Natalia is correct. You can't tell Maomao she's cute no matter how cute she's being without incurring some form of regret.

Maomao's eyes somehow light up even more. This girl has what is known jocularly as fuckweed in her satchel and she is going to give it to Maomao?? If she could whip up a tincture from this stuff, she'd make a killing in certain parts of the red-light district. An unhinged cackle of delight escapes her that would definitely not escape a stern librarian's vigil, and she has clearly forgotten what a personal space bubble is by the way she reaches for Natalia's satchel like -- well, like a cat.

Wait...'Mother'?

Maomao stops and actually looks at Natalia. "Why do you have this?"