Chapter 100: Daily Life

The final exams were done.

It might seem too sudden, but they were over nonetheless. I passed the dormitory application, and I got into Gold One too.

I gave up my studio apartment, and now all that was left was to work hard during the winter break and earn some money.

“What are you doing?”

“Imagining.”

Seo Yerin, seated next to me in the classroom, tilted her head, wondering what on earth I was talking about.

Maybe it’s because she’s pretty, but every little thing she did seemed cute, which I actually find quite annoying.

“Just, imagining. After the exams are over. Getting into the dormitory. Stuff like that.”

“…But you haven’t taken a single exam yet?”

“That’s why it’s called imagining.”

It was just a longing to be free after the exams are over, imagining the future.

Sighing, I turn my head buried in the desk here and there, making a futile struggle that meant nothing.

To enter the dormitory, the most important thing was grades, as Lee Eun-woo had said, so there was a need to pay attention to my marks.

The first semester’s grades weren’t too bad, but the midterm exams in the second semester didn’t go very well for me.

So, aiming to do my best in the finals to earn better grades, I found an empty classroom and was studying with Seo Yerin, who had a few classes in common with me.

“Yawn, how many hours has it been?”

I was about to suggest taking a break and going for coffee.

‘I guess she’s already taking a break.’

Seo Yerin, who had already put her pen down, was tapping on her phone. I thought she might be playing a mobile game as usual, but her expression suggested otherwise.

“……”

Seo Yerin, tapping the keyboard as if she was arguing with someone.

But soon after, she sighed heavily and slumped over the desk.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing Seo Yerin get angry like that seemed almost like a first, so when I asked why, she abruptly stood up as if she had been waiting to do so.

“Look at this!”

And showed me her phone.

On it was the familiar Bamboo Forest bulletin board.

Today, for some reason, there was a continuation of stories about the sexiest person.

Anonymous47: Speaking my mind. It’s not 69 anymore, 90 is the Sex God.

↳ Anonymous255: Is there anyone who doesn’t know that?

↳ Anonymous97: It’s already decided.

↳ Anonymous90: I wanna have seexxx!

↳ Anonymous11: Wearing a shit-stained hat and liking it, idiot.

Anonymous156: 69 is just not nice from the number itself. 90 is clean and clear.

↳ Anonymous90: I wanna have seexxx!

↳ Anonymous11: Don’t feed them with such content. They’ll just rush in because they like it.

Anonymous59(Admin1): When are we selecting the 2nd admin? Shouldn’t we do it during the exam period?

↳ Anonymous167: Complain to the admin then.

↳ Anonymous292: Remove that weird image above. Someone posted a pigeon corpse.

↳ Anonymous59(Admin1): Deleted.

Anonymous300: When is Popo coming? I’m cold…

↳ Anonymous312: If you’re going on a long hiatus, at least post a notice about it.

↳ Anonymous309: Hope nothing bad happened?

↳ Anonymous303: Just rewatching on Neutube.

Anonymous243: I am seriously pissed off. Has anyone seen the new season’s ‘The Fallen’? How does this make sense? Why is the plot such a mess? Did they change the writer halfway through or something?

↳ Anonymous11: What’s that, you freaking otaku.

↳ Anonymous243: If you don’t know, shut up and control your temper.

↳ Anonymous11: Where do you live? What’s your major?

↳ Anonymous221: Isn’t this the first time Anime one responded?

↳ Anonymous79: Now I’m curious about that anime lol

“Sigh.”

Feeling like it might unnecessarily escalate to a real-life confrontation, I turned on the Bamboo Forest on my phone and gave Anonymous11 a temporary one-day ban.

In the midst of that, there were a few messages.

“Look at this, will you?!”

“Ah, right.”

Right.

Seo Yerin asked me to look at something for her.

“Why. What is it?”

“It’s not me, they’re saying 90 is a sex icon now!”

“…Congratulations.”

It’s good to shed a bad reputation, isn’t it? But it seemed that wasn’t what Seo Yerin was concerned about it?

“Congratulations? Congratulations?! Are you kidding me! They’re saying it’s me! I am the sex icon!”

Immediately putting her phone down, Seo Yerin grabbed me by the collar and shook me back and forth.

“How did I achieve this! Writing diligently every single day! I’ve even posted and deleted cleverly to avoid getting blocked by the regulations! I deliberately maintained the concept!”

“…You, you’re saying that in front of me as if it’s nothing?”

Is she trying to get blocked by me, the Administrator, right now?

It’s not even like picking a fight, telling me you’ve been sneaking around my surveillance.

I replied that it was ridiculous, but it seemed my words didn’t reach Seo Yerin, who had already lost her marbles.

“What should I do? Isn’t there any way?”

“What way? Just live with it. Since when was being called a Bamboo Forest Sex God something honorable.”

“No! I want to be the Sex God! That’s what I’m saying!”

Then, as if she had a brilliant idea, she tightened her grip on my collar.

“Woojin! Block Anonymous90 for me! They’re spamming! Acting like a sex-seeking parrot is bad!”

“You know that’s like spitting in your own face, right?”

“Waaah! I’m saying I’m the Sex God! Anonymous69 is a Bamboo Forest celebrity!”

“At this point, I should permanently block you, huh? You’re addicted.”

I’ve often thought it was crazy, but I wondered if a person could really be like this.

Since it was no longer an atmosphere for studying, I decided to organize the inquiries.

Anonymous300: Is there a way to check a user’s search history separately?

↳ Administrator: Only I can do that. It is not provided separately to the users of the board.

↳ Anonymous300: There’s someone I want to know about. Anonymous111.

↳ Administrator: It’s not possible without a reasonable reason.

↳ Anonymous300: I’m a fan.

↳ Administrator: No, you can’t.

If it’s Anonymous111, isn’t that Popo? There’s been talk recently about Popo not doing broadcasts, and it seems like an obsessive fan wants to explore even the Popo posts.

‘It feels creepy too.’

Remembering Popo, who came looking for me urgently during the festival for help, made the back of my head itch strangely, but I just let it go.

Thinking that they must be living well on their own was more comforting for me.

The next message was from someone I knew.

“Ah.”

They say, speak of the devil, and the devil comes.

As I let out a slight exclamation at the familiar name, Seo Yerin, who was suffering, peeked at my phone screen.

Anonymous90: I wanna have sex! Admin! I wanna have sex!

“……”

A message that was strikingly similar to one I had received from Mr. Who.

Carefully checking beside me, Seo Yerin, with her fists clenched and face flushed red, trembling violently, said:

“Thi… thi…! Thiiiiis!”

Suddenly, she started hitting me wildly.

“Thi-this! You thief! It’s wrong! This is no good! How dare! How dare you copy meeeee!”

“Hey! Hey! Calm down! Ah! Look how hard your hands are!”

“Don’t go! Woojinaaaaa! You can’t leaaave! I-I’ll do everything for youuuu! I’ll do anything, so don’t goooooo!”

“No! Please! I’ll listen from outside! Calm down!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

“Oh, don’t take your clothes off!”

It took some time to calm Seo Yerin as she was about to leave. I could only end it by promising to let her meet Anonymous90 later, but honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could keep that promise.

Anyway, since it’s an anonymous community, I wondered if there was really a need to meet.

It seemed like it would be bothersome if they met…

I was on the way to the library alone because studying with Seo Yerin wasn’t working out.

She had been spamming the Bamboo Forest with sex by my side until she got blocked for a day and left in a huff.

As the exam period was approaching, the library was almost full, but thankfully, there were a few empty seats that I could use, allowing me to settle down quietly and study.

‘I wish I could get a national scholarship.’

It was regrettable that it was difficult to receive a separate national scholarship due to the household income, but that couldn’t be helped.

…

…

.

“Hmm.”

While straightening my bent back, I sneak a peek at the time, and it’s already been four hours since I started studying.

Perhaps because I hadn’t studied for a while, doing it after so long felt like I was pouring all the concentration I had saved up into it.

Although it was only four hours, I tend to study quite efficiently, so I ended up feeling much more confident about the exam than before.

‘Not bad.’

Looking around, many people had already left the library, and outside the window, it had already gotten dark, with the streetlights turned on.

‘I should go home too.’

Stepping outside the library, the chilly air cooled my head, which had heated up from studying.

I felt a sense of pride as a student, which I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Thinking about it, I wondered if I had been living a little too recklessly recently.

This is what being a student is all about, after all, is what I told myself.

‘I guess I need to buy some ramen on my way back.’

Strictly speaking, it was peaceful, and to put it more precisely a little clichéd, but it was everyday life for me.

I bought two packets of ramen on my way home. Without bumping into anyone in particular, without even a call.

Humming along with the song playing through my earphones.

Then, a call that shattered my mood.

Curious, I checked my phone and there was a name I hadn’t seen in quite a while.

Second Brother -

“Huh.”

Seeing that, I immediately disconnected my earphones and answered the call with a laugh.

“Wow, who is this? Isn’t this the second brother who abandoned his sibling to live well on his own?”

Hey, speak properly. You’re the one who left us.

Hearing second elder brother’s warm voice made me laugh too. After all, to talk comfortably like this, second brother was the best.

“What did you call for? Wanted to hear your brother’s voice?”

When I asked, my brother awkwardly smiled and hesitated. It felt like he had something he wanted to ask but was looking for the right moment to spill it onto me.

Have you been dating any girls recently?

And the question he finally asked was so unexpected that I hesitated slightly without realizing.

“…No? Why all of a sudden?”

You’re not lying to your brother, are you?

“I might lie to my eldest brother, but I wouldn’t lie to second brother. I’m not seeing anyone right now.”

Not right now?

Look at this brother.

“Don’t pretend. Our older brother knew I had a girlfriend in the spring. It doesn’t seem like you wouldn’t know about it.”

…You’re dating girls now, all grown up.

“Be good to your brother and sister-in-law.”

…Don’t you ever get married.

“Why.”

Just don’t do it, you brat.

“But you’re not married yet.”

The car in front isn’t moving, is it?

“The eldest brother won’t marry a woman. He’s already married to his work.”

Sigh.

A complex sigh of agreement flowed from second brother. Eventually, second brother says he understood and casually moved on from the topic.

Anyway, I was just wondering how you’ve been. You said you’re not coming this winter either?

“What’s the point of going? I’m working part-time.”

Part-time? Where?

“You don’t need to know.”

…At this rate, I won’t even see you when you go to the military.

“You didn’t go, brother.”

I’m overweight, so I can’t lie down and shoot. You have to go though.

“I have to go.”

Since there’s no way out, it’s only natural. By the way, the eldest brother also served.

Well, that’s it. I’m just curious if you’re doing well. I’ll contact you again later.

“Yeah, take care, brother.”

Do you need spending money?

“No, I’m good.”

I decided to solve my own problems this time.

I didn’t want to rely on second brother’s help from then.

Alright, take care.

Whether it was pride, the call ended with the soft voice of the younger brother.

“Sigh.”

Walking while talking on the phone, before I knew it, I had arrived home.

A strange sensation crept in, feeling a small lump in my chest, but.

Soon, ignoring it, I just boiled some ramen to eat.

Click.

After hanging up with the youngest, Kim Un wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled broadly.

Because now he could share the good news with the red-haired woman sitting opposite him.

“See? I told you he’s not dating anyone yet, right?”

Kim Un said, his chubby cheeks jiggling, as Oh Yoon-ji crossed her legs and sat down.

Even as he spoke, her expression was still filled with worry and gloominess.

“There were three women coming out of his house, you know? Three? And all of them were beauties!”

“Ah, they must just be friends.”

“Just a female friend staying over at your house? Three of them?! And one of them is my high school friend!”

Jealous bastard.

Kim Un, who is dominated by Kim Woojin’s ex girlfriend, secretly envied his youngest brother, Kim Woojin, but made it clear.

“Even so, my brother has some restraint. You don’t know how stubborn he’s been since he was young.”

“……”

“You might not know, but my father once told me he wanted to pass everything on to Woojin, not the eldest brother. That’s how tenacious the kid was.”

“Isn’t it different with women?”

“It won’t be much different. You should know since you’ve dated too. He has his principles.”

‘You know you’re more susceptible to female temptations than you think.’

Oh Yoon-ji wanted to add that but held her words back, pressing on the corners of her eyes instead.

Seizing the opportunity, Kim Un immediately pointed to the documents on the table.

“Let’s start with the work talk first. That way, we can go see Woojin, right?”

“Ha, alright. Who was next?”

“The name is… Popo? That’s a unique nickname.”

Rather than being unique.

“It’s lame.”

Clicking her tongue, Oh Yoon-ji began to skim through the profile of a tasteless streamer.