The first season of The Apothecary Diaries may have ended, but the controversy regarding a particular kiss has many viewers still talking online. As the plot unfolds, do Jinshi and Maomao kiss in The Apothecary Diaries? What is the controversy about this kiss in the series?
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for The Apothecary Diaries manga and light novel, so proceed with caution.
RELATED: The Best Romance Anime With a Happy Ending
The Foundation of Maomao and Jinshi’s Relationship
Maomao and Jinshi's romance appears to be straight out of a Korean period drama.
Jinshi is the stunning and attractive protagonist, whom many court women would love to sleep with, while Maomao is the heroine in distress who patiently awaits her royal prince.
However, Maomao regards Jinshi as a perverted eunuch who can get his hands on any girl he likes, as well as a nosy eunuch who is constantly monitoring her affairs as if he doesn't have enough palace responsibilities.
Everything between Maomao and Jinshi began when the latter discovered the former’s inclination towards poison.
He chose Maomao to be Lady Gyokuyou’s attendant, and since then, he has been observing Maomao and her actions.
As the person in charge of the harem, Jinshi is careful about his treatment of Maomao.
He has to figure out whether Maomao is a friend or an enemy of the emperor. He also needs to examine whether Maomao is an expert in her chosen field.
ALSO READ: Discover the Hidden Meaning Behind Jinshi's Hairpin in The Apothecary Diaries
Maomao and Jinshi’s Relationship Over Time
Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship has come a long way, but most of the time, it was Jinshi who was always making the first move.
We all know how awkward Maomao is when it comes to Jinshi, and it doesn’t change that much as time goes by.
In fact, there are a lot of times when Jinshi corners Maomao to show her some love.
For some, it may look like he’s just expressing his affection towards Maomao, but for others, it would come as a form of sexual abuse since Maomao doesn’t give him permission to touch her or do all sorts of things.
Even so, there are some genuine moments between Maomao and Jinshi.
At one point, Maomao didn’t mind lending her lap for Jinshi to use as a pillow. While Jinshi sleeps, Maomao does her own thing, even if her legs become numb.
There also came a point when Maomao got an allergic reaction after eating soba at a banquet.
Jinshi blamed himself for this unfortunate incident, and he was one of the first people who rushed to her side.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Maomao's True Identity in The Apothecary Diaries, Revealed
So, Do Jinshi and Maomao Kiss in The Apothecary Diaries?
Yes, Maomao and Jinshi have already shared a kiss in The Apothecary Diaries. One of them happened after Jinshi cornered Maomao, held her hair, and kissed her without looking back.
Funny enough, Maomao did not react at all, even though she was curious about the expression on Jinshi’s face.
But that’s not the most talked-about kiss between Maomao and Jinshi. The most controversial one was when Jinshi forced himself on Maomao, which led to online discussions about Jinshi sexually abusing Maomao.
Due to Jinshi’s anger, he manhandled Maomao. He choked her, embraced her forcefully, and even kissed her roughly without consent in volume 5 of the light novel.
Maomao feared Jinshi, but she responded to his advances by kissing him hard, as Pairin taught her back in the brothel.
Still, nothing happened between the two of them. Jinshi’s head cleared after Maomao answered his advances. He deeply regretted his actions towards Maomao, and that’s it.
All of these happened because Jinshi got jealous seeing Rikuson kiss Maomao's hand at the banquet. Rikuson has gotten so close to Maomao that Jinshi can't contain his feelings anymore.
Are you team Rikuson or team Jinshi? Let us know in the comments below and follow us on Facebook for all the latest anime news!
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!