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The Apothecary Diaries — Manga Vol. 1

m&c Bahasa Indonesia name romanization differences

Translator: Lidwina Leung

A cozy Jinmao for consideration :) I just really like how their dynamic grows over time

" The moon is magnificent tonight, isn't it ?"

" What kind of slut are you master Jinshi ?"

Jinshi is a FAKE cat person!

"The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto)" TV Anime x Pop Up Shop event at Daimaru Matsuzakaya store collab visual

[AoB LN Part 4 Spoilers]

Because he already knows Maomao almost never asks for things out right. Their earliest case of miscommunication had him almost losing contact with her forever and her being driven into prostitution because she couldn't even ask to be kept as a mere servant in the rear palace

So then, he has to work with what little she says and she does, to make sure they never find themselves in a situation like that again. And what does Maomao do? Lets him sleep on her lap, She feeds him, tucks him into bed, sings him to sleep, constantly fusses about his health and sleep, lets him lay down in her bed, strokes his hair, etc

Also, I may be speaking on conjecture here (forgive me Maomao & Luomen) but was him sleeping in the carriage on the way to WC his indirect way of wanting to cuddle up next to her in some privacy, that Maomao's pov just scowled at and left (there's also always the option he's just dense as fuck ik)

And this isn't a modern friendship where: hey! boys and girls can cuddle watching a movie and still just be friends! don't be weirdo!

You don't do that stuff with the opposite sex in such a conservative society unless it's courting (even then their actions are a tad inappropriate).

Not to mention, it's not even just him initiating all of this anymore, it's Maomao, too, meaning his initiative is being reciprocated. And then she wears his hairpin to the fucking bride banquet Jinshi is excited this is working! they're on the same page, she took the final step of making it public to everyone, and then... she says he should marry Lishu?

From LN 2

But Maomao truly believes herself to be incapable of love. It's not true, of course. Evidently by the way she acts around Jinshi and other people she cares about. No one else believes this, but it doesn't matter because Maomao believes this about herself

I think there's an element of care for him when she suggests Lishu. She knows he doesn't want any of the women lusting after him, that he wants someone he can trust and be vulnerable with, someone who'd love him and show affection, and out of all the available option, Lishu is not only the least bad, but she's also kind of a good option that somewhat meets this criteria from Maomao's perspective

Jinshi really is trying his best and has been having more character growth than the MC dammit! Any mistake he does in pushing her boundaries is only done once and then he's immediately learning. Maomao? She continues to do the same ol bullshit for 10+ LNs with no reflection even when she hurts others

like sobbing girl that's YOU! You're the loser man!!!!

"he would never just come out and say it" you mean your chronically monologueing ass??

"obvious from the way he acted" you mean how you always care for Jinshi and touch him?

"he never sent as much as a letter" you mean only sending Jinshi letters when it pretains to work and then nothing else because ohoo nooo it's not my place to be corresponding with the Moon Prince. i'm soooooo of lowly birth, please don't behead me daddy