Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Molrang's Worry
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“Our Molrang seems to be feeling unwell somewhere, Doctor.”
When your body hurts, everything becomes a chore.
This is true for both humans and animals alike.
Yet Lee Jun’s first impression of Molrang was ‘lively.’
Molrang had started chattering the moment it entered the animal hospital.
It greeted Gray and Shadow, then explored the hospital.
Of course, this didn’t mean it was wandering around—it was scouting with its eyes and nose.
‘Gray and Shadow’s cat tower really caught its attention.’
Molrang had remarked to the two cats that the tower was much bigger and better than the one at home, saying it envied them and meowing that it wanted to climb up too.
Of course, the owner might have thought Molrang’s soft nyaong-nyaong cries were just from being scared in an unfamiliar place.
‘Outwardly, it looks excited like a kid on a picnic, but as the owner said, it could really be sick.’
Instead of looking at Molrang, Lee Jun met the owner’s gaze.
This was different from his usual approach.
Normally, when a patient arrived, Lee Jun would silently observe the animal first.
In emergencies, there was no time for observation—he had to save them right away.
In any case, Lee Jun placed great importance on animals’ initial reactions upon arrival.
Then he’d listen closely for whether they muttered to themselves or whimpered in pain.
While doing so, he’d observe their behavior on the exam table. Only after that would he hear the owner’s story about why they’d come.
Talking directly to the animals came last.
But right now, he was taking in the owner first.
‘I need to work through this with the viewers step by step.’
Honestly, the moment Writer Yeom told him Molrang’s story, Lee Jun had a pretty good idea what was going on.
He’d selected it because even the owners—and viewers—could easily follow along.
If it started with something too difficult or heavy, the owners might not even try to think it through and just give up from the start.
‘Let the viewers guess from the simple stuff and build up slowly!’
In front of him were Lee Yoo-jin and Molrang.
Molrang’s eyes sparkled as it scanned the exam room, while Lee Yoo-jin stared at Lee Jun with a face full of worry.
She didn’t seem to have time to notice what expression or look Molrang was making.
‘Of course, since she’s holding it, she can’t see its face, but if she wanted to know, she could.’
There were things you could tell just from the back. Let alone when you’re cradling them!
Lee Jun opened his mouth while looking at the owner.
“Molrang must be acting different from usual. What changes made you think it’s sick?”
“Yes, our Molrang is a total foodie king. Even after finishing its meal, it smacks its lips. Whenever I eat something, it stares intently right beside me.”
“Molrang must really like you, then.”
“Oh…… yes.”
A faint smile crossed the owner’s face. But she quickly resumed her worried expression.
Molrang was a hearty eater who always had at least one Churu a day.
But lately, it had stopped eating them. It swallowed hard while eyeing the Churu, so it didn’t seem like it disliked them.
“……So I wondered if there was something wrong with its mouth, but it crunches kibble and treats just fine, so it doesn’t look painful…… Anyway, that’s it.”
Lee Yoo-jin wore a complicated expression.
“I see. We’ll run some tests, but first, let’s take a closer look at Molrang.”
When Lee Jun pulled a toy mouse from the drawer and shook it, Molrang hopped right up onto the exam table.
Then it swiped at the toy, pawing this way and that.
“Oh my, I’ve never seen Molrang jump onto the exam table by itself before.”
“Molrang’s super curious. But no matter how curious, if it’s hurting, it shows zero interest.”
As Lee Jun spoke with a slight smile, a bit of the worry lifted from the owner’s face.
“Really?”
“Could you watch Molrang for a sec? See what its expression is like, what its eyes are doing.”
“Yes.”
Lee Yoo-jin sat still as instructed, gazing at Molrang.
Molrang bobbed its small head left and right, up and down, surveying the exam room.
Its blue eyes sparkled brightly.
“As I just said, when they’re in pain, they have no interest in their surroundings. All their focus is on the hurt spot—there’s no room for curiosity.”
What Lee Jun said might seem trivial, but it was one of those things guardians should know.
Whether human or animal, when you’re sick, you can’t pay much attention to what’s around you.
So if that wasn’t the case, it pointed to some other reason.
Of course, it wasn’t true in every situation, but Molrang showed no signs of pain whatsoever, so Lee Jun felt confident.
Lee Yoo-jin slowly nodded at his explanation.
“Of course, they can hide it and act fine. But they won’t overflow with energy like Molrang right now.”
That rang true too.
“But it looks just like when Molrang finds something fun. It loves cardboard boxes—stares right through me when I open one, dying to get in. Same eyes.”
Lee Yoo-jin sank deeper into thought.
From its expression alone, it didn’t look sick at all.
“Not hurting?”
“From its current expression and behavior, no. But do you remember exactly when it stopped eating Churu?”
That was when it happened.
Slurp. Molrang licked around its mouth with its tongue.
Then gulp. It swallowed saliva.
“Molrang reacted right away to the Churu sound.”
“I didn’t even show it the pouch, but it knew.”
Lee Yoo-jin blinked.
“They understand more words than you’d think.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They say cats know all the family members’ names. Of course, only if they hear them often enough.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yes, they even picture the faces. Right now, Molrang’s thinking of Churu and smacking its lips. That means, like you said, it doesn’t hate Churu.”
“Right? Maybe something spoiled in what it ate?”
“That’s a fair point. Cats have great senses of taste.”
“That’d be awful if true…….”
“But since it smacked its lips at the mention of Churu, probably not. Before tests, let’s check its reaction. What flavor does Molrang like best?”
“Chicken breast. The one mixed with shrimp—it loved that most.”
“Gray and Shadow love that too. One sec.”
Lee Jun stepped out, grabbed a Churu, and returned to the exam room.
[Delish!]
The moment Lee Jun entered, Molrang smacked its lips, eyes gleaming.
“But why won’t Molrang eat it?”
[If I eat, Sis can’t.]
There it was! Lee Jun’s lips quirked up slightly, then he continued.
“Molrang, your sister doesn’t eat this stuff. It’s yours.”
[No. Sis eats it.]
“You’re holding back because she needs it? Not because you don’t want it?”
Molrang nodded vigorously.
“Then Molrang, have you seen your sister eat this?”
At Lee Jun’s words, Lee Yoo-jin’s eyes widened, and she waved her hands frantically.
“No, she hasn’t. Why would I eat that?”
[Saw it.]
Lee Yoo-jin and Molrang answered together.
“Molrang thinks you eat it.”
“Huh? Me?”
Lee Yoo-jin gaped in disbelief, muttering.
“No way. Why would I eat that!”
“Molrang loves it so much for you that it’s holding back to let you have it.”
“Molrang!”
Lee Yoo-jin stroked Molrang on the exam table. Her hand trembled slightly.
Whatever the case, wasn’t it yielding to her? Lee Yoo-jin was moved by Molrang’s consideration.
The screen froze there.
The studio atmosphere was bizarre.
Some were touched by Molrang’s sweet heart, others awed by Lee Jun’s near-telepathic ability.
Amid it all, only Lee Jun gazed at the audience with a subtle smile.
In the bustling vibe, Shin Dong-woo was the first to snap back.
“Ahem, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this.”
“Ugh, right?”
Yeo Mi-jeong wiped a tear from her eye and chimed in.
“Molrang’s so good. How does it think like that?”
“Because it loves its owner so much.”
Everyone’s faces softened at Lee Jun’s words.
“They’re such cute, pure souls.”
“Yeah.”
“But Teacher Lee, why did Molrang misunderstand like that?”
“Oh, the owner was eating yogurt that looked just like Churu when she gave it to Molrang. It must’ve been shocked.”
The studio erupted in waah~s and laughter.
“Oh my god, insane. Really?”
“Yes, if she’d just eaten it normally, no misunderstanding. But Churu’s scent is strong, so it got confused.”
“Oh, I’ve had that. I was eating a Sogeum-iy nutritional supplement, and my cat stared holes into me.”
Yeo Mi-jeong’s story sparked the panelists sharing their cats’ mix-ups.
“But mine just ate anyway…… I’m jealous of Molrang’s owner.”
Yeo Mi-jeong said enviously.
“That day, the owner was starving and scarfed down several sitting in one spot. Molrang must’ve felt so bad for her.”
“So cute…… Cute and heartbreaking. Does Molrang eat Churu now?”
“Yes, it kept yielding to her, but with Gray and Shadow’s help, it finally did.”
“Gray and Shadow?”
“Yes.”
“How did our cutie pies help? Let’s see.”
No sooner had Shin Dong-woo spoken than the paused monitor resumed.
[Eat it, Molrang.]
[No, Sis needs it.]
Molrang shook its little head side to side fiercely.
Seeing that, Gray and Shadow vanished somewhere, then returned with Churu pouches in their mouths.
[Molrang! This is mine.]
[Mine.]
[That’s right. Ours. Eat it.]
[Eat.]
Molrang’s eyes went wide at the pile of Churus before it.
[F-for me?]
[Yes. Now it’s yours.]
[Eat them all.]
[Th-thanks.]
Molrang gathered over ten pouches with its tiny front paws and set them before Lee Yoo-jin.
[Sis, have some.]
It looked thrilled.
“You like giving to your sister, huh?”
[Yes! I’ll just have one.]
Molrang said that, clutching one pouch tightly with both paws.
Lee Jun explained, and Lee Yoo-jin’s eyes bugged out. Then she scooped up Molrang in a hug.
“Molrang…….”
The close-up lingered on Lee Yoo-jin’s teary eyes and Molrang’s squinted happy ones.
The screen stopped there.
The studio was already in chaos, cheering for Gray and Shadow.
Some audience members wailed for Molrang too.
Shin Dong-woo pressed on, laughing.
“This case is a great lesson in sick signals. Molrang didn’t look ill to me at all? But Teacher, tests showed nothing wrong, right?”
“Yes, follow-up exams confirmed it was perfectly healthy.”
“So what signals do sick animals give? I worry I’ll miss if Aji’s hurting.”
Gong Jeong-ah asked worriedly, and Yeo Mi-jeong jumped in.
“That’s for next week.”
“Oh, then I have to come back next week?”
“Of course. Don’t forget to tune in next week, viewers!”
Yeo Mi-jeong sneakily plugged the preview.
“There was a similar case. Viewers, take a guess.”
As Lee Jun finished, a Retriever named Can filled the screen.
Can reacted just like Molrang.
The difference? It wasn’t eating kibble.
A panelist remarked while watching Can devour wet food can eagerly.
“Isn’t it just angling for that tasty canned food?”
“Seems right. When my dog skips kibble, I mix in treat cans. Now it’s gotten smart and spits out plain kibble.”
Waaah, laughter filled the studio as another panelist said.
“What if the owner was eating cereal? And the can food was next to it?”
“Wow, plausible.”
“Totally, they look alike.”
“Exactly. The owner pours dog milk into kibble as a treat for Can. So Can yielded, thinking the owner wanted it.”
“What happened?”
“I told it no. Like showing Molrang the yogurt, I showed Can the cereal directly. After that, it ate kibble fine, but one issue arose.”
“What?”
“Can started eyeing the cereal too. So the owner quit cereal.”
Everyone went wah and laughed, then Yeo Mi-jeong said.
“Who’d have thought. Our beloved pets sharing food with us. Too lovable.”
“Right? So heartwarming. I see articles sometimes—animals bringing food to sick friends. Gets me every time…….”
Shin Dong-woo continued, eyes misty.
“Such a lovable story. Makes me love my pet even more.”
“Really?”
Yeo Mi-jeong asked him.
“Of course.”
“The next one’s craving love too. Let’s watch.”
As Yeo Mi-jeong finished, a trashed house appeared.
Gasps and sighs everywhere.
“Ah!”
“Oh god.”
Trash bin overturned, garbage and tissues everywhere, liquids spilled in spots.
Plastic containers dented.
Not just that.
Chairs toppled from the table, blankets dragged to the living room.
Ripped to shreds, unrecognizable as blankets.
A pale yellow Cocker Spaniel huddled atop them.
“Looks like separation anxiety.”
Shin Dong-woo said pityingly, eyeing the screen.
“This is Joy, a Cocker Spaniel who came in for severe separation anxiety. Does this every third time the owner leaves.”
“Such a lonely baby.”
Gong Jeong-ah, reminded of Aji at home, felt it wasn’t someone else’s story.
‘Before coming to me, Aji must’ve been lonely like Joy.’
Her throat tightened watching.
“Poor Joy…….”
“If it knew you’d come back, it wouldn’t be so lonely, right?”
“Now, how did our Vet God fix this one? Let’s see.”
Yeo Mi-jeong grinned at Lee Jun.
“Totally transformed. But it’s a bit different from what you’re all worrying about.”
“Let’s watch. What happened to Joy?”
People’s shocked faces followed.
“You’ll be stunned by Joy’s story. Next week, we start with Joy.”
“Don’t miss your pet’s sick signals!”
As Animal World Forever ended, the message boards exploded.
Many griped about the cliffhanger on the juiciest part.