Substitute-Chapter 47

“You Didn’t? Damn, You Must Be Full Already.”

Kim Yunho kept calling Jiwon you bastard at the end of every sentence.

It didn’t bother Jiwon. That was just Yunho’s way of being affectionate.

Bastard was no big deal.

“Why do you keep calling him bastard, though?”

But Number 3 pointed it out, for no good reason.

“Is he your kid or something?”

He grinned mockingly.

“Come on, man, it’s just how we talk. And I mean, ‘bastard’ isn’t even a real insult.”

“Of course it is. Would you call an instructor bastard?”

“Well, no, but—”

“So, did you give birth to him or something? Got a uterus?”

“No, I—”

“Then if you’ve got a uterus, I’ll shut up.”

He was relentless.

Number 3 kept pressing until Yunho visibly squirmed in embarrassment.

“Ugh, now I’m the asshole...”

Yunho looked away, muttering.

Park Gunwoo burst into giggles, clearly amused.

“Perfect. Totally my type.”

He gave Number 3 a thumbs up.

Feeling slighted, Yunho folded his arms and turned his back to the group, staring at the entrance like he was waiting for someone.

“Anyway, back to the conversation. So, Sailor—was it that you didn’t want to do it with me?”

Number 3 ignored Yunho completely and turned to Jiwon.

“Sorry?”

He mimicked Jiwon’s tone and expression.

“...What do you mean?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do I mean’?”

This bastard.

“I wanted to. What about you, Sailor? Did you want to do it with me? Or not? Was I not your type?”

Like he did with Yunho, Number 3 locked in on Jiwon and wouldn’t let go. It was clear he wouldn’t stop unless Jiwon answered.

Jiwon grumbled internally—What a fucking piece of work—and finally gave in.

“...Yeah. I mean... I did.”

Saying no to a guy like Number 3 would’ve raised even more eyebrows. So he chose the safe route and said yes. The second he did, Park Gunwoo let out a shriek like it was his own love story and squealed with delight.

In perfect sync, Number 3 threw both hands into the air like a victory cheer.

Jiwon laughed despite himself. It was absurd.

“Oh. That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile.”

In a flash, Number 3 leaned in close.

Smack.

He kissed Jiwon on the cheek.

It happened so fast, there was no time to dodge.

Park Gunwoo flailed and howled like he was witnessing a scandal.

“Jesus Christ. Just get a room already!”

He looked like he’d rent one for them if he could.

Jiwon’s eyes went wide. He scrambled to pull his upper body back—but the more he pulled away, the closer Number 3 leaned in.

“They said no sex or cumming. I don’t recall anything about kissing being forbidden.”

He grinned.

“Physical contact is banned. If you want more penalty points, be my guest.”

The words came out before Jiwon could stop them—his real personality slipping through.

He heard Park Gunwoo go “whoa” under his breath.

Number 3, who usually pounced on any little comment, just tilted his head to the right and studied Jiwon with curiosity. His eyes silently said, Interesting.

Jiwon realized too late he’d overstepped and was about to smooth things over—when Kim Yunho suddenly came to his rescue.

“Gwak Chan!”

The name made Number 3 flinch.

He whipped his head toward the entrance and visibly relaxed when he saw who it was.

Maybe he knew someone else by that name. Or maybe it reminded him of someone. Whatever the case, he didn’t look particularly pleased.

Gwak Chan—aka Wild Dog 4—walked in wearing a shower gown, no muzzle.

And behind him came another familiar face: Wild Dog 6. The same guy who’d flashed his chest in front of everyone and winked at Jiwon.

Wild Dog 6 caught Jiwon’s eye and gave the faintest reaction, but didn’t acknowledge him otherwise. They weren’t exactly acquaintances.

Everyone but Number 3 was in shower gowns—but Gwak Chan and Wild Dog 6 hadn’t even bothered to tie theirs shut. Skin peeked out from every angle.

“I’m Choi Minjae. Twenty-seven.”

He shook Jiwon’s left hand and added, “Guess you’re left-handed.”

Then squeezed in a specific way—just hard enough to signal.

It’s you.

Jiwon recognized the handshake instantly.

Wild Dog 6. The replacement recruit who’d surfaced on the third attempt.

And yet, he wasn’t glad to see him.

They’d talked about this exact handshake before. Said to try it on the last day of the party. “If you think it’s one of us, give them a secret shake. If it’s real, they’ll know.” He’d said it seriously.

And here he was, pulling that stunt immediately, in public.

Jiwon considered pretending he didn’t notice.

But then—

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Uncle Kyungseok.”

He whispered it directly into Jiwon’s ear.

Fuck. The hell is this?

The guy knew exactly who he was.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jiwon.”

“Relax with me, hyung.”

“By the way, Number 3—what’s your name and age?” Park Gunwoo chimed in mid-introduction.

“Twenty-five. And just call me Number 3—it’s easier.”

He answered casually.

Nobody really wanted to reveal their real names here. In fact, almost everyone who Jiwon thought had given real names turned out to be using fakes—except for Park Gunwoo and Kim Yunho.

“If we run into each other out in the real world, just pretend we don’t know each other.”

They all laughed at Park Gunwoo’s line.

All except Jiwon.

Weren’t they supposed to not know?

He felt a surge of anger toward the detective who had exposed him. They were supposed to keep his identity confidential—to protect the mission, protect everyone. But the bastard had told this guy.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

He was furious—but what could he do now?

He took a breath and reined himself in.

Then curiosity crept in.

What was Choi Minjae’s story?

What mission brought him here?

Was he doing this willingly—or was he forced?

Was it revenge, like Jiwon? Or money? Or to dodge some disciplinary action?

“There are many reasons. Honestly, not many join for revenge like you did, Officer Yoon.”

That son of a bitch.

The anger returned.

Jiwon began thinking about how to proceed.

They both knew each other’s identities now—he wasn’t the only one exposed.

But he couldn’t be sure if this guy’s goals aligned with his own.

So he had to be careful.

“All right, all right, let’s drink, people!”

Park Gunwoo raised his nearly empty glass and shouted.

Even if it was non-alcoholic, everyone rushed over to order another round of beer and cocktails. They lined up at the counter, making a racket.

Kim Yunho and Choi Minjae leaned in to scan the menu together. Park Gunwoo, still fixated on Gwak Chan, stuck close and kept firing off questions to the bartender.

“You into that asshole?”

Apparently, Jiwon had been staring without realizing.

Suddenly, Number 3 was whispering in his ear—so close he’d only have to turn his head slightly to brush lips.

Jiwon stepped aside and looked up at him.

“Huh? No, not really.”

“Want to earn five more points?”

They spoke at the same time—but Number 3 stepped in even closer than Jiwon had backed away.

“Ten, if you want.”

“No thanks. I’ve got a long way to go—I can’t afford that right now.”

Jiwon replied seriously.

Number 3 laughed.

“You’re fun.”

“What is?”

“You.”

He tapped his finger lightly on Jiwon’s chest—right where the name tag used to be.

Unfortunately, it was exactly where the tattoo had been placed.

“You got one too, right?”

It hadn’t taken long for word to spread that Crew Zero had been tattooed. A bunch of guys had already asked to see or show off theirs. Of course Number 3 knew.

“Show me?”

He hooked a finger inside Jiwon’s gown collar—asking for permission without words.

It was just a finger resting on cloth, but Jiwon’s nipple tingled, and a zap shot through his lower body.

He swallowed hard.

“Go ahead. If you want.”

He tried to keep his voice casual.

They’d all be seeing each other’s tattoos tomorrow in the gym anyway. And like the artist said, the ink would last a full two weeks. Showing Number 3 early wouldn’t change anything.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

He could deny it all he wanted, but there was something in him that... hoped. Some deeper instinct that wanted this.

Number 3’s lips parted slightly. His red tongue peeked through. Just as he slipped his finger inside the gown to lift it—

“Jiwon-hyung, what do you want to drink?”

Choi Minjae interrupted.

Number 3’s brow twitched, then smoothed.

“No one ever tells you you’ve got terrible timing?”

He smiled at Minjae, but his tone had an edge.

“Why? Were you two doing something?”

Minjae stretched his neck with fake innocence.

“Uh... I’ll just stick with the one I had. What was it again...”

Jiwon snapped back to reality, thanks to Minjae.

The shock of realizing he’d just been waiting—hoping—for something overtly sexual to happen hit him hard.

“The menu, please.”

He purposely stepped over to Minjae to take the menu.

Minjae hadn’t heard what passed between him and Number 3—but Jiwon’s ears burned with embarrassment anyway.

After that, he couldn’t bring himself to ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) look Number 3 in the face again.

He was afraid that if he did, he’d start expecting something.

Wanting something.

To avoid a dangerous night, Jiwon had to whip himself back in line.