Chapter 241

Chapter 241

Bamboo Forest Manager.

Episode 241: The Summer Vacation

“Whew.”

I whistled while tuning up my bicycle.

To some, it might be just an ordinary day, but for me, it was a truly delightful day.

It was a day that seemed to get sweeter the more I chewed on it.

I reconciled with Choi Yiseo, who had been a headache to me, finished my finals, and the bicycle trip that was only a fantasy is now about to begin.

“Ah, I feel great.”

After every hardship comes happiness, and after climbing a hill, a downhill path awaits.

Well, not every situation in life is like that, but at least for me, it was.

The dormitory was bustling.

With summer vacation starting, everyone was either heading home or making a fuss about having a drinking party at night.

It was my first time staying in the dorm during vacation, but the dorm supervisor’s assurance that I could stay put me at ease.

‘You can’t travel for the entire vacation time.’

Otherwise, I’d have to stay at home, which I absolutely detest.

Having breakfast with my father every morning?

Just the thought itself is dreadful.

Especially since I mentioned that the last matchmaking didn’t go well, it seems like they’re arranging another one.

I just wish they’d stop, I grumble to myself.

“Hmm?”

Before the trip starts, I heard a familiar voice behind me while I was tuning my bicycle.

When I turned my head slightly, there was senior Ju-hee, in a black suit with a crossbody bag, looking down at me.

“Oh, are you leaving?”

When I stood up and greeted her with a smile, senior Ju-hee hesitated for a moment, then realized something and chuckled.

“Did you come to see me off?”

“Ahem, something like that?”

Senior Ju-hee quit the café as the vacation started.

Instead, she decided to work at a private security company on our side.

Although it was under the guise of learning rather than working on-site, thanks to my influence, she was able to receive at least minimum wage for learning.

“The team leader is coming, right?”

“Yeah, he said to pack up and get ready because he’ll be here soon.”

“Did you look into any certifications?”

“I checked it out separately. It doesn’t seem like it’ll take long to get one.”

“Oh.”

“Surprisingly, being proficient in foreign languages is much more advantageous than having security certifications or martial arts skills.”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yeah, just being able to speak a foreign language greatly expands the range of activities you can do.”

“Then choosing English Literature wasn’t a bad decision.”

When I gave a thumbs-up, the corners of senior Ju-hee’s mouth lifted slightly.

“Anyway. This is just the beginning. I think I’ll be quite busy during the summer break.”

Seeing the senior hint that she might not be able to contact me, I smiled back.

“Oh, I’m just going to travel around anyway. If you learn diligently, it’s good for me.”

“Right.”

At that moment, a black sedan stopped at the entrance.

The person who got out of the vehicle, which looked like something bodyguards would use, was the security team leader I saw at the café last time.

I gave him a light wave as he nodded from afar.

“Take care then. No one will mess with you since you’re super strong, Senior.”

“Pfft.”

I meant it, but she seemed to take it as a joke.

“Well then.”

Then senior took a step back and bowed slowly and deeply.

“I’ll be going, Young Master.”

“Oh, come on, what’s with the ‘young master’? Just call me Woojin.”

Even though I said that, she only responded with a mischievous smile and got into the sedan, pulling away.

“Since Senior has left, I guess it’s time for me to head out too.”

I just wanted to say goodbye to my senior before she left.

After packing my things, I got on my bike.

I was worried someone might steal my stuff while I was packing, but thankfully, nothing happened this time.

My destination was Busan.

I planned to change my route if I found places I wanted to visit along the way, so I wasn’t sure how long it would take.

Anyway, the final stop was Busan.

If I went further, I could even go to Jeju Island.

I’d heard about bike tours that go around Jeju Island.

“Shall I go?”

Just as I was about to get on my bike, my phone rang.

I had already spoken separately with the three people earlier, so I wasn’t expecting any calls.

– Big Brother –

“What is it?”

I hesitated, thinking he might be telling me to come down again since it’s vacation.

But since I’m not the kind of younger brother who listens well to my brothers, I just answered.

“Hello?”

– I heard it’s vacation time now.

“Yeah, I told you last time I was going on a bike trip.”

– You didn’t tell me.

“I guess I only told the second brother.”

– Are you not coming back this vacation either?

“I came home once because of the matchmaking last time. Isn’t that enough?”

– Well, I have something to say about that.

“Why? Are you telling me to go on another matchmaking? Don’t you know it’s pointless?”

– That’s not it. I heard you’re classmates with Choi Jin-ah?

“We were elementary school classmates. Why?”

It sounded like he was going to say something annoying.

– There’s a reunion in a week. Go attend it.

“Oh, what are you talking about? Why should I go? I don’t even remember their faces.”

– Sigh, I heard it’s a gathering of notable successors around your age.

“So? Are you telling me to go and make connections for the sake of the company? The company that you’re going to inherit? Are you so incompetent that I need to help you?”

– If I were incompetent enough to need your help, I wouldn’t be eyeing the chairman’s position.

“……”

Look at him, so full of confidence.

“Then why?”

– It’s to keep Choi Jin-ah company. They requested it.

“I don’t want to.”

If the girls find out, I’m dead.

I went through hell patching things up after they fell apart last time, and I’m not going through that again.

– If you hadn’t abruptly left the meeting and returned to university alone, I wouldn’t be saying this.

“……”

I just wanted to see the girls, so I apologized and came here.

In a tone that was more of a command than a request, my older brother continued.

– They were quite displeased. Choi Jin-ah is kind, so she didn’t make a fuss about your actions.

“Hyung, I’m about to ride my bike. Do you have to ruin the mood like this?”

– It’s in a week anyway. Ride all you want and just let me know your location, I’ll send a car.

“Why does Choi Jin-ah need me?”

– They didn’t say that.

Sigh.

My older brother let out a long breath and said.

– This isn’t a company issue, it’s a family matter. You were rude, so you should apologize properly.

“Fine, I’ll talk to Choi Jin-ah separately. I’ll call you back afterward.”

Click.

I hung up abruptly and, trying to calm my breath, placed my foot on the bike pedal.

Alright, summer vacation has just begun.

I’ll enjoy it first.

“Oh wow.”

Seo Yerin, who had started filming a movie.

The set she arrived at with the manager assigned by YS was a rough recreation of a desolate, apocalyptic world.

Now they’ll add CGI there to make it more lively.

“That’s amazing.”

What amazed her the most was that there was a chair with her name on it.

She wondered if she was supposed to wait here, but then again, all the other actors’ chairs were empty.

“It’s like a power play. Some actors don’t like being around others, so they wait alone in the dressing room or even in the van and only come out for their scenes.”

At the veteran manager’s explanation, Seo Yerin nodded.

Since most things were new to Seo Yerin, YS intentionally assigned her a veteran manager.

“Let’s go greet the director first. I heard you need separate makeup, Yerin.”

“Yes, understood.”

Seo Yerin’s role was a warrior living in solitude.

A woman who lost her loved one and lived a skeptical life, engulfed in sorrow.

When Seo Yerin greeted the director and staff, she was graceful and pure.

It was hard to believe someone could be so likable at first sight.

Her gentle speech and gestures.

The kindness ingrained in her wasn’t mechanical but warm, thanks to her strict mother.

‘It’s not for nothing that she paid attention to these things.’

Seo Yerin hummed to herself, thinking her mom was never wrong.

Then she finished talking with the sound director and noticed a woman contemplating something while looking at the set.

“Oh, that person is…”

“Do you know her?”

The manager interjected in front of Seo Yerin.

“I know her one-sidedly. She’s an acquaintance of my boyfriend.”

At those words, the manager frowned and gave a warning.

“Yerin, don’t casually mention having a boyfriend. Even if you really do have one, you shouldn’t tell anyone.”

“……”

“Moreover, don’t go looking for anyone first. It might make you look desperate, which could be awkward.”

“Ah, I see.”

Seo Yerin nodded and immediately raised her hand high, shouting.

“Jin-ah! Hello!”

“…?!”

The manager was startled, watching Seo Yerin raise her hand and shout.

But Seo Yerin was already smiling brightly and greeting Choi Jin-ah.

The sudden attention from those around them.

The manager, flustered, tried to block Seo Yerin with his body, but she confidently approached Choi Jin-ah.

“Hello, I’m Seo Yerin.”

“…Seo, Yerin?”

Choi Jin-ah, with a blank expression, opened her mouth as if the name rang a bell.

But Seo Yerin was quicker in response.

“I heard my boyfriend was rude to you the last time.”

Seo Yerin smiled as she extended her hand for a handshake.

The manager, flustered, wanted to say something but couldn’t because of Choi Jin-ah’s presence.

“Ah….”

Only then did Choi Jin-ah remember.

She was one of the women Kim Woojin excitedly talked about at the matchmaking meeting.

“Yerin, I heard you became an actress. So you’re appearing here.”

“Yes, that’s right. Jin-ah, you’re a violinist, so why are you here?”

“Our orchestra was commissioned for background music, so I came to get a feel for the setting and atmosphere.”

With a slight smile.

Seo Yerin’s smile, unlike the one she showed to the director or staff earlier, had a sharp edge.

The manager was taken aback, wondering if this was a side of the usually innocent and polite Seo Yerin.

Choi Jin-ah was smiling too, but she seemed a bit overwhelmed.

In any case, she was quite taken aback by the sudden ambush.

So, feeling triumphant inside, Seo Yerin was thinking about receiving praise from Choi Yiseo and Yu Arin.

Vrrr!

Her phone buzzed.

“Just a moment.”

Seo Yerin, thinking it was a call, excused herself and turned to check, but.

It turned out to be a message, not a call, but it was so many that it seemed like one.

Most of her chat rooms were on silent. The fact that it buzzed meant it was about Kim Woojin or the other two.

It was a message from a chat room with four people.

“Huh?!”

The moment she saw the content, Seo Yerin involuntarily exclaimed.

Just an hour ago, Kim Woojin had been excitedly talking about going on a bike trip, but the message below his was-

“Is something wrong?”

Seeing Seo Yerin’s face crumple, Choi Jin-ah cautiously asked.

“Woo-Woo, Woojin.”

Seo Yerin, her lips trembling, yelled,

“He got into an accident?!”