Hello Vet! How are you?

Gwak Soo-ho sat on the waiting chair at the animal clinic, chuckling to himself.

“Thanks to having good friends, I’ll be flying for business. Or is it thanks to our precious buddies? Hehehe.”

“Hyung, what are you talking about? I should be the one going.”

“Where do you think you’re going? You need to stay and look after the animal clinic instead of Lee Joon.”

“If we’re taking the cats on the plane, two people need to board. It’s one animal per person.”

“That’s why I’m going.”

“Hyung, really?”

Go Gijin looked at Gwak Soo-ho’s skinny arms and continued speaking.

“No way, that’s not right. What if something happens to our cats over there? In a foreign country where we can’t even speak the language. I need to stay with them.”

“I can speak the language, okay? And what’s going to happen anyway? You’re worrying too much. Plus, I’m going because I need to film the cats.”

Gwak Soo-ho put an end to Go Gijin’s words, leaving him stammering before raising his voice.

“Anyway, I should stay by your side there and protect you and the cats.”

“Hey, everything will be taken care of over there. Are our cats just ordinary cats? They’ll handle security themselves.”

“Mr. Gwak Soo-ho is right. I’ve heard the advertising agency is very thorough with that. Plus, the head office is planning to use additional security personnel.”

Hearing the conversation between Gwak Soo-ho and Go Gijin, Manager Gong interjected, and Gwak Soo-ho immediately responded.

“Right?”

“Still, I need to go to support our hyung. Isn’t that right, hyung? Plus, the cats are quite attached to me, aren’t they?”

Failing to convince anyone, Go Gijin sought help from Lee Joon.

“They do seem attached to you.”

“See? A familiar face is the best when you’re away from home. Imagine if the cats get stressed in a strange place and can’t perform well during the shoot?”

Ever since the cats heard that another shoot meant more treats, they had been nudging to leave as soon as possible.

Knowing this, Lee Joon responded with a smile.

“That doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“You just don’t get it, hyung. Cats are sensitive animals. Think about it. Flying isn’t easy, is it? They’ll probably tremble from the moment they board the plane. That’s when I need to comfort them, you see.”

“I can do that too. I’ve looked after more than just a couple of cats, you know. And speaking of which, I’ve known these guys much longer than you.”

“Our company also needs Mr. Gwak Soo-ho. We need footage of the cats, you see.”

Manager Gong put the final nail in the coffin.

“Well, even so… I mean, I could just buy an economy ticket myself… Hyung, could you at least get me to a place to sleep?”

Go Gijin slumped his shoulders as he spoke.

“Well, I could buy you a ticket, but Gijin, why are you so keen on going to America? You’ve been there before, haven’t you?”

“I’ve been there, but… when we talk about going there, it felt like I didn’t actually visit the U. S. I was in classes the whole time.”

At Go Gijin’s complaint, Manager Gong turned wide-eyed to look at Lee Joon.

“Oh, you’re talking about attending conferences. Yeah, they’re kind of like that. If you go with the intent to learn, you’ll be attending lectures all day, going back to your hotel, and prepping for the next day.”

“Twice, I went there, and all I did was study. That’s why I want to go this time, watch the cats filming, and explore some American streets. I heard the cake at a café called Bottega Something-or-other is amazing…”

Everyone’s attention fell on Go Gijin at his last remark.

“I knew it; you just want to go there for the cake, right?”

“… Well, I might as well try the cake if I’m there.”

“Haha, I like your honesty.”

“W-well…”

Lee Joon laughed heartily at Go Gijin’s sheepish manner.

“Haha, that’s what makes Gijin charming and appealing. Alright, let’s go. All of us.”

“Really?”

Go Gijin stood up suddenly.

“Yeah, after all, you can’t handle all the little patients on your own. We’ll ask senior Han’s help.”

“Ahaha, thank you so much, hyung.”

At that moment, Sora, who had been sitting nearby, gazed enviously at Go Gijin and softly murmured.

“You guys are so lucky. The only flight I’ve ever taken was to Jeju Island for a vacation…”

Lee Joon glanced at Sora for a moment, then offered with a smile.

“Manager Jang, join us too.”

“What? Me?”

“Yes. Just think of it as taking your vacation in advance and come along.”

“Oh, no. Next time for me. If both of you go, who’ll look after things here? It’s too much for just Doctor Han alone.”

Lee Joon urged a few more times, but Sora firmly declined.

“Then how about this? After we come back, manager Jang, you take a vacation. Two weeks. And wherever you choose, I’ll cover the expenses.”

“No, you don’t have to do that.”

“Let’s do it this way. That way, I can leave things in your hands confidently in the future.”

Lee Joon said smiling at her.

“This is also part of our clinic’s employee benefits. Simply put, it’s a bribe to have you stay with us for a long time.”

“Yes.”

The corners of Sora’s mouth involuntarily rose as she responded.

“Manager, I’ll cover one business class. Here’s my request for three people.”

“No need, director. I can manage this much on my end. Don’t worry.”

“Will you be okay?”

“Of course. I’ll proceed with ticket bookings for the three of you and Gray one and Kkamnyang.”

“Hehe, I’m finally going to experience business class.”

Go Gijin beamed as he glanced at the cats.

“All thanks to you buddies, huh?”

The cats glanced out the window, merely flicking their tails a couple of times in response to Go Gijin’s gratitude.

Once Manager Gong departed, Lee Joon addressed the cats.

“Hey cats, hop on here.”

『Understood, meow!』

The cats obediently stepped onto the scale in response to Lee Joon’s words.

“Gray one weighs 5.8 kilograms, and Kkamnyang is… let’s see… 6 kilograms.”

Next, Lee Joon placed the travel carrier the cats used daily on the scale.

“1.8 kilograms… hmm.”

“Hyung, this means we’re over the limit.”

“Correct. The total weight allowed in the cabin is up to 7 kilograms. We definitely need a lighter one.”

“I’ll look for one.”

“Thank you, manager Jang.”

As Sora searched for carriers on the shopping site she frequented, Go Gijin expressed his concern, sitting nearby.

“But do you think the cats will like their new home? What if they don’t go in?”

“They’ll go in.”

Contrary to Go Gijin’s worries, Lee Joon answered with confidence.

“I’ll explain why we’re changing the carrier.”

***

The very next day, the new carriers Sora ordered arrived.

Instead of the solid plastic that had been used so far, the new carriers were a mesh fabric that was breathable on all sides.

“This is super light.”

“They say it’s only 500 grams while being sturdy.”

“But Manager Jang, how did you find something like this? I didn’t even know such things existed.”

“There are so many products these days. The real question is if Gray one and Kkamnyang like it.”

Sora watched as Gray one and Kkamnyang lay inside the empty cardboard box the carriers came in.

“Sometimes it feels like we bought the boxes, and the carriers were freebies.”

『Comfy, meow.』
『Cozy.』

Instead of paying attention to the carriers, Gray one and Kkamnyang closed their eyes, expressing satisfaction inside the cardboard box.

“Are you really going to take a nap there?”

Lee Joon unzipped the new carriers with a sharp tug.

Then, he placed a piece of their favorite treat inside each carrier.

In a flash, the cats leapt out of the box and dashed into the carriers.

They did not go for the same carrier at the same time, but rather each took their spot in separate carriers, chewing on the treats.

Crunch,

Hearing the sound of the treats crunching, Sora commented.

“That sound. It makes it sound so delicious. It’s the kind of sound that makes you give up on dieting because it makes you want to eat something.”

“Mr. Gong would love to hear that, I suppose?”

“He plans to submit it for a contest, I hear.”

“A contest for what?”

Go Gijin asked Lee Joon.

“Pictures or videos of pets eating deliciously. Especially for the sound of eating, they’re going to have a special award.”

“Oh, that sounds fun.”

“They want to show that the sound is real, not an effect.”

“It’s all thanks to our precious ones enjoying the treats so much.”

Go Gijin remarked to the cats, who were inspecting the carriers after finishing their treats.

“Is that true or not?”

But the two cats pretended not to hear him.

Instead, they delightedly noted how visible the outside was.

『I can see everything, meow. I can see Kkamnyang, meow.』
『I can see strong hyung too, and Nuna.』

Tap, tap, tap,

They even tested their claws on the punctured mesh.

“They won’t poke holes in these, right?”

“You worry about everything. Do you think the makers wouldn’t consider that? This is what we call the gap effect. Your large build makes you seem worried and caring. It’s endearing.”

Gwak Soo-ho commented with a pleased expression at Go Gijin’s worried demeanor.

“What can you do if you worry? By the way, hyung, how’s the preparation for the cats? Have they gotten their rabies shots?”

“Yes, they’ve also been microchipped, so all that’s left is to fill out the health certificates.”

As they were preparing for departure, a call came in from Manager Gong.

-Director, the airline wants to upgrade your seats.

“Upgrade? Does that mean upgrading our business class to first class?”

-Yes, that’s correct. They said they’re honored to have Gray one and Kkamnyang on board.

“There must be a catch, right? Like they want us to use footage for promotions?”

-Exactly. While they would like videos, they’re okay with just a photo. I think it’s a good deal. First class would be much better for Gray one and Kkamnyang.

“No reason to refuse, really. Let’s go ahead with it, then.”

***

A few days later.

Upon arriving at the airport, Gwak Soo-ho looked around, giggling to himself.

“Hehe, can you believe this? Someone who hasn’t even been on business class is getting first class.”

“Didn’t you get sponsorships from airlines or tourism offices? You were even invited by the Kenya Tourism Office. Didn’t they sponsor your flights?”

“Yes, they did. But I just took economy and asked them to donate the difference to the WWF.”

Upon hearing Gwak Soo-ho mention the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, the world’s largest non-profit nature conservation organization, Lee Joon chuckled and commented.

“You’re consistent, I’ll give you that.”

“More so than you, at least. In any case, when I did that, they ended up donating much more than the plane ticket cost. Hehe.”

Gwak Soo-ho laughed, sounding exceptionally pleased with himself.

“Then why not do that this time too?”

“Well, not when I’m traveling with our precious ones. I should experience this properly at least once, shouldn’t I?”

Lee Joon gazed at the smiling Gwak Soo-ho with satisfaction.

‘Otherwise, he’d have opted for the economy.’

In Lee Joon’s view, Gwak Soo-ho was a hard man to pin down.

Sometimes he seemed like a carefree fool from the past, yet at other times, he came across as a remarkable person.

‘That’s Gwak Soo-ho’s charm, though.’

Still, at this moment, as he laughed like an idiot, a part of Lee Joon wanted to smack him on the head.

But he couldn’t act on his thought.

The cats, who had been silently tucked inside their carriers until just now, began hissing in excitement as they reached the departure area.

『There’s a massive bird out there, meow.』
『Oh no, let’s run.』
『Let’s go, meow. Hyung, hyung, it’s serious, meow.』
『They’re coming to eat us, hyungs. Run!』

Hiss.

Hiss!

The cats raised their voices, hissing intently.

As they did, Go Gijin, who was carrying Kkamnyang in a bag, looked startled.

“Hey, why are you all acting up suddenly? Are you sick or something?”

Amid the cats’ hissing, Go Gijin awkwardly switched to a more standard Seoul accent, hugging the bag with Kkamnyang inside.

『Le-let’s run. Strong Brother, let’s go.』
『Hiss, let’s get out of here, meow. Hyung, let’s go, meow.』

Dum, dum, dum.

With Gray one and Kkamnyang both starting to panic, Go Gijin anxiously turned to Lee Joon.

“Hyung, it seems like the cats really need to go to the bathroom. Should I take them out here?”

The cats, in a state of hyperventilation, wheezed and trembled.

Lee Joon, desperate to calm them down, addressed them gently.

“It’s alright. Look there. Do they seem to be moving towards you?”

Unfortunately, just then, one of the grounded planes slowly began to move.

『I-it’s flying towards us, meow!』
『Let’s get out of here!』

The cats crouched low inside their carriers, visibly terrified.

“Of all times, why is a plane taking off now!”

Lee Joon clicked his tongue in annoyance and continued talking to the cats.

“Friends, do you remember how we rode in cars? We drove to the sea and even met ocean friends. We had shrimp there too, remember?”

Lee Joon tried to remind the cats of their past experiences with car rides.

『I-I remember, meow.』
『We sped fast.』

“Yes, that’s what it’s like. We’re going to fly in one, as I mentioned. We’re heading to find food for our friends by flying.”

Only then did the cats recall Lee Joon telling them about flying to gather food for their friends.

Gray one gently lifted his head and hesitantly asked.

『Then is it not going to eat us, meow?』

“Exactly. It’s not going to eat us. We’re going to ride it.”

『Like a car, meow?』

“Yes.”

Watching as the cats gradually calmed down, Lee Joon heaved a sigh of relief.

Seeing this scene, Go Gijin and Gwak Soo-ho shook their heads in wonder.

“You’re probably the only one who can explain and calm down cats like this, Lee Joon.”

At that moment, people’s attention turned toward Lee Joon.

Until now, the crowd was uncertain due to Lee Joon and his companions wearing hats pulled down low, but suddenly they recognized him.

Someone approached Lee Joon and his group.

“Um, are you Dr. Lee Joon?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then, are those cats Gray one and Kkamnyang in the bags?”

“… Yes.”

Lee Joon answered, feeling a bit bewildered.

Suddenly, murmurs spread throughout as people began crowding towards them.

But no one yelled.

Instead, they clapped in unison, resembling the applause the crew had shown during the advertisement shoot.

They learned it by watching the behind-the-scenes footage.

‘Gray one, I want to see you!’

‘Kkamnyang, I’d love to see you!’

‘I’m a fan of the precious ones!’

Their mouths shaped words proving they were fans of Gray one and Kkamnyang.

Even.

‘I’m a fan of Dr. Lee Joon!’

‘I like Dr. Go Gijin!’

‘Hurray for Gwak Soo-ho’s channel!’

echoed from some voices amidst the crowd.

Lee Joon bowed politely.

“Thank you.”

In response, those self-identified as fans quietly made another request.

“Could you show us the precious ones?”

“I’d have to ask them first. Plus, I’m not sure if we’re allowed to take them out here.”

“It’s fine, as long as they don’t run rampant.”

A smiling airport staff member reassured him.

“Friends, these folks really want to see you.”

Lee Joon added a remark.

“They think you’re extremely cool and impressive.”

『I’m impressive, meow.』
『I’m cool.』

Gray one and Kkamnyang, forgetting their earlier fear, arrogantly lifted their heads.

Gray one joyfully exclaimed.

『Line up, meow!』