Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Endless Lecture Requests
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Ring.
“Yes, this is Lee Seul-gi from the Academic Affairs Department of the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association.”
—This is Veterinarian Kim Seok from Kim Animal Hospital in Songpa-gu. I’m calling to ask if you could invite Dr. Lee Jun to speak at this fall’s seminar.
“Dr. Lee Jun?”
—Yes. Dr. Lee Jun, the one who turned Evergreen Park into an eco-friendly park. The Park Cats’ doctor.
“Oh. You mean Director Lee Jun from Meongmeong Animal Hospital. What kind of lecture are you hoping he’ll give?”
Kim Seok conveyed his request to Lee Seul-gi.
“Ah, yes. We’ll review it.”
The moment Lee Seul-gi hung up, the phone rang again.
“Yes, this is Lee Seul-gi from the Academic Affairs Department of the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association.”
—Hello? This is a veterinarian running an animal hospital in Seongbuk-gu...
The same kind of request poured out from the receiver.
Lee Seul-gi gave the identical response and was about to hang up when another phone rang.
Riiing.
“Yes, this is Jeon Si-hyeon from the Academic Affairs Department of the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association.”
Ring ring.
Every subsequent call was requesting to invite Lee Jun.
The two of them were utterly baffled.
“Dr. Lee Jun must be really popular.”
“Yeah, he’s popular in general, but I didn’t realize he was this big with other vets.”
“What are they all saying?”
As the two chatted in amazement, Academic Committee Chair Kang Seung-hyeon approached.
“Dr. Lee Jun.”
“Dr. Lee Jun?”
“Yes. Dr. Lee Jun from Meongmeong Animal Hospital in Eunpyeong-gu.”
“Ah, Lee Jun.”
Kang Seung-hyeon, who was Lee Jun’s senior by ten years and knew him personally, nodded.
“Why Lee Jun?”
“For some reason, everyone’s asking for a lecture from Dr. Lee Jun today.”
“A lecture? Endoscopy?”
Kang Seung-hyeon, well aware that Lee Jun’s endoscopy skills were among the top three in the industry, nodded and continued.
“Come to think of it, it’s been about three years since Lee Jun did an endoscopy lecture. It’s about time for another one.”
“No, it’s not that. They want a lecture on how to communicate with animals.”
“Communicate?”
Just then, the phone rang again.
This one was also recommending Lee Jun as a speaker.
Lee Seul-gi set down the receiver and said.
“Another call requesting a lecture from Dr. Lee Jun.”
“Really?”
A smile spread across Kang Seung-hyeon’s face as he asked.
He felt good knowing his junior was so popular.
“Yes. The doctor who just called also wanted Dr. Lee Jun to lecture on the expressions or signals animals make when they’re in pain.”
“That’s the same as the call I got. The vets want a lecture on the signals animals send when they’re sick.”
“Really? Hmm... So they’re asking for an animal behavior lecture?”
“That’s what it seems like.”
As Lee Seul-gi replied, Jeon Si-hyeon nodded from the side and added.
“Honestly, I’ve wanted to ask Dr. Lee Jun myself. How does he read animals’ minds like that?”
Jeon Si-hyeon, an academic committee member, was a huge fan of Gray and Shadow.
Naturally, that led to following Lee Jun’s activities, and watching him with the cats made it seem like they were having actual conversations.
“I get why the vets are requesting him.”
“If Lee Jun lectures, that’s great for us. Especially since animal behavior is such a big deal these days.”
“Should we call Dr. Lee Jun and ask?”
“Yeah. Do it.”
***
Riiing.
“Yes, Meongmeong Animal Hospital.”
—...
“The Veterinary Association? One moment.”
Jang So-ra pulled the receiver away and said to Lee Jun.
“Director, it’s the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association. They want to speak with you.”
“Me?”
Lee Jun took the phone, and a greeting came from the other end.
—Hello, Director Lee. This is Lee Seul-gi from the Academic Committee of the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association.
“Oh, hello.”
—The reason I’m calling is to ask if you could give a lecture at this fall’s conference.
“A lecture?”
When was the last one? About three years ago? Lee Jun had the exact same thought as Kang Seung-hyeon.
‘They must want an endoscopy lecture. Lots of hospitals are adopting endoscopes these days.’
More and more animal hospitals were bringing in endoscopy equipment lately.
It’d be good to lecture on tips for preventing accidents.
Lee Jun thought positively and replied.
“Sure. I’ll prepare a lecture titled ‘Safe Endoscopy Procedures.’”
—That sounds great too. But there’s a specific request that came in.
“A request?”
—Yes. Actually, recently...
Lee Seul-gi explained to Lee Jun how calls had been flooding the academic department requesting his lectures.
“Really?”
Lee Jun was surprised to learn his colleagues were so interested in his work.
‘They’ve shown some interest, but I didn’t expect lecture requests. Though I probably would’ve done the same.’
Even Lee Jun struggled sometimes during exams.
He wanted to explain to fearful animals why he was restraining them and poking needles.
When they scratched or banged on the glass isolation doors, he wanted to encourage them that it was to heal their pain and get them home soon.
‘It’s a relief I can explain that now.’
His colleagues probably felt the same.
But on the other hand, he thought.
‘I can talk to them directly, so I know exactly where and how they hurt. But spilling that to other vets... that’d be weird.’
With that in mind, accepting the lecture didn’t seem wise.
“Thank you for asking, but I don’t think I’m quite ready for that yet.”
—Ready? Director Lee, you’re more than qualified.
“I appreciate that. Thanks for calling. I’ll think it over and get back to you.”
—Please consider it positively.
“Yes, I’ll call you back.”
Lee Jun ended the call promising to think about it.
“Whew, how long was that call?”
Rubbing his sore ear, Lee Jun turned to see Go Gi-jin approaching with a grin.
“Ehehe, finally gettin’ to hear Big Brother lecture after ages?”
“I haven’t said yes yet.”
“No? You gotta do it. Please. So many folks wanna hear Big Brother’s endoscopy lecture.”
“It’s not endoscopy.”
Go Gi-jin, who’d only heard it was a lecture and not the details, nodded.
“Not? Oh, then it’s fracture surgery, right?”
“Nope.”
“Huh? Then what lecture do they want?”
“They want one on reading the signals animals give when they’re in pain.”
“Whoa!”
Lee Jun chuckled at Go Gi-jin’s reaction.
“You think it’s funny too?”
“Funny? Nah. It’s perfect for Big Brother. Spot on.”
Go Gi-jin reacted enthusiastically, words tumbling out.
“I was gonna tell ya to write a book anyway. Ya nail their feelings. Not just them? What about during exams? Ya spot their pain right away.”
“Exactly. I’ve never seen anyone read animals’ minds like you, Director.”
Jang So-ra chimed in.
‘Save them first, figure it out later.’
That was Lee Jun’s philosophy.
If an emergency came in, he’d turn around mid-commute, scoop up the animal, and rush to the ER.
After a week straight at the hospital, looking ragged from surgery, he’d beam when the dog or cat recovered and went home.
Jang So-ra had followed Lee Jun because she admired that approach.
Life at Meongmeong Animal Hospital felt like a daily miracle.
Too many miracles to count what shocked or moved her most.
‘Jadu recently too.’
Jang So-ra continued.
“I agree with Mr. Go. You should do the lecture and write a book. Being around you, I can kinda tell what Mei wants or says now.”
Jang So-ra smiled, thinking of her cat Mei sleeping at home.
Lee Jun smiled at her.
“Really?”
“That’s right. Even I can tell what the kids wanna eat now.”
*You’ve always been good at that.*
Lee Jun swallowed a laugh and replayed their words.
‘Is that so?’
That day during exams, Lee Jun observed the animals closely.
‘Their expressions and movements are definitely different.’
The grimace for a stomachache differed from a leg injury.
Even scratching their face with a front paw—itchy ear or eye?—subtle differences.
Until now, with communication possible, he hadn’t paid attention to such details.
But once he did, the animals’ expressions stood out starkly.
Lee Jun guessed the pain spot from their frowns, then confirmed with them.
“Ear hurt?”
[It itches.]
Or.
“This hurts, huh.”
Grabbing the puppy’s front ankle on the exam table, the pup lit up.
[Hot! How’d you know? I told Mom my leg hurt tons, but she just smeared sticky stuff on it.]
“Eat this, and it won’t hurt. Even if it tastes bad!”
[Really?]
The pup looked at Lee Jun in relief.
That’s how Lee Jun read their signals.
As data accumulated, he accepted the lecture.
But he couldn’t reveal everything.
Reading expressions and postures didn’t compare to direct conversation info.
“It’s a shame, but can’t be helped.”
Lee Jun decided to do his best on what he could explain.
***
“Thank you. Director Lee, thank you so much.”
On Lee Jun’s acceptance call, Lee Seul-gi jumped up and bowed.
She knew he couldn’t see, but the bow came naturally.
Jeon Si-hyeon, who’d overheard, broke into a grin.
“Phew, finally free from phone hell.”
Calls kept coming even while Lee Jun pondered.
The department was short-staffed, unable to work from answering phones.
Lee Seul-gi reported to Chair Kang Seung-hyeon right away.
He beamed and ordered her to post the announcement.
The fall conference lineup was set, just waiting on Lee Jun.
Lee Seul-gi posted it on the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association site immediately.
Then sent a group text.
“Phew, no more calls now.”
“We can focus on work.”
Jeon Si-hyeon sighed in relief too. Lunchtime hit, so they headed out light-footed.
They even enjoyed pricey lattes from Dal Da Bang, courtesy of Kang Seung-hyeon, before returning.
Ring.
“Yes, Academic Affairs, Lee Seul-gi.”
Her voice light and cheerful.
—Hello? This is Veterinarian Cha Wook from Daehan Animal Hospital in Seodaemun-gu.
“Oh, hello, Director.”
—The thing is, I checked the conference lectures, and about Dr. Lee Jun’s...
“Yes, go ahead, Director.”
—Hmm, it’s listed as two hours. Is that enough?
A notoriously prickly top-tier vet, Cha Wook never hesitated on complaints about subpar speakers.
Worried he’d gripe about a non-behavior expert lecturing on animal behavior, Lee Seul-gi’s voice softened unconsciously.
She’d once endured over an hour of complaints from him.
“Well, many vets requested Director Lee Jun, so...”
—Exactly. How can two hours cover Dr. Lee Jun’s insights? Shouldn’t it be four hours usually? Four’s not enough. How about a 10-hour special lecture?
“Yes?”
Lee Seul-gi was stunned.
Such words from the great Cha Wook?
—That’s right. Looks like the lineup’s full, so no extra time. Prep another lecture or special for Dr. Lee Jun next time. Actually, I’ll call him myself.
Click!
The call ended abruptly, no goodbye.
But Lee Seul-gi wasn’t upset at all.
“Haha, hahaha.”
Even Cha Wook a fan.
This lecture would be a smash hit.
***
The Seoul Veterinary Clinical Conference spanned two days, Saturday and Sunday, at Jeil University Convention Center.
The biggest domestic seminar of the year.
Over two thousand clinical vets gathered, with diverse lectures.
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 30 sessions awaited.
After two vets signed in at registration and grabbed materials, one spoke.
“Hey, got any lectures marked?”
“Why ask? Obviously Dr. Lee Jun’s. Gotta hear that.”
“Me too.”
“Oh? Senior, I’m going to that one too. We’ll sit together.”
A passing vet chimed in.
Then voices everywhere declared they’d attend Lee Jun’s.
One vet said.
“But Room 307 seats 250. Might fill up. Gotta grab seats now.”
“Dr. Lee Jun’s after lunch at 2, right?”
“Yeah. Sit through from 10 a.m. There’s a lunch seminar there too. Camp out now.”
“Really? Me too. What’s the 10 a.m. one?”
“Dunno.”
As calls to head to 307 spread, Lee Seul-gi, handing out badges and meal tickets, tensed.
“What if all the vets crowd into 307?”