Episode 3 of "My Troublesome Star" kicks off with Cheong-ja, her nerves jangling, dialing Dokgo Cheol's number as she winds her way down a dimly lit alleyway. A shadowy figure trails behind her, but to her relief, it transpires to be the officer himself. Meanwhile, her unidentified stalker melts into the darkness, vanishing without a trace. Though visibly shaken, Cheong-ja finds solace in Dokgo Cheol's assurance to unravel this mystery for her.
Come morning, Dokgo Cheol's investigation hits a dead end; the area, devoid of CCTV cameras and reeking of neglect, offers little assistance. Fortunately, a stroke of serendipity presents itself in the form of dashcam footage, capturing a glimpse of the stalker and hinting at a potential clue. Intriguingly, the license plate number on the car bears a striking resemblance to the digits etched on the back of Seung-pil's business card – 2668.
The following day, Cheong-ja's world takes a plunge into chaos as she finds herself grilled by fellow residents in the Goshiwon hallway. Skepticism shrouds their faces, with one girl firmly convinced of her thievery. Bokgo Cheol arrives like a knight in shining armor, wielding footage from within the Goshiwon that clears the air, revealing a colossal misunderstanding.
Cheong-ja, deeply affected, seeks solace in liquor, accompanying Bokgo Cheol to a drink. She pours her heart out, reminiscing about her former glory days when she shimmered bright like a star, contrasting it with her current rock-bottom existence, where she yearns for a fresh start.
Yet, Bokgo Cheol harbors an ulterior motive behind their little outing – to unveil the footage of the alleyway stalker. Cheong-ja scrutinizes the image intently but draws a blank. Could this mysterious figure be an underling of Du-won? The latter's suspicions are aroused when he receives an assortment of clandestine snapshots of his sister, realizing with a jolt of shock that the subject of these photos is unmistakably Se-ra.
Twenty-five years is no trifling matter, and Cheong-ja finds herself abruptly plunged into this unfamiliar world, utterly clueless about its intricate workings. The drama with her sister takes an excruciatingly awkward turn when her niece, Da-hee, reveals at school that Cheong-ha has irrevocably shattered her aunt's life. Adding insult to injury, Cheong-ja's father resides in a nursing home, bound to a wheelchair and plagued by a distressing memory loss. Upon her visit, he fails to recognize her, shunning her presence and mistakingly identifying Se-ra as his true daughter. Her trip proves futile, and to rub salt into the wound, she receives a notice informing her of outstanding payments.
Amidst this maelstrom of personal turmoil, we encounter a fleeting segment featuring Ju Seung-pil, a gangster whose fingers are dipped in numerous pies, including the murky waters of politics. However, his role in this narrative remains minimal this week, leaving us eagerly anticipating the unveiling of his true intentions.
Meanwhile, Bokgo Cheol persists in his investigation, eventually confronting the driver who had plowed into Cheong-ja. The man, now awake and seemingly unscathed aside from a fractured arm, is interviewed by Bokgo Cheol, who detects a unmistakable air of deceit. Our officer follows his hunch, suspecting that this individual might have been bribed to deliberately target Cheong-ja.
Four days have elapsed since the fateful accident. Back then, Bokgo Cheol had arrived at the scene to witness the driver of that ominous white truck (of course, it had to be white) acting suspiciously, leisurely chewing gum and claiming that a slumber had overtaken him at the helm.
The locale where this accident unfolded lies a considerable distance from Cheong-ja's workplace and abode. The impetus behind her presence there might well be intertwined with the alleyway mishap, leading Bokgo Cheol to surmise that Cheong-ja was enticed thither for some unknown reason. Her plight becomes all the more arduous when she lays eyes on the news announcing Hui-yeong's triumph as Best Actress at Cannes. This accolade had always been Cheong-ja's cherished aspiration, yet Hui-yeong has now preempted her in achieving it. This revelation stirs within her an unyielding resolve to reclaim her rightful place and reunite with her family.
Leveraging the prowess of Nam Yoo-ran at the Goshiwon, Cheong-ja embarks on some investigative endeavors. As we are privy, Du-won holds sway as a prominent entertainment mogul, whereas Tae-suk reigns supreme as the nation's foremost makeup artist. Seon-yeong, with her two million subscribers, amasses a fortune online. Essentially, those in Cheong-ja's circle have capitalized on her misfortunes.
Meanwhile, Bong Da-hee harbors aspirations to depart her academy, and her wish is granted when she receives the exhilarating news of her acceptance into Two One Entertainment—the very entertainment firm associated with Se-ra. Indeed, the narrative weaves an ever-intricate tapestry...
On the subject of acknowledgments, at the precinct, Bokgo Cheol finally dawns upon the realization that Se-ra and Cheong-ja are one and the same. Se-ra was but her stage moniker, whereas Cheong-ja is her authentic identity. That very night, Bokgo Cheol seeks her out and, with the truth now in the open, conveys his relief at her well-being.
In the epilogue, Hui-yeong is steadfast in her quest for retribution against Se-ra for usurping the spotlight. She feigns obliviousness to Se-ra's mishap and casts aspersions on her in connection with the fraud scandal. Such actions merely serve to underscore Hui-yeong's profound disdain for her. Could this animosity propel her to orchestrate a vehicular accident?
