Chapter 259 - 258: Indeed a Stepmother

Zhao Hongshan hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I’ll leave it to you then, Dr. Yang."

He patted his daughter’s shoulder, offered a soft word of comfort, and turned to leave. The door clicked shut, leaving only Yang Xun and Zhao Linglong in the room.

Zhao Linglong was still sitting on the bed. She hugged her knees to her chest, curled up like a frightened little animal.

Yang Xun took a seat on the chair beside the bed. "Is Madam Zhao your biological mother?" he asked, somewhat speechless. "Why doesn’t she care about you at all?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhao Linglong sniffled. "She’s my stepmother," she said, looking heartbroken. "My real mother passed away a long time ago. My older sister is the daughter of my stepmother and her ex-husband."

"Well..." Yang Xun was stunned. He had only made a casual remark; who knew Madam Zhao actually *was* her stepmother?

"I miss my mom so much." Zhao Linglong suddenly began to weep. Her fragile body trembled gently, making her look especially pitiful.

Seeing the young girl cry, Yang Xun was at a loss for what to do. He hurriedly walked over and gently patted her back. "Don’t cry. It’s my fault for speaking without thinking."

"SOB... I’m so miserable! My mom is gone, my stepmother hates the sight of me, and I even got possessed by a ghost just from going out to paint."

Seeing her cry so heartbrokenly, Yang Xun didn’t know what else to do. He sat on the edge of the bed, pulled her into his arms, and patted her back as if he were coaxing a child.

The crying stopped abruptly. Zhao Linglong looked up in disbelief, her gaze meeting his deep eyes. She couldn’t help but blush. Yang Xun was still a stranger to her, but his embrace felt warm and secure. She really didn’t want to leave it; instead, she shrank further into his arms.

"Dr. Yang, why do you think that Yin Sha Qi insists on clinging to me?" Zhao Linglong’s voice was muffled and slightly nasal.

Yang Xun thought for a moment before deciding to tell her about the skeletal remains he had found in the ancestral hall.

Hearing this, Zhao Linglong’s pretty face turned pale, her beautiful eyes widening in shock. "Five skeletons! Who on earth murdered them?!"

"Now you understand why the Yin Sha Qi is clinging to you. It’s because their resentment is too deep." Seeing her shivering in fear, Yang Xun comforted her, "But don’t be afraid. With me here, the Yin Sha Qi can’t hurt you. As long as we find the killer and lay the bones to rest, the Yin Sha Qi will naturally dissipate."

"Then, can you help me?" Zhao Linglong’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Of course." Yang Xun smiled faintly. "Even if you hadn’t asked, I’ve already promised to get them justice."

Zhao Linglong’s tense shoulders finally relaxed a bit as she leaned softly against him. Her body felt incredibly light, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance mixed with the unique, sweet scent of a young girl. Yang Xun could feel her slightly trembling eyelashes, fluttering like a butterfly that had finally found a place to rest.

"Go to sleep," Yang Xun said softly, his voice carrying a reassuring steadiness. "I’m right here. I won’t leave."

Zhao Linglong closed her eyes, and her breathing gradually became steady and long.

The night grew deeper.

Yang Xun sat on the edge of the bed, his shoulder supporting Zhao Linglong’s soft body. He had intended to maintain this posture until dawn, but she kept tossing and turning in her sleep, rubbing against him until he felt flushed with heat.

Glancing down, he saw that the young girl’s shoulder strap had slipped, revealing a large expanse of porcelain-white skin across her chest. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He silently cursed himself for harboring indecent thoughts about such an innocent and naive girl.

Suddenly, Zhao Linglong let out a soft whimper in her sleep. Her body gave a slight tremble, as if she had dreamt of something terrifying again. Yang Xun instinctively tightened his arms, pulling her closer to his chest. He gently patted her back with his other hand, his voice deep and gentle. "It’s okay. I’m here."

Zhao Linglong’s eyelashes fluttered before she slowly opened her eyes. A lingering haziness and fear still resided in those amber pupils. When her gaze fell upon Yang Xun’s face so close to hers, she paused in surprise.

"You didn’t leave?"

"Yeah. I was worried you’d be scared all by yourself." Yang Xun couldn’t resist pinching her squishy cheek; it was incredibly soft to the touch.

Zhao Linglong looked a bit shy. "I dreamt that... someone was chasing me."

"It was just a dream. You’re safe now," Yang Xun said, continuing to stroke her back.

"Whenever I got sick in the past, my mom used to hold me while I slept." Zhao Linglong’s voice held a faint nasal tone. "She said that as long as she held me, I wouldn’t have nightmares.

"After she passed away, I was never held to sleep again. It’s a good thing I have you today."

Yang Xun felt a slight tug at his heartstrings. He looked down at the girl resting in his arms. Tiny beads of moisture still clung to her eyelashes. Curled up beside him, she looked like a little animal that had finally found a warm nest.

Zhao Linglong slowly raised her eyes. They were so close that their breaths intertwined, and the atmosphere gradually turned intimate. Then, she pushed herself up slightly and leaned in closer. Her lips, delicate and trembling, pressed against the corner of Yang Xun’s mouth.

The fleeting touch was like a feather brushing past, bringing with it a sweet fragrance and a soft sensation. Yang Xun stiffened for a second. Before he could react, Zhao Linglong had already pulled back half an inch, her amber eyes shining with a bashful gleam.

"I’m sorry... I... I just wanted to thank you." Her voice was quiet and soft, brimming with maidenly shyness.

Yang Xun stared at those tender, red lips as the heat within him surged. He was already burning with desire, and yet this girl had the audacity to kiss him!

"Dr. Yang, I—"

Zhao Linglong started to speak again, but before she could finish, he captured her ruby lips. This time, it wasn’t a fleeting peck. Yang Xun’s tongue pressed against her pearly teeth, delving into her sweet mouth to entangle with her delicate tongue, feverishly drinking in her nectar.

Zhao Linglong was an innocent girl who had never experienced anything like this. Her fragile body melted into his embrace, her slender fingers tightly gripping the fabric on his chest as she tilted her head up slightly to respond to him. Her lips were incredibly soft and slightly cool, but they were quickly warmed by his heat.

Yang Xun could feel her rapid breaths brushing against his face and hear the quiet pants escaping her nose. At some point, his hand had slipped around her waist. Through the thin fabric of her nightgown, his fingertips could clearly feel her delicate curves.

He guided her, deepening the kiss bit by bit. As their lips and tongues intertwined, she let out a barely audible, whimpering moan, her body turning into a puddle of water against him.

Just as the kiss grew more intense and their breathing became more frantic, Zhao Linglong’s body suddenly gave a violent shudder. She snapped open her tear-misted eyes. Her gaze shot past Yang Xun’s shoulder, staring fixedly into the shadows in the corner of the room.

Those amber pupils shrank to pinpricks in an instant, and she froze completely, as if struck by lightning.