Tycoon Actor C510

Lucas stared at the proposal, a distant memory surfacing. An animation musical from his previous life—the details were hazy, like trying to recall something from the edge of consciousness, from a period when everything had been fading.

He activated his Mind Workshop, letting the memory reconstruct itself piece by piece. There—the full picture emerged. A trending animated film with infectious musical numbers and a surprisingly compelling story.

A faint smile crossed his face.

Jennifer caught it immediately. "What are you thinking? Does it interest you?" She glanced at the proposal again. "Honestly, I like the concept. Girls saving the world with music—it's got that empowerment vibe that actually works."

Mr. Kang's eyebrows rose. "Really? I thought it was just a rough idea from my niece. She's family, so I accepted the pitch, but..."

"Your niece?" Lucas looked up sharply.

"Yes." Mr. Kang nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. "She worked on a major animation project before, but only as a story artist, not a writer. This is her first screenplay attempt, so the execution isn't quite there yet..."

"Actually, it's not bad at all," Lucas said. "It's interesting."

"You really think so?" Mr. Kang blinked in surprise.

"You seem shocked."

"Well, I just—" Mr. Kang hesitated. "I thought it might not be marketable outside Korea. There are folklore elements that foreigners might not understand or connect with."

"I don't think that's true," Jennifer cut in, her tone matter-of-fact. "The explanation is clear enough, and kids will love it. Especially girls. Maybe it's because I'm a woman, but 'girls defeating evil with music'? That's exactly the kind of thing we dreamed about as kids."

"Exactly," Lucas agreed. "Plus, the boy band element adds a nice balance to the story."

Mr. Kang nodded politely, but his body language told a different story. The slight tension in his shoulders, the way he avoided direct eye contact—classic signs of doubt he was too polite to voice.

'He's not taking it seriously because the leads are girls,' Lucas realized. 'Typical conservative thinking, especially here in Asia.'

He leaned back against the sofa, meeting Mr. Kang's eyes directly. "I’d like to meet your niece. Her story isn’t just good—it has the kind of potential that could be a breakout hit."

Mr. Kang's eyes widened. "Aigoo..." he muttered under his breath, then quickly composed himself. 'Lucas Knight actually thinks it could be big?!'

"She just returned from Canada, so she's taking some time for herself right now," he said aloud. "But don't worry, Mr. Knight! I'll contact her immediately—"

"I can wait—"

"In fact, I'll call her right now!" Mr. Kang was already on his feet, practically bolting for the door.

Silence settled over the office as the door closed behind him.

Jennifer let out a soft laugh. "Well, he was in a hurry."

Lucas chuckled too. "He practically ran out of here."

"Think he finally believes the project is worth something?"

"Either that," Lucas said, picking up the proposal again, "or he's terrified of disappointing us after we showed interest."

Jennifer shook her head, amused. "Korean business culture is something else."

---

Kang Min-ji sat at her desk, pen moving across paper as she refined her story outline. The concept had been haunting her for weeks—she couldn't stop thinking about it, couldn't let it go. But improving the rough draft she'd submitted to her uncle was proving harder than expected.

She set down her pen with a frustrated sigh. "I need a proper team for this. One person can't develop a whole animated movie alone."

Having worked in the entertainment industry, she knew the reality—good stories required collaboration. Writers, story artists, producers, all filling crucial roles.

"But for that, I need studio backing..." Min-ji leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Her mind drifted. 'I already pitched it to Samchon, but I could tell he wasn't convinced. Should I try other studios instead? But if I go to Hollywood, they'll probably misrepresent the culture, add stereotypes...'

She'd chosen Netflix Korea deliberately. The platform gave Korean creators full control over their content—just look at how they handled other Korean originals. And with Squid Game's massive success, they clearly understood how to market Korean stories globally.

Though she had to admit, part of her wished for a theatrical release instead of streaming. There was something special about seeing your work on the big screen.

Her phone suddenly rang, jolting her from her thoughts. The screen showed her uncle's name.

"Samchon!" She answered quickly. "Did you reconsider my project?"

"Min-ji-ya, listen carefully." Her uncle's voice was rushed, excited. "A major shareholder just reviewed your proposal, and he wants to meet you!"

Min-ji froze. "...What?"

"Come to my office right now. He's waiting!"

"A major shareholder?" Min-ji's heart began racing. "Samchon, are you serious? This is—this is huge!"

"I'm completely serious. Get here as fast as you can!"

"I'm on my way!"

She didn't even end the call properly before jumping into action. Shower first—she couldn't meet a major investor looking like she'd been hunched over her desk all day. After the quickest shower of her life, she rushed through her routine, threw on professional clothes and a coat, and practically ran to her car.

'A major shareholder wants to see me,' she thought as she started the engine, hands trembling slightly. 'This could actually happen. My story could actually get made.'

She pulled out of the driveway, already rehearsing what she'd say when she arrived.

---

The drive took only twenty minutes—Min-ji's house was close to the Netflix Korea building. She rushed through the lobby and approached the receptionist, quickly showing her ID.

"I'm Kang Min-ji. My uncle, Kang Joon-suk, works here."

"Ah, the boss's niece!" The receptionist had clearly been expecting her. "Follow me, please."

She was led to a private conference room. Min-ji paused outside, adjusting her hair and smoothing her coat, making sure she looked presentable despite rushing her makeup. She took a breath and knocked.

"Samchon?"

"Come in."

Min-ji entered, her steps quick and purposeful. Her uncle sat on one of the sofas, nodding at her and gesturing toward the guests—the major investors he'd mentioned.

She opened her mouth to greet them professionally, then froze mid-step.

'You've got to be kidding me.'

Lucas Knight stood up with an easy smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Kang Min-ji." He extended his hand.

"I—" Min-ji's mind went blank.

'Samchon didn't mention I'd be meeting Hollywood superstars! He just said major shareholder! I thought it would be some businessman!' Her thoughts raced. 'Get it together. Lucas and Jennifer are standing right in front of you!'

Mr. Kang watched his niece's reaction with a slight shake of his head.

Min-ji forced herself to compose, drawing on her years in Canada to recover her professionalism. She shook Lucas's hand firmly. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Knight. I've admired your work for years." Her English was flawless, accent-neutral.

She turned to Jennifer, shaking her hand as well. "You're even more beautiful in person, Mrs. Jennifer."

Jennifer smiled warmly. "You're beautiful yourself, honey."

Mr. Kang could see his niece was handling herself well, but he knew she was still thrown off. "Let's sit down and discuss business."

They all settled onto the sofas. Min-ji sat with her hands folded in her lap, trying to steady her breathing.

Lucas got straight to the point, holding up her script pages. "I'm very interested in this project. If you're willing, I'd like to fund it."

Min-ji gasped softly, covering her mouth. 'He's so direct. I haven't even caught my breath from meeting him...'

She composed herself. "I would be incredibly grateful to see my story brought to life."

Jennifer leaned forward slightly. "It caught my husband's attention. And trust me, whatever catches his eye gets made."

Mr. Kang nodded enthusiastically. "Min-ji-ya, I've told you before—so many Korean projects got fast-tracked because of Mr. Knight's support. He really believes in our industry."

Min-ji felt her face flush, but she straightened her shoulders. "I'm grateful for the opportunity, but I need to request full creative control over the project."

She wouldn't back down on this, not even for Lucas Knight. If someone who didn't understand Korean culture took over, they could ruin everything she'd envisioned.

Mr. Kang tensed. 'Aigoo, this girl has to be so demanding right now...' He glanced nervously at Lucas and Jennifer, trying to gauge their reactions.

Lucas didn't seem bothered at all. "I like that spirit. You want to protect your first animation project, make sure it stays true to its themes and core message."

Min-ji held her breath. If he refused, she wouldn't agree to the funding, no matter who he was.

"Even if you hadn't asked, I was planning to give you full control anyway." Lucas smiled. "You're the one who truly understands this story. And besides..."

Min-ji's heart fluttered with relief, but she tensed as he paused.

"I believe in your passion."

"Passion?" Min-ji repeated softly.

Lucas nodded. "From the moment you walked through that door, I could see it in your eyes—the passion you have for this project. The way you rushed here, the focus, the nervous energy. It tells me how much effort you've poured into this idea. So I trust you'll do it justice."

Not just Min-ji, but Jennifer and Mr. Kang looked surprised by his observation. None of them had expected Lucas to read Min-ji so clearly from just a few moments of interaction.

Min-ji felt tears prick her eyes but blinked them back. "Thank you. I won't let you down."

Lucas smiled. "I actually own an animation studio. It's small, but it's been developing some quality projects—nothing commercial yet, though." He paused. "With the right investment, I think your script could be produced there."

Min-ji's expression sharpened. As someone who'd worked in Hollywood animation, she knew that not every studio was equipped for serious production. Pipeline infrastructure, rendering capacity, talent roster—these things mattered.

Lucas seemed to read her skepticism. "The studio is called Granity Studios. I co-own it with Kobe Bryant—the basketball player, if you're familiar. We produced 'Dear Basketball,' which won an Academy Award. Since then, I've invested heavily to expand our capabilities."

"What exactly can your studio handle?" Min-ji asked, her professionalism kicking in. Even her uncle looked surprised by her directness. "Pipeline capacity? 2D or 3D? In-house compositing? What's your rendering farm setup?"

"We have a hybrid pipeline—both 2D and 3D capabilities with TVPaint and Toon Boom for traditional animation, Maya and Blender for 3D work. Our render farm can handle about 500 nodes currently, but I can expand that to 2,000 if needed. We have in-house compositing with Nuke and After Effects, plus a small but talented crew of about forty artists—though we can scale up by partnering with Netflix's animation resources."

Min-ji nodded slowly, mentally calculating. That was actually impressive for an independent studio.

"Plus," Lucas added, "with Netflix backing, you'll have access to their talent pool. And I have connections here in Korea for the music composition."

Min-ji's eyes lit up. 'He has connections with YG Entertainment! The music problem is solved!'

That had been one of her biggest concerns. She'd written basic melodies for the songs, but composing professional musical numbers was beyond her expertise. Bad music could sink the entire project.

After discussing technical specifications, contracts, and timelines, Min-ji agreed to have Granity Studios produce the animation. The formal contracts would take weeks to finalize, but the framework was set.

"You have nothing to worry about, Ms. Min-ji," Lucas assured her. "Neither Netflix nor I will take advantage of you. You'll be fairly compensated—just like the Squid Game creator."

"I heard about that from Samchon. How you gave him profit-sharing." She smiled. "Also, you can call me Maggie. That's what people called me in Canada."

"Alright, Maggie."

She hesitated, then asked, "Is there any possibility of a theatrical release before streaming on Netflix?"

Lucas paused. 'She wants a theater run first?' In his previous life, the film had gone straight to streaming, where Netflix's multi-language dubbing helped it explode globally.

"We'll see about that," he said. "With the right marketing strategy, it's definitely possible."

Maggie's face brightened even more.

"Anyway, let's conclude here. Mr. Kang will handle the detailed discussions with you, and I'll inform Granity Studios about the project." Lucas stood, smoothing his pants.

"Thank you for everything." Maggie bowed respectfully.

Jennifer returned the bow politely. After final pleasantries, Lucas and Jennifer left with their security detail.

---

Alone in the room, Mr. Kang and Maggie exchanged glances.

"You're incredibly lucky your idea caught Mr. Lucas's attention," her uncle said.

Maggie smiled sheepishly. "It's thanks to you, Samchon, for pitching it to him!"

"Pitch it to him?" Mr. Kang coughed awkwardly. "I accidentally mixed your proposal into the project stack. If I'd realized, I would've removed it to save myself the embarrassment."

Maggie froze. "What?"

Mr. Kang looked away, embarrassed. "Well, it worked out, didn't it? That's why I said you're lucky."

"Samchon!" Maggie's voice rose in disbelief.

"Yah, yah, don't yell at me!" He waved his hands defensively. "I'm the reason you got this meeting at all, even if it was by accident!"

Maggie covered her face with her hands, torn between laughter and exasperation. "I can't believe this. My entire future almost didn't happen because you tried to hide my work."

"Hey, I didn't 'try to hide it,'" Mr. Kang protested. "I just thought... you know, Lucas and Jennifer reviewing your rough draft? I thought it would make me look unprofessional for including family projects."

"And instead, they actually greenlit it," Maggie said, still processing everything.

Mr. Kang sighed, then smiled. "See? Sometimes fate works in mysterious ways. Now stop complaining and start thinking about your production timeline. You've got a lot of work ahead."

Maggie straightened up, her professionalism returning. "You're right. I need to assemble a team, refine the script, start storyboarding—" She paused. "Wait, how soon does he want to start production?"

"Knowing Lucas Knight's pace? Probably as soon as humanly possible." Mr. Kang stood up. "Come on, let's go to my office and start making calls."

Maggie nodded and followed him out of the room.

As they walked down the hallway, Mr. Kang glanced at his niece. Despite his earlier doubts, watching her discuss technical details with Lucas Knight had shown him something—she really did know what she was doing.

"Maggie-ya," he said quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't believe in your project from the start."

She looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice.

"But I believe in it now," he continued. "So make it something incredible, okay? Make us all proud."

Maggie felt tears prick her eyes but blinked them away. "I will, Samchon. I promise."

---

Outside the Netflix building, Lucas and Jennifer settled into their car as Jack started the engine.

"That was unexpected," Jennifer said. "Finding an animation project we didn't know we were looking for."

Lucas smiled, looking out at Seoul's skyline. "The best discoveries usually are."

"You really think it'll work? An animated musical about girls fighting evil with music?"

"In my experience, stories about people finding their power tend to resonate," Lucas said thoughtfully. "Especially when they're well-made. And Min-ji has the passion to make it well."

Jennifer squeezed his hand. "Your instincts are usually right. What's next on the agenda?"

"Squid Game Season Two production meeting tomorrow." He leaned back. "But tonight? How about we actually enjoy being in Seoul for once? No business, just us."

Jennifer smiled. "Now that sounds good. Where should we go?"

"That Korean BBQ place in Gangnam—the one with the private rooms. Then maybe the night market in Myeongdong?" Lucas glanced at the front seats. "What do you guys think? Jack, Simon, you've been cooped up at hotels every time we're here. You two up for some good food tonight? Our treat."

Jack glanced in the rearview mirror with a slight smile. "We're on duty, boss."

"Yeah, yeah, but you still gotta eat, right?" Lucas said. "Shawn, you too. Best Korean BBQ in Seoul, I'm telling you."

Shawn, their driver, looked back briefly with a grin. "I know that place. Very good galbi."

"See? Shawn knows what's up," Lucas said. "After that, we'll hit the night market. With the masks and the crowds, we should be fine."

"Just stay close if things get crowded," Simon added, turning from the passenger seat.

As the car merged into Seoul's evening traffic, the atmosphere felt more relaxed.

Tomorrow would bring production meetings and business decisions. But tonight was theirs—and their team's too.