Kusuriya no Hitorigoto / The Apothecary Diaries / Maomao's Murmurs

[Ryllharu]

Meimei's line suggests she enjoys her time with Lakan. Not sure if it's in a romantic way.

Meimei's specialty is poetry, chess, and Go. Based on the OP and the scenes with Maomao's syphilitic parent (not 'mother' by the way that Maomao treats her), Lakan's main desire is to spend time with someone who can at least vaguely keep him engaged.

Meimei didn't say that she enjoyed the time either. She implied the only courtesan qualified to entertain Lakan. Intellectually.

One can presume then, that Maomao's other parent was exceptional at Go.

As smart as Maomao is though, experience always wins out. She can't ever seem to outwit Suiren. Can't fool that old nanny one bit!

[Kraco]

As smart as Maomao is though, experience always wins out. She can't ever seem to outwit Suiren. Can't fool that old nanny one bit!

Like Jinshin's granny servant said directly, Maomao is held back by her too class-conscious attitude. That makes her weaker than she should be in front of anyone she considers to be socially above her. At least until she gets used to the person enough, in some cases. Of course there could always be exceptions when she's following someone's orders and really gets into it.