Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Nuri's Diagnosis
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“Good morning.”
Jang So-ra quickly approached Lee Jun as he entered the animal hospital with his greeting.
“Director!”
Jang So-ra hurried over to Lee Jun with an excited look on her face and held out her phone.
“What is it?”
Lee Jun asked as he took the cats out of the carrier bag he had brought with him.
“Have you seen this? There’s an article about you, Director.”
“Ah, that one? Kim Eun-ji the reporter sent me the link via message last night, so I saw it.”
“The reporter wrote it so well. Honestly, I thought a sports newspaper entertainment reporter wouldn’t know why they were covering our director... but Kim Reporter is the best. The best.”
Jang So-ra gave a thumbs up.
“I didn’t expect Kim Reporter to write it this well. Truth be told, when I heard a reporter was coming to interview, I figured it’d be the same old generic article.”
There were already plenty of articles about Evergreen Park.
Most covered how the park had changed, what Namgung Construction had done to make it happen, and the residents’ reactions.
Jang So-ra had assumed Kim Eun-ji would write something similar.
But Kim Eun-ji, true to her entertainment reporter roots, put people at the heart of the story.
She calmly conveyed the fact that Evergreen Park had transformed thanks to one veterinarian’s care and effort.
Kim Eun-ji didn’t praise Lee Jun in the article or hype up his achievements.
Yet reading it made you think how nice it was to live in the same era as someone like Lee Jun.
“They’re saying what you said was so good.”
“What part?”
“The part about wanting to be someone who helps animals enjoy their right to happiness. This person said they hugged their dog at home and then went to work after reading it.”
Jang So-ra showed Lee Jun the comments.
“It’s a bit embarrassing that people read what I said, but it’s nice knowing that thanks to it, that dog got an extra hug from its owner.”
“Embarrassing? I hugged our Mei tight after reading that line and then came to work.”
Jang So-ra replied as she opened Ggui Cafe, where notifications had been popping up nonstop.
She wanted to turn off the alerts before consultations started, but upon seeing the main screen, she raised her voice.
“Director, there’s a huge commotion on Ggui Cafe?”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Your article is front and center. Wow, the new posts are completely flooded with your article?”
Jang So-ra opened a few posts and let out an exclamation.
“As expected, ‘Su-neunim’ is the most common. They heard your words, got so moved, and hugged their cat at home. They must’ve thought the same as me.”
Jang So-ra read the posts aloud to Lee Jun excitedly, as if she were the star of the article.
Seeing her like that, Lee Jun looked embarrassed and scanned the room for a way to change the subject.
Just then, Gray and Shadow meowed.
[Strangers are coming meow.]
[Suspicious humans are approaching.]
[Dogs are coming too meow.]
[That’s right.]
As the cats warned, people entered with the jingle of the bell.
“Welcome.”
“Hello, Doctor.”
“Hello.”
A woman who appeared to be a mother and her daughter came in carrying a dog with light yellow fur.
Lee Jun greeted the guardians more warmly than usual and said hello to the dog.
“Nuri, have you been well?”
“We’ve only come twice, but you remember our Nuri?”
“Of course. How could I forget such a handsome and dignified boy like Nuri?”
“Our Nuri must be happy. The doctor remembers you.”
Whether he understood or not, Nuri wagged his tail as he looked at his guardian.
Lee Jun’s gaze deepened as he looked at Nuri.
‘He’s lost a lot of vitality since last time.’
There were many purebreds, so a bar-gi style dog like Nuri stuck in his mind after one look.
Especially since they had visited just days after the clinic opened.
‘I think Nuri is 14 years old.’
Lee Jun mentally listed diseases common in dogs Nuri’s age and then spoke.
“He looks a bit thinner than last visit. Shall we check his weight? I think he was 5.4 kilograms three months ago.”
“You remember that?”
The guardian asked in surprise.
And understandably so—Nuri had been healthy and never needed the hospital before.
So the guardian, without a regular vet, had only stopped by the new clinic nearby a few months ago.
Their visit with Nuri had been exactly three months prior.
“I have to remember. Just like with people, tracking weight changes is important for animals too.”
The guardians were moved, unaware that Lee Jun memorized basic info for every patient.
It might seem minor, but to them, it wasn’t.
The now-relaxed guardian spoke up.
“Other than when he was a puppy, Nuri hasn’t been sick much, so we haven’t had reason to visit a vet often. You’re the first doctor to look at our Nuri so fondly.”
“It’s best not to come to the animal hospital if you can help it. Alright, let’s see how many kilos our Nuri is.”
Lee Jun said that, then told the guardian,
“Could you place Nuri on the scale over there?”
Feeling comforted, the guardian set Nuri on the scale in the waiting area.
There was a scale in the exam room too, but Lee Jun had placed one in the waiting area for a simple reason.
It was his consideration so guardians could weigh their pets without pressure.
“4.7 kilograms. He’s lost a lot.”
Lee Jun turned to the guardian and asked.
“Has Nuri not been eating well lately?”
“Not really... Actually, Nuri vomited yesterday. That’s why we came, Doctor.”
“Yesterday once? Or today too?”
“He vomited twice last week.”
The daughter who came along said.
“Nuri used to vomit often before he was one, but after that, maybe once a year if that... Is he sick somewhere?”
“Hmm, we could give anti-emetics and fast for a day to watch, but given Nuri’s age, fluids would be better. And some tests too.”
“Please do it, Doctor. The family’s so worried about Nuri vomiting.”
Lee Jun led Nuri and the guardians to the exam room and began the history.
“Before that, has anything changed with Nuri lately?”
“Hmm, he sleeps more. He spaces out a lot, and he doesn’t move around the house.”
As they talked about Nuri’s condition, they realized one day he’d lost his expression.
The daughter’s heart pounded as she answered.
‘No, he was just bored and didn’t smile. He’s not sick or anything.’
Pushing away the ominous feeling, she added,
“But he runs around normally on walks. Could it be depression?”
The daughter hoped that was it.
Lee Jun took the history, then started tests.
He tilted his head at the X-ray, then let out a groan while viewing the ultrasound.
[What’s wrong woof!]
“Ah, no. Nuri, when did your appetite start fading? Trouble digesting or anything.”
[Appetite what woof?]
“Ah, I mean your food doesn’t taste good anymore.”
[About a month ago? After the fur clipping woof. Ah, no, Mom always gives tasty stuff woof. It’s tasty woof.]
Lee Jun’s eyes moistened at Nuri’s response.
Bloodwork wasn’t back yet, but this confirmed no appetite. Eating itself must be a chore.
Still, he’d forced it down so his guardians wouldn’t worry and be sad.
‘Silly guy. If you’re hurting, say so.’
Lee Jun gazed at Nuri a moment, then continued tests.
Soon after, in the exam room, the guardians heard thunderous news from Lee Jun.
“It looks like a tumor.”
“Yes? O-our Nuri... Ah, no, what did you say, Doctor?”
“A tumor... No, right? Our Nuri wouldn’t... Right, Doctor?”
The guardians got agitated at the diagnosis, then burst into tears.
Lee Jun knew in such cases, just being there quietly was best, so he bit his lower lip.
After some time, the mother guardian spoke. Her voice was subdued.
“Doctor, could you explain Nuri’s condition in detail?”
“Yes. This is the spleen...”
The longer Lee Jun’s explanation, the worse the mother and daughter’s faces grew.
Nuri’s diagnosis was tumors—cancer.
Not in one spot, but multiple across organs.
Tumor in the spleen, nodules in the adrenal gland, and one in the liver too.
“For more accuracy, we’d need a CT.”
“...That requires anesthesia, right? Can our Nuri handle it?”
“Bloodwork looks okay so far, but I can’t guarantee.”
“We won’t do it. We can’t lose Nuri during a test.”
The daughter said firmly.
Holding her daughter’s hand, the mother continued.
“If we do the test, can Nuri live? Is surgery possible?”
Lee Jun wanted to give hope, but couldn’t ignore the truth.
He spoke with difficulty.
“...Probably not.”
“Then what should we do? What’s best for our Nuri?”
***
Blink blink.
Lying in the hospitalization cage, Nuri opened and closed his eyes while staring at the ceiling.
He had nothing else to do.
At home, he’d fought sleep all day to ease his sister’s worries about him sleeping too much.
Now with no worried sister, he could just sleep.
‘The floor is nice and warm woof.’
Lately, he’d felt cold and shaky constantly, but the warm floor made his whole body limp, and he stretched out all four legs.
The needle in his front leg stung a bit, but the vet doctor said it would give him strength.
With the warm floor and settled tummy, Nuri could just sleep now.
But strangely, sleep wouldn’t come.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, he heard a voice.
[Where are you hurting meow!]
Turning his head, he saw a gray cat walking over.
[Long time no see woof.]
[Yeah. Long time meow.]
Nuri, who walked in Evergreen Park, knew Gray.
[Your sister cried a lot when she left meow.]
At Gray’s words, Nuri let out a long sigh.
[...I heard woof.]
[Don’t worry meow. Our big bro will fix you meow!]
[That’s right. He fixed me too.]
Shadow slunk over and joined in.
[Exactly meow. This guy couldn’t see, now he can meow. So you’ll get better too meow.]
Nuri gave a faint smile at Gray’s confident tone.
[I won’t woof.]
Gray, who’d watched life-hopeless comrades head to the Cat Star overnight, spoke urgently.
[Why, why meow? Be brave meow. That’s how you heal meow.]
[I’m too old woof. That’s why I hurt woof.]
[Ah, no meow. You’re not old meow. You gotta live to 20 meow.]
Living at the animal hospital, Gray had seen dogs and cats much older than Nuri.
And guardians always said ‘live to 20 at least,’ and Lee Jun too.
[Of course. Gotta live to 20.]
Shadow, who’d once lost his will to live, now spoke up strongly.
[With these warm cushions and full belly, gotta live long.]
[I’ve already been loved so much woof. My family loves me woof.]
If he was sick, his sister would be sad.
Knowing that, Nuri had hidden his pain steadfastly.
[Then get more love meow. Live long with the family that cherishes you meow.]
Gray, who cherished family and comrades, looked at Nuri with pity.
Gray said that, but his wild instincts told him Nuri’s state.
Shadow sensed it too.
For those who’d lived wild, death was natural.
But surviving comrades mourned those who went to the Cat Star.
And lately, Gray’s idea of comrades had broadened.
Even Lee Jun was now in that category.
So Nuri’s guardians were Nuri’s comrades too.
[If you go, your comrades will grieve meow.]
[...That’s my biggest worry woof.]
Gray and Shadow, who’d seen Nuri’s family weeping, placed their Somi-ball paws on his cage.
It was like patting Nuri’s shoulder in encouragement.
[I’ve lived long enough, so Dog Star doesn’t scare me woof. Just...]
Nuri sighed long, then continued slowly.
[...Mom and sister... I worry they’ll cry woof.]
Nuri’s eyes welled up with tears as he stared blankly through the glass.