Substitute-Chapter 57

They were waiting for the final morning class when suddenly an order came down for everyone to assemble in the lobby.

Someone else expelled? The commotion was still thick in the air when an unexpected schedule was announced.

“We’ll be moving from the cruise to the tanning shop.”

The team leader relayed the news.

“Shit, you scared me. Why the hell make tanning sound so dramatic?”

Kim Yunho exhaled, clutching his chest.

“Scared me to death. I’ve been losing sleep thinking Gwak Chan or Choi Minjae might get expelled.”

Park Geonwoo looked like he’d aged ten years.

“They’re great and all, but their patience is about the size of a rat’s dick.”

Everyone laughed at that.

But it wasn’t just needless worry. So far, most of the expelled participants were from Wild Dog, and the top ranks in penalty points were all Wild Dog too. Just look at Nam Gyuwon, already brushing the penalty limit in Week 1—it didn’t look like he’d make it past Week 2.

What about Choi Minjae? What about Han Seoho?

Time would tell.

“Change into your gowns and move in order. After tanning, there’ll be a photo shoot, so don’t change out of the gowns—stay in them for waiting.”

After the captain gave the instructions, he started calling names beginning with Jiwon.

A tattoo first, now tanning—everything was a first for Jiwon. Of course, it wasn’t like anything here wasn’t a first, but this one had given him the most unexpectedly pleasant experience so far.

All he’d done was darken his skin a bit, yet the bland, pale tone he had before now glowed faintly.

Is this what they call champagne gold? Or golden beige?

He was still too white to be called “gold,” but there was a subtle warmth now, and depending on the light, a soft golden sheen shimmered across his skin.

Jiwon looked at his new self—strange, but... not bad. Embarrassing, but even a little seductive.

Since they tanned fully nude, even the area around his genitals had the same glow.

He’d looked like a plucked chicken before, but now, he almost looked human.

What the hell. A chicken?

Jiwon had to bite down a laugh at his own thought.

“Damn, this is insane. I want mine darker—can’t we go again?”

Kim Yunho was completely entranced with his reflection, opening and closing his gown, checking his dick, his perineum, even turning around to look at his ass.

Everyone’s skin had taken the tan slightly differently. Maybe it was just individual tone variation, but each of them looked unique post-tan.

Kim Yunho had genuinely become the textbook definition of “golden beige.”

Still, the one with the most beautiful transformation was Han Seoho. With his striking face, his newly bronzed skin now shimmered with a perfect blend of bronze and pearl tones—a color that looked downright fantastical. And he knew it. He walked around the waiting room with his gown untied at the waist, on purpose.

Jiwon couldn’t help but be awed—if he found it stunning, how did the others see him?

Team 1—the “police officers” waiting nearby—had their eyes glued to Han Seoho. Even Son Geonwoo, who’d claimed to like Jiwon, couldn’t look away and even let out a whistle.

Only No. 3 winked at Jiwon—three times, no less. He came over and, with his eyes fixed on Jiwon’s crotch, said:

“Did you tan there too?”

“...Huh?”

“Can I see?”

“...Just to look?”

Why did he say yes?

Like he was under a spell, Jiwon followed No. 3 into the changing room. The only thing separating them from the outside was a thin curtain.

There, in that barely concealed space, not knowing who might come in, Jiwon untied his gown.

No. 3, who’d said he’d just look, leaned in like he was about to kiss him.

“You’re kind of close, don’t you think?”

Jiwon pushed him back.

Pretending to be pushed, No. 3 leaned back just a little, then smiled and slipped his fingers inside the gown.

His touch never landed on Jiwon’s skin. It was an exquisite motion, slow, careful—opening the gown without a single graze.

No. 3 hovered his fingers over Jiwon’s nipples and the surrounding areola, now just beginning to flush pink. The movement wasn’t real touch—but it was enough. Jiwon’s nipples tingled sharply.

His body flinched before he could control it.

“Looks good on you.”

No. 3 puckered his lips and made a sucking sound.

It felt like his nipples had really been sucked. Jiwon nearly moaned.

He clenched his teeth to hold it back, fists clenched.

No. 3’s finger moved again—this time stopping precisely at Jiwon’s groin.

Jiwon gulped.

His damaged genitals were fully exposed—yet he didn’t feel embarrassed.

“Beautiful color.”

No. 3 suddenly dropped to his knees. In doing so, his face nearly brushed Jiwon’s penis.

Jiwon hadn’t even imagined he’d kneel. He jumped, almost losing strength in his legs and collapsing.

But while Jiwon panicked, No. 3 remained perfectly calm. From that kneeling posture, he looked up and slowly extended his tongue, licking the air. Precisely, he mimed licking Jiwon’s penis, his lower belly, every nearby inch of flesh.

Then he kissed the air with a soft “mwah.”

Haa—Jiwon couldn’t stop the moan that slipped out.

He reached both hands out, about to grab No. 3’s head, when he heard someone approach.

His eyes met Han Seoho’s.

Jiwon frantically pulled his gown closed and stumbled back. His legs nearly gave out, but luckily he didn’t fall.

No. 3 must’ve heard it too, but whether he saw Seoho or not wasn’t clear.

“Thought you were gonna come.”

No. 3 asked playfully, standing up.

“I... they called me...”

Jiwon fled the changing room. He heard someone call after him but ignored it, nearly running out.

The dressing and waiting areas were practically side by side. The curtain—thin and half-see-through—was the only barrier.

What had possessed him to follow No. 3 in there?

If anyone had wanted to look, they could’ve seen everything.

Fucking insane. Insane. Insane.

He yanked his gown tighter and scanned for Kim Yunho.

Han Seoho was watching him with that strange look again—but pretended not to notice.

Kim Yunho was chatting with No. 11, the one he’d shown interest in earlier.

When had they gotten that close?

Far as Jiwon knew, this was their first real conversation. There was no touching, but their eyes said everything—they were smiling with mutual tension.

And the way Seoho must have seen him and No. 3... Jiwon’s face went hot.

“Crew Zero, move to the studio!”

The moment Park Geonwoo came out from tanning, the captain called out.

Still drunk on the sight of himself, Park Geonwoo threw double thumbs-up at Jiwon.

Geonwoo had turned a similar shade as Jiwon—maybe a bit darker—but it suited him just as well as it did Han Seoho.

“Hyung, it really looks good on you.”

Jiwon started to approach him when—tap. Someone touched his shoulder.

He didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

He felt hot breath on his ear.

“Do it to me later too.”

No. 3’s voice was sweeter than ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ ever.

Jiwon pretended not to hear and hurried out of the tanning shop.

He walked toward the same studio where they’d shot his chest tattoo photo.

Pop! Pop!

The flashes kept going off, but his mind wouldn’t clear.

Because of what had just happened with No. 3.

How could he?

He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed in himself—but at the same time, he was turned on.

Just remembering No. 3’s hand tracing his nipples and areola in the air made them tingle.

And the way he’d looked up at Jiwon, kneeling...

That ecstasy-soaked face. That red tongue. Those lips.

It was like his lower half was electrified, like the man’s tongue had really touched him.

His skin kept twitching uncontrollably.

Pop! Pop!

His head was spinning.

If he could—he would’ve fucked him.

Pop!

“Good! That’s great. Can you lift your penis a little?”

The photographer’s request brought Jiwon crashing back to reality.

He awkwardly lifted his penis, only to be told to do it “with more energy.”

The photographer demonstrated.

Everyone laughed.

Jiwon laughed too, lifting it properly with one hand.

Pop!

The flash went off.

Then the photographer knelt down.

“Can you spread your legs a bit?”

As the photographer knelt, No. 3’s image overlapped with him.

Haa—he nearly moaned again.

Pop!

Then, once more, he locked eyes with Han Seoho.

A strange smile played on his face.

No, not a smile.

It was contempt.

Han Seoho was looking at Jiwon with pure contempt.

Why?

For what?

Seoho didn’t know Jiwon’s real reason for being here. He probably thought Jiwon came for the money, just like him. So why look at him like that?

Pop!

Jiwon’s photo shoot ended.