After the Vicious Supporting Female Character Became the Heroine's Cat - Chapter 36.1

As soon as Jian Shen explained the matter to Cheng Jianian, she immediately agreed. Thinking about it, it had been almost two years since she last acted in a film. It would be good to make an appearance in front of the public again, and it would also be convenient for promoting the company.

Of course, that wasn’t the main reason. The main reason was that the young CEO didn’t want to be separated from her girlfriend every day that feeling was just too unpleasant.

Perhaps it was a common side effect of being in love.

She wished she could stay inseparable from Shen Yunmiao every single day, feeling that only then would it truly be like being in love.

However, she didn’t dare say this to Shen Yunmiao. She kept these thoughts to herself.

Seeing how agreeable she was, Jian Shen quickly handed her the script.

The script wasn’t particularly complicated. Jian Shen’s new film was titled Seventeen. Judging by the name, most people would probably assume it was a beautiful, youthful romance, but it was nothing of the sort.

The female lead, played by Shen Yunmiao, was named Ning Hanyu. Ning Hanyu was an illegitimate child, and her mother had passed away when she was very young.

Yet it was this mother, who had left the world so early, who cast an indelible shadow over her entire life.

When Ning Hanyu’s mother was young, she was deceived by her university professor and gave birth to a child, only to be cruelly abandoned. In her rage, she chose to take revenge on Ning Hanyu’s father. In the process, she accidentally stabbed and killed the hypocritical man and his wife.

Then, she took her own life.

The infant Ning Hanyu was taken in and raised by her aunt. On one hand, she was instilled with the belief that she was inherently sinful because of her “demonic” mother; on the other hand, she faced ostracism at home from her half-sister, who shared the same father.

Her middle school years were the most difficult time of her life.

Her older half-sister, one grade above her, ingratiated herself with the school’s notorious rich girl and joined in bullying her.

Cheng Jianian’s mouth twitched as she read this part, because she was cast as that very arrogant rich girl.

It had to be said that Jian Shen was indeed sharp-eyed, instantly recognizing the shared traits between her and this character: the disdain for life, the haughty indifference, and the selfish self-interest that cared for nothing beyond oneself.

In the film, the rich girl’s personality was cleverly woven into the plot.

She didn’t simply bully Ning Hanyu; rather, she toyed with her like an ant. Or perhaps, whether it was Ning Hanyu or anyone else, it made no difference to her.

So, after indulging in a period of bullying, as the crowd dispersed, she curiously watched the girl who was about to take her own life and asked the question that would alter Ning Hanyu’s life trajectory:

“Since you have a knife, why are you pointing it at yourself?”

The rich girl wasn’t moved by compassion for this life; she was merely curious. With a strange smile, she said, “If you were to stab someone else, maybe I’d even help you.”

From that moment, the climax of the film officially began.

At seventeen, the innocent girl died amid the bullying.

The girl who survived became a gleeful perpetrator, creating one disaster after another, taking revenge on society and the demons, and denouncing a world that stood by and did nothing.

It wasn’t until she voluntarily turned herself in and was arrested that she killed her final victim, the very rich girl who had led her into darkness.

She used a homemade handgun to kill the person who had guided her into the abyss.

And the name of that handgun was “Death of a Mentor.”

After finishing the script, Cheng Jianian felt a mix of emotions. “The characters are all richly developed.”

Jian Shen: “Hahaha, just some nonsense I wrote when I was young.”

Regardless, Cheng Jianian was quite satisfied with this role because it would give her many scenes with Shen Yunmiao.

The mere thought of it brought her joy.

However, Cheng Jianian was now desperate to know whether she had unintentionally done something terrible during her high school years whether she had ever made Shen Yunmiao feel bullied.

Her memories from that time were shrouded in a foggy haze, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall them clearly.

All that remained in her memory was the image of a young girl leaning by the window, her neat white school uniform outlining her soft figure, her ponytail gently swaying.

She turned her head and smiled at her.

But as for what they had said or done, Cheng Jianian had no recollection at all.

It was as if something had deliberately erased her memories, leaving only vague impressions behind.

Unsure of where to go from here, Cheng Jianian could only take things one day at a time.

Just then, Shen Yunmiao finished filming a scene and walked over. She had just shot a scene where her character, now an ordinary city teacher, went to report a case. Though dressed simply, she exuded a gentle aura.

She smiled and asked, “Director Jian, what were you talking about?”

Jian Shen waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing much, just asking if Miss Cheng would be willing to do us the honor.”

Cheng Jianian casually pulled Shen Yunmiao onto her lap. “I’ve agreed.”

There was no need to ask why Shen Yunmiao knew the reason. Wrapping her arms around Cheng Jianian’s neck, she whispered, “Hurry up and let me down.”

“Why should I? You’re my wife.” Cheng Jianian didn’t mind that Jian Shen was still watching. In fact, she remembered all too clearly the foolish things Jian Shen had done in the past.

She was making a point of it now.

Jian Shen sighed helplessly, recalling how she had once invited Shen Yunmiao to discuss the script late at night. She felt a little guilty, though she genuinely hadn’t thought much of it at the time.

Clapping her hands in resignation, she said, “Miss Cheng, if you’re satisfied, shall we sign the contract?”

“Sure.”

Cheng Jianian leaned against Shen Yunmiao, completely immersed in her cool, snow-like scent.

Shen Yunmiao was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. Embarrassed, she nudged Cheng Jianian, signaling her to stop. It was one thing for Jian Shen to see, but there were many paparazzi outside the set.

Miss Cheng, however, didn’t seem to care. “Relax, no one would dare take photos. And even if they did, they wouldn’t dare publish them.”

“When you win the international Best Actress award, I’ll let them publish it.”

Jian Shen couldn’t take any more of this and quickly went to fetch the contract.

Shen Yunmiao held onto Cheng Jianian’s neck and sighed. “Why have you been so clingy lately?”

“Hmph, if your girlfriend is clingy, it must be because you’re not giving her enough sense of security.” Cheng Jianian snorted coldly, though deep down, she was quietly burying her unease.

Shen Yunmiao had no idea what she had done wrong. “What more sense of security do you need? Should I go public with our relationship right now?”

She was completely serious. Shen Yunmiao had never taken her acting career too seriously and was willing to do anything.

Cheng Jianian bit her gently on her fair arm, leaving a painless but red mark. “No, I don’t want that. Tell me, Miaomiao, do you remember what happened between us in high school?”

Shen Yunmiao was taken aback by the question but replied, “I don’t remember much, but I do recall you often playing the piano on stage. I used to take lots of photos of you every time.”

“But later, my sister told me to stop, so I did.”

She had said it without thinking.

But both of them froze for a moment. Cheng Jianian frowned, “You have an older sister?”

Shen Yunmiao’s head suddenly ached as well, as if something was struggling to break through the surface but couldn’t quite emerge from the soil.

Gradually, it seemed her memory filled in the gaps on its own.

A vague figure surfaced in her mind, and she nodded softly, “Yes, a sister I met at the welfare home, but we’ve lost touch.”

Hearing this, Cheng Jianian had no choice but to drop the subject.

She then asked, “Then, when we have time, shall we visit her?”

Shen Yunmiao quickly waved her hand, “No, no need. It feels like it’s been so long since I last saw her, I can barely remember what she looks like now.”

Cheng Jianian rubbed her cheek affectionately and smiled, “From now on, your friends are my friends. Any kindness you can’t repay, I’ll repay for you.”

Shen Yunmiao chuckled, “What do you mean? Are you planning to buy the welfare home?”

Cheng Jianian shrugged, “It’s a nonprofit organization. I can only sponsor it.”

Shen Yunmiao gently brushed aside a few stray strands of Cheng Jianian’s hair and whispered, “You’ve already sponsored it.”

Long before you knew me, you were already my savior.

Shen Yunmiao thought to herself.

Just then, Jian Shen returned with the contract, respectfully handing it over. “President Cheng, please take a look.”

Cheng Jianian replied lazily, “It’s fine, just sign it.”

She casually scrawled her flamboyant signature.

Jian Shen took the opportunity to ask, “President Cheng, in a little while, should we hold a press conference?”

“Press conference?”

Generally, film launch events aren’t overly grand, but Jian Shen’s project had received a significant portion of Mercury Entertainment’s budget this year, so a bit of fanfare was understandable.

Cheng Jianian said offhandedly, “Alright, we’ll discuss the details when the time comes.”

Jian Shen suggested, “Then I’ll pick a few possible dates, and you can choose whichever works for you?”

“Mm.”

Shen Yunmiao went back to filming. In this movie, her character Ning Hanyu had a complex role, she was simultaneously a victim of evil, a bystander to evil, and a creator of evil.

As a result, her scenes essentially spanned the entire film.

Today’s shoot focused on Ning Hanyu’s adult life, which was relatively straightforward and didn’t require intense emotional depth.

Cheng Jianian handled her own work while waiting for Shen Yunmiao to finish filming. At noon, Zuo Ying brought lunch and informed her that Qiao Jingshu had taken the fall for everything.

Not wanting Shen Yunmiao to be troubled by such matters, Cheng Jianian said irritably, “Is she out of her mind? What did Li Shengran promise her?”

Zuo Ying, who knew her former colleague quite well, sighed helplessly, “You know Li Shengran’s temperament. Since he’s avoiding prison now, he’s bound to seek revenge wildly.”

“Let him do as he pleases,” Cheng Jianian waved her hand dismissively. “The security team isn’t just for show. But make sure to emphasize they must protect Miaomio at all costs. She absolutely cannot be harmed.”

Zuo Ying was well aware of Shen Yunmiao’s importance to her boss and repeatedly assured her. Before leaving, she hesitated and said, “There’s one more thing, boss. Old President Cheng seems to.”

“What, trying to meddle in my affairs again?” Cheng Jianian had known all along that her relationship with Shen Yunmiao wouldn’t stay hidden from Cheng Su for long she never intended to keep it a secret. “Let her be. I’ll visit the old house in a couple of days.”

Zuo Ying agreed and was about to leave when Cheng Jianian thought of something and called her back, “Wait! Make sure Miaomio doesn’t find out about any of this. Let her focus on filming in peace.”

Zuo Ying retreated to the entrance of the lounge just as Shen Yunmiao finished filming and approached. Surprised, Shen Yunmiao asked, “President Zuo, what brings you here?”

Zuo Ying didn’t dare let her address him so formally and quickly replied, “Miss Shen, I’m here to see President Cheng. It’s nothing serious. Please, just call me Zuo Ying next time.”

Shen Yunmiao blinked, sensing a subtle tension in the air. But when she met Cheng Jianian’s gaze, Cheng Jianian appeared relaxed and gentle, standing up and walking toward her. “You finished filming already? I just stepped away from the set for a moment, and you were done.”

Cheng Jianian naturally leaned her face closer. With Zuo Ying still present, Shen Yunmiao felt too shy to say anything.

She could only murmur, “Next time, you don’t have to wait for me outside. The lounge is fine.”

She knew Cheng Jianian wouldn’t want to wait at home or at the company.

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