Original: 청담동 앨리스
An aspiring fashion designer lands the job of her dreams in the luxurious but shallow world of Cheongdam-dong, and discovers that it will take more than hard work to succeed in this business.
Cha Seung-jo, French name Jan Thierry Cha, is the youngest Korean president of a famous luxury brand called Artemis. He believes that women go after luxury brands because of their high prices. His strategy for management is to raise the price of products to achieve increased sales. Han Se-kyung is a person who tries her best in getting everything and lives by the motto of “Self-achievement generated from hard working”. Though she studies design, because of her family’s financial problem, she doesn’t have the opportunity to study design abroad. And for this reason, not having any abroad studying experiences, she is often rejected by job interviewers. After three years, surprisingly, she is offered a job as a temporary worker at a clothes designing company called GN Fashion. She doesn’t become a designer in the company; she becomes an errand girl for the head lady. When she is delivering some bags once, she bumps into Cha Seung-jo’s car.
When Han Se-kyung is about to quit her job, her team leader tells her that the reason she can’t become a designer is that she doesn’t have the taste for fashion, leading her to reconsider her decision. Han Se-kyung’s best friend, Choi Ah-jung, helps her to find out the life of Seo Yoon-joo in order to know how to become a “Cheongdam-dong daughter-in-law”. She finds out that Seo Yoon-joo actually is called Cha Yoon-joo when she has lived in France because she has married a man there. Han Se-kyung guessed from this information and the words of Shin Min-hyuk, who is the president of GN Fashion, that she is accepted specially by Seo Yoon-joo.
Seo Yoon-joo asks her brother, Seo Ho-min, to stalk Han Se-kyung secretly. From the pictures taken by Seo Ho-min of Han Se-kyung, she sees Cha Seung-jo is in it. On the other hand, Cha Seung-jo’s doctor/best friend, Heo Dong-wook, says Cha Seung-jo cannot control his emotions mentally, he can never cry. Secretary moon finds Seo In-chan’s location; he is at his mom’s funeral at the time. Cha Seung-jo happens to witness the scene and he orders the company not to go after So In-chan anymore. Instead, he sends flowers to the funeral house to express his sorrow for his mother. Under the warning of his father that someone is secretly taking pictures of him, he catches Seo Ho-min and warns him not ever to do it again. Cha Seung-jo also moves to the same neighborhood where Seo Yoon-joo is living.
Seo Yoon-joo tells Han Se-kyung that in order to go into Cheongdam–dong , she must find herself a “time rabbit” (a person who can introduce her into the upper class circle of Cheongdam-dong). Tommy Hong, the most popular domestic designer in Cheongdam-dong, is the perfect fit for being the “time rabbit”. So Han Se-kyung then decides to part time work at the restaurant where Tommy Hong usually goes to in order to catch his attention. Meanwhile, Cha Seung-jo, full of tears, tells Heo Dong-wook what he has seen about Han Se-kyung. Heo Dong-wook tells Cha Seung-jo that he thinks he might like Han Se-kyung. Back when Seo Yoon-joo has wounded Cha Seung-jo deeply by leaving him, he changes. He tries to find a way that true love exist, that it does not need to be only maintained through money. Han Se-kyung’s actions makes him believes that love truly does exists, proving that his thoughts are right. He then recommends Han Se-kyung to Tommy Hong.
Han Se-kyung is not willing to give up her “time rabbit” after what has happened at the ball. She goes to Tommy Hong to reason with him. But instead, Tommy Hong sees her desire, what she wants in her heart. Seo Yoon-joo goes to see Tommy Hong; she learns that the person who he is trying to pair up with her husband’s sister, Shin In-hwa, is actually Cha Seung-jo.
Han Se-kyung’s best friend, Choi Ah-jung, accidentally sees her diary on how to get into Cheongdam-dong, and Han Se-kyung then confesses to her on what she is planning to do. Choi Ah-jung helps Han Se-kyung to look into Cha Seung-jo, at that time they know as Secretary Jin. Han Se-kyung got suspicious of Cha Seung-jo when Choi Ah-jung tells her that there is no one called Secretary Jin at all in Artemis. Han Se-kyung then asks Cha Seung-jo fiercely on whom he actually is. Under this moment of pressure, Cha Seung-jo makes a lame excuse that he is actually the President’s personal “shadow ninja”.
Han Se-kyung calls Seo In-joo and asks her the answer of the first danger among the three she must encounter if she wants to go into Cheongdam-dong. Seo Yoon-joo replies that it is love. When Han Se-kyung returns home, she sees that her parents are chasing after her sister, Han Se-jin. Han Se kyung learns that her parents want her sister to quit school for a while and help out their shop. At first, Han Se-jin does not want to, but after Han Se-kyung promise to buy her a new bag, she agrees to do it.
When meeting up with Cha ll-nam again, Seo Yoon-joo advises him to stop the planned marriage. Now at the party, after battling with his own will, he finally gains the courage and goes into the party. He is ready to indirectly confess to Han Se-kyung in his opening speech. But what he does not know is that Han Se-kyung has left the party because of her shock of the news.
Han Se-kyung and Seo Yoon-joo find that they have more in common than they have thought. Cha Seung-jo is determined to hold on to his future this time. Tommy Hong plots for his own gain.
Cha Seung-jo and Han Se-kyung are finally together, but will it last? Seo Yoon-joo comes clean about her past to Se-kyung and prompt her to make a choice. Tommy Hong and Shin In-hwa face an obstacle.
Cha Seung-jo and Han Se-kyung are facing opposition from all sides. Shin In-hwa is suspicious and is determined to get to the bottom of this. Tommy Hong shifts his priorities.
Shin In-hwa discovers a shocking truth and is struggling to keep it hidden. Han Se-kyung stays strong and deals with Cha Seung-jo and her family differences. Cha Il-nam is changing his outlook.
Tommy Hong and Seo Yoon-joo temporarily stop a disaster. Shin In-hwa reveals the truth to Cha Il-nam but is met with an unexpected request.
The stakes are raised when Cha Seung-jo discovers the truth, and Han Se-kyung must do all it takes to prevent him from self-destructing.
Han Se-kyung confronts Cha Seung-jo for his actions. Cha Seung-jo struggles to understand. Seo Yoon-joo is at peace with her faith and devises a plan.
Seo Yoon-joo makes a decision and is at peace with it. Cha Seung-jo faces reality. Han Se-kyung stops dreaming and lives on with her own life. We find out how everything ends.
