Hello Vet! How are you?

Cafe, a delightful bakery spot discovered while providing special treats to the park cats.

Lee Joon and Kim Eun-ji had settled on the second floor of the cafe in front of the park.

“What was the most important consideration when you were conceptualizing the space for the cats?”

“Of course, safety.”

“Not comfort?”

“If it’s safe, comfort follows.”

“Follows? But if there’s a soft bed….”

“You’ve slept in a hotel, right?”

“A hotel?”

Suddenly asking about her personal life during an interview, Kim Eun-ji’s face turned slightly pink.

“Yes. No matter how luxurious and well-furnished the hotel is, isn’t home the best?”

“Well, that’s true.”

“As a journalist who often uses luxury hotels for business trips, you understand what I mean.”

Oh, was that what it was?

Kim Eun-ji felt embarrassed for having jumped to conclusions.

However, that embarrassment passed quickly, and an unnamed anger surged within her.

‘What? Luxury hotels? Where did you pick up such a word that only appears in fantasies? Seriously, last week on a business trip, I almost wrecked my back in a cheap inn.’

Even for a trip to a nice city, the best they could afford was a business hotel.

Moreover, the department head insisted they stay at chain hotels for the free night after ten stays.

Burning inside, Kim Eun-ji took a long gulp of the iced coffee in front of her.

Then, with a thud, she set the cup down and faced forward, only to see Lee Joon, the veterinarian, smiling at her from across the table.

Did she drink too greedily?

After all, how could someone drink coffee greedily?

Nevertheless, a flustered Kim Eun-ji tried to explain.

“Oh, I suddenly felt parched….”

“It’s good, isn’t it?”

“Pardon?”

“The coffee here is quite good. According to Manager Jang, the latte is also said to be delicious… Ah, by the way, you like bread, don’t you? The croissants here are quite tasty. Would you like to try some?”

“Pardon?”

“You might feel peckish at this time… just a moment.”

Lee Joon picked up his phone and sent a message somewhere.

Soon after exchanging a few messages, he stood up.

“Excuse me. I’m just going to send some snacks to Manager Jang. She really likes the bread here.”

“Oh, okay.”

A boss who looks after his employees.

It felt heartwarming.

Soon enough, a warm croissant and cake were placed in front of Kim Eun-ji.

The whipped cream was neatly spread on the slice of cake, adorned with a variety of colorful berries.

And the crowning touch, a large Strawberry, incited her appetite.

Having had only cereal with Milk in the morning and skipped lunch due to rushing through research about Lee Joon, the head veterinarian, Kim Eun-ji felt herself salivate uncontrollably.

“This looks delicious.”

“I’m glad. I’m not very familiar with cakes, so I asked the staff here for a recommendation. Seems like I chose well.”

For Lee Joon, a cake was just a large sweet bread to put candles on during birthdays.

But while ordering earlier, he noticed everyone ahead of him was ordering the same cake.

Out of curiosity, he asked the staff and was told that the cake was the second-best seller after the croissants.

So, Lee Joon decided to pick one up while sending snacks to Jang Sora.

Looking at the luscious treats before her, Kim Eun-ji gulped involuntarily.

Yet she hesitated to reach out.

Whether Lee Joon knew this or not, he picked up a croissant and said.

“Shall we eat, then?”

“Yes.”

Kim Eun-ji followed suit, tearing a croissant and putting it into her mouth.

As the savory flavor filled her mouth, a smile crept onto her lips.

She understood why Lee Joon had rushed down to buy it.

“It’s delicious.”

“Right? I’m not really fond of bread, but I sometimes crave this one.”

“I think so too. I’ll probably come back for more.”

But it didn’t seem like it would be that simple.

Considering the blue trees visible through the window were part of Evergreen Park, it seemed the cafe would soon become a hotspot.

In that case, one might have to stand in line to taste it.

Thinking along those lines, Kim Eun-ji glanced at Lee Joon sitting across from her.

Turning a small park frequented by locals into a well-known attraction.

‘He’s quite remarkable.’

Even though she had only asked one question during the interview, she realized that it shouldn’t be a one-time thing.

‘Yes. That’s how it should be done.’

With that resolve, Kim Eun-ji mentally cheered herself on to continue the interview.

And with a little refreshment, she found herself talking more freely.

Moreover, Lee Joon seemed more approachable than before.

“So, you mentioned that ‘safety’ is what you consider the most important, and I agree. There’s nothing more important than safety for animals living outside.”

“That’s right. But it’s not only limited to animals living outdoors.”

“Pardon?”

“Safety is also paramount for pets.”

That’s it!

She could request a consecutive series of interviews on this topic.

With a spark in her eyes, Kim Eun-ji asked.

“I see. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but could you talk about pets in detail later?”

“Certainly.”

Lee Joon, who originally had remarks to share with pet owners, readily agreed.

“Now, back to the original topic… Before I met you, I took a walk around the park. It’s amazing. I finally understood why the Cats are Adorable forum are raving about it.”

“Cats are Adorable forum?”

In response to Lee Joon’s words, Kim Eun-ji smiled and replied.

“‘Adorable Cats’ as they call it. Many members noted that the park cats’ area is better than homes. Looks like the mini houses that Nam Gung Construction built are held in high regard. That was your idea too, wasn’t it?”

Because the cats themselves chose their own home, of course, they’d like it.

Lee Joon had first asked the cats what kind of home they preferred.

What would they like?

Of course, this was a challenging question for the park cats who had sought solace in treetops, bushes, and sometimes wide holes.

However, Lee Joon introduced various samples to the cats.

He bought all kinds of commercially sold miniature homes for them to try.

He even showed them houses featured in MyTube, utilizing cats’ affinity for videos.

Naturally, the homes made in this process turned out great.

“The cats chose it themselves.”

Lee Joon stated plainly.

“Cats chose it themselves?”

“Yes. Since it’s the cats’ home, they should be the ones to choose, right?”

It made sense, yet it was something Kim Eun-ji had never considered, leaving her surprised but secretly pleased that this wasn’t going to be just any ordinary interview.

“That’s true… but how did you come up with that idea?”

“There are beddings that seem comfortable to me but aren’t popular with them, and ones they unusually favor that don’t appear special at all. So, I just asked them.”

To demonstrate to Nam Gung Construction’s field workers, Lee Joon showed Kim Eun-ji the video he had recorded of the cats choosing their homes on his phone.

“It’s true?”

“Yeah, they’re surprisingly interesting, you know. Some like to curl up by themselves in small spaces, others prefer to huddle together, and some favor open, wide places.”

“So, did you document the cats’ preferences completely?”

Kim Eun-ji gestured toward the green trees outside the window.

“Since it’s their resting space.”

The best statement flowed from Lee Joon’s lips.

While it seemed illogical, there wasn’t an expression more fitting than this.

‘I love it when the answers aren’t generic.’

What more could a reporter ask for during an investigative session?

Excited, Kim Eun-ji’s questions flowed seamlessly.

Excitement fueled progress, and each of Lee Joon’s responses exceeded expectations.

“Listening to you makes me think that it’s crucial to protect these cats.”

“That’s great to hear.”

Seeing Lee Joon smile, Kim Eun-ji swallowed as she considered the questions to follow.

“However, not all citizens might think like I do.”

Lee Joon, who could sense what Kim Eun-ji was about to say, nodded.

“That’s true. Some might find them pesky if they rummage through trash or become too noisy.”

“That’s right.”

“But if we feed them properly, they won’t go rummaging through garbage. It’s because they’re looking for food, after all. Therefore, the park cats won’t have a reason to tear through trash.”

“Oh, I see. But there’s no avoiding the noise from cats, is there?”

“I handled that by kindly asking the park cats to be quiet.”

“What…? Is that really possible?”

“Yes, it is.”

Kim Eun-ji tilted her head sideways in disbelief at Lee Joon’s response.

Seeing her reaction, Lee Joon smiled.

“It looks like you’re thinking I’m lying.”

“Oh, no, it’s not that….”

As words failed to capture her denial without sounding offensive, Kim Eun-ji ultimately gave up and confessed.

“Yes… It’s hard to believe.”

“I figured. But they actually listen to me.”

“Well, I’ll take your word for it. So you’re saying you managed to easily administer deworming because they listened.”

“Exactly. Also, could you include this in your article?”

Lee Joon had agreed to the interview, but he had no intention of being swayed by the journalist.

‘I must ensure they know how hygienic our cats are.’

Lee Joon intended to use this opportunity to share how clean the park cats were, and more importantly, how beneficial they were as animals.

That was precisely why he was in the interview seat at this moment.

And Lee Joon meticulously explained this to Kim Eun-ji.

“Amazing!”

Upon hearing Lee Joon’s account, Kim Eun-ji even applauded with excitement.

“That’s really impressive. How do you manage all of them?”

“I just want to ensure that the park cats aren’t criticized. Besides, it’s not very difficult, as mentioned earlier, they listen well.”

Convinced, Eun-ji abandoned doubts about its plausibility; understanding the current situation required such belief.

‘Realizing the veterinarian’s words could be true explains the footage of the cats choosing homes.’

Embracing this notion, Eun-ji found Lee Joon’s words resonating well.

Listening to Lee Joon’s stories, the park cats began to feel like neighborhood friends.

Naturally, no one liked to see a friend in danger.

With a somber expression following the initial excitement, Kim Eun-ji continued her inquiry.

“After listening to you, it seems there’s no concern for hygiene regarding the cats at Evergreen and Bluebird Park. But the problem could be in other parks. As more parks adopt the eco-friendly model, it seems inevitable that cat populations might increase.”

“Hmm. I’ll address the latter question first. Have you heard of the TNR program?”

“Yes, the Trap-Neuter-Return initiative for stray cats, right?”

“Correct. Numerous people have been continuously working on the neutering program. I can’t vouch for other locations since I haven’t been there yet, but the cats based in the two parks have all been neutered. We plan to manage any new arrivals as well.”

“Then it’s reassuring.”

“Probably. As for the first question, I’ll address it shortly.”

“Oh, okay. Go ahead.”

Recognizing the sensitivity of the topic, Eun-ji nodded and proceeded to the next inquiry.

“So, do you have any message for those who might be wary of cats?”

It was a question he had been awaiting.

“I understand that some may be wary of cats, as they must have reasons. But I hope they realize that, as previously mentioned, once the issues are resolved, cats are actually beneficial animals.”

“Beneficial, indeed. They’re adorable, healing just by sight, and….”

“While that’s true… primarily, they catch rats.”

“Eek!”

“…?”

A sudden high-pitched squeak emanated from Eun-ji prompted Lee Joon to look at her in confusion.

Did he perhaps say something wrong?

Such thoughts ran through his mind.

“Oh, sorry. I was picturing cute cats when the image of one running with a rat in its mouth popped up.”

“Well, that makes sense. Anyways, thanks to cats catching rats, we’re safer. As you probably know, many diseases are spread via rats.”

“The plague….”

“Exactly. And besides that, there are numerous others. Cats help eliminate the rats, thus they are quite beneficial. Although some argue pest control services negate the need for cats.”

“That might be a common belief.”

“But it costs money to hire such services. Besides, can they truly rid pests along every nook, riverbank, and forest?”

“Taking it that way, it does feel like you have a point.”

“Just go to the Han River, and you’ll see how many rats there are.”

On some occasions, overwhelmed by work stress, Kim Eun-ji would pop open a beer at the Han River and suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

Usually, going there by night, she began to entertain thoughts that rats might have been scurrying nearby.

“Still, I feel that no matter the vaccinations or deworming, the park wouldn’t remain clean with cat droppings.”

“Oh, let me show you something later.”

Wondering what he meant to show, Kim Eun-ji simply nodded for the sake of a smooth interview exchange.

“Alright.”

As more questions and answers about the park cats flowed, Lee Joon shifted the conversation.

“As for the first question, I’m afraid my answer might not be satisfying.”

Lee Joon took a sip from his iced coffee before continuing his explanation.

“In other parks, if help is sought, I am always willing to lend a hand. Of course, this is subject to my availability and capacity. As you know, I am just a director of a small animal clinic.”

Yet, to Kim Eun-ji, it sounded like there were possibilities coming.

‘Soon, he’ll extend his influence far and wide, won’t he?’

Pondering thus while she planned her next question, Lee Joon’s phone rang.

“Excuse me, it’s Manager Jang.”

With a gesture, Lee Joon sought Eun-ji’s understanding before taking the call.

“Yes, manager Jang.”

-Doctor, a patient has arrived. What should I do?

“Is it urgent?”

Lee Joon immediately stood up.

-It doesn’t seem so. It’s a cat who traveled far. I tried to suggest they book a new appointment, but it’s a bit tricky…

“That wouldn’t be right. If they travel back and forth, the cat might get stressed.”

-Then should I have them wait?

“Yes. I’ll be there shortly….”

“No, you should go, doctor.”

Kim Eun-ji stood up as well.

“But we haven’t finished the interview yet.”

“We can continue after the consultation. I have plenty of time.”

Ordinarily, Kim Eun-ji would frown at the prospect of working late, yet here she was volunteering for overtime.