Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Cats Conquer the World
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When the global ad featuring Gray and Shadow aired simultaneously in ten countries, the two instantly became the most beloved cats on the planet.
People utterly captivated by their charm scoured MeTube for more Gray and Shadow videos, soon funneling straight into Kwak Su-ho's channel.
The channel, already popular, rocketed to heavenly heights.
Subscribers and views were skyrocketing at an insane rate.
"Bro, you're a walkin' corporation now, y'know. A corporation."
"Hahaha, it's all thanks to Gray and Shadow. I'm just reapin' the benefits. Man, I don't even know. It feels too good. Heh heh heh."
Kwak Su-ho, dazed yet thrilled by the situation, couldn't stop grinning.
"Looks like it'll be good times, yuh."
"Yeah, feels amazing. But it's not just me benefitin'. Gray and Shadow got rich too. And your idol senior, Lee Jun? He's loaded now. He owns more of the video rights than I do."
Go Gi-jin glanced at Lee Jun, who was checking the charts, and chimed in.
"What's the point, though? All that money. Our bro won't spend a dime on himself. Wonder what he'll do with it."
"Save it."
Lee Jun smiled and gave a simple answer, and Kwak Su-ho jumped in from the side.
"Save up big. I'll chip in too."
"Yeah, me too. I'll add to it."
Kwak Su-ho and Go Gi-jin, who knew Lee Jun's goal better than anyone, rallied behind him.
"Just hearin' that means a lot. Y'know, thinkin' we might actually build that dream animal medical center I've always dreamed of? Feels great."
Lee Jun's eyes burned with determination as he replied.
Lately, Lee Jun had been truly feeling the power of money.
Watching Namgung Hyun up close had made those thoughts even more concrete.
'Building an animal medical center with every facility I want, expanding Our Yard Animal Hospital, adding a shelter, even transforming the park so easily? Never imagined it.'
All of it, the power of money.
Lee Jun was feeling that power firsthand now.
Sure, it was revenue from Kwak Su-ho's channel, but it had reached a level impossible to ignore.
Lee Jun gazed at the cats who had made it all possible.
The cats sat in a spot with a perfect view of the TV in the animal hospital, wagging their butts excitedly.
Meoowrr.
Nyaow.
The cats meowed, asking when their video would play.
A new video was about to drop on Kwak Su-ho's channel any minute now.
It was the video everyone had been waiting for.
They were all gathered, eagerly anticipating its upload.
"Just wait a bit. You'll be stars soon."
No sooner had Lee Jun spoken than the ad kicked off.
It was the Holst Diet cat food commercial starring Gray and Shadow.
Meoowrr!
Nyaowoo!
The cats recalled the shoot and purred happily.
[I'm too cool for words, nya.]
[Heh, my sleek moves look awesome.]
The cats beamed with pride at their TV selves.
And right after came Kwak Su-ho's ambitious video.
'Taegukgi Fluttering 2' premiered.
The all-nighter-edited 'Taegukgi Fluttering 1' was already holding second place on popular uploads.
It still couldn't top the 'Doomchit Doomchit' video's dominance.
"Heh heh, fans are gonna love this one, y'know."
Go Gi-jin grinned at the title when the screen filled with the Taegukgi flag waving proudly.
Gray and Shadow clutching the flag tenderly.
The scene continued with the cats carefully folding the Taegukgi and tucking it into a little backpack.
The serious folding with mouth and paws looked downright epic.
Then the cats charged forward.
They dashed across fields, leaping stylishly over puddles.
They scaled mountains, bounded up cliffs like pros, and finally planted the Taegukgi at the peak.
Clap clap clap clap!
"Whoa! Insane!"
Jang So-ra cheered, rushing to hug the cats tight.
"You guys are so, so incredibly cool!"
[Let go, nya! Can't breathe!]
[Sniff, save us.]
The cats cried out.
But no one could spare them a thought.
"Whoa, Su-ho, you're a mad genius. Shot it perfectly."
Lee Jun clapped Kwak Su-ho on the shoulder in praise, and Kwak Su-ho replied.
"What're you talkin' about? It was your idea. Thanks. Feels like I pulled off somethin' huge because of you."
"No matter the idea, you filmed it perfectly. Came out great. The flag's practically glowin'."
"That's the effects... Ack!"
But Kwak Su-ho's words cut off.
Teary-eyed Go Gi-jin had already grabbed his shoulder, eyes misty.
"Bro... Thanks, y'know. The flag looks awesome, and our babies shine. Truly grateful."
Kwak Su-ho shook helplessly in Go Gi-jin's grip until the big guy released him to approach the cats.
"Whew, what's with that grip strength?"
The cats had already wriggled free from Jang So-ra's arms.
They freaked at Go Gi-jin's approach and leaped straight up the cat tower.
Go Gi-jin looked up at them and bellowed.
"You guys are my pride!"
Jang So-ra, gazing warmly at the cats, snapped to at his words.
"Gotta post this pic on the board right now. The Haenguni Pockets fans will love it."
"Haenguni Pockets? What's that?"
"The fandom name for Haenguni Charms fans. Haenguni Pockets."
"Haenguni Charms and Haenguni Pockets. Kinda weird, but it fits somehow."
"Right, Director?"
Jang So-ra nodded at Lee Jun's words and pulled up Ggui Cafe on her phone.
She clicked into the board, now renamed from Haenguni Charms to Haenguni Pockets.
Then she uploaded a photo of the cats watching their ad and waving their paws.
"No joke? Comments are blowin' up like live chat."
Jang So-ra tapped the popular post.
[Argh! National Pride Overload]
- Guys, you see it? Our Haenguni Charms are so proud! National pride hittin' max.
- Ack, they slayed it. Classy AF. World's too small now!
-Must be world class. Every cat's role model!
-Yeah, right? Nothin' tops our Haenguni Charms.
-Gray and Shadow takin' over MeTube! Everywhere you look!
└Photogram's even better. National pride maxed, sweet.
-I cried when our Haenguni Charms planted that flag!
└22
└33
└...
└1021
-Gonna rock a Taegukgi patch from now on. Just ordered.
└Been rockin' mine forever.
└Duh? Bought mine day the first vid dropped.
This was the moment Gray and Shadow cemented themselves as Korea's cutest icons.
Lee Jun's smile wouldn't fade as he listened to Jang So-ra read the comments.
"Rather than just sittin' here, how 'bout some drinks?"
"I'll grab 'em."
It was nearly 7 PM, time to close the hospital.
"Nah, you two always get 'em. I'll go, check on Sugar too. What'll y'all have?"
[I'm comin' too, nya!]
"Huh? You wanna go to the park?"
[Park buddies tomorrow. Goin' to Sugar, nya.]
[Let's go!]
Shadow eyed the door with a treat pouch in his mouth.
"Givin' snacks to Sugar?"
[Yep, nya. For friends.]
[We'll share.]
The cats declared proudly.
Lee Jun chuckled and scooped them up.
"Alright, let's go together."
"Should I come? You can't carry the kids and drinks."
"Manager Jang, stay here. I'll handle it."
"I'll go. Bro, sit tight."
"Nah, I'm goin'."
Kwak Su-ho grabbed his action cam and stood.
"Subscribers'll wanna see the kids sharin' treats with friends. I'll film while I'm at it."
"Then, bro, fresh banana cream cheesecake for me."
"Fresh what?"
Lee Jun grimaced at the question, and Go Gi-jin laughed heartily.
"Just grab the new cake on display, they'll know."
"Got it. Manager Jang?"
"I'm good. Headin' out for dinner later."
"Past 8. Gotta eat somethin' before. You'll be hungry."
"Hmm, raspberry cheesecake then."
"Alright."
Lee Jun stepped out and told Kwak Su-ho as they walked.
"Cheesecake that good?"
"Dunno."
"Let's stuff ourselves with samgyeopsal later."
The dessert-averse duo headed to the park cafe, agreeing heartily.
The cafe erupted in whispers-turned-cheers when Gray and Shadow appeared.
Patrons gave fist-pumps, dubbing it the Haenguni Pockets whisper-cheer, welcoming the cats.
"Feels like everyone's in on it now."
Lee Jun echoed the fist-pumps.
"Really hits home seein' the kids' fame up close."
Even locals reacting like this. Lee Jun and Kwak Su-ho grinned.
Lee Jun told the cats.
"No more wanderin' freely, you two. Too popular."
[Won't be reckless, nya. Trouble if accident happens!]
Gray replied seriously.
[Right. Gotta be careful.]
Shadow nodded.
The cats, knowing outdoor life's hardships best, reflected solemnly.
They waved paws at the patrons before heading to Sugar with treats.
[Sugar-nya, eat up!]
[Thanks.]
Sugar, who had leaned on these cats during his Meongmeong Animal Hospital stay, was overjoyed.
He crouched low.
[Hop on.]
[It's fine, nya.]
[Ride my back, you can see the park from there.]
[Really, nya?]
[Yeah.]
Sugar carried them to the park-view window.
The trio caught up happily on lost time.
Sugar's owner and Lee Jun chuckled at the sight.
"Good thing Sugar's here today."
"Too hot lately to leave him home. Can't run AC all day... Haha, so I've been bringin' him along."
Sugar's owner glanced around the shop.
"Customers love him too."
"Haenguni break."
Soon, Lee Jun and Kwak Su-ho emerged with drinks and cake boxes.
Lee Jun said as they walked.
"No emergencies while we were gone, right?"
"No way. Barely thirty minutes. What could happen? Owners know your closin' time."
"Yeah."
"If it was urgent, they'd hit a 24-hour hospital."
"True."
"Always thinkin' hospital. How'd you survive LA?"
"Trusted one senior completely."
As Lee Jun and Kwak Su-ho strolled back leisurely.
Meongmeong Animal Hospital's door burst open.
"Wh-where do I go?"
At the panicked voice, Go Gi-jin and Jang So-ra rushed over.
A woman followed, sobbing.
"Sn-sob, ugh! M-my baby got hit by a car."
"Car... Th-this way."
A man ahead carried a Cocker into the exam room, setting it on the table. Go Gi-jin gasped.
Blood poured everywhere.
Jang So-ra, following, was equally stunned.
She'd worked at big hospitals, unflappable in most cases.
Even stayed calm with the Mongi crisis on opening day.
But now, no such composure.
"Intestines..."
She bit back a scream, recalling Lee Jun's daily reminder: stay calm and cool-headed. She spoke up.
Go Gi-jin did the same.
Panic faded; he faced the traffic-accident Cocker squarely.
The blood-soaked table revealed organs spilling out.
'Hit caused peritoneum rupture.'
Couldn't guarantee other organs intact.
Adapted to small animals or not, Go Gi-jin's hands trembled.
But couldn't just stand there.
Go Gi-jin instructed Jang So-ra.
"Gotta stop the bleedin'. Prep X-ray and ultrasound."
"Yes."
"And call Director Lee."
"Yes, Doctor."
Jang So-ra responded instantly, following orders.
Argh! Yelp yelp yelp!
The Cocker screamed in pain; blood pooled on the floor into a sea.
Go Gi-jin frantically staunched and disinfected organs with gauze.
"Back in. Back in. All back in. Into place."
The professor's mantra from surgery class—for shocked students when guts spilled during laparotomy—poured from Go Gi-jin's lips nonstop.
As Go Gi-jin chanted and stanched.
Lee Jun burst into the hospital.
"What happened?"
"Hit-and-run. Peritoneum rupture, not in shock yet—probably extreme pain. Stemmin' blood."
Go Gi-jin shouted.
Sweat-drenched face, perfect standard Korean. Lee Jun's expression darkened.
Go Gi-jin's state alone screamed severity.
The Cocker, hemorrhaging enough to pass out, clung to consciousness per Go Gi-jin.
Screaming in agony.
"Painkillers?"
"N-not yet."
"Painkillers first. Manager Jang! Painkillers!"
"Yes, got it."
Jang So-ra swiftly handed Lee Jun the syringe.
He jabbed it into the Cocker and barked.
"IV fluids. One per leg and arm."
"Yes."
"Start fluids, draw blood for type and crossmatch, X-ray now."
Lee Jun hooked up the IV in seconds.
Blood draw first, naturally.
"X-ray immediately."
Lee Jun cursed the lack of portable X-ray.
'With C-arm, we'd go straight to surgery.'
He felt the equipment shortage acutely.
But no time for regrets with life hanging by a thread.
Lee Jun loaded the dog onto the stretcher cart—a mobile bed for small pets—and yelled.
"Manager Jang, prep surgery. X-ray then straight to OR."
"Got it. Soft tissue surgery kit?"
"Yes. Spleen rupture, bladder rupture trays ready."
Go Gi-jin asked Lee Jun.
"Bro, how'd you know?"
"Hit-and-runs? Suspect spleen or bladder rupture first. Spleen's definite."
"Got it."
Before entering the OR, Lee Jun shouted to Jang So-ra.
"Manager Jang, emergency surgery here, then transfer immediately. Line up a nearby 24-hour animal hospital."
"Understood."
Bang.
The door shut; 'In Surgery' light flicked on.