The Apothecary Diariesanime has emerged as one of the most gripping blends of palace intrigue, historical mystery, and slow-burn romance in recent years. At its center is the irresistible push and pull between Maomao, a cynical and brilliant herbalist, and Jinshi, a man of mystery with a princely aura and secretive past. Fans have latched onto their chemistry, rooting for the clever duo to finally confess their growing feelings. But while their bond is undeniable on screen, there’s a surprising, and disheartening, reason why this ship might never fully set sail.
It turns out that one of the biggest obstacles to Maomao and Jinshi’s love story is not court politics, rival suitors, or emotional baggage. It is the creator of the series herself, Natsu Hyuuga.Despite how popular the couple has become, the original author ofThe Apothecary Diariesreportedly is not fond of Jinshi as a character and has even expressed annoyance at how much attention the romantic subplot receives from fans.It’s a twist behind the scenes that could explain the series' slow pace and ambiguous emotional development, and one that might permanently stunt its most beloved pairing.
Jinshi’s Popularity Was Never Part of the Plan
The Accidental Heartthrob at the Center of Apothecary Diaries’ Love Story
The revelation that Jinshi was never meant to be a central romantic figure changes everything fans thought they knew aboutThe Apothecary Diaries.According to several interviews and reports, Natsu Hyuuga originally envisioned Jinshi as a comic relief character, a flamboyant, over-the-top aristocrat who would play off Maomao’s no-nonsense attitude for laughs.His refined beauty and highborn charm were always part of his design, but not as tools for sweeping Maomao off her feet. In fact, he was supposed to serve as a humorous foil, not a love interest.
However, the audience had other ideas.Jinshi’s smoldering looks, complex background, and relentless teasing of Maomao quickly won fans over.As demand for more Jinshi-centered content grew, his role in the narrative expanded. What started as occasional flirtation morphed into a main dynamic that now defines much of the series emotional weight. Yet this evolution seems to have occurred in direct opposition to the creator’s preferences, suggesting that the current romance was a reluctant compromise rather than an intentional feature.
Jinshi’s popularity arguably put the story at odds with its own roots.While the mystery-solving and medical details remain core to Maomao’s arc, viewers often tune in just as eagerly to see if Jinshi will drop his latest seductive hint or get under Maomao’s skin.But if his presence has become so prominent only due to fan enthusiasm, that tension between creator intent and audience desire could limit how far the romance is ever allowed to progress.
The Creator’s Cold Feet on Romance in The Apothecary Diaries
Why Natsu Hyuuga Is Not On Board With the Romance Fans Love Most
Even more surprising than the initial intent for Jinshi’s character is Natsu Hyuuga’s reported discomfort with the growing romantic obsession around the series. Despite the anime’s frequent emotional tension and romantic subtext, the author has apparently voiced irritation at how much focus fans place on the love story. This resistancecould explain why Maomao and Jinshi’s interactions, while charged with chemistry, tend to reset rather than evolve as flirting intensifies one episode only to be brushed off or undermined the next.
In some ways, the romance is in a narrative holding pattern.Maomao is a deeply pragmatic and emotionally reserved protagonist, which makes her a natural slow-burn romantic figure. Jinshi, by contrast, is overtly theatrical in his affectionsbut is hiding so many layers that it’s difficult to trust his sincerity. Together, they form a compelling but maddeningly stalled pairing. If the author has no real interest in taking the relationship further, or worse, actively prefers that it remain ambiguous, then fans may never get the closure they crave.
By resisting the romantic arc that viewers have latched onto, Natsu Hyuuga risks alienating a significant chunk of the fanbase that sees Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship as the heart of the show.
It is a rare case of an author being out of step with her audience’s emotional investment. Most creators lean into their biggest fan hits; here, the opposite may be happening. By resisting the romantic arc that viewers have latched onto,Natsu Hyuuga risks alienating a significant chunk of the fanbasethat sees Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship as the heart of the show.
Can Fan Demand Change the Course of The Apothecary Diaries?
Is There Still Hope for a Jinshi x Maomao Payoff?
Still, fan passion is a powerful force. Jinshi’s prominence already proves that viewer reception can reshape a narrative. What was once a side character now commands major screen time, complex backstory reveals, and subtle emotional development. While Natsu Hyuuga may never be completely sold on him as a romantic hero,the sheer popularity of Jinshi x Maomao could continue to influencethe direction of both the anime and the novels.
That said, fans should prepare for the possibility that their favorite couple may never canonically end up together, or, if they do, it might be at the very end of a long, drawn-out journey. The author’s reluctance to center romance means that character growth, plot development, and resolution may remain frustratingly indirect.
The Apothecary Diaries Has a Love Story in Limbo
Maomao and Jinshi’s Romance May Never Be Real, But It Is Still Worth Watching
The Apothecary Diarieswalks a tightrope between character-driven drama and subtle romance, but it’s now clear that the couple at its core faces an unexpected off-screen hurdle. With Jinshi originally intended as a joke character and the author cool on the romantic hype, the show’s emotional center might always be slightly out of sync with its storytelling potential.
Still, Maomao and Jinshi’s chemistry is undeniable, and their scenes remain among the series’ most electric. Whether Natsu Hyuuga chooses to embrace the romance inThe Apothecary Diariesor continue resisting it, the fans will likely keep shipping and hoping that even in a world where palace politics rule all, love might still find a way. But until that day comes, this love story will remain one of anime’s most compelling and confounding slow burns.
