Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 341



Meme

Star Studio.

A company founded by Oh Yoon-ji and Kim Woon, though at present, Kim Woon was absent due to his wife Choi Eun-byeol’s pregnancy.

Yet, that did not mean Kim Woon was entirely uninvolved in the company’s management.

– So, I was thinking. Wouldn’t it be better to stabilize things first?

Kim Woon exchanged opinions with Oh Yoon-ji through a video conference.

He appeared a bit heavier than before, likely well-fed and content at his family home.

– There’s no need to increase the number of broadcasters here. We should be cautious about expanding the roster from the start.

“If we do that, we’ll end up with a stagnant fanbase.”

Oh Yoon-ji, resting her chin on her hand, absentmindedly twirled a pen as she replied.

“We need a continuous influx of new viewers to remain healthy. When one show ends, another must begin, and when that one wraps up, another must take its place. We need to create a structure that keeps viewers engaged, like a flowing river.”

– Well, that’s true, but if we add more broadcasters here, won’t it become overwhelming for us?

Star Studio was not a massive corporation. It was simply composed of capable and trustworthy broadcasters.

“If we can’t handle that much ability, we shouldn’t have started this in the first place. I’ve already compiled a list, so let me know if you see anyone promising.”

– Got it.

“Alright then.”

With a sigh, Oh Yoon-ji sipped her coffee from a mug and pulled a notebook from her bag.

Just moments ago, she had been the head of an MCN, and now she was a first-year student in the English Literature department, second semester.

Scratch, scratch.

Scratch, scratch.

Oh Yoon-ji, whose mind was not particularly dull, felt no significant difficulty with her assignments and finished them swiftly.

‘Finished earlier than I thought.’

She felt a twinge of boredom.

Under the desk, I swing my slipper-clad feet back and forth, passing the time for a moment.

There was no particular meaning to it.

It just felt nice, as if I were a carefree child in this moment.

‘Ah, Ji-hye must be broadcasting now.’

She had said she’d entered the studio after her workout.

On the monitor where I had just had a video call with Kim-woon, now appears Popo with her pink hair.

‘Indeed, Ji-hye’s viewers are as solid as concrete.’

Glancing at the viewer count and the incoming chats, Oh Yoon-ji spies on Popo’s broadcast.

– Hello! Today, I’ll be doing a mukbang of mala soup! I ordered the spiciest flavor! I added a ton of different things inside.

– First, I’ll scoop some out to share with the folks at the company.

– I’m not going to tell the boss. He doesn’t really like spicy food.

“Ah, how delightful.”

She doesn’t know I’m here, does she?

[Is the boss Yoon-nim?]

“Hmm?”

What’s this Yoon-nim?

– Thank you for the 100 coins, Popo is a pig-nim! Yes! That’s right! I’ll be giving it to Yoon-nim!

“Is she talking about me?”

It must be because I’m Yoon-nim.

After all, the boss is all alone right now.

“Since I started school, I’ve been busy, but seeing this, I realize keeping up with internet trends is tough.”

I don’t quite understand why she calls me that, but at least it’s not an insult, so I don’t feel bad.

It’s also true that the broadcasters are somewhat benefiting from this.

– Oh, our boss seems to really enjoy this. At this rate, I might just ask the boss to do the broadcast herself.

The chat is flooded with various comments urging for Yoon-nim to come on.

‘Last time, Kim Woo-jin did such a good job with his image-making.’

The tragic heroine who had tried to elevate her worth for the man she loved.

The struggles with cyber bullies and her death-row father had long since become the past.

Now, Oh Yoon-ji had transformed into a bold woman who had overcome it all.

Thanks to that, the reactions in the chat must be like this.

– Ha, this won’t do. I’m unleashing my ultimate charm to keep you all in check.

“Charm?”

Popo wasn’t one to usually engage in such antics.

Just as that thought crossed her mind.

– Popo-nu! I have no husband! I can’t sleep at night! I’m sorry, husband!

With a jolt!

Oh Yoon-ji sprang up, flinging open the door to the office and stepping out.

There, employees were already preparing to indulge in their spicy mala soup.

But Oh Yoon-ji brushed past them, ignoring their presence.

“Uh, M-Master! Just a moment! Popo is live right now!”

“I know!”

Oh Yoon-ji shouted back, her voice laced with irritation, as she opened the broadcast window and glared at Popo.

Unbeknownst to her, Popo was still engrossed in her stream.

“What? Is this some baseless charm? Ugh, it’s something I borrowed from someone I know.”

“One hit of this and my heart just melts away, leaving me utterly lost—”

The screen captured Oh Yoon-ji’s face, twisted in fury.

In the chat, the name Yoon-nim began to flood the comments in an instant.

“Ah, haha.”

Popo chuckled awkwardly, feeling embarrassed as she greeted her.

“M-Master, hello?”

“Get out.”

“W-Wait a moment, Master! I didn’t mean to do that!”

“Shut up! Where did you hear that?! No, just get out!”

“I refuse! Everyone! If I disappear from the screen, please call the police!”

“Then die on screen!”

* * *

Toot.

Toot.

Toot.

– Hello?

At the end of the waiting tone, Yooarin finally answered the call.

Oh Yoonji bit her lip, her voice tinged with irritation.

“Where’s Kim Woojin?”

– Huh? He’s probably in the dorm.

“Not here. I’m at the dorm right now.”

Without hesitation, Oh Yoonji drove straight to Kim Woojin’s dorm.

The campus was quiet today, a weekend devoid of lectures.

– Well, then he must be out somewhere, right? You could just ask him directly.

“He’s not picking up.”

– Well, who would answer an ex-girlfriend’s call?

“That’s not it?!”

– Then why isn’t he answering?

“Ugh.”

There was no way to explain this.

Oh Yoonji buried her face in her hands, exhaling a heavy sigh.

“Something happened.”

– Oh, I see. It’s not like he hasn’t been causing trouble for a day or two.

“Right, exactly.”

If only his troubles were limited to just a day or two. It was truly baffling how he managed to get into messes every single time.

– Oh, by the way, we’re practicing for our next performance at the taekwondo studio. Want to come watch? You said you wanted to see it.

“Ah, right… but maybe next time. I need to deal with Kim Woojin today.”

– Really? I was going to show you what we’ve been working on.

“Well, you guys will do great, I’m sure.”

– This time it’s a bit different from what we usually do. Want to hear it?

Hear it?

– Arin, I have no husband! I can’t sleep at night!

“…….”

– I’m sorry, husband! Please forgive me!

“Hey.”

– Today, Arin will do everything you want, husband!

“Hey.”

– Hahaha! No way, this is hilarious! I never thought Oh Yoon-ji looked like this, but isn’t she just adorable?

“Where’s Kim Woo-jin?”

– I seriously have no idea where Kim Woo-jin is. I heard this while we were eating pizza together yesterday.

“Phew.”

– But isn’t there chaos in the bamboo grove right now? The followers of Popo are flooding it with posts.

“Flooding?”

A chill crept in already.

Something prickled at my back, as if possessed, and I switched to speakerphone, turning on the bamboo grove.

– Anonymous 305: Today, Popo was amazing.

– Anonymous 301: Isn’t Yoon-nim also a Gahyeon fan? It’s insane, it’s insane. Just so good.

– Anonymous 343: I’ve saved Popo’s cute moments from today. If you want to share, reply below.

↳ Anonymous 301: Don’t spread Popo videos freely; upload them to the Popo Broadcasting Station.

↳ Anonymous 302: Do I really have to teach you this basic stuff?

↳ Anonymous 303: If you’re 343, are you a freshman? Should we gather once?

↳ Anonymous 343: I’m sorry.

– Anonymous 310: But looking at how Yoon-nim reacted to Popo’s cuteness today, doesn’t it seem like she’s the one being cute?

↳ Anonymous 337: Agreed, agreed.

↳ Anonymous 340: They said it was someone they knew being cute, but when Yoon-nim suddenly appeared and freaked out, it’s definitely her.

↳ Anonymous 303: I’m so jealous of her ex.

↳ Anonymous 11: Damn, why are these idiots causing a ruckus here instead of their own playground?

Oh Yoon-ji could no longer bear to look and turned off the bamboo grove.

From noble mtl dot com

– Hey, are you okay? Just don’t hit too hard, alright?

Yu Ah-rin, still on the line.

She tried to defend me, but right now, I didn’t even want to hear a voice siding with Kim Woo-jin.

“I’m hanging up.”

I cut the call just like that.

Since I was already in Kim Woo-jin’s room, I thought if I stayed here quietly, he would eventually come back at night.

But staying still like that wasn’t in Oh Yoon-ji’s nature.

“I’ll find you, no matter what.”

O Yoon-ji gripped the strap of her bag tightly, steeling herself for the resolve of a final stand.

“I will kill him, without fail.”

She was about to step outside when, inexplicably, the doorknob turned without her touch.

Startled, she instinctively pulled back, reaching out toward the figure that had entered the room.

“Ugh?!”

There stood Choi Jin-ah, dressed in a somewhat disheveled manner.

“…Jin-ah?”

A sudden confusion washed over her—why was Jin-ah here?

Jin-ah clutched a large takeout container in both hands.

“Uh, I ordered too much fried rice… I came to share it with you?”

“…Fried rice?”

“Is Woo-jin not here?”

“Ugh, I’m in the middle of going to catch that b*stard. You don’t know where he is, do you?”

“What about the others?”

“Choi Yi-seo isn’t answering her phone, Seo Ye-rin is working, and Yoo Ah-rin… I called her, but she doesn’t know.”

“…Are you feeling unwell?”

“Yeah, a bit.”

With a sigh, O Yoon-ji glanced at Jin-ah’s fried rice.

‘Now that I think about it, I didn’t even get to eat after running here.’

Noticing her gaze, Jin-ah smiled and suggested they eat together.

“Thank you, Jin-ah. Because of you, I’ll be able to kill that b*stard with more strength.”

“…I won’t be treated as an accomplice, will I?”

Surely not.

Probably.

“Oh, and since you’ve eaten my fried rice, could you do me a favor?”

“Uh? If it’s not too difficult?”

“It won’t be hard for you. It’s actually me who’s in a bind. I lost a bet and owe you something, Yoon-ji.”

“…Hmm?”

As O Yoon-ji chewed on the fried rice, she looked at Choi Jin-ah with a sense of foreboding.

“Ji, Jinahneun-!”

I vowed once more to kill Kim Woojin.