Bamboo Forest Manager

“Wow, what’s this? It really feels like the end of the year festival.”

I couldn’t help but tilt my head at the awkwardness of the UI concert schedule set for the end of December.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

Choi Yiseo, who found it strange that I didn’t look too happy even after succeeding in getting tickets, asked while drinking her coffee.

“No, I’m not sure if I’ll have time to go to the concert.”

Because around this time, I was planning to go work at the Gold One Hotel in Gangwon-do.

When I talked to senior Ju-hee, she said there were plenty of spots and that they’d put anyone to work if they just showed up on time.

Since they provide lodging and meals, and it’s in the mountains where there’s hardly a need to spend money, I thought it might be quite an attractive place for a broke uni student like me.

Working in hotel management or culinary arts, initially for practice, but often ending up taking a part-time job there, suggested it’s quite a decent gig for many.

“Yeah, trying not to take money from home. So, I’m planning to move into the dorm from my sophomore year. They said working part-time during the vacation can also add bonus points during the interview for the dorms.”

It was a way to indirectly appeal about financial difficulties, wasn’t it?

In fact, the best method was to get good grades, as Anonymous90… that’s what the student from the Department of Physical Therapy, Lee Eun-woo, told me.

“Hmm.”

Choi Yiseo looked at me with a contemplative expression.

“Well, we can think about it when the time comes. If it doesn’t work out, I can give it to you, and you can go see it with someone else.”

“…It’s fine, you’ve succeeded. If it’s not with you, I don’t particularly want to go either.”

I was slightly moved by those words, but I forced myself to pretend otherwise and coughed, which made Choi Yiseo smile slightly.

“You’re pretending not to be moved when you are.”

How does she know me so well?

“Well, let’s think about the concert later. For now, we should focus on our assignment at hand? I’ll help, so let’s get it done quickly.”

Choi Yiseo quickly changed the subject. Indeed, finishing the assignment was the priority.

“Still, if you want to go later, tell me. I’ll give you a ticket if I can.”

Or maybe I could cancel and rebook right away?

I’m not sure if that’s possible though.

As I turned the editing program back on and said that, Choi Yiseo also gently smiled and agreed.

‘The atmosphere is somewhat…’

When Seo Yerin and Yu Arin are together, it feels like a chaotic fight would break out at any moment, but now it’s comfortable and my mind feels somewhat at ease.

“I told you it wasn’t me! That bastard made me do it!”

“Just because you’re told to do something, you just do it? Huh? Do you?”

“Ah! What am I supposed to do now! I promised my girlfriend I’d definitely succeed in ticketing!”

Although the bizarre screams of the fools could be heard from behind me, I pretended not to hear and moved on.

Ahn Hyeon-ho keeps trying to pin the blame on me, but the actual perpetrator is that guy, isn’t it?

But of course.

“Hey, Kim Woojin!”

“You trashy bastard!”

Having heard the whole story, Pyo Jinho and Kang Han-kang came striding over, looking as if they wanted to kill me.

“How could you do that! Huh? Are you even human? Are you?”

“Hey, Yiseo, hello? Sorry, but can I take him away for a moment?”

Pyo Jinho rudely pressed her with questions.

To capture the enemy leader, shoot the horse, was it? Kang Han-kang approached Choi Yiseo first.

Though the two pushed aggressively as if they were some kind of carrot and stick…

“I don’t want to.”

Choi Yiseo’s expression, which had been creating a fresh and soft atmosphere until just now, turned cold.

It felt similar to when I first saw her in class.

‘Come to think of it.’

Choi Yiseo had reminded me anew that she originally had this type of aura, which surprised me.

Choi Yiseo, with an expressionless face, glared at Kang Han-kang and Pyo Jinho and slowly crossed her legs while looking up at them.

“What’s going on?”

The two, overwhelmed by her chilly demeanor, especially Pyo Jinho, shrank back more because of his past experience of getting scolded by Yu Arin.

“Well, you see, Yiseo. The thing is…”

Han-kang, noticing the situation, quickly tried to explain their circumstances to her, so I immediately stood up between them.

“I did nothing wrong!”

No.

I know I did something wrong.

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

From afar, Ahn Hyeon-ho, who got battered, yelled in anger after receiving comfort from Chan-woo, but I decided to be even more shameless.

“Yiseo, don’t listen to them! Just trust me!”

Trying to prevent Choi Yiseo from hearing their story by sticking as close as to her as possible, Han-kang shouted from behind my back.

“We’ve been waiting here to get tickets for almost an hour…!”

“Don’t listen to him!”

I quickly covered her ears with both hands and made her focus her gaze on me.

Choi Yiseo looked bewildered by the chaos, but it was a desperate resistance on my part, doing my best for her to not know about my shitty side.

“Look at me! Yiseo! The he-headset! Let’s listen to music with a headset!”

“Hold it! If you explain it to Yiseo, she’ll probably tell you to take the tickets!”

“You’re dead!”

Right then, Pyo Jinho and Han-kang started pulling on my back, but since I couldn’t exert any force on the hands covering Yiseo’s ears, I had no choice but to fall back helplessly.

“What on earth is all this chaos.”

Choi Yiseo turned, unable to follow the absurd situation. I started to struggle while being held by the two.

“Please, keep it down over there.”

A momentary gap emerged as the gazes of other customers around us focused on us.

Having shaken the two off and quickly sitting back down, I leaned the chair as far back as possible and just lay there, trying to endure somehow.

I finished preparing to hold on by wrapping my arms around the chair’s armrests. No matter how much stronger they are, they surely can’t hit me or anything here…

Bang.

I felt a warm weight on my thighs.

Choi Yiseo, who had climbed on top of me as I’m almost lying down on the chair, said to Han-kang and Pyo Jinho with her head slightly bowed in embarrassment,

“Go, go away because I will scold him.”

“……”

“…Damn.”

Pyo Jinho, looking back and forth between me and Choi Yiseo with a face that seemed to have hit reality, slapped his forehead and turned his body.

“Kim Woojin, you bastard, make sure you enlist as my junior in the military.”

Was it tears that flowed down his cheek? I felt like I knew, but let’s just pretend not to.

“Please die, Kim Woojin. Die twice.”

Han-kang, patting Pyo Jinho’s back, had left with him.

Considering it was a situation that could have exploded at any moment, it ended quite peacefully.

And at the center of it, I had to admit, was Choi Yiseo.

Creak.

I lift the chair back up.

“Huh?!”

The distance between Choi Yiseo and me suddenly narrowed, but I didn’t care and immediately pulled a chair up to the computer.

“Order anything else you want to eat. I’ll buy it for you.”

I could afford this much since I survived, thanks to her. Smiling broadly, Choi Yiseo, still seated on my lap, raised her hand and pinched my cheek.

“What did you do?”

“…Nothing much.”

“Hurry and tell me.”

Under Choi Yiseo’s cold gaze, I eventually confessed that I had bribed Ahn Hyeon-ho to turn off both their computers.

“Ah, you fool. Did you want to do the ticketing that badly? You’re not even a fan of UI.”

“You said you were a fan…”

Part of it was because I found those guys annoying, but also because Choi Yiseo was a fan, I wanted to get the tickets for her. Seeing me sulk, Choi Yiseo shook her head from side to side and sighed.

Sitting on my lap, her face was right next to mine, making her breath tickle as it brushed past my cheek.

I felt somewhat accustomed to this position, but Choi Yiseo was slowly trying to get up.

Then suddenly, she seemed curious and asked another question.

“Why does Ahn Hyeon-ho listen to you? It seems like he got hit because of that?”

“……”

I almost blurted out that I had made a deal with Ahn Hyeon-ho using her as bait.

It felt like it would be a big problem if I said that.

“Yiseo, isn’t there anything you’d like to eat?”

As I asked with a bright smile, Choi Yiseo narrowed her eyes and slowly wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Tell me.”

“Uh, isn’t it a problem for us to be in this position?”

“Tell me.”

“People will think it’s weird?”

“Shh, just tell me?”

“I’m up! My lower half is rock-hard!”

I ended up saying something I shouldn’t have in an attempt to shake off Choi Yiseo from my lap. Honestly, I hadn’t fallen that low in bodily terms, so I wasn’t actually erect.

I didn’t want to say it at the cost of my image, and Choi Yiseo actually glanced down involuntarily.

“Is this the first or second time for you? Such things don’t matter, right?”

“Crazy girl.”

Super confident Choi Yiseo.

Instead, she tightened her grip around my neck, making it feel sore as if I was in a headlock.

Turning her body slightly to sit beside me, Choi Yiseo pressed on my cheek with her other hand and asked.

“Spit it out. Now.”

I’ve lost.

I couldn’t win against Choi Yiseo when she was being this forceful.

“That, that is…”

Like a husband reporting to his wife that he’d bought a PlayStation, I grumbled and confessed.

Crack!

Choi Yiseo’s fingers pressing against my cheek tightened. It’s not just any pressure; it felt like my teeth might fall out.

“I’m sorry.”

Without saying anything, just pressing down on my cheek, this somehow felt scarier than if she were outright yelling at me for what I did.

“I said I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I said I’m sorry! Say something! It’s scary!”

It feels like a hole might be drilled through my cheek.

Choi Yiseo slowly removes her hand.

But she still hasn’t let go of the arm around my neck, and her cold glare hasn’t lessened in intensity at all.

Eventually, sitting awkwardly on me, I sneak a glance at the menu that appeared on the screen and say,

“Choose whatever you want to eat. I’ll really buy you anything…”

I reach out, brushing against Choi Yiseo’s back to grab the mouse.

Though it ends up looking like I’m holding Choi Yiseo in my arms, it probably won’t appease her anger, whatever it is.

I stare sulkily at the screen.

Refreshing the page.

“…Hmm?”

Suddenly, a soft sensation on my cheek. As I quickly turned my head, there was Choi Yiseo, avoiding my gaze as if embarrassed.

“No, it’s just that, you looking sullen seemed a bit cute…”

“Isn’t this like bipolar disorder?”

Looking at her incredulously, she pressed her finger against my cheek again, and my head turned back towards the monitor.

Smooch.

And then, the same sensation was felt on my cheek. This time, she didn’t turn her head, but she looked embarrassed and slightly lowered it.

“Hey, what is it this time?”

“I was worried it might hurt from the pressing earlier.”

So, was that a kiss to make it better?

It seemed like the pain was fading away.

Kiss.

“Stop it, that’s enough. It’s hard for me.”

Kiss.

“What is it this time?”

The continuous kisses from her made it increasingly difficult to hold back.

My heart was racing as if it had caught a fever inside, and all my nerves seemed to be concentrated on my cheek, an illusion.

The first to react was, of course.

“This…”

My lower half.

Choi Yiseo cautiously moved her gaze back down.

Pretending not to notice, I forced myself to focus on the monitor, but the mouse pointer, having nowhere to go, just repeated meaningless movements here and there.

“I-I’m used to it! It’s not the first or second time you’ve done this!”

Despite feeling a touch on her thigh, unlike before, Choi Yiseo pretended to be unaffected with a flushed face.

“……”

“……”

“……”

“…Ah, ahem. Tha-that’s a bit too much.”

Because the lower half, which was increasingly exerting its force and revealing its true nature, was poking Choi Yiseo.

Choi Yiseo carefully got up off me and returned to the seat next to me that she was originally sitting on.

Overwhelmed by a wave of shame, I wanted to go home.

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