Hello Vet! How are you?

“Good morning.”

As Lee Joon entered the Woof Woof Animal Clinic, Sora quickly approached him.

“Director!”

Sora, excited, hurriedly handed her phone to Lee Joon.

“What is it?”

Lee Joon asked as he unpacked the cats from his shoulder bag.

“Have you seen this? An article about you has been published.”

“Oh, that. I saw it last night when Journalist Kim Eun-ji sent me the link via message.”

“The journalist did an excellent job writing the article. Frankly, I wondered why a sports newspaper’s entertainment department journalist would cover our director, but… Journalist Kim is the best. Truly the best.”

Sora gave a thumbs up.

“I didn’t expect Journalist Kim to write it so well. I thought it would be one of those same old articles.”

There were already numerous articles about Evergreen Park.

They mostly dealt with how the park had transformed, what Nam Gung-hyun Construction did for it, and the residents’ reactions.

Sora also thought Kim Eun-ji would write a similar piece.

However, kim Eun-ji, as an entertainment journalist, included the human element in her article.

She calmly reported that through the interest and efforts of one veterinarian, Evergreen Park could have its new look.

Kim Eun-ji did not praise Lee Joon or claim he did something extraordinary.

Yet, reading the article made people feel grateful to live in the same era as Lee Joon.

“What you said, director, is really touching.”

“What part?”

“The part where you said you want to be a person who helps animals enjoy their right to happiness. Someone read it, hugged their dog at home, and then left for work.”

Sora showed a comment to Lee Joon.

“It’s a bit embarrassing that people read what I said, but I’m glad that it led to an extra hug for that dog.”

“Embarrassing? I hugged our Mei after reading those words before leaving for work myself.”

Sora replied while tuning in to Cats are Adorable forum, from which she had been receiving continuous notifications.

She intended to turn off the alerts before work began, but upon seeing the main screen, Sora raised her voice.

“Director, there’s quite a buzz on Adorable Cats forum!”

“Why? What’s happening?”

“The article about you is featured on the main page. Wow, all the new posts are filled with the article!”

Opening a few posts, Sora expressed her amazement.

“Most comments call you ‘Vet-nim’. They say they were so moved by your words that they hugged their cats at home too. It seems they had the same thought as me.”

Sora continued reading the posts to Lee Joon with excitement, almost as if she were the subject of the article herself.

Seeing her like this, Lee Joon felt a little embarrassed and looked around for a change of topic.

Just then, both Gray one and Kkamnyang meowed.

『Strangers are coming.』
『Suspicious humans are approaching.』
『A dog is coming too.』
『Correct.』

As if in response to the cats’ warning, a bell chimed, and people entered.

“Welcome.”

“Hello, doctor.”

“Hello.”

A woman and her daughter, who seemed like a mother and daughter pair, entered, carrying a dog with light yellow fur.

Lee Joon warmly greeted the dog and its owners, more eagerly than usual.

“Nuri, have you been well?”

“We’ve only been here twice, yet you remember our Nuri?”

“Of course. How could I forget such a handsome and dignified Nuri?”

“Our Nuri must be happy. The doctor remembers you.”

Seemingly understanding the conversation, nuri wagged his tail as he looked at his owner. Lee Joon’s gaze deepened as he looked at Nuri.

‘He seems less lively than last time.’

As a dog that wasn’t of a popular breed type, nuri—who had a style reminiscent of a traditional dog—stood out.

Particularly, since it was soon after the clinic had opened that the dog visited.

‘I believe Nuri was about 14 years old.’

While mentally organizing potential diseases that could afflict dogs of Nuri’s age, Lee Joon spoke.

“Nuri seems to have lost some weight since the last time. Shall we check? I think you were about 5.4 kilograms three months ago.”

“You remember all that?”

The caretaker asked in surprise.

Given that Nuri had been healthy so far, he hadn’t had to visit a veterinarian often.

The caretaker, who didn’t have a regular animal clinic, had visited Woof Woof Animal Clinic, newly opened nearby, only a few times over the months.

Their most recent visit was three months ago.

“It’s important to check the weight of animals, just like humans, you know.”

The caretakers felt touched by the fact that Lee Joon remembered the basic details about all the animals at the clinic.

What might seem insignificant to some was significant to the caretakers.

The now slightly relieved caretaker spoke.

“Except for when Nuri was young, he hasn’t been sick. That’s why it’s rare we’ve needed to visit an animal clinic. You’re the first doctor to show such kindness to him.”

“Visiting the vet is best avoided when possible. Now, let’s see how much our Nuri weighs this time.”

With those words, Lee Joon asked the caretaker.

“Would you please place Nuri on that scale over there?”

Feeling comforted, the caretaker placed Nuri on the scale in the waiting room.

Though there was also a scale in the examination room, Lee Joon had placed one in the waiting area.

The reason was simple: to encourage caretakers to weigh their pets freely.

“4.7 kilograms. Quite a drop.”

Lee Joon turned to the caretaker and asked.

“Has Nuri not been eating well lately?”

“Not really… In fact, nuri threw up yesterday. That’s why we came, doctor.”

“Did it happen just once yesterday? Or today as well?”

“He threw up twice last week.”

The daughter, who had accompanied them, chimed in.

“Nuri used to throw up often before he was a year old, but after that, it was rare, maybe once a year… Is he sick?”

“Hmm, while there’s the option of administering an antiemetic and fasting, considering Nuri’s age, it might be best to start with some IV fluids. Additionally, some tests may help.”

“Please do so, doctor. The family is worried sick because Nuri threw up.”

Lee Joon guided Nuri and the caretakers into the examination room and began taking the medical history.

“Beforehand, could you tell me anything else that has changed about Nuri?”

“Well, he’s been sleeping a lot more. He seems to zone out often and doesn’t move much at home.”

Discussing Nuri’s condition, they began to realize that he hadn’t shown any facial expressions in quite a while.

The daughter, recalling this, felt her heart pounding.

‘No, he probably just isn’t happy, not necessarily because he’s unwell. It can’t be that, right?’

Trying to dismiss any unsettling feelings, the daughter continued speaking.

“But he’s his usual energetic self when we go for walks. Could he perhaps be depressed?”

Wishfully, she hoped that depression might simply be the problem. Lee Joon, having gathered details about Nuri’s condition, proceeded with testing.

While examining the X-rays and then using ultrasonography, Lee Joon let out a sigh.

『Why is that, woof!』

“Ah, no. Nuri, when did you start losing your appetite? Or experiencing indigestion?”

『What’s appetite, woof?』

“Ah, I mean, when did you start to lose interest in food?”

『Was it a month ago? After having my fur shaved? Oh no, my mom always gives me tasty food. It’s delicious, woof.』

Hearing Nuri’s response brought tears to Lee Joon’s eyes.

Although the blood test results were not yet in, it seemed apparent that Nuri had lost his appetite.

The simple act of eating might have become a struggle.

Yet, it was clear that Nuri had forced himself to eat to prevent distressing his caretakers, who might be saddened by his loss of appetite.

‘This foolish guy. He should have just said if he was hurting.’

Looking at Nuri, Lee Joon observed him briefly before continuing the examination.

Not long after, in the examination room, nuri’s caretakers received a bolt-from-the-blue kind of news from Lee Joon.

“It seems a tumor has developed.”

“What? Our, our Nuri… Ah, doctor, what did you just say?”

“A tumor… No way… Not our Nuri. Right, doctor?”

Overwhelmed, the caretakers became tearful upon hearing about Nuri’s diagnosis.

Knowing well that it was often best to simply be present during such moments, Lee Joon merely bit his lower lip.

After some time, the mother, her voice laden with disbelief, spoke.

“Doctor, could you explain Nuri’s condition in detail?”

“Yes. This is the spleen here…”

As Lee Joon’s explanation unfolded, the daughter and mother’s expressions darkened noticeably.

Nuri’s illness, which are tumors, turned out to be cancerous.

They were growing in multiple locations.

A tumor was spotted in the spleen, nodules were found in the adrenal glands, and tumors were also present in the liver.

“To be more accurate, we’d need to do a CT scan.”

“…… That involves anesthesia, right? Would our Nuri be able to withstand it?”

“Based on the blood test, he seems okay for now, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“I won’t do it. I can’t let Nuri undergo tests and risk losing him.”

The daughter spoke firmly while holding her mother’s hand.

“Can doing these tests save our Nuri? Is surgery possible?”

Although Lee Joon wanted to offer hope to the caretakers, he couldn’t compromise the truth.

With difficulty, he began to speak.

“…… Most likely, it will be challenging.”

“Then what would be best for Nuri? What can we do to make things best for him?”

* * *

Blinking slowly, nuri lay in the inpatient ward, opening and closing his eyes as he gazed at the ceiling.

There was nothing else for him to do.

At home, nuri had always tried hard to stay awake to ease his sister’s worries about him sleeping all day.

Now, without his worried sister by his side, all Nuri needed to do was sleep.

‘The floor is warm.’

Consistently feeling cold and shivery recently, nuri enjoyed the warmth of the floor, stretching his limbs contentedly.

Though the needle in his front leg hurt a bit, the vet assured him it would help restore his energy.

With the warm floor and his stomach settling, all he needed was to sleep.

Strangely, though, sleep wouldn’t come.

While gazing passively at the ceiling, a voice broke the silence.

『Where are you hurting, meow!』

Turning his head, nuri spotted a gray cat approaching him.

『It’s been a while, woof.』
『Yes, it’s been a while, meow.』

Nuri, who had frequently been to Evergreen Park for walks, knew Gray one.

『Your sister was crying hard while leaving, meow.』

Upon hearing these words, nuri heaved a deep sigh.

『…… I heard her too, woof.』
『Don’t worry, meow. Our hyung will fix you, meow!』
『Indeed. That chap fixed me too.』

Kkamnyang slipped into their conversation.

『Yes, you were unable to see, but now you can, so you’ll get better too, meow.』

As Gray one spoke confidently, nuri couldn’t help but show a faint smile.

『I am not, woof.』

Not resigning himself to such hopes, gray, having witnessed packmates succumb to illnesses, spoke hastily.

『Why, why? Be brave, meow. That’s how you’ll recover, meow.』
『I’ve gotten old, woof. That’s why my body is sick, woof.』
『Ah, no, meow. You’re not old, meow. You should live until you’re 20, woo…p, meow.』

Having observed quite a few older dogs and cats than Nuri at the clinic, Gray one had often heard caretakers and even Lee Joon express wishes for them to live until 20.

『Of course. You should live until 20.』

Previously, Kkamnyang had also lost the will to live.

Yet now, he felt a strong desire to survive.

『These warm pads and a full belly—there’s every reason to live longer.』
『I’ve already received so much love, woof. My family cherishes me, woof.』

If they knew he was hurting, his sister would be sad.

Nuri, knowing this, had resolutely kept his pain hidden until now.

『Well then, you need to receive more. Meow. You should live long with those who care for you, meow.』

Caring deeply for the family and his packmates, Gray one looked at Nuri with empathetic eyes.

Although he encouraged Nuri with words, Gray one’s instincts told him the gravity of Nuri’s condition.

Kkamnyang felt the same. Understanding life’s natural course meant accepting when it’s time for companions to leave.

Nevertheless, remaining companions often yearned for those who journeyed to the feline stars.

And recently, they had expanded their definition of a companion, which now included Lee Joon.

From that perspective, nuri’s caretakers were also his companions.

『Your companions will be sad if you go, meow.』
『…… That is indeed my biggest worry, woof.』

With Gray one and Kkamnyang witnessing his family crying in sorrow, nuri’s eyes welled with tears as he peered out expressionlessly through the glass.

—