Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Vet Doctor! Hello? Vet Doctor Hello
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A quiet neighborhood park.
People out for walks were spending their time leisurely.
And at the center of it all, three dogs gathered with serious expressions, deep in conversation.
[Brothers. You hear that rumor?]
[What rumor?]
[You know that hospital if you go over there?]
[The new one on the roadside?]
[That's the one.]
[They say the doc there understands what we say.]
[What kinda talk is that?]
[That's what this bro's sayin'. Bro. If we go there, the doc teacher gets what we say.]
[That's pretty wild... But what’s that got to do with us?]
[Bro, ain't the food we're eatin' now tasteless?]
[Don't even get me started.]
[But I heard... if we tell that doc teacher over there, he'll switch it out for somethin' tasty.]
[What?]
[Heard he even gives treats.]
In an instant, the eyes of the three dogs in the park turned in one direction.
At the same time, their tails began to wag slowly, side to side.
***
'Hyung, long time no see. You been good?'
A familiar face appeared.
Dark gray fur with white eyebrows and muzzle. A stylish guy with fluffy fur.
Sticking out his tongue with a 'hah' and grinning mischievously.
Tail wagging non-stop, and those adoring eyes looking at Lee Jun.
It was Kongdori, who'd grown up with him since he was a pup.
'Hyung, congrats. You're finally one step closer to the dream you wanted.'
Seeing Kongdori after so long, tears welled up in Lee Jun's eyes.
He wanted to say the words he'd repeated in his mind hundreds, thousands of times.
That he missed him so much. And that he was sorry.
But not a single word came out.
He was right there, close enough to touch if he just reached out. But his hands, his feet, not even a single step forward.
But as if knowing Lee Jun's heart, Kongdori wagged his tail vigorously and spoke again.
'No. It wasn't hyung's fault. I was so happy to meet you.'
Just like always before, Kongdori approached Lee Jun and warmly licked his face.
'So don't feel sorry to me, hyung. And the other kids think the same about you. They like you.'
Woof!
With that, Kongdori's figure gradually faded.
And just as Kongdori's form was almost gone, his voice came one last time.
'Oh, hyung, I almost forgot the gift. You'll definitely like this. Bye, hyung!'
"Kongdori!"
Lee Jun woke from the dream and stared at the familiar ceiling with a hollow smile.
"It was a dream... Still, glad you looked like you were doing well."
Lee Jun got up and picked up the photo by his bedside.
Kongdori was smiling brightly at him, just as he'd appeared in the dream.
"You're here to cheer me on today, huh? Thanks, Kongdori. I'll do my best, like you said."
***
The opening day of Meongmeong Animal Hospital.
Having dreamed of Kongdori after so long, Lee Jun had a smile on his lips the whole time.
Waiting for the signal at the crosswalk, he gazed across the street.
His eyes landed on a sign with a white background and six light green letters.
[Meongmeong Animal Hospital]
The moment he saw the sign, the corners of Lee Jun's mouth lifted again.
Soon the signal changed, and Lee Jun stepped into the crosswalk.
His steps were as light as a feather.
As if mirroring his mood, a clear chime greeted him as he opened the animal hospital door.
Ding-a-ling.
At the same time, a welcoming voice reached his ears.
"Director, you're here?"
"So-ra, you beat me here."
It was the opening day, so he'd come early, or so he thought, but Jang So-ra had arrived first.
"Of course. It's the opening day. That's why you came early too, right, Doctor? Oh, whoops. Not Doctor—Director. Hehe, sorry. 'Doctor' just slips out..."
"It's fine. I gotta get used to calling you Manager Jang too."
Jang So-ra was a colleague from when Lee Jun first worked as an associate vet.
Back then, as a third-year animal hospital technician, she'd helped him a lot.
Not only was she skilled as a vet tech, but her greatest strength was how much she truly cared for animals.
The moment she heard Lee Jun was opening his own place, she'd jumped in to help.
"Now that I've come this far with you, Director, I hope our Meongmeong Animal Hospital does great."
"That'd be great for me too. But... it'll probably be tough at first, right? There's a big hospital nearby."
"Oh, talking down on day one? I came because I believe in you, Director..."
"No, it just takes time to get established..."
Lee Jun trailed off.
But it wasn't from lack of confidence.
It meant he wouldn't change his principles as a vet to boost sales.
Jang So-ra respected those principles and had followed him here because of them.
Smiling, she continued.
"Did I follow you for the money? No, I like your treatment style. So, Director, even if my pay's late a few months, it's okay. Don't worry."
"Thanks for saying that. Hearing it from you gives me strength."
"I'll collect it all later, so don't thank me too much."
Jang So-ra grinned.
"Of course."
Lee Jun grinned back.
"Then I'll finish up the lobby."
"Got it. I'll tidy the treatment room."
Lee Jun and Jang So-ra split up to prepare the animal hospital.
Even though Lee Jun had been organizing for days before opening, there was still plenty left.
They bustled about to finish before opening.
After some time, Lee Jun looked around the now spotless hospital.
"Whew. Barely made it in time."
"Good thing. You never know when a patient might come."
"What, you think one's coming already?"
"Who knows? A guardian could walk in any second."
"That'd be great."
Right then.
The door flew open.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling.
It swung so hard the bells on the glass door shook wildly.
Lee Jun and Jang So-ra jumped up at the same time.
If someone rushed into an animal hospital like that, it meant an emergency.
Sure enough, a young girl stood at the door, face streaked with tears.
In her arms was a white Maltese.
"D-Doctor. P-Please... save our Mongi. Save Mongi."
Sobbing, the girl barely squeezed out the words.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. Suddenly Mongi couldn't breathe... his body went stiff... What if my Mongi dies?"
Just as she said, the white Maltese's body was trembling.
In that moment, seeing the Maltese named Mongi, Lee Jun thought of Kongdori.
Mongi and Kongdori looked different, from appearance to fur color—totally unlike.
Yet on Mongi's gasping face, Lee Jun saw Kongdori's final struggles, squeezing out every breath in agony.
"Hand him over quick!"
The girl carefully passed Mongi to Lee Jun, tears streaming, face full of worry.
Knowing her anxiety all too well, Lee Jun took the Maltese and called out.
"Manager Jang."
"Yes."
She got it just from her name.
Jang So-ra went to the young guardian and comforted her.
"Don't worry. Our Director's amazing. He'll fix him up for sure."
"S-Sob, r-really?"
"Yes. So go sit over there and wait."
Confirming that, Lee Jun headed straight to the exam room.
In that short time carrying the Maltese, his condition worsened.
His panting breaths came in fits and starts, saliva drooling from his mouth.
Lee Jun eyed the Maltese's state.
In his mind, he ran through causes of respiratory distress and protocols.
Tracheal Stenosis, Pulmonary Edema, Pneumothorax, Laryngeal Paralysis, Foreign Body Ingestion...
"Probably Foreign Body Ingestion..."
Just a guess, though.
For a firm diagnosis, imaging like CT was needed.
But his small animal hospital had no such equipment.
No CT, not even fluoroscopy.
Sending him to a big hospital now would take too long in this state.
"For now, do what I can..."
Lee Jun put on his stethoscope and called out.
"Manager Jang. X-ray..."
"Director, X-ray's ready."
Jang So-ra, already in the exam room, answered before he finished.
"Stethoscope first, then X-ray right away. Oh, and prep oxygen."
"Got it."
Right then.
[Guh, hack-hack. I-It's hard.]
A child's voice, impossible in the exam room, rang in Lee Jun's ears.
"Doctor Jang. Send the guardian out."
"Huh?"
"The guardian right now..."
"She's waiting outside?"
"Yes?"
Then again, the child's voice in his ear.
[Hack, th-there's... somethin' stuck in my throat.]
Lee Jun momentarily forgot the urgency and looked around.
No one there to make that voice.
No. Not a person, but one thing.
[Take... hack... it out.]
Lee Jun stared at the Maltese in bewilderment.
But only for a moment.
Realizing the voice sounded pained, squeezed out, he dismissed the doubt.
Instead, he focused on saving the small, fragile life suffering before him.
Lee Jun quickly stethoscoped the Maltese's body, checking heart, lungs, and organs thoroughly.
'Something's in the esophagus for sure.'
His eyes widened again.
It matched the voice that had just begged to be freed.
But he didn't question why or how.
No time.
"It's gonna hurt a bit."
Lee Jun held the Maltese belly-up, head down.
Then swept his palm along the chest toward the head.
Next, fist under the ribs, other hand sharply compressing the abdomen below.
Every move fluid and natural.
And when Lee Jun compressed the abdomen hard once more.
Guh, hack!
Something shot from the Maltese's mouth.
"A grape..."
That's what had blocked the Maltese's throat.
For a small dog like him, even an almond-sized morsel is dangerous.
A whole grape? Unimaginable torment.
"You held on well, Mongi."
Not empty words—he'd endured miraculously.
Lee Jun set the brave Mongi down and smiled eye-to-eye.
In response, the now-relieved Mongi wagged his tail side to side.
And at the same time.
[Whew, I'm all better! Thank you!]
"What?"
[Thanks to you, Doc, I'm saved!]
The same impossible voice returned.
"...You're Mongi?"
[Yes. Really!]
"...For real?"
[Really! My name's Mongi. 4 years old! I like the bear doll with the torn arm that owner gave me and super tasty treats!]