The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 27

Mi Na let out a cold snort and turned her head away in an affected show of disdain.

Huang Lili, sensing her mood, spoke up on her behalf: “Nana’s appearance fees aren’t cheap. You’ve got some nerve, opening your mouth and asking for a free performance.”

“Is that so?” Shen Nian didn’t back down. “If you hadn’t said anything, I would have thought she was looking for an excuse to run away because she knew she couldn’t compare.”

It was a blatant use of reverse psychology; Mi Na shouldn’t have fallen for it so easily. But she couldn’t resist looking back, making eye contact with Shen Nian. Shen Nian’s eyes were clear, which only highlighted the thick sense of mockery within them. Mi Na froze for a second, and when she snapped out of it, her temper flared.

In the next moment, Mi Na sat up straight and grabbed another microphone from the table. “Play it.”

Shen Nian smiled and re-selected Gurgling.

Tao Di tentatively edged closer to her side, her expression still awkward. Her hand holding the microphone seemed lost, not knowing where to rest. Shen Nian patted the empty spot beside her, signaling for her to sit down.

“Walking along the path, encountering an unexpected intrusion…” “One look from you gives me a night of panic and a dream spent alone…”

To be fair, Mi Na’s voice was naturally sweet. Her rendition of the song sounded more sugary than Tao Di’s earlier version. As soon as she started, Huang Lili and the others began to flatter her.

“Wow! A voice from heaven!” “So beautiful! Nana is the best!”

Bolstered by the praise, Mi Na’s expression became even more triumphant. While singing, she didn’t forget to cast provocative glances toward Shen Nian and Tao Di.

“If I recall, this song isn’t as easy to sing as it sounds on the surface?” Shen Nian ignored the provocation and tilted her head slightly to ask Tao Di.

Seeing her lean in so close, Tao Di blushed for a moment. She sat primly, hands resting obediently on her lap. “Yes!” Taking a deep breath, she explained simply, “The chorus requires a key change along with several vocal runs. If handled poorly, the voice will crack…”

Shen Nian curved her lips. “Like that?”

Tao Di was stunned, and only then did she turn her attention back to Mi Na’s singing.

“The tinkling wind chimes, the gurgling stream, the noise in the depths of my heart, uh—you can hear it.” “A warm gaze, a graceful invitation, some…”

Dead silence fell over the room. Huang Lili and the others even held their breath. Inside the luxurious booth, no sound could be heard except for the instrumental track still playing. Mi Na’s lips were pressed thin, her face a ghastly shade of green.

Shen Nian heard Tao Di beside her softly humming the rest of the chorus, her volume no louder than a mosquito’s buzz, yet every note was perfect. When Shen Nian turned to look, Tao Di shyly lowered her head.

“Sigh—” Shen Nian let out a breath.

“What’s wrong?” Tao Di asked with concern.

Shen Nian glanced at her. “You’re such a softie. No wonder you get bullied so badly.”

Tao Di froze for two seconds before finally realizing the comment was directed at her. She shrank her shoulders like a timid quail.

“So annoying! I’m not singing anymore.” Mi Na threw the microphone aside once again.

Shen Nian asked, “Then let Tao Di sing?”

Mi Na narrowed her eyes and looked at Tao Di gloomily. “If she likes it, let her sing. Sneaking around… she’ll never make it onto a real stage anyway.”

Shen Nian frowned, and just as she was about to speak again, there was a knock on the booth door. Two waiters entered pushing a service cart. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Mi Na asked, “Is something the matter?” She looked at Huang Lili in confusion. “Did you guys order something?”

Huang Lili and the others shook their heads.

“To thank our valued guests for their patronage, this is a small gesture of appreciation from ‘High Night’ for our VIP clients.” As the waiter spoke, they began moving. Platters of expensive fruit and snacks were placed onto the empty table.

“Wow!” Huang Lili’s eyes lit up. “Nana, you’re amazing!”

Even Liu Ru sat up straighter. “I remember VIP memberships here are quite hard to get. When did you upgrade?”

A flash of confusion crossed Mi Na’s eyes, but she quickly rubbed her nose. “Maybe my spending last month reached the threshold.”

“There are also some drinks that will be delivered shortly.” The waiter bowed after setting the table. “Please enjoy.”

Once the waiters left, Huang Lili could no longer contain herself. “Tell the truth, did you land yourself a ‘Sugar Daddy’?! I thought something was fishy when you managed to book a booth here in the first place!”

“Hmph!” Mi Na crossed her legs, twirling a strand of hair. “Do I look like someone who needs a Sugar Daddy?”

“Ahhh! Same world, different fates!” Huang Lili playfully shook her arm. “When will I ever become a top-tier star like you?”

“It’s a pity…” Mi Na’s tone changed. While her words were directed at Huang Lili, her gaze was fixed on Tao Di, who was sitting in the corner with her head down. “You should work harder; being famous depends on luck. But you’re already doing well. Some people can’t even manage to debut.”

Huang Lili let out a contemptuous laugh in agreement. Mi Na dropped the act completely: “Wouldn’t you agree, Tao Di?”

Tao Di replied submissively, “Mhm, mhm…”

“Everyone is out to have fun tonight. Be a bit more generous; don’t always act like you’re being bullied.” Mi Na turned toward her. “If it weren’t for my invitation, you wouldn’t be able to step foot in a high-end place like ‘High Night’ in your entire life. Since you’re here, cherish it. You might not get another chance like this.”

Shen Nian’s anger flared, and yet Tao Di actually nodded. “Mhm, thank you, Nana-jie.”

“Alright, come over here. Come on.” Mi Na beckoned her.

Tao Di stood up awkwardly but didn’t approach her. She stayed where she was, casting a pleading look toward Shen Nian. “Nana-jie, I’m fine sitting here.”

“Tsk.” Mi Na rolled her eyes. She didn’t press it, merely resting her chin on her hand. “Since we have this chance, Nana-jie wants to discuss something with you, okay?”

Tao Di: “Huh?”

Mi Na’s foot, clad in a high heel, swung back and forth in the air. “I heard from the director that you wrote two songs recently and plan to sing them yourself?”

“Mhm.” Tao Di bit her lip.

“The company is under a lot of pressure lately and has no extra promotion resources for you. Even if you sing them, you definitely won’t get famous.” Mi Na revealed her true colors. “You know my situation. I happen to need a breakup love song to solidify my popularity. Just treat it as helping Nana-jie out; give those two songs to me first.”

Hearing this, Shen Nian’s brow furrowed. In her past life, she hadn’t attended this gathering, but Mi Na indeed became a breakout success with a new song, her popularity even surpassing the rock star she was dating. Now it seemed those songs were snatched from Tao Di’s hands.

She was already prepared to knock some sense into Tao Di if the girl agreed, but then she heard Tao Di say: “Nana-jie, I really can’t do that… You’ve already taken many of my songs. The director promised before the New Year that this time I would definitely—”

When it came to her own creations, she finally found a bit of backbone.

Mi Na interrupted her angrily. “I already said, the company has no extra resources for you! Why can’t you understand plain speech?”

“I don’t need much promotion, just—”

“Tao Di, are you saying you’d rather let your work rot than give them a chance to shine? Look at my traffic! Now look at you! Huh?! The same song in my hands is a completely different concept than in yours! If you sing it yourself, you’re just watching the song get buried!”

Tao Di pressed her hands together. “I’m sorry, Nana-jie, but I really want to try. Ma—maybe…”

“There is no ‘maybe’!” Mi Na practically poked her nose. “I’m telling you, if you’re smart, you’ll sign the papers and sell the songs to me. If you’re not… hmph, your contract is still in the company’s hands!”

Tao Di ground her teeth. The poor girl was being bullied so hard her eyes were turning red. She took a deep breath. “What do you mean? It was all agreed upon. Are you all going back on your word?”

“The world isn’t as simple as you think.” Mi Na smirked. She leaned closer to Tao Di, whispering a threat: “Just behave yourself. Do you really think you can fight me?”

As if to cue her performance, the door was pushed open again. “The drinks are here.” The two waiters reappeared in the room. This time, they brought several bottles of incredibly expensive vintage wine.

“Just leave them there,” Mi Na nodded triumphantly.

“We can upgrade you to the Presidential Suite,” the waiter suddenly said. “The audio-visual equipment there is worth over seven figures—top tier in the country. Whether it’s karaoke or listening to music, the sensory experience will be a complete upgrade.”

Huang Lili gasped. “…That must cost a lot?”

“The guest is our most distinguished VIP; the upgrade is free.” The waiter bowed respectfully.

“Tao Di, you’ve never seen that before, have you?” The smile on Mi Na’s lips became more arrogant. She even reached out and contemptuously patted Tao Di’s cheek, making a humiliating “slap-slap” sound. “Here, just nod your head nicely, and your big sister will take you to see the world.”

Tao Di angrily swatted her hand away. Mi Na sneered.

The waiter handed over a slip. “The suite is ready. Please sign here.”

Without looking back, Mi Na reached out to take it. The waiter respectfully handed her the pen and paper. “Since you’re being so difficult, how am I supposed to bring you along?”

She signed her name in the blank space and tossed the slip back to the waiter. Turning her head, she said to Tao Di, “Get out. You don’t deserve to be here.”

Tao Di’s face was flushed to the limit. She couldn’t stay a second longer. She lowered her head, grabbed her canvas bag, and was about to leave when someone grabbed her wrist.

Tao Di turned, her lips trembling. “Shen Nian?”

Shen Nian stood up and patted her shoulder. “Stay calm.”

Mi Na raised an eyebrow. “If you don’t like it, you can get out with her.”

“Mi Na, you might have made a mistake,” Shen Nian said, looking at her.

“Heh.” Mi Na smirked. Under the dim light, she held her head high, her arrogance so great she was looking down her nose at them. “Made a mis—”

In the next second, her sense of superiority was shattered by the waiter’s panicked cry.

“It’s wrong!”

Mi Na froze. “Huh?”

The waiter scratched his head, looking at the six people in the room. “The signature is wrong.”

Shen Nian smiled and let out a soft breath. Finally, they noticed.

Mi Na’s brow furrowed deeply. “What’s wrong? I signed the real name I used when I registered my card. Did you even check the client profile?”

“I’m sorry, Miss Mi Na, but there is no mistake.” The man bowed to her. “You are only a regular member. To upgrade the booth service, we require the signature of Miss Shen, who holds the VIP Black Card.”

“Mi—Miss Shen?” Mi Na’s mind went blank.

The entire room went silent. Two seconds later, Huang Lili spoke up blankly: “W-we don’t have a Miss Shen here…” Suddenly, her whole body jolted. Her gaze bypassed Mi Na and landed on Shen Nian.

Shen Nian had her eyes lowered, looking down at the high heels that Huang Lili had earlier diagnosed as “fakes.” Luxury goods aren’t always as perfect as commoners think; after standing for a while, she felt the shoes were rubbing her feet, so she lifted a leg to adjust the heel.

After that, Shen Nian unhurriedly looked up at the waiter. “Give it to me.”

She crossed out Mi Na’s signature and re-signed with her own name. The waiter took the slip back and let out a long sigh of relief. “Now it’s correct!”

Shen Nian nodded, took the canvas bag from Tao Di’s shoulder, and handed it to him. “Could you lead the way?”

The waiter took it respectfully. “Of course!” He walked quickly to the exit and opened the door, bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle. “This way, please!”

Inside the room, Mi Na and the others stood frozen, their mouths agape, completely losing control of their facial expressions.

As Shen Nian pushed Tao Di out, she remembered something and looked back at Liu Ru. “Senior, do you want to come along?”

Liu Ru’s eyes crinkled. “Sure.” She grabbed her things. “I’d like to see the world too.” With that, she gave a wave to Mi Na and gracefully followed Shen Nian out of Booth 6.

The door closed behind them, leaving only three despondent little idols staring at each other in silence in the once-lively booth.

Inside the New Room

Tao Di thanked Shen Nian with a flushed face.

“Don’t worry about it,” Shen Nian teased her. “It’s a good thing you didn’t give in just now. If you had handed over your work, I wouldn’t have thought much of you.”

Tao Di bit her lip.

“Are you playing out a hero-saves-the-beauty plot?” Liu Ru joked. While curiously exploring the equipment in the room, she added without looking back, “Well, this is great. You’ve helped Tao Di completely offend Mi Na. For what it’s worth, Mi Na is a pillar of their company; she has a fair amount of influence.”

“It’s not Shen Nian’s fault!” Before Shen Nian could speak, Tao Di blurted out. She clutched her chest and took a deep breath. “Even without her, I would have offended Nana-jie myself.”

Liu Ru didn’t bother to respond. Shen Nian didn’t continue the topic, instead asking, “So what do you plan to do next?”

“No matter what, I will definitely get these songs produced!” Tao Di clenched her fists, her expression still naive. “The director promised me; I will fight for it!”

“Tsk.” Liu Ru returned to the sofa with a smirk.

Tao Di shrank her neck. “Is that wrong…?”

“No wonder Mi Na doesn’t take you seriously. How should I put this?” Liu Ru crossed her arms and looked pointedly at Shen Nian. “Can you figure out who the real power is here? Your only way out now is to cling tightly to Eldest Miss Shen’s leg.”

Shen Nian laughed bitterly. “Stop teasing me. I don’t work for their company.”

“Hmm?” Liu Ru looked at her in confusion, then at Tao Di, her gaze lingering between them. “I thought…” She didn’t finish the sentence and wisely shut her mouth.

Tao Di leaned toward Shen Nian. “Did I cause you trouble?”

Shen Nian shook her head. She sat by the song selection console and moved the conversation to lighter topics. Soon, music filled the room, drowning out the unpleasant memories from earlier.

When it was time to leave, Shen Nian and Tao Di exchanged contact information. Tao Di was in a hurry to catch the subway, waving goodbye as she jogged away.

After she left, Liu Ru leaned in. “Back to school? Shall we share a taxi?”

Shen Nian was about to nod when she stepped out of the bar and saw a familiar face.

“Miss Nian.” Driver Liu stepped forward quickly. “I’m here to take you home!”

Shen Nian was stunned. Soon, her eyes shifted. “Auntie?”

Driver Liu gave a simple smile. “Yes, the Miss sent me!”

“Looks like we can’t go back together,” Liu Ru sighed with mock sorrow. She observed the driver and asked curiously, “You must have been waiting for your Miss Nian for a long time?”

“Not that long, only two hours,” Driver Liu replied.

“Two hours?” Liu Ru paused. “That’s not long?” She frowned. “Didn’t you follow her here right after she arrived?”

“Hehe.” Driver Liu scratched his head. “I was just following the Miss’s orders.”

Liu Ru’s gaze swept over Shen Nian’s face, lingering for a moment on her beautiful eyes. “I didn’t realize, Shen Nian, that you’re under such strict supervision at home.”

Shen Nian twitched her lips. She hailed a taxi for Liu Ru and watched her get in. “Senior, get some rest.”

Liu Ru gave a simple goodbye. After seeing her off, Shen Nian let out a long breath. She checked her clothes and smoothed the wrinkles on her silver skirt.

“Let’s go home.”

“Right away! Please get in.” Driver Liu eagerly opened the car door for her.

Leaning against the window, the colorful neon lights of the city center turned into bands of light streaking past Shen Nian’s eyes. No matter how prosperous the night view was, it couldn’t hold her gaze for even a moment.