Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 74: Woojin’s Room

Clack.

Normally, entering one’s home brings peace to their mind and stability to their heart.

But today, as I took my shoes off in the entrance and looked around the house as usual, strangely, my heart fluttered.

“Clean up and live here.”

Because Choi Yiseo was right behind me.

Calmly entering, Choi Yiseo sighed and began to tidy up my house a little.

Having been here several times before, and even having stayed the night, she moved naturally in this familiar house.

“Hey, go take a shower first. You sweated and didn’t wash up.”

“Ah, right.”

As I stopped Choi Yiseo from organizing the bedding and tossed her a towel, she quickly entered the bathroom, seemingly feeling sticky too.

Since she had bought underwear at the convenience store earlier, she could wear that, and I decided to lend her something like my workout clothes to wear.

“Ah, shit.”

Choi Yiseo was taking a shower in the bathroom.

As I listen to the sound of the water and put the alcohol I bought from the convenience store into the fridge, ventilate and clean the house, I suddenly find myself reminiscing about the past.

I had to pick some clothes out for her, so while rummaging through the closet, I spotted an oversized T-shirt that my ex-girlfriend used to wear often.

‘…Would it be crossing a line to give this to her?’

But there was nothing else suitable for her to wear in my closet.

Moreover, honestly.

There’s nothing sexier in the world than a girl wearing only a large T-shirt and panties.

“Woojin, can you bring me some clothes?”

At that, I hesitantly took the T-shirt I was holding and said,

“I-I couldn’t find any suitable pants, so I brought a large T-shirt.”

Creak.

The door opened slightly, revealing Choi Yiseo’s face. She seemed to glare at me sharply but took it without a word.

‘What, she’s going to wear it then?’

Really?

It was given in a ‘let’s just try by asking first’ manner, but she’s really going to wear it?

Waiting outside with a slightly flustering heart, it feels somewhat similar to when Oh Yoon-ji first came to my house and took a shower.

As my heart flutters, I take a deep breath filled with the cold outside air.

“I told you to fix the door, that doesn’t close well.”

Choi Yiseo comes out shyly, hesitating.

With her hair still not fully dry, she wraps a towel around her neck and pulls down the hem of her T-shirt with her hand. But it’s a bit above her knees, so her thighs are visible.

I almost let out an exclamation without realizing it, but I barely managed to hold it in.

Clamping a hand over my mouth and giving her a thumbs up as if moved by her appearance, Choi Yiseo sighed, but didn’t seem too displeased by it.

“You should take a shower too.”

“…Fuck.”

Is this a tease?

Isn’t this just asking for trouble?

Going to the bathroom with my butt pushed out backward.

In the middle of my journey, Choi Yiseo asked me why I was walking like that.

“Because I’m a healthy man.”

I gave a somewhat logical reason and went into the bathroom to start washing myself.

“…Sigh.”

I deliberately take a cold shower to calm my mind. But still, perhaps due to the strong impact of Choi Yiseo just before, the tension in my body doesn’t ease.

I decided to break a taboo.

Squeeze.

I squeeze out some of the shampoo from the bottle that was stuck in the corner.

A luxury romance shampoo, with a notable rose scent. It’s expensive, but it was just left there without being used.

It was my ex-girlfriend’s.

“Now I am a sage.”

Smelling my ex-girlfriend’s shampoo, my excitement not only calmed down but my mind became cool and collected.

Now, I was almost impervious to everything.

Today, Choi Yiseo told me she wouldn’t do it, and it was also my own determination to keep it that way.

Because of that, my head now smells like roses, and it creeps me out as if my ex-girlfriend is right next to me.

After finishing my shower and going out, Choi Yiseo was lying on the mattress I slept on, looking at her phone.

“You’re out? I ordered steamed chicken for dinner, is that okay?”

“That’s good.”

As long as I can eat, everything is fine. It doesn’t really matter unless it’s something extremely spicy like last time.

“But what do you usually do?”

I was wondering what to say, but it seems Choi Yiseo had the same thought.

“I usually watch YouTube or movies on OTT? If not that, then I play games.”

Lately, I’ve been mostly playing games.

“Games? What kind of games?”

I thought she would ask about movies, but I didn’t expect Choi Yiseo to be interested in games.

“You’re not really interested in games, though?”

“It’s not that. I’m just curious about what you do.”

“…So, we play a game before the food arrives?”

When I asked casually, Choi Yiseo laughed as if it were obvious.

“It’s your house, why are you asking for my permission. Just go ahead.”

Then, Choi Yiseo lay back down on the mattress and started using her phone again.

It seems like she was chatting with someone, probably Minji, I guessed, as I turned on the laptop placed on the folding table and sat cross-legged.

Since the mattress was right behind me, the laptop screen was fully visible, but there was nothing to be embarrassed about anyway.

I was about to start a game when…

• LaneWon: hi?

Just then, a friend from my friend list messaged me. A troublemaker with the nickname of a Bronze 3 top laner.

It was Seo Yerin.

‘Why is she playing a game right now?’

Kids like Seo Yerin always seem to have plans with friends, right?

While thinking it was unfortunate to have met her online, I didn’t reply and quietly started matching in the game.

• LaneWon: ?

• LaneWon: Why are you playing alone?

• LaneWon: I got promoted to Bronze 3.

• LaneWon: Let’s play together.

• LaneWon: Yah.

I was hoping for a quick match.

Woong!

Eventually, even my phone rang.

Wooong!

“Woojin, you getting a call?”

Choi Yiseo asked with a sideways glance. Feeling strangely nervous, I cautiously answered the phone.

“Hello?”

• Why are you ignoring me?

The voice was quite annoyed.

“Sigghhh.”

Since the conversation could get lengthy and Choi Yiseo might overhear, I eventually invited Seo Yerin to the game.

“Instead, I’m not using the mic today, okay?”

• Why? It’s better with a mic. You complained, so I even bought a separate headset for it.

We had met a few times in the game, so I had complained about the poor mic quality she had.

“The headset is wireless, and I didn’t charge it.”

• Can’t we just talk like this?

“Hmm, no.”

Click.

I hang up and start the game.

• LaneWon: What’s up?

• LaneWon: You’re really irritable today, Kim Woojin.

• LaneWon: Did you do the Black Academy daily quest?

Still, the conversation naturally shifted in another direction without it seeming too odd.

It’s like, this is the payback for how I’ve been treating Seo Yerin.

The game proceeded as usual. Seo Yerin, with the flaming double axes, lived up to her nickname by securing two solo kills in the lane phase, but afterwards, she wandered around like a lost beast.

Diligently assisting as a support for the long-range dealer, I was busily moving around the map.

“Hmm.”

That’s when I felt a weight on my shoulder.

Choi Yiseo, resting her chin on my shoulder, was staring intently at the screen.

The breath brushing against my cheek made my body stiffen without me realizing.

“Is this fun?”

‘What is it?’

Did she come to my house to hang out and is now upset because I’m playing games alone?

For a moment, that thought crossed my mind, but judging by her tone of voice and the atmosphere, that didn’t seem to be the case.

It felt like she was genuinely curious about what I was doing.

“Somewhat?”

As I tried to focus on the game while answering, this time I felt a soft touch on my back.

Not only that, but also the touch of Choi Yiseo’s hands wrapping around my waist.

I wondered what kind of situation this is, but the danger ping in the game was ringing an alarm for me to snap out of it.

• LaneWon: What are you doing?

• LaneWon: Lost your mind?

• Heavenly Genius Support: Sorry, lagging

• LaneWon: Don’t download porn while playing the game.

• LaneWon: …Give it to me if you do?

“This person speaks so vulgarly.”

Choi Yiseo frowned, but still, she didn’t leave my side. Feeling Choi Yiseo sticking close behind me, I take a deep breath and remind myself.

‘Calm down, buddy.’

Just as I was preparing to scold myself, Choi Yiseo’s hand that was wrapped around my waist moved lower.

Ding-dong!

“Ah, the delivery is here.”

She moved away from me and went to the entrance.

Thinking that home delivery has saved me from Choi Yiseo, I pressed surrender, and the jungler and mid ADC, who had been cursing until now, agreed.

The surrender vote passed with 4 in favor and 1 against.

• LaneWon: ?

• Heavenly Genius Support: I’m busy, gotta go. Bye

Seo Yerin, who had drilled a highway through the tower, was flustered and tried to ask what was going on, but I quickly shut my laptop and cleared the table.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

“I’ll set the table up then.”

Leaving Choi Yiseo to set up the food behind, I immediately went into the bathroom and made a call.

After several rings, the answer came.

• Hello?

“What on earth is Choi Yiseo doing?”

It was Minji, who was living with Choi Yiseo.

We’re not exactly on good terms, but since we’ve already resolved our past issues, we could hold a conversation.

Moreover, she was the only person likely to have answers to Choi Yiseo’s strange behavior.

• Ah…

Indeed, Minji’s voice was slightly shaky as if she was flustered.

Considering she was talking to Minji earlier, she must have discussed the current situation to some extent.

• So, you’re the one from the department, with Yerin? You slept with her, they say.

“……”

• She was really preparing hard to scold you today. Earlier, when she said you were playing games, I even taught her how to tempt you subtly.

“It was you?!”

No wonder it felt like a demonstration by an almost fully trained instructor!

• But, I really defended you to Yiseo. You’ve already dated Yoon-ji and all! Among kids your age, there are even those who go to establishments, but I said you’re into wholesome stuff!

“There are kids who go to those places?”

• …Some of my friends do?

“Damn.”

I sigh, realizing the bitter truth, and hang up.

Anyway, I figured out Choi Yiseo’s intention. It’s about trying to tempt me, but the important thing is.

‘I said I wouldn’t do it.’

In other words, this is Choi Yiseo’s assassination strategy to burst my bubble and kill me.

I open the bathroom door and step out.

Choi Yiseo, sitting down, called out for me to eat.

“What will you do if I end up pouncing on you?”

Now is not the time to eat.

First, we need to sort out today’s affairs.

Thinking that I had noticed her plan, Choi Yiseo also slowly stood up and crossed her arms.

It’s the complete opposite of how she was clinging to me and being affectionate just a moment ago, now she was cold.

“If I refuse, you won’t do it, right?”

“So, you’re provoking me like this? Sorry, but I’m also a man.”

At my words, Choi Yiseo shrugs and snorts before saying,

“No contraceptives then, I guess? If you’re going out to buy some now, I’m going home.”

Believing there were no condoms, she made a fuss. Knowing that I would at least maintain some basic standards.

“Always.”

I pulled out a box from my pocket, small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. On the black box was a picture of a celebrity with a sly smile.

“I’m a prepared man.”

“…When did you buy that?”

“When you were choosing the alcohol.”

As I shake the box with a smile, Choi Yiseo hits her forehead and sighs.

It seems she couldn’t check this since I was the one who paid. It was possible thanks to the convenience store clerk who helped hide this and process the payment.

“Surrender and lie down, Choi Yiseo.”

“……”

You’ve provoked me too much.

You should know that by just wearing a T-shirt is already crossing a major line.

At my words, Choi Yiseo pointed to the steamed chicken with a disgusted expression.

“Let’s eat the steamed chicken first. It won’t taste good if it gets cold. There are glass noodles too.”

“……”

It was a bit disappointing, but she isn’t wrong. The night is long, so the moment I slowly approach the table…

Choi Yiseo, as if in a movie, steps back and then, with a running start, vaults over the table to deliver a kick to my solar plexus.

“Ugh!”

“Ah! Kim Woojin!”

As I fell to the ground, my waist bending like a bow, I never let go of the box of condoms I was holding.

But Choi Yiseo didn’t give up either, climbing on top of me and continuing to pound me.

“Let go! Let go! Let this go! At this rate you’ll break a bone with my punches! Let it go!”

“Ugh! Ugh! It hurts! You crazy woman! It hurts!”

“Let go! I told you! Just let go!”

“Your panties are showing! Grey, damn it! I told you to buy something in a prettier color!”

“Shut up! I wasn’t going to show you anyway! We’re only holding hands and sleeping tonight!”

“Give it to me!”

“Give what! If we do it now, it’s because you’re anxious about Yerin!”

Puk!

Eventually, my body went limp and slumped due to the straight punch to the chest from Choi Yiseo.

Snatching the condom box from my hand, Choi Yiseo then ran to the window, opened it, and threw it outside.

“You, persistent woman…!”

Clutching my chest at the pain, I crouch and sigh, at which Choi Yiseo points at the steamed chicken with a refreshing laugh.

“Let’s eat.”

What is there to eat now?

“You…!”

“What? Are there more? If so, bring them out.”

There’s no more.

I should have bought one more.

Feeling a bitter sense of defeat, I shout out in a final act of resistance.

“Transfer 6,600 won to my account, you wicked woman!”

Give me back the money for the condoms you threw out!