Chapter 79: Is he asleep already?

Meanwhile, in Dong-San City, Kei was happily touring the new headquarters of the Crying Ghost Guild.

The building was constructed near the SS-rank Dungeon that almost erupted a few days ago, in order to help the Guild conveniently monitor and handle any unexpected situations. From the outside, the headquarters looked no different from a luxury development for the wealthiest people in the city.

The grand lobby was spacious, with gleaming stone floors, towering pillars, and walls reinforced with high-grade defensive materials. Staff and hunters moved through every area, the atmosphere busy yet orderly.

Kei looked up at the dome overhead and couldn’t help but marvel:

"As expected of an SS-rank Guild. The Black Rose Guild has been operating in Dong-San City for over a decade and still can’t compare to this place."

Sora, standing beside him, also looked around in awe.

"I’ve never been to such a luxurious place. Just the guest lounge alone is bigger than our shop."

"Don’t compare the shop to this place." Kei said seriously. "Our shop may be small, but it means more."

Sora chuckled.

"Yes, I know. In Kei’s heart, the shop is the most important place."

Moon So Yeon, walking ahead, turned her head back.

"You two, stop chatting in the middle of the lobby. The Guild Leader is waiting in his office."

Kei was surprised.

"Is Kang Ian actually working?"

Moon So Yeon gritted her teeth.

"He only started working properly after I shoved him in there!"

She opened the door to the Guild Leader’s office.

Kang Ian was sitting behind a large desk, with a pile of paperwork in front of him so tall it almost completely hid his face. He held a pen in his hand, but his expression looked more like someone about to die of drowsiness than a Guild Leader handling work.

"This is the report for the eastern district." Moon So Yeon said. "This is the list of hunters to be deployed. And this is the paperwork for accepting protection rights over Dong-San City. All of it needs to be handled today."

Kang Ian stared at the pile of paperwork with a look of despair. What could be more miserable than a former civil servant who quit because his entire body was tortured by work, now having to sit back down and do desk work!

"Can’t this wait until tomorrow?"

Kang Ian tried to struggle.

"No!"

"The day after?"

"Also no."

"Next week?"

Moon So Yeon slammed her hand hard on the desk.

"Kang Ian! You handle those documents seriously right now!"

He immediately lowered his head, picked up his pen, and complained.

"Fine, I’ll do it, alright."

But at that very moment, Kang Ian spotted Kei walking into the room, and his eyes, which were always droopy, instantly lit up.

"Kei!"

He tossed all the paperwork in his hands onto the desk, sprang to his feet, and walked straight over to Kei’s side, immediately latching onto him without letting go.

Moon So Yeon rolled her eyes.

"Guild Leader! Your paperwork!"

Kang Ian paid no attention at all. He leaned down, his expression tired as he complained to Kei:

"Kei, you’re finally here. I’m really exhausted to the point of death."

"You just said you were going to work." Moon So Yeon said angrily.

"That’s right, I’ve been working very hard." Kang Ian replied, his expression utterly serious. "I think I deserve a little rest."

"You haven’t even held the pen for a full minute!"

"That minute felt as long as a lifetime."

Kang Ian ignored the nagging behind him, grabbed Kei’s wrist, and pulled him toward the sofa by the window.

"Hey, what are you planning to do?" Kei asked, but Kang Ian didn’t answer. He just pulled Kei down onto the sofa, then naturally sat right up against him.

Moon So Yeon immediately stepped forward.

"Guild Leader, get back to your desk right now. There’s still a whole mountain of paperwork—"

Kang Ian didn’t even bother listening to the rest of the sentence. He leaned over, rested his head on Kei’s thighs, and closed his eyes.

The room suddenly fell silent.

Kei frozen stiff.

He looked down at the man lying on his lap, his expression so bewildered he didn’t know whether to push him away or leave him be. Kang Ian, meanwhile, acted completely natural, even adjusting his position a little to find a more comfortable spot.

"Kang Ian?"

"Mmm."

"What are you doing?"

"Resting."

Kei immediately felt this was utterly absurd.

"If you’re resting, you don’t need to lie on top of me!"Kang Ian casually replied:

"But lying like this is more comfortable."

Moon So Yeon stared wide-eyed at the scene before her.

"President! Do you know what you’re doing?"

"I do." Kang Ian replied with his eyes still closed. "I’m trying to save my mental health."

Kim Sora couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked:

"Saving yourself by turning Kei into a body pillow?"

"Not a body pillow. Just borrowing his lap for a bit, I want to lie on a soft pillow."

Sora, standing behind, couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

That sound instantly made Kei’s cheeks flush red. He turned his head to look at Sora and stammered:

"Sora, stop laughing!"

"But... I didn’t even say anything." Sora tried to keep a serious face, though the corners of her lips were still curled up. "It’s just that I’ve never seen anyone as casual as President Kang Ian."

"Exactly." Moon So Yeon gritted her teeth. "I’ve never seen anyone who gives people headaches as much as he does."

The more Kei heard, the more embarrassed he became. He reached out and grabbed Kang Ian’s head, trying to pull him off his legs.

"Hey, get up. If you want to rest, go lie down in your own rest room."

Kang Ian didn’t budge at all.

Kei pulled harder, but Kang Ian’s head stayed put on his lap, heavy as a rock.

"You’re pretending not to hear me, aren’t you?"

No answer.

Kang Ian kept his eyes closed, breathing steadily. His usually tired expression now looked strangely peaceful, with none of the teasing demeanor he’d shown Kei just moments ago.

Kei blinked, finding it a bit odd.

"Kang Ian?"

Still no reaction. He leaned down and whispered sharply:

"Hey, Kang Ian!"

The person lying on his lap didn’t bother to respond. Sora stopped laughing too and tilted her head slightly to look down.

"Kei... it seems like he’s really asleep."

"Impossible." Kei immediately protested. "He was just talking to us a moment ago, and besides, this guy has chronic insomnia, there’s no way he’d just fall asleep out of nowhere."

"Maybe he was so exhausted that he fell asleep the moment he lay down."

Only then did Moon So Yeon snap out of it and walk over. She bent down and gently shook Kang Ian’s shoulder.

"President."

No response.

"President, can you hear me?"

Kang Ian remained motionless. Only his lashes trembled slightly before settling back into stillness.

Moon So Yeon shook him again, her voice lower:

"President, wake up."

But it was the same this time. Kang Ian didn’t open his eyes, and even unconsciously tilted his head, pressing his cheek closer against Kei’s thighs as if afraid of being pulled away.

Kei stared blankly at the sight.

Moon So Yeon slowly raised her head, her expression shifting from anger to astonishment. She looked at Kei, then at Kang Ian sleeping soundly on his lap.

"It seems..."

She hesitated, as if she herself couldn’t quite believe what she’d just realized.

"It seems the president has fallen asleep?"