Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 350



The Meeting

“Is something wrong?”

After hanging up, Choi Jin-ah, munching on fries, glanced over with a hint of concern.

She must have sensed that the atmosphere and conversation were off-kilter.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should share, but perhaps it was better to confide in Jin-ah.

I laid bare the story I had just heard.

Her expression shifted to one of seriousness.

“It feels a bit unsettling.”

“Right? I’m feeling a bit anxious too.”

“Chairman Kim is, quite literally, a giant in this realm. For someone like him to act so suddenly…”

“Ah, I don’t know.”

I couldn’t grasp my father’s intentions.

After the last incident, I thought I had begun to understand him a little better.

But now, I was lost again in his thoughts.

“If you need anything, just say the word. I’ll help you.”

Jin-ah clenched her fist in encouragement.

Despite her appearance, she was undeniably a person of influence.

“Just share some fries with me.”

I tried to brush it off with a joke.

“Anything but that.”

Look at her serious face.

—

The midterms were over.

To be precise, there was still one subject left, but after the exam this afternoon, it would truly be finished.

I had studied hard, so I felt confident.

So, I was sitting in a café, sipping coffee with Choi I-seo.

“Are you really going to work?”

“They told me to.”

It was annoying, but for now, I figured I’d go along with it.

Something about the atmosphere felt strange.

“How’s your father’s health? Is he doing okay?”

“I don’t know. My older brother said he’d check, but there’s been no word. I asked my mom too, but she just brushed it off, saying she didn’t know.”

“Hmm, that’s worrying.”

“Exactly. Why is this happening all of a sudden?”

“Where are you supposed to be working?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t even check. They gave me the address, though.”

“Show me.”

Choi I-seo took my phone.

With graceful fingers, she bypassed the password and opened the messages.

They say couples often argue over sharing their phones, but I had laid everything bare.

What was there to hide? I was boldly dating three people.

Now, even if I had risqué photos, I’d just shrug it off.

Wouldn’t it be more surprising if I didn’t?

“……Huh?”

Her eyes widened as she confirmed the address sent by my older brother.

She checked it back and forth several times, then suddenly jerked her head up with a loud gasp.

“Th-this is Uju Global, isn’t it?”

“Hmm?”

“Look at this.”

A towering, elongated building appeared on the street view.

The skyscraper loomed, making me furrow my brow.

“They want you to go there?”

“Wow… Woo-jin, getting a job here is going to be incredibly tough. If you’re coming from Gahyeon University, you’ll need some serious credentials.”

“No, what are they asking me to do there?”

Isn’t global trade the focus?

I thought I could manage at least some English, so I guess that’s why I’m doing this.

“What am I supposed to do there?”

As if I ever cared about any of this. I’ve just been drifting through life, caught up in my own little world.

“Want me to tell you?”

“Do you know?”

“There’s a drama related to this. It’s really interesting.”

“…Alright, let’s watch the drama then.”

They said I should head straight to work after the exam, so it might be a bit tight.

‘But wait, is it really okay to go in late by myself?’

I can just imagine how awkward it’ll be.

Am I just supposed to go and learn by watching?

“Ugh, what a mess this is.”

“Woojina, I feel a bit of a wall here.”

“What wall? I’m just parachuting in without a care. It’s just a part-time job, after all.”

What am I even going to do there?

I’ll probably just do whatever they tell me to, clumsily.

“Ugh, this is annoying. I’m going to sleep with Choi Iseo tonight.”

“I never said I’d sleep with you.”

“…Is that not allowed?”

“Yeah, it’s not. We’re going out for drinks after the exam, you know.”

“What? Who’s going? Are there guys? What about me?”

At my question, Iseo chuckles softly.

“Just some high school friends. Yoonji’s coming too. You can join if you want.”

“Hmm, that might be a bit awkward.”

I recognized some faces, but I figured there’d be more unfamiliar ones.

“Right? So—”

Iseo’s brow furrows mid-sentence. She’s been holding my phone, and it seems she’s noticed something off.

“Woojina, you got a message.”

“A message?”

The notification on the phone Iseo handed me was from a bunch of idiots.

– Kang Hang-gang: Woo-jin, did you set up that blind date we talked about for the day after tomorrow?

– Pyo Jin-ho: You were the one who insisted on it. You said you wanted to meet other girls too.

– Pyo Jin-ho: Didn’t you say that meeting new women was your life’s goal?

From noble mtl dot com

– Kang Hang-gang: I forced myself to make the arrangement because of you. It’s at a dance academy, so there should be plenty of pretty girls.

“What the hell are these b*stards saying?!”

Startled, I immediately check on Choi Yi-seo.

She’s propping her chin on her hand, glaring at me.

Her eyes are filled with suspicion.

“Ah, no, Yi-seo! I absolutely didn’t say that! This is nonsense, I swear!”

“Hmm?”

“Look at this. I told you to check the messages above, right? I never said anything like that.”

“Maybe you said it over the phone?”

“Ah, Yi-seo, please. I would never do that.”

“Sure, sure. It’s hard for one to become two, but it’s easy for three to become four.”

“Ugh! Yi-seo!”

As I clutch my chest in despair, only then does her expression soften.

“Pfft.”

She even smiles slightly, as if she hadn’t been upset at all.

“I know, it was a prank from your side. So I just played along and pulled a little joke myself.”

“Yi-seo… joking?”

“I can throw in a joke or two myself, you know.”

“Ah, right. Of course. Yi-seo can joke around a bit too. But still, it’s you, Choi Yi-seo! Your faith in me is unshakeable!”

“No, it’s more like—”

She subtly points her finger behind me.

Turning my body to check outside the window, I see the idiots who just sent the message, standing there with grins plastered on their faces.

“Just look at them, acting like that. It’s obviously a prank, isn’t it?”

“Those b*stards…”

With nothing better to do, they resort to this kind of childish trickery.

As soon as I spot them, they come right inside.

And the fact that they’re smiling just makes me even angrier.

“Ah, Woo-jin! I didn’t know you were with Lee Seo and sent a message!”

“Hahaha! Sorry! My bad! Really, I’m sorry!”

“Why are you two here? You’re not even students at our school.”

Kang Hyun-gang is on a leave of absence, and Byo Jin-ho is from a completely different university.

I know they’re both heading to the military soon, but I can’t fathom why they’re causing a ruckus here.

“Just taking a look around before we enlist.”

“Hey, Woo-jin. We’re enlisting in November, you know? Just a month left. I’m really struggling here.”

‘Ah, damn.’

He’s not some drunken uncle, yet here he is, whining like one.

I want to snap back, but with Choi Seo right in front of us, I have to tread carefully.

Choi Seo stands there, arms crossed, staring at us intently.

As if she’s watching a spectacle unfold.

“Woo-jin, when are you going to the military?”

“I’ll go when my notice comes. Ugh, why are you being so clingy? Get lost! I’m with Seo right now!”

“Dude, it’s girls over friendship for you.”

“Is our friendship worth this little?”

Isn’t it obvious?

They’re just as crazy about girls themselves.

Bzzz!

Then another message chimes in.

What now?

– Jung Chan-woo: Can I come too?

The strange guy took the bait.

“Did this guy break up with his girlfriend?”

“Again? He broke up again?”

Looks like it’s time for Chan-woo to switch to his next girlfriend.

But that’s not where it ends.

– Ahn Hyun-ho: I want in too.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

In that moment, the three of us, eyes glued to our phones, fell silent.

The sudden declaration of participation from Ahn Hyun-ho, who I thought was happily dating Lee Gyu-ah.

“Did they break up?”

“Should we really try to catch them this time?”

“With Chan-woo and Hyun-ho, I’ll be the face of the operation—”

“Let’s rescue them from Chungshimdae. Our faces are too well-known at Gahyeondae.”

“Ugh, just go talk to them!”

As I pushed them away in irritation, they began to ignore me, preparing to set up their own meeting.

Do they not realize how selfish it is for guys who are heading to the military in a month to be going out to meet people?

“Haah, I’m sorry, Lee Seo. It’s because of these weirdos.”

“It’s fine, really.”

Hmm?

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s good that you have friends besides us. I used to worry a bit, but now it seems like you’re getting along well, so it’s nice to see.”

Was that just now a good friend?

Are Lee Seo’s high school friends strange?

‘Ah, they are a bit odd.’

With Min-ji and Oh Yoon-ji around, it’s not exactly normal.

If I had to be picky, I suppose they’re not.

“What’s up? What are you thinking about?”

Lee Seo pinched my nose hard.

I laughed as she playfully shook my head from side to side and replied.

“Lee Seo-mama.”

Whack!

I got smacked on the head right away.

* * *

One must choose friends wisely.

There’s a saying that a good friend is the most reliable asset one can have.

By that measure, I am a good friend to others, but I have chosen poorly for myself.

‘What on earth is this?’

The very next day.

I, who must start working at Cosmic Global next week, found myself at a café over the weekend.

A place near the university.

The very spot where Senior Juhui used to work part-time.

And now, I was waiting to attend a meeting.

“I told you, you picked the wrong friends.”

I let out a deep sigh, irritation bubbling within me.

Thanks to those foolish b*stards who cried and made a mess in my room yesterday, begging me to come out just this once.

Despite having three girlfriends, here I was, out for a meeting.

“Oh! Kim Woo-jin! Looking sharp today!”

“Dude, you said you weren’t coming yesterday, but look at you now! Check out that designer getup!”

From afar, Kang Han-gang and Pyo Jin-ho approached.

Perhaps they were just as excited for today, both of them dressed to the nines.

Han-gang was already handsome, but Jin-ho, despite his large frame, looked surprisingly slim, as if Han-gang had styled him.

Still, both had put on a bit of weight since the old days.

“Wow, it’s my first meeting!”

Dressed impeccably, with a dazzling appearance, was Jeong Chan-woo.

Of course, it made sense.

After only fishing in the sea, trying out a stocked pond would feel refreshing.

I figured all eyes would be on that guy today.

What kind of audacity did Kang Han-gang and Pyo Jin-ho have to invite him to this meeting?

And finally.

“I’m here.”

Though he had made an effort, Ahn Hyun-ho couldn’t hide his rough skin and dark circles.

He was one of the main reasons I had come.

It seemed that Lee Gyu-a was still unable to break her habits and was seeing another guy.

Ahn Hyun-ho had decided to join the meeting, thinking of breaking up with Lee Gyu-a.

‘Could it really be true about Gyu-a?’

From what I saw, she seemed to be struggling to settle down with Ahn Hyun-ho.

‘Before the break, you see.’

I have no idea how things changed after the break. She’s the type to shift like reeds in the wind.

“Everyone’s here.”

Kang Hyun-gang calls us together with a grin.

“Hey, the girls haven’t arrived yet, you know? It’s all good, but let’s not monopolize.”

All eyes turn to Jeong Chan-woo.

“I’m not really thinking that way.”

“Shut up. If I say don’t, then don’t. If you’ve picked one, just take her and go. Don’t leave any openings for the others.”

So, it’s clear they’ve already given up on beating Jeong Chan-woo.

Pyo Jin-ho and Ahn Hyun-ho nod in agreement.

“Isn’t it that if you’re too good-looking, the girls feel pressured?”

I try to voice my opinion, but—

“Only losers say things like that.”

“Ugh, you’ve never been crushed under overwhelming strength, have you?”

“You’ve never been that good-looking, so what do you know?”

b*stards.

Just one word, and they’re ready to tear me apart.

“Hey, Kim Woo-jin. Did you dress up a bit today?”

“I was really looking forward to this! I’m going to go straight for Yoo Ah-rin.”

“But now that Kim Woo-jin’s face is known, is it okay for him to be here?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

And there’s a reason for the getup.

Whack!

“Ah!”

Someone slaps the back of my head.

I whip around to find Yoo Ah-rin, dressed in jeans and a white sweater.

“Did you lose your mind while studying or something?”

“Woo-jin, hey!”

“Ugh.”

Is it just Yoo Ah-rin?

The situation had unfolded with Seo Ye-rin and Choi Yi-seo joining the fray.

The fools behind me stared with expressions that screamed confusion.

I scratched the back of my head where I had just been struck and explained.

“I called for them.”

“What?!”

“What the hell did this b*stard just say?”

“You called for them? Here? Those guys?”

“Yeah, I called for them. I just came out to match the numbers.”

A heavy silence fell.

The girls, as if accustomed to my antics, stepped into the café.

“The cake here is delicious.”

“Hey, Kim Woo-jin, pay for everything. Make that b*stard eat only kimchi for dinner tonight.”

“oooh! Then I’ll have a double strawberry latte and an espresso chip frappuccino!”

“Is that even on the menu? I think they have some pastries. Can we take them to go?”

“But aren’t you curious? How that b*stard Kim Woo-jin flirts with girls?”

“Excuse me. Is it alright if I pull my pants down?”

“Ye-rin, that’s s*xual harassment.”

“Pfft! But honestly, I can totally see him doing that.”

“He was trying to charm me while recommending product numbers—!”

The laughter of the girls echoed as they entered.

The gazes of the boys shifted to me.

“Yeah, I know.”

I know they think I’m a madman.

But you b*stards asked for my help.

“So just keep your eyes to yourselves and go inside, you fucking idiots. Before I call the security team.”

“Acting all high and mighty just because you have money.”

“But who is he actually dating?”

“With that kind of money, he’s probably flirting with three girls at once.”

“Your face isn’t everything in life.”

I warned them that if they showed any more interest in us, I’d call the security team right away, and only then did they finally shut their mouths.