Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 146: Dormitory Meeting

The dormitory interview itself wasn’t particularly difficult.

There wasn’t much to say, and it seemed more about filtering out the minimum risk rather than eliminating someone.

‘It’s a bit different from other universities.’

I heard that at other places, it’s hard to get into the dormitory after the first year.

Some places are harder to get into the dormitory than to get into the university itself.

Compared to such places, Gahyeon University was certainly more convenient.

I’ve seen on YouTube that Gahyeon University is introduced as a school with a well-organized dormitory system.

I didn’t expect it to be this easy, though.

When I came out, senior Ju-hee and Oh Dae-sang hyung were still sitting there.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy, and Dae-sang hyung was looking at the ground.

‘Well, it’s because it’s the Captain.’

How many people can stand next to senior Ju-hee without lowering their eyes?

“It’s done. The atmosphere was good, so I think I’ll pass!”

I smile and thank the two people.

“Really? Congratulations.”

Dae-sang hyung welcomed me back enthusiastically and congratulated me.

Senior Ju-hee momentarily shot me a sharp glance. I almost took a step back in surprise.

“That’s good, I’m glad.”

She quickly returned to her usual expression and patted me on the back.

“Ugh! Se-senior. It hurts.”

“Really? Sorry!”

Whack!

She gave me another pat on the back.

Indeed, her boldness is quite fitting for a general.

‘…This feels weird.’

There was something hard to overlook.

‘Could it be because of the last time?’

I wondered if she was upset because I didn’t mention it.

If I say that, I might end up getting hit even more.

‘Hmm.’

While I was pondering what to do, it was already Min Ju-hee’s turn for the interview.

“Is something wrong with senior Ju-hee?”

Thinking this was a good opportunity, I immediately asked Dae-sang hyung, but he just shrugged, saying he didn’t know either.

“More importantly, Woojin. We decided to have a drink with the guys who moved into the dorm before. Want to join us?”

“Huh? Out of the blue?”

Earlier, he had been looking down at his phone, so it seemed like he had made some plans.

“Yeah, we’re gathering the people moving back into the dorm this time to get along better. Since you’ll be living in the dorm, you’ll see them often too.”

Honestly, I’m not really interested.

I don’t particularly want to drink, nor do I want to go to a gathering and have conversations with anyone.

“You don’t look too happy.”

Seeing me like that, the senior patted my shoulder and gave me some advice.

“You look more worn out than when you were at Gold One. It’s good to ponder over things at times like this, but sometimes just having a drink without thinking too much isn’t bad either.”

Ever since Oh Yoon-ji left, my head had been in a mess, but I hadn’t had a drink.

The senior’s advice, carrying the weight of age.

“Sure, why not.”

To hell with it, I decided to go.

It would be good to get to know people in the dormitory beforehand to get along better.

“But what about those who fail after being seen there?”

“Well, that’s just unfortunate.”

Surprisingly, I might go and not see a few people there.

As I was talking about various things related to the dormitory, senior Ju-hee returned.

It seems like there were no issues, so the interview went well.

As if changing shifts, the senior gets up and goes for his interview.

“Alright, take care. I’ll contact you later. It will probably be around 7 o’clock, Woojin.”

“Yes, hyung. Please contact me.”

I bow my head and see the senior off to his interview.

I could just leave, but the quiet hustle and bustle around feels somewhat comforting.

As I sit for a moment.

Senior Ju-hee sitting next to me looks at me intently and asks.

“Do you have any plans?”

“Yes, the people staying in the dormitory are getting together to drink. I thought I’d at least get to know their faces.”

“Do you want to come too, senior?”

Since Senior Ju-hee likes drinking quite a bit, I thought I’d suggest it.

“No, I’m not into those kinds of gatherings.”

Surprisingly, senior Ju-hee waves her hand and declines.

“Woojin, since it’s a university dorm, there tends to be quite a few incidents, you know?”

Then followed the advice.

“You don’t need to get friendly with everyone at drinking parties. It’s also necessary to draw a line when you see fit.”

“…Do you know something?”

As I asked because Senior’s tone left a strange aftertaste, she scratched her cheek and answered.

“Well, I don’t know everything. You go and see for yourself and judge.”

“Yes.”

As expected of Senior.

Just cool and clean advice was impressive.

“…Or maybe you’re the bad one.”

“Pardon?”

Though she mumbled something and stared at me with a squint.

“Never mind, I’m leaving.”

Thwack!

“Ouch!”

Senior hit my back again as she left. Seeing how she can’t control her strength, she should exercise or something.

‘Then I should too.’

Thinking it was about time, I stood up from my seat.

---

To cut to the chase, it’s become incredibly bothersome.

Staying at home feels annoying, drinking feels annoying, and meeting new people feels annoying.

But since I said I’d go to the boss, I’m reluctantly on my way.

Even though it’s our first meeting, I didn’t dress up, just pulled on a cap, threw on a sweater, and headed to the place marked on my phone.

‘The store’s name is…Red Chili Paste Pork? Korean BBQ? What is this?’

Isn’t it just a pork belly place?

We’re having a company dinner at some weird place.

Since it was a straight path, I was about to put my phone away when a message came in.

• Yu Arin: Have you arrived, traitor?

It was a group chat, and the members were me, Yu Arin, Seo Yerin, and Choi Yiseo.

It felt a bit embarrassing to have this group chat, but I had mentioned earlier that there was a gathering today.

• Kim Woojin: Not yet.

Yu Arin was quick to curse when she found out I postponed drinking with them and went somewhere else to drink.

• Yu Arin: Fucking annoying bastard.

• Kim Woojin: But we decided to meet tomorrow.

• Yu Arin: Look at that tone. I should probably bow and thank you for meeting me.

• Yu Arin: Which direction are you in? I’ll bow to you from here.

‘This wench.’

Recently, the mood had been oddly tense, but after I sent a message saying I had a meeting, it was as if nothing had happened.

• Choi Yiseo: Don’t drink too much.

• Kim Woojin: Kay.

• Choi Yiseo: I told you not to do that.

• Kim Woojin: Yes, ma’am.

• Yu Arin: Anyone would think you’re married. So caring. But yeah, don’t drink too much.

• Yu Arin: When you get drunk, you always try to drag some girl home.

• Kim Woojin: ???

• Yu Arin: I’m serious.

• Kim Woojin: It’s not about dragging a girl along; it’s about asking anyone to go together.

• Choi Yiseo: Die.

Honestly, I’m not that resentful.

What can I do about my drinking habits?

In fact, because of that, those three have slept over at my place before.

• Seo Yerin: But the restaurant’s name is Red Chilli Paste Pork, so it might not be to Woojin’s taste.

• Yu Arin: Yerin, when are you going to take your clothes? Why did you put your clothes in my suitcase?

• Choi Yiseo: If you have a hard time after drinking, call me. I’ll come to get you.

• Seo Yerin: A declaration of conscience.

• Kim Woojin: I’m not a kid.

• Seo Yerin: There was no room in my suitcase, so I put them in yours.

• Yu Arin: ……

‘It’s so chaotic.’

Why are there so many words?

The disorganized conversation did give me a bit of a headache, but a small smile had somehow formed on my lips.

I arrived at the barbecue restaurant before I knew it.

I arrived just on time for the meeting, but there weren’t many people yet.

“Dae-sang hyung.”

“Woojin, you’re here.”

Thanks to Dae-sang hyung, I got to sit next to him and chat.

There were students from various departments, not just Food and Nutrition, and especially freshmen who were moving into the dorms also attended through introductions from their seniors.

The male-to-female ratio was decent.

Before coming here, the kids had been giving me strange looks, but there weren’t so many girls to warrant that.

While exchanging stories with Dae-sang hyung from Gold One, we tilted our glasses.

“Sigh.”

I thought drinking a bit might help lift my mood.

But the knot in my chest wasn’t something that could be undone with a bit of alcohol.

How should I put it?

It’s like I was feeling the heartache of a breakup again after the first semester and during the vacation.

‘This sucks.’

I tried to relieve my gloominess by drinking…

“Aren’t you drinking too hard by yourself?”

Before I knew it, the seat where Hyung had been sitting was now occupied by a familiar face.

Slightly longer hair.

The same glasses and a smirk.

A fossil in the Physical Therapy department, and a believer in Sex God.

Anonymous90 of the Bamboo Forest.

Now a graduate student and even a teaching assistant, it was Lee Eun-woo.

“Do you still live in the dormitory?”

Since she’s a senior, shouldn’t she not be living there anymore?

“I found a separate place. I just came to hang out today.”

Well, she was a fossil in the Physical Therapy department and had been stuck in the dormitory for four years.

She must have quite a few friends in the dormitory.

“Then, go ahead.”

“Don’t you manage the Bamboo Forest anymore? You used to do it a lot.”

Is it really Yu Arin doing it alone?

I feel a bit sorry.

“I have to. I was just taking a break.”

“Ah, I thought you handed it over to your successor.”

“Are they still wallpapering over there?”

I remember Seo Yerin being extremely upset about losing her seat as the sex symbol.

Also, she was happy to reclaim her spot as the sex symbol while wallpapering at Gold One.

I don’t know why that’s important.

“…A little?”

“Sigh, it’s more than a little.”

It was obvious she was doing it more than usual.

“You came here today to ask about a guy, right?”

“…You’re sharp.”

Anyway, she’s crazy about men.

“Freshmen are nice. They’re so enthusiastic, day and night.”

“Take it easy. Don’t mess up their relationships for no reason.”

I glance over at the table where the freshmen are gathered.

Many of them, slightly tipsy from drinking, openly show their affection without hiding it.

“Tsk, do they think I’m an old lady? So, will the Admin entertain me today?”

“You’re acting up again. Shall I introduce you to a nice person?”

“Who?”

“Oh Dae-sang hyung.”

“Not my type.”

Such a picky person.

Dae-sang hyung is a reliable and good man.

“I saw a few freshmen from the English department over there, have you talked to them?”

“Huh?”

Why didn’t I know that?

“They seem to have followed their friends. Go and say hi.”

“No, thanks. They might dislike it if I pretend to know them.”

How annoying would it be if a complete stranger came over and acted like a senior?

‘Ah, should I just leave?’

I came here to get to know the people I would be staying with in the dormitory and to make friends.

But I didn’t feel like talking and drinking with anyone.

‘It was a bit different earlier.’

Before entering the BBQ restaurant, when I was chatting with the kids, it felt like everything was back to normal.

My heart felt a bit lighter.

But now, it wasn’t the case.

‘…Even if I ask her to meet, she won’t come.’

Since we planned to drink tomorrow, I thought I’d just adjust my condition for that and slowly got up.

A woman entered as the door of the restaurant opened.

She was noticeably dressed up for a late night, and the subtle restaurant lighting enhanced her aura.

A natural charm that gathered the attention of everyone inside the restaurant.

“Seo Yerin?”

Why is she here?

Various thoughts crossed my mind, but Seo Yerin, receiving everyone’s gaze, found me immediately and approached.

“Woojin, I messaged you, why didn’t you check?”

She pointed to her phone with a graceful smile.

“Wow.”

“Isn’t that Senior? The goddess from the Gold One bakery.”

“She’s exactly your type – innocent.”

“Exactly.”

Voices were heard from here and there.

Even when staying at Gold One, Seo Yerin stood out, but among fellow students, she shone even more.

Seeing Seo Yerin, pure and innocent.

‘She was always like this.’

Having only viewed her as the sex icon for a while, this Seo Yerin felt somewhat unfamiliar.

“Hmm? Woojin.”

Seo Yerin was urging me with a smile.

I blankly checked my phone.

There was a private message from Seo Yerin.

• Seo Yerin: (photo)

• Seo Yerin: (photo)

• Seo Yerin: Which one do you like?

One photo showed her covering her chest with both hands, wearing only panties.

The other photo had her wearing only a white shirt, covering her lower body with her hand.

Both were of Seo Yerin.

“…Did you come here just to ask me this?”

I asked, dumbfounded, staring blankly at Seo Yerin.

“Yeah, which do you like?”

She asked me with a pure, clear smile.