The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 29

After their intimacy, Shen Nian carried a glistening, sweat-soaked Shen Zui toward the bathroom.

The room was a chaotic mess of discarded clothing and accessories. The beautiful silver gown lay crumpled in a heap, draped over a pair of limited-edition high heels. As Shen Nian passed by, she hooked the fabric with her toe and tossed it aside.

In her arms, Shen Zui lifted her head slightly.

“It’s nothing,” Shen Nian whispered, leaning down to kiss her temple.

Shen Zui let out a soft whimper and closed her eyes, resting her head on the girl’s shoulder. Her long, black hair brushed against Shen Nian’s bare arm as she surrendered to the movement.

Inside the bathroom, the water had already been drawn, the temperature perfect. Shen Nian stepped through the lingering mist and led her into the tub, her movements as gentle as if she were coaxing a small child. Once they were seated, she scooped up a handful of water and let it cascade over Shen Zui’s luminous skin.

Shen Zui’s strength had been utterly spent back on the bed. At the touch, she instinctively hunched her shoulders to shy away, but realizing she couldn’t escape Shen Nian’s embrace, she resigned herself to the attention.

Shen Nian narrowed her eyes, her expression as satisfied as a cat that had finally been fed. Taking advantage of Shen Zui’s compliance, she naturally took the lead, beginning to clean the older woman’s body.

Shen Zui was in a heightened state of sensitivity, her skin still flushed a faint, delicate pink. Every light touch or slow caress from Shen Nian sent fresh tremors through her.

“Mm!”

After a few moments, Shen Zui regained some clarity and feebly pressed down on the back of Shen Nian’s hand. Shen Nian leaned in to kiss her eyes, using the distraction to withdraw her hand and “dispose of the evidence.”

“Niannian…” Shen Zui panted. “…That’s enough. Don’t.”

Shen Nian considerately shifted her focus, giving the woman’s earlobe a playful, moderate bite. While Shen Zui was still conscious, she brought up a lingering concern.

“What did the medical report say?”

“Hmm?” Shen Zui’s eyes, usually so clear, were currently clouded with a watery mist.

Shen Nian patiently reminded her: “The full check-up you had after we came back from the trip.”

“Oh.” Shen Zui regained her focus and nodded slightly. “The results were good. There were… no issues.”

“Really?” Shen Nian’s eyes widened in surprise. After a moment, she asked, “What did the doctor say? Will they still need to draw your blood to use as a medicinal primer?”

“The doctor…” Shen Zui’s voice was so faint it was nearly inaudible. She raised a hand to wipe the droplets from her face and leaned against Shen Nian’s shoulder, lazily closing her eyes. “…Go ask him yourself.”

Shen Nian couldn’t tell if she was truly exhausted or just feigning sleep, but considering she had just “devoured” the woman, she didn’t have the heart to press further. With a sigh, she carefully brushed Shen Zui’s damp hair behind her back.

By the time they finished cleaning up, it was nearly two in the morning. The moment they hit the bed, Shen Nian pulled the other woman into her arms and fell into a deep sleep.

The Next Day

Shen Nian woke up earlier than Shen Zui and caught the doctor just as he started his shift.

The doctor adjusted his glasses. “I’ve already discussed this with the young mistress. Now that she has been marked by you, spending more time together is more effective than any medication.”

“Spend more time together?” Shen Nian said thoughtfully.

“A University isn’t that far from home.” The doctor observed her expression. “Why don’t you come back to live here every night?”

Shen Nian furrowed her brows.

The doctor continued, “Isn’t living here better than the school dorms? Besides, if the two of you go for walks together in the evening, it will accelerate her desensitization. It’s for her health.”

Shen Nian took a deep breath. “…I have night classes.”

“Then come back after class.”

Shen Nian shook her head. “…That would be too late. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

The doctor’s eyes widened at this. “What time did you get back last night? You didn’t seem to think it was too late then.”

Shen Nian’s lips twitched into a stiff, forced smile, but she didn’t reply.

She knew that all her reasons were merely excuses. Deep down, she felt a visceral rejection toward returning to the Shen residence—a place saturated with her most painful memories. Even though she only stayed at school four or five days a week now, it was still better than moving back permanently.

The doctor likely sensed her hesitation. He looked down and began scribbling in the medical chart. “…Of course, these are just suggestions. What you actually do depends on what you and the mistress decide.”

Shen Nian nodded and returned to the room.

She had no classes that morning and had originally planned to stay for breakfast. But after the conversation with the doctor, the urge to leave became overwhelming. She woke Shen Zui while packing her things. The “Pearl of the Shen Family,” looking languid in the morning light, leaned against the headboard and watched the girl’s frantic movements.

“Why don’t you sleep a bit longer?” Shen Nian didn’t even dare to turn around.

“I sleep every day; I’m tired of it,” Shen Zui replied, her voice low and mellow. She brushed her hair back. “Are you in such a hurry to get back?”

Shen Nian pulled the zipper on her backpack. “…Yes.”

Shen Zui noted, “You have morning classes.”

“…” Shen Nian didn’t want to lie, so she closed her eyes and offered a vague excuse. “I have some things to take care of.”

“I’ll have Driver Liu take you,” Shen Zui said flatly, not pushing further. “Be careful on the road.”

Shen Nian turned to look at her, the words “No need” practically on the tip of her tongue. But when she met Shen Zui’s calm, quiet gaze, she found she couldn’t say them. She could only nod and squeeze out a soft “Mm.”

The corners of Shen Zui’s lips curved upward, her eyes shimmering with a faint, hopeful light.

Shen Nian’s heart softened completely. She stepped forward and gently pressed her lips to the woman’s forehead. The morning truly seemed to begin only with that shallow kiss. The birdsong and the morning breeze outside finally found their purpose, chirping as they collided with the rumpled sheets of the room.

Although she had dodged the issue for now, Shen Nian didn’t stop thinking about it. She could play dumb with the doctor, but if Shen Zui ever brought it up herself, she wouldn’t be able to brush it off so easily.

That night, sleeping alone in her top bunk at the dorm, she ran through countless excuses. She even felt a sudden impulse to just agree and move into the villa, but in the end, she swallowed those emotions alone. She stared at the pale ceiling of her room until her eyelids grew heavy and she finally fell asleep.

Strangely, the conversation she feared never happened.

Over the next two weeks, her frequency of contact with Shen Zui didn’t decrease, but Shen Zui never brought up the living arrangement. Even when Shen Nian tested the waters, the older woman would skillfully avoid the topic, simply saying, “There’s no rush.”

Shen Nian would usually breathe a sigh of relief and echo the sentiment, letting the matter drop.

Amidst this busy campus life, Shen Nian received news from someone else.

One day, after finishing a workout and sitting on the floor to catch her breath, she happened to see a post on Tao Di’s social feed. The photo showed a locked door, and the caption was only four words: This is too much.

Sensing something was wrong, Shen Nian called her. She heard Tao Di’s tearful voice on the other end.

“I… I was halfway through recording my song, and the company won’t let me use the studio anymore!”

Shen Nian frowned. “On what grounds can they treat you like that?”

“A senior told me… the Director specifically gave the order.” Tao Di had tried to hold it in, but hearing Shen Nian’s voice made the tears flow faster. “The Director said I… I’ll never be famous anyway, and he won’t let me waste the company’s equipment. Waaaah…”

“Don’t cry,” Shen Nian comforted her gently. After a moment, she added, “If you need me to, I can go and talk to that Director for you.”

Liu Ru had been right before; it was Shen Nian who had caused Tao Di to have a falling out with Mina. But Shen Nian didn’t regret it. She didn’t know exactly what had happened between them in her past life, but the fact that Tao Di had failed to protect her own work was a reality. That failure had become a thorn in Tao Di’s side that she could never pull out.

In helping Tao Di, Shen Nian felt as though she were helping her own past self, who had been just as powerless.

“No, it’s okay…” Tao Di wiped her tears. “Shen Nian, I can’t keep troubling you like this.”

“You’re still talking about ‘trouble’ at a time like this?” Shen Nian stood up, supporting her aching waist. “Do you not see me as a friend?”

On the other end of the line, Tao Di’s face flushed. “No, that’s not what I meant.” She took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice. “…They’re very mean; I don’t want you to have to deal with their temper too! Besides, I’ve already finished recording two songs over the last two weeks!”

Shen Nian hummed in acknowledgement as she walked toward the gym showers.

“They keep saying these songs won’t be hits if I sing them myself, but I don’t believe them!” Tao Di clenched her fists, a determined light sparking in her eyes. “I’m going to try anyway, just to prove them wrong!”

Shen Nian understood. “Are you planning to release these two songs first?”

“Yes!” Tao Di asked. “What do you think?”

Shen Nian smiled. “I think it’s a great idea.”

“Wait!” Tao Di realized something. “You haven’t even heard them yet! I’ll send them to you!”

Shen Nian was about to say “I’m sure they sound great,” but stopped herself in time and simply said, “Okay.”

While she showered, she listened to the audio files Tao Di sent over. She then typed out a message: I’m a layman when it comes to music, but I really like your work. The melody and the vocals are excellent!

Tao Di had been waiting anxiously for the review. When she saw the message, her heart finally settled. She spent a long time editing a reply before hitting send.

Then… can I ask you for a favor?

Shen Nian couldn’t imagine how she could help. What kind of favor?

After “Glass Candy Wrapper” was recorded, my best friend said that if we could film an MV that fits the theme, it would definitely attract a lot of traffic. Um… since you’re in the Acting Department, what would your performance fee be?

Shen Nian was stunned, immediately catching her drift.

At that moment, she was standing before the long mirror in the gym bathroom. In the reflection, she saw a girl with bright eyes, white teeth, and flushed lips. Shen Nian looked down and lifted her shirt, noticing that her abdominal lines—the “vest line”—were becoming quite distinct.

Two female Alphas happened to walk by. Catching her movement, they both rolled their eyes, though their gaze was thick with envy.

“What’s she showing off? The abs aren’t even out yet.”

“I’m not being salty, but a ‘pretty boy’ type like that will never build good muscle.”

“Exactly. Look at my arm definition…”

As the two walked away, their whispering faded.

Shen Nian curled her lips and lowered her shirt, thinking to herself that the hard work of the past few weeks hadn’t been in vain. Now was the perfect time to test the results.

She gathered her things and left, sending a voice message to Tao Di as she walked.

“I don’t have any professional credits yet, so I’ll give you a ‘friend price.'”

“It’s free~”