The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 102

Shen Nian opened her eyes so abruptly that her assistant jumped.

“Nian-jie?” The assistant cautiously approached with a bottle of water. “Do you want some water?”

Shen Nian shook her head. Seeing the assistant pull back, she felt a dryness in her throat and reached out. “…Give it to me.” She took the bottle, unscrewed the cap, but didn’t drink immediately, merely tilting her head back to wet her lips.

“Do you think Chen Xi is suitable to play Gu Zikan?”

“Huh?” The assistant blinked, realizing Shen Nian was talking to her. Sensing her boss’s odd mood, she didn’t dare praise Chen Xi further. “I… I don’t know, but the crew’s choice… shouldn’t be wrong, right?”

Shen Nian held out her hand. “Give it to me.”

“What?”

“The phone.” Shen Nian gestured with her eyes. “You added Chen Xi just now, didn’t you?”

“Right!” The assistant pulled out the phone, unlocked it, and handed it over. Shen Nian tapped the screen a few times, handed it back, and leaned back into the seat with her eyes closed.

Curious, the assistant checked the phone. Shen Nian hadn’t hidden her tracks; the communication app showed that the work account had pushed Chen Xi’s contact card to Shen Nian’s private account.

A month remained before Shen Nian was due on set. The assistant didn’t need to follow her closely during this time and was recalled to the company by Mo Huai. However, two weeks later, the team was called in to handle a PR crisis. In the news, a paparazzo had caught Shen Nian and Chen Xi out together.

“How did she end up getting mixed up with Chen Xi?” Mo Huai ran a hand through her hair and dialed Shen Nian, only to be met with a busy signal. Frustrated, she tossed the phone onto the desk with a heavy thud.

Amidst the silence, the assistant spoke up timidly. “Teacher Chen is the co-star for Nian-jie’s next movie. Maybe they were just out to discuss the script?”

Mo Huai gave her a long look. “Have you ever seen her go out alone with anyone else before?”

The assistant, having been with Shen Nian for less than a year, shook her head. “Has she never?”

Mo Huai scoffed. “Heh.”

“But she took the initiative to add Teacher Chen’s contact info,” the assistant added. “On her private account.”

Mo Huai turned, her pupils dilated like a ghost in a horror movie. “What?!”

While the team was in chaos, Shen Nian had just hung up a call with Chen Xi.

Thick curtains blocked the sunlight. Despite it being day, the bedroom was dim. Shen Nian didn’t turn on the lights, choosing to hide in the shadows. The glow from her phone screen illuminated her sharp, defined features.

She scrolled through her recent chats with Chen Xi. Most were work-related, discussing the script and character settings. Chen Xi wasn’t just a pretty face; her insights were unique. Their conversations were never boring, and the sparks of inspiration benefited Shen Nian greatly.

She thought to herself: I have a good impression of her. Moreover, Chen Xi was exactly her type.

The thought made her pause. Her type?

No, Chen Xi was nothing like Xi You. Xi You was lively and cute, while Chen Xi was mature and refined—two extremes. Why did she think Chen Xi was her type? Shen Nian didn’t dare think deeper.

Realizing the fridge was empty and wanting to avoid takeout, she decided to go grocery shopping. Despite the recent scandal, she put on a mask and hat and headed out.

She drove aimlessly, her mind drifting until she found herself parked in front of a small, high-end supermarket. When she realized where she was, she froze like a statue.

There was nothing wrong with the supermarket. The problem was its location—it was next to A University, the complex where Shen Zui and Shen Nian had once lived together.

A voice in her head asked: What are you afraid of?

She stepped out of the car. The supermarket was small but well-stocked, primarily serving the local residents. Though Shen Nian didn’t remember being here, her body felt familiar with the layout. Within ten minutes, her cart was half-full of her favorite foods.

Finally, she wandered toward the snack section. The layout was clever, placing children’s toys right next to the snacks. Shen Nian intended to walk straight through, but a familiar voice made her stop.

“…Can I only pick one?” Sunny blinked her big eyes, looking pitifully at Shen Zui.

“Mhm, we agreed before we left.” Shen Zui nodded, stroking the girl’s hair. “You can think about it some more.”

Sunny looked at the two plushies in her arms, her brow furrowed in a struggle. Shen Nian hid behind a shelf, watching the warm interaction. Eventually, Sunny gave up the blue dolphin.

“You already have many rabbit plushies,” Shen Zui noted.

“Yes,” Sunny nodded, touching the rabbit’s ears. “But the other bunnies are at home waiting for her. If she doesn’t go back, they’ll cry.”

Shen Zui was amused by her logic. Despite her choice, the little girl looked longingly at the dolphin. Shen Zui almost relented, but she forced herself to stick to the rules. “Decided? Let’s go check out then.”

“Mhm!” Sunny reached up for Shen Zui to carry her. “Let’s go, we have to let the bunnies meet soon.”

As they left, Shen Nian walked to the shelf. She looked at the blue dolphin plushie Sunny had left behind; its tail was slightly crooked from being handled.

Shen Nian didn’t buy any snacks. When she checked out, her cart contained one blue dolphin plushie.

She didn’t know why she bought it. Back in the car, she even considered driving away and throwing it out, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. After ten minutes of internal struggle, she slowly took the elevator up to the apartment.

The hallway was clean, and several courier boxes were neatly stacked on a cabinet by the door. Shen Nian had a sudden inspiration. She placed the dolphin on top of the boxes. Then she moved it to the cabinet. She kept adjusting it, unsatisfied.

Suddenly, the elevator dinged.

Shen Nian jumped and turned to see Shen Zui walking out. Both were startled, but they regained their composure within seconds. Shen Zui was holding a small rabbit plushie. She looked at the dolphin in Shen Nian’s hand with a complex gaze.

“I… I came to see Sunny,” Shen Nian explained dryly.

“She’s not here,” Shen Zui said, unlocking the door with her fingerprint. “She has a drawing class today.”

Shen Nian followed her into the foyer. “You left her there alone?”

“There’s a nanny,” Shen Zui replied, pausing her movement to take off her shoes to look at her.

“Oh.” Shen Nian stood there, lost for words.

“Do you want to come in for a bit?” Shen Zui asked. “Or give the toy to me, and I’ll pass it to her tonight?”

“I… I’ll have a glass of water,” Shen Nian said, peeking inside.

“Go sit in the living room,” Shen Zui said, checking her phone. She went to the dining area to make a call. Her tone was serious and professional; she was clearly handling work.

Soon, Shen Zui brought water and fruit over. “The nanny isn’t here, I just prepared some simple things.”

“It’s fine,” Shen Nian nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Shen Zui sat on the opposite sofa, her posture relaxed but not sloppy, treating Shen Nian like a familiar guest. Shen Nian placed the dolphin among a pile of toys on the sofa. Compared to the luxury toys in the “treasure hoard,” the 800-yuan dolphin looked modest.

“I finally got her to agree to a rule, and then you come and disrupt our plan,” Shen Zui said.

“Sorry… I just thought she’d like this one. If you don’t want to give it to her…”

Shen Zui gave a light scoff. “And then what? You’ll take it back?”

Shen Nian bit her lip and fell silent.

Shen Zui stood up. As she approached, Shen Nian’s heart rate accelerated. She could smell the faint cold plum fragrance on Shen Zui. Shen Nian’s hands trembled. She told herself she was afraid—as if she were still a prisoner in that old building, and Shen Zui was still the spirit who drained her essence every month.

But Shen Zui only leaned over to place the new rabbit plushie into the pile, right next to the dolphin. The two looked harmonious together.

“Stay for dinner?” Shen Zui invited. “Sunny misses you. She’d be happy to see you when she gets back.”

“Is that so?” Shen Nian took a deep breath. “Won’t my staying disrupt your other plans?”

“What plans?” Shen Zui asked.

“Like… plans to gradually forget Shen Nian,” Shen Nian said, looking up to meet her eyes.

A glimmer of something unreadable flashed in Shen Zui’s eyes. She shook her head. “I don’t know where you got that idea. We’ve never thought that.”

“You seem to be doing a good job of it,” Shen Nian retorted.

The atmosphere became oppressive. Shen Nian tried to soften her words: “I just saw that you were doing well lately. I thought my appearance might disturb you. I can leave…”

“At first, Sunny wouldn’t stop crying,” Shen Zui interrupted. “I had no choice but to guide her to not miss you too much. If you’re unhappy with how I handled it, can you tell me what I should have done?”

Shen Nian was speechless. She looked down at her feet, which were pointed toward Shen Zui’s.

Shen Zui placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are you afraid of me?”

“No,” Shen Nian lied.

“We’ve never talked about this…” Shen Zui suddenly knelt down. She leaned against Shen Nian’s knees and looked up at her, her hand moving from the shoulder to the back of Shen Nian’s hand. “In your memory, you were framed by Xi You and pushed off a rooftop. In your version of the script, what role do I play?”

Shen Nian shook her head. “I don’t know. We aren’t actually close…”

Shen Zui’s body swayed.

“Like our relationship before I became an adult,” Shen Nian continued. Seeing the pain in Shen Zui’s eyes, a surge of curiosity hit her. “Don’t you find the ‘me’ of this world strange? For over ten years we were strangers under the same roof. Why did she suddenly walk into that small building and… mark you?”

Her eyes landed on Shen Zui’s neck with an aggressive, predatory gaze.

Shen Zui’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

“I even once wondered if I had been reborn,” Shen Nian said, leaning back and looking at the ceiling. “But even if I was, I would never have chosen to approach you.”

Shen Zui’s eyes looked shattered. The winter sun was setting, bleeding gold into the clouds. The room was quiet.

“So you aren’t her,” Shen Zui whispered.

“Then who am I?”

“She loved me. We adored each other.” It was as if Shen Zui was at a dead end, struggling to survive. A flush appeared on her face as she looked away. “You aren’t her, so you won’t understand her choices. Niannian… my Niannian is different from you.”

She tried to stand up, but Shen Nian grabbed her arm forcefully. “What on earth are you saying?”

A surge of irritation rose in Shen Nian. She couldn’t stand hearing Shen Zui separate her from this “Niannian.”

“Do you care?” Shen Zui managed a weak smile. She pressed her free hand against Shen Nian’s chest. The rapid heartbeat vibrated through her fingertips. “Without your past memories, you’re doing just fine. Isn’t a clean break from the past what you wanted?”

Shen Nian opened her mouth to respond, but her phone rang. It was Chen Xi. Shen Nian grit her teeth and answered.

“Shen Nian? What are you doing?” Chen Xi’s voice was gentle and moving. “I have a friend in City H who can arrange a private tour of some old gardens. Are you free lately? We could go together.”

Shen Zui tried to pull her hand back but failed.

“Sorry,” Shen Nian said into the phone, her eyes fixed on Shen Zui. “Thank you for the offer, but I—”

“Why?” Chen Xi interrupted with a sigh. “Because of the paparazzi? Is your company telling you not to see me? You’re free; you shouldn’t be controlled by them.”

“No,” Shen Nian said firmly. “It has nothing to do with the company. It’s my own reason.”

Chen Xi laughed softly. “I didn’t realize you were such a slow-burn person. Well, can I still discuss script details with you?”

“If you think it’s necessary.”

“Does our talk have to be limited to work?” Chen Xi probed further. “I’m very interested in your private life.”

Shen Nian fell silent. Her relationship with Chen Xi had indeed surpassed that of most colleagues. She had never added a co-worker on her private account before, let alone been the one to initiate it.

“I—”

“It’s not convenient.”

A sharp voice cut her off. Shen Nian looked down at Shen Zui, who was staring intently at the phone.

“Shen Nian?” Chen Xi was surprised. “Is someone with you?”

“Her family would mind,” Shen Zui added.

Before Chen Xi could respond, Shen Zui leaned forward and pressed the red button, ending the call.

Shen Nian watched it all without stopping her. She propped her chin on her hand, watching Shen Zui act as if nothing had happened.

“It’s getting late…” Shen Zui said, starting to get up.

Shen Nian, still holding her arm, gave a sharp tug. The off-balance Shen Zui fell directly into her arms. Shen Zui propped herself up. Having been the one to pull her, Shen Nian now felt a sudden awkwardness. She looked out the window at the bleak winter landscape.

“Get up—”

Before she could finish, a pair of soft lips covered hers. Shen Nian’s eyes widened. Shen Zui was straddling her, her fingers threading through Shen Nian’s hair. The plum fragrance felt like a net, trapping them on the sofa.

Toys were knocked over—the dolphin and the rabbit fell to the rug, still huddled together. In the final rays of the setting sun, the rabbit’s button eyes reflected the scene on the sofa:

Shen Nian had taken control, pinning Shen Zui down to claim the kiss.