An Analysis of Moments Between Maomao, Basen and Lishu in LN6
KNH Light Novel 6 Spoilers
It tugs at my heart strings whenever I reread the scene with Maomao telling Basen that he can't expect anything from Lishu and him saying "I know” followed by Maomao begging Basen internally to not be the type of man who lets his own feelings blind him but he says "yes I know" because all he wants is Lishu’s happiness because she's suffered so much, she deserves to be saved. Yes, his feelings are motivating him, but he does not expect her to ever be within his reach.
Also Lishu’s breakdown & suicidal ideation / acceptance of death forever hurts. Going into her psychology of trying to be realistic, attempting to build connections, all that drive to work with what the world has saddled her with only for nearly everyone to throw her away...showcasing how messed up being in solitary confinement can make a person GAHHH
Plus I love how Lishu doesn't even REALIZE that Jinshi was trying to talk to her, she thinks it's Maomao trying to help her cuz she's the last person Lishu can see as she falls (until Basen does his own rescue and stuff) Jinshi doesn't register to her one bit, he's a background character, and it makes sense!
Who was the one who saved Lishu back in the rear palace? Maomao! Who did she interact with the most during the western capital journey? Maomao! Who came to examine her while she was locked up? Maomao! Jinshi was a bystander who'd just give Lishu a fake smile and Lishu KNOWS this.
Now, I think he does care about her, but with how her addled mind thought the Emperor himself must want to throw her away, there's no way Jinshi who followed the Emperor's word, would do anything for her. Maomao was this indifferent person with harsh words that time and time again went out of her way to help Lishu, even if she was a bit scary the way she did it.













