Didn't expect so much spotlight on lishu but I'm not complaining, also finally jinshi (somewhat) confesses!!
My heart nearly stopped and I cried a little I won’t lie
So…we’re just bypassing what happened in the previous book’s epilogue (Jinshi strangulating Maomao and her thinking she somehow deserves it)? Well, okay then. ( ̄__ ̄lll)
The romance is severely lacking here and barely any development—aside from the reveal of Jinshi’s identity and Maomao’s knowledge of his feelings towards her, nothing about their relationship has changed—they discuss work, Jinshi teases her and brings gifts/bribes, while Maomao, who still only holds platonic/servile feelings towards him, sidesteps his advances and, rinse and repeat.