Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Grand Opening Gifts
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“Better late than never—here’s a grand opening gift.”
Team Leader Park handed Lee Jun a fairly large box. It was emblazoned with the bold logo of the pet food company Holst Diet.
Holst Diet was the first company in the world to develop prescription diets for animals, and it still held the top spot in that category.
Prescription diets were customized feeds tailored to specific symptoms, with varying nutritional profiles for conditions like kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, urinary stones, pancreatitis, tumors, and even diets for weight loss or food allergies.
The downside? They were so focused on efficacy that they didn’t taste great, despite working well.
“You didn’t have to bring anything... Thank you so much.”
“No, no. I should’ve come by ages ago, but I’ve been tied up with business trips. My apologies.”
Team Leader Park looked genuinely sorry as he handed over the shopping bag he’d brought, continuing on.
“That one’s from the company. This is a personal gift from me.”
“Oh, come on, Team Leader Park... You already gave me a gift when I left the company, and now this...”
Lee Jun’s face mixed embarrassment with gratitude as he went on.
“Everyone knows how busy you are, Team Leader Park. Just stopping by is more than enough—bringing all this too? I’m truly grateful.”
“Haha, busy? Compared to Director Lee’s whirlwind these days, it’s nothing. Speaking of which, you’ve been making waves. Even way out in Topika, your name’s on everyone’s lips.”
“Topika? Ah, you must’ve visited the U.S. headquarters research lab.”
“Yeah. I was there for four months as the regional lead for Asia, running palatability tests.”
“Sounds fascinating.”
“Fascinating? Nah, just a whole day every day watching dogs and cats eat feed. That’s it.”
“Hey now. I heard the Holst lab’s supposed to be top-notch—how was it? Real nice?”
Team Leader Park’s eyes widened just a fraction at Go Gi-jin.
‘Which hospital was this guy at? No way I wouldn’t know a vet like him—maybe university?’
Curious about Go Gi-jin’s background, Team Leader Park flashed his seasoned salesman smile and offered a business card.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Park Seung-hwan, team leader at Holst Diet.”
“Name’s Go Gi-jin.”
“He’s my junior. Specialized in large animals up till now.”
“Ah, a large animal vet.”
“Yep. Treated cows back in Hongseong.”
“Impressive work.”
Team Leader Park nodded vigorously, figuring the guy’s build suited the job.
“Perfect timing. Coffee okay with you, Team Leader Park?”
Sugar’s owner had grabbed an extra drink, leaving one spare.
Lee Jun offered it to him.
“Oh, thank you. I should’ve brought my own...”
As Team Leader Park took the coffee cup, Go Gi-jin’s eyes sparkled.
“Tell us about the Holst lab. Folks who’ve been say it’s that good.”
“I heard they’ve got nearly a thousand companion animals there—how do they manage the care? Supposed to be super comfortable...”
Lee Jun was curious about animal care above all—even how the world’s best prescription diets came to be.
“Like Director Lee said, it’s incredibly comfortable. The scale alone is overwhelming—220,000 pyeong. Living spaces and exercise areas match perfectly. Easier to show than tell.”
Team Leader Park pulled out a tablet and played a video of the lab.
“Unreal!”
“Whoa, no kiddin’?”
“This is where a thousand live?”
“Oh, the cats have their own space. One sec.”
Just as Team Leader Park switched videos.
Krnyaowooohong!
Kyaaaooong!
Gray and Shadow, who’d been holding back, let out mighty roars.
[Why, why aren’t you giving it to us-nyang!]
[I’m starving! Hurry up and give it!]
Eight eyes snapped to the cats in an instant.
“Oh, sorry. Slipped my mind.”
Lee Jun stood with an awkward smile, rummaging for treats and handing each their favorite.
The two hissed once more—then Gray snatched the toothpaste gum, Shadow the square treat—and settled beside Lee Jun.
Team Leader Park’s eyes widened at the cats munching happily.
“Th-that... Gray?”
He asked Lee Jun in a flustered voice.
“That’s Gray, right? Y’know, the chubby park cat boss who goes domchit-domchit.”
“Yeah.”
“Whoa. Meeting a MeTube celeb like this. Mind if I snap a pic?”
“I’ll get it for you.”
Lee Jun replied, then turned to the cats.
“Hey, guys, wanna sit next to him?”
[No way-nyang! Too late-nyang!]
[Hmph! Don’t like people who interrupt meals.]
The cats refused flat-out.
“Oh dear. They’re really pissed now.”
“Pissed? Why... Oh, dog smell on my clothes?”
Team Leader Park sniffed his own shirt.
“Nah, not that. I was just about to give them treats when you came in, but I forgot. They’re mad about that.”
“Oh no, my fault they missed out. Hold on.”
Team Leader Park dashed to his parked car and back.
“These are samples going to clinics next month...”
“New ones?”
“Yeah, upcoming launch. Added cat treats and wet snacks...”
“This looks like Churu?”
“Yep, supplement to get cats drinking more water. Good feedback locally.”
Team Leader Park offered the Churu-like pouch.
“Sorry. Make up with this.”
But the cats hissed and turned to Lee Jun instead.
[More-nyang!]
[I want what Gray had.]
[Give me what Shadow had-nyang!]
“Got it, got it. One sec.”
Lee Jun fetched their treat bags. Team Leader Park sMongchied, sighing.
“Cats are tough to switch to new stuff.”
He eyed Lee Jun.
“This is the company’s big new push. Honestly worried. Dogs’ll be fine, but cats love the old favorites.”
“They’re like this ’cause I taught ’em not to take food from strangers. Wanna try the treats yourself, Team Leader Park?”
Lee Jun held a Holst treat and told the cats.
“Let’s try this. Smells tasty.”
[Want the usual-nyang!]
[Not interested.]
“Alright?”
But when Lee Jun opened the bag, they sniffed curiously.
Pat.
Gray placed a paw on Lee Jun’s thigh.
Tap.
Shadow added his fluffy white paw.
“Tasty smell, right?”
[Give it-nyang.]
[Wanna eat.]
Lee Jun fed them fingernail-sized treats. They chewed contentedly, then licked their lips with thin tongues and grinned crescent-eyed.
Team Leader Park clapped.
“Wow, they love it.”
“Told you—delicious.”
“S-so, wanna try this one?”
He tore open a red pouch and offered more of the same treats.
Sniff sniff.
The cats wrinkled noses and whipped away.
“N-not this ’cause I’m giving it?”
Team Leader Park drooped, asking the cats.
[Weird smell-nyang!]
[Don’t wanna.]
“Just don’t like the smell.”
“Ah, knew it had strong love-it-or-hate-it vibes... How ’bout this? Guys, what about these?”
He pulled treats from a blue pouch.
Nom. Crunch.
Both snatched and munched instantly.
Then four fluffy paws tapped his knee.
Team Leader Park’s eyes bulged.
“More?”
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
“Gotcha. Here.”
They snatched the treats mid-air and crunched.
“Heh heh, pass! Next?”
Thrilled by the cats’ enthusiasm, Team Leader Park grabbed a yellow pouch.
“Alright, this one? Reactions were killer...”
Before he finished opening, the cats yowled.
[Tasty smell-nyang.]
[Gimme quick.]
“Y-yeah, here.”
They devoured and clung to him.
[More-nyang!]
[More more!]
They flailed for the airborne pouch.
“Must be real good.”
“Yeah, they’re going nuts.”
“Haha, their reactions are gold. Never seen such clear feedback...”
Buoyed, Team Leader Park opened a gray-blue pouch.
Smack.
Tik!
Gray and Shadow leaped, batting the pouch with paws.
Scatter.
Treats rained down.
Thud.
Snap!
The cats casually caught and munched falling treats.
Clap clap clap!
Lee Jun, Go Gi-jin, and Jang So-ra cheered.
“Wow!”
“Whoa! You guys were awesome!”
“Y’all look mighty fine!”
“Like a movie scene, guys. Perfect for a CF shot.”
Jang So-ra piled on, impressed by their agility.
Team Leader Park’s eyes gleamed at her words.
[Hmph, this is nothing-nyang!]
[Piece of cake.]
The cats shrugged it off, snatching chair treats and crunching happily.
They polished off three—no, four pouches in a flash.
[This one’s the best-nyang! But tummy full-nyang!]
[Whew, delicious. Can’t eat more.]
Yet they grabbed more treats.
“Whoa, not several at once.”
[Not eating-nyang!]
“Then?”
[Save for friends later-nyang.]
[Wanna share something this good.]
Mouths stuffed, they waddled to the ward.
Watching them go, Team Leader Park realized his blunder.
“Oh no! Wasn’t planning that...”
He shot up.
“Sorry. They ate so well, I got carried away. Too many treats at once.”
“They loved it. Ate like champs.”
“B-but what if they get sick?”
Worried they might upset stomachs, he asked cautiously.
“They won’t eat more.”
Lee Jun chuckled knowingly, but Team Leader Park stayed anxious.
“Want me to fetch more?”
“Nah, it’s fine.”
Lee Jun sat Go Gi-jin back down and reassured him.
“It’s okay. They won’t touch those now—saving for friends later.”
“Huh?”
“And they digest like champs. No tummy troubles from this.”
Gray and Shadow were street survivors—feast when food’s there, fast when not.
Digestion? Ironclad.
“Glad to hear... Still, sorry. I’ll supply treats for their friends. The park cats, right?”
“Yeah, but there’s a bunch. You sure?”
“Of course. I’m in charge. Haha.”
“Then we gratefully accept.”
Lee Jun shared the good news with the cats.
“Guys, Team Leader Park’ll share these with your friends too.”
[Really-nyang?]
[For real?]
They bolted back from the ward, eyes sparkling, asking Lee Jun.
[Giving more of this yummy stuff-nyang?]
“Yeah. So say thanks.”
Meow meow.
Nyaaow~.
They rubbed against Team Leader Park’s legs gratefully.
[Last one we had if you’re giving-nyang!]
[No yucky stuff.]
“Picky as ever.”
“Huh?”
“They said no to the bad-tasting ones.”
“Then the last kind—none react as strongly, so mind one more test?”
“What test?”
“Pick the real duds. Can’t launch all ten flavors—narrowing to five tasty ones.”
“Go ahead.”
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Team Leader Park chatted a bit more, then left.
In his car, he called Marketing’s Assistant Manager Gong right away.
Signal connected; she picked up.
-Yes, Team Leader Park?
“Gong, found stars for the MeTube CF?”
-No luck. Hard finding ones who’ll try new treats. Can’t use competitors’ either. Sigh... Keep looking, pick the best.
“No worries. Found killers.”
Park Seung-hwan’s confident voice filled the car.