Bamboo Forest Manager

-Anonymous69: Admin, admin, admin, admin.

Why does it feel so noisy even though I’m just reading it? Seo Yerin seemed to have a talent for writing, clearly conveying the speaker’s intention.

-Anonymous69: How was it? Did you use the photo I sent you the last time? The actress is pretty, isn’t she?

I didn’t want to reply, but ignoring it wasn’t the best option as nonsensical messages kept accumulating on my phone.

Just a few days ago, didn’t they send over 100 inquiries in the middle of the night because I didn’t reply?

-Anonymous69: No reply? If you unban me, I’ll spread rumors on the board that the administrator is a 3-cm premature ejaculator. Lol.

-Admin: Where on earth did you learn such vulgar language?

The reply came back almost instantly, showing how fast she was typing on her phone.

-Anonymous69: Why are you pretending to be so clean? Everyone knows this much these days.

-Anonymous69: I’m not dirty, I haven’t seen any dirty stuff.

Is this for real?

Each message was so much more shocking that I decided to ignore them.

-Admin: I’m off to a lecture. I won’t see anymore inquiries you send.

-Anonymous69: (Photo)

-Anonymous69: Getting excited during the lecture and calling for the admin!

Seo Yerin sent another photo.

This time it was a photo of a woman’s butt, with just the panties on, but clearly showing both cheeks.

It seemed like she took and sent the photo herself, though I wasn’t certain.

“Sigh, what’s with her and all these complaints?”

With Seo Yerin’s looks and character that she displays, she could easily ask any guy passing by to go to a hotel with her.

Why does she need to hide behind anonymity to express her deepest desires like this?

After that, Seo Yerin didn’t send any more messages to me, and I too went out after quickly making some ramen due to afternoon lectures.

Being able to walk to the university without needing to take a bus is definitely a plus point anyone should consider.

-Anonymous91: Exercise comic3 (Photo)

-Anonymous111: Hello, my fellow students! I’m Popo, a mukbang broadcaster! I’ll be eating king crabs at 9 o’clock tonight, so please watch me and give me lots of love!

-Anonymous33: Everything’s fine with what you said, but please stop hoarding items from the convenience store. There’s nothing left for us to eat.

-Anonymous111 (person in question): I’m sorry! I’ll be more careful next time!

-Anonymous54: Are you the 22-year-old from the construction department? I heard you’re making money by eating because the construction department is doomed for any growth.

-Anonymous111: Well, my grades did plummet.

-Anonymous54: LOL

-Anonymous67: Recent trends in LOF, sad support item builds, and gameplay strategies.

-Anonymous74: I’m a sophomore in the dental hygiene department. Is there anyone who wants free scaling? I need volunteers for an exam.

“Oh, there’s a new comic about exercising.”

Naturally, checking the University’s online community was part of my routine on the way to school. I enjoy reading a comic post just as I arrive at the classroom.

I thought I manged to time my arrival just right, but I got there faster than expected.

Next time I could probably leave a little later from home.

Then, a familiar and tiresome female student stepped into the classroom.

Seo Yerin walked into the classroom.

It was a surprise to have a few classes in common, but I pretended not to notice.

Seo Yerin, too, chose to sit with her friends rather than beside me.

We accidentally made eye contact in the middle of the class, but she just gave a small smile as a greeting.

‘Every time I see her, I feel like the weird one because of those different thoughts.’

Anyway, I forced myself to look away, trying not to pay her any attention. It seemed like even Seo Yerin was busy talking to others to care about the Bamboo Forest right now.

A few minutes later, the professor entered and the lecture began.

And then.

“This semester’s assignment will be replaced with a group project.”

The professor made an unwelcome announcement.

“You’ll produce a short film in English, about 20 to 30 minutes long. Later, through the TA, I’ll explain the detailed evaluation method.”

I thought the professor had a kind demeanor, but he surprised us with this unforeseen announcement.

“The story and acting will be included, but they’re not the main focus. English subtitles are mandatory. And it would be nice if you prepared a script in advance to distribute it amongst yourselves too.”

‘Ah, this is insane.’

The reaction from the other students was similar to mine, but surprisingly, some of the newer students seemed excited about it.

Seeing their reaction, the professor continued confidently.

“This assignment is often popular among students. Since it involves making a movie, studying while watching movies has been deemed to be helpful too.”

The professor explained in a confident voice,

“Today’s lecture will be an hour long, and the other hour will be used for group members to meet and discuss.”

It’s good that the lecture time got shortened.

I just hope for decent group members and that doing my part in the group project would suffice.

I wondered if we’d draw lots for groups, but instead, we were told to form our own groups, and if there was anyone who couldn’t find one, they should go see the professor.

“Ahem, I’ll submit this list of members to the professor,” said a senior female student, who appeared to be a sophomore in English Language and Literature, as she began writing names down.

“Ahn Hyeon-ho, Han-kang, Seo Yerin, and what’s that young friend’s name?”

I replied politely when she asked.

“Kim Woojin.”

“Okay, Woojin. I’m Min Ju-hee, a sophomore in English Literature, so you can call me senior Ju-hee.”

“Yes, senior Ju-hee.”

“I can’t trust you guys with the task, so I’ll be the group leader, and we’ll use the group chat for communication purposes. If you don’t want to die, make sure to reply within an hour.”

Quite a rough senior, isn’t she?

But she seems rather reliable.

I was very grateful to Seo Yerin for stopping me on my way to the professor and including me in this group.

“Sigh.”

Of course, having Ahn Hyeon-ho, who openly declared he’d beat me up in the anonymous forum, was a bit of a concern.

But the uncomfortable one here was him, not me.

I just need to trust our group leader, who seems ready to drive the bus, and get on board while waving my hand (Drive the bus means to do the hard work).

Noona, let’s do well!

“It’s good that we have many people from the English department.”

Seo Yerin said with a bright smile as she looked at me.

The gender ratio wasn’t that unbalanced either.

It seems we’ve somewhat matched up for making a film.

“Should we start by dividing roles? Yerin would be perfect for the lead role.”

A cheerful and handsome guy declared. Unlike the slightly delinquent Ahn Hyeon-ho, he was the epitome of a handsome, model student.

He had the aura of a man who could be the lead in a drama.

‘The perfect lead.’

Was his name Kang Han-Kang?

Even when reversed, it’s still Han-kang. Our senior Han-kang, who suggested Seo Yerin for the lead role, but I thought it would be nice for Han-kang himself to also take the lead role.

A melodrama with just the two of them flirting and being sweet to each other would be enough to get us a solid final score.

If the video looks pretty, we’d surely get bonus points.

“Me, the lead?”

Seo Yerin responded with a hesitant expression. She didn’t seem too keen, but everyone else was hoping she would take the lead role.

I felt the same way too.

“Yes, Yerin has that pure and innocent vibe, so if we shoot a youth or romance film with her, it would come out well, wouldn’t it?”

Han-kang’s suggestion was supported by the others.

“Right, that sounds good? Yerin has such a pretty face too.”

“We don’t need many props or a specific location for those kinds of films, so it won’t take much time or money.”

“Wow, that sounds nice.”

Ahn Hyeon-ho also smoothly joined the conversation, and Seo Yerin was just shyly standing there.

I just watched the situation unfold with my chin propped up with my hand.

It seemed like if Seo Yerin took the lead role, we could get a decent score. But it didn’t seem like she could handle either filming or editing.

“What’s happening? What are you saying?”

Senior Ju-hee, who just submitted the team list, asked us as there was a noisy discussion happening.

Senior Han-kang briefly explained.

“Uh, nothing.”

And she responded by raising her middle finger.

“We are the third team, right? From now on, we are not citizens of the Republic of Korea, Democracy does not exist for us.”

Senior Ju-hee boldly declared to us by pointing her thumb to herself.

“I am the dictator here, I decide it all. If you want good grades for yourself, follow me.”

“Woah…”

I was truly in awe at her actions for a moment there and everyone turned to me, but then they all resumed normalcy.

Honestly, I almost clapped.

It felt like a new recruit watching Joan of Arc charging across the battlefield with a flag.

All that didn’t matter to me.

Seeing Senior Ju-hee scribbling something down in her book and throwing it at us.

“I have roughly divided the roles. Write down what you think you can do along with your number and then leave. I will announce it all in the group chat.”

Should we call her a leader from now on?

Maybe, for a few seconds I just fell for her.

After everyone else wrote theirs down, I picked it up last and wrote down filming and editing.

Filming can be done through a phone and for editing, I could do simple slicing of views without any fancy effects.

“Oh, you know how to edit?”

Senior Ju-hee, who was watching what was being written from behind, asked.

“I can do the basic cut and paste stuff.”

“That’s more than enough. Well, they don’t expect something out of the box from us. It’s fine as long as we don’t do terribly and since there are hardly any students from the film department here, it should go well.”

Looks like my role is decided.

“Then let’s leave. I’ll send a group message in a few days. Let’s meet once a week and create stable progress for this.”

Senior Han-kang tried to whine a little by looking cute, about wanting to do everything at once, but the iron fist of senior Ju-hee was too much for him to tackle.

As soon as she did a fake punch, he backed off with his tail between his legs.

Well, the group project seemed like it would sail smoothly. After all, we had Min Ju-hee carrying most of the weight and a dictator on the side.

The lecture ended and everyone began to move into small groups.

Ahn Hyeon-ho still held a grudge against me, his gaze would constantly follow me around, but I just ignored him and went on my way to the next class.

Woong.

My phone vibrated.

I checked to see if it was senior Ju-hee who was done with the creation of the group chat.

-Anonymous69: In the middle of a lecture I was attending, someone was masturbating with their pants on. That had to be the admin, right?

Seo Yerin, who was pressured to become the lead actor, was here to relieve her stress.

It was insane no matter how I tried to reason it.

-Admin: Do you want to be perma-banned for sexual harassment?

-Anonymous69: Just joking, sorry, admin, love you!

I noticed earlier that she even wrote the role of an actor near her name.

-Anonymous69: Ah, I want to have sex so fucking bad!

Well, whatever.

It was Seo Yerin who vented to me what needed to be said in the forum.