Bamboo Forest Manager

Beach (4)

“Wow.”

Seo Ye-rin, sitting on the sunbed, takes a big bite of food. Her cheeks puffed up, mumbling, is so cute that I grab the camera.

Click.

After I take a shot, Seo Ye-rin looks my way, quickly chews her food, and then puts her hand next to her cheek, making a V sign and smiling.

Click click.

As I take a few more shots, Seo Ye-rin seems to be getting excited and starts posing, leaving her lunchbox aside.

“Why does it feel like it’s turning into a risqué magazine?”

Even though she’s wearing a rash guard, it’s still Seo Ye-rin. Just as her poses start to get a bit suggestive, I put down the camera.

“This is delicious.”

From noble mtl dot com

Yoo Ah-rin, who had been munching away at her food while I was taking pictures of Seo Ye-rin, smiles contentedly.

It’s called a plate lunch, brought by someone selling from a truck, and it’s definitely not bad.

The contents are the typical plastic-packaged lunch we know.

Rice, salad, macaroni, and the like are laid out as a base, with the main dishes including grilled pork, chicken, fried shrimp, and lamb chops.

“Wow, eating rice makes me feel a bit better.”

I had rice noodles for lunch earlier, but still, chewing on rice like this gives me energy.

I was inherently Korean.

“Senior, you should go have some fun too. Don’t worry about what others think.”

When I said this to the senior who was sitting next to Yoo Ah-rin, picking at his food, he flinched and nodded absentmindedly.

“Uh, okay.”

Where did that intimidating presence go that was just knocking out those muscular guys a moment ago? Why is he being so cautious now?

“Is it because I told you not to follow me, but you did?”

“Ahem, it’s also important for a bodyguard to ensure the client is comfortable.”

“Come on, but you still helped me. I was a bit careless too. I didn’t expect something like this to happen in Hawaii.”

It seems like he wanted to film it as if it were a hidden camera prank since he’s a YouTuber.

“Anyway, YouTubers are the problem.”

Seo Ye-rin muttered while clicking her tongue, and Yoo Ah-rin retorted.

“Hey, I’m going to be a YouTuber soon too.”

“Exactly. Yoo Ah-rin, you’re a problem too.”

“Do you want to roll around on the floor like those guys earlier?”

“Drink this!”

Look at him pretending not to hear while eating.

“Anyway, if a situation like just now happens again, I’ll call you right away, so go have fun. You’re not just going to sit here alone while everyone else is having a good time, right?”

“That’s right, senior. Please go give Yoo Ah-rin some proper education.”

“…….”

Yoo Ah-rin glanced at Senior Joo-hee. The senior happened to meet Yoo Ah-rin’s gaze, but they both turned their heads away without saying a word.

‘Hmm?’

Is there something between them?

I thought they had gotten pretty close when they worked on group projects together back in the day.

I had a question, but since the atmosphere started to feel a bit strange, I naturally changed the subject.

“By the way, when does Choi I-seo plan to stop playing over there?”

Seeing her still snorkeling in the sea, it looks like she’s having a lot of fun.

“I-seo! Come eat!”

I called out since leaving the rice like this would make it cold. Choi I-seo started to come over in this direction.

As Choi I-seo emerged from the sea, I took a long towel and draped it over her body.

With such a revealing swimsuit, it was necessary to cover up a bit.

“…You have good taste.”

Choi I-seo, blushing yet smiling slightly.

It seemed that one of the reasons she had stayed in the water for so long was because of the swimsuit. When you’re in the water, the swimsuit doesn’t show as much.

“Let’s go eat; I got a plate lunch that’s famous in Hawaii.”

“Oh.”

As we made our way to our seats, senior Joo-hee and Yoo Ah-rin passed by us.

“Where are you two going?”

“To the swimming competition.”

Yoo Ah-rin declared coldly, followed by Min Joo-hee. It was clear that something had happened between the two of them.

‘If they’re trying to resolve it with a swimming competition, it doesn’t seem too serious…’

They seemed to be trying to sort it out on their own.

When we arrived at our seats, Seo Ye-rin was already lying on a sunbed, her back to us, having finished her meal.

After handing the lunchbox to Choi I-seo, I frowned at Seo Ye-rin.

“Hey, if you lie down right after eating, you’ll gain weight. How can you, someone who wants to be an actress, not manage yourself like that?”

“Wow! Look at Kim Woo-jin nagging me! Anyone would think you’re my husband!”

“Isn’t that what you call a manager in situations like this?”

“Husband! Can you come over here and put some oil on me?”

“I really want to, but—”

She was wearing a rash guard, completely wrapped up, so what exactly did she want me to apply?

“Do you want me to put it on over the rash guard? To take care of your swimsuit?”

“I shouldn’t have worn this! It’s just so suffocating. Eating makes it even worse.”

She complained, wanting to take it off immediately. Well, why did she buy something that didn’t even suit her?

“…Do you want to swap with me?”

At that moment, Choi I-seo, who had been eating, casually suggested.

Since we both had complaints about our swimsuits, why not switch?

Under normal circumstances, Choi I-seo would never have suggested such a thing, but it must mean that she was uncomfortable in what she was wearing.

She was even wrapping herself in a towel while eating.

“Eh? No way. That’s way too revealing. I only want to show it to Woo-jin.”

“…….”

“It’s a s*xy swimsuit. I didn’t plan on doing this even here.”

She’s going to get hit for that.

Choi I-seo’s face turned red, and she seemed to want to argue back, but it looked like she had no words to say.

“It’s not a s*xy swimsuit or anything. It’s just a swimsuit with a bit of exposure.”

“I-seo, honestly, when you bought that, didn’t you have any intention of wearing it?”

“……!”

Seo Ye-rin, lying down and grinning mischievously, left Choi I-seo speechless.

Choi I-seo, as if choking, pounded her chest and shouted with a flushed face.

“Ye-rin! Why have you changed so much?! You weren’t like this before! Why is the topic always like this?”

“s*xy?”

Is she a Pokémon or something?

Now she’s answering with ‘s*xy’ too.

She used to be practically a refined lady.

The epitome of innocence, a beauty in the English department, and so on.

Even before becoming an actress, stories about Seo Ye-rin would often come up in the bamboo forest.

“I’m not like this elsewhere.”

Is that really true?

I worry that she might be saying things like this everywhere now.

“I’m only like this here. That’s why I like you guys!”

Seo Ye-rin suddenly confessed with a sly smile. I and Choi I-seo stared at her in shock, lost for words.

People generally find it hard to say harsh things to those who are kind to them.

Moreover, since she claims she doesn’t act like this outside, we have no choice but to believe her.

‘Choi Jin-ah was surprised too.’

Thinking back to when Choi Jin-ah, who had met Seo Ye-rin outside, was astonished by her behavior in front of me.

She must be managing just fine outside.

“Ye-rin! Come over here and referee for a bit!”

Yoo Ah-rin, in the sea, waved her hand calling for Seo Ye-rin.

“It’s a hassle.”

“Ah, come on! Just come over and take a look for a moment!”

“Ah, I’m off then.”

Seoye-rin sauntered towards Yoo-ah-rin and Senior Joo-hee. I glanced at Seoye-rin absentmindedly before turning my gaze away again.

Choi Yi-seo was almost done eating.

Her determined struggle to focus on her food looked adorably cute.

“Yi-seo, did you really think that when you were buying a swimsuit?”

“Cough! Cough!”

I handed her a drink as she startled and coughed.

Once she composed herself, she wiped her mouth and muttered softly.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I didn’t. This is a swimsuit. There’s no way I’d wear it with that intention.”

“But last time you wore a bunny girl outfit.”

“That was—!”

Choi Yi-seo clamped her mouth shut as if she was about to shout something. Back then, she thought I was impotent and tried to provoke me somehow.

“Wow, if you said there was absolutely nothing, that would be a lie. From the very beginning, I was thinking about what kind of swimsuit Yerin would buy.”

In Yi-seo’s mind, Seoye-rin was the kind of woman who wore things like that.

Anyway, I told Seoye-rin to be honest, but she became too honest.

“Yi-seo.”

“N-No! Not now! At night! It has to be at night! Right now, I’m going to play!”

“I’m not saying I want to do that.”

“……Geez.”

Choi Yi-seo buried her face in embarrassment. To her, I made my request straightforwardly.

“Show me.”

“What?”

“Show me your swimsuit.”

“No! What do you mean show you! You already saw everything while pretending to dive earlier!”

Choi Yi-seo wrapped herself tightly in a towel, trying to hide. But I didn’t back down.

“I just want to see it again.”

“I said no!”

“Really, can’t you?”

“Hey! No way!”

“Why? You bought it to show me in the first place.”

“That’s—! Ugh, when did you become so shameless, Kim Woo-jin?”

Exactly.

But it was because I felt certain while we were talking.

The certainty that, in the end, Choi Yi-seo would listen to me.

I didn’t know the reason, but the feeling was clear.

I tend to have a good instinct in situations like this.

“Phew.”

Choi Yi-seo slowly stood up.

While glaring at me resentfully, she subtly spread her hand that was wrapped in the towel.

Turning her back to the towel curtain so others wouldn’t see.

The sight of Choi Yi-seo in her swimsuit reappeared before me.

Her body, smooth and sculpted without an ounce of excess fat, was the result of hard work.

In that moment, as I stared at her holding the towel until she felt embarrassed enough to let it go.

I stepped closer, covering her again, and whispered softly.

“Come to my room today. Wear that.”

Choi Yi-seo’s hot breath brushed against my nape. After a brief hesitation, she replied.

“Okay.”

Her answer was discreet.

* * *

“Yes, I’m in Hawaii right now.”

Choi Jin-ah, who had stepped outside for a brief walk on the beach, was on the phone.

It was her father.

– So, are you with that guy right now?

“I’m not with him at the moment.”

After all, she was still engaged.

Choi Jin-ah had been enjoying her freedom by using that status.

– Huh, the rumors aren’t good. What’s so great about him?

She had told her father that her relationship with Kim Woo-jin was a political marriage, so he didn’t need to worry, but in reality, the family’s gaze toward him was far from kind.

Is he not pleased with the idea of marrying off his only daughter?

‘That’s not like him.’

My father, who said that being known as a violinist wouldn’t help the company at all.

Would he look unfavorably upon the fact that I’m entering into a political marriage with Kim Woo-jin’s Universe Group?

“It’s Universe Group. I thought you’d like it.”

– Tsk, what’s so good about getting involved with a discarded youngest son?

Well, that makes sense.

If it had been the eldest son, Kim Jae-woon, instead of the youngest, Kim Woo-jin, it would have been much better.

‘I’m sure you said at first that you liked Kim Woo-jin.’

Was it because of his impressive background, or has his greed simply grown?

I don’t know what it is, but in any case, Choi Jin-ah let out a sigh.

“What’s the reason for your call?”

– I heard that when you went to Hawaii, a woman named Oh Yoon-ji went along too.

“She’s my friend.”

– She’s also that guy’s girlfriend.

“What do you want to say?”

– I just have doubts about whether you’re really in a good relationship with him. It could just be a ploy to escape from home.

“…….”

Caught off guard, I had no words.

Choi Jin-ah was momentarily speechless, but her father, Choi Gil-seob, didn’t notice.

– If you can’t prove that you’re getting along with him, send me some evidence.

“Excuse me? All of a sudden?”

– Why? If you’re on good terms, you should be taking pictures together often.

“No, it’s just too sudden.”

I wondered why he suddenly had doubts about my relationship.

– If you can’t do it, come back. I’ve already looked into a new engagement, so just break off the current one.

“…….”

– That would be better for you. He’s the eldest son of NI, after all.

Ah.

So that’s why.

—

Choi Gil-seob weighed the scales, deciding that the eldest son of the wolf was better than the youngest of the tiger.

After all, Kim Woo-jin had no interest whatsoever in managing the Universe Group.

– Then I’ll assume you understood.

Thud.

As the call with her father ended, Choi Jin-ah suddenly noticed the distant sea.

It had been a long time since she felt this sensation.

A feeling as if the water was rising to her face, making it hard to breathe.

In the midst of such thoughts.

The paid sunbeds on the beach.

The sight of Kim Woo-jin and Choi Yi-seo embracing each other caught her eye.

“What are you wearing!?”

Choi Yi-seo’s daring swimsuit, which looked almost like she was naked, made Choi Jin-ah completely forget the recent call with her father.