As their time in South Korea came to an end, the news of Lucas and Jennifer's departure spread quickly, leaving many fans disappointed.
Some who had hoped for a final glimpse of the couple flocked to the airport, while reporters gathered, eager for last-minute statements.
A sleek black car pulled up, and the moment Lucas and Jennifer stepped out, the crowd erupted. Security immediately surrounded them, guiding them through the packed terminal.
"Lucas! Jennifer!" Fans and reporters shouted their names, reaching out, some trying to grab their hands or touch their clothes.
Despite the chaos, the couple remained composed, offering brief smiles and answering a few questions as they moved through the crowd. It took a while before they finally boarded their private jet, leaving behind the flashing cameras and the sea of waving fans.
From the window of the jet, Lucas watched as South Korea faded into the distance. The trip had been an experience—one filled with business, unexpected friendships, and key decisions that could shape the entertainment industry in ways he hadn't originally planned.
He had met BigBang, a group he admired from his previous life, and even considered collaborating with them in the future.
However, that depended on whether they managed to avoid the scandals that had once shaken them. While he had successfully convinced YG Entertainment to pull out of Seungri's club business, it was uncertain whether that alone would change the course of events.
Still, there was a strong chance that without the same financial backing, Seungri's trajectory would be different.
Beyond BigBang, Lucas had also met Blackpink, forming a friendly connection with Rosé, Lisa, and the rest of the members. Then there was BTS, a group he not only met but actively supported, setting them up for a future collaboration with Marshmello.
On top of that, he had personally backed some of the biggest upcoming K-drama projects, including Twinkling Watermelon, and had practically secured Squid Game before anyone else had realized its potential.
With all of these investments and connections, it was impossible not to profit from this venture.
South Korea had been more than just a trip—it had been a strategic move, and Lucas knew that the impact of his time here would be felt for years to come.
Lucas looked forward to the day when the seeds he had planted would finally bear fruit. When that time came, he wouldn't just profit—he'd reinvest in the things that mattered. His wealth would allow him to fund medical research, support those in need, and contribute to causes that could change lives.
---
Shortly after Lucas and Jennifer's departure, the highly anticipated episode of Running Man featuring the power couple finally aired. For fans who had been saddened by their exit from South Korea, the episode was a much-needed treat, filling the void left behind.
From the very start, the energy was infectious. The chemistry between Lucas, Jennifer, and the Running Man cast was undeniable. Fans laughed as Jae-suk attempted to tease Lucas, only to be outmatched at his own game. Meanwhile, Kwang-soo's over-the-top fanboying had viewers in stitches.
The highlight of the episode, however, was the now-iconic moment when the cast flinched as Lucas reached into his jacket, only for him to casually pull out a water bottle.
"This is too funny!" Viewers couldn't help but laugh as the episode played out on TV, while social media was already buzzing with reactions, memes, and clips spreading in real-time.
Then came the first challenge—the tug-of-war match between Lucas's team and Jae-suk's team. The audience watched in awe as Lucas executed a flawless strategy that led his team to victory.
In a small apartment across Seoul, Hwang Dong-hyuk sat in front of an aging TV, watching the episode while typing away at his script. As the tug-of-war scene played out, he instinctively adjusted his glasses, his mind racing.
He had been struggling with revisions for his Netflix project, refining the details of the deadly games. Watching Lucas and his team utilize such an effective strategy sparked something in him.
He immediately sprang to his feet, grabbing his laptop and typing furiously. He rewrote the tug-of-war scene in his script, weaving in a refined version of the strategy he had just witnessed.
After finishing, he leaned back in his chair, reading over his work. A satisfied smile crossed his face. "It seems I owe Mr. Knight yet again… first for backing my project, and now for inspiring me," he muttered to himself.
What he didn't know was that the irony ran far deeper than he realized. The strategy Lucas had used was something he had seen in Squid Game in his previous life.
Ultimately, it was Lucas who had been inspired by Dong-hyuk's Squid Game. But in this reality, it was the other way around—Dong-hyuk found himself drawing inspiration from Lucas.
---
After the episode of Running Man aired, South Korean social media exploded with reactions. Platforms like Naver, Daum Cafe, and Theqoo were filled with discussions about the episode, while Twitter trended with hashtags like #LucasKnight and #RunningManHollywoodEdition.
Korean netizens were stunned by Lucas's unexpected Korean fluency, and the memes started rolling in.
"Wait… Lucas spoke Korean?! And he was just letting them struggle to talk to him in English the whole time?! 😂😂😂"
"He even faked struggling with the earphone translator… THIS MAN IS A VILLAIN!"
"Jae-suk: 'We got this!' Lucas: secretly speaks perfect Korean and dominates every game 😂😂😂"
The scene of Lucas pretending to reach for a weapon, only to reveal a water bottle, quickly became a meme.
"Kwang-soo nearly had a heart attack. 😂"
"The way the whole cast instinctively backed away… Oscar-worthy performance from everyone."
The way Lucas dominated every single game, from Ddakji to Jegichagi, made people question if he had any weaknesses at all.
"Lucas Knight is too perfect. He's handsome, rich, speaks Korean, acts, sings, fights, and even plays Jegichagi like a pro?! What CAN'T he do?"
"At this point, I bet his farts smell like luxury cologne."
"Korean men: 'We can't win against this guy.'"
Meanwhile, female fans couldn't stop gushing about him.
"Lucas Knight is literally the perfect husband. He can cook, he can sing, he can act, he can even speak our language… AND HE LOOKS LIKE THAT?!"
"If Jennifer ever lets him go, Korea will gladly take him."
"Forget 'boyfriend material.' Lucas is husband material. No, lifetime partner material!"
The Running Man episode didn't just entertain—it cemented Lucas as an even bigger phenomenon in Korea. While he and Jennifer were already on their way out of the country, the buzz about their guest appearance would linger for weeks.
***
Back in Los Angeles, Lucas and Jennifer finally stepped through the doors of their home. Jennifer inhaled deeply, stretching her arms as she took in the familiar surroundings. "It's good to be back. Nothing beats home."
Lucas rolled his shoulders, already feeling the tension from their travels ease. "Yeah… Feels different to be back."
Just then, his gaze landed on their managers waiting in the distance. Jennifer's face lit up, and she quickly hurried over to greet her manager, diving into conversation. Lucas, on the other hand, made his way toward his own manager, Neil.
Neil grinned the moment he saw him. "Well, well, look who finally decided to return. You've been off playing world traveler for weeks now."
Lucas smirked as Neil casually threw an arm around his shoulder. "Yeah, took a little trip."
"So, how was it?" Neil asked, nudging him. "Did you have fun over there? What was it again? Right, South Korea."
Lucas chuckled. "It was… an experience."
Neil let out a short laugh. "An experience, huh? From what I've seen on the internet, you weren't just visiting. You practically took over the place."
Lucas shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I didn't expect that myself."
"Seriously, I thought you were already famous, but damn, you had the whole country wrapped around your finger," Neil said, shaking his head. "And you even went on one of their variety shows? Running Man, right? I gotta see that episode."
Lucas chuckled. "Yeah, it was fun."
As they walked, Neil continued teasing him about his newfound international stardom, while Lucas simply took it all in stride. He glanced toward Jennifer, seeing her still deep in conversation with her team.
He let her be, focusing instead on catching up with his own business back home.
The next few days passed as usual. Talks about Lucas Knight's recent visit to South Korea were still buzzing online. Clips of his sightings flooded the Vine app, drawing even more users to the platform.
His presence alone boosted Vine's user base, adding to the growing fascination with him. Around this time, speculation about Lucas Knight's wealth peaked at an estimated $28 billion. Even Forbes, which had long been investigating his net worth, was finally considering putting him on the cover of Forbes Magazine.
They reached out to his manager, Neil, for an interview request. But as expected, Neil didn't provide a definite answer. After all, the final decision rested with Lucas. And right now, there were several high-profile projects lined up for him.
Neil himself had no idea which film Lucas would choose, but the offers were undeniably impressive. Disney, Warner Brothers, and other major studios had approached him with commercial blockbusters. Then there were more artistic projects, featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood—like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, where Leonardo DiCaprio had already signed on.
Another intriguing offer was Bohemian Rhapsody, the highly anticipated Freddie Mercury biopic. Lucas had been approached to play Roger Taylor, the drummer of Queen.
Yet, among all these opportunities, there was one film Neil secretly hoped Lucas would take—Elvis. A biopic about Elvis Presley, where Lucas had been offered the leading role.
Neil truly believed that Lucas could bring Elvis to life on screen, embodying the rock legend with his talent and charisma. In fact, he could already see it—if Lucas fully immersed himself in the role, he wouldn't just play Elvis. He would become Elvis.