Substitute-Chapter 55

“You’re just going to let that bastard be?”

Gwak Tan asked, losing his temper while drinking tea with his grandfather.

“Leave him. He’s an interesting one.”

“Grandfather, that bastard used violence. On a sacred stage.”

Gwak Tan was agitated.

“He didn’t even break anything.”

“He broke it. Do you know how much money we poured into that?”

“Just fix it.”

No matter how angry Gwak Tan got, his grandfather stayed magnanimous. Smiling the whole time, as if it were all entertaining. free𝑤ebnovel.com

He didn’t understand it.

“Grandfather, your tastes are really something. He’s not even that good-looking, so what are you protecting him for?”

He glanced at his cousin for agreement.

His cousin only let out a faint scoff.

“So we’re just letting him go? Just leaving him?”

He asked them both in turn.

“I said leave him.”

The cousin answered flatly.

That bastard, seriously.

Useless as ever.

Feeling awkward being the only one worked up, Gwak Tan gave a fake cough.

“But Grandpa, no matter how you look at it, he seems anorgasmic. What do you think?”

He asked his cousin. His cousin only shrugged.

Forget it. Fuck.

“At this rate, he’s gotta be anorgasmic.”

“He hasn’t taken the development class yet.”

His grandfather once again took the bastard’s side.

Just like with Cha Jongsu. His preferences were remarkably consistent.

“You think development’s even going to work on that bastard?”

He asked disinterestedly.

“I’ve never seen it fail. That boy’s hand technique is a work of art.”

Grandfather said confidently.

“Hand technique my ass. It’s the drugs.”

He sneered.

“Drugs are temporary. That’s technique. A patented technique no one else can imitate!”

His grandfather snapped.

He put down his teacup with a sharp clink and let out a groan.

“I’m sorry.”

Gwak Tan immediately apologized.

His grandfather hated it when people attributed things to drugs. He’d taken pride in training the erogenous zones of both men and women—including Cha Jongsu—without relying on substances. And Gwak Tan knew that. But his damned careless mouth had run off.

It must’ve sounded like he was mocking his grandfather’s entire legacy.

“I didn’t mean you, Grandpa—”

As he tried to explain—

“You talk too much.”

His cousin cut in dryly.

Annoying little shit. But one he could never truly hate.

He signaled with his eyes for help. The cousin smiled faintly.

“Grandpa, come on. Don’t get pouty over that. Siberian tigers aren’t supposed to have sardine-sized feelings.”

“You brat, nothing you won’t say to your old man.”

Despite the words, the anger had already cooled.

Gwak Tan gave a silent thumbs up to his cousin in relief.

“I’ll never understand the taste of this damn tea.”

His cousin said, frowning as he set the cup down.

“Then why’d you come?”

It was the first meeting convened under Grandfather’s lead since the project began.

Gwak Tan had been busy in his own right. So had his cousin, each of them tied up in separate work.

Grandfather knew that—and yet he called them both.

“Two more days, and it’s week two, right?”

Grandfather asked, facing Gwak Tan.

“Yes. Starting Monday, we enter week two.”

“From week two, masturbation and sex are permitted, correct?”

“They have to be. If we starve them too long, the boys get too stiff. And if we’re going to train them properly, there’s no other way.”

They’d agreed on it with Grandfather from the start, but he still asked.

He must’ve been planning to change the schedule.

And it was all because of that bastard Gwak Jun.

Who the hell did he think he was, laying hands on project assets?

Thankfully, Grandfather had flown into a rage upon hearing and immediately banned Gwak Jun not just from Basement Level 1, but from the entire facility. Gwak Jun clung to his pant leg with every ridiculous excuse he could muster—but none of them worked.

It felt like pulling out a rotten tooth.

Still, it was a lingering regret that Han Seoho had been put in as a replacement. That bastard was a top-tier pro.

It was like putting a professional in an amateur match.

Worse yet, Han Seoho was someone the host—Grandfather—and all the guests had already had their fill of. Not an ounce of freshness left. Two of the guests who had eagerly watched the CCTV livestream had actually lost interest the moment Seoho showed up.

This was a threat to the project’s direction.

They hadn’t dubbed the Paradise Project “the Olympics of sex” just because it involved every possible kind of sexual activity.

After seven months of preparation, all the chosen participants this round were fresh faces. Meaning, none of them had ever slept with any of the hosts or guests before. That first-time factor had built huge expectations.

And now, it was all at risk of unraveling.

A countermeasure was needed. That was likely the reason behind this urgent meeting.

And Grandfather had one ready.

“Wouldn’t it be boring if all they did was jerk off and suck each other?”

He looked meaningfully at Gwak Tan and his cousin.

A smile played on his cousin’s lips.

“Well, yeah. You got a good idea?”

Gwak Tan asked.

“What if we made it a game?”

“A game?”

He thought Grandfather had been watching too many dramas—but it wasn’t a bad idea.

A game, huh.

“What kind?”

He asked eagerly.

“Well. You’re the one in your prime—you should pick the event. But it’d be fun if the loser had to bet something precious. Nothing gruesome like organs or lives, of course.”

A gentle smile crossed his lips.

“As expected of my grandfather. I’ve still got a lot to learn.”

Gwak Tan gave a deep nod of respect. His cousin jeered.

That was how the meeting ended.

On the way back, he gave his cousin a ride.

“What are you going to do?”

“About what?”

“Don’t play dumb, bastard.”

“You interested in me?”

“You little shit.”

Gwak Tan made as if to smack him. His cousin only grinned.

“Such a temper.”

The cousin clicked his tongue like an old man.

“Just make sure you follow through on Grandpa’s idea. Build a solid plan.”

“I’ve already thought of a few things.”

The moment Grandfather spoke, Gwak Tan’s mind had exploded with twisted ideas. So many he had trouble choosing. He’d even come up with multiple penalty options.

“Oh right—get the boys tanned. What’s the point of all that expensive equipment if they’re all walking around looking like boiled chickens?”

The cousin wrinkled his nose.

Gwak Tan burst out laughing at the “boiled chicken” comment.

“Bastard, that’s Grandpa’s preference.”

“Well, I don’t like it. At least tan them halfway.”

He snapped.

“I don’t like pale ones either. Pool schedule got canceled anyway—good timing to send them.”

“Sweet-talk Grandpa into tanning the sailors too.”

“You ask him.”

“You still can’t say shit like that yourself?”

The brat scoffed, then picked up his phone.

“Grandpa. Let’s do tanning.”

He said it straight out.

“They’re too pale, it’s gross. I couldn’t even eat samgyetang during Malbok thinking about them.”

When the cousin whined, a soft laugh came from the receiver.

Moments like this made Gwak Tan envy that cousin’s nerve.

Not that he was timid himself—but he couldn’t beat the kid.

Sure enough, his phone buzzed.

Grandfather’s full tanning authorization had come in. He didn’t care how dark the others got, but the sailors had to be just slightly tanned—just enough to look pretty.

Gwak Tan immediately called Manager Kim. As they discussed tanning and other changes to the week-two schedule, the cousin beside him kept yawning.

So damn carefree.

But not someone to underestimate.

Soon, he’d be standing over Gwak Tan’s head.

Everyone knew it—it was just waiting for the official announcement.

Their paths were different, so conflict was unlikely. Still, people were unpredictable. That’s why Gwak Tan had prepared on his end too. Doing everything he could, as Kim Hansoo.

“Thanks for the ride.”

“You’re getting out already? Let me take you to your destination.”

Gwak Tan was mid-sentence when the kid opened the door and got out.

Didn’t even look back. Just walked off.

“Fuck’s sake, who can stop that punk. Let’s go.”

He told the driver, reaching for his tablet—but ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) thud, the car braked hard. His body lurched forward, and the tablet flew out of his hands and hit the floor.

“What the fuck! You can’t drive properly?!”

Before he could finish yelling, he understood what had happened.

The cousin had returned—he’d blocked the moving car with his body. And not only that, he smacked the hood with his palm.

Christ, this crazy little fuck.

Clunk—the back door swung open.

“Hyung.”

He stuck his upper body in and called out.

“What now, you motherfucker!”

Gwak Tan exploded.

“Fifty thousand won.”

“What?”

“I’m broke. Got no fare.”

“You son of a—”

“Hurry. I’m late.”

Cursing, Gwak Tan pulled out his wallet from inside his jacket. But the kid was already snatching it.

And he really only took one fifty-thousand-won bill.

“Take a few more.”

“What for. Useless.”

Before the words were even done, the wallet flew back through the air. Gwak Tan reached to catch it—and by then, the door had shut.

The cousin vanished like the wind.

It was ridiculous. But instead of being annoyed, Gwak Tan honestly found it funny.

People should be born with at least that much guts.

He picked up the tablet from the floor and straightened his clothes.

“Let’s go.”

The car moved again. This time, he kept his eyes on the road until they were out—and then looked down at his tablet.

Let’s see.

What kind of game would be the most fun?

Humming to himself, Gwak Tan grinned.