When the Zeng family returned, Zeng Jingrong came to see them and also revealed his true identity to his superiors.
The special skills team had always been given a great deal of freedom and was not constrained by strict rules.
Zeng Jingrong naturally learned about Tian Jing.
After tasting the watermelon, Zeng Jingrong believed that Tian Jing had inherited the Zeng family's special abilities.
His attention to Tian Jing increased.
Sun Liyang knew martial arts and had also joined the special skills team.
Sun Liyang was unconvinced of Zeng Jingrong's leadership, believing that special abilities were a trick and martial arts were more practical.
He clashed with the martial arts faction and the special abilities faction several times.
Zeng Jingrong punished him, but he refused to yield.
He had also framed Zeng Jingrong several times, but Zeng Jingrong had always proven his innocence.
Sun Liyang, on his own, had made the special skills team a mess, and Zeng Jingrong requested that Sun Liyang be transferred.
Sun Liyang held a grudge and kept an eye on Zeng Jingrong, looking for an opportunity to bring him down.
Upon discovering Zeng Jingrong's attention to Tian Jing, he also turned his focus to Tian Jing.
He then noticed the resemblance between Tian Jing and Han Shuzhen, and assumed Tian Jing was part of the Han family.
When the matter of the formation in Kushan arose, Tian Jing became involved, and Sun Liyang seized the opportunity to investigate.
Zeng Jingrong had long noticed Sun Liyang's overt targeting of Tian Jing but could not intervene.
Because if he did, Sun Liyang would expose Tian Jing as not being Chen Yaoming's daughter.
From what Zeng Jingchu knew of Tian Jing, she was a straightforward person with a tough exterior but a soft heart.
Everyone was waiting for an opportunity.
After Tian Jing was brought back to Kyoto by Sun Liyang, Zeng Jingrong planned to request the case of the formation from his superiors.
However, Li Zhengguo was faster.
But Tian Jing's release was not entirely due to Haohao and Xiaobo.
The two children had only just joined the team and could not immediately release Tian Jing, as she had been arrested by the Ministry of Public Security.
It was Zeng Jingrong who reported to his superiors that Tian Jing was his long-lost sister, possessed special abilities, and might be of considerable rank. The two newly joined youths were his nephews.
The authorities adopted a conciliatory policy towards such self-taught individuals with special abilities, and thus Tian Jing was released.
After Tian Jing's release, everyone expected Sun Liyang to continue searching for evidence, but he remained unusually quiet.
It was only when Sun Liyang found Liu Yuelian that Zeng Jingrong realized Sun Liyang had started from Grandpa Xiao.
Following Sun Liyang's actions closely, he discovered that the man had privately collected hair samples from everyone related to Tian Jing and, after secretly conducting a paternity test abroad, Zeng Jingrong quickly contacted the Ministry of Public Security.
This led to the scene of Wan Zhongshan pursuing Sun Liyang.
"Tiantian, my mother has regretted it for over twenty years. After not being able to find you, she couldn't sleep at night, and her health deteriorated."
"After I met you, I told her about your past and present."
"She feels sorry for the suffering you endured, rejoices in your strength, and regrets her selfishness."
"The main reason she sent you away was her fear of her in-laws finding out."
"When I brought back the vegetables and watermelons you grew, she cried with joy."
"After developing your photos, she asked me to have two extra copies made, one for her bedroom and one for the main hall."
"I don't ask for your forgiveness, only that you acknowledge us three as your blood relatives."
Tian Jing calmly stood up and reached for a photo on the wall.
Zeng Jingchu held her arm, "Tiantian..."
Tian Jing pushed his hand away and continued tearing.
"Don't force me to act against you. You not asking for her forgiveness but asking me to acknowledge you three is just a roundabout excuse."
"Not only is she selfish, but you all are. None of you considered your father, who was the most deeply hurt, nor me, an abandoned daughter who no longer needs parents."
"If you abandon someone, don't regret it, because there's no turning back in this world."
After tearing down all the photos, Tian Jing reached out to Zeng Jingchu, "Please give me the other two copies back."
"Tiantian."
The woman wept, "Can't you forgive me? You are a parent too..."
Tian Jing interrupted her, "It is precisely because I am a parent that I know how important children are to me."
"You regret your selfishness and want peace of mind. Should others indulge you?"
"Look at your husband beside you, and think about Zeng Jingchu's efforts in seeking the truth. Are you planning to cling to your selfishness to the end?"
"Is my forgiveness that important? If it is, then I forgive you. You don't need to feel guilty anymore."
"Because I not only grew up safely, but I also have a happy and fulfilling family. You can rest assured."
"Use the remainder of your life to regret other things."
"Everything ends here. Please do not disturb my life anymore."
Tian Jing turned to Zeng Jingchu, "Mr. Zeng, I have no right to interfere with the watermelon business, because no matter how selfish I am, I will not harm others' interests. Public matters are public, and private matters are private."
"Tell Zeng Jingrong I'll be waiting for him at Houyizi Hutong. Please bring me the other two photos."
With that, Tian Jing left without looking back.
Regardless of whether the Wang family's private kitchen in the first life had caused Zeng Jingliang's death, it was not an excuse for the Zeng family to stop looking for her.
The only possibility was that they had found her, but found her too foolish and without special abilities, and thus disliked her.
She didn't blame them, as any prominent family would look down on mediocrity.
But why were they looking for her now?
Money? She didn't need it.
Fame? She didn't have it yet.
Therefore, what the Zeng family valued in her was her future.
Given her indifferent nature, her future lay in her four children, no, her three children with special abilities.
Her children would never be others' pride, only the pride of her and her husband.
What business was it of others how she and her husband raised their children?
Blood ties? Heh, she didn't need them when she was independent and strong!
The person who needed them was the Tian Jing of the first life.
In the courtyard, Han Shuzhen was weeping uncontrollably.
Zeng Honglin sighed, "Shuzhen, the child has grown up and has her own children. Let's just maintain a distant relationship."
"Take it slow. The child has a strong personality. She suffered so much, all caused by the previous generation. She won't forgive easily."
Han Shuzhen looked up at her husband with teary eyes, "I'm sorry. Tiantian is right, I was selfish. Just let me be selfish one more time. I want to cry freely."
"After this, I will pull myself together and make up for what I owe you and our two sons. I'm afraid time will not be enough for me to do so."
Zeng Honglin got up and walked to his wife, pulling her into his arms, "Cry, one last time."
Leaning into her husband's warm embrace, Han Shuzhen sobbed, "Wuwu..."
Zeng Jingchu quietly led his elder brother out of the main hall.
"You saw Tiantian's personality. She is not the gentle sister you wanted."
Zeng Jingliang nodded, "She is quite strong, but it's not bad to have such a sister."
Zeng Jingchu stopped, "Brother, she doesn't acknowledge us."
"It doesn't matter." Zeng Jingliang was unconcerned.
"After I get together with Afeng, I'll live in Kushan. She'll get used to me sooner or later."
Zeng Jingchu thought his brother's idea was good, but, "If Yuanman and Damai get together, Afeng will be one generation younger than Tiantian. What about you?"
Zeng Jingliang scratched his head, "Should I call her Aunt?"
Zeng Jingchu burst into laughter, "Tiantian would probably kick you out of Kushan."
Zeng Jingliang remained optimistic, "That would be good too, proving I've stirred her emotions."