Hello Vet! How are you?

The next day.

Gray One and Kkamnyang, comfortably lounging in the cat tower and gazing outside, suddenly jumped to their feet.

『I, sense a strong presence, meow.』
『An enemy’s here.』

“An enemy?!”

Lee Joon inquired upon hearing the cats’ alarm, peering outside and then letting out a chuckle.

“It’s Gijin.”

『Oh, someone you know, meow?』

“Yes, not an enemy but an ally.”

『Is that so, meow?!』

Relaxing at Lee Joon’s unruffled demeanor, the cats loosened their tension.

“Yes.”

Soon, with a loud ring of the bell, a large figure entered the animal clinic.

Although reassured that an ally was on the way, the cats scurried to the highest point of their tower, intimidated by the imposing stature and powerful presence.

“Hyung! I’m here.”

“Oh, Gijin, you made it. You found your way here well, huh?”

“Sure did. Took the subway straight from the station. It was easy.”

“Good to have you here.”

Lee Joon introduced his junior to Sora.

“Manager Jang, this is my junior, Go Gijin, a veterinarian. He specializes in large animals but wants to learn about smaller animals, so he’ll be with us for a while.”

Sora was quite taken aback upon seeing Go Gijin.

She had been informed a junior was coming, but his physique could have been mistaken for a wrestler’s.

‘Wow, no wonder he’s dealing with large animals. He looks formidable.’

Despite being surprised by the difference from other veterinarians she had known, Sora quickly composed herself and greeted him.

“Hello, I’m Sora Jang.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Once the introductions were done, Lee Joon inquired further.

“What would you like to drink?”

“I’m fine…”

“No, really. I feel like having something. Manager Jang, a cafe latte for you, right? And you?”

“I can go get them.”

Sora offered.

“Would you mind?”

“The director prefers iced Americano, right? What should I bring back for Dr. Go?”

“No, iced cafe mocha for me.”

“Sorry?”

“Ah, could you please ask them to put lots of cream?”

The image of Go Gijin, who could seemingly chew iron, ordering a sweet drink startled Sora briefly.

But his following request struck a chord, making him feel unexpectedly familiar.

“Oh, and if they’ve got any fresh cream cake, I’d like some too.”

It was her favorite cake as well.

“Sure.”

Sora left, and the conversation between the two men resumed.

“It’s been ages, hasn’t it?”

Lee Joon clapped his junior’s back joyfully.

“Well, it’s been a year since you guys came to Anmyeondo for volunteer work, right?”

“Has it already been that long?”

“Yes, it was quite fun back then.”

“It sure was. I owe your father a lot. How’s he? Still in good health?”

“Don’t even get me started. He’s still so strong. I still can’t outdo my dad’s strength.”

Hearing his junior, whose arms seemed even sturdier and thicker than Lee Joon’s thighs, mock complain, Lee Joon let out a chuckle.

“Well, Director Go has always been quite formidable. But if you’re going to be here, what about the animal clinic?”

Go Gijin was a veterinarian specializing in large animals.

He worked under his father at ‘Go Pan-seok Animal Clinic’ near Hongseong, making Lee Joon a bit concerned about his sudden arrival.

“Ah, it’s fine. Two juniors are working at the clinic now.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

The presence of juniors eager to step into the shrinking field of large animal veterinarians was worth celebrating, and Lee Joon felt genuinely happy for Go Gijin.

“But why this sudden interest in small animals?”

“You know, after you guys visited for volunteer work, my dad was really impressed after watching you all.”

Lee Joon and his group had rested at Go Gijin’s house for two days after finishing their volunteer work in Anmyeondo.

During that time, a puppy had come in with an emergency to Go Pan-seok Animal Clinic, and Lee Joon’s team had saved it.

Recalling that memory, Lee Joon asked.

“How’s that puppy doing now?”

“Doing great. Its owner still talks about that day, saying how grateful they feel and all. You guys were heroes to that puppy.”

Hearing it was doing well, Lee Joon’s lips turned upwards in a pleased smile.

“That’s great to hear. But how’s that related to you being here now?”

“To be honest, my dad wasn’t really interested beyond life and death scenarios.”

“Well, he does deal with industrial animals.”

The goal of raising large animals, also known as industrial or economic animals, is profit.

Veterinarians for livestock often balance between whether saving them is profitable or if letting them go serves the farm better.

It was a heartbreaking reality.

“Indeed.”

“But wasn’t Director Go someone who couldn’t stand seeing an animal in pain?”

“That’s because living with pain is too pitiful, isn’t it? How long does one live, anyway?”

Despite his massive physique capable of knocking over a cow, Go Gijin’s eyes were watery.

It was an unlikely look, but it was this tenderheartedness that made him all the more endearing to his seniors, including Lee Joon.

“You haven’t changed a bit.”

“Neither have you, hyung. But my dad was seriously impressed with your skills, especially saving that tiny pup nearly at death’s door. Quite frankly, without you guys, it wouldn’t have made it.”

“From my perspective, both you and your dad are the impressive ones.”

“Ha, my father would be thrilled to hear that. Anyway, several big animal hospitals are opening even back home, and my dad wants to open something similar.”

“Like a medical center?”

“Yeah. Nowadays, people in our village are keeping such cute little animals, too. But somehow, I don’t seem to know how to do scaling properly… Anyway, I’m counting on you.”

“Well, I’m not sure how much help our clinic can be since we don’t handle that many cases, but feel free to make yourself at home while you are here.”

“Thank you, hyung.”

After expressing his gratitude to Lee Joon, Go Gijin took a good look around the animal clinic.

“Wow, this clinic is really nice. I knew Hyung’s clinic would be great, but it really is something.”

“You’ve gotten even more dialect since last time. You weren’t like this when we were in school.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Was your dialect this strong?”

“Well, interacting with elders all day made it stronger. I’ll probably adjust in a bit. Is it strange?”

“No, it’s endearing.”

“Is this the treatment room?”

“Yes.”

“Indeed, the treatment rooms for cats and dogs have to be separate.”

“Obviously to some extent.”

“Exactly, cats are sensitive and easily scared, acting defensively. Oh, hold on a moment.”

Go Gijin suddenly dialed a number.

“Hello? I forgot to feed the cats. Could you take care of that from now on?”

-…

“Yeah. Thanks.”

After his call, Lee Joon asked.

“Are you raising cats now?”

“Not raising, exactly. Just that there are some cats that come by our yard to eat. About ten of them, give or take. I feed them.”

Go Gijin opened his phone to show photos of the cats.

“They’re cute.”

With the mention of cats, Gray One and Kkamnyang descended from the cat tower and positioned themselves beside Lee Joon. Go Gijin’s eyes widened at the sight.

“Who are these? Ha, they’re super cute.”

His voice dropped noticeably.

Both Lee Joon and the cats were surprised.

“Why did your voice suddenly get lower?”

“I know cats get startled by loud noises. Sorry, I didn’t know you were there.”

Gray One and Kkamnyang tilted their heads at Go Gijin’s explanation.

[He seems to be an ally, meow.]

[Doesn’t look like someone who would attack us.]

Lee Joon smiled at the cats’ astute judgment.

“They say you seem like a good person.”

“When you say that, it really makes me feel like that’s what they said. Haha.”

Laughing, Go Gijin extended a large hand and began affectionately ruffling Gray One’s head with his massive, padded hand.

Gray One’s eyes swayed as his head bobbed back and forth, side to side.

[What, what are you doing, meow?”]

“Ha, that cry is adorable.”

Gray One endured the onslaught of the enormous hand without extending his claws, reminding himself.

‘He’s a friend of Hyung, so I must put up with it.’

However, once he was free from Go Gijin’s grasp, Gray One bared his teeth in a meek protest.

[Meow!]

“You’re such a cute one. Alright, come here, let me have a go at you too.”

Now, Kkamnyang found himself in the same predicament as Gray One.

[Uh, uh, what is this guy doing?]

Judging by his actions, Go Gijin’s roughness ought to be annoying. However, there was a certain gentleness underlying the rough touch.

Feeling curiously astonished, both Gray One and Kkamnyang gazed at Go Gijin.

“What’s up? You want to come up?”

With a hand as wide as a pot lid, he gently lifted the cats onto his shoulders.

Gray One found himself perched on the right shoulder and Kkamnyang on the left.

“Ouch, that hurts, meow!”

“Ah, he captures cats.”

As the cats yowled in distress, they sprang off and dashed back to the cat tower.

Watching them flee, Go Gijin shook his head in disbelief.

“Cats are really tough. Even when I’m trying to show affection, they don’t easily open up.”

“How is that showing affection, meow! That’s harassment, meow!”

“I almost got strangled to death! How could he grab us so tightly?”

The cats hissed and spat in further protest toward Go Gijin.

“You’re too strong, that’s why. Anyone would dislike it if you held them like that.”

“Is that so? But cows are fine with it.”

“How can you compare something just below of five kilograms with a cow?”

“Is that so?”

Go Gijin slumped his shoulders.

Having focused solely on large animal studies during his university days, Go Gijin found the world of small animals intriguing and unknown.

“As long as you want to learn handling skills for small animals, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Still, these cats here are really cute and gentle. They didn’t stick out their claws even once or bite. Our cats at the clinic can be so feisty. Look at this; my hands are never free from scratches.”

Go Gijin raised his arm to show the scars littered across it.

“These guys are really quite gentle.”

While Lee Joon was praising the cats, Sora returned, carrying drinks and snacks in both hands.

“Wow, it’s been ages since I’ve seen cake like this!”

Go Gijin beamed at the sight of the white cake, prompting Sora to laugh and comment.

“Dr. Go, you seem to like sweets.”

“I do, a lot.”

“Back in school, he couldn’t resist sweets at all. His nickname was even ‘Sugar Killer’.”

“Oh, that reminds me, director. Speaking of Sugar Killer, the cafe owner’s dog, Sugar, seems to be in some trouble.”

Sugar was the name of the Great Pyrenees dog owned by the cafe owner in front of Evergreen Park.

“Sugar?”

“Yes, limping for a few days, and today he’s unable to stand. The owner can’t carry Sugar here and asked if you might make a house visit.”

“Carrying Sugar here would be a challenge. I’ll have to check after work.”

“Is there a problem? Is Sugar aggressive or something?”

“No, it’s just the weight. He’s close to fifty kilos. I’ll need to go and bring him along with the owner.”

“What’s to worry about then? I can carry him, hyung. Let’s go now. We need to bring him in for X-rays anyway, right?”

“Oh, right. With you here, that’s no problem.”

Recalling Go Gijin’s ability to easily carry calves, Lee Joon’s eyes sparkled.

“Manager Jang, could you prepare for the X-ray?”

Sora contemplated that with three people – including the cafe owner – they could manage to bring Sugar, and she replied affirmatively.

“Yes.”

Thirty minutes later.

Watching out the window and waiting for Lee Joon, Sora saw her assumption shatter.

Go Gijin was marching down the street cradling Sugar by himself.

Not struggling as if attempting to heave it over his shoulders, but calmly holding it as most pet owners would a typical 3 or 4-kilogram dog.

“How… how is that even possible?”

Sora was amazed by Go Gijin’s extraordinary feat of strength, but likewise, Go Gijin was equally astounded by Lee Joon’s examination skills.

“Really, I don’t need to hold the dog down?”

“Yep, just make sure Sugar doesn’t slip or get away.”

“That’s easy enough… but for such a large breed, are you sure?”

“It’s fine.”

Lee Joon meticulously examined Sugar’s body on his own.

For reasons unknown, Sugar neither growled nor twitched his lips.

He merely entrusted himself to Lee Joon’s firm handling.

Moreover, Sugar obediently repositioned himself as Lee Joon directed.

“Hmm? There’s significant swelling here. No wonder it couldn’t walk.”

Then, he quickly identified the cause of Sugar’s limping.

Lee Joon informed Sugar’s owner.

“He narrowly escaped a major issue.”