Bamboo Forest Manager

“Hehe.”

Gold One Bakery, Great Korean Hall.

Seo Yerin was humming a tune as she worked diligently today as well.

The part-time job was about to end soon.

Thanks to Seo Yerin’s popularity on SNS, the Bakery’s sales had doubled compared to previous years, making the section chief very happy.

He sincerely suggested that Seo Yerin consider working full-time, but failed.

It was clear how much they valued her, given they were worried about what to do after she left.

Anyway.

Her time at Gold One was memorable enough to conclude it was a great experience.

As she was reaching the end.

There was still one more incident left for Seo Yerin to experience at Gold One.

Two men walked in at that moment.

Unlike other customers, they didn’t even glance at the bread.

The man in front, who was somewhat thin, gave off a sophisticated impression, perhaps because he had waxed his hair, and his clothes were from high-end brands that were not easy to pull off.

And the other person behind him…

“Huh? Isn’t that Cha Seung-ho?”

“They said the shoot would be extended, so he hasn’t left yet!”

“C-can we take a picture?”

While the part-timers were fussing and chatting, Seo Yerin also exclaimed, “Oh”, and looked at Cha Seung-ho in admiration.

She had seen many famous people, but it was her first time seeing someone as famous as the actor Cha Seungho.

He always played leading roles.

He had a huge fandom and was evaluated as a top-tier actor in terms of acting chops.

The thin man and Cha Seung-ho looked around the store, and then approached Seo Yerin directly.

At first, she thought they would ask something about the bread.

“Hello, I am Jeong Min-chan, the manager from YS Entertainment.”

Seo Yerin’s heart pounded momentarily as she looked at the manager, who handed over his business card with a bright smile.

In the past, she would have rejected these without even a second thought.

But this was the first business card she received after sharing her dream of becoming an actress with Kim Woojin.

Besides, if it is YS Entertainment, it is a well-known company with numerous famous celebrities in Korea.

“……”

Looking down at the business card, Seo Yerin pursed her lips together.

Her parents had warned her multiple times to be cautious about these, and she herself had almost been deceived more than once.

She had seen people who distributed fake business cards, encountered shady agencies with similar names, and even those who tried to lure her into becoming an AV actress.

Just as the flower named Seo Yerin is beautiful, it was inevitable that many pests would be drawn to her.

“But…”

This time was different.

Next to her stood Cha Seung-ho, who was often called a national actor.

“Wow, you’re even prettier in person. No wonder Seung-ho insisted on meeting you in person.”

“Haha.”

Cha Seung-ho laughed awkwardly.

“Is this a scouting?”

Seo Yerin, who had been staring at the business card, immediately asked.

It seemed to be the first time someone asked directly, as the manager looked a bit flustered.

But he soon smiled widely and nodded.

“You must have a lot of experience with this? Judging by the fact that you haven’t debuted yet, you must have turned them all down.”

“……”

She did not deny it.

Because it was true.

“If you don’t mind, could we have a cup of coffee together? I don’t know what other offers you’ve received, but I don’t want to miss out on you, Yerin.”

He already knew her name.

Seo Yerin wondered how he knew as she glanced subtly at the Bakery department head.

“Okay.”

The department head immediately made an “okay” sign with his fingers, signaling his approval.

“Then, shall we talk over here?”

There were tables at Bakery where one could have bread, so they were guided there.

With the complimentary coffee, the three of them started chatting about this and that.

---

“……”

Knock, knock.

When I knocked on the front door, footsteps approaching from inside could be heard.

Since it was a women’s dormitory, I was cautious of my surroundings, but I had gotten quite used to it.

“I’m a bit nervous.”

Chan-woo, who followed behind me, fidgeted nervously.

“What’s there to be nervous about? We’re just going into their room.”

Besides, they were the ones who called us.

“Woojin, sometimes you seem amazing.”

“You seem more amazing to me. How do you fail at dating with that face?”

“……”

Once again, I criticize Chan-woo, who messed up while flirting with a female coworker.

In our room, Chan-woo was practically a punching bag.

If you fail at dating with that face, you deserve a beating.

While others start with a charm level of 0, you alone start at 90 and still fail.

“If I were you, huh? I’d flirt with everyone. Change girlfriends every day…”

Screech.

“…I wouldn’t do that. I’d be devoted. Devotion is the best.”

As soon as I received Yu Arin’s half-closed stare from the door, I immediately changed my words.

“Shut up. I really want to tear you apart, Kim Woojin.”

“I’m scared.”

Entering while under fierce glares, I found women sitting in a circle in the living room, snacking.

Certainly, the structure of this room is identical to ours, and the number of people living here is the same, but there’s a strangely pleasant smell.

“You’ve come!”

“Long time no see, Chan-woo!”

Lee Se-ah and Han Bom greet us right away.

Especially Lee Se-ah, who has been quite clingy since I helped her with her boyfriend issue last time.

But I ignored both of them and went straight to greet senior Ju-hee, who was drinking beer.

“Hello, Senior!”

“Oh, yes.”

As expected.

Like some kind of godfather, she sips her beer and acknowledges me with a simple hand gesture.

Seo Yerin has already set up the place.

As I naturally sit next to her, she tries to pat my head with a bright smile, but I brush her hand away.

“What’s this about?”

It’s odd to be invited to a girls’ room, and it’s not just me but Chan-woo too.

I thought it wouldn’t be an ordinary matter, but upon arriving, I found a rather light-hearted drinking party.

‘Did they call us just because they were drunk?’

I was a bit worried it might be a kind of drunken prank, but the conversation started right away.

The story was simple and honestly not very shocking.

It’s impressive that a major agency like YS Entertainment made an offer… But it’s Seo Yerin.

I’ve seen her get scouted several times already, so it’s not that surprising.

The important thing would be her reaction.

“You’re thinking differently this time, aren’t you?”

As I asked while staring at Seo Yerin, she smiled bashfully and nodded, pleased that I understood her feelings.

“Yeah, I thought it would be good to organize my thoughts before telling my parents.”

So that’s why she called us?

It seemed like the reason was somewhat flimsy, but Seo Yerin continued to explain.

“Besides, I’ve decided to go out as an extra in a movie being shot at the casino.”

“Hmm?”

“They said it would help to get a feel for the on-site atmosphere. So, I decided to go.”

Seo Yerin blushed and hesitated. It was probably a minor role that would flash by, but she seemed excited nonetheless.

The words, ‘That’s great’, lingered in my mouth but didn’t come out.

How should I put it?

Being scouted was something I had just accepted, but entering the professionals’ workspace so quickly…

It felt like a bit of a distance was forming between us.

The obvious question of whether our current relationship would be impossible once Seo Yerin became truly famous popped into my head.

‘Forget it.’

It was too exaggerated and selfish.

I just went along with it and asked what the role was, and the role was a suitable one.

A woman who came alone with no lines, just gestures to show the protagonist who lost their way.

‘Surely, it would be comfortable.’

It was a bit funny to see Seo Yerin already practicing her gestures.

And amidst all this.

“No, it’s definitely Chan-woo! No matter how handsome Cha Seung-ho is, he can’t beat Chan-woo!”

“Regardless, there’s the dignity of a great actor. If you see him in person, Cha Seung-ho is more handsome.”

Han Bom and Lee Se-ah were arguing about Chan-woo.

A picture of Cha Seung-ho was visible on Lee Se-ah’s phone.

He was indeed handsome.

“Let’s ask Yerin who saw them in person. Yerin, what do you think? Who’s more handsome?”

“Definitely Cha Seung-ho, right? It’s senior Seung-ho, right?!”

Is Lee Se-ah already being treated as a senior just because she’s in the Theatre and Film department?

It’s admirable how Seo Yerin pretends not to be envious.

“Hmm…”

Seo Yerin, alternating between looking at Chan-woo and the Cha Seung-ho on her phone, glances at me and smiles.

“What about Woojin?”

“……”

“……”

Their mouths shut tight, and they look straight at me.

“What are you staring at?”

One shouldn’t feel embarrassed at times like this.

Instead, responding confidently makes them immediately overreact.

“No way! Woojin doesn’t count!”

“Right, we’re talking about gods, why include a human? That’s cruel.”

Seo Yerin, as if it didn’t require a response, picks up and eats a snack. Their eyes shift to senior Ju-hee, who sits alone on the sofa drinking beer.

“What about you, Senior?”

“Who do you think is more handsome?”

“Huh?”

Regretting that she couldn’t smoke, she smacked her lips, glanced at the photo and Chan-woo, then laughed coolly and said,

“I miss our pretty one too.”

“Senior-e-e-e-e!”

I immediately jumped up and ran to Ju-hee sunbae, who opened her arms and hugged me.

The smell of alcohol wafted from her, indicating she’d had more than a couple of cans. Though I didn’t expect a hug, it was a pleasant surprise.

“You didn’t react like that when I said it.”

Seo Yerin smacked my butt while I was being embraced by senior Ju-hee.

But Lee Se-ah and Han Bom were already with Yu Arin.

“Arin, how about you?”

“Chan-woo or Cha Seung-ho?”

After finishing the hug with senior Ju-hee and sitting back down, Yu Arin glanced at me too.

I looked at Yu Arin, filled with a hopeful expectation.

If they choose me here, I would become the man who beat Cha Seung-ho and Jeong Chan-woo with a 3:1:1 ratio.

“Ha, Cha Seung-ho.”

Yu Arin answered right away, ignoring my eager gaze.

Yeah, I expected that.

Anyway, I was satisfied because I had beaten Jeong Chan-woo and tied with Cha Seung-ho.

…I should give Yu Arin a smack on the butt before I leave.