Did I Imagine What I saw

The sharp smell of vinegar exuding from the red wrinkled fruits made Li Meirong stare in astonishment at Zhu Qingyue as she watched him stuff a third piece into his mouth. She had intentionally served him a batch of preserved hawthorn berries that she had only kept as a herbal remedy.

The bitter, sour berries were by no means made to be a delicious treat. The hawthorn berries had become so sour that even dipping them into a jar of honey wouldn't have made them edible. Yet, there he was, eating one tart bite at a time, until not even a trace of red remained on the plate

Li Meirong's amusement shortly shifted into a perplexing, uncomfortable feeling. She quietly wondered at his words as she poured Zhu Qingyue a cup of water to clear the lingering taste.

"Here, drink this. It's just plain water this time," said Li Meirong with a pang of guilt in her tone, handing him the cup.

He quickly chugged the water down.