Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 327



Normalization

To ponder is to doubt oneself.

Through doubt, one reflects and grows.

Not every situation is like this, but still, I wondered if I was growing in this way, in this moment.

– What are you talking about?

“…….”

On the other end of the phone.

Choi Jin-ah’s tone was as if to say, why on earth should I be listening to this nonsense right now?

– Ahem, let me say it again.

– What kind of nonsense is this?

“Why did you even need to say it again?”

– Ah, the older sisters said I should speak a bit more assertively.

Older sisters?

Was she talking about those women I saw at the reunion?

“Are you getting along quite well?”

– Not really. We just meet occasionally. It seems they enjoy telling me things I don’t know whenever we meet.

– Oh, by the way, this time I had intestines soup. I didn’t know, but surprisingly, I quite like offal.

It really doesn’t suit her.

A world-renowned violinist enjoys soju and animal entrails.

– If you come to my family home later, would you like to eat together? There’s a great place nearby.

“What, if I go, I’ll eat. But I don’t think I’ll have the chance to go.”

– True, you’ve been super busy lately. It’s been chaotic, hasn’t it?

“It’ll die down soon enough.”

But why was I even talking about this?

I had been sharing my newfound realizations, yet somehow I was following Choi Jin-ah’s lead in the conversation.

– Ah, this time I’ll come over there. I need to grab my suitcase.

“Why hasn’t it arrived yet? Why is it so late?”

Quite some time has already passed.

– “I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit busy lately. You know, Ye-rin is filming a movie. I agreed to help with the sound.”

“Again?”

– “Yes, again.”

“Isn’t that something Ye-rin would enjoy?”

– “It’s not that. Ye-rin has a good eye for projects. We receive various requests, and we decided on the one that seemed the best among them, and Ye-rin was part of it.”

YS might be good at securing projects, but in the end, the choice lies with the actor.

It seems Seo Ye-rin has a certain discernment in that area as well.

– “I saw the last project, and it was quite good. It hasn’t premiered yet, right?”

“Apparently, it’s coming soon. I think the trailer has been released.”

– “Ye-rin will probably be incredibly busy. I caught a glimpse of her acting then, and she was impressive.”

– “So when I saw her in Hawaii, I was genuinely surprised. Is this person really that person?”

I felt a deep resonance with that, having experienced it myself recently.

The dissonance that comes when Seo Ye-rin hides her true self feels like it shatters the very fabric of common sense.

“Right. Anyway, come to pick up the carrier.”

– “Oh, by the way, did you know? Eun-byul’s belly is huge now. She can feel the baby kicking.”

“Oh, really?”

– “Yes, I heard the due date is in December. I’m secretly making a song for the baby without Eun-byul knowing.”

“Okay, got it.”

– …….

– “Ah! Did you know? This time—”

“Jin-a.”

– “Yes?”

“Are you bored?”

– …….

I can sense the reluctance to end the call.

It’s strange; even though we’re on the line, it feels like I’m caught in the hem of her garment.

– “Ahem.”

“Are you bored, I asked.”

– Hey, a bit?

There aren’t many things to do at my house. When I was around, we’d at least play games like on the PlayStation together, but now that I’m not here, it must be tough for them to even start a game on their own.

My little sister-in-law likes games too, but being pregnant, it seems she’s avoiding anything too stimulating.

In the end, just sitting around in our dull house was the only thing Choi Jin-ah could do.

– If I go outside, the people sent by my father are watching. Surprisingly, they keep following me.

– Last time, when my sisters tried to take me to a club, those people stopped us.

It’s a bit pitiful, isn’t it?

Not even able to have fun outside.

But those so-called sisters never really gave off a good vibe, and hearing it like this makes it feel like they’re crossing a line.

“There’s a computer in my room, so you can use that. I have a few games installed.”

– In Woo-jin’s room?

“Yeah, well, there must be something you can do on the computer that isn’t a game.”

– …There’s nothing weird on it, right?

“Nothing at all. No way I’d keep something like that on the family computer.”

I deleted everything before leaving, so there’s nothing to worry about.

– Got it. Thank you.

“Sure.”

Click.

After hanging up, a fleeting doubt crossed my mind. I had definitely called for a consultation.

Somehow, it felt like I had just wasted time.

At that moment, the classroom door in front of me opened, and the professor stepped out.

I bowed my head slightly in greeting, then scanned the students following behind one by one.

Almost last to emerge, Choi Yi-seo looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“You really were waiting.”

“I said I would wait.”

“Did you buy coffee for me to drink too?”

“Yeah, you said you were going to the library to study today. I got it for you to enjoy while you’re there. I even tucked a cookie in the cup holder, so if you get a sugar crash or feel peckish, you can eat it.”

As I handed her the coffee, Choi Yi-seo broke into a gentle smile.

“Nice touch.”

“Right?”

I think my sense has tripled since I started dating three girls.

If game companies handed out experience points like this, they’d be cursed by players.

“Phew, I’m alive.”

Choi I-seo takes a satisfying sip of her coffee, nodding as she looks at me.

“So, what’s up? You said you suddenly have something on your mind.”

“Yeah, actually, I was thinking a bit during the lecture earlier.”

I repeated the same words I had shared with Oh Yoon-ji to Choi I-seo.

“…What?”

Like the two before her, I-seo dropped her coffee cup.

This time, however, I was there to catch it, preventing it from spilling on the floor.

“So, I mean, isn’t our relationship a bit ethically skewed right now?”

As I calmly explained again, I-seo responded with a look of disbelief.

“You’re the one who created this.”

“…”

“I was sure it was absolutely wrong. But at some point, it just felt natural to hang out with Ye-rin and Ah-rin together.”

“…”

“It’s all your doing!”

Unable to hold back, I-seo delivered a swift low kick.

I took the hit squarely on my backside, but I managed to endure it and continued speaking.

“No, what I mean is, I feel like I’ve become a really bad guy.”

“Why on earth is this happening?”

From confusion to anger.

From anger to worry, I-seo’s expression shifted.

She placed her hand on her forehead, checking for a fever, wondering if I might be ill.

But, of course, there was no fever.

“I don’t have a fever… but just in case, should we go to the hospital?”

“Do I look that sick?”

Choi I-seo quickly tugged at me, urging me to go to the hospital. I thought she had given up on studying today since she said she was going to the library.

“Hey, Choi I-seo. What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming over?”

From the end of the hallway, Yoo Ah-rin waved her hand, wearing her school jacket as she approached.

“What’s this? Kim Woo-jin is here too. Anyway, this guy has a nose for trouble and jumped right in.”

“What are you talking about? Did you two plan to meet today?”

“There was a clash in classes, and I had a self-study period. I was going to ask him to help me sort out the lecture notes.”

Surprisingly, Yoo Ah-rin studies quite hard. I don’t remember her being like this last year.

“I don’t want to hear that my grades dropped because of YouTube.”

“Does someone like that really skip self-study?”

“…I overslept.”

“That’s not the point.”

Choi Yi-seo, who had butted in, recounted my earlier words to Yoo Ah-rin with a serious expression.

Whack!

“Ah!”

Yoo Ah-rin smacked the back of my head.

“Why did you hit me?!”

“Are you hurt? Last time you got beaten up by that peeping tom, did something happen?”

“If you suspect I’m injured, why hit my head?”

“Is that so?”

“…But you know.”

At that moment, Choi Yi-seo, who had been deep in thought, cautiously spoke up.

“Wasn’t everything up until now strange?”

“…”

“…”

“Maybe getting hit on the head brought me back to normal?”

“That’s a point. Why didn’t we take you to the hospital until now?”

These girls are really too much.

“Ah, I don’t know. It was a mistake to tell you. I’m confused today, so don’t talk to me.”

I regretted saying it.

As I turned away, muttering that I’d handle it myself, Yoo Ah-rin called me back.

“Hey, wait. Seo Ye-rin is on her way. Let’s talk the four of us.”

Her voice was surprisingly serious.

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“Yeah, something has definitely been off until now. Let’s just make sure to talk it out clearly when Kim Woo-jin is in his right mind.”

So, I agreed with 최이서, and I also stopped my footsteps.

Finally, Seo Ye-rin arrived.

Having heard our whole conversation, Seo Ye-rin smiled and made a suggestion.

“Let’s decide one by one.”

“Why are you so carefree?”

“It’s because my heart is full.”

Choi Yi-seo and Yoo Ah-rin were naturally surprised to see Seo Ye-rin so calm, and they were a bit taken aback.

Anyway, We decided to enter the empty classroom and hug one by one.

The first one was Choi Yi-seo.

By the way, we decided the order by rock-paper-scissors.

“What’s going on?”

I’m cursing, wondering why this situation has come to this, as I hugged Choi Yi-seo tightly.

My heart was pounding, and the refreshing scent of Choi Yi-seo filled my nostrils.

My hand unconsciously grasped the buttocks of her, and although my foot her was stepped on, I could still feel the elasticity of the buttocks of her.

“Why do you have to go to a place where you’ll be s*xually harassed?”

The second one was Yoo Ah-rin.

After seeing that Choi Yi-seo had just touched the buttocks, Yoo Ah-rin’s lips were pursed and she looked unhappy.

Anyway, Yoo Ah-rin also hugged me tightly, and I couldn’t help but look down at her with a scent that was unique to her.

Then, a sweet fragrance spread in my mouth.

It was as if I had just drunk Chocomong, and when I kissed Yoo Ah-rin, the taste of chocolate came out.

“Isn’t that cheating?”

“Wow, you’re bold!”

“Ah, stop! Let’s win first!”

Yoo Ah-rin shouted at the two of us, who were giggling behind her.

With a flushed face, Yoo Ah-rin looked up at me.

It seemed like she was expecting an answer, so I spoke sincerely.

“Actually, Hush is better than Chocomong.”

Pfft!

—

Releasing Yuarin, who had just slammed her head into my chest, I turned to the next contender.

“I think my ribs are shattered.”

As I clutched my chest, Seoyeon slipped her hand into mine and nestled close.

Unlike Yuarin just moments ago, her ample bosom pressed against my broken ribs, offering a strange comfort.

“Hmm, Ujina. Should I stay over at your place tonight?”

“If that’s the case, don’t I have to do it again?”

“Look at that tail wagging.”

Seoyeon draped her arm around my neck, her eyes locking onto mine as she asked.

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Maybe a hotel would be better?”

I had confirmed last time that the dorms were poorly soundproofed.

Anyway.

As the embrace came to an end, the three standing before me came into focus.

Three individuals, each possessing a distinct allure.

Watching them, a fundamental question began to stir within me.

“Why do we have to choose?”

“……”

“……”

“Pfft.”

“No, we were all getting along just fine. Why has the moment come where we suddenly have to choose?”

Seoyeon, stifling a laugh, and the two others, silent yet staring at me.

“Thinking back, I’ve never been particularly ethical. Why am I suddenly pondering ethics today?”

Feeling as if I had rediscovered a truth I had forgotten while groping, kissing, and pressing against their chests.

But it seemed the other two were not on the same page.

“Hey, I’m about to smack you, you know? Choose properly.”

Yuarin warned, her fist clenched.

“……”

Choi Iseo glared at me, equally tight-lipped.

“Pfft, no. I knew it would come to this.”

—

—

What was so amusing that Seo Ye-rin couldn’t hold back her laughter?

“…….”

Anyway, today it was clear that I was in the wrong.

I wondered why I had suddenly acted normal while throwing a fit.

But if I didn’t respond here, I felt like I would really get beaten up.

“It’s just that it’s hard to decide with just a hug.”

I tried to come up with a clever solution.

“Let’s just try putting one person in the hotel for now—!”