Lucas had expected the media department to be noisy.
But he didn't expect it to be this chaotic.
"Deadline is tonight!"
"We need the revised campaign design!"
"Did anyone approve the social release yet?"
People moved quickly between desks, carrying laptops, tablets, and stacks of documents. Multiple screens displayed marketing drafts and advertising proposals.
Lucas stood near the entrance for a moment, watching the busy office.
"…Wow."
Compared to the quiet, calculating environment of the investment division yesterday, this place felt like a completely different world.
A young manager quickly approached him.
"Young Master Lucas."
Lucas blinked.
"Uh… yes?"
The woman bowed slightly.
"I'm Director Hana Park. I manage the media division."
Lucas nodded politely.
"Nice to meet you."
Director Park gestured toward the office.
"We weren't informed you would be observing today, so things are a bit… busy."
Lucas smiled.
"It's fine. I'm just looking around."
She studied him carefully.
In the past, the villain heir had visited departments only to criticize people or demand unnecessary changes.
But today he seemed calm.
"Please follow me," she said.
Lucas walked beside her as she guided him through the office.
"This department handles the public image of the Carter Group," she explained.
"Advertising campaigns, press releases, media partnerships…"
Lucas looked around at the employees working intensely.
"So you basically control what the world thinks about the company."
Director Park smiled slightly.
"That's one way to describe it."
Lucas nodded.
"Sounds important."
She stopped near a glass meeting room.
Inside, several employees were reviewing a large advertisement campaign on a screen.
Director Park glanced at Lucas.
"You're welcome to observe the meeting if you'd like."
Lucas shrugged.
"Sure."
They entered the room.
The employees inside quickly stood up.
"Good morning, Young Master!"
Lucas waved awkwardly.
"Relax. Continue your work."
Everyone slowly sat down again.
Lucas leaned against the wall while they continued discussing the campaign.
The advertisement showed a luxury watch brand owned by Carter Group.
Marketing strategies appeared on the screen.
Lucas listened quietly.
After a few minutes, he realized something surprising.
"…This is actually interesting."
The discussion wasn't boring at all.
They talked about market psychology, consumer trends, and social influence.
Lucas crossed his arms thoughtfully.
Maybe he had underestimated the media side of the company.
One of the employees spoke nervously.
"We believe this campaign will increase brand engagement by at least thirty percent."
Director Park nodded.
Lucas glanced at the screen.
Then something caught his attention.
He stepped closer.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
Lucas pointed at the advertisement design.
"This tagline feels… weak."
The employees froze.
Director Park raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Lucas scratched his head.
"I mean… I'm not an expert or anything."
He studied the screen again.
"But the product is a luxury watch."
Everyone waited silently.
Lucas continued.
"Luxury brands usually focus on exclusivity and prestige."
He pointed to the current slogan.
"This one feels too casual."
Director Park's eyes widened slightly.
Lucas continued thinking aloud.
"What if you change it to something that emphasizes legacy or power?"
The room became quiet.
Several employees exchanged surprised looks.
Director Park looked back at the screen thoughtfully.
"…That's actually a good point."
Lucas blinked.
"Really?"
She nodded slowly.
"The Carter luxury brand focuses on heritage and status."
Lucas shrugged.
"Then the advertisement should reflect that."
One of the designers quickly typed something on his laptop.
A few seconds later, the screen changed.
The new tagline appeared.
The room went silent again.
Director Park smiled slightly.
"That works much better."
Lucas scratched his head awkwardly.
"I just said the first thing that came to mind."
But inside, he felt relieved.
In his previous life, he had studied marketing and media as part of his college courses.
Apparently, some of that knowledge still applied here.
Director Park turned toward him.
"You have good instincts."
Lucas waved his hand dismissively.
"Just luck."
But the employees in the room were already whispering quietly.
"Did you hear that?"
"The young master just improved the campaign…"
"I thought he hated business…"
Lucas pretended not to hear them.
He leaned back against the wall again.
Great.
Another rumor would probably spread through the building.
Meanwhile, on another floor of the Carter Group building…
Adrian Carter had just finished reviewing financial reports.
The finance director nodded approvingly.
"Excellent analysis."
Adrian closed the document calmly.
"Thank you."
The director smiled.
"You clearly inherited Victor Carter's strategic thinking."
Adrian didn't respond to the compliment.
Instead, he asked something else.
"Where is Lucas?"
The director blinked slightly.
"The young master?"
Adrian nodded.
"I believe he's observing the media division today."
Adrian stood up.
"Thank you."
The director watched him leave the office with curiosity.
Meanwhile, back in the media department—
Lucas had just finished observing several meetings.
He stretched his arms slightly.
"…This is tiring."
Watching people work all day was surprisingly exhausting.
He walked toward the break area to get some water.
As he poured himself a drink, two employees nearby were whispering.
"Did you hear what happened earlier?"
"Yeah, he fixed the campaign idea."
Lucas pretended to focus on his water.
"But I thought the young master never cared about the company."
"Maybe he changed?"
Lucas sighed quietly.
The rumors were spreading faster than expected.
Just then—
Someone entered the department.
Several employees looked up immediately.
"Mr. Adrian!"
Lucas nearly choked on his water.
He turned around slowly.
Adrian stood near the entrance.
Lucas stared at him.
"…Why are you here?"
Adrian walked toward him calmly.
"My meeting finished."
Lucas frowned.
"So you came to bother me?"
Adrian ignored the comment.
Instead, he glanced around the office.
"Busy department."
Lucas shrugged.
"Media never sleeps."
Adrian studied him carefully again.
Then he asked,
"I heard something interesting."
Lucas immediately felt suspicious.
"…What?"
Adrian crossed his arms.
"You helped improve an advertisement campaign."
Lucas groaned.
"News travels fast."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You said you weren't interested in the company."
Lucas pointed at the office.
"I'm observing."
"But you gave advice."
Lucas shrugged.
"They asked."
Adrian watched him silently.
Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Relax. I'm not secretly taking over the media division."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
But inside, his curiosity was growing stronger.
Lucas Carter was becoming more mysterious by the day.
The arrogant, reckless villain from before…
Would never calmly analyze marketing strategy.
Adrian stepped slightly closer.
"Where did you learn that?"
Lucas hesitated.
"…Common sense?"
Adrian didn't look convinced.
Lucas sighed.
"Okay fine."
Adrian waited.
Lucas pointed at his head.
"Sometimes I think before speaking."
Adrian almost smiled.
"That's new."
Lucas smirked.
"People evolve."
Adrian studied his face again.
For some reason, the more Lucas tried to brush things off…
The more suspicious Adrian became.
Lucas finished his water.
"Anyway, why are you really here?"
Adrian answered honestly.
"I wanted to see what you were doing."
Lucas stared at him.
"You came all the way here just to check on me?"
Adrian nodded.
Lucas looked genuinely confused.
"…Why?"
Adrian didn't hesitate this time.
"Because you're interesting."
The words hung in the air.
Several nearby employees froze slightly.
Lucas blinked.
"…What?"
Adrian repeated calmly.
"You're interesting."
Lucas suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
In the original novel, the protagonist definitely did not call the villain "interesting."
That sounded more like the beginning of a very dangerous plot change.
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well… don't."
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"Why not?"
Lucas sighed.
"Because interesting things usually end badly in novels."
Adrian looked at him strangely.
"…What?"
Lucas quickly waved his hand.
"Nothing."
But Adrian's curiosity had only grown stronger.
And somewhere deep in his mind, a new thought began forming.
Maybe Lucas Carter…
Wasn't the villain of this story anymore.
Maybe he was something else entirely.
And Adrian Carter wanted to find out exactly what.