Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 158: Freshman Class Representative

“Hey, Bronze.”

Seo Yerin calls out to me.

Gritting my teeth, I glare at Seo Yerin, who is acting all smug.

“What, Bronze.”

Just a few hours ago, I was definitely Silver.

The gap between me and Seo Yerin was like heaven and earth.

But now, the message flashing before my eyes says I’ve been demoted to Bronze.

It felt like my angel wings had been torn off, and I was suddenly a human standing on the ground.

“Never look down on Bronze again, Bronze.”

“......”

My mouth shut tight.

Even though I wanted to say it was because of Seo Yerin, I couldn’t entirely blame her since I had also made mistakes.

“I guess I’ll order some ramen.”

Trying to soothe my frustration, I decided to eat some ramen.

Just a few hours ago, it was unbearably uncomfortable with all the eyes around me watching me play games with Seo Yerin.

By now, I had grown accustomed to these things and wasn’t bothered by them at all.

Especially since Han-kang kept glaring at me instead of focusing on the game.

“Want to eat ramen?”

Seo Yerin showed interest.

“Uh, do you want some too?”

I thought it was about time for her to go home, but Seo Yerin scratched her cheek and declined.

“No, I have dinner plans tonight. I think I need to eat there.”

“Really?”

Well.

It was just that she didn’t have the opportunity at Gold One.

In fact, Seo Yerin was a woman whom countless people wanted to make plans with and meet, to the point where her schedule was overflowing.

Even now, if she checked her messages, there would be a ton of people asking to meet up.

“......”

Thinking about that made me slightly uncomfortable, but knowing that this was my unique form of obsession and possessiveness...

“Then I guess I’ll eat alone.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Pretending to be cool for no reason, I started choosing ramen.

Black bean ramen? Spicy ramen? Or maybe cold noodles?

As I began to ponder over the menu that appeared on the screen, Seo Yerin, who had been watching idly beside me, leaned forward and pointed at the screen. ᚱÂΝoβЁS̩

“How about this? Udon? This one is really delicious!”

“Udon? Hmm.”

It didn’t seem bad.

Since I didn’t particularly want anything, I just ordered the udon she recommended.

“Aren’t you ordering any other sides?”

“I’m still thinking.”

I ordered a Pikachu pork cutlet as well and waited while reading a webtoon.

Since Chan-woo scolded me before, it’s just a regular webtoon, not an adult one.

“Hmmm, what webtoon is this?”

Despite it not being an adult webtoon, Seo Yerin kept showing interest and talking to me.

It was a bit annoying, but I briefly summarized the plot for her.

A few minutes later, even though the udon and Pikachu cutlet had arrived, Seo Yerin still clung to me and stared.

“Even if you ask for a bite, I won’t give you any.”

“I’m not asking for any!”

‘Then why are you here?’

She wasn’t even playing the game anymore, just staring blankly.

“Aren’t you going to your appointment?”

I distinctly remembered her saying she had a dinner appointment.

“Hmm, just wanted to look at your face.”

“Why, do I have something on it?”

“No, there’s nothing on it.”

“......”

I was secretly hoping she’d say something like ‘handsomeness’.

“Hurry up and go to your dinner, you’ll be late.”

“Yeah, it looks like I really might be late.”

Seo Yerin muttered absentmindedly, then smiled and slowly stood up.

I thought she was leaving, but she leaned in to whisper.

“Don’t worry, I’ll leave just like this.”

“...Huh?”

Like this?

It was a casual outfit.

Although it felt like she had dressed too simply, it was Seo Yerin, so even that was part of her charm.

“It means you’re someone I can meet without dressing up.”

She winked and walked away.

Watching her back, I felt an unexpected sense of peace.

‘Ah, damn it.’

The moment I realized that Seo Yerin had said that because she understood someone like me.

I clasped my head and sighed.

I felt embarrassed, and I thought it was foolish to give her any room when I hadn’t decided anything yet.

As I sighed at my own foolishness and indecisiveness while eating udon, I felt gazes from the side.

A glance revealed that four idiots were staring at me intently.

“What are you staring at?”

I wanted to say something nice, but they never make it easy.

“Who the hell is Kim Woojin dating?”

Ahn Hyeon-ho’s annoyed grumbling set off a series of complaints from all around.

Why is that?

Somehow, the conversation ended with a plan to go drinking.

“If I ever drink with you guys again, I’m not human.”

“Senior!”

A voice, sticky with familiarity, called out to me from behind.

When I turned around, there stood the freshman class representative who had been overly friendly with Ahn Hyeon-ho just moments ago.

“Are you going to the dormitory? Let’s go together!”

“...Why?”

I seriously couldn’t understand why she wanted to go together. This girl who seemed to be in such a good mood with Ahn Hyeon-ho.

“I think I might be a bit drunk. I snuck out.”

“Drunk?”

“Yes!”

She seemed way too lively.

I was a bit puzzled by the situation.

“I’m not going to the dormitory.”

I decided to dodge the situation for now.

I had already had conflict with Ahn Hyeon-ho over Choi Yiseo and didn’t want to get unnecessarily involved with the freshman class representative.

“Then, where are you going? Let’s go together, senior!”

“I’m going to a room salon.”

“......”

A stern expression that came to mind for a moment.

I thought this would be enough to fend her off, but this person approached me again.

“But don’t leave, come to the dorm with me. Yes? Let’s have a few more beers in my room.”

“What are you doing?”

Gyu-ah smiled slyly at my question.

The term “fox-like” seemed to be made just for her.

Her upturned eyes definitely gave her a fox-like beauty.

“Gyu-ah!”

Then, a man’s urgent voice could be heard from afar.

“What are you doing there! Who’s that guy!”

A tall man ran over with a worried expression and began to question her.

“Oppa?! I clearly said we should take a break for a while!”

Were they lovers?

’Ahn Hyeon-ho, you idiot.

‘Of all people, why did you choose someone like her?’

I’ll have to tell Ahn Hyeon-ho to get his act together later.

“It was just about taking some time, not breaking up. How can you do this again?”

“I’m going to date senior Woojin now. Stop obsessing over me!”

Gyu-ah immediately links her arm with mine.

Huh, what’s this?

This seems similar to something that happened before.

Back then, Yu Arin did this to get rid of Pyo Jin-ho.

Naturally, Yu Arin comes to mind.

What would Yu Arin or the others think if they saw this now?

The thought process takes about two seconds, and I can picture myself collapsing on the floor.

“Ahhh! Get off!”

That was a survival instinct.

I push Gyu-ah off my arm and simultaneously trip her.

It was the wasabari1 move that Yu Arin taught me out of boredom at Gold One.

Thud.

Gyu-ah falls flat on the ground.

Thanks to me holding her hand, she fell gently, but her body was turned, and her face pointed towards the ground.

As a result, she fell face down.

“......”

“......”

Even Gyu-ah’s boyfriend was staring at me blankly, seemingly shocked, and Gyu-ah was too embarrassed to get up.

“Kim Gyu-ah, I’ve misjudged you. I thought you were a quiet person, but how could you think of having three affairs?!”

It wasn’t really my place to say that.

First one who strikes wins.

If they start the fight with agitation and fabrication, I’ll respond in kind.

“Uh, it’s Lee Gyu-ah.”

Her boyfriend corrected me cautiously.

“Lee Gyu-ah? Like the iguana?”

“No, it’s Lee Gyu-ah.”

Oh, I see.

I thought her name was ‘Iguana’ for god’s sake.

“Iguana! Behave yourself properly! Go and apologize right now to the person I cherish the most in the Department of Applied Sciences, Ahn Hyeon-ho!”

“It’s not ‘Iguana’, it’s ‘Lee Gyu-ah’.”

“But doesn’t ‘Iguana’ just roll off the tongue better?”

When I seriously asked Gyu-ah’s boyfriend, he looked at me with a strange expression and was convinced.

“...You must not be close with Gyu-ah.”

“Yeah, I prefer dogs or cats over reptiles.”

“......”

It was supposed to be a killer joke you know.

Guess it didn’t land well.

“But isn’t Gyu-ah passed out?”

Shrugging, I replied to her boyfriend’s question.

“Socially, she’s almost passed out. She’s too embarrassed to get up.”

As if agreeing with me.

Very faintly.

“Fuckers.”

I heard Gyu-ah’s curse.

ED: Wasabari, a Judo move also known as Okuri ashi harai, is a double foot sweep from standing position. To execute the technique, extend the stepping motion of the opponent's leg towards their other leg by using your foot pushing against his foot's instep or side ️