Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Seaside Marine Rescue
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Sunlight poured down on the beach, where cats lay sprawled half-buried in the sand.
On one side, Lee Jun and his group lounged under parasols, watching over the cats and enjoying a leisurely afternoon.
That was the scene Namgung Hyun had imagined as he walked toward the beach just moments ago.
But upon arriving, he couldn't help but laugh.
He had forgotten that Lee Jun was the kind of person who exceeded even the wildest imaginations.
The first thing that caught Namgung Hyun's eye was a cluster of cats gathered in a circle.
The cats sat forming a massive ring, like soldiers guarding a fortress.
Unlike soldiers, though, they faced inward.
So all Namgung Hyun could see was the cats' backsides.
Inside the feline fortress of cats stretched a wide mat.
And on that mat lay a turtle, a seal, and a sea lion.
The marine animals weren't just lounging there—they each had a line connected to the air above them.
“Phew, how have you been breathing and surviving like this?”
Lee Jun sighed as he pulled a plastic straw from the turtle's nostril.
“Oh dear, how did you... Hold still for a second.”
Lee Jun turned to the next patient, the seal, let out another sigh, and said to Go Gi-jin,
“Gi-jin, scissors.”
“Got it.”
Lee Jun took the scissors from Go Gi-jin and cut away the net constricting the seal's body.
The turtle's shell was wrapped tight with netting, and another sea lion had a swimsuit coiled around its neck.
Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin's hands never stopped moving, and each treated animal flashed a bright smile, conveying their gratitude.
Some animals' issues were resolved with simple fixes, but others were not.
“Yeah, you're holding up well. Just a bit longer.”
[......Yesss!]
The seal's response came out strained.
“Don't talk!”
Lee Jun was carefully snipping away at the plastic ring embedded in the seal's neck, bit by tiny bit.
Both Lee Jun, meticulously cutting the ring to avoid harming the seal, and Go Gi-jin, holding the seal steady, were sweating bullets as they struggled through it.
It was that tough a procedure.
“Oh man, what is this? How'd this even happen?”
“How'd it happen? It got caught around its neck when it was little. The body grew, but the ring didn't, so it dug into the flesh.”
“Oh, you poor things! If you'd seen this, you should've just run away...”
While Lee Jun cut the plastic ring from the seal's neck, Go Gi-jin, holding the seal, let out a deep sigh.
“They're curious creatures.”
“Phew, what a terrible ordeal.”
Snap!
With a crisp sound, the ring finally came free, and the seal blinked in confusion.
Lee Jun spoke to the seal, which still looked puzzled.
“Take a big deep breath. Like this.”
Lee Jun demonstrated with a deep inhale. The seal mimicked him.
At first, just a little.
[Huh?]
“Feel better? Breathing easier now?”
[Yes.]
Its voice came out much more comfortably.
The seal grinned wide, amazed by the change.
“This little guy's smile is just too cute. To think it was grimacing like that all this time?”
Go Gi-jin hugged the seal tight, his eyes full of pity.
The seal seemed delighted, letting out a “Ker-ker-ker-ker!”
“You fool, that's a happy laugh, but somehow it sounds like crying to our ears.”
“I know. Its face is pure sunshine, but thinking of the suffering it's been through tears my heart apart.”
Lee Jun's expression darkened further as he watched the seal beam.
Just then, Gray, who had been watching quietly, toddled over and hugged Lee Jun tight.
[Don't cry, bro! Makes me sad when you cry!]
[Don't cry, big bro!]
Shadow crept up too, patting Lee Jun's back with a paw.
“Oh my, these fellas comforting their big bro? Y'all are something else.”
Lee Jun chuckled at Go Gi-jin's gravelly voice, stroked the cats, and told the seal,
“This wound will heal in time, but now you can breathe easy.”
Lee Jun disinfected the deep gash.
“Bro, no stitches needed?”
“Best to suture it, but no anesthetic right now, so disinfect and ointment for the moment.”
“No choice, huh.”
That was when it happened.
Lee Jun's phone buzzed on the outdoor table where Go Gi-jin had set it.
“Bro, phone's ringing. It's CEO Namgung.”
Lee Jun, disinfecting the seal's neck wound from the plastic ring, told him to put it on speaker. Namgung Hyun's voice came through right away.
-You two are amazing.
“Huh?”
-You're over there at 8 o'clock from my position, Mr. Vets.
Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin turned their heads as Gray and Shadow spoke up.
[He's over there.]
[Been standing there a while.]
The cats had known Namgung Hyun was there all along.
But they'd stayed put at Lee Jun's instruction.
It was possible because Namgung Hyun was someone they were grateful to.
Lee Jun said to Namgung Hyun, who approached from the side,
“Come on over, sir.”
“Thanks to you, CEO, we're doing great.”
“Haha, no need. Hope it's to your liking.”
“It's the best.”
“Top-notch.”
As Lee Jun's group greeted Namgung Hyun one by one, Lee Jun added,
“You should've said something when you got here.”
“Didn't want to interrupt.”
Namgung Hyun smiled and continued,
“Haha, that's an excuse. Truth is, I was so shocked I couldn't just barge in.”
“I agree with you, sir. I was floored too.”
Kim Eun-ji chimed in.
“Me too, scared me half to death. Thought Big Bro was just breakfasting and playing with the cats, then bam—phone call saying grab the house call kit. Had to bring the IV stand too.”
“Must've been a shock.”
“Thought there were some badly hurt critters, came rushing. But...”
Go Gi-jin shook his head and went on,
“That turtle was plopped right there...”
Go Gi-jin turned and pointed at the turtle nearby getting an IV.
“That one. That guy.”
Namgung Hyun followed Go Gi-jin's gesture.
The turtle, seal, and sea lion all lay there with IV needles in their front flippers.
“Poor thing looked half-dead. Anyway, it survived thanks to Big Bro.”
“Hadn't eaten for a while. Giving it fluids for now as emergency care.”
Lee Jun added this while cutting the net wrapped around the turtle's front flipper.
“But how do they all know to come here? And not just one.”
Namgung Hyun asked, eyeing the turtle and sea lion in line.
“That one brought them.”
Lee Jun pointed at the turtle leading the way.
“That turtle?”
“Yeah, it had a ring around its neck too, happened a few days ago. Removed it and told it to bring friends who need help...”
Lee Jun sighed shortly as he recalled the turtle and one seal walking up the beach.
“More than I expected. Kinda weighs on me.”
“I was shocked too. Never thought so many would suffer from junk like this.”
Go Gi-jin sighed at the plastic trash removed from the animals.
Right then, a turtle waddled up to Lee Jun and dropped something from its mouth with a thunk.
“Brought more? I'm good— you eat it.”
Lee Jun stroked the turtle's shell, but it shook its head no.
Namgung Hyun looked puzzled between them, so Go Gi-jin grinned and explained.
“It's a thank-you gift for Big Bro.”
“A gift?”
“Shells, seaweed, even rocks from some.”
“Good kids. Sharing their food when they barely have enough.”
“Anyway, dinner's grilled shellfish tonight.”
“Tried not to take at first, but they insisted. So now I boil 'em into soup for them at night. Figure they've gone too long without proper food.”
Namgung Hyun looked around.
Marine animals sat in a cluster before Lee Jun, surrounded protectively by cats.
Kwak Su-ho and Kim Eun-ji filmed the scene solemnly with cameras.
Lee Jun and Go Gi-jin treated the marine animals like dogs and cats.
It looked utterly unreal.
“Wouldn't have believed it if I'd just heard.”
“Still can't believe it myself. But thanks to Big Bro, we get to do good work.”
“You're doing truly great things.”
“All thanks to you, sir. This quiet beach lets us treat them comfy. Otherwise, imagine their stress.”
Namgung Hyun felt a swell of pride at Lee Jun's words. And he wanted more.
“Awning here would be better?”
“Definitely. Been hauling seawater to keep them from drying out.”
“Oh, that's why those wet towels are on their backs?”
“Yeah.”
“Then we'll put up tents right away. Anything else needed?”
“There is, but...”
“Tell me.”
“Won't hold back then.”
Lee Jun listed needs from fluids to anesthetics.
“That cover it?”
“Yes. Sir, one more favor?”
“What?”
“Can we borrow the beach a few more days?”
“The beach? For these guys?”
“Yeah. Contacted marine rescue, but treating here seems better for them.”
“Go ahead. But isn't Director's care better than theirs anyway?”
Queak-queak.
Bwaaak!
Gulp-gulp-gulp.
The animals suddenly cried out.
“Haha, see? They're crying for Big Bro like you said.”
“You get it good.”
“'Course. They all know Big Bro's the best. Right?”
The animals wailed again at Go Gi-jin's words.
“I'd love to stay a few more days and treat them, but...”
Plan was to head back to Seoul tonight.
But leaving these pleading creatures tugged at Lee Jun's heart.
“Hmm...”
Lost in thought, Lee Jun decided quickly.
“No choice. Gotta ask Han Senior for help.”
Lee Jun called Han Na-hyuk and explained.
-Not a day or two—a week if needed. Treat 'em worry-free.
Han Na-hyuk agreed readily.
-Just, your guardians will freak seeing me, so send a video of you treating them there.
“Thanks, Senior.”
***
Soon after, a temporary animal clinic was set up on the beach.
A large tent to block the scorching sun.
Wide, shallow pools filled with seawater so animals getting fluids wouldn't dry out.
Now they could rest comfortably while receiving IVs.
Quickly recovering animals rubbed against Lee Jun gratefully before returning to the sea.
[Thank you.]
[Feels so good.]
[Young man, thanks. How to repay this grace?]
The turtle, seal, and sea lion beamed with gratitude.
Those treated and released soon returned, bringing Lee Jun gifts in their mouths.
By evening, the pile of daytime gifts was huge.
“What we gonna do with all this?”
The animals wanted Lee Jun to eat the shells they'd brought.
Knowing their wish, Lee Jun answered the sparkling-eyed animals.
“We eat some, give some back to them.”
And so, dinner was grilled shellfish.
Large, pristine shells sizzled over the fire.
“Didn't know there were so many kinds of shellfish.”
“Not just variety—all super fresh and premium.”
Even Namgung Hyun, used to fine dining, marveled.
“Smell this oyster. So fresh, like floral perfume.”
“Colors are killer. That pMongchi bounce looks delicious.”
Lee Jun pressed the sizzling shellfish meat with chopsticks, marveling at the springy firmness.
Then something hard caught on his chopsticks.
“Hm? What's this?”
“A rock?”
“Pearl maybe?”
Kim Eun-ji asked with a bright smile.
“Nah, no way.”
Lee Jun laughed and poked at the oyster.