Lucas and Jennifer were not very familiar with South Korea's talk shows, making it difficult for them to decide which invitation to accept.
They had come to the country primarily for a business trip and some relaxation, so they were in no rush to appear on any talk show. It wasn't a promotional tour; they were simply here to enjoy their time together.
However, the couple faced a major challenge: they couldn't wander around freely without drawing attention.
Their faces were too recognizable, and it wouldn't take long for people to notice them. Hiring additional security might help, but it wouldn't solve the issue of losing their privacy.
The problem, however, was resolved effortlessly, thanks to one of Lucas's many skills—makeup artistry. This talent, which he had picked up while playing Peeta in The Hunger Games, proved invaluable.
In their hotel room, Lucas put the finishing touches on Jennifer's face. After an hour of meticulous work, Jennifer looked entirely different.
She was still stunning, but she no longer resembled the instantly recognizable J-Law. Examining her reflection in the mirror, she turned her face from side to side, clearly impressed.
"Oh wow," she exclaimed, studying her face. "I feel like I'm not me anymore."
Lucas chuckled, leaning against the counter. "Feeling like a whole new person now?"
Jennifer nodded, her lips curling into a smile. "With just a simple straw hat, no one would recognize me." She turned to Lucas, who had already disguised himself earlier with his own makeup. "You know," she teased, "I might just hire you as my makeup artist for our wedding."
Lucas laughed, shaking his head. "Oh no, you're not pinning that kind of pressure on me. I'm trying to marry you, not juggle lipsticks on the big day!"
Jennifer laughed and swatted Lucas's arm playfully. Together, they continued with their "little disguise experiment," tweaking details and making sure their new looks were convincing.
Lucas, ever the documentarian, had been recording the entire process. He planned to capture not only their makeup session but also their adventures in South Korea. Whether the videos would remain personal keepsakes or eventually be shared on YouTube—or even at their wedding—was something he hadn't decided yet.
While Lucas enjoyed the idea of sharing these moments with their fans, Jennifer wasn't as keen.
She preferred to stay off social media as much as possible, valuing her privacy and cherishing genuine connections with the people she cared about.
That was one of the things Lucas adored about her. She wasn't caught up in the endless cycle of online validation, and she remained grounded despite her fame.
Once they were satisfied with their disguises, the couple prepared to leave their hotel room. But as they reached the door, they found Jack, Simon, and Shawn—Lucas's trusted security team—waiting nearby.
The three men looked slightly surprised, seeing Lucas and Jennifer in their unrecognizable appearances. Still, they weren't entirely shocked.
They knew Lucas had a knack for these "disguise experiments" and had likely extended the effort to Jennifer this time.
"Boss Lucas, it's not the best time to leave your room," Simon said, his expression serious. "There's a growing number of media reporters and a large crowd gathering just outside the hotel."
"Yes," Jack added, his tone more concerned. "It's causing a real inconvenience to the hotel staff and the surrounding area."
Lucas and Jennifer exchanged uneasy glances, guilt flickering in their eyes.
Who would have thought their mere presence could disrupt things so much?
Jennifer spoke hesitantly, "What's the hotel's response? We could always move to another hotel secretly to avoid troubling them any further—"
Shawn interrupted gently, "The hotel management is fine with everything. They've even arranged additional security to assist us however we need. They assured us that they'd treat you just like any other guests."
The couple blinked in surprise. It was humbling to realize that their fame and influence had reached a level where such accommodations were offered without hesitation.
"By the way," Jack said, eyeing their disguises, "I see you're planning to leave wearing those. While I think it's convincing, I'm still worried that someone might recognize you."
Simon and Shawn nodded in agreement, their concern evident.
Lucas smiled, appreciating their diligence. "I understand your worries. Jennifer and I just want to have a little fun privately, but if it puts you at ease, feel free to watch us from a reasonable distance."
The three exchanged hesitant glances, their unease evident.
"Come on, guys. Have some confidence in my makeup artistry," Lucas joked, patting their shoulders lightly.
Jennifer chuckled at Lucas's self-praise. His efforts to convince the security team were almost as entertaining as his disguises.
Jack sighed and finally relented. "Alright," he said, glancing at Simon and Shawn. "Simon, head outside and check if it's safe for Lucas and Jennifer to leave. I noticed some guests poking their heads out, looking in this direction. Let the management know and have them handle it."
Simon nodded and left without a word, his movements precise and purposeful.
Jack then turned to Shawn. "And you—part-time security but full-time driver—get the car ready for the two."
Shawn frowned at Jack's bluntness but knew it was just his way of joking. He gave Jack a playful shove, but Jack retaliated by lightly slapping Shawn's backside before swiftly closing the door behind him.
"Go on, driver. Prep the car!" Jack called through the door, his tone teasing.
Outside, Shawn shook his head with a grin. "Damn you, Jack," he muttered, scanning the hallway. He noticed a few people loitering suspiciously, pretending to be busy with their phones. Adjusting his cap, Shawn made his way down the hall, staying alert.
Back inside, Jack turned to Lucas. "Now, we just wait for Simon's signal."
"Thanks a bunch," Lucas said sincerely.
The security team had grown accustomed to such procedures, having dealt with similar situations frequently since Lucas's rise to fame.
Before long, Simon signaled the all-clear, and Lucas and Jennifer left the room undetected, meeting Shawn in the car downstairs.
As the car exited the hotel parking lot, it passed by the front entrance, where a large crowd had gathered. News trucks lined the street, and reporters milled about with cameras at the ready.
The crowd held up signs in both Korean and English:
"Lucas & Jennifer Forever!"
"Lucas, marry me instead!"
"Want autograph. Want pictures. Please L&J."
"Despacito."
Some carried large, professionally printed photos of Lucas looking dashing in La La Land or of the couple together, their chemistry unmistakable.
Jennifer watched the scene unfold, shaking her head. "Things never change," she muttered loud enough for Lucas and Shawn to hear. "Whether we're in the States or another country."
Both men chuckled at her comment.
Just as they thought they had successfully escaped, a small group of fans suddenly blocked the car's path, knocking on the windows and trying to peer inside.
Shawn slowed the car, unable to drive through the crowd. He gestured for them to move, but then realized the tinted windows made it hard for anyone to see his signals.
The fans pressed their hands against the glass, squinting as they tried to catch a glimpse of the passengers.
To everyone's surprise, Lucas rolled the window down slightly, letting the cacophony of the crowd trickle into the car.
"What are you doing?" Jennifer whispered urgently, her voice laced with concern.
Lucas didn't reply. Instead, he adjusted his disguise—his glasses and straw hat—and leaned out slightly to address the crowd. "munjega issnayo?" (Is there a problem?) he asked in Korean, his pronunciation surprisingly fluent.
Jennifer and Shawn stared at him, stunned. Did Lucas just speak Korean?
The fans, taken aback but delighted, waved their hands dismissively and replied, "Aniyo, gwaenchanh-ayo!" (No, it's okay!)
Lucas gave them a polite nod, smiled warmly, and rolled the window back up. Jennifer was still gaping at him as the car began to move again.
"Since when do you speak Korean?" she asked, incredulous.
Lucas smirked, glancing at her. "I may have picked up a thing or two while preparing for a project. You'd be surprised what I can learn when I'm bored."
Even Shawn was quite taken aback. While he and Jennifer both knew that Lucas had some knowledge of basic Korean, the way Lucas spoke just now made it seem as though he was a native speaker.
Glancing at Lucas through the rearview mirror, Shawn took note of his boss's impressive disguise. With the black-haired wig styled meticulously and his makeup work flawless, Lucas could easily pass as a strikingly handsome Asian man. Despite the disguise, Lucas's inherent charm still radiated.
Shawn then shifted his gaze to Jennifer, who was equally unrecognizable. Her makeup and outfit transformed her into a vision of Asian elegance, exuding a beauty that blended seamlessly with her surroundings.
To Shawn, certain signs gave away their true identities—things only someone close to them would notice after spending considerable time together. If Shawn hadn't known about Lucas's talent for disguises, even he might have been fooled.
---
Thanks to their meticulous disguises, Lucas and Jennifer managed to explore the vibrant streets of Seoul while recording their escapades on camera. They strolled through bustling markets, sampled various street foods, and marveled at the sights—all without a single person recognizing them.
The security team, trailing discreetly at a distance, observed with a mix of relief and admiration. Jack's voice crackled through their earpieces, carrying a tone of disbelief and pride. "Looks like Boss Lucas's Asian disguise is flawless."
Indeed, the disguise was so convincing that while heads turned toward the couple, it was only because they looked like an exceptionally attractive Korean pair enjoying a day out. Lucas's taller stature, though noticeable, didn't raise suspicion—it was uncommon, but not unheard of in South Korea.
For the first time since their arrival, despite the nationwide buzz surrounding their visit, the couple could enjoy some privacy. They tried exotic local dishes, explored cultural landmarks, and even watched a local film at a cozy cinema.
Throughout their journey, Lucas interacted fluently with the locals, asking for directions, placing orders, and even joking with street vendors in perfect Korean. Jennifer, meanwhile, stayed by his side, a mixture of amusement and pride lighting up her features.
She couldn't help but admire Lucas's adaptability and dedication. Watching him navigate conversations in another language so effortlessly made her heart swell. While she mostly observed, Jennifer enjoyed seeing this side of her fiancé, already imagining the countless stories they'd share together in the future.
***
Meanwhile, at the Netflix Korea Service office, the team was abuzz with activity. Employees sifted through stacks of project proposals, eager to find the perfect pitch to present to Lucas Knight, who was visiting Seoul.
One of the employees, Min-jun, picked up a script from a writer named Hwang Dong-hyuk. He flipped through the pages with a skeptical frown, muttering under his breath. Finally, he put the script down and turned to his coworker.
"Hey, should we even bother showing this to Mr. Knight? It's terrible," Min-jun said, shaking his head in disapproval.
"Why? What's wrong with it?" his coworker asked.
"It's just like one of those over-the-top, violent Japanese stories," Min-jun replied dismissively. "It's about some twisted game where people who lose get killed."
His coworker raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like Sword Art Online."
"Exactly," Min-jun said, nodding in agreement. "And I doubt Mr. Knight would go for something like this. We'd be better off just dismissing it."
The coworker let out an exasperated sigh and leaned back in his chair. "You clearly didn't read Mr. Kang's memo, did you?"
"What memo?" Min-jun asked, furrowing his brow.
"The one where Mr. Knight's project criteria were outlined," his coworker explained. "Turns out, he's actually interested in everything you just criticized—high-stakes storytelling, psychological tension, and unique survival concepts. If I were you, I wouldn't toss it aside so quickly."
Min-jun's eyes widened, and he quickly snatched up the script, slipping it into the approved pile as nonchalantly as he could. "I never said I was dismissing it! You must've misheard me," he said defensively.
His coworker shook his head in disbelief but decided to let it slide.
Tomorrow, the team would meet with Lucas Knight to present their curated projects. Whatever project he chose would be swiftly funded and greenlit for production. Min-jun, now regretting his earlier judgment, silently hoped the Hwang Dong-hyuk script might be the winning pick.