Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 81: Pyo Jinho

“What’s with that look on your face?”

Senior Ju-hee asks while tapping out her cigarette on the ashtray. Apparently, the cutesy act was quite stressful for her, seeing as how she had smoked a chain of cigarettes, leaving the cloying smell of cigarette smoke on her body.

“No, it’s nothing.”

In reality, it’s just embarrassing because I’ve been making a fuss all by myself, not that there’s an actual problem.

Even though Chan-woo sent an urgent message, Yu Arin is right here, so there shouldn’t be a big problem.

“He says he wants to sing.”

Yu Arin pointed at me and butted in from the side. Sometimes I think about cracking her head open, but today I felt an even greater urge to actually do it.

“What song? If you want to sing, shall we go to karaoke?”

“…No.”

I didn’t really want to sing, and having seen several times senior Ju-hee’s intense performances at karaoke, I didn’t particularly want to go either.

Senior Ju-hee too, not being sincere, dusts off her clothes while checking the time.

“Isn’t it about time for Hyeon-ho to start showing up?”

Seo Yerin said she’d be late because she has plans with friends, and Choi Yiseo is going to arrive around dinner time because she decided to do some volunteer work with Minji.

It’s about time for Ahn Hyeon-ho to arrive.

I took my phone out to call and ask where he was. Before filming the movie, I wasn’t exactly on good terms with Ahn Hyeon-ho.

But now, surprisingly, our relationship has evolved to at least being able to have a conversation. “Where are you? Senior is waiting.”

Preventing any unnecessary words by deliberately mentioning senior Ju-hee, I was satisfied with the sound of Ahn Hyeon-ho running, so I ended the call.

Ahn Hyeon-ho arrived, and after wondering what to eat for a late lunch, we eventually decided to go for spicy webfoot octopus.

I can’t handle spicy food, but I heard they have other selections there too.

For example, things like pork cutlet or pizza.

‘Why do they sell pork cutlets and pizza at a webfoot octopus place?’

I had such concerns in my mind, but I didn’t voice it. These days, it wouldn’t be just one or two restaurants that were like that.

“I can’t eat anything too spicy.”

As I ordered from the menu, Yu Arin, sitting next to me, suddenly started patting my head.

“Oguogu! Our Woojini! Can’t eat spicy food? Should I suck the seasoning off for you?”

“Get lost, you crazy woman.”

“Oguogu! Where did you learn to say that? Do you like being treated like a baby because you sounded like one when you were calling for me earlier?”

“Senior, can you teach me how to fight? I want to beat her up.”

“Hmm.”

The mention of a fight made senior Ju-hee and Ahn Hyeon-ho’s eyes, sitting opposite me, sparkle.

Perhaps because they both come from a background of being the strongest, they seemed quite interested in this topic.

“Arin? To win, wouldn’t you have to take a leave of absence with Han-kang and just die in the gym?”

“……”

“I saw it at the pub last time, Arin’s roundhouse kick was no joke. Have you been going to the gym for a long time?”

Is it that the strong recognize the strong?

Faced with the question from senior Ju-hee, Yu Arin thought for a moment before scratching her cheek and saying,

“I’ve won a championship in a tournament before.”

Huh?

“A tournament?”

As I asked in surprise, Yu Arin seemed somewhat embarrassed and nodded her head with a pause.

“Then, could you become a national representative?”

“It would have been possible if I went to the national competition and won a medal, I guess? But I didn’t go.”

While speaking, I briefly caught a glimpse of her expression darkening for a second.

Feeling like she didn’t want to say something, I immediately responded with a smile.

“We should probably cancel the face-off then.”

As I playfully changed the topic, the conversation shifted from Yu Arin to fighting.

“No, the match Jeong Ho-han is playing in is insane? It’s not just about strength, but the technique…!”

“Did you see it too, Senior? Wow, I screamed so loud at home that I got hit by the roommate I live with.”

While UFC was the hot topic, as for Ahn Hyeon-ho I thought it made sense, but for senior Ju-hee to also be interested…

‘It fits them well.’

I was surprised by how well they were getting along, more than I thought for sure. It’s a bit awkward to say this to someone like a senior, but maybe she was born as the wrong sex.

“Don’t you watch stuff like UFC?”

While having some spare time, I nudged Yu Arin, who was browsing through the Bamboo Forest, and asked. She shook her head vigorously.

“What’s the point of watching men sweat?”

“…Don’t ever say you want to exercise.”

“I won’t.”

Then, finding something amusing, she giggles and swiftly shows me her phone.

“Hey, look at this.”

It was a post uploaded to the Bamboo Forest, attached with a picture of a sprawled-out cat.

“Cute, isn’t it?”

The white cat looked adorably stretched out like a steamed bun.

Yu Arin’s eyes were sparkling as she looked at the photo. I wondered if she liked cats because she resembled one too.

No, Yu Arin is not a cat but a fox?

But my eyes were more drawn to the comments section.

? Anonymous11: Give more photos of it.

The troublemaker and fighter, Anonymous11, surprisingly responded normally to the post today.

This had quite an aftermath.

? Anonymous243: Why aren’t you freaking out today?

? Anonymous11: Shut up, you otaku freak. Don’t butt in when normal people are talking, you reek of sweat.

Starting with the appearance of Anime geek, who is usually criticized daily.

? Anonymous125: LOL

? Anonymous90: I wanna have sex!

? Anonymous69: I wanna have sex!

? Anonymous70: The Sex God is late today. Now, 69 is outdated.

? Anonymous167: Even the troublemaker finds peace thanks to Godly Cat.

? Anonymous305: I’ll also post a pic of my Jjong (Photo)

? Anonymous11: Kick out that bastard.

? Anonymous70: Sharp as a knife when it comes to dogs.

“Ah, seeing this makes me want to join in the conversation.”

Yu Arin giggles while looking at the Bamboo Forest, but being an administrator, she can’t just recklessly post anything onto the bulletin board.

“Just do it.”

? Admin: Slave No. 1 has a cat-like appearance.

As I post a comment with my phone, a flurry of other comments pour in like a thread. Most of them were asking to know more about Slave No. 1 or to see a photo of them.

“Sigh, is this really okay? Aren’t community admins supposed to write as little as possible and remain neutral?”

“So, you’re saying I should just stare blankly and manage without even participating in the community?”

“That… makes sense.”

“Don’t worry about what others think and just do it. It’s anonymous anyway, dummy.”

Ah, no.

Let me correct that.

“Only you and I know.”

As I say this with a slight laugh, Yu Arin, who has been looking at me blankly, starts fiddling with her phone, her shoulders shaking with excitement.

? Anonymous11: No wonder he seemed like a jerk to me.

? Anonymous283: What breed? Chihuahua? Husky? Jindo dog?

? Anonymous59 (Admin1): ? I just called him a dog because he’s a jerk. But he looks like a gorilla.

? Anonymous60: Lololol

? Anonymous90: I wanna have sex!

? Anonymous69: Sex……

“Hey.”

Staring intently and calling out, Yu Arin is covering her mouth with her phone, laughing at something amusing.

Honestly, I didn’t feel too bad about it either.

It wasn’t just anonymous insults thrown at me; it felt like we were sharing secrets known only to us, creating this sense of camaraderie, perhaps.

“Ahaha! Hey, look at this reply. There’s a meme saying it looks like you.”

Yu Arin, sticking out her tongue and making a teasing face, shows me a meme of a dog and bursts into laughter.

Her hitting my shoulder and laughing felt unusually innocent, for Yu Arin was always sly.

Before we knew it, the gazes of two people sitting across from us were on us.

The UFC talk seemed to have ended, as both parties were staring intently at each other.

“Be honest with me now.”

Senior Ju-hee asked with a cheeky smile.

“Are you two dating?”

“Me?”

“With this trash?”

What? Trash? Sorry?

“No, how could I date someone who looks like a used tissue?”

“What? A used tissue? If I’m a used tissue, then you’re covered in shi…!”

“Hahaha.”

Senior Ju-hee, watching us, laughed heartily. It seems she found our serious argument fun to watch.

“Woojin is honestly quite close with girls, isn’t he?”

“Me? I’m only close with a few specific people.”

I could count them all on one hand.

“And those few specific people happen to all be pretty ones?”

I couldn’t deny what senior Ju-hee said.

“If it’s Seo Yerin and Choi Yiseo… then, yes, that is all.”

“This jerk. Why am I excluded?”

Yu Arin charges in again from right beside me. I said she’s like a cat, but moments like this make her seem like a puppy too.

“But personally, I think Arin suits you better than the others. You two being all cozy and affectionate creates a nice atmosphere.”

“That’s right. I think so too!”

Ahn Hyeon-ho immediately agrees with Senior Ju-hee. His bright smile is baffling, but it seems he hasn’t yet given up on Choi Yiseo.

Maybe he’ll try harder to woo her next semester?

“Unfortunately, I’m not planning to be a CC (Campus couple), so I won’t be dating anyone.”

“Wow, that’s a relief. I was worried about what I’d do if you took Senior’s advice and confessed to me.”

Yu Arin sighed in relief, hitting her forehead. I really wanted to smash her on the head, and I barely managed to hold back.

“Well, it’s just something to say. Think of it as Senior being a bit foolish.”

As soon as senior Ju-hee finished speaking, the food arrived for us.

I thought squid with pizza was a bizarre combination, but surprisingly, it went well together, which was a little shocking.

Perhaps the spiciness was balanced by the greasiness of the pizza.

While we were eating.

Woong!

A phone started ringing at the table.

I thought it was someone’s phone, but Ahn Hyeon-ho awkwardly smiled and stood up.

“I’ll take this call and come back.”

He said and went to answer the call.

“Yes, Jinho hyung.”

At that moment, Yu Arin quickly turned towards Ahn Hyeon-ho. Her eyes fluttered in surprise.

That name was also in my memory.

‘Pyo Jinho?’

It was the first time I had heard of it today, but it was a man that left a strong impression from his name alone.

Now, he was on the phone with Ahn Hyeon-ho.

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