The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 28

It was late by the time they returned to the Shen residence. Under the cover of night, the small villa stood solitary, a crescent moon hanging high above its roof.

Since Shen Zui’s health had improved recently, the medical staff stationed on the second floor had been significantly reduced. When Shen Nian arrived, she saw only two young nurses on duty, staring listlessly at their screens to pass the time.

She entered the room softly. As the door clicked shut, the sudden silence made the frantic thump-thump of her own heartbeat feel deafening. Shen Nian slipped off her shoes, carrying them in her hand as she padded silently across the floor on bare feet.

The lights were off. She had assumed Shen Zui would be asleep, but as she rounded the foyer, she noticed a faint, eerie glow coming from the bed—the light from a mini-laptop resting on Shen Zui’s lap.

Shen Nian froze. It wasn’t until their eyes locked that she regained her composure, playing the part of the well-behaved niece as she greeted her. “Little Aunt.”

“Mm,” Shen Zui hummed, her tone unreadable.

“Not asleep yet?” Shen Nian tucked her hands behind her back and slowly walked toward the foot of the bed.

Shen Zui remained silent, tilting her head to study the girl while her long, slender fingers tapped rhythmically against the top of her own head. She closed the laptop and set it aside, letting herself be swallowed by the shadows of the night until her silhouette grew blurred.

Despite the darkness, Shen Nian could sense her presence through the steady rise and fall of her breath and the faint, lingering scent of plum blossoms in the air. An instinctive longing urged her to step closer, but after only two steps, she saw Shen Zui raise a hand to cover her nose.

Shen Nian halted.

Realizing the issue, she looked down and sniffed her clothes, catching the scent of alcohol mingled with a common, powdery perfume. After spending several hours in a place like “High Night,” it was only natural to be tainted by such odors.

“Did you have fun?” Shen Zui asked suddenly.

Shen Nian took two steps back, the corners of her lips twitching. “…It was alright.” She pulled a VIP Black Card from her pocket. “Thanks to your protection, Auntie. I’m returning this to its rightful owner.”

As she moved to place the card on the nearby nightstand, Shen Zui spoke up: “Give it to me.”

Shen Nian looked up and saw Shen Zui reaching out her hand. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped forward slowly, extending her arm to pass the card over.

The card was less than five centimeters from Shen Zui’s fingertips; all the older woman had to do was lift her hand slightly to reach it. Yet, Shen Zui remained motionless, showing no intention of compromising. Mindful of the scent on her clothes, Shen Nian didn’t dare get too close, so she frowned and leaned her body forward as far as she could.

“Mm…”

Just as the black card was about to touch Shen Zui’s fingertips, the woman casually withdrew her hand.

“…” Shen Nian furrowed her brows and stood up straight to face her.

“Why are you standing so far away?” Shen Zui crossed her arms and tilted her head with a look of feigned innocence. “Do you really think I’d be angry just because you stayed out late playing?”

Shen Nian muttered under her breath, “Aren’t you, though?”

“Hmm?” Shen Zui narrowed her eyes. “What was that?”

When Shen Nian looked up again, she forced a flattering smile onto her face. She circled the bed to the other side and stood at the midpoint. “Is this close enough?”

She held out the card again. Shen Zui watched her without moving, so Shen Nian took two more steps forward. “How about now?”

The two were now only an arm’s length apart. The moonlight from the window cast Shen Nian’s shadow onto the bed, draping over Shen Zui’s lower body.

“Niannian,” Shen Zui said, pressing a finger to the tip of her own nose. “It smells bad.”

“Weren’t you having a grand time teasing me just now?” Shen Nian twirled the black card between two fingers, looking amused. “Now you care about the smell?”

Shen Zui lowered her gaze halfway. “The doctor was right; children really do go through a rebellious phase.”

Shen Nian simply sat down on the edge of the bed. She crossed her legs, causing her dress to bunch up at her waist and revealing a stretch of shimmering white skin that seemed to sway in the dim light.

“How am I being rebellious?”

Shen Zui looked up at her, her eyes filled with silent accusation.

Shen Nian pressed further. “You have to tell me what’s wrong so I can figure out how to fix it, right?”

Shen Zui pursed her lips before finally speaking. “I told you to change your route and come home. Why did you insist on going to the bar?”

Shen Nian smoothed out her long dress. “I was already at the door. If you wanted me back so suddenly, you should have given me a valid reason. Otherwise…” She looked into Shen Zui’s eyes. “…wouldn’t the styling you so meticulously arranged for me go to waste?”

Shen Zui reached out, her fingertips brushing a stray lock of hair on Shen Nian’s shoulder, only to abruptly pull back.

In response, Shen Nian gathered all her hair and draped it over her left shoulder, fully exposing the rounded curve of the shoulder closest to Shen Zui. Her dress was an off-the-shoulder style; the exposed lines of her neck and shoulder were sharp and elegant, a sight so beautiful it was hard to look away.

Shen Zui’s gaze fixed on her shoulder for several seconds before she cleared her throat and turned her head away. “…Didn’t I say? It’s not quite appropriate.”

“What exactly is inappropriate?” Shen Nian pressed.

At the question, Shen Zui wrinkled her nose, a flush of irritation rising to her cheeks. Shen Nian grabbed her hand, bringing it to her own cheek and rubbing against her palm softly. “Is the makeup inappropriate?”

Shen Zui seemed stunned; she didn’t speak, nor did she resist. Shen Nian then guided her hand down along her jawline to her neck. “Or is it this part that’s inappropriate?”

“Niannian…” Shen Zui finally found her voice.

“Shh—”

That tiny sound was quickly swallowed by the dark night. In this “consultation” led by Shen Nian, Shen Zui had no say at all. Her hand was held firmly by Shen Nian, forced to travel along the girl’s graceful curves. At every stop, Shen Nian would stare into her eyes and ask, “Inappropriate?”

Finally, Shen Zui’s hand came to rest on the hem of the dress.

“Hmm?” Shen Nian tickled the center of her palm.

Shen Zui tried to pull back, but she couldn’t break the grip. In that moment, her breathing grew heavy—and not purely out of anger.

“Shen Zui…” Shen Nian called her name, opening her fingers to dominantly interlace them with Shen Zui’s. It wasn’t until their fingers were locked and their palms were pressed flush against each other that she let out a satisfied sigh.

She looked at Shen Zui and asked suddenly, “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“…” Shen Zui’s beautiful eyes widened slightly, so startled she nearly forgot to breathe.

“You didn’t want me going out like this to see other people. You didn’t want anyone else to see me.” Shen Nian lifted Shen Zui’s hand back to her cheek, nuzzling the back of it longingly.

Shen Zui was forced to meet her gaze. Her eyes trembled slightly, her expression as fragile as a poor creature caught in a trap. For a fleeting second, Shen Nian felt she was about to touch her true heart.

But she soon realized it was an illusion. Once Shen Zui regained her bearings, she reached out with her other hand and ruffled the hair on the top of Shen Nian’s head.

“Niannian, your thoughts are quite adorable.”

The tone was gentle, the wording carefully chosen to spare the girl’s feelings. Shen Nian’s body went stiff.

Shen Zui lowered her voice. “Your Auntie wishes the whole world knew how wonderful Niannian is. It’s just that…” She soothingly kneaded Shen Nian’s earlobe. “…you are still too young and lack judgment. It’s not safe for you to frequent those types of places so early.”

“Is that so?” After a deep breath, Shen Nian gave a mocking sneer. She looked up, staring intently at Shen Zui. “…Would you say the same things to Shen Zhuan?”

“…” Shen Zui blinked.

“Would you?” Shen Nian leaned in closer. Her shadow completely enveloped Shen Zui, making it impossible to see the woman’s expression. But when her lips accidentally brushed against the tip of Shen Zui’s nose, she could feel the uncontrollable tremor running through the other woman’s body.

“Shen Zhuan and you…” Shen Zui’s voice was thick with heavy breathing, “…are different.”

“How are we different?” Shen Nian’s hand, still clutching Shen Zui’s, was now pressed against her own heart. In the silent darkness, she heard her heartbeat grow louder and faster. She craved for Shen Zui to feel her emotions—or, more greedily, she craved for Shen Zui to fall into this same muddled desire.

Shen Zui’s lips parted. “She—”

Before she could finish the syllable, Shen Nian pressed a forefinger against them. “Don’t talk about others. I don’t like her.” Shen Nian’s voice was hoarse. “Just talk about me.”

Shen Zui bit her lower lip so hard it began to turn a deep red. Shen Nian was patient, but after a long while, Shen Zui still hadn’t spoken. She pinched the woman’s chin. “Can’t say it?”

“…” Shen Zui looked up.

“Just admit it,” Shen Nian whispered, lowering her head.

Their noses brushed, their breaths mingling. Gradually, the crisp scent of cedar and plum blossoms overwhelmed the smell of alcohol on Shen Nian. In this tiny space between the bed curtains, only the two of them existed.

“Ha… ha—” Even though nothing had happened yet, Shen Zui’s breathing was becoming ragged. She proactively leaned forward, chasing after Shen Nian’s lips.

“No.” Shen Nian mimicked her earlier behavior, backing away just as she was about to succeed. She didn’t want to let this moment slip away, so she stroked her cheek, coaxing her. “Shen Zui, admit it first.”

“Mm?” Shen Zui’s eyes were misty. “Admit what?”

“Admit that you are jealous.” Shen Nian gave her a comforting kiss on the tip of her nose.

“…” Shen Zui’s face was flushed beyond recognition. She bit her lip to stay conscious, yet she stubbornly persisted. “I’m not!”

Unchecked, Shen Nian tickled her chin. Their bodies were burning, their hearts pounding. The ambiguous memories of what had happened on this bed before flooded back, the vivid images playing on a loop. Shen Nian was also suffering from the restraint, but she hardened her heart and said, “Then we’ll just keep waiting.”

The night was long, and two stubborn people both wanted their own answers.

Shen Zui sat up and, with a sudden surge of strength, pressed against Shen Nian’s shoulders and pushed her back onto the bed. She propped her hands on either side of Shen Nian, her falling hair teasing Shen Nian’s vision.

“You know,” Shen Zui pursed her lips, a crystalline shimmer in her eyes.

Shen Nian hooked a strand of her hair. “Know what?”

“…” Shen Zui lowered her head, her lips grazing the corner of Shen Nian’s mouth. Hot breath fanned across their skin as Shen Nian heard her murmur, “Your Auntie has always been biased.”

Shen Nian was momentarily stunned.

In the next moment, Shen Zui clutched at her own heart. “Auntie can’t treat everyone fairly. I can’t be just as good to everyone else. I have always been biased.”

Shen Nian narrowed her eyes, her thumb pressing against the back of Shen Zui’s hand.

“I will only…” Under the moonlight, Shen Zui’s lips were as vivid as red plums, the scent of blossoms overflowing with every word. “…only be good to Niannian.”

Shen Nian opened her mouth and bit down on Shen Zui’s finger. She used just enough force for Shen Zui to feel the pain, but not enough to break the skin. Shen Zui’s fingers trembled as she looked at her in confusion.

“…Forget it.” Shen Nian conceded. She threw her arms open, sprawling out on the bed.

“Niannian?” Shen Zui gently stroked her face.

“Does it look good?” Shen Nian asked.

Shen Zui used the moonlight to trace the lines of her exquisite figure. After a long pause, she nodded slowly.

Shen Nian laughed. “I rarely wear this kind of dress. I spent a long time in the fitting room.”

“Hmm?” Shen Zui didn’t understand why she was suddenly bringing this up.

But Shen Nian’s next words cleared her confusion. She grabbed Shen Zui’s wrist and guided her toward the zipper.

“Could I trouble you… to help me take it off?”

Shen Zui froze in place.

“Hmm?” Shen Nian tickled the inside of her wrist. She held Shen Zui tight, leading her to the zipper.

“I’m troubling you then,” Shen Nian leaned into her ear and gritted out, “Little. Aunt.”