Jinshi and Maomao Short Stories Collection

Stargazing Together

Let the countdown begin!

Here comes the first One Shot!

It was my own idea with a bit of inspiration coming from the following prompt:
"Person B making Person A their favorite meal when they are having a hard day."

14 days left until the second season!

Several exhausted sighs resounded through Jinshi's office one late evening. The young noble, who was sitting on his "favorite spot", in other words, at his desk, yet again, briefly put down his brush and rubbed his tired eyes with ink-stained fingers. Next, he threw a sour look at the annoying mountain of paperwork that ABSOLUTELY needed to be finished before going to sleep.

"As if someone's going to die, if I let this stuff sit here for another day," he grumbled to himself. Good that Gaoshun wasn't present at the moment and couldn't hear those scandalous words.

Heaving another deep sigh, Jinshi picked up the brush once more, resting his cheek on his free palm. Judging by the huge size of that mountain, he would probably need to sit there at least until midnight, hence he had to pull himself together and avoid taking too many breaks if he still wanted to get enough sleep that night.

Then, a few minutes later, he suddenly heard someone knock on his door and looked up with slight surprise from the document he was currently working on.

"Yes?"

"Master Jinshi? May I enter?"

"Apothecary! But of course! Come in!"

Once the young lord realized who was paying him such a late visit, his face lit up so quickly, as if somebody had used magic on him.

The door opened, and Maomao entered the room, looking as calm as usual and holding a tray with tea and a steaming bowl of food in her hands. She headed directly to Jinshi and placed the tray on his desk.

"Lady Suiren told me that you skipped dinner today because of your work and asked me to bring you this."

"Thank you!"

The sight of the congee in the bowl made Jinshi notice just how empty his stomach actually was, so he happily took the spoon lying next to it on the tray, while Maomao poured him tea into a cup.

"Oh?" he said after taking the first bite and arched an eyebrow, baffled. "It tastes a bit different than usual."

"Yes, sir. This congee was made by Lady Suiren herself, as always, but I added some herbs into it," the apothecary explained with nonchalance.

"You did? Which ones?"

"Sage and rosemary. They're good against fatigue and lack of energy, and the sage's essential ingredients can also help with stress." Maomao's gaze fell on the pile of documents as she spoke.

"I see! My, how thoughtful of you! I can already feel the effects!"

He gave her a big smile, whereupon she responded with a skeptical frown, probably doubting that the herbs could really show their effects in such a short time.

She waited until Jinshi finished eating, which took him only a few minutes due to his hunger, and wanted to take the tray and leave, while he picked up his cup to drink a sip of tea.

"Wait, apothecary."

Maomao stopped and looked at him.

"Do you need anything else, Master Jinshi?"

"Would you please stay a bit longer and drink together with me? I need a little break anyway and don't really want to spend it alone."

Indeed. As it looked like, he had completely given up on his plans to work through everything quickly and then go to bed. And all thanks to Maomao.