Jinshi and Maomao Short Stories Collection

An unexpected encounter (new version)

Summary:
It was very late and the (once again) overworked Jinshi was finally heading to bed. But he would never have guessed what he would find on the way...
(Completely rewritten version of my very first Apothecary-fanfic "An unexpected encounter")

Alright, the 21st of October has finally come, and here's the special story I promised! I've been working on it for over a month!

This day is a special one for me, because:

- it's my birthday

- and also the day I published my very first JinMao-fanfic exactly one year ago (to celebrate the start of the anime's first season)

So that's why I decided to completely rewrite said fanfic, bringing in new ideas and the experience I gained during that year of writing about Jinshi and Maomao.

Hope you enjoy it! :)

Stifling a yawn and barely able to think straight from exhaustion, Jinshi was dragging himself through the hallways of his residence, heading to his personal chambers and his bed that was already impatiently waiting for him. Like a beautiful ghost that was crossing the mortal world.

It was already night, and the completely silent building was enveloped in full darkness, merely illuminated by the dim, orange light of the candle Jinshi was carrying in his ink-stained hand to show himself the way. Of course, he knew his own house inside out and was able to orient himself there even in the dark, but he still didn't want to risk tripping over something in that tired state of his.

He kept rubbing his eyes on the way, his eye-lids feeling so heavy they were almost closing on their own. A light shudder ran through his body when his thoughts wandered off toward the mountain of paperwork that would await him yet again the next day. Said mountain just didn't seem to get any smaller, no matter how long Jinshi kept slaving away at it. It really was like magic.

The young lord sighed and proceeded to rub one of his shoulders now that had become quite stiff after all those hours of sitting at his desk. Well, that was the very last kind of magic he needed in his life...

Eager to complete at least the most important documents before going to sleep and despite his intention to actually finish work a bit earlier that day for a change, he had gradually lost all sense of time and only returned to his senses when it was already pitch dark outside. Wonderful, wasn't it? He had overworked himself yet again, even though he had promised Maomao to take better care of his health and to rest properly. Urgh!

The young noble took the candle into his left hand and eyed his right one with a frown, noticing how it was trembling slightly from all the writing. He could almost hear the apothecary sigh out in disapproval if she were to catch sight of him now, as though she were dealing with a stubborn child beyond hope. Surely accompanied by a glare as if he was a disgusting slug crawling in front of her feet and letting behind a trail of slime. Or a pathetic worm.

Jinshi's cheeks reddened a bit, and he cleared his throat, as he caught himself at the thought that, in reality, he wouldn't even mind such a glare. To be honest, he was even looking forward to it. A bit. But not because he was a masochist, of course not! He was just sick and tired of all those dreamy, enraptured gazes he was constantly getting from all the other women (and also some men) who were charmed by his gorgeous appearance. Thus, Maomao's glares were like a breath of fresh air for him.

A little smile appeared on his lips. Exactly. Maomao was the big exception there... the only one who saw more in him than just a beautiful face.

Speaking of Maomao... now that he thought about her, he realized that he had barely seen her all day. Actually only in the morning, when she had come to his chambers to wish him a good morning as usual and to be informed about that day's tasks by his head lady-in-waiting Suiren.