Episode 1 of Love Me** begins with Jun-kyung, an OB-GYN doctor at SEAH Hospital, embarking on a disastrous blind date. Her companion is arrogant and brash, far from her type. She's not one to be trifled with, being a top-tier graduate at 36. This date was set up by the company's director, who thought they'd be a perfect match. But nothing could be further from the truth. He judges her weight and even shows off a hotel booking he's made for them. Jun-kyung cleverly tips a drink over on him and announces loudly to the entire restaurant what he's up to. After finishing her drink, she stands up and leaves, leaving him and everyone else in shock.

Jun-kyung is completely disillusioned with the idea of dating men like this and wasting time trying to find "the one." It doesn't help that her best friend, Bae Soo-jin, seems to have a perfect family life. She loves her husband, Hyeong-jun, and they have several kids together.
Meanwhile, we're introduced to Jin-Ho, a man who quits his job at the Handong Administrative Welfare Center. He's only a few years away from retirement, so his departure surprises many workers. In reality, he wants to make the most of his time with his dying wife, Hye-jin. Hye-jin is not in great health, confined to a wheelchair and lacking zest for life. Jin-Ho wants to take her out on a special trip for their anniversary.
Jun-kyung and her brother, Jun-Seo, show up for their parents' anniversary, but the atmosphere is awkward. Everyone is walking on eggshells, and later on, we soon see why.
Jun-seo's academic journey isn't going as smoothly as he'd hoped. His undergraduate degree in Astronomy and a Master's in Cultural Convergence haven't been enough to make his academic life easier. He frequently arrives late to lectures and even faces reprimand for using a translator for his slides.
Jun-kyung sees her brother as a bit of a joke, but his love life is the polar opposite of hers. Jun-seo is deeply in love with his girl, Yun Sol, and has regular casual hook-ups with her. However, this love story takes a tragic turn when Sol heads off to meet her old friends from middle school. She accidentally hits the call button on her phone, and Jun-seo overhears her fooling around with another guy.
At their parents' house, dinner is awkward and tense. The tension arises from their differing opinions on their mother's situation. Jun-kyung believes their dad should hire a caregiver and go off and do things for himself, while Jun-seo disagrees. Meanwhile, Hye-jin contemplates death and wonders if everyone would be better off if she were gone. The thought of death weighs heavily on her, especially after a horrific accident that she miraculously survived by sheer luck.
However, since Hye-jin won't commit to rehab, the entire family is walking on eggshells, trying not to offend or upset her. Jun-kyung hasn't been back home for six months because of this tension, and Jin-ho is worried that they'll continue to part ways on bad terms. He knows Hye-jin doesn't have much time left, but Jun-kyung leaves with a bitter mood between her and her mother.
After preparing their anniversary cake and travel vouchers, Jin-ho goes in to see his wife while she's sleeping. Only... she's not sleeping. Jin-ho is devastated when he finds out his wife has passed away.