Chapter 81: A Beautiful Dream

"Look at him, maybe he’s having a really beautiful dream?"

Kim Sora leaned against the back of the sofa, tilting her head to look down at Kang Ian, who was lying motionless on Kei’s lap. His face, which was always gloomy and weary, was now strangely peaceful.

No more furrowed brows, no more dull gaze as if he would flare up at anyone who said even one more word. The corner of Kang Ian’s mouth was even slightly upturned, forming a faint smile.

Sora blinked a few times.

"The president is really smiling!"

Moon So Yeon, who was bowing her head to handle the pile of backlogged documents on the desk, stopped writing upon hearing that. She looked up and happened to catch that rare expression on Kang Ian’s face.

Moon So Yeon’s face instantly stiffened.

Her astonishment was just like someone who had just seen a ghost appear in broad daylight.

"That’s impossible..."

Sora turned to look at her.

"Sister So Yeon, what’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

Moon So Yeon answered instinctively, but her gaze remained fixed on Kang Ian. She put down the pen, her expression turning serious.

"He’s sleeping and smiling at the same time... He really is dreaming..."

Moon So Yeon murmured unconsciously.

What was strange was Kang Ian himself.

Having worked with him for years, she had seen him doze off at his desk, fall asleep in the car, and even seen him close his eyes for a few minutes only to immediately wake up at the slightest sound. But that had never been a real sleep in the true sense.

Kang Ian would just lie down and rest in the darkness while his consciousness remained frighteningly alert.

She had never seen him dream, let alone seen him smile while asleep.

Moon So Yeon slowly stood up, intending to get closer, when Kei suddenly let out an "Ah."

He lowered his head to look at Kang Ian, then reached out and gently touched the corner of his eye. The tip of Kei’s finger immediately felt a patch of dampness.

Kei froze.

Sora also leaned down to follow his movement.

"What’s the matter?"

Kei looked at the clear drop on his fingertip, his face full of confusion.

"He... seems to be crying."

"What?"

Kim Sora’s eyes widened.

"Why... Why is he crying now? Just a moment ago he was smiling in his sleep?"

That question made the entire room fall silent at once.

Moon So Yeon quickly stepped to Kei’s side and crouched down in front of the sofa. She looked closely at the corner of Kang Ian’s eye. Sure enough, a thin, light tear was slowly sliding down toward his temple, soaking into his black hair.

"He really is crying..."

Moon So Yeon’s voice grew softer.

Sora covered her mouth with her hand, staring at Kang Ian in shock.

"I thought someone like the hunter Kang Ian wouldn’t know how to cry."

Kei turned to glare at her.

"Every human being knows how to cry."

So Kei was somewhat surprised, but he wouldn’t find this strange. A strong person tormented by insomnia for so many years, Kang Ian’s nerves were probably tense at all times.

"But he looks like someone who forgot about that a long time ago."

As soon as Sora finished speaking, she immediately ducked her head, as if afraid that Kang Ian might hear her even while asleep.

Kei didn’t reply. He used his sleeve to gently wipe the corner of Kang Ian’s eye.

His movements were very careful, almost afraid that even the slightest pressure would wake the sleeper. It was rare for him to sleep, so it was best to let this person sleep a little longer.

Kang Ian’s sleeping face looked younger than usual. Gone was the irritable, cold, and gloomy aura that always surrounded him, and his sharp features had softened as well. A person who always made others feel hard to approach now lay still on Kei’s lap, letting everyone gather around and observe.

The sight was so odd that Sora couldn’t help murmuring:

"Right now the president is being watched by everyone like a monkey at the zoo."

Moon So Yeon shot her a glance.

"Stop talking."

"But it really is like that..."

Sora’s eyes were still curious about Kang Ian.

Moon So Yeon reached out intending to touch the president’s shoulder, then stopped midway. She was afraid of waking him. After years of watching Kang Ian being worn down by sleepless nights, she had once thought that if he could truly sleep for even one day, no matter what happened, she would not disturb him.

But seeing him shed tears in his sleep with her own eyes made her more uneasy than anything else."Perhaps he’s dreaming about something sad?"

The moment Kei finished speaking, Kang Ian’s lashes trembled slightly. Before he could pull his hand back, Kang Ian opened his eyes.

His platinum-colored gaze was blurred with tears. Kang Ian furrowed his brow and blinked a few times, as if he didn’t understand why everything before him had become so hazy.

After a few seconds, his vision gradually cleared.

Kang Ian saw Kei first.

Then Sora, standing behind the sofa, and Moon So Yeon, crouching beside it, both staring at him intently.

Kang Ian was silent, and Kei was just as silent as him. Sora quietly turned her face away, but her shoulders were trembling from holding back laughter.

Kang Ian raised a hand to wipe the corner of his eye. His fingertips touched the trail of tears, making him pause. He stared at it for a few seconds, his expression gradually turning puzzled.

"..."

Moon So Yeon was the first one who couldn’t hold it in anymore.

"President, what did you dream about that made you cry in your sleep?"

Kang Ian didn’t answer right away.

He sat up from Kei’s lap, his black hair slightly tousled, his mind still a jumbled mess. The vast forest, the small wooden cabin, the glowing ribbon of silk, and the warm hand of a child, all still so vivid that he could almost feel them.