False Start, True Heart

Desperate to fund his parents' medical treatment, recent graduate Noah Greer goes to a matchmaking corner in the park. He displays a sign with his age, height, and weight, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

The elderly woman explains that her younger sister is critically ill with only a month to live and asks Noah to marry her in a simple ceremony to bring luck. Noah hesitates until she offers five hundred thousand, then agrees when she promises another five million if the woman survives three months.

Noah arrives at the elderly woman's home, where his ID is photographed for registration. She gives him a new suit and informs him that the marriage certificate has already been delivered. He takes the document, realizing he has just married a woman he has never met.

Noah is led into the hospital room and sees his wife Kara for the first time, surprised by her youth and beauty. Guided by others, he moves close to the bed, holds her cold hand, and poses for wedding photos.

Left alone in the hospital room with the unconscious Kara, Noah speaks softly to her. As he stays by her side, her fingers twitch, hinting that she may be waking up.

The doctor tells Noah that Kara may have only two weeks left and urges him to talk to her. Alone with her, Noah applies skincare cream and shows her bananas he grew himself, hoping to stir a response. Suddenly, Kara's heart monitor alarms, and medical staff rush in.

Noah fears his skincare and banana antics harmed Kara, but the doctor reports her heartbeat has strengthened and urges him to keep talking to her. Later, Noah is dragged to a job interview and gets hired on the spot.

After passing his interview, Noah rushes to the hospital where Dong Wenli tells him Kara's cell activity has improved. She gives him a hotel suite near his new job and urges him to be bolder—to hold and kiss Kara to help her wake up.

The nurse tells Noah that Kara responds well to his touch and suggests he give her a full-body massage to help her wake up. Noah hesitates, fearing it might be inappropriate, but eventually convinces himself and begins the massage.

Noah notices Kara's face reddening during the massage and assumes her cell activity is improving. The nurse confirms Kara's condition has markedly improved and asks Noah to take over her daily care, including wiping her body and changing her clothes, leaving him stunned.

The nurse explains that Kara only responds to Noah's interaction and asks him to help with wiping her body and changing her clothes. Noah reluctantly agrees. Later, he receives a call informing him that Kara's sister is returning from abroad and they will meet soon.

Noah is restrained by several men in the hospital room. A woman arrives and interrogates him about his relationship with the unconscious woman. Noah claims Kara is his wife, but she demands he wake Kara up to prove it, threatening him otherwise.

After the intruders leave, Kara drops her pretense and reveals she is awake. Noah is overjoyed and promises to protect her before heading to work. As soon as he arrives, he is told that the company's CEO, Ms. Dong, wants to see him in her office.

Noah is sent to summon the tech team for a meeting. When CEO Dong asks who should lead a new project, everyone backs a veteran manager. Noah defers, citing his inexperience. Dong instead names him her new special assistant, shocking the room.

CEO Dong overrules the room's objections and appoints Noah as her special assistant, giving him a three-day trial. After the meeting, coworkers react with shock and envy. Back at the ward, the caregiver relays the doctor's suggestion that Noah serve as Kara's personal physical therapist.

Noah administers physical therapy to the comatose Kara in the ward, methodically checking her heart valves. He notices her heartbeat is abnormally fast and grows concerned. Outside, CEO Dong expresses surprise that Noah has improved Kara's condition and prepares to bring someone in to meet him.

CEO Dong brings a private doctor to the ward, who is curious how Noah improved Kara's condition. Noah says he just talks to her and cares for her. The doctor offers future help. After leaving, Noah gets a call from his mother saying his father fainted over medical bills.

Noah rushes home to find his father beaten unconscious by loan sharks. His mother explains they borrowed 200,000 for his tuition and medical bills, but now the lenders demand two million. Despite her protests, Noah resolves to handle it and calls someone for help.

Noah finds the loan sharks who beat his father and demands to know why they are demanding two million for a 200,000 loan. They threaten to break his leg. As they move to attack, someone steps in to stop them.

Just as the loan sharks are about to break Noah's leg, Liu Ruyan appears and forces them to return the stolen money. Noah rushes to the hospital, where he learns his father's surgery has only a twenty percent success rate and requires Dr. Sun Qiming. Remembering he has the doctor's contact, Noah makes the call.

Noah's father's surgery is successful and he is out of danger. His mother asks how he knows Dean Sun, and Noah says a friend introduced them. He then calls Sister Dong to thank her and asks about Sister Wei's hobbies, before visiting Sister Wei in the ward.

Noah thanks the comatose Kara in the ward, crediting her for his father's successful surgery through Dean Sun. He takes her out in a wheelchair to a riverside spot she once loved, calling it their first real date and hoping she wakes soon.

A nurse reminds Noah that Kara needs daily cleaning and that fresh clothes are ready. He tests the water temperature and prepares to sponge-bathe her.

Noah sponges Kara down and changes her clothes for the first time, promising not to take advantage while she is unconscious. He is surprised to see her smile. As he leaves, the hospital director reminds him that Kara needs to start rehab, and Noah volunteers to learn the exercises.

Kara Whitman wakes up and instructs her assistant not to tell Noah. Posing as a CEO, she assigns Noah, her new special assistant, to handle a contract signing at Yulin Group that afternoon. Noah, inexperienced, has no choice but to accept.

Noah and a friend enter a lavish private room and are fascinated by its high-tech features. While they examine a trash can, two acquaintances appear, mock them for doing janitorial work, and claim they are there for a business deal, ordering them to leave.

Li Kexing asks Gu Shuguan about the new executive assistant. Li Kexing learns that Noah is the one representing the company for the signing. Noah points out that Yulian Group has been in deficit for three years and rejects the contract, prompting Li Kexing to offer more money.

Noah is formally appointed executive assistant before the shareholders and gets an early confirmation for rejecting the Yulian deal. Just as he remarks on his smooth promotion, he receives a call that Kara's condition has changed and rushes to the hospital.

Dong Wenli tells Noah that tests show Kara will wake within a week. She gives him the promised five million and a villa key, then reveals that Kara developed a psychological condition after suitors only valued her wealth or body, and that her first act upon waking will likely be to divorce him.

Noah stays by the comatose Kara's side in the hospital and learns she needs rehabilitation exercises. He props her up and tries movements he studied the night before, urging her to bear the discomfort. While massaging her, he wonders if her responses mean she likes him, then dismisses it as wishful thinking.

Noah finishes counting through a set of rehabilitation exercises for the comatose Kara, then says goodbye for the day. Later, he brings his parents to a large villa. His mother is surprised by the accommodation, and he explains they are house-sitting for a friend. A steward greets him formally, and he asks to be called by a simpler name.

Noah shows his parents around the villa. His mother is stunned by the opulence, from a custom French woven bag to a solid gold pin worth twenty thousand. She declines to use them. After settling his parents in, Noah heads upstairs, remarking to himself how over-the-top Kara's arrangement is.

Noah finds Ruyuan scantily clad in the villa. She claims she has a key and has been sending cleaners. He asks her to dress before going downstairs, but she goes down anyway and meets his parents, who mistake her for his girlfriend.

Ruyuan announces that Noah is already married, shocking his parents. Noah tries to explain, but Ruyuan urges him to take his parents to meet his wife. Eager to see her daughter-in-law, his mother insists they go immediately.

Kara has woken up and tells Dong Wenli that Noah seems decent, but she decides not to reveal her consciousness yet, wanting to test his sincerity further. Noah brings his mother to the ward to visit Kara, but a caregiver stops them, saying she is undergoing an examination.

Noah brings his mother to the hospital room to meet Kara, who lies in a coma. Instead of disapproval, his mother shares her own story of caring for an injured husband, gives Kara a welcome gift, and tells Noah to treat her well.

Noah's mother leaves the hospital room after telling him to take good care of Kara and promising her a proper wedding. Noah receives a call from his uncle, who says he is coming to visit. Noah suspects the real motive is to seize Kara's villa and resolves not to back down.

Noah's uncle and cousin visit, criticizing the food and mocking them as country folk pretending by renting a villa. The cousin claims he got a job and wants the villa for himself. Noah flatly refuses, and the confrontation ends in tension.

Noah's uncle and cousin mock the gift as a cheap cleaning uniform, only to discover it is a Lura Piana jacket worth 9,999. As the uncle boasts about his son's job at Ronghua Group, a visitor from Shuhan International arrives, respectfully addressing Noah as Special Assistant Lin and recognizing the cousin as a mere sales team leader.

After the visitor leaves, the uncle learns that Noah is the president's special assistant at Shuhan International. He immediately demands Noah arrange a position for his son. Noah's mother also pressures him, but Noah flatly refuses and warns his uncle to back off.

Noah's mother feels ashamed for giving her daughter-in-law only a small red envelope after receiving an expensive gift. She also learns Noah has become the president's special assistant. Noah explains briefly, then leaves to take his wife somewhere special.

Noah brings Kara to a surprise birthday setup he prepared. He lights fireworks, makes a wish on her behalf that they can slowly be together, and admits no one has ever celebrated his birthday before.

Dong Wenli praises Noah, and Kara finally decides to accept the relationship. She stops Dong Wenli from telling Noah she is awake, wanting to keep teasing him by pretending to be unconscious, and asks for makeup and clothes.

The doctor tells Noah that Kara's vitals are back to normal and she may wake within two days, cautioning him about possible slight movements. Noah returns with flowers, finds her dressed in new clothes, and marvels that she is finally about to wake up.

Noah notices Kara has kicked off her blanket and worries she might catch cold. He tries various ways to get a reaction but she remains unresponsive. He massages her arm and wonders if she will want a divorce when she wakes, yet wishes her good health. He then leaves for work, saying he will return tomorrow.

Noah apologizes for being late to a meeting and announces the return of CEO Wei the next day. Delia explains she is only the acting president and CEO Wei had been absent due to illness. Noah returns to the ward with a gift, only to find Kara gone.

Noah searches the ward for Kara. The head nurse tells him she woke up that afternoon and checked herself out without leaving a message. Dejected, Noah returns to the office and runs into CEO Wei, only to realize she is not the woman he has been caring for.

Noah mistakenly calls CEO Wei his wife and is sharply reprimanded for his unprofessional attitude. He later confirms with Dong Jie that the CEO is indeed Kara, but she has no memory of him. In the break room, a senior colleague taunts Noah, warning him to watch his step now that his backer is gone.

Noah pushes back against a senior colleague's accusations, denying he is a beneficiary of favoritism and calling out the colleague's own misconduct. Kara appears and, after the veteran tries to complain, fires him and the other jeering employees on the spot.

Kara publicly refutes the senior colleague's accusations, declaring Noah is not a beneficiary of favoritism, and fires the troublemakers on the spot. Later, she orders luxury hotel bento boxes for all staff but personally brings lobster to Noah, surprising his coworkers.

Kara asks Noah to help proofread documents, citing her long absence. When he hesitates, claiming his desk lacks space, she orders his workstation moved into the CEO's office, leaving him no room to refuse.

After Noah moves into the CEO's office, a coworker suspects Kara has ulterior motives. Kara assigns him document proofreading and, catching him staring, calls him out directly.

Noah approaches Kara about a data issue, but she declares the workday over. As he turns to leave, Kara cites the assistant handbook, insisting his priority is her needs at all times, and orders him to drive her home in her car. Noah recognizes the vehicle as the Lamborghini Dong Wenli once gave him.

Kara has Noah drive her home, reminding him that knowing the CEO's basic information is part of his job. After arriving, Noah helps carry items inside and stumbles upon an unexpected personal object.

At Kara's home, Noah nervously dodges her questions about his curiosity and leaves in a hurry. Later, while drinking with a friend, he drunkenly reveals that his wife is none other than CEO Kara, shocking his companion.

Drunk, Noah admits to his friend that his wife is CEO Kara. The friend suggests using a special signal from their past to jog her memory. Noah suddenly remembers something and rushes off.

Noah accidentally calls Kara his wife. She lets it go but says it reminded her of something. She instructs him to attend a friend's wedding the next afternoon in her place, as her assistant. He agrees.

Noah arrives early at the wedding venue to find it empty. Dong Wenli appears and thanks him for keeping his promise to help Kara recover. Liu Ruyan then arrives and accidentally calls Dong Wenli Mom, revealing their mother-daughter relationship to Noah.

Noah arrives at the wedding as Kara's assistant, only to find the invitation reveals nothing about the bride and groom. He is greeted by colleagues from the company, who all congratulate him, leaving him increasingly puzzled about the true purpose of the event.

At the wedding, Noah is told by colleagues and friends that he is the groom. Just as he grows more confused, his parents appear and reveal that Kara has woken up and arranged the entire wedding for him. He finally realizes it is all a surprise from Kara.

At the wedding, Noah still can't believe Kara truly recognizes him and asks her repeatedly. Under the officiant's guidance, they solemnly exchange marriage vows, promising to spend their lives together.

Noah discovers Kara has been awake all along, and she teases him before giving him a gift. Liu Ruyan arrives to hurry them along, and Noah learns she is Kara's adopted sister. Kara suddenly clutches her chest in pain, leaving Noah terrified that her condition has returned.