Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 58



58 – Outing

Chiiing!

“Oh, is it delicious? If it only comes out like this, there won’t be any problem.”

I shrugged at the praise from Senior Minjuhee after eating the stir-fried pork. In response, Senior Juhee smirked and patted my shoulder before heading towards the others.

“Hey, who are you trying to feed with this portion? Even though it’s a university pub, are they expecting us to eat this?”

“The outside is burnt and the inside is undercooked! It’s obvious that you’ve never done this before. Just practice at home.”

“What’s up with this chewy egg roll…? Ah, damn it! Didn’t you check it properly?! The shell is still on!”

As I watched them go around and speak a word or two to the others, I realized that there was no choice but for them to compliment me.

While there were some who were good, since it was a food that needed to be sold, a certain level of skill was required.

“…It’s a relief.”

From Noble mtl dot com

I had been eating only stir-fried pork for a few days. Of course, there was also a reason why I made it because I liked it.

Since the pub started in the evening, I had some time left after receiving the inspection early.

Normally, I would have just stayed in the kitchen, but it was not pleasant to be looked at by those guys. So, I went outside.

“Well, it wouldn’t change anything even if they said something.”

Even if Senior Minjuhee denied that it was me and even if I didn’t provide any evidence, it’s not believable as he denied it.

It makes me think that it’s fortunate that Seoyerin wasn’t caught.

The hall was also quite busy as people were moving around. In fact, there was only a table and chairs set up under the canopy.

“Bring me some tape to attach the menus!”

“Where did the wooden chopsticks and plastic spoons go? I can’t see them!”

“I said I didn’t buy them! You have to go to the convenience store and buy them!”

As the center of the action, Choi Iseo and assistant head An Hyunho were in the middle of moving. Although I saw a few second-year students in between, they were just idly playing or passing time by talking among themselves.

Not only Choi Iseo, but Seoyerin and Yoo Arin were also there, working in their own way.

As Seoyerin met my eyes, her face turned red and she pouted, as if reminded of earlier.

It seems like she’s sulking now that she’s regained her senses.

Yoo Arin looked annoyed and stared at me, asking for help instead of playing, but I immediately rejected her with a gesture.

The hall was getting organized as the outlines were being set. Just like us, other festival booths were also getting organized, and people looking to watch were slowly entering.

“Let’s go advertise with a few people.”

I wondered if we were handing out flyers, but there were too many trash issues, so the student council instructed us not to do it.

So, the chosen advertising method was to write the advertisement on a small blackboard and walk around with it.

It seemed like a pretty good strategy to carry a blackboard and promote while going around.

If it gets busy, they can just call us again.

In addition, it was a natural way to look around the festival, so many people wanted to do it.

“First… Yerin.”

Choi Iseo handed the chalkboard to Yerin as if giving her an award.

“Let’s go around once and come back. Just stay near the entrance.”

I could easily understand why Choi Iseo had an uneasy expression.

“I’ll stay with you so you won’t waste time getting lost or anything. Let’s go now.”

Han Gang, who naturally appeared beside me, said.

With Han Gang’s interference, the other first-year students fell silent, and Yerin looked around awkwardly.

Then suddenly, our eyes met.

“…Nice drawing, isn’t it?”

Honestly, I understand that Yerin might feel uncomfortable with Han Gang, but for now, the painting of the two of them standing together is fine.

At first glance, they look like a captivating couple, and whether they’re a man or woman, I couldn’t help but want to turn my head to look again.

Yerin looked at me and bit her lip before decisively moving towards me.

“Sunbae, let’s go!”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

I was suddenly taken aback by Yerin’s proactive attitude, and Han Gang immediately followed.

Whatever happens, now that the two of them have started, there will probably be few who can beat our department in terms of promotion.

After that, Choi Iseo handed the chalkboard to those who seemed capable of promoting well.

“I’ve chosen you.”

Yu Arin suddenly appeared by my side, holding the chalkboard.

“Huh?”

I wondered what she was talking about, but Yu Arin immediately crossed her arms and started pulling me along.

“I’ll be back!”

As I was being dragged by Yu Arin, I glanced back. There, Choi Iseo, with his arms crossed and lips slightly parted, was looking at me.

But as soon as our eyes met, he quickly pretended to focus on his work.

When we were far from our booth, Yu Arin released my arm and became annoyed.

“Oh, it smells like pork.”

“…Psychooni?”

She had just been sulking and bringing me here, but now she was pushing me away while being annoyed.

I was wondering what was going on, but Yu Arin shrugged her shoulders and answered.

“Let’s go check out the dental booth together.”

“Huh? Are you going alone?”

Out of the blue, Yuarin said she would go together. She just said she would go alone, but her steps were already heading towards the dental booth.

I wondered if she wanted help, but judging from Yuarin’s expression, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

She just seemed interested and wanted to join in.

I had a bit of trouble finding the booth for physical therapy, but since I was wandering around for promotional purposes, it wasn’t a big problem.

When we arrived, the dental booth was already operating energetically.

“Grip strength measurement?”

They were holding an event where they gave commemorative gifts to people who exceeded a certain measurement in grip strength.

Not only that, when I looked around, they were also measuring blood pressure and providing shoulder massages, among other miscellaneous activities.

“So boring.”

The reaction was immediate, but honestly, I agreed with Yuarin. It was a bit boring.

“Oh! Are you a couple? Come over here!”

As we approached, the dental student who had been looking at his phone just moments ago greeted us with a smile.

“I’m not dating this idiot.”

Yuarin drew the line immediately.

I nodded my head and replied.

“She’s interested in this guy.”

I said while thinking about Jeong Chan-woo, and immediately Yuarin growled at me.

Avoiding eye contact, we went inside.

We paid the participation fee and had our grip strength measured, but of course, it was no match for my level.

“Too bad.”

I shook my numb hand vigorously and said to the student who was trying to take the grip strength device.

“Excuse me, are there any fourth-year dental students here?”

“Yes?”

They seemed taken aback by the sudden question, but I awkwardly smiled and answered.

“There’s a senior I want to meet, so I was wondering if they would come today.”

“Hmm.”

The dental student seemed to think it was a somewhat ambiguous reason, but then shrugged their shoulders and replied.

“No one from the fourth grade is here, right? They must be either out for a practical session or preparing separately for employment. If you’re looking for them, it would be faster to go to a place like the library instead of here.”

“Ah, I see.”

As the dental student showed a disappointed expression, he thought for a moment and replied, clapping his hands.

“Do you mean Sunbae Eunwoo?”

Sunbae Eunwoo?

“I heard that he’s transferring to be a teaching assistant right after graduation. Did he say he’s going to graduate school?”

“….”

“So he might come when the professors come.”

It was subtle, but there was something I could latch onto. Eunwoo is not completely unlikely as the anonymous 90-day possibility.

“Could you tell me when he’s coming?”

“…I don’t know.”

The dental student hesitated to answer. It seemed that he felt it was strange that I was showing too much interest, as he kept his mouth shut.

“It’s a shame.”

I found out that there are people from the fourth grade who come to the festival. If they still have plans to go to graduate school or become a teaching assistant beyond the fourth grade, they might still be able to use the bamboo forest.

For now, I put Eunwoo as a suspect and was about to leave.

“Woohoo!”

Yuarin shouted in triumph, raising both hands with a grip strength meter.

“Female highest score! Renewed highest score!”

She was laughing happily, probably because she renewed the highest score for the women’s grip strength.

“Is she here to have fun?”

She probably came to the paleontological booth with me, but why is she so excited?

Regardless, Yuarin received a small keychain-like item that didn’t even require an entry fee.

She didn’t like the prize itself, but she was happy to have renewed the women’s grip strength record, so she hummed a little tune and started wandering around the festival again.

“Oh, by the way, let’s go to the convenience store. We need to buy some chopsticks and spoons.”

“That’s why you wanted to go together? We need to go back soon.”

In response to my question, Yuarin replied without hiding her good mood, bouncing her shoulders.

“How can I bring a child who needs to stir-fry pork in the kitchen and wander around like this?”

Her words were not wrong.

If our squad leader finds out about this impulsive behavior, he will definitely say something.

After buying the items we were supposed to get from the convenience store and each getting a chocolate milk, we returned to the English department booth.

Due to the combination of Seo Yerin and Han Kang, guests began to come in one by one, even though it was still early to drink.

I immediately went to the kitchen and took my place.

“One order of pork.”

As soon as the order for pork came in, I started stir-frying quickly. After quickly making the pork, I sliced the tofu into small pieces and tried to hand it over to the server.

But Choi Iseo, who had been waiting anxiously, blockaded my way.

“Where were you?”

Awkwardly, I smiled and answered her.

“At the, dentist. They tested my strength.”

“Hmm.”

Finishing her remark, Iseo muttered to herself and walked away.

“As long as I don’t go there.”