Chapter 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?