That Face Would Surprise Us Too! "The Apothecary Diaries" Maomao's Surprised Face Unexpectedly Resembles Showa-era Horror

That's not the face you'd expect when spoken to by a handsome man! In the anime "The Apothecary Diaries," Maomao (CV: Aoi Yuki) showed an incredibly distinctive expression to the beautiful eunuch Jinshi (CV: Takeo Otsuka), reminiscent of a famous horror manga.

"The Apothecary Diaries" is an anime based on the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. It has also been adapted into manga in two monthly magazines, with the series surpassing 40 million copies in circulation. The TV anime aired for two consecutive cours from October 2023, gaining popularity for its mystery drama featuring Maomao working as a "poison taster" in the imperial court, and the comical interactions between Maomao and Jinshi. The second season began airing in January 2025.

In "The Apothecary Diaries," it's become a regular occurrence for the handsome Jinshi, who would make any ordinary woman swoon, to tease Maomao, who shows no interest in his beauty, only to be coolly brushed off. However, in episode 15, Maomao displayed an extraordinary "facial expression" to Jinshi.

Maomao was deep in thought after receiving a consultation from Gaoshun (CV: Katsuyuki Konishi), the military official serving as Jinshi's assistant. Jinshi, approaching with his usual dazzling smile, suddenly popped up from behind, either knowingly or unknowingly that Maomao hadn't noticed him, and asked, "What were you talking about?" Surprised by Jinshi's sudden appearance, Maomao showed a truly startled expression. With eyes wide open, brows furrowed, and mouth agape in fear, her face resembled something out of a Showa-era horror manga. Even Jinshi, who usually seems to enjoy Maomao's overly cold responses, appeared taken aback this time, saying, "Even I'm hurt by that face."