The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 31

Shen Nian’s face flushed instantly, and she gripped the other woman’s hand tightly.

“Once the rumors start spreading tonight, you’re going to be famous at A University too.”

She leaned down, getting close to Shen Zui, and intentionally teased her: “My… ‘girlfriend’!”

Faced with Shen Nian’s blustering counterattack, Shen Zui simply draped an arm over the girl’s shoulder and laughed until she was swaying back and forth, showing not a hint of annoyance. Seeing her smile like a blooming flower, Shen Nian had a fleeting illusion that she actually liked this new identity—or at least, she didn’t reject it.

“…Let’s go.” Shen Nian didn’t dare think too deeply. She took a deep breath and quickened her pace to lead her out of the campus.

Arriving at the South Gate, she pulled out her phone. “Should I call a cab to take you back?”

Shen Zui shook her head.

Shen Nian realized something. “Did the driver come? Where is he?”

The area around the university was always lively. Watching the growing crowds, she suppressed her anxiety and advised, “It’s getting crowded; it’s not safe out here. You need to head back immediately.”

Shen Zui looked up at her and smiled. “Are you that worried?”

Shen Nian frowned.

Shen Zui lightly tickled her palm and asked again, “Then, does Niannian want to come back with me?”

“…” Shen Nian fell silent for a moment before giving a small nod. She looked away, feigning nonchalance as she defended herself. “I was planning to go home as soon as the filming was over anyway.”

Shen Zui narrowed her eyes and studied her for a long while before finally humming an “Mm.”

“Alright.” Shen Nian pulled at her wrist. “Let’s go home first. We can talk about everything else once we’re back.”

“Okay,” Shen Zui nodded. She turned her hand over to take the lead, interlacing her fingers with Shen Nian’s. “Niannian, follow me.”

Shen Nian assumed they were meeting the driver and cooperatively shielded her from behind. But soon, she realized something was off. Shen Zui led her across the street and swiped a card to enter a high-end residential complex right next to the South Gate.

A University was a prestigious institution, and the surrounding educational resources were among the best in the country. Naturally, the land here was worth its weight in gold, and school-district housing was in high demand. Unlike the bustling market streets outside, this lakeside community featured an excellent environment and beautiful scenery. In the night, the silhouettes of trees and flowers swayed in the wind, appearing incredibly quiet and peaceful.

Shen Nian looked around and asked, “What are we doing here?”

Shen Zui intentionally played coy and remained silent, only looking at her with crescent-shaped eyes.

In that moment, Shen Nian’s heart suddenly began to pound. She was not a dull person; on the contrary, the moment their eyes met, several guesses flashed through her mind. Yet, she still found it hard to believe and didn’t even dare to ask, searching for answers with a cautious gaze instead.

Shen Zui reached up and brushed the girl’s hair. She led Shen Nian further in to the building at the very back, taking the elevator straight to the 16th floor.

The luxury flat that came into view was decorated in a simple, grand style. It was large but didn’t feel empty; every detail radiated warmth and harmony. Shen Nian walked toward the shoe cabinet in the foyer, her eyes immediately drawn to a pair of high heels inside.

Those were the shoes Shen Zui had picked out for her when she attended Liu Ru’s invitation. After that night, she had left the shoes at the Shen residence. But now, they lay quietly on a velvet lining, placed alongside other exquisite shoes that Shen Nian didn’t recognize but could easily guess the owner of.

The overhead lights shone down, making the diamonds on the heels sparkle so brightly they almost made Shen Nian’s eyes sting. She turned back and saw that Shen Zui had already removed her mask, languidly brushing the hair away from her cheek.

Sensing Shen Nian’s gaze, the woman gave a graceful smile, a hint of mischief flashing in her eyes. “Does Niannian like it here?”

Shen Nian walked over and cupped her face. She had to work hard to suppress the tremble in her voice. “Will there be any unpleasant smells here if you don’t wear a mask?”

Although Shen Zui’s condition had improved, leaving a sealed ward was always a challenge. Shen Nian remembered how much she detested the scent of pheromones; those omnipresent allergens would usually make her suffer.

Shen Zui shook her head. She took a step forward and buried her face in Shen Nian’s chest. “Not if Niannian is by my side.” She reached out and hugged Shen Nian tight. “Niannian smells very good.”

Shen Nian touched her hair, only then realizing her own fingertips were shaking violently. She took a deep breath to suppress her surging emotions, wanting to hold the woman tight but fearing she might hurt the delicate “pearl” before her.

“Is this enough?”

“Hmm?” Shen Zui looked up, confused.

Shen Nian took the opportunity to pinch her chin. “There’s something that smells even better…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she impatiently captured Shen Zui’s lips. She kissed with urgency, her intent highly predatory. Shen Zui, who had been holding her waist, gradually found herself unable to bear the weight and switched to gripping Shen Nian’s arms for balance. She stood on her tiptoes, trying her best to cooperate with Shen Nian’s demands, her clear eyes gradually becoming clouded with a faint mist.

The atmosphere grew increasingly heavy and sweet. Without even trying to listen, they could hear the ambiguous sounds of their joined breaths and soft movements. Deep in the throes of passion, Shen Zui eventually hooked her arms around Shen Nian’s neck, clinging to her entirely while standing on her toes.

“Mm,” she panted heavily. “Niannian…”

Shen Nian had originally intended to be kind and let her “rest” for a moment, but seeing that Shen Zui still had the energy to speak, she didn’t wait any longer and launched a new round of offensive. At this moment, her heart and eyes were filled only with Shen Zui, causing her to ignore the fact that Shen Zui had been trying to convey some important information.

“Niannian, mm—” Shen Zui tried to struggle.

Shen Nian directly held the back of her head, pressing her firmly against herself to deepen the wet kiss. As she tangled with Shen Zui’s soft tongue, she could feel the woman’s burning body trembling uncontrollably in her arms.

Just as both were losing themselves in the moment, Shen Nian sharply heard a click from behind. Alerted, she instantly released Shen Zui’s lips and shielded her in her arms, looking toward the source of the sound.

“…” The doctor, who had just come out of a room, stared at them blankly. It took a long while before she managed to speak: “Uh, Mistress, Miss Nian.”

Shen Nian asked subconsciously, “Why are you here?”

The doctor’s gaze fell on their flushed lips. Realizing what was happening, her face turned red and she looked away. “We… we were just here to set up the Mistress’s new room…”

As she spoke, two young nurses also walked out of the room, politely greeting the pair. Only then did Shen Nian lower her guard, replaced immediately by a dominant sense of shame that made her cheeks burn.

Fortunately, the doctor was quite discerning. “Well, the check-up just now showed everything is fine. We’ll… we’ll be heading out now.” As she passed Shen Nian, she whispered a reminder: “We live on the floor below. If the Mistress needs anything, you can contact us directly.”

“Alright,” Shen Nian said with a stern face, trying her best to look serious. “Thank you for your hard work.”

The doctor gave a teasing smile and quickly led the nurses into the elevator.

Once they were gone, the house became quiet again. Shen Nian leaned against the shoe cabinet, looking at Shen Zui across from her. She noticed that a lingering pink hue of desire still remained on the woman’s fair cheeks.

She cleared her throat and took Shen Zui’s wrist. “…I assume there’s no one else?”

Shen Zui looked up and replied with a smile, “Mm.”

“Let’s go in.” Shen Nian took the initiative to pull her further inside.

Having just tasted something sweet, she was in high spirits, suppressing her excitement as she followed Shen Zui to tour all the rooms. In terms of size and layout, the new house was not inferior to the small villa at the Shen residence. Except for not being a 100% replica of the sealed ward, it was superior in every way, showing that a massive amount of thought had gone into it.

What gave Shen Nian the most peace of mind was a single-person sleep pod in the master bedroom. In an emergency, the sealed pod could serve as a protective ward, shielding Shen Zui from external pheromones.

“So…” Returning to the living room, Shen Nian finally couldn’t help but ask the question buried in her heart. “In the future, you… no.” She took a deep breath. “Are we moving here?”

Shen Zui smiled at her. “Do you like it?”

“Why?” Shen Nian’s breathing grew heavy. “You bought this? When?”

Shen Zui leaned in with a smile and pinched the soft skin of the girl’s cheek. Her eyes twinkled as she answered, “You have school. Isn’t it inconvenient for you to commute back and forth every week?”

Shen Nian stared at her blankly. What was clearly just a random excuse she had used to avoid her was being treated by Shen Zui as a matter of great importance. Because it was “inconvenient” for her, Shen Zui had spent a fortune on a new home, making everything revolve around her wishes and studies.

“What is it?” Shen Zui tilted her head.

“You…” Just as Shen Nian found her voice, the phone in her pocket rudely began to ring. She quickly pulled it out to hang up, but froze when she saw the caller.

It was the landline from the Shen residence.

Shen Nian suddenly remembered the call she had received that morning where no one spoke. While she was dazed, Shen Zui looked over. “Who is it?”

“The house.” Shen Nian turned the screen toward her.

Shen Zui frowned slightly. After two seconds of silence, she asked, “Do you want to answer?”

“…” Shen Nian twitched her lips. “Can I really not answer?”

Shen Zui stroked her wrist and lowered her eyes. “If you don’t want to, just hang up.”

Shen Nian thought about it, moved the woman’s hand away, took two steps back, and pressed the answer button. “Hello?” She used the same line as she did in the morning. “This is Shen Nian.”

The other end was still quiet, save for a breath so faint it was hard to catch. Shen Nian waited for a few seconds, getting impatient. “If you’re not going to talk, I’m—”

“Is Shen Zui with you?” An old voice interrupted her.

Shen Nian was stunned. “…Grandmother?”

She had thought the call might be from Shen Zhuan’s family, but she never expected the person on the other end to be Shen Bi. Shen Bi rarely had any direct interaction with her; or rather, she looked down on having any interaction with Shen Nian. In fact, within the Shen family, if one were to list those who despised Shen Nian, even Shen Zhuan would have to take a back seat to her.

Even over the phone line, Shen Bi’s oppressive presence was felt. She directly issued an order: “Tell your Aunt to come back.”

Shen Nian looked at Shen Zui. Shen Zui had already turned and sat on the spacious sofa behind her. She leaned against the backrest and stretched out, her long swan neck looking white and delicate—a silent invitation.

Shen Nian looked away. “Where she wants to stay is her own freedom.”

This statement had a double meaning: it stated she wouldn’t persuade Shen Zui to return, and it hinted that Shen Bi shouldn’t overreach.

“Is that so?” Shen Bi gave a cold laugh. She dropped her polite facade. “Then you come back right now.”

Shen Nian steadied herself. “Things are busy at school lately. When I have time, I will—”

“Shen Nian.” After a two-second pause, the old woman spoke in a haunting tone. “Come back on your own, or I will send someone to ‘invite’ you back right now.”

Shen Nian frowned deeply. “Is there a reason I absolutely must return?”

“Is this your attitude toward your elders?” Shen Bi’s response was blunt. “If I don’t see you in an hour, I’ll send someone to your school to find out what’s going on.”

Shen Nian grit her teeth. At this stage, she didn’t have the strength to fight Shen Bi. The older woman held all the cards, whether in terms of reason or means.

“Mother.” Shen Zui had walked to her side at some point and nimbly took the phone.

The other end went silent the moment Shen Zui’s voice was heard.

“I thought we had already discussed this.” Shen Zui’s tone was very calm. “If you have any further concerns, you can talk to me. Don’t disturb Niannian.”

“It’s ‘Niannian’ this, ‘Niannian’ that. What kind of love potion did she give you?”

Shen Zui glanced at Shen Nian and replied composedly, “It has nothing to do with her. I know exactly what I am doing.”

“Hah.” Shen Bi massaged her temples. “You always say that.” A long sigh followed. “Your mother is old; I can’t control you anymore…”

Shen Zui replied, “I explained the reasons before, and I consulted you about moving out.”

“Mm, and then you bought the house and withdrew the medical team without tellling me first.” Shen Bi sneered. “I don’t recall agreeing to that.”

“…” This time, Shen Zui crossed her arms and didn’t speak. Some things didn’t need to be said aloud; just as Shen Zui did what she wanted without needing everyone’s approval.

Shen Bi clearly realized this too. She didn’t force an answer, but instead played the emotional card. “Your mother is old; I just want to see more of you.”

“Mm.” Shen Zui’s expression softened slightly. She sighed. “Once things are settled here and my health improves, I will come home to visit you.”

“…” This time, it was Shen Bi who fell silent. The mother and daughter had lived together for years and knew each other’s temperaments perfectly.

“The sun sets late these days; don’t stay out in the cold at night, and get some rest early,” Shen Zui continued. “Niannian is closely linked to my condition, so I will be bringing her back with me when I visit.”

This sentence officially placed Shen Nian under her protection.

Shen Bi held the phone, staring blankly at the floor tiles beneath her feet. She suddenly realized that under the erosion of time, places she had rarely noticed were now full of cracks. Nothing was as perfectly sealed as it once was.

Yu Bingnan entered with a stew pot and called out, “Madam.”

Shen Bi regained her senses, her lips trembling. After a moment, she replied into the phone, “You… take care of your health as well.”

Shen Zui’s gaze softened. “Mm.”

With that, both sides hung up. Yu Bingnan stepped forward respectfully and placed the pot by Shen Bi’s hand. “The kitchen just brought this out; please have some while it’s hot.”

Shen Bi shook her head, not even glancing at it.

“You are…” Yu Bingnan had served her for many years and knew she was in a bad mood. “If it really doesn’t work, should I go and bring that little girl Shen Nian back by force?”

Shen Bi looked up at her. “Bingnan…”

“Yes.” Yu Bingnan leaned down. “Madam, I’m here.”

“Find someone…” Shen Bi started, but went silent for a long time.

Yu Bingnan cautiously watched her expression and tentatively offered, “…Find someone to go to the Mistress’s place?”

“Find someone…” Shen Bi stood up, a hint of loneliness on her face. She clasped her hands in front of her. “To renovate the floor tiles here.”

“Eh?” Yu Bingnan was stunned.

When she looked up again, she saw Shen Bi walking past her and slowly disappearing into the night. The porcelain stew pot remained on the table, the steam dissipating bit by bit, with no sign of the coldness easing.