The power couple was enjoying their time together, savoring dishes at Michelin-starred restaurants and exploring various spots in the city. Everything seemed to be going smoothly—until a few observant locals began noticing that something about their appearance felt off.
"Geu-nyang anja-nayo? (Hey, you look familiar...)," one man said, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Lucas.
Lucas froze momentarily, his mind racing as he noticed the growing curiosity among the man's friends, who were also glancing at him suspiciously.
Lucas scratched the back of his head, responding in Korean, "Ah, nae eolguli yakgan ilban-jeog-in geot gat-ayo. (Uh… well, my face is quite common.)"
Jennifer, standing by his side, couldn't understand the conversation, but Lucas's subtle change in demeanor and wary expression told her something was off.
Before she could ask, Lucas offered a polite excuse to the group, then gently took Jennifer's hand, leading her away from the men.
Once they were far enough, Jennifer finally spoke. "Is something wrong?"
Lucas nodded, his tone low. "It seems our makeup disguise is starting to wear off. Small details are giving us away."
Jennifer chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Honestly, I'm impressed it held up this long. Hours of blending in without anyone noticing is already a win."
---
Meanwhile, the group of men stood watching the couple disappear into the crowd. One of them suddenly snapped his fingers in realization. "Ah! I remember now," he exclaimed, slapping his open palm. "That guy—he looks just like that famous actor, Lucas Knight!"
The others exchanged glances, their eyebrows raising in recognition.
"You're right! Now that you mention it, he really does resemble Lucas Knight," another said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"And the woman with him," a third added, eyes widening further, "she looks an awful lot like Jennifer Lawrence…"
Their gazes shifted back to the retreating couple, piecing together the clues. One man squinted, his voice dropping as realization dawned on him. "Don't tell me… That's the Hollywood power couple? Lucas and Jennifer?"
The group looked at one another in shock before laughing softly.
"No way," one of them said, dismissing the thought. "That guy spoke Korean fluently. There's no way Lucas Knight knows how to speak our language."
Hearing this, they relaxed and laughed again, shaking their heads. "Yeah, you're right. Must've been a coincidence," one concluded, though they couldn't help but glance back at the disappearing figures, lingering curiosity in their minds.
***
The next day, Lucas and Jennifer arrived at the Netflix Korea Service office, greeted by a wave of excitement from the employees. Some of them, unable to contain their enthusiasm, gathered the courage to approach the couple for photos and autographs.
"Mr. Knight, Ms. Lawrence, can I—"
Before the requests could snowball, Mr. Kang, the stern yet dedicated head of Netflix Korea, stepped in, waving his hands to restore order.
"No, no! Mr. Knight and Ms. Lawrence are esteemed guests," he declared firmly. "It's highly unprofessional to act like excited children during work hours!"
The employees froze, their faces flushing with embarrassment as Mr. Kang's reprimand echoed through the room. They lowered their heads, fully aware they had overstepped.
"Apologize for your behavior immediately," Mr. Kang demanded.
One by one, the employees offered their apologies. "We're sorry, Mr. Knight. We're sorry, Ms. Lawrence."
Lucas and Jennifer, smiling warmly, waved off the incident. "It's really fine," Lucas assured them. "No harm done." Jennifer nodded in agreement, her smile softening the tension in the room.
But Mr. Kang was unyielding. "I insist on proper decorum. Mr. Knight is not just a guest—he's a significant shareholder and creative advisor to Netflix. Treat him with the respect he deserves."
Though many employees already knew of Lucas's involvement with Netflix, hearing Mr. Kang emphasize his position made their nerves spike.
After the commotion settled, the group moved to the meeting room. Lucas and Jennifer sat side by side, ready to review the projects the team had curated.
The presentations began, with employees introducing one project after another. Jennifer, unfamiliar with the intricacies of the Korean entertainment industry, found herself intrigued by the unique themes and storytelling styles.
Lucas, however, was waiting for something specific—the one project he hoped to see, the one he believed could take the world by storm: Squid Game.
The concept of a survival game with psychological depth and brutal consequences had been circulating among other genres, but Lucas recognized that Squid Game had the potential to rise above the rest. Its simplicity, realism, and underlying social commentary made it uniquely compelling.
However, to Lucas's dismay, Squid Game hadn't been included in the portfolio Mr. Kang had sent him beforehand. This omission puzzled him. To ensure no promising projects were overlooked, Lucas had given Mr. Kang specific instructions to re-evaluate submissions, allowing hopeful filmmakers to pitch their work once more.
Lucas waited patiently to see if Hwang Dong-hyuk had submitted his project to the company. His patience was rewarded when Min-jun presented it to the room.
Min-jun explained the premise, detailing the story of a desperate survival game where contestants fought to the death for a chance to win billions of won. He glanced nervously at Lucas, searching for any indication of approval. His unease only grew when Jennifer chimed in.
"This script sounds a bit like The Hunger Games," Jennifer said thoughtfully. "But I don't think it will achieve the same level of success."
Mr. Kang nodded in agreement, clearly preparing to dismiss the project. "Yes, I guess this isn't what Mr. Knight has been looking for. Let's move on to the next—"
"Wait." Lucas raised a hand, his voice firm, cutting through the room. Everyone froze, surprised by his sudden interjection. "I think the premise of this story is interesting. It deserves a chance."
Jennifer raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly toward him. "But didn't you already fund a similar project in Japan—Alice in Borderland? And honestly, that story felt more compelling."
Lucas nodded, acknowledging her point. "You're right, Alice in Borderland is more intricate in terms of storytelling. But this story has a different edge—it's more grounded and relatable. It's about desperate people fighting to survive, not for glory or prestige, but for money. Something so raw and realistic will resonate with a lot of people."
He continued, his tone growing colder. "Scheming, planning, and killing for money... it's not just fiction. It mirrors the harsh realities of many people's lives. That relatability could make this series stand out and connect with a broader audience."
Jennifer considered his words, nodding slowly. She, too, understood the sacrifices people made for financial security. Though her career brought fame and wealth, she had endured sleepless nights, strict diets, and mental strain to succeed.
Money, for many, was indeed the ultimate motivator.
Mr. Kang and Min-jun watched the exchange closely. Finally, Mr. Kang spoke. "It seems the project is approved, then."
Lucas nodded, and Min-jun couldn't help but feel a wave of relief—and pride. As the one who had presented the project, he would now be directly involved in its production.
"I'll have someone contact the creator to prepare," Mr. Kang said.
"Good," Lucas replied thoughtfully.
The meeting continued, with Min-jun presenting more projects before stepping aside for other employees. Lucas remained engaged, though inwardly, he felt a sense of satisfaction at having approved Squid Game.
This time, he wouldn't let Netflix mistreat the filmmaker. As the series' main producer, Lucas decided to allocate a percentage of the earnings to Hwang Dong-hyuk, ensuring his contributions were properly rewarded.
Later in the meeting, Jae-sung introduced a project titled Twinkling Watermelon. Lucas's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
This series wasn't supposed to exist for a few more years in his original timeline. He quickly composed himself, recalling that the timeline of this world often deviated from his past life.
Lucas activated his cheat, {Mind Workshop}, diving into his memories of the series. The skill, now highly leveled, allowed him to vividly recall his previous life's details. Though the process strained his perception of reality, it was enough to confirm his thoughts.
In his past life, Netflix had rejected Twinkling Watermelon, only for it to later become a massive success elsewhere. Lucas wouldn't let history repeat itself. Without hesitation, he approved the project.
Hours passed, and five projects were greenlit for production. The creators would be contacted immediately to prepare for the next steps.
The next day, news of Lucas's decisions reached Netflix's headquarters. The executives weren't entirely pleased, particularly with some of the K-drama selections. The CEO even called Lucas directly, voicing concerns about the projects.
"These dramas don't align with what we typically expect."
Lucas remained calm. "Trust my vision."
Though skeptical, the executives had little choice but to comply. As the producer of the five projects, Lucas was personally investing tens of millions of dollars into their development. The responsibility—and the risk—was entirely his.
The projects Lucas approved were not only financially risky but also time-intensive. It could take months, or even years, before they entered production, making the investment both a monetary and a temporal gamble.
---
After his venture with Netflix, Lucas hadn't forgotten about his investments in K-pop.
Back in 2015, Lucas had taken a relatively low-profile approach to his investments. Among them was a significant stake in Big Hit Entertainment, a company that was struggling at the time and largely unknown in the global music industry.
Now, in 2017, the boy group BTS, under Big Hit Entertainment, was beginning to gain traction, though not nearly at the level Lucas remembered from his previous life. The timeline of this world differed significantly due to his influence as a global superstar, which created a unique butterfly effect on the industry.
Groups like EXO and BigBang still dominated the scene, maintaining their positions as the biggest names in K-pop.
Lucas's visit to South Korea wasn't just about Netflix or personal leisure—it was also about strengthening his connection to Big Hit Entertainment. His goal was to assist Bang Si-hyuk, the company's CEO, by leveraging his Hollywood connections and helping BTS with their sound. He even considered arranging future collaborations with global artists.
However, Big Hit wasn't the only reason for his trip. Lucas also had business ties with YG Entertainment. Through his LK Group, he owned a 4% stake in the company.
News of Lucas's visit to South Korea quickly reached Yang Hyun-suk, the CEO of YG Entertainment. Eager to capitalize on the opportunity, Hyun-suk extended several invitations to host Lucas during his stay, offering him an exclusive tour of the company and its roster of talent. Lucas, intrigued by YG's reputation and lineup of artists, agreed to the meeting.
However, Lucas's low-profile business ventures in South Korea took an unexpected turn when leaked information began circulating online. Headlines surfaced, declaring:
"Lucas Knight's True Purpose in South Korea: Producing for Netflix Projects"
"Hollywood Superstar Lucas Knight Expands His Reach to Korean Entertainment"
The news came as a shock to both Koreans and international audiences, who hadn't expected Lucas to have such a multifaceted career beyond acting and music. The revelations didn't stop there.
Reports emerged detailing Lucas's ownership of a few percent stake in YG Entertainment, further fueling public intrigue.
While it was known that Lucas had made investments in various industries, news of LK Group's stake in YG Entertainment left many surprised. Fans and industry insiders were intrigued to learn about the Hollywood superstar's involvement with one of South Korea's most prominent entertainment companies.