Chapter 2867

Chapter 2867: Cheng Jin Severs Ties

"Xiao Chuan is reviewing at school. The college entrance exam is coming up, but he’ll be back for dinner soon," the mother said.

A trace of tenderness appeared in her eyes. This tenderness was not for Cheng Jin, but for Wen Chuan.

In the past, Cheng Jin would have felt sad seeing this. But after working at the Yuan Coffee Shop for a while and witnessing many partings and deaths, she no longer forced herself to seek that warmth.

"I heard you found a job?" the mother asked.

"Yes, just a part-time job," Cheng Jin said calmly. "It covers food and lodging, and there’s a salary. It’s not high, but it’s enough for my expenses."

"Mm." The mother acknowledged.

There seemed to be no other topics between mother and daughter. Or perhaps, the mother had long forgotten what to say to Cheng Jin.

And Cheng Jin no longer needed this awkward concern from her mother.

This distant treatment had become a habit between them.

When it was time to eat, Wen Chuan returned. Seeing Cheng Jin, he frowned slightly but said nothing.

"Alright, take your seats," the stepfather said, addressing Cheng Jin. "Xiao Jin, since you’re here, don’t stand on ceremony. Treat this as your home."

Treat this as your home. To put it plainly: You are not a member of this family. Remember to be polite.

If this were Cheng Jin ten years ago, she might have felt some resentment. But over these years, she had become peaceful.

She smiled faintly. "My job isn’t great, but at least I have a salary. Knowing it’s Mother’s fiftieth birthday, I couldn’t afford anything expensive, but I bought a small gift. I hope you won’t mind."

She took out a box and handed it to her mother.

The mother glanced at the box. The packaging was ordinary, and from the outside, it was clear the contents weren’t particularly valuable.

"It’s the thought that counts." She wasn’t close to this daughter. The fact that she came for a meal was enough.

Wen Chuan ate by himself. After a while, he said, "Actually, it doesn’t matter if you come or not. Our family isn’t missing anything without you."

"Xiao Chuan, don’t talk nonsense," the stepfather scolded.

Cheng Jin smiled faintly, showing no anger. "I know." She then poured a drink for her mother and stepfather.

"Actually, I’ve known for a long time that in the Wen family, I am just a passerby. That’s why I rarely come. My presence only reminds you of my mother’s past. For me, those are beautiful memories. But for Uncle and Mother, it’s a past you wish didn’t exist. So, I never planned to return."

Cheng Jin looked at her mother. "If you hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have come back. I didn’t expect that returning would make me a guest."

Cheng Jin’s smile was faint, devoid of emotion. "After all these years, I’ve let go."

She looked at her mother. "Today is your birthday, so I’ll speak plainly. Although I am your daughter, I know you don’t really want to see me. That’s fine. I won’t return anymore. You don’t need to worry about me. Those difficult days are over. Now I have a job, so I won’t starve. Rest assured."

She continued, "As for everything between you and my father in the past, it has nothing to do with me. You can resent that Father died early, but you can’t deny it existed. Of course, you can pretend she never existed. You don’t need to visit her grave during Cold Food Festival or Qingming. I will go."

Cheng Jin found that once she started speaking, it flowed smoothly, and she remained calm. "Since you don’t wish to remember us, father and daughter, I won’t appear again. From now on, I will transfer one thousand yuan to your card every month as alimony, fulfilling my legal obligation. As for me, I will never come back."

She stood up. "Finally, thank you, Mother. At least you brought me into this world. No matter how hard it was, you didn’t abandon me to live on the streets."

She pushed her chair back, turned, and added, "Also, I wish you happiness for the rest of your life. I’m leaving now."

Smiling, she nodded slightly to her mother, stepfather, and Wen Chuan, then left gracefully.

Her calm demeanor showed she wasn’t overly sorrowful. There was only a sense of relief.

Outside the residential compound, she looked at the sky. As she had predicted, she couldn’t stay here long.

Looking around, she prepared to cross the street when a car pulled up beside her.

The window rolled down, revealing Qian Huansheng. "Get in."

Cheng Jin was slightly surprised but didn’t refuse. She got into the passenger seat, buckled up, and asked, "Boss, why are you here?"

"Passing by." Qian Huansheng glanced at her calmly. "But you look in a good mood."

"I am." Cheng Jin smiled. "I’m free. From now on, I’m on my own."

Qian Huansheng glanced at Cheng Jin and started the car. "Being alone is clean."

Cheng Jin didn’t overthink it. "Actually, I had a feeling when I came. They said it was for her fiftieth birthday, but in truth, it was to cut ties."

Cheng Jin looked straight ahead. "My father was actually a very good man, and very talented. I remember when I was young, she disliked me for being a girl, but Father cherished me like a treasure. Unfortunately, when I was four, Father died in an accident. She was sad, and I was sad too, because I knew the person who loved me most was gone."

Cheng Jin’s eyes grew hazy, as if recalling the past. "A year later, she remarried. I became a burden following her. Another year later, her son was born, and I truly became superfluous."

Cheng Jin sighed deeply. "Although my food and clothing weren’t great, at least I wasn’t living on the streets. But later, when I started school, she only provided compulsory education. She didn’t even want to fulfill that, because I was always the last to pay management fees. Later, I started picking up scrap to save money, and then she stopped giving me money altogether."

"In high school, I paid my own fees. She never cared where my money came from."

Speaking of this, Cheng Jin laughed. "But I should thank her negligence. At least her neglect allowed me to do my own things. I worked part-time while studying. At first, I picked up scrap. When I was old enough, I washed dishes, served plates, and did hourly work. I basically did everything I could, like delivering food and milk. I stumbled through university graduation."

Cheng Jin took a deep breath. "Now life is better. I inexplicably became a Heavenly Master. Although I can’t calculate everything about myself, I know that those who become Heavenly Masters usually have few relatives. So I predicted that this return was to sever ties. Indeed, it ended. To be honest, when I said I would only pay alimony and never come here again, I actually felt relieved. Very light."

Cheng Jin looked at Qian Huansheng. "Boss, do you think I’m too unfeeling and ungrateful?"

Qian Huansheng said calmly, "Mortals have a saying that fits best: 'If you respect me a foot, I respect you a yard.' I think what you did is fine. There’s no such thing as being unfeeling. Besides—"

Qian Huansheng paused. "If you were truly unfeeling, you wouldn’t have made this trip."

Cheng Jin had returned only because she still held the last shred of hope for亲情 (family affection).

Cheng Jin smiled and took a sandalwood box from her bag, opening it. "Actually, I originally planned to give this agarwood bead bracelet blessed with a peace talisman. But seeing their attitude, I just gave a silver bracelet instead. After all, I have no money."

Qian Huansheng laughed heartily. "Cheng Jin, you haven’t disappointed me."

"Huh?" Cheng Jin looked at Qian Huansheng in surprise, not understanding his meaning.

Qian Huansheng said, "From the day you inherited the Heavenly Master legacy, you’ve been different from normal people. In your life, you will witness too many partings and deaths. You may even personally send your relatives into the cycle of life and death. If you cannot comprehend this, you cannot transcend. Now that your family ties are severed, it means one thing: you have embarked on the true path of a Heavenly Master."

"What does this have to do with whether I gave a bracelet or a bangle?" Cheng Jin asked.

"If you had given the bracelet, she might have come to you someday to solve troubles. Giving the bangle showed your intent, but the ties are cut. There’s no dragging feet. I don’t need to worry that you’ll be sad when you see your relatives die in the future." Qian Huansheng gave the answer.

Cheng Jin blinked slightly. "I said I would pay alimony every month. Other than that, I don’t plan to go back. And judging by her appearance, she can live at least twenty-five more years. Who knows what I’ll be like in twenty-five years? Even if we meet again, it’ll be just like that."

Life and death are but a thin line. Having seen through yin and yang, it’s just a transition from this world to another. For Cheng Jin, there was truly no such thing as sadness.

"You can’t say that entirely. I secretly calculated that your half-brother has only two years of life left." Qian Huansheng was quite direct.

(⊙o⊙)… Cheng Jin turned to look at Qian Huansheng. "He’s only twenty years old this year. Are you sure he only has two years left?"

Qian Huansheng nodded. "Karma from a past life must be repaid in this life. Do you want to save him?"

"Let nature take its course," Cheng Jin said calmly. "If karma allows him to avoid death, I’ll help him along the way. If there’s truly no chance of survival, I won’t defy heaven to change fate. After all, I don’t have that much saintly heart."

After speaking, Cheng Jin smiled slightly at Qian Huansheng. "Hearing me say this, are you very disappointed in me?"