The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 26

About five minutes after Shen Nian left the styling club, the manager, who was busy tidying up, received a phone call.

The voice on the other end asked, “Where is Shen Nian?”

“President Shen.” Detecting a hint of coldness in her tone, the manager replied cautiously, “Miss Shen just left.”

Shen Zui fell silent for two seconds. “…Can you get her back?”

“Uh…” The manager froze for a moment and scratched her head. “Miss Shen called her own car to leave. Do—do you need us to go find her?”

This time, the silence from Shen Zui lasted even longer. She lowered her phone and browsed through the photos Shen Nian had sent in their chat, her thumb tracing over the girl’s graceful silhouette.

“President Shen?” the manager called out softly when she received no response.

“Never mind,” Shen Zui snapped back to reality. “Forget it.” With that, she hung up.

“High Night” was very close to Central Avenue; Shen Nian arrived at her destination in under ten minutes.

This area could be described as the ultimate microcosm of City A’s bustling nightlife. The dazzling neon signs on the buildings flanking the street nearly outshone the stars and moon, a kaleidoscope of ever-changing light.

As soon as Shen Nian stepped out of the car, she was greeted by the heavy scent of alcohol mixed with the expensive perfumes of passersby. Even without taking a sip, one could feel intoxicated just by standing there.

A breeze swept past, and she took a light breath, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear after closing the car door. Nearby, a group of men with brightly dyed hair passed by. Seeing a young girl, they whistled and let out some crude, suggestive laughter.

Just as the taxi drove away, Shen Nian happened to make eye contact with them.

The men had wicked smirks on their faces, intending to use their usual harassment tactics on her. However, the moment their eyes met, they froze. Their gazes became fixed, but the noise in their throats died out. In the next second, they tripped over their own feet and stumbled forward, nearly falling prostrate at Shen Nian’s feet.

By the time they regained their footing and looked up, Shen Nian had already reached the entrance of “High Night.” The night partially obscured her breathtaking features, but even from her silhouette alone, her perfect curves and poise left much to the imagination.

The weakest of the men almost chased after her, but a companion grabbed his arm.

“Are you crazy?” the yellow-haired one muttered, wiping his nose. “Look where you are!”

The man snapped out of it and spat on the ground. A nearby security guard glared at him, scaring him so much he stumbled back three steps, nearly falling over again.

As a member-only high-end bar, “High Night” had a very strict screening process.

At the entrance, Shen Nian watched as security personnel took photos and verified IDs, taking quite a while before letting two male guests through. However, a young girl nearby wasn’t as lucky. She wasn’t a member and couldn’t get in touch with her friends inside, so she was being politely but firmly escorted aside.

When it was Shen Nian’s turn, to avoid wasting time with questions, she simply presented the membership card Shen Zui had given her.

The moment the guard saw the black card, his expression shifted instantly to one of fawning servility. He carefully swiped the card, then bowed as he handed it back with both hands. “Miss Shen, would you like to open a booth, or…?”

“No need,” Shen Nian waved him off. “I’m looking for someone.”

“Oh, understood. Which booth, please?”

“Booth 6,” Shen Nian replied.

“Very well.” He briskly logged her entry and stepped aside with a wide grin. “Booth 6 is straight ahead, then the third door on the left. I wish you a pleasant evening.”

Shen Nian gave a slight nod. “Thank you.”

Just as she was about to walk in, the young girl who had been blocked earlier suddenly ran over. “He—hello!”

Shen Nian turned to look. Bars preferred dim lighting, especially at the entrance. Because Shen Nian was backlit, Tao Di couldn’t see her face clearly, but her heart skipped a beat nonetheless. Some people don’t need details; their mere silhouette is enough to set them apart from the crowd.

“Um…” It took Tao Di a moment to find her voice. “I… I’m also going to Booth 6. Could—could I trouble you to…” She didn’t know Shen Nian and wasn’t sure how to ask for help.

Shen Nian, however, recognized her.

“Sure,” she nodded. “Come in with me.”

Tao Di’s eyes lit up. “Really?” She quickly hurried to Shen Nian’s side. The security guard still watched her warily, but with Shen Nian vouching for her, no one blocked her path this time.

“Thank you so much!” Tao Di’s heart was racing, whether from excitement or nerves, she wasn’t sure. “Are you…” She couldn’t help but observe Shen Nian as they walked. “Are you also a friend of Nana-jie?”

“Nana-jie?” Shen Nian thought for a moment. “Mi (Mi Na)?”

Tao Di nodded. “Yes!”

Shen Nian shook her head. “I don’t know her.”

“Eh?” Tao Di’s eyes widened.

Shen Nian was amused by her cute expression. She explained, “I was invited by someone else. Mi Na… I’ll meet her in a moment.”

Mi Na was a highly popular idol singer and dancer at the time, though she was more famous for her relationship with a certain rock star than for her professional skills. Even if one didn’t follow the entertainment industry, anyone scrolling through their phone would have seen several trending topics about Mi Na and her boyfriend’s rumored breakup.

Tao Di realized what was happening and clenched her small fists. “I see!”

As they walked side-by-side, the dim lights and booming music couldn’t hide the blush on the girl’s face. Shen Nian smiled and took the initiative to introduce herself. “My name is Shen Nian.”

Tao Di jumped slightly at the name, then stammered in response, “H-hello! I-I-I’m called…”

“I know,” Shen Nian said, pressing a hand on the girl’s shoulder to nudge her toward the inside of the hallway, protecting her from being bumped by passing guests. “You are Tao Di.”

Tao Di was shocked. “What?!”

Tao Di and Mi Na were at the same agency, but at this point, Tao Di was still an obscure creator. The company treated her as a song-writing bank but gave her no resources. A “pearl hidden in the dust,” it wouldn’t be until many years later, after escaping the company’s exploitation, that she would become a superstar with countless awards.

“Mi Na’s only hit song, Gurgling, wasn’t it written by you?” Shen Nian answered her confusion.

“Yes!” Tao Di’s eyes shone even brighter. “You actually know?! B-but I’m just a songwriter…”

“Gold will always shine eventually,” Shen Nian comforted her. She looked up, counting the booth numbers, and walked another two meters. “We’re here.”

Hearing this, the joy vanished from Tao Di’s face. She lowered her head, gave a dejected “Oh,” and followed Shen Nian into the room with hesitant steps.

The music inside the booth was deafening. Sensing intruders, the four women on the sofa all looked toward the door, their eyes landing on Shen Nian.

“Oh?” Mi Na, who was surrounded by the others, let out a voice of surprised curiosity.

“Shen Nian!” Liu Ru stood up immediately. “Good, you finally arrived!”

“Sorry.” Shen Nian wore a polite smile as she walked gracefully toward the sofa.

The disco ball overhead spun, its colorful lights dazzling. Despite the atmosphere of debauchery and desire, the moment she appeared in her swaying silver gown, the vibe shifted. It felt as if she wasn’t walking into a bar booth, but onto a red carpet leading to a podium.

It took several seconds—and Tao Di’s quiet greeting—before the others noticed the second person.

“Ah.” Mi Na covered her mouth in an affected gesture. “Tao Di is here too.”

Tao Di forced a smile and instinctively retreated to a corner, pretending to be invisible.

“Shen Nian, you’re late.” Liu Ru approached her, holding a full glass of a cocktail.

“Sorry, I lost track of time,” Shen Nian said smoothly. She took the glass from Liu Ru and offered, “Shall I start with a drink to apologize to everyone?”

“Hahaha!” Liu Ru clapped happily, and the others joined in the jeering. “Drink up!”

Shen Nian didn’t hesitate; she tilted her head back and drained the glass in one go. The cocktail looked beautiful and harmless, but once it hit her throat, its power became evident. As she set the glass down, she felt a burning sensation from her tongue down to her throat.

The others laughed even more excitedly, their applause lasting a long time.

Liu Ru patted her arm. “Nana, I told you, excellent Alphas are everywhere. There’s no need to hang yourself on a single crooked tree. Look at my Junior Shen—isn’t she a hundred times better than your ex?”

Mi Na laughed and leaned back, crossing her legs on the table. “With such a great resource, why didn’t you introduce her to us sooner?”

“Please,” Liu Ru shot back. “Even if I had, you wouldn’t have paid any attention.” She then nudged Shen Nian. “Nana is heartbroken from her breakup. Shen Nian, tonight depends on you.”

Shen Nian finally understood why she had been called here. She shrugged. “Senior, you overestimate me. I don’t have that kind of talent.”

“The exterior is decent,” Mi Na said, sizing her up. She liked to look at people with half-lidded eyes, her expression naturally carrying a hint of disdain. “Sigh, but she’s just a civilian. There’s no publicity heat in a ‘CP’ (couple) like this.”

The girl beside her took her arm. “Just treat it as a pastime.”

Mi Na giggled foolishly. She paused the music and looked at Shen Nian. “Hey, big beauty, do you have any talents?”

Shen Nian shook her head honestly. “None.”

Someone suggested, “Sing a song? Or dance? With your figure, you’d look great shaking it.”

Shen Nian looked over them all. “Since you are all idols with great voices and dancing skills, I wouldn’t want to embarrass myself.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” the woman asked, her nose wrinkling in anger. “You’re not going to put in any effort? Are you expecting us to perform for you?”

Shen Nian’s expression remained unchanged. “I really just wasn’t prepared…”

She was cut off. “I don’t care. Today, you must make us happy.” With that, the woman stood up, making a move to grab Shen Nian.

Shen Nian frowned and was about to dodge when a weak voice called out from the corner.

“Lili-jie, Nana-jie… how about… I sing a song instead?”

Tao Di plucked up the courage and raised her hand, offering a forced smile as she met Shen Nian’s gaze.

Huang Lili rolled her eyes. “Is it your place to speak?”

Tao Di flinched and retreated back into the shadows, embarrassed.

“Lili, don’t be like that,” Mi Na said hypocritically. “Tao Di is a friend I invited. How can you talk to her like that?”

Huang Lili didn’t respond, merely letting out a sneer. This movement caused her to accidentally notice Shen Nian’s heels. She froze for a moment, then narrowed her eyes. “You’re quite vain, aren’t you? Wearing fakes?”

Liu Ru craned her neck. “What?”

“Look at the shoes on her feet.” Huang Lili stepped aside. “Those are limited edition—they haven’t even been released in the country yet.”

Everyone shifted their gaze to Shen Nian’s feet, noting the sleek, minimalist yet elegant lines of the heels.

“Tsk.” Mi Na’s eyes betrayed her desire. “They’re making ‘A-grade’ fakes look this good now?” She asked Shen Nian, “Where did you buy them?”

Shen Nian shook her head.

“Hmm?” Mi Na frowned.

Shen Nian sighed. “…They were a gift from my family. I don’t know where they were bought.”

Mentioning “family” reminded her of something. She took out her phone, which she had set to silent. Besides unread messages, there were two missed calls, both from the same contact: Shen Zui.

A faint smile touched Shen Nian’s lips. She opened the chat and saw the replies from ten minutes ago.

【…Not bad.】

A minute later, another message: 【It’s not quite suitable. You’ll catch a cold wearing that out. Come home.】

Probably because she hadn’t received a reply, Shen Zui had sent several more pieces of advice. The curve of Shen Nian’s smile grew wider. Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t right; she didn’t have time to reply, so she turned the screen off and put the phone back.

“So this is the person you praised for so long? Nothing special.” Huang Lili lost interest in Shen Nian and returned to the sofa dejectedly. Liu Ru rolled her eyes at her and gestured for Shen Nian to sit beside her.

“Tao Di, didn’t you say you wanted to sing?” Mi Na sat up straight to restart the party. “I’ll give you a chance to show off. Come on, I’ll pick the songs for you.”

Tao Di glanced at Shen Nian and then lowered her head. “I-I’m fine with anything.”

Mi Na didn’t take her seriously at all. After Tao Di started singing, she used the music as background noise while chatting animatedly with her friends, occasionally bursting into loud laughter—showing zero respect.

Shen Nian was the only one listening intently. Before her rebirth, she had liked Tao Di’s songs, which was why she remembered her so well.

After two songs, seeing that Mi Na’s group wasn’t paying attention, Tao Di leaned close to Shen Nian and whispered a small request: “Shen Nian, could you help me select Gurgling?”

She wanted to sing her own song.

“Okay,” Shen Nian agreed with a smile and quickly added the song to the queue.

This changed everything.

Gurgling was a melodic, slow song with high recognition—it wasn’t some generic internet jingle. When the intro started, Mi Na and her friends immediately stopped whispering. Under the dim lights, Mi Na narrowed her eyes, her gaze toward Tao Di becoming more serious.

Soon, Tao Di’s voice rang out, perfectly matched with the melody. Shen Nian listened, mesmerized, thinking to herself that it truly sounded like a masterpiece crafted by its own creator.

But the others clearly didn’t think so.

Halfway through the song, Huang Lili snorted. “How do you have the nerve to sing Gurgling in front of the original singer? It’s not even half as good as Mi Na’s version.”

As the creator of the song, Tao Di’s face went white at such a comment. Her lips trembled, clearly wanting to argue, but after a long pause, she couldn’t squeeze out a single word.

The bridge ended and the lyrics started again, but Tao Di didn’t open her mouth. She looked at Shen Nian, sending a pleading gaze, signaling for her to skip the song.

Shen Nian reached out and pressed pause.

The music vanished abruptly. Everyone turned to look at her.

Shen Nian smiled. Meeting their gazes, she gracefully brushed her hair back.

“Since you think Tao Di didn’t sing it well, how about the ‘original singer’ gives her some personal guidance?”