had just received from Choi I-seo.