Chapter 55
Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Aji's New Home
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Director, has Aji found a place to go?”
As expected!
Lee Jun had guessed Gong Jeong-ah would take Aji, and sure enough, the moment she asked directly, the faces of everyone in the lobby lit up brightly.
Lee Jun flashed a bright smile of his own as he replied.
“Nothing’s set in stone yet.”
“In that case, I’d like to take Aji with me.”
Everyone watching Gong Jeong-ah nodded in agreement.
“Aji... ngh. He’s gonna love that.”
Go Gi-jin, his voice still thick with emotion, clasped his pot-lid-sized hands together in delight.
Park Ju-hwan, the PD, clenched his fists tight at Go Gi-jin’s childlike honesty.
“Perfect!”
This was a winner. A surefire episode.
Park Ju-hwan’s eyes sparkled as he thought it over.
Writer Yeom felt the same.
‘What kind of animal hospital is this? It’s nothing but scene-stealers. The director sitting there like he just tore up a report and walked out, this Go teacher who looks like he could’ve come down from the mountains carrying a wild boar on his back, and Manager Jang who shoots hearts from her eyes whenever she sees an animal.’
Writer Yeom smiled in satisfaction at Go Gi-jin, whose bandit-like bulk radiated girlish sentiment as he rejoiced over Aji finding a home.
Then, naturally, all eyes turned to Lee Jun.
‘He’ll probably smile and thank Actress Gong, right?’
Lee Jun’s smiling face was incredibly handsome.
Writer Yeom couldn’t wait to capture that expression.
And as she hoped, Lee Jun smiled and answered.
“I appreciate the thought, but...”
Lee Jun paused and turned toward the recovery room where Aji was.
Everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions.
“I’ll ask Aji first.”
“...Pardon?”
Writer Yeom tilted her head as Gong Jeong-ah asked Lee Jun to repeat himself.
‘Didn’t he say something like that just a bit ago?’
He’d definitely said it when Gong Jeong-ah first asked to meet Aji.
And he’d actually gone and asked him.
‘He really communicates with animals, huh.’
Writer Yeom gaped, recalling the rumors about Lee Jun online.
But her shock was brief. She hurried after him as he headed to the recovery room.
When Lee Jun opened the door, the cats lying on a large cushion with Aji all lifted their heads.
Aji was in the center, with Gray and Shadow flanking him on either side, all three in identical poses.
The classic “bread loaf” position cats loved.
Lee Jun chuckled at the sight.
“Aji, you don’t have to copy that.”
Aji tilted his head at Lee Jun’s words.
[What?]
“That. Just get comfy however you like.”
Aji whipped his head around before glancing back at his pose.
[...Okay. It’s nice matching my friends.]
Aji grinned after saying that, looking far more at ease than the day before.
“Alright, if you like it...”
To Aji, Gray and Shadow—who’d protected and cared for him—must be his benefactors.
It was only natural he’d want to mimic what they did.
Plus, that bread loaf pose was how cats relaxed.
It meant all three were perfectly comfortable.
Lee Jun grinned at them and asked,
“So, did you enjoy your treats?”
[We did!]
[Tasty.]
Gray and Shadow answered matter-of-factly,
[So, so tasty.]
while Aji replied with dreamy eyes.
“You rascal! I’ll give you even tastier ones from now on.”
Aji’s eyes went wide at Lee Jun’s words.
[There’s... tastier stuff than this?]
Aji shifted, and a crinkling sound emerged as the treat bag poked out from under his belly.
“You were lying on it?”
[Yup...]
Aji carefully tucked the bag back under him, hugging it like a treasure.
Lee Jun’s expression softened with pity.
Writer Yeom, standing behind him, frowned.
Gong Jeong-ah and Go Gi-jin, who’d followed, wore the same look.
“Good lord, how starved was he...”
“So much tasty stuff out there... That bastard’s the worst. Should’ve punched him once. That tiny thing... Argh.”
Go Gi-jin pounded his chest in regret.
“Aji... I’ll bring you treats every single day. Only the best from your big sis, okay?”
Gong Jeong-ah’s eyes welled up again, though she’d just stopped crying.
“You heard her?”
Lee Jun relayed it to Aji, but Aji just blinked.
[That person’ll come every day with treats for you.]
[Every day?]
[Yep.]
She’d already given him treats and hugged him warmly.
The idea of her coming daily with more made Aji’s spirits soar.
[Hee hee hee.]
As Aji laughed, Gray spoke up.
[She wants to take you home.]
[Take me?]
[Yep. Live together.]
At Gray’s words, Aji bolted upright and dashed to the corner of the recovery room.
He flattened himself and trembled.
[Don’t... don’t hit me...]
“S-Sorry!”
Startled by Aji’s sudden move, Gong Jeong-ah stepped back and apologized.
Her already pale face drained further.
Lee Jun told her,
“She’ll need some time. To Aji, ‘living together’ probably means abuse.”
“What do I do...”
Gong Jeong-ah finally burst into tears.
Lee Jun felt bad seeing it.
He walked over to Aji and sat beside him.
Gray and Shadow were already there, cuddling him.
“Aji, that lady’s not like that jerk... not like your old owner. She won’t hurt you.”
[She seems nice. But you never know.]
[Right. Can’t trust humans blindly.]
It was blunt advice from the street-savvy Gray and Shadow.
“True enough. But you guys trust me, right?”
[Brother’s a good guy!]
[Vet bro’s good.]
The cats nodded without hesitation.
Park Ju-hwan, watching from outside, clenched his fists again.
‘Did I dream of pigs last night or something?’
Scenes so perfect, no editing needed.
These alone could fill two—no, three weeks of airtime.
As Park Ju-hwan thought that, Lee Jun’s conversation with the cats continued.
“She’s a good person too.”
[We’ll see after we experience it.]
[Yep.]
Aji slowly nodded along with the cats’ firm refusal.
Clear rejection.
[Daily treats sound good, though.]
[Yeah, that part’s fine.]
Hating what they hated, loving what they loved—such boldness.
Lee Jun chuckled.
“Good thing you like that part, at least.”
“What’d they say?”
Gong Jeong-ah, wiping tears, asked from the side.
“They’re hesitant about going home with you, but they like the treat idea?”
“Where? Well, we need time to bond anyway. I was too hasty.”
Gong Jeong-ah called to Aji in the corner.
“Aji, let’s be friends from now on.”
Aji looked at Lee Jun, who nodded slowly. Aji gave a small bark.
Woof!
“Oh! He barked. Aji, to celebrate our friendship, big sis wants to treat you. What do you want tomorrow?”
[Something I want...]
Aji tilted his head, then sat up straight from his loaf position.
He pushed the treat bag forward and pawed toward the food bowl.
[This and that.]
Seeing Aji point at the bowl, Gong Jeong-ah nearly teared up again.
“So Aji’s only had these—the kibble and treats today—as the best things ever.”
“Huh huh heung. Poor Aji... Big sis’ll buy you a whole box of treats. No, two boxes.”
Writer Yeom, offering to buy treats by the case, hugged Gong Jeong-ah’s arm and sobbed instead of approaching Aji.
“Khuh heung. I’ll buy some too. Ten boxes—eat all you want. Gotta get strong.”
With Go Gi-jin joining in, Lee Jun smiled at Aji.
“Aji, you’re a treat millionaire now. Let’s eat yummy stuff every day and be happy.”
[Hee hee, okay!]
Sudden treat tycoon Aji just hugged his bag tightly, beaming.
“Director, is it okay if I visit Aji for a while? Seeing each other daily seems the fastest way to bond.”
“Come anytime.”
“Thank you.”
As Gong Jeong-ah thanked him, Park Ju-hwan popped up from checking the monitors, eyes gleaming.
“Um, if it’s okay... Actress Gong, could we film when you visit Aji?”
Someone like Gong Jeong-ah, intent on adopting Aji, wouldn’t visit Meongmeong Animal Hospital just once.
At least twice, three times—maybe more.
Every visit meant exposure for the hospital team.
‘The director everyone wants to meet, Go Gi-jin teacher, the famous cats, pitiful Aji, and Gong Jeong-ah guaranteeing ratings... This could be it. Please!’
Park Ju-hwan gripped his pounding heart, staring at her lips.
“Of course. But mention Aji’s abuser every time I’m on? That guy should never own another animal.”
“Naturally. Our viewers will show him how scary they can be.”
Park Ju-hwan wanted to dance.
Or run outside screaming his joy.
‘I hear it! Ratings soaring like crazy!’
***
Ten days later,
the Aji episode aired on Animal World Forever, fulfilling Park Ju-hwan’s wish.
“10.3%? Ngh sob, we finally broke 10%.”
Park Ju-hwan teared up, staring at the miraculous 10.3% rating.
The show’s previous peak was 8.9%, average rounded to 7%. This was a miracle.
Sure, rival Animal World hit 9-10% constantly. But yesterday’s episode was 8.4%.
“Heh heh, we won...! Won! Good call pushing Aji’s story first.”
Park Ju-hwan had pulled all-nighters in the editing bay for a week, skipping home, to air it sooner.
He looked wrecked, barely standing.
But the ratings blew away the fatigue.
“We didn’t just win—peak was 12.8%! 12.8!”
“Y-Yeah. Gotta bow to Gray and Shadow, right?”
Their attack on Kim I-seok had spiked the peak.
“Bow to Director Lee Jun. What if he’d tipped off Animal World?”
“R-Right. Truly grateful.”
Lee Jun had just asked Kim Eun-ji if she knew a PD; she’d remembered recently meeting Park Ju-hwan and connected them.
But Park Ju-hwan saw it as Lee Jun choosing him specifically—his benefactor.
And he was right.
Afterward, Meongmeong’s Aji story kept shattering records.
Viewers raged at the abuser, pitied Aji through Gong Jeong-ah’s eyes.
Gray and Shadow’s defense went viral as “proper justice education.”
“The boards are exploding. Everyone loves you guys.”
The junior writer, checking posts, gushed.
“So many want to adopt abused animals or send Aji treats.”
“Look. We didn’t even say it—they dug up where that guy lives, what he does. Even his grocery trip.”
A viewer posted Kim I-seok’s photo; Writer Yeom grinned.
“Blurred face or not, those who know will know.”
“Heh, that’s our viewers.”
“PD, shouldn’t we do an abused-animal adoption segment next?”
“Yeah, planning to cast this director for it.”
“With this momentum, have him as regular.”
“Plus Gray and Shadow. I cried when Gray saw Aji off.”
“Me too. How do animals make faces like that?”
“They’ll all catch Gray fever after this week.”
Writer Yeom declared.
And on air day, the boards crashed.
“What the heck?”
“Did we have this?”
“Nope. Never.”
The brief outage left the team grinning ear-to-ear.
Final scene: Gong Jeong-ah adopting Aji.
Gray and Shadow seeing him off peaked at 14.2%.
Viewers felt comforted by animals loving and protecting each other.
Especially Gray’s tender gaze as Aji left—pure adoration.
His golden eyes close-up spiked to 15.9%.
So much emotion in those eyes.
Heartache for an uncertain farewell.
Joy for a friend’s good home.
Hope he’d thrive.
Viewers clamored to receive that gaze themselves.
Interest surged in animal abuse and stray cats.
Hearing it, Lee Jun told Gray and Shadow,
“You guys did great this time.”
[Brother did great.]
[Yeah. Vet bro handled it.]
He’d expected modesty, but they praised him.
Lee Jun petted them as he said,
“Still, good job’s good job. Time for rewards. What do you want?”
[What we want?]
“Yeah—treats, a trip, toys. Anything.”
The cats tilted heads side to side.
Then Gray’s eyes sparkled.
[Wanna picnic with friends!]
“Picnic?”
[Heard there’s a big river smelling yummy.]
“Big river? Yummy smell?”
What was he on about?
Lee Jun tilted his head.
But Gray’s next words made him burst out laughing.
[Drink the yummy big river, and they’ll wanna drink water too!]
“Puhahaha, got it. Let’s go somewhere with big, tasty water!”