Chapter 100: The Unexpected Kiss In The Storage

When Kei returned to the shop, the scene before his eyes made him pause slightly.

A large truck was parked right in front of the store. Its rear doors were wide open, filled with wooden crates and carefully wrapped seedling trays. Kim Sora stood beside it, directing the delivery workers while inspecting each item being unloaded.

"Put these crates in the storage room first! Be careful, everything inside is expensive herbs!"

As soon as she saw Kei, Sora immediately waved happily with a big smile.

"Kei, you’re back? And hunter Kang Ian too!"

Then she turned to Kang Ian standing beside him and broke into a bright smile.

"Thank you so much, Guild Master Kang! Gifting us so many herb seedlings really solved a huge problem for our shop!"

Although Kei didn’t say anything, Sora knew he cared deeply about researching and crafting potions. For Kang Ian to give herbs right now, it went without saying that it was for Kei’s potion research!

Kei immediately turned his head to look at Kang Ian.

"You gifted us herbs? This many?"

Kang Ian kept his usual calm expression. He gave a slight nod, as if the matter before them was nothing worth mentioning.

"Yeah. Didn’t you want to grow herbs? Rare varieties are very hard to buy out there."

"But why..."

"So I’m giving you five seedlings of each type."

Kei stared blankly at the truck being unloaded.

He really was the Guild Master of a major Guild. Even his gifts were so generous that people couldn’t react in time.

Kang Ian had bought Blood Leaf, Silver Moon Flower, and many other types of herbs. The quantity was just enough for Kei to experiment with in his ring space, even more than what he could buy with his current funds.

Kei knew well that he couldn’t easily gather enough seedlings to start farming. If he refused the seedlings Kang Ian brought, the plan to solve the shop’s material supply would be delayed indefinitely.

So Kei was silent for a moment, then said seriously:

"After I successfully grow them, I will definitely return these seedlings to you."

Kang Ian raised an eyebrow.

"No need, I’m not short on this little money."

"If the farming fails, I will pay back exactly the amount you spent to buy them."

Kei continued, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Kang Ian looked at him for a long time. He had originally intended to say that he didn’t need Kei to return anything, but when he saw that resolute gaze, he ultimately fell silent.

He knew Kei would not compromise.

"Fine.

Kang Ian answered with just one word.

"Just do what you want."

Kim Sora, standing nearby, smiled happily upon hearing this.

"Then hurry and bring everything inside! Kei, give us a hand too!"

"Yeah."

Kei and Kang Ian began moving the seedling trays and wooden crates into the storage room. The herb seedlings were wrapped in moist soil, their roots still intact. The smell of earth and medicinal herbs quickly spread throughout the small room.

Sora stood at the door continuously reminding the delivery workers to place each type in its proper position. After a while, the last wooden crate was finally moved inside.

Kei let out a breath and was about to turn and walk out when the storage room door suddenly closed.

"Huh?"

Kim Sora’s laughter and chatter immediately became distant. The light from outside was also blocked by the door, leaving only a narrow space wrapped in the smell of damp earth and herbal fragrance around the two men.

Kei turned his head, and Kang Ian was standing right behind him.

The distance between them was so close that Kei could feel his heavy breathing. Those platinum eyes that were usually so languid had darkened, their deep gaze focused entirely on Kei’s face.

"Why did you close the door?"

Kei frowned.

Kang Ian didn’t answer immediately.

He placed one hand against the door behind Kei, blocking the way out. His other hand slowly lifted Kei’s chin.

"Kei."

His voice was lower than usual.

"Yesterday, did you really just sleep with that big lizard?"

Kei was stunned.

Kai’s face immediately appeared in his mind, along with the chaotic memories of that morning. Kei’s neck grew hot, and he instinctively tried to turn his face away, but Kang Ian’s hand still held his chin.

"What does that have to do with you?"

Kei snapped, his face flushed red."It has nothing to do with me."

Kang Ian answered very quickly.

But his expression was completely unlike that of someone uninvolved.

Kei stared at him. A strange feeling gradually spread through his chest. Kang Ian was angry, or at least uncomfortable. Why would he react like that just because Kai slept next to him for one night?

"Then get out of the way!"

Kei said.

Kang Ian still didn’t move.

He leaned down, his hot breath brushing against Kei’s face.

"I just don’t like seeing traces of someone else on you."

Kei’s eyes immediately widened.

"What are you talking about?"

"I don’t know either."

Kang Ian frowned slightly. The frustration in his eyes became more obvious, as if he himself was annoyed at not being able to understand his own feelings.

"I just know that every time I think about Kai being by your side, I feel very uncomfortable. Hey, you did something to me, didn’t you? I’ve become really strange."

Just like right now, he only wanted to lean down and bite, to crush the spot on Kei’s neck covered by the bandage.

Before Kei could react, Kang Ian had already leaned down.

His lips covered Kei’s lips.

The kiss came too suddenly, forceful and carrying the loss of control that Kang Ian had always tried to hide beneath his languid exterior. Kei froze, his hands instinctively pressing against Kang Ian’s chest.

The cold scent on Kang Ian’s body mixed with the damp earthy smell of the storage room. His breath was burning hot, completely at odds with his face that always looked like he hadn’t woken up.

Kei pushed him away hard.

"Mm—!"

Kang Ian staggered back half a step, but his gaze remained locked on Kei’s lips.

Kei raised a hand to cover his mouth, both cheeks flushed red from shock and anger.

"Are you crazy? What the hell are you doing!"

Kang Ian was silent and didn’t respond.

Outside, Kim Sora’s voice rang out:

"Kei? Are you two done organizing the things?"

Kei immediately turned his head toward the door and answered Kim Sora:

"Done!"

He answered loudly, then turned back to glare at Kang Ian.

"Move right now."

Kang Ian looked at him for a few more seconds, then finally stepped to the side. He opened the storage room door, letting the light from outside flood in.

Kei walked out first, trying to keep his expression calm. However, his slightly swollen red lips and burning ears had completely betrayed that calmness.

Kim Sora looked at him, then at Kang Ian behind him.

She blinked slyly.

"Is the storage room very hot? Why are both your faces so red?" Bright red, looking like they had just done something suspicious.

"It’s just stuffy in there." Kei answered immediately.

Kang Ian said nothing. He only cast his eyes toward Kei’s back, his expression still calm as if he hadn’t done anything at all.

But deep within those platinum eyes, a trace of possessiveness had quietly taken root at some unknown point, making those platinum-colored eyes become as dark as an abyss.

As for Kei, he clenched his hands tightly, trying to suppress the heartbeat pounding wildly in his chest.

He didn’t understand why Kang Ian had kissed him.

And even less why, after that kiss, the person who confused him the most... was himself.