Episode 7 of *Confidence Queen* opens with yet another flashback to the past, featuring Yi-rang and James amidst a tense standoff. True to form, James outmaneuvers the masked assailant, landing a precise shot to his chest. Swiftly, he ushers Yi-rang out of the cornfield labyrinth just as the police sirens wail in the distance, signaling their arrival.
Upon reviewing the CCTV footage, James's suspicions are confirmed: Team Manager Lee Seong-min was the mastermind behind Yi-rang's abduction, deftly manipulating events from the shadows while feigning loyalty to both the Rine Group and its Chairman.
Yi-rang, shaken and potentially grappling with dissociative symptoms from the traumatic ordeal, is admitted to the hospital for close observation.
Fast-forwarding to March 2020, James continues his tenure in security. Enter Park Gyu-taek, a thrice-elected congressman whose unpopularity is palpable among the locals. As workers attempt to mob him, James stands his ground, a human shield against the onslaught. Yet, despite bearing the brunt of the flour and eggs hurled in protest, he finds himself the subject of reprimand. This injustice proves to be the final straw, and James, seething with anger, quits his job on the spot.
In his moment of despair, Yi-rang emerges as a beacon of hope, extending a lifeline to James. She proposes a partnership, a chance for them to join forces and navigate the treacherous waters together.
Back in the present, Yi-rang strides into a law firm, her demeanor suggesting she's about to embark on a mission of considerable magnitude. She assumes the role of a cunning gold-digger, the widow of a wealthy tycoon who has recently passed away. Teaming up with the shrewd attorney Mr. Bae Young-min, she sets her sights on maximizing her share of the late husband's inheritance.
Yi-rang is incredibly hands-on with him, while James, her red-headed and eccentric step-son, adds a touch of drama wherever he goes. When he strides into the main reception area, it's as if a soap opera has sprung to life. He accuses Yi-rang of cheating, pointing the finger at Mr. Bae as her secret lover. The scene escalates quickly, with a heated scuffle breaking out that ends with James smacking his head against something hard and "dying" in a melodramatic fashion.
Gu-ho, stepping into his role as a detective, springs into action when the police arrive. They hatch a plan to pressure Bae into "settling" matters with Yi-rang over this staged death. With Bae out of the office, it gives Yi-rang the perfect opportunity to snoop through all his documents, which are conveniently laid out on the side. Among them, she discovers a special cosmetic case that Bae is supposedly working on.
After the commotion, Mr. Bae goes into hiding, his reputation tarnished by the spreading rumors of his scandalous escapades. Yet, the drama doesn't end there. The courtroom becomes the next stage for more turmoil when, despite Bae's absence, a woman named Hye-yun is sentenced to jail for allegedly making false claims about a cosmetics company called Mystique, run by the ruthless Gil Beauty.
The defense team insists they have a witness to confirm that Hye-yun is attempting to extort money from the company. They even present a fake witness and a forged text message to bolster their case! Yi-rang, however, sees right through this facade, fueling her determination to seek revenge.
Gil Beauty, a graduate of Goguryeo Women's University, rose to fame through the city beauty pageant circuit. After achieving commercial success, she made a sudden and enigmatic retirement. It was then that she launched her product, Mystique, and propelled the business forward at a breakneck pace. In fact, the company has now skyrocketed to nearly 500 billion won in annual sales.
In the public eye, she appears immaculate and squeaky clean, but behind closed doors, she is ruthless, abhorrent, and rules with an iron grip. The tale that unfolded in the courtroom wasn't entirely devoid of truth, considering that Gil Beauty had indeed invited influencers, including Hye-yun, to trial her products. Nevertheless, she had an alibi and had meticulously covered her tracks.
Hye-yun suffered from persistent skin issues that flared up, prompting her to file a lawsuit against Gil Beauty. Enter the "queen of lawsuits," who seamlessly transitioned from utilizing idroxenon to an eco-friendly skin-whitening agent named sobinyu. Essentially, she meticulously purged all incriminating evidence from the production line, crafting a narrative that made it seem as though Hye-yun had been fabricating her claims all along.
Yi-rang, ever the resourceful one, planted a bug in the CEO's car while shedding crocodile tears outside the courtroom. It didn't take long for the gang to seize the opportunity, puncturing her tyre on the road and forcing her to seek assistance from mechanics. Lo and behold, the mechanic turned out to be Gu-ho in disguise.
Speaking of disguises, Mask Girl, a renowned influencer, made an appearance at a Mystique event. However, in a humorous twist, it was none other than Gu-ho donning the mask. The real Mask Girl, believing the event to be postponed, remained oblivious, leaving Gu-ho's cover seemingly intact—at least for the time being.
Gu-ho managed to infiltrate a yoga session, though her lack of flexibility compared to the other women was quite apparent. She also experimented with an array of cosmetics, only for James and Yi-rang to arrive, masquerading as security personnel to expose Gu-ho as an impostor. Yet, this elaborate ruse was merely a prelude to Gu-ho planting a tracker under the table—a feat she accomplished with remarkable finesse.
The operation then kicked into high gear, with Yi-rang volunteering herself as the latest influencer for Gil Beauty. The strategy was to ensnare her and pique Gil Beauty's curiosity, making it appear as though Yi-rang's stunning beauty was the result of a special product—a beautifying toner. She "accidentally" dropped it on the floor before rushing out, leaving Gil Beauty to eagerly pick it up.
The product seemed genuine, especially under scrutiny, and Gil Beauty, ever the opportunist, decided to seize the moment. She showed up at Angel Village, the purported source of this miraculous product, and immediately encountered James in disguise, who was now posing as a formidable killer.
