Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Gray Becomes a Model
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The next day.
As soon as she arrived at work, Gong So-yeon, head of the PR department, headed straight to the lab next to the main building to meet Team Leader Park Seung-hwan.
"Team Leader Park, what do you mean you've found some model candidates?"
In their call the day before, Park had only mentioned finding suitable cats for the promo models without going into details.
Park flashed a grin at the expectant Gong and replied.
"It's a cat you know too, Head Gong."
"A cat I know?"
Gong tilted her head, puzzled, then nodded vigorously.
"You're not talking about Agent Bang's cat Ppang-i, are you? Ppang-i already flunked the camera test."
"Ppang-i went through testing too?"
"Yeah. He eats fine at home, but put him in front of a camera and he wouldn't touch his food—wouldn't even budge."
"Well, it's tough for cats to eat in an unfamiliar studio."
"We did have a few that passed the first round. They all bombed the second one, though."
"Second round was the camera test?"
"Yep. Eating the product right in front of the camera in the studio."
Gong let out a deep sigh and continued in a lamenting tone.
"These sweet cats that were so calm start hissing when the studio gets crowded with staff, or they bolt the second the lights come on. Finding the right ones is harder than I thought."
"Yeah, makes sense. We really need cats that chow down like it's the best thing ever."
The US HQ had ordered top-notch promo videos to shake off the bad rep of great efficacy but poor taste.
That made producing high-quality videos crucial for the Korean branch too.
"No wonder people are saying just use the HQ videos as-is. I'm worried they'll tell us to swipe ones from China or Japan next. Better the HQ ones than those..."
Gong shuddered at the shoulders and stated firmly.
"That absolutely won't fly."
Which was why Gong was determined to make videos even better than HQ's.
"So, who is it?"
Impatient with the conversation drifting, Gong pressed Park.
"It's a cat you know, Head Gong."
Park said, wiggling his body a bit.
"Dum chit dum chit..."
Gong's eyes widened at Park's clumsy moves and the sounds coming from his mouth.
"No way... the park cats?"
"Heh heh heh, not quite—Gray. The park cats' boss, Gray."
The leader had changed to Yellow, but these folks had no clue, so Gray was still the boss to them.
"Gray? You've met Gray? Does that mean you went to Meongmeong Animal Hospital? Did Director Lee give the okay?"
The excited Gong fired questions at Park rapid-fire.
"Whoa, whoa. One at a time."
"No, I mean Gray—argh, why didn't I think of Gray?"
Gong kept muttering to herself, unable to calm down.
"Graaay. Hip shake dance, ahh, why didn't I... Shadow's fluffy paw thing..."
Gong whipped out her phone, fired up MeTube, and dove into Kwak Su-ho's channel to hunt for the video.
Her movements were deft and practiced.
Soon, the scene of cats raising their front paws sky-high, shaking their hips, and cheering played from Gong's phone.
"Heh heh, too cute."
A smile spread across Gong's face as she watched.
Gong So-yeon, usually dubbed the Ice Witch for her frosty demeanor and brutal honesty with staff, was now totally melted, gazing at the video.
"That's it! Exactly!"
The lab researchers stared at her in amazement. Park did too.
'The mighty Head Gong making that face—if Gray and Shadow just shoot the promo, it'll be a massive hit.'
Park recalled the killer performance Gray and Shadow had put on, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Heh heh, what're you gonna do with those hips... Oh!"
Realizing eyes were on her, Gong belatedly pocketed her phone and cleared her throat.
"Ahem. So, you've booked them?"
"Director Lee was positive about it. Should be doable."
"If they show up, it'll be huge. Right?"
Gong said with utter conviction.
"Absolutely. Daily videos like this one would be the baseline."
"I hope it happens. I've been dying for new Gray and Shadow content."
"Yeah. From the dum chit vids to the Animal World Forever ones—I'm starved for more..."
The researchers chimed in one by one.
"Ho ho, got it, everyone. I'll make sure to deliver fresh videos for you all."
More eager than anyone for new Gray and Shadow vids, Gong replied confidently.
"But what if they flop the test like the others?"
"Team Leader Park, don't worry. These two are fearless—no way it'd happen, but even if, we've got a backup plan."
"A backup?"
"Yep."
With that, Gong strode quickly out of the lab.
***
That very day, Gong swiftly handled the Gray and Shadow model deal. A week later, she showed up at Meongmeong Animal Hospital with the official contract.
They'd already discussed basics over the phone, and she'd emailed the contract the day before.
The signing went smoothly as water.
"Please take a look and sign here."
Gong beamed as she slid the papers across the table.
"I've already read it all."
Lee Jun signed briskly and stood up.
Gong looked troubled and spoke up.
"Director, you need to sign here too."
"Under Gray and Shadow's names?"
"Yes."
"They'll handle that. One sec."
Gong blinked at the idea of the cats signing.
"Pardon? What do you mean they'll do it?"
Instead of answering, Lee Jun fetched a tin from the exam table and sat back down.
"Just watch."
He grinned at Gong, then addressed the cats.
"You guys remember what I said yesterday?"
[We doong. You said press paws here for treats.]
[Gonna share plenty with the crew too.]
The cats beamed back.
Nyaoong!
Nyao~
Their cute, clear meows rang out.
"Oh my, their voices are so pure and bright. Just hearing them lifts my spirits."
"Of course. They know paw prints mean treats."
"Coming from you, Director, it really seems true. Ho ho ho."
The reaction was just like everyone else's whenever Lee Jun said stuff like this.
Used to it, Lee Jun smiled and replied.
"They're thrilled thinking of sharing treats with their friends. So, Head Gong, don't forget to hook them up."
"Of course, absolutely. I even loaded up the car with gifts just for today... Wait, hold on. Friends—do you mean the park cats?"
"Yep, that's right."
Scraaape.
Gong shot to her feet, chair scraping.
"Th-then the dum chit dum chit... We might get to see that dance. Right, Director?"
"Probably."
"Hold up, Director. Don't sign anything else—just wait a bit."
Gong bolted out the clinic door.
Gray and Shadow glanced at her dashing off, then lost interest and turned to Lee Jun.
[Let's stamp alreadyong.]
[Where do we stamp, Vet Bro?]
Eager for paw prints and treats, the cats lifted their front paws toward him.
"Just a minute."
She'll probably come back with better terms.
Lee Jun waited for Gong outside.
[Why not stamping? Did that lady just go grab all the goodies?]
[Nooo!]
The impatient duo dashed out.
Spotting Gong through the glass, Gray yowled.
[She's over thereong!]
[Save some for the crew!]
Too frantic to climb the cat tower, they clambered onto the waiting chairs and wailed.
Gong, mid-call with HQ about contract tweaks, caught sight of the cats flailing their paws and meowing desperately.
"You guys are really sweet."
Mistaking it for them waving her back inside, Gong's eyes crinkled in a smile.
*-Pardon? What do you mean?*
"There's stuff. Just go with it."
Gong basically notified them of the changes and hung up.
Heading back in, she detoured to her car.
"Right, gotta grab this."
She popped the trunk, loaded up as many treat boxes as she could carry, and went inside.
Moments later, contract in hand—with Lee Jun's signature and paw prints from the two cats—Gong's face bloomed with a smile.
"Director Lee Jun, Gray-nim, Shadow-nim, we sincerely thank you for becoming our official brand ambassadors."
"Looking forward to working together."
[Thanks for the haulong.]
[Thanks. We'll eat well.]
The duo hugged Gong's legs as she stood bowing.
"Oh my! You two!"
Overjoyed, Gong petted the cats.
"They say thanks for the treats."
"N-Nuna's got way more coming."
Somehow now "Nuna," Gong scooped up the cats in delight.
She looked ready to hold them forever but finally stood.
"Director, you said this Sunday works too?"
"Yes, but will it schedule that fast?"
"With Gray and Shadow? You bet. I'll nail down a date ASAP and let you know."
***
As promised, shooting was set for that Sunday. The studio buzzed, awaiting Lee Jun and the cats.
"Heh heh heh, finally gonna see Gray in the flesh."
A staffer asked the unbothered director.
"What if Gray won't eat, Director?"
"Why worry? Director Lee's coming."
"Lots of cats won't eat even with owners there."
"Hey, Director Lee's different. He communicates so well with animals."
"Have you met him, Director?"
"Nope."
"But you talk like you know him inside out."
"Gotta meet him? Just watch his Animal World Forever eps."
"True. Really curious what he's like."
"Let's prep. Shoot the second they arrive. Can't keep the cats waiting."
"Yes."
That's when it happened.
"Right this way, Director."
Gong led Lee Jun into the studio.
Every eye turned to them.
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you, Director Lee."
The director greeted Lee Jun with a bright smile, then shifted to the cats on his shoulders.
"Gray, Shadow, hey."
Nyao-hooo!
Ae-ohong~.
The duo meowed loudly, grinning ear to ear.
"Ha ha, they look thrilled."
"Yeah. They threw a fit at dawn to come to the shoot."
"Pardon?"
"I didn't believe it either, till Director Lee showed me the video. I laughed so hard."
"Video?"
"Head Gong lost it over this one."
Lee Jun shared the dawn video, and everyone's faces softened into grins.
"So cute!"
"They're begging to go with their whole bodies."
It was simple: Gray and Shadow pacing the living room.
They hopped into the two carriers by the door, poked their heads out, hopped back to Lee Jun.
Then do-do-do ran back in, heads out again.
Repeated a few times, then both yowled urgently.
Hopped in one last time—and this time, shut the doors themselves.
"Are they mad?"
"Nah, it's 'Hurry, let's go get food!'"
"Food?"
"They came to stock up for their crew."
"Oh, perfect. Cat boss braves the wilds to fetch treats for the gang, triumphs at last."
The director eyed the staff.
"How's that? Sounds good, right?"
"Just hope the lights don't spook 'em."
"Yeah, just eat nicely, please."
Past cat shoots had flopped so many times—no one echoed the director.
Even Gong, who'd brought Lee Jun, stayed quiet.
"Director, no over-the-top setups. Just let them finish stress-free, please."
But one person asked the director.
"What do they need to do?"
"First, jungle or forest—wait, desert's better. Scrounging in a barren wasteland for food. No desert set, so CG that, just have 'em walk like they're trekking..."
The director, hyped by Lee Jun's interest, trailed off with an awkward laugh.
"Aha ha, got carried away? Let's start with bag color prefs."
"Is this what you mean?"
Lee Jun tapped a video on his phone.