Hello Vet! How are you?

Chapter 58

At a sun-drenched beach, cats lay half-buried in the sand, and in one corner, Lee Joon and his group basked in a leisurely afternoon under a parasol, watching over the cats.

Nam Gung-hyun had envisioned such a scene as he walked towards the beach.

However, upon arrival, all he could do was laugh.

He had momentarily forgotten that Lee Joon was an existence far exceeding his imagination.

The first thing that caught Nam Gung-hyun’s sight was a circle of cats huddled closely together.

The cats formed a large circle as if they were soldiers guarding a fortress, only unlike soldiers, they were facing inward.

Thus, all Nam Gung-hyun could see were the cats’ backsides.

Within their fortress-like enclosure was a large mat, and there rested a turtle, a seal, and a sea lion.

The sea creatures were not merely lying on the mat; each had a line connecting to the air.

“Phew, how did you manage to breathe and live like this?!”

Lee Joon sighed as he carefully removed a plastic straw from the turtle’s nostril.

“Oh dear, how did… Just stay still.”

Lee Joon sighed toward Go Gijin while examining the next patient, a seal.

“Gijin, scissors.”

“Yes.”

With scissors received from Go Gijin, Lee Joon cut the net constricting the seal’s body.

The turtle’s shell was entwined with more nets, and another sea lion’s neck was wrapped with a swimsuit.

Lee Joon and Go Gijin worked tirelessly, and the animals they treated expressed their gratitude with bright smiles.

Some animals were easily helped with light treatment, but others were not so fortunate.

“Hold on a little longer, you are doing great!”

Lee Joon encouraged gently.

『Yes!』

The seal’s responding voice sounded strained.

“Don’t speak!”

Instructed Lee Joon, who was meticulously cutting away a plastic ring embedded in the seal’s neck, ensuring he didn’t hurt the animal.

Both Lee Joon and Go Gijin, who held the seal, were dripping with sweat. It was a challenging task.

“What on earth is this? How did it end up like this?”

“It snagged around their neck when they were young. As they grew, it didn’t come off, and so it cut into their flesh.”

“Why didn’t they just run away if they saw such things……”

Go Gijin sighed deeply while holding the seal steady as Lee Joon worked on freeing it.

“They are curious creatures.”

“Phew, it really is a dreadful thing.”

Snap!

With a sharp sound, the ring finally separated, leaving the seal looking bewildered.

Observing the seal’s confused expression, Lee Joon instructed kindly.

“Take a deep breath, just like this!”

He demonstrated by taking a big inhale. The seal mirrored him, taking its first deep breath.

『Oh?』

“How does that feel? Easier to breathe, right?”

『Yes.』

The voice came out much more comfortably. The seal, finding this amusing, grinned widely.

“What a cute smile this little one has. Was it really frowning all this time?!”

Go Gijin hugged the seal tightly with a look of heartfelt sympathy.

The seal seemed to enjoy it, uttering cheerful noises.

“It sounds happy, but to my ear, it’s almost like it’s crying.”

“Same here. Although this creature looks radiant, thinking about how it suffered so much breaks my heart!”

Lee Joon’s expression darkened further as he watched the smiling seal.

Just then, Gray one, who had been watching quietly, suddenly ran over and hugged Lee Joon tightly.

『Don’t cry, hyung, it makes me sad when you cry, meow.』

Kkamnyang also approached cautiously and tapped Lee Joon’s back with a paw.

『Don’t cry, hyung!』

“These little ones, acting as though they’re comforting their hyung, are amazing.”

Go Gijin chuckled with a gruff voice. Lee Joon chuckled, petting the cats, then turned to the seal.

“The wounds will heal eventually, but now at least you can breathe easily.”

Lee Joon disinfected the deep scars.

“Hyung, should we stitch these?”

“It would be good to stitch them, but we don’t have anesthesia now, so let’s just disinfect and apply ointment for now.”

“We have no choice.”

Then, Go Gijin moved to retrieve Lee Joon’s phone from the outdoor table where it began to ring.

“Hyung, there’s a call from Nam Gung-hyun.”

While Lee Joon disinfected the wounds on the seal’s neck left by the plastic ring, he asked for it to be connected via speakerphone, and soon Nam Gung-hyun’s voice came through.

-You both are amazing.

“Excuse me?”

-I’m at your 8 o’clock direction.

Turning their heads, Lee Joon and Go Gijin saw Gray one and Kkamnyang pointing.

『He’s over there, meow.』
『I’ve been watching him stand there.』

The cats had already noticed Nam Gung-hyun’s arrival but had stayed still as instructed by Lee Joon since he was an appreciated friend.

As Nam Gung-hyun approached, Lee Joon greeted him.

“Welcome, sir.”

“Thanks to you, we’re having a good time.”

“Ha-ha, not at all. I hope everything is to your liking.”

“It couldn’t be better.”

“It’s perfect.”

As Lee Joon’s group each gave greetings, Lee Joon turned to Nam Gung-hyun.

“Why didn’t you say something when you arrived?”

“I didn’t want to interrupt.”

Nam Gung-hyun smiled as he continued.

“Haha, to be honest, I was too amazed to approach.”

“I agree with you, sir. Even I was truly astonished,” added Kim Eun-ji.

“I was quite surprised too. After having breakfast, I thought Hyung was just playing with the cats, but then I got a sudden call to bring the medical bag, including the IV pole. It was a shock, to say the least.”

“I can imagine.”

“I ran here thinking there was a severely injured animal. But then….”

Go Gijin trailed off, shaking his head slightly before continuing to speak.

“A turtle was just sitting right there.”

He turned to point at the turtle receiving an IV nearby, and Nam Gung-hyun’s gaze followed.

The turtle, seal, and sea lion were all now lying with IV needles in their forelimbs.

“They looked so pitiful, as if at death’s door. Regardless, it’s thanks to Hyung that they survived.”

“I heard they hadn’t eaten for quite some time. So, at present, we’re giving them IV fluids as a temporary measure!”

Lee Joon explained while cutting the net wrapped around the turtle’s forearm.

“But how is it that so many of them lined up, knowing to come here?!”

Nam Gung-hyun asked as he watched the queue of turtles and sea lions.

“That one brought them!”

Lee Joon replied, pointing to the turtle that had led them.

“That turtle?”

“Yes, it had a ring stuck around its neck a few days ago, it seems. After just removing the ring, I told it to bring friends who might need help……”

Lee Joon sighed lightly watching more turtles and a single sea lion making their way down the beach.

“There are more than I expected, which is disheartening.”

“I was surprised too. Who’d have thought that so many creatures would be suffering from something like this!”

Go Gijin sighed, examining the discarded plastic debris.

Just then, a turtle waddled over to Lee Joon and gently dropped something from its mouth.

“You brought another? It’s okay, you eat it!”

Lee Joon stroked the turtle’s shell, but the turtle shook its head.

When Nam Gung-hyun turned to Lee Joon and the turtle with a puzzled look, Go Gijin, amused, explained.

“They bring gifts to repay Hyung.”

“Gifts?”

“Yes, like seashells, seaweed, and even stones sometimes.”

“Such kind creatures, despite lacking food themselves.”

“In any case, it looks like tonight’s dinner will be grilled shellfish.”

“At first, I refused, but they wouldn’t have it. So, I accepted and plan to cook clam porridge later for them. They probably haven’t had decent food in a while.”

Nam Gung-hyun took a glance around.

Marine animals sat flanking Lee Joon, surrounded protectively by cats.

Nearby, Gwak Soo-ho and Kim Eun-ji were earnestly capturing these moments on camera while Lee Joon and Go Gijin treated the marine animals as they would dogs and cats.

It all seemed incredibly surreal.

“If I’d only heard of it, I wouldn’t believe it.”

“I still can’t believe it myself, but I’m grateful to do good work thanks to Hyung.”

“You truly are doing remarkable work here.”

“It’s all thanks to you. The peace of this beach allows us to treat them without worry. Otherwise, they’d be so anxious.”

Some pride welled in Nam Gung-hyun at Lee Joon’s words and he was inclined to extend his gestures further.

“Would securing some shade here be more helpful?”

“That’d be fantastic. We’ve been hauling seawater to keep them from drying out.”

“Ah, so that’s why those wet towels are covering them?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll have a canopy set up immediately. Anything else you need?”

“Well, there are some things…….”

“Please, tell me.”

“Then I’ll speak frankly.”

Lee Joon mentioned everything necessary from IV fluids to anesthetics.

“Is that all?”

“Yes. Sir, may I request one more thing?”

“What is it?”

“Could we rent this beach for a few more days?”

“The beach? Ah, is it because of them?”

“Yes. We’ve contacted a marine animal rescue and treatment center, but I believe it’s better for them to be treated here.”

“Of course, you can. Although, it seems having you treat them is more beneficial than any institution.”

Shrieks of delight came from the animals.

“Ha-ha, they seem to be clamoring for Hyung’s attention.”

Go Gijin chuckling, observing the reactions.

“They sure understand, don’t they?”

“Yes, even they know that Hyung is the best. Isn’t that right?”

In response to Go Gijin’s words, the animals let out jovial cries again.

“I would want to stay on for a few days to take care of them myself…”

I should have returned to Seoul that night, but the thought of leaving these pleading creatures behind left an uneasy feeling in Lee Joon’s mind.

“Hmm…”

Torn in thought, Lee Joon made a swift decision.

“It can’t be helped; I’ll ask for help from a colleague.”

Lee Joon called Han Na-Hyuk, explaining the situation.

– Stay as long as you need, even if it’s a week. Don’t worry about it.

Han Na-Hyuk willingly supported Lee Joon’s request.

– Just send a video of you treating the animals to reassure your guardians back home.

“Thank you, senior.”

***

Soon, a temporary animal clinic was set up on the beach.

A wide canopy provided shade from the blistering sun.

They also had shallow tanks filled with seawater to keep the animals moist while receiving IV therapy and resting comfortably.

The animals could now relax and recharge under the canopy with fluids replenishing their systems.

The marine animals that recovered quickly rubbed their heads on Lee Joon before departing to the sea, expressing gratitude.

『Thank you.』
『I feel so much better.』
『Young man, thank you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this kindness.』

The turtles, seals, and sea lions wore bright expressions due to the care they received.

Animals that returned to the sea came back with gifts, bringing something to Lee Joon in their mouths.

By evening, the gifts accumulated from the day were numerous.

“What should we do with all these?”

The animals expected Lee Joon to enjoy the shells they offered. Knowing their wishes, Lee Joon responded, seeing their eager eyes.

“We’ll eat them and share with them too.”

Thus decided, the evening menu was grilled shellfish. Large, extraordinary-looking clams were roasting on the grill.

“I didn’t know there were so many types of clams.”

“Is that all? These are incredibly fresh, too!”

Nam Gung-hyun, used to high-quality foods, expressed his admiration.

“Smell these oysters, the aroma is so fresh and fragrant.”

Go Gijin added.

“The colors are stunning. The texture looks absolutely delicious.”

Lee Joon admired the elasticity as he pressed down on the grilled clams with chopsticks.

Then, something hard caught on the chopsticks.

“Hm? What’s this?”

“Maybe it’s a stone?”

“Could it be a pearl?!”

Kim Eun-ji laughed brightly as she asked.

“No way!”

Lee Joon replied, laughing as he sifted through the oysters.