Hello Vet! How are you?

『Me and my friends used to sleep with Dad when we were young, but now I sleep alone…』

Sugar’s mouth protruded a bit.

Seeing that expression, which looked so disappointed, Lee Joon patted Sugar’s large head.

Perhaps Sugar felt that Lee Joon understood his feelings, as he leaned against Lee Joon and continued to speak hesitantly.

『I used to sleep with Dad every day, and when I wake up, he would tell me I’m pretty and stroke me, and then when I would suddenly wake up in the middle of sleep, dad would stroke me to help me fall back asleep…』

Sugar waved his front paws up and down, reminiscent of when his guardian comforted him when he was young.

However, it seemed that Go Gijin and the guardian saw things differently.

The two looked at Sugar with concern.

“Hmm? Sugar, why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“Why is our Sugar barking all of a sudden? His front paws aren’t hurt, are they?”

“No, he’s just expressing all that’s made him feel upset until now.”

“Feeling upset? There’s no way our Sugar would feel upset…”

“It seems like he’s lonely.”

“Oh… I guess he misses his friends. When he wasn’t sick, he used to go to the park every day and meet his friends, but he hasn’t been able to go out at all since getting sick.”

The guardian hugged Sugar tightly.

“Sugar, once you’re all better, let’s go for a walk in the park with Dad, okay?”

The guardian’s expression as they spoke to Sugar was filled with affection.

Seeing this, Lee Joon spoke to Sugar.

“You see? They love you so much, so what are you lonely about?”

『Sniff. I know, but still…』

“It seems like he’s fidgeting and making a fuss like he needs to go to the bathroom or something. Just a moment.”

As Go Gijin picked Sugar up, Sugar smiled brightly, completely changing his expression from a moment ago.

Sugar’s guardian awkwardly smiled at the sight.

“Seeing Sugar so happy when cuddling with Go Gijin is nice, but also makes me feel a bit guilty. I’d also like to hug him like that, but realistically, it’s hard…”

“I can’t hold him either. So don’t feel too guilty. Also, hugging isn’t the only way to show affection.”

Lee Joon turned his gaze toward the cat tower.

From the cat tower, Gray one and Kkamnyang were watching them with interest and then made direct eye contact with Lee Joon.

“Come here.”

Without even a word of ‘why,’ the cats ran straight to Lee Joon.

Seeing this, Sugar’s guardian laughed.

“These cats are like dogs. They’re obedient cats that listen so well. They call this ‘perfect mactch’, and the director seems to have been hit twice with it.”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

Instead of lifting the cats running toward him, Lee Joon embraced them as they sat, enveloping them with a hug.

“You still feel love being shown this way.”

『Thanks for hugging us.』
『Thank you.』

The cats, diligently practicing the teachings of Nuri, purred while being embraced by Lee Joon.

Observing the comfortable expressions on the cats’ faces, Sugar’s guardian pondered.

‘When was the last time I hugged Sugar like that?’

Realizing they couldn’t remember, it seemed it hadn’t happened recently.

Of course, they’d patted Sugar’s forehead or bumped his sides and belly.

But they hadn’t hugged him tenderly like that.

‘Sugar wanted this kind of thing. I made him feel lonely.’

With the realization of Sugar’s feelings, the guardian slowly began to speak.

“Because Sugar is large, people around me always say he’s sturdy and reliable. Maybe that’s why I treated him that way.”

Lee Joon seemed to understand what the guardian was saying.

“Isn’t it because you think of him as a partner? With small dogs like Chihuahuas, you feel like you should pamper and protect them, but large dogs like Sugar seem sturdy, like a partner. They’re the kind of beings with whom your hearts align well… You don’t always pamper your partner, do you?”

“You’re right. I think that’s how I felt.”

“But for Sugar, who’s only three years old, I think he misses more direct affection. Especially, sleeping alone at night seems lonely for him.”

“At night? I make him sleep outside because it gets too hot.”

“That’s true. With that fur, it would be hot.”

“Exactly. He gets too hot, especially in the winter with the heating on, he doesn’t know what to do lying on the front floor. So, he only stays inside when the air conditioning is on in the summer, and the rest of the year he stays outside.”

Indeed, hearing both sides of the story was necessary.

Keeping that in mind, Lee Joon responded,

“Is where Sugar sleeps far from the house?”

“We have a small garden, and I arranged it there.”

“So you’re saying Sugar’s place is separate from your room?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a balcony in the room where you sleep? Or maybe a window?”

“I have a balcony.”

“How about setting up a sleeping spot for Sugar on the balcony? Then Sugar might feel like he’s sleeping with you.”

“Ah.! So that’s why he was sleeping there?”

The guardian looked as if they realized something and said to Lee Joon,

“Sometimes, he would sleep in front of the entrance or under my room. I guess that meant he wanted to sleep with me. Oh, now I realize that.”

“It seems Sugar’s wishes have been conveyed to you.”

“Is that so? Then I’d better prepare diligently to give a gift in celebration of Sugar’s discharge.”

“It would be the best gift.”

“Thank you, doctor. I understand Sugar’s heart now. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I should get going now. See you tomorrow.”

As the guardian left, they stroked Sugar tenderly and thanked Go Gijin.

“Thank you, doctor. I don’t know how I can repay this kindness.”

“Kindness? I’m just having a great time, thanks to the director, every day.”

“Then I’ll make sure tomorrow will be great too.”

“Oh my, it’s almost like I’m begging the boss for a nice meal.”

Although Go Gijin said that, he couldn’t help but smile in anticipation of the sweet treats he’d enjoy tomorrow.

Once Sugar’s guardian left, go Gijin asked Lee Joon.

“By the way, why was the director in such a good mood all of a sudden?”

Lee Joon shared the conversation he had with Sugar’s guardian a moment ago.

The contents also included Sugar’s wishes.

“Hmm? Did Sugar have such thoughts in his small head?”

“You’re the only one who’d say Sugar has a small head.”

“Hmm? It’s small, isn’t it? Anyway, I think they’re thinking like that because they’re living comfortably…”

As he looked at Sugar, go Gijin continued,

“Sugar, you’re a really happy guy. Your dad heals you when you’re sick, visits you every day, what else?”

“He’s a lucky one.”

“Right? They feed you on time, you don’t work. Are you being dragged to the slaughterhouse tomorrow or the day after? Compared to those animals, you all are living in paradise right now.”

For Go Gijin, who’d seen industrial animals, the animals living here seemed to be living in paradise.

“That’s true.”

From that day, whenever he had the chance, go Gijin conviced Sugar repeatedly.

“You are happy. You are really happy.”

After hearing it so many times, Sugar naturally began saying,

『I am a happy dog. I’m a really lucky dog.』

As he kept repeating that, at some point, Sugar became very happy with life.

Watching this change, Lee Joon praised Go Gijin.

“Gi-jin, you’ve given Sugar an incredibly positive message. You’ve become Sugar’s mentor.”

“That’s good. In any case, you have to live happily while you’re alive.”

Go Gijin shared the same thought as Lee Joon.

Even before Go Gijin joined, Woof Woof Animal Clinic was already filled with a happy atmosphere, but with his addition, it became even more lively.

Amidst this, Sugar recovered at a remarkable speed.

Before they knew it, ten days passed by in a flash, and the day of Sugar’s discharge finally arrived.

“Wow, bringing so many delicious things even on the last day. How can we thank you?”

Go Gijin looked at the table piled with cakes and drinks, unable to close his mouth.

『Doctors, thank you so much. I’m not sure how to express this gratitude.』

“All you need to do is live well without getting sick. That’s all we wish for.”

“That’s right. Sugar, go and live well, okay?”

When Go Gijin’s large hand energetically stroked Sugar’s head, Sugar leaned against him and wouldn’t move away.

『Doctor, come with me.』

“Oh my, Sugar seems to like Go Gijin so much that he doesn’t want to let go. He wants to take him along?”

“Wow, why am I so popular? Even the cows seemed happy to see me?”

“Looks like you need to go see Sugar often?”

With a cheerful face, go Gijin spoke to Sugar,

“I’ll be visiting your dad’s house often, so let’s meet there. I have to eat one of your dad’s cakes every day anyway.”

***

After Sugar was discharged, go Gijin gained confidence in treating dogs.

“It seems like things are the same everywhere. If you treat them well here, they see you positively there.”

“Right. So you have to open your heart first.”

“My heart is always open. It’s just that they don’t come near me.”

Having settled down at Lee Joon’s alley house, go Gijin gazed at the cats living with them in both the alley house and the animal clinic with a slightly bitter expression.

Gray one and Kkamnyang, even after a few days, only glanced at him and wouldn’t come closer.

“But well, at least the dogs are fine.”

However, that was only because Go Gijin and Sugar got along so well.

『Waaaaaah! Has this doctor gone mad? Someone… no, save this dog!』

A prickly-looking Pomeranian yelped as it was held by Go Gijin.

“Just hang in there for a bit. I’ll get it over quickly.”

Despite it being a simple task of ear cleaning, go Gijin was in a panic.

As soon as the clumsy ear cleaning ended, the Pomeranian ran towards Lee Joon, looking back at Go Gijin with resentful eyes.

“Hyung-nim, I don’t think I’m suited for small animals. I don’t know how many times this happened today. Why do they all dislike me so much?”

Go Gijin muttered dejectedly, his expression full of exhaustion.

But the very next day, when a Samoyed dog came in, he was in his element.

The Samoyed dog truly enjoyed being treated by Go Gijin, just like how he treated Sugar.

“Gi-jin, I’m so thankful you’re helping with the large dogs.”

When Go Gijin helped with the large dogs, Lee Joon found the treatments incredibly manageable.

While gaining courage in this area, when a small dog came, he would once again become deflated and lose confidence quickly.

Meanwhile, the cats still didn’t acknowledge his presence.

Neither Gray one nor Kkamnyang, nor any of the cats visiting the animal clinic, acted as if they even saw him, treating him as invisible like he was wearing a cloak of invisibility.

“Cats are really difficult. I don’t think I’ll ever warm up to them.”

“What do you mean? Can’t you see they’re sitting right next to you? If they didn’t like you, they wouldn’t even come near.”

“Well, that’s true. But they still don’t let me touch them…”

Go Gijin tentatively reached out to touch Gray one.

Gray one showed his teeth menacingly, hissing a warning.

Just as Go Gijin was about to fall into a pit of despair again, the cats suddenly started moving towards the window in the living room.

Right at that moment,

Tap tap, tap.

A sound of tapping on the window was heard.

Lee Joon and Go Gijin also walked towards the window.

“Huh? What’s up with that guy?”

『What’s the matter, meow?』

Beyond the living room glass stood one of the alley cats they often saw during commutes.

Lee Joon hurriedly opened the window.

“Come on in. Are you hungry?”

『Yes. Oh, actually, that’s not it—big trouble, boss. One cat is on the verge of death. Please help.』
『I’m not the boss. Norang became the boss, meow.』
『No, this isn’t the time for that conversation, boss. One of them is about to die.』

“Why? Is there a sick cat?”

Hearing about a cat on the verge of death, Lee Joon asked.

『Spotted one got crushed under something huge like a rock and can’t move.』

“What? Crushed?”

『Yes, it’s a disaster. He might die.』

“Crushed, you say?”

Lee Joon relayed the information he got from the alley cat to Go Gijin, who responded with a sigh.

“Hyung-nim, let’s go. We have to save the cat.”

“Let’s go.”

Lee Joon and Go Gijin, led by the cats, hurried to the scene.

Once there, Gray one and Kkamnyang observed the situation, their expressions growing somber.

“Phew, that’s quite the rock. How did that happen?”

“Looks like it toppled over?”

“Seems like it.”

“What on earth made it decide to go in there?”

“Cats love to hide themselves, so maybe they thought of it as a hiding place.”

Faced with the sight of two pieces of furniture toppled over, Lee Joon and Go Gijin clicked their tongues.

Lee Joon attempted to lift the furniture, but they wouldn’t budge a bit from the floor.

“Looks like we should call the emergency services first. I’m not sure how to start the rescue.”

“I’ll give it a try, hyung.”

Go Gijin walked determinedly toward where a teary-eyed, limp cat was lying.

—