Episode 3 of *Confidence Queen* kicks off with Yun Yi-Rang and her team making a grand entrance at a high-profile fundraiser. James takes center stage as the evening's singer, and his mesmerizing voice effortlessly charms the crowd. He also plays a pivotal role in maneuvering Yi-Rang closer to her next mark, a man known as Mr. Famous.
Yi-Rang cleverly coaxes Mr. Famous away from the dazzling lights and bustling crowd, luring him into his office for some "private time." It's here that we discover her latest alias: Olivia. She poses as the Head of Purchasing and a budding art collector, employed by a company named Wonderby. As the leading trendsetters in the art world, Wonderby carries significant clout.
As Yi-Rang flirts and enchants Mr. Famous, Gu-ho subtly steals a wine glass bearing the man's DNA and lifts his fingerprint. The motive behind this becomes evident when Mr. Famous opens a safe in his office. Yi-Rang has a camera discreetly tucked away in her handbag, and Gu-ho adeptly uses it to capture the password. After Yi-Rang exits the office with Mr. Famous, Gu-ho dons a waiter's uniform, slips inside, and gains access to the safe.
However, the plan hits a snag when Mr. Famous spots Gu-ho's torch flickering inside his office, partly due to his drugged security personnel accidentally setting off the car horn. He summons the security team to his office, while James is instructed to buy them some time. James skillfully redirects the crowd to obstruct the security team's entrance, granting Gu-ho the precious moments he needs to make a calm and composed exit through the hallways.
Mr. Famous, though, casts a suspicious glance at Yi-Rang, suspecting her to be the mastermind behind the intrusion.
We then flash back three months. A girl named Bo-ra flees from a dilapidated building and ends up being struck by a car on the highway. Gu-ho rushes to the hospital to see her, deeply concerned about her ordeal. Sadly, Bo-ra's battered condition and frayed nerves are the aftermath of severe abuse.
This brings us seamlessly to the most buzzed-about figure in art criticism—Mr. Famous. He's a bona fide TV sensation, and he's intertwined with Bo-ra's world. Six months ago, she crossed paths with him when he graced her university campus as a guest instructor. He extended an invitation to Bo-ra, urging her to visit him at his residence, where his intentions became crystal clear: he was far less captivated by her artistic talents than he was eager to grope her. The catch? Mr. Famous is no stranger to scandal, with a trail of women accusing him of similar misconduct.
The gang has zeroed in on their next target, embarking on a mission to gather as much incriminating evidence as possible. Covert cameras are strategically placed around Mr. Famous's office, revealing in stark detail just what a scoundrel he truly is. However, Yi-rang remains conspicuously absent from these proceedings, her mind preoccupied with an array of games and books. There's a reason behind her detachment, a secret that will soon unravel.
For now, though, it becomes apparent that Mr. Famous is running quite the operation. Beyond his sexual transgressions, he dabbles in art forgery, commissioning counterfeit paintings to accompany the genuine articles. Whenever a client purchases a piece using the company's funds, a forgery is displayed, while the authentic artwork is siphoned off into the chairman's illicit slush fund.
Upon learning this, Yi-rang is spurred into action, deciding to offer herself up as the ultimate lure for Mr. Famous. At an auction, she splurges on a plethora of paintings and introduces herself as Olivia, the Head of Purchasing at Wonderby. This piques his curiosity, and he readily agrees to a dinner date.
During the meal, Yi-rang buys precious time as Gu-ho and James scramble to gather information to throw him off his game, striving to corroborate her story. It seems to do the trick, though Yi-rang is an enigmatic presence, running her tongue over her teeth in a manner that leaves Mr. Famous feeling unsettled.
Nevertheless, Yi-rang turns on the charm, and it eventually proves effective, winning him over. The gang also collaborates with a talented painting restorer named Mr. Kim, who operates out of a quaint establishment called Doksimni Antique Art. Their plan is to craft some art forgeries so convincing that they'll deceive Mr. Famous into believing they're the real McCoy.
Given that Mr. Famous possesses an extensive knowledge of forgeries—owing to his own involvement in a major counterfeit ring—the whole scheme is a perilous gamble. Yet, against all odds, they somehow succeed in deceiving the man, thanks in no small part to the clever maneuvers of Gu-ho and James. As the episode draws to a close, a major crisis unfolds: Mr. Kim finds himself apprehended and exposed by Mr. Famous, who finally pieces together their clandestine operation. However, just as Mr. Famous's gaze sweeps across the scene, his eyes lock onto Yi-rang and her crew.
