Chapter 272 - 270: Shameless Little Hooligan

"They say the second miss of the Zhao Family is out of her mind, spouting nonsense all day long!"

Zhao Linglong bit her lip, trying desperately to hold back her tears, but they welled up uncontrollably, sliding silently down her cheeks.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the stairs as Zhao Lili came down from the second floor. She wore a silk nightgown, her long hair cascading loosely over her shoulders. Clearly, she had been woken up by the commotion downstairs.

"Mom, what are you yelling about in the middle of the night?" Zhao Lili walked into the living room. Her gaze swept around before landing on Zhao Linglong’s red-rimmed eyes. She scoffed lightly, "Oh, what is it now? You only ever know how to make Mom angry."

Madam Zhao pointed at Zhao Linglong and said coldly, "Shameless little wretch! I caught her hugging a man in the dead of night, and she still refuses to admit it!"

Zhao Lili’s gaze shifted to Yang Xun, looking him up and down before speaking in a teasing, meaningful tone. "Little sister, what kind of taste do you have? To think a daughter of the Zhao Family would actually like a poor doctor. Aside from a pretty face, he’s completely useless.

"You’ve only known him for a few days and you’re already throwing yourself at him. What a disgrace to the Zhao Family!"

Chapter 271: To Hell with Family Harmony

Zhao Linglong suddenly lifted her head, her voice thick with tears. "You can say whatever you want about me, but don’t insult Dr. Yang!"

"Oh! Look who’s being protective now." Zhao Lili tutted twice, wearing a look of condescending impatience. "You’ve been like this since we were kids, crying at the drop of a hat, acting like the whole world is bullying you.

"If you want to be shameless, fine, but don’t drag me down with you. If word gets out that there’s something wrong with the Zhao Family’s daughters, how am I supposed to get married?"

Yang Xun’s gaze turned cold. Zhao Linglong had a gentle temperament and hadn’t said a word while being scolded just now, but the moment Zhao Lili insulted him, she immediately stood up to defend him. He found the girl foolishly adorable. Glancing at Zhao Lili, his tone was calm but laced with a distinct chill. "Miss Zhao, watch your words."

Zhao Lili rolled her eyes and sneered. "Am I wrong? She’s always been—"

"Enough!" a deep voice boomed from the top of the stairs.

Zhao Hongshan stood on the landing with a coat draped over his shoulders, clearly having hurried over after hearing the noise. His gaze swept over the people in the living room before finally settling on Zhao Linglong’s tear-streaked face.

Seeing him, Madam Zhao immediately seized the opportunity to speak. "You’re just in time! Look at what your precious daughter has done! I caught her hugging this man in the middle of the night, and she still denies it to my face!"

Zhao Hongshan turned to look at Yang Xun, his brow furrowing slightly. When he spoke, however, his tone was relatively mild. "Dr. Yang, what’s going on here?"

"Linglong and I were discussing her condition," Yang Xun replied calmly. "She was feeling a little emotionally unstable, so I was just comforting her. Madam Zhao happened to see it and likely misunderstood."

"Misunderstood?" Madam Zhao scoffed. "Do you think I’m blind?"

Zhao Hongshan remained silent for a few seconds before finally turning to his daughter. "Linglong, go back to your room first," he said, his tone tinged with exhaustion.

Zhao Linglong looked up at her father, her tearful eyes filled with an unprecedented sense of disappointment. She bit her lip, her voice hoarse. "Dad, do you think I’m in the wrong too?"

"That’s not what I meant..." Zhao Hongshan hesitated.

Zhao Linglong’s tears slipped down her face, her voice trembling slightly. "Then why are you telling me to leave? She was the one yelling at me this whole time! Why am I the one who always gets sent away?"

The living room fell silent for a moment; no one expected Zhao Linglong to actually talk back. Madam Zhao was the first to react, coldly huffing, "What kind of attitude is that? Raising your voice at your father?"

"Don’t speak!" Zhao Linglong snapped, whipping her head around to glare at Madam Zhao. Her voice rose sharply. "Every day, you call me improper and shameless, but what have I actually done?

"I just stay in my room, painting and reading. I barely even go outside! What right do you have to scold me like this?"

She turned back to Zhao Hongshan, fresh tears finally spilling over. "Dad, ever since I was little, no matter what happens, you always tell me to endure it.

"She criticizes me, scolds me, and bullies me, and all you ever say is, ’Linglong, a family must keep the peace.’

"But why do I have to be the one to endure it? They’re the ones bullying me!"

Zhao Hongshan was rendered completely speechless by his daughter’s outburst. He had indeed always maintained a pacifying attitude, believing that harmony in the home makes everything prosper, but he had never realized just how much grievance Linglong had accumulated in her heart.

Seeing him remain silent, the light in Zhao Linglong’s eyes dimmed little by little. She lowered her head, her voice raspy and exhausted. "Forget it. I’m going back to my room."

She turned and headed for the stairs. Her footsteps were heavy, each one looking as though she were treading on invisible thorns.

Watching her retreating figure, Yang Xun suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Hongshan looked up at him.

Yang Xun’s gaze was calm but carried a piercing sharpness. "Let me ask you something. Do you truly care for Linglong, or is it all just lip service?"

"What do you mean by that?" Zhao Hongshan froze.

"If you truly love her, how can you tolerate your wife and stepdaughter bullying her like this?" Yang Xun’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word was as clear and sharp as a nail. "Every time something happens, you tell her to endure it, to take a step back. But have you ever considered how many steps she has already taken? Where else can she retreat to?"

Zhao Hongshan fell silent for a moment, his expression turning ugly. "Dr. Yang, this is our family matter—"

"With a single phrase about ’family harmony,’ you suppress all her grievances," Yang Xun interrupted. "But ask yourself, is this family truly in harmony?

"To hell with family harmony! You only ever force Linglong to suffer in silence. If she didn’t feel so suffocated at home, why would she constantly go out to paint?"

Zhao Hongshan’s lips parted, but he couldn’t force a single word out. He stood there, the overhead lights stretching his shadow long across the floor. For the first time, a look of near wretchedness appeared on his usually steady and composed face.

Seeing her husband rendered speechless, Madam Zhao immediately began to reprimand Yang Xun. "Who do you think you are? What right do you have to lecture our family?"

Yang Xun glanced at her, his tone lukewarm. "Even as an outsider, I know better than to bully a motherless child. Yet you repeatedly force her to suffer. Aren’t you afraid Linglong’s mother will come looking for you in the dead of night to settle the score?"

Madam Zhao’s face instantly turned ashen.

Just then, Yang Xun’s phone rang. The shrill ringtone shattered the suffocating silence. He glanced down at the caller ID—it was Xu Qian.

He answered the call, and Xu Qian’s frantic voice came through the line. "Yang Xun! My sister is feeling unwell again. She’s frightfully pale! Hurry back!"

Yang Xun’s brow furrowed sharply. "Is it serious?"

"Very. She won’t stop breaking out in cold sweats."

"I’m heading back right now." He hung up the phone and turned to Zhao Hongshan. "Mr. Zhao, there is an emergency in Zhonghai. I must leave immediately.

"I’ve practically finished regulating Linglong’s body. As long as she takes her medication on time, she will be fine. If you still see her as your daughter, think carefully about what I said today."

Zhao Hongshan nodded, offering an awkward, strained smile.

Yang Xun turned and headed toward the door. He had only taken two steps when hurried footsteps echoed behind him. He looked back to see that Zhao Linglong had come downstairs at some point. She stood at the foot of the stairs, clutching a simple cloth bag. Her eyes were still red, but her voice was extraordinarily firm.

"Dr. Yang, I’m going with you."

Everyone in the living room was stunned.

Madam Zhao was the first to react, her voice shrill and high-pitched. "Are you crazy? Why would a young lady like you run off with him? Do you even know what kind of person he is?"

"I know," Zhao Linglong said calmly. "Dr. Yang is a good person. He cured my illness and helped the Zhao Family. He is far more reliable than the people who just point fingers behind my back all day long."