Episode 79: Expansion (1)
“I think I saw you on Animal Farm.”
“…Ah. Yes.”
As Sihyeon gave a vague response, Nurse Saetbyul chimed in cheerfully.
“Oh my! You recognize him. Yes, Sihyeon-ssi was indeed on Animal Farm.”
“Right? With that unruly Eorluk-ee. I saw that episode.”
…It’s Baduk-ee, not Eorluk-ee. Besides, it has been quite a while since the broadcast aired; he wondered how people still recognized him. The student turned around fully and asked:
“Um, can I ask you just one thing?”
“What is it?”
Sihyeon looked at the student with a smile. Since articles had also gone out revealing he was Siwoo’s brother, he needed to maintain proper composure.
“Is Jang Mi-so really pretty?”
“?”
He wasn't going to ask about the Trackers??
“The actress who appeared with you. The one in the weekend drama. Is she pretty?”
“Ah—! Yes. She is a beauty.”
The student’s face flushed slightly, clear evidence of whatever thoughts were crossing his mind.
When Sihyeon had sent some herbal tea to Jang Mi-so last time, he had also packed two loaves of rye bread with it. In return, she had sent him a famous brand's hoodies in every single color the very next day. Sihyeon considered sharing this story but held his tongue, realizing it might invite unnecessary misunderstandings.
Nurse Saetbyul chuckled and asked:
“Jang Mi-so-ssi is currently starring in Your Sunflower. Do students watch weekend dramas too?”
“My grandmother always has it on, so I catch it occasionally.”
“It’s a gentle and heartwarming show. What about you, Sihyeon-ssi?” Nurse Saetbyul asked.
“I don’t really watch TV.”
“I figured as much. Still, you should watch it if you get a chance, especially since you two share a connection.”
Sihyeon, who had been rubbing Kkami’s head with his finger, suddenly froze.
“…What did you say the title of that drama was?”
“Your Sunflower?”
The name of the drama Kang Seung-hyun was supposedly starring in was likely that exact one. Surely, there wouldn't be two dramas named after sunflowers.
“Ah…… So she’s in that.”
“Have you seen it?”
“No. I just heard about it somewhere.”
“You should watch it. It’s more entertaining than you'd expect. It has a bit of a romantic comedy vibe, I suppose? Everyone acts wonderfully, and Mi-so-ssi comes across as incredibly lovely.”
Sihyeon nodded readily.
“I see.”
Nurse Saetbyul emerged from Examination Room 1 leading an elderly Jindo dog. Following behind them with a troubled expression was an old grandfather, accompanied by Veterinarian Lee Soo-min.
“Look, Grandfather. If you proceed with the surgery, we could buy him a bit more time……”
“Goodness. I can’t do it.”
“Please don’t be like that.”
“Enough, enough.”
The grandfather hurriedly exited the clinic with his Jindo dog. Wearing a sorrowful expression, Nurse Saetbyul guided Sihyeon into the examination room.
Lee Soo-min sat down, pressing the corners of his eyes with his hand.
“Sigh. I urged him to get treatment, but he’s just so stubborn.”
“…Is the Jindo dog very sick? He looked perfectly fine.”
“Jindol-ee just came in because he ate something bad and vomited. The one who’s truly sick is the grandfather.”
“Ah.”
Lee Soo-min muttered as he put on his glasses.
“It's terminal liver cancer. It seems he discharged himself from the hospital recently, giving up on treatment. Yet, he cares so deeply for his dog that he rushes to the clinic if the little guy shows even the slightest sign of illness. He really needs to look after his own body first.”
“Oh dear. That’s heartbreaking.”
“Exactly my point.”
Lee Soo-min smacked his face with both hands to wake himself up, then checked the charts.
“Well, Geum-Eun-Dong. The time has finally come for you rascals.”
“I leave them in your care.”
“I’ll perform the procedure flawlessly, so don't worry. They’re still young, so their recovery will be swift.”
“Are they finished with their regular vaccinations?”
“They’ve received up to their third round, so let’s do one final shot in three weeks. After that, they’ll only need a booster once a year. Normally, three rounds are sufficient for indoor cats, but you’re raising them out in a yard. There are plenty of bugs, and we shouldn't take any chances.”
Come to think of it, they did roll around just about anywhere.
“Our house is a Hanok, so there’s no way to lock them inside. And I don’t want to do that to them anyway.”
“It’s a miracle the kids don’t just wander off entirely.”
“Even their mother goes out in the morning and always comes back.”
“Maybe it’s because you grow catnip? Usually, once cats run away, they rarely return.”
In truth, it was because the location boasted abundant natural energy thanks to a Druid, and they already considered him family, but—
“…I suppose so.”
Sihyeon checked the time and asked. Today was a day he craved something spicy.
“Would you like to grab lunch together? I’m planning to eat something spicy.”
“Sure. There’s actually something I want to eat too. I just need to see two more patients, so give me a brief moment.”
“Got it.”
The moment Sihyeon stepped out, the student who had brought the crow entered the examination room. Shortly after, a loud racket echoed from within, and Nurse Saetbyul immediately called out for Sihyeon.
“Oh, Sihyeon-ssi! Could you help us in here for a second?”
“Is something wrong?”
Nurse Saetbyul nodded quickly. Hurrying into the room, he found the previously neat examination area turned into complete chaos. The birdcage had crashed to the floor, and the crow was flapping its wings wildly while letting out sharp caws. Lee Soo-min was frantically searching for his glasses.
“What in the world?”
Sihyeon frowned as he looked at the crow. This fellow.
“Kkami? Come here.”
“It’s no use. No matter how much we call, he won’t come.”
“Is that so?”
Flap, flap.
Tap.
The crow flew deftly through the air and perched perfectly onto Sihyeon’s thumb. The male student’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
“…….”
“He came, though.”
“Hey! You never came once when I called you!”
The student glared at Kkami, completely dumbfounded. Nurse Saetbyul smiled as if to comfort the boy and said:
“Didn’t you say you watched Animal Farm? Sihyeon-ssi is naturally an animal magnet.”
“I know, but still. This is disappointing.”
Lee Soo-min finally retrieved his glasses. It appeared they had dropped to the floor when Kkami went wild on the table. He thanked Sihyeon and kindly explained the situation to the owner.
“Let’s be grateful, because thanks to him, we can actually proceed with the examination. In larger animal hospitals, they have veterinary technicians whose job is specifically to hold down the animals. That’s how difficult treating a sick animal can be.”
“…Yessir. Thank you.”
Sihyeon handed Kkami back to the student and stepped out of the room. That crow seemed to hold some grievances against its owner. When birds refuse to eat their feed, it is typically due to stress. Since crows are highly intelligent creatures, it could be even more sensitive. The cage also looked a bit too small.
The two were sitting in a Chinese restaurant, sharing a conversation. Dongun Banjeom introduced a new menu item with every changing season, and their latest creation for this autumn was a mushroom tangsuyuk made with fresh shiitake mushrooms and domestic pork.
They ordered a spicy jjambong and the mushroom tangsuyuk, and were currently waiting for their food.
“…Since some people sell them in cages, I don’t want to judge whether keeping them confined is right or wrong. If you look at it that way, almost all companion animals are kept in a similar manner. I just wish people would feed them properly. Clean water, nutritious food, and investing actual time to play with them.”
Sihyeon nodded in agreement.
“Food is one thing, but dedicating quality time isn't easy.”
“Did you know that giving your time is the truest form of love? A friend told me long ago: if you ever wonder who truly loves you, look at the amount of time that person spends for you. Of course, we have to exclude stalkers from that rule.”
“Hmm? People who are too busy to spare time might find that a bit unfair.”
“If someone is so busy that they don’t even have time to spend with their partner, why bother dating at all? They should just stick to work. What did the partner do to deserve that?”
“Well, you'd have to hear the other person's side of the story too.”
Lee Soo-min nodded, pouring a splash of vinegar onto the yellow pickled radish dish.
“Fair enough. But what if they have free time but choose not to spend it with them? That’s undeniable proof.”
“True.”
“So, if he has the time but skips playing with Kkami just to play video games?”
“Then he's completely guilty.”
Lee Soo-min nodded.
“Kids often beg their parents for a pet when they're young, but it ultimately falls on the parents to raise them. Kkami's mother has been caring for him continuously, but she went on a week-long trip starting last week. Apparently, the boy didn't play with him even once. So the poor thing refused to eat or drink for days.”
“Ah. That won't do. That could lead to serious trouble.”
Sihyeon found it fascinating how Lee Soo-min managed to grasp Kkami’s entire situation without possessing any Druid abilities. He was highly knowledgeable, but above all, he possessed a profound affection for animals.
“I’ve noticed that the smarter the creatures are, the more they demand from their guardians. And listening to these stories, the guardian is usually the problem. It’s a relief if they even bother to bring them to the clinic at least.”
A delicious aroma wafted through the air as the dishes began to arrive. One of the perks of Chinese food was how quickly it was served. A sharp, spicy scent drifted from the jjambong, which was piled high with a mountain of mussels.
“But what brings you to eat something spicy today? You aren't very good with spicy food.”
“I realized that among delicious foods, a vast majority are overwhelmingly spicy. Since I can’t bring myself to give up on them, I figured I should start building up a tolerance.”
“Is something going on?” Lee Soo-min asked, picking up a crisply fried mushroom. Since they used fresh shiitake mushrooms, the aroma was wonderful.
Crunch.
“Ahhh—.” Lee Soo-min let out an appreciative sound and spoke with his eyes half-closed.
“This is truly spectacular. I wondered why anyone would put mushrooms in tangsuyuk, but now I see.”
Sihyeon picked up a mushroom and a piece of meat to eat them together in a single bite.
“The texture is remarkably similar to meat, isn't it?”
“The aroma is excellent. They complement each other well.”
The conversation flowed smoothly.
“People usually crave spicy food when they're under a lot of stress. That isn't the case for you, is it?”
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
Sihyeon skillfully shelled a mussel, popped it into his mouth, and took a sip of the jjambong broth. The sharp, fiery flavor caused a sudden heat to rise from between his brows.
“I just have a lot on my mind regarding the house.”
“Do you mind if I ask what’s bothering you?”
“The house is completely landlocked, you see. Vehicles can't even drive in.”
Old Man Jeong’s farmland completely enveloped Sihyeon’s property.
“It’s a bit inconvenient, but it has been manageable until now. It’s just exhausting because I have to walk all the way out whenever I receive a package.”
Lee Soo-min put his chopsticks down, his expression turning solemn.
“A bit inconvenient?”
“?”
“I only went because I wanted to visit, so I kept my mouth shut, but do you have any idea how deeply inconvenient it is every time I visit that house? I have to leave my car by the roadside and trek all the way in on foot. And why on earth is that path between the rice paddies so incredibly slippery? It’s genuinely treacherous if it rains. If it snows and freezes over in winter, it’s completely hopeless. If you slip and fall into the paddy, you’re looking at a concussion or a cervical spine fracture at the very least. How could anyone comfortably come over to visit?”
“I don't particularly mind the lack of guests, though?”
“Hey.”
Sihyeon chuckled softly.
“Anyway, packages arrive once or twice a week. My brother sends various things, and I have items I need to purchase myself. So I’ve been debating. Should I build a road?”
“What about the land? That belongs to Grandpa Jeong over there. Is he willing to sell?”
Sihyeon nodded firmly.
“Yes.”
“Wow, really? He fought for over a decade refusing to sell that land, so what brought about this sudden change?”
“He brought it up completely out of the blue this morning, so I initially wondered if something had happened. Like an illness or something. But he says he's perfectly healthy.”
“Well, that’s a relief then. ……Are you going to buy it?”
“Of course. Just thinking about what I can do with it is already getting me excited.”
Lee Soo-min took another sip of the jjambong broth and let out an exclamation of awe.
“Ahhh, that hits the spot. So, why exactly was he acting that way all this time?”
“Well, from what I’ve gathered, his stubbornness was largely due to a feeling of contempt.”
In truth, Old Man Jeong’s refusal to budge stemmed from a deep resentment. Back when the grandmother who previously lived in Sihyeon’s house was still around and active, her siblings and children never once showed their faces or looked after her. Yet, the moment she neared her passing, they all grew incredibly greedy for the house. They relentlessly badgered Old Man Jeong to sell his rice paddy, claiming the property value would skyrocket several times over if it were no longer landlocked.
“Ah. So there was a valid reason behind his actions. The rumors painted a completely different picture.”
“He told me that if they had treated that grandmother well during her life, he would have sold the land long ago.”
“I suppose so. Besides, the grandfather is getting to an age where farming a rice paddy is becoming physically demanding.”
“Yes. The price of rice isn't guaranteed, yet the production costs keep climbing, so he mentioned he had already been stressing over it for a while.”
Lee Soo-min nodded.
“You aren't planning to farm a rice paddy, are you?”
“I’m weighing various options, but I’d love to grow some trees. I also want to construct more green houses.”
“Hmm. I’ve heard that if you cultivate trees well, they can fetch a high price.”
“Pardon?” Sihyeon burst into laughter while chewing on a mushroom. He hadn't intended to grow trees just to sell them as saplings.
“Why are you laughing? Selling saplings—isn't that what you want to do?”
“Haha. Well, who knows. I was actually thinking of an arboretum.”
“What?”
Lee Soo-min’s eyes widened in sheer astonishment.
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