Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 182: Drink If You Have-

“What are you going to do since you’re late now?”

Holding hands as we walked, I cautiously asked Seo Yerin.

She should at least get back before 11, but it’s already 30 minutes past.

I felt sorry because it was my idea to stay longer.

“It doesn’t really matter.”

Seo Yerin, whose lips hadn’t stopped curling up in smile, lightly replied.

“I’m 21 now. It’s not like I have to live worrying about my mom anymore.”

At 21, it seems like one should still be under their parents’ wing.

But having run away from home myself, it’s not something I should say to her.

Still, it was true that I was worried.

Especially now, when Seo Yerin’s mother is likely on high alert.

“Sigh. If it really doesn’t work out—tell them whose son I am.”

Using my father’s influence is always uncomfortable.

Overwhelming versatility that makes one ignore discomfort.

If her parents knew Seo Yerin was dating the youngest son of a conglomerate chairman, their hearts might soften a bit.

“Um, I don’t think that would be very helpful.”

Scratching her cheek, Seo Yerin showed an ambiguous reaction.

Anyway, I see Seo Yerin off near her house.

She whined, refusing to let go of my hand, saying she didn’t want to go, or even suggested sneaking into her room, but I refused.

If I truly care about Seo Yerin, it’s right to resist temptation here.

“Oh, by the way, there’s an after-party tomorrow, are you going?”

“...What after-party?”

I asked because I genuinely didn’t know, and Seo Yerin tapped on her phone.

“The MT after-party. Didn’t you use that as an excuse on purpose because you knew about it?”

“No, I didn’t.”

I didn’t expect it to actually exist.

“Hyeon-ho posted a notice about an afterparty for the MT. But it’s actually for those who didn’t attend the MT.”

“Just how much do they plan on drinking.”

“Anyway, make sure to come, okay? I don’t really want to go either, but I said I would.”

“......”

I want to ask if other people are coming.

How will Choi Yiseo and Yu Arin react if they see me there?

It’s a bit scary for me.

“I’ll think about it for now.”

“It might be better to meet Yiseo or Arin there. They can’t hit you in front of everyone, right?”

So they’re coming.

“That’s true.”

It does seem a lot safer than meeting them privately.

“Make sure to come tomorrow, okay? You know it’ll be boring without you.”

“...Alright.”

After sharing a brief kiss with Seo Yerin, I saw her off.

“Tomorrow’s the afterparty.”

I think we’ve already hashed everything out at the MT, so I don’t know what else there is to discuss.

But it seemed like a good idea to go.

Wait a minute.

‘But can Seo Yerin come tomorrow though?’

She would reach home late today, so won’t her parents catch her?

- Seo Yerin: Waaah!

Exactly as I feared.

Seo Yerin couldn’t attend the MT after-party.

Sending a tearful text was the only resistance she could muster.

The after-party venue was a dak-galbi restaurant.

We ate so much pork at the MT, so it seems like we’ve switched to chicken now.

Smoking area outside the stir-fried chicken restaurant.

I was watching the other guys eating stir-fried chicken through the window. Whether it was because the professors weren’t there or because we got closer at the MT, I didn’t know. RAꞐȫ????Ê????

The atmosphere was much more relaxed than at the MT.

“Woojin, Gyu-ah asked me out, what do you really think?”

Ahn Hyeon-ho’s concerns whispered into my ear.

I was dragged to the smoking area, and the reason was none other than Ahn Hyeon-ho.

He came for advice after receiving a confession from Gyu-ah.

I replied with irritation, blatantly covering my nose.

“Just go out with her. You said you like her. What’s the problem then?”

“You said something weird, and it kept bothering me. So, before accepting, I wanted to hear why you said not to date Gyu-ah.”

“Hmm.”

I glance away slightly.

I look towards Gyu-ah through the window.

She seemed to have realized something from watching my relationships with others last time.

“I saw her boyfriend.”

Gyu-ah and Ahn Hyeon-ho.

If I had to weigh the two, it would be Ahn Hyeon-ho’s side I would take.

Actually, it’s not that Ahn Hyeon-ho is heavy burden on me, but that Gyu-ah is too light.

“She has a boyfriend?”

“Yeah, I heard she’s dating about three guys.”

“Crazy!”

The guy with a sullen face, hitting his forehead.

The despair of realizing the girl he liked was a player.

“Ah, seriously, stop joking. It’s not funny, Kim Woojin.”

Even though he already accepted it, what’s the use of denying it to my face?

“So just give up. She’s not a good girl for you, so Gyu-ah is really not it.”

“Wow, Kim Gyu-ah is unbelievable. She said she wanted to date me though?”

Seeing him explode in anger towards Gyu-ah while looking sad, made my heart feel strange.

As I’m patting Ahn Hyeon-ho’s back, a familiar face approaches us.

“Hey, guys.”

Unexpectedly, it was senior Han-kang who showed up at the after-party location.

I’m about to blurt out why this person is appearing here.

“I called him.”

Ahn Hyeon-ho, with his shoulders slumped, confesses as if lamenting.

“Senior said he wanted to meet the new freshmen.”

“Now that my military service is postponed, I’m a free man.”

Han-kang grins.

I wonder when he’ll come to his senses living like that.

“Fold your finger if you’ve confessed during the MT.”

Damn it.

I barely held back the urge to smash her head with a soju bottle.

I forcibly bit my lips and folded one finger.

“What, Woojin confessed during the MT?”

“To whom? What, is he dating someone?”

“Or was he rejected?”

“If Gyu-ah knew, could it have been to Gyu-ah-?”

Since I was the only one who folded, all eyes were on me, but I exercised my right to remain silent.

They didn’t ask who I confessed to.

Choi Yiseo and Yu Arin clicked their tongues simultaneously, looking at me like trash.

‘Shouldn’t Yu Arin and Choi Yiseo fold too?’

Or not.

Is it ambiguous?

Right next to me, it’s Yu Arin’s turn.

Yu Arin’s gaze shot straight at me, so I couldn’t help it.

“Whoever is trash (doing unconventional stuff) fold.”

Fold another one.

Now, the talk about confessing to Yu Arin started swirling, heating up the drinking party.

“Senior Han-kang should fold!”

“Yeah, senior, fold!”

“Shouldn’t Ju-hee fold too? They say she went around hitting people in high school.”

In the end, senior Han-kang and senior Ju-hee folded too. Ahn Hyeon-ho folded stealthily.

The turn went around and around until it was my turn.

I bit my lip hard and looked at Gyu-ah with two fingers left.

“Fold if you have more than two lovers.”

Damn it, you’re dead.

Everyone stared at me, questioning what kind of question that was. But the first punch came from their side.

When I stared intently at Gyu-ah, her face turned bright red and eventually.

Swoosh.

Folded one.

“Sniff.”

The atmosphere buzzed.

As the kids began to say something to Gyu-ah, she urgently shouted.

“Ba-back in high school! I was clueless and dated someone like that! That’s what happened!”

She tries to explain evasively, but honestly, it wasn’t very effective.

Ahn Hyeon-ho was already shocked, clenching his fist tightly.

“How did you know about that?”

I gave a smile as I answered Choi Yiseo, who whispered slyly.

“I saw her fighting with her ex-boyfriend. She asked me to pretend to be her boyfriend, so I immediately stepped in.”

“Should I praise you for this?”

“Then should I have acted as her boyfriend?”

“...Well done. If it happens again, step in right away.”

“Roger that.”

The distance with Choi Yiseo has now quite reduced. A situation where our shoulders touch before we knew it.

Except for Yu Arin glaring this way, it wasn’t bad.

The questions from Yiseo next to me also passed somewhat blandly, amidst the continuous flow.

Ahn Hyeon-ho, who was shocked, looked at Gyu-ah with disbelief and asked.

“Fold if you’ve tried a threesome.”

“Ah, that’s really not it!”

Gyu-ah, flustered, makes an excuse.

Even though she’s had multiple partners, she exclaims that she’s never done such promiscuous acts.

Hmm, right.

Threesome is definitely crossing the line.

‘Damn, that’s scary.’

My lips feel parched.

It’s okay.

Just laugh it off casually and move on-

“......”

Senior Ju-hee is staring intently at my way.

I just turned my gaze away, pretending not to notice.

Reaching out for a drink of water, Yu Arin sitting opposite was staring this way.

- Don’t do it.

When I conveyed that with my mouth, Yu Arin glanced sideways at Choi Yiseo.

Yu Arin, who had been glaring at them while they were chattering cozily together from earlier.

- You’re dead.

With a smile, she folded one of the two remaining fingers.

To make matters worse, the remaining finger was the middle one, naturally flipping me off.

“Oooooo?!”

“Wow, shiiiit!”

“Hollywood! This is Hollywood level!”

Exclamations burst out from all around.

Feeling the pressure from Yu Arin’s gaze urging me to fold a finger, I lowered my head.

Before I knew it, Choi Yiseo’s hand was gripping my thigh so tightly it hurt.

“Woojin.”

“Y-yes, heh.”

I tried to answer in a small, shrinking voice.

“If you fold this, you’re dead.”

Though she’s smiling, her voice is chilly, and her eyes are lifeless.

I don’t want to fold it either.

Isn’t it obvious that if I don’t fold it, Yu Arin will say something?

Swoosh.

In the end, one of my fingers folded cautiously.

The moment everyone’s shocking gazes fixed on me again.

Clatter!

Choi Yiseo, who stood up by pushing her chair back, spoke softly without even looking at me.

“Outside.”

And then she went out of the stir-fried chicken restaurant.

“O-outside....”

I could only follow her with drooped shoulders, looking miserable.