【The Apothecary Diaries】Maomao and Jinshi's Relationship Progress Revealed! From Master and Servant to Engaged Couple? Understand This Unusual Palace Romance in One Article

In the world of "The Apothecary Diaries," what undoubtedly makes fans most restless and sparks heated discussions is the twisted yet sweet relationship between Ren Shi and Mao Mao. Are they dating? How far has their relationship progressed? This romance that transcends master and servant, filled with testing and pulling, cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." This article will deeply analyze the complete timeline and key turning points of the "Ren Shi and Mao Mao relationship," giving you a glimpse into how this bickering couple went from each having their own hidden agendas to an unspoken promise.

Definition of Dating? An Atypical Palace Romance

First, it must be clarified that within the story's historical setting and palace framework, the modern concepts of "dating" or "going out" hardly exist. Their relationship is more like a long, Ren Shi-led "pursuit," and Mao Mao's process of going from full resistance to gradual acquiescence. Their "romance" is a mix of power, responsibility, calculation, and irrepressible genuine feelings.

The Starting Point of the Relationship: From Curiosity, Utilization to Unignorable

The beginning of their relationship was built purely on "mutual interest":

• Ren Shi's Perspective: He developed immense curiosity towards this strange girl who remained unmoved by his celestial beauty and was only obsessed with poisons and medicinal herbs. Mao Mao's intelligence and uniqueness made him shift from an initial mindset of seeing her as an "interesting toy" to deep appreciation and possessiveness.
• Mao Mao's Perspective: In her eyes, Ren Shi was a walking trouble-maker, a beautiful superior who emitted unnecessary pheromones. Getting involved with him was purely for accessing rare medicinal ingredients, satisfying her own curiosity, and securing a stable life. Her initial feelings towards Ren Shi were only slug-like disgust and a desire to keep her distance.

Key Moments of Emotional Turning Points

The qualitative change in their relationship came from several unignorable key events, which progressively and ultimately completely shattered the original balance:

1. The "Forced Kiss Incident" – The Forced Declaration of Feelings After Ren Shi's feelings were repeatedly ignored and avoided by Mao Mao, he used a kiss filled with anger and longing to forcibly convey his intense emotions to her. This kiss made it impossible for Mao Mao to continue playing dumb with "the boss's joke," forcing her to face the fact that Ren Shi's feelings for her were genuine romantic affection.

2. The "Fake Couple" Mission in the Western Capital Arc – Forced Intimacy During their journey to the Western Capital, for the sake of the mission, the two had to pose as a married couple. This experience forced them into a state of "pseudo-cohabitation," leading to more daily and intimate interactions. For Ren Shi, this was a dream come true; for Mao Mao, this period of constant companionship gradually made her accustomed to Ren Shi's presence, allowing her to see a more genuine side of him when he dropped his perfect facade.

3. Ren Shi's Formal Proposal – From Pursuit to Request After various events, Ren Shi finally made an extremely formal "marriage proposal" to Mao Mao. He was no longer just hinting around, but rather, as the imperial brother "Hua Ruiyue," he requested Mao Mao to become his wife. This proposal was the most significant step in their relationship, signifying Ren Shi's determination to move their ambiguous relationship towards a legally and politically significant engagement.

So, Are They Actually Dating?

Based on the current story progress (primarily in the novels), we can define their relationship as follows: They are not "dating" in the modern sense, but they are "de facto fiancés."

Although Mao Mao hasn't explicitly said "I do," she also hasn't flatly refused like she did initially. Instead, she has begun negotiating with Ren Shi in a pragmatic manner, such as requesting a research room after marriage and retaining a certain degree of freedom. This act of "bargaining" is itself a form of tacit acceptance. She no longer views marrying Ren Shi as an absolute impossibility, but rather as an impending future that needs careful planning.

Their relationship has entered a state of mutual understanding:

• Ren Shi: Unilaterally considers Mao Mao to be his only candidate for a wife and is overcoming all obstacles to make it happen.
• Mao Mao: Has internally accepted this weighty affection, shifting from "trying every way to escape" to thinking about "how to live her best life within this relationship."

In summary, the process of the "Ren Shi and Mao Mao relationship" is a brilliant history of psychological warfare. They skipped the sweet dating phase and directly entered a磨合期 (adjustment period) with marriage as the premise. Although there is no official title, their bond has long surpassed that of ordinary lovers, becoming an inseparable part of each other's lives.

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