The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 43

When Shen Nian walked into the living room barefoot, Shen Zui had just hung up the phone. The blue light from the screen had not yet faded, casting sharp shadows across her face. In that fleeting moment, Shen Nian clearly read three parts of disdain in her expression.

“You’re back,” Shen Zui initiated the conversation, turning her head to offer a dispassionate compliment. “You did well.”

Shen Nian’s smile was purely superficial. “It was just a speech, wasn’t it? Anyone could have done it.”

Shen Zui leaned back into her armchair and placed her phone face down on the side table. “Qin Li said you performed excellently. You didn’t have stage fright, and you handled those old foxes with ease.” She slowed her pace, intentionally emphasizing Shen Nian’s status. “You are the Second Miss of the family, after all. You should learn from Shen Zhuan and show your face at those events more often.”

Shen Nian approached, her bare feet stepping silently on the expensive silk carpet. She struggled to understand Shen Zui’s stubbornness. “Aside from you, does anyone else even care?”

Shen Zui didn’t answer. Instead, she brought up another matter. “You ran into Qi Zhou?”

Shen Nian felt a surge of inexplicable irritability. “Yeah.”

Shen Zui stood up, walked over, and patted her shoulder. The gesture was clearly meant to be soothing. “Your handling of it was decisive. Putting him on the SX blacklist will make his life difficult for quite a while.”

Shen Nian laughed suddenly. “You’ve resigned. Is that temporary decision still valid?”

“Yes.” Shen Zui offered no further explanation, but her firm tone spoke of her absolute control.

Shen Nian pressed further, her voice mocking. “You gave up your position to Mother so easily… is it because you’re certain you still hold immense power over SX?”

Shen Zui shook her head. Her hand moved from Shen Nian’s shoulder to twirl a lock of her hair. She smiled casually. “Is Niannian becoming interested in family affairs?”

“Not really.”

“Oh?”

Shen Nian grabbed her hand. “I’m very interested in your affairs.”

Shen Zui froze for a moment before pulling her hand back. She sighed and rubbed her brow. “No respect for your elders.”

“You only need to know that even if I am not at SX, I can ensure you aren’t bullied,” Shen Zui said, regaining her composure. “If you wish, I can have Qi Zhou—or even Qi Yun—show up at your door tomorrow to apologize.”

“Oh,” Shen Nian replied simply.

She was still in full makeup and the haute couture evening gown. The dress shimmered with embedded diamonds, making her radiant even in the dim light. Yet, her presence still paled in comparison to the indifferent woman standing before her in a loose bathrobe. One could tell at a glance who was the one born with a silver spoon, pampered and praised by thousands.

“No need,” Shen Nian said. “Even if they came, their apologies would be insincere. If I want to watch a show, I’ll go online; professional actors are much better than they are.”

Shen Zui remained silent for a few seconds before giving a soft “Mm.” With nothing left to say, she left the living room with a final “Rest early.”

Back in her temporary bedroom, Shen Nian saw a message from the screenwriter, Zhou Nan, stating that the script had been revised and they would be heading into the mountains for filming the day after tomorrow.

Realizing she would be leaving soon, Shen Nian felt a sudden spark of defiance. She looked at herself in the mirror—she looked stunning, perfectly groomed from head to toe. Why should I just let it end like this?

She marched to the master bedroom and knocked.

“Come in,” Shen Zui called out.

Shen Nian entered to find Shen Zui sitting on a sofa, reading an English book. “What is it?” she asked without looking up.

Her coldness was piercing. Shen Nian approached her. “Shen Zui.”

Finally, Shen Zui looked up, her brow furrowed.

Shen Nian stopped a meter away, acting innocent. “I can’t reach the zipper on my dress. Could you help me?”

Because haute couture zippers are often hidden for aesthetics, Shen Zui didn’t suspect a ruse. She put down her book. “Where is it?”

“On the back,” Shen Nian said, turning around.

She felt the warmth of Shen Zui’s body approaching. Since the dress was a backless design, every touch felt like wet ink on a blank canvas. But then, the touch changed. Shen Zui’s hand moved from the fabric onto Shen Nian’s bare skin. At first hesitant, her movements became bolder, her palm pressing directly against Shen Nian’s back.

“Can’t find it?” Shen Nian asked, testing her.

Shen Zui let out a soft, mocking “Tch.” She poked Shen Nian’s back. “The zipper for this dress isn’t on the back.”

“Huh?” Shen Nian feigned surprise.

Shen Zui’s hand moved slowly to Shen Nian’s left arm, leaving a faint scent of plum blossoms in its wake. “Lift your arm.”

As Shen Nian complied, Shen Zui found the tiny pull under the armpit and pulled it down. Because of the waist cutouts, the top of the dress practically fell open. Shen Nian barely caught the bodice to keep it from falling completely, but the view from the side was impossible to hide.

Shen Zui didn’t look away for several seconds.

“Thank you,” Shen Nian whispered. She didn’t leave; instead, she leaned closer. “Good thing you were here, or I would have been struggling for a while.”

Shen Zui snapped back to reality and smirked. “A cheap trick.”

So hard to crack, Shen Nian thought. Aloud, she said innocently, “What?”

“It’s undone,” Shen Zui said, stepping back and pointing to the door. “You can go now.”

The air between them grew hot. “I just remembered,” Shen Nian said, turning to face her. She held the collar of her dress up, her fingers intentionally resting on her collarbone. “I got word that I have to join the film crew the day after tomorrow. I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

Shen Zui acted like a block of wood. “Do you have enough money in your account?”

“What I mean is!” Shen Nian snapped, her patience fraying. Seeing the teasing glint in Shen Zui’s eyes, she realized she had been played. She gritted her teeth and blurted out: “Give me a ‘marking’ before I go.”

Shen Zui went silent.

Shen Nian tried to let her dress fall dramatically to make her point, but the fabric got caught on her curves. She had to wiggle several times before the dress finally slumped around her hips. The romantic tension was almost ruined by the awkwardness, making her feel like a failed mannequin.

However, Shen Zui suddenly stepped forward. She looked down, her fingers stroking the fabric of the gown with an obsession she couldn’t hide.

Shen Nian leaned in and brushed her lips against the top of Shen Zui’s head. “Shen Zui…”

They were less than a centimeter apart when Shen Zui suddenly pressed a finger against Shen Nian’s lips. She pushed Shen Nian back and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling her hair aside to reveal the delicate nape of her neck.

“Go ahead,” Shen Zui said.

“What do you mean?” Shen Nian frowned.

“Isn’t this what you wanted? A marking.”

Shen Nian realized Shen Zui was trying to bypass the intimacy of a kiss by making it a purely “medical” transaction. It was a cold, clinical offer that risked pain just to avoid acknowledging their feelings.

“Why?” Shen Nian asked, though she knew the answer. Shen Zui was still clinging to her role as “Little Auntie.”

Shen Nian sat beside her and pulled her into a rough embrace. She looked at the nape of Shen Zui’s neck—delicate as a piece of cake waiting to be tasted. Shen Nian leaned in and bit.

She felt Shen Zui tremble, bracing for pain. But Shen Nian didn’t use force. Instead, she retracted her teeth and began to soothe the spot with her tongue, kissing it gently.

“You’re making me feel like I’m truly special,” Shen Nian whispered.

Shen Zui looked at her with watery, confused eyes.

“Shen Zui,” Shen Nian asked, “Have you ever compromised yourself for someone else’s affection before?”

Shen Zui bit her lip. “What are you trying to say?”

“You’re willing to let yourself be hurt just to escape me,” Shen Nian said, breathing in the scent of cold plums. “I can only assume that I am special to you.”

After a silence, Shen Zui said, “Niannian, you always have been.”

“Don’t call me Niannian,” Shen Nian said, biting her lip gently. “Call me Shen Nian.”

“We are family,” Shen Zui protested. “You are the child I watched grow up…”

“And you?” Shen Nian interrupted. “What are your feelings for me? You can’t even tell me it’s pure family affection, can you?”

To her surprise, Shen Zui nodded. “Mm.”

Shen Nian was overjoyed. “You admit it! You finally admit it!”

But Shen Zui leaned her chin on Shen Nian’s shoulder. “You are still young. There are many things in this world that cannot be decided by feelings alone. Ethics, the judgment of others… our futures.”

Shen Nian’s joy faded. “I see.” She realized that if Shen Zui wasn’t willing to fight for a future together, there was nothing she could do.

“You know,” Shen Nian said softly, “if a person’s life path changes, do they end up falling for different people? Maybe the person you loved in a time of suffering wouldn’t be as significant if you hadn’t gone through that pain.”

Shen Zui looked bewildered. “Niannian, who are you talking about?”

Shen Nian shook her head. She pulled Shen Zui close again. “It’s fine. I’ll call you ‘Shen Zui,’ and you can call me ‘Niannian.’ We won’t interfere with each other… but I’m not giving up!”

She leaned in and kissed her properly this time. “Just treat it as… medical treatment.”

The resistance crumbled. Shen Zui’s arms went soft, and she hooked them around Shen Nian’s neck. The pent-up desire of the last five days exploded. The expensive dress was practically torn away as it slid to the floor.

Two days later, by the time Shen Nian was ready to leave for the film set at noon, Shen Zui—thoroughly “marked” and exhausted—had still not woken up.

A doctor was called to check on her. The doctor stared at Shen Nian with a look that clearly said “beast.”

“I’m leaving now, I might be gone for half a month,” Shen Nian said, unfazed. “Is the marking… sufficient?”

“More than enough!” the doctor snapped, scribbling on a notepad. “Why aren’t you gone yet?”

Shen Nian picked up her backpack. “Please take good care of her while I’m away.”

“Don’t worry,” the doctor said, practically ushering her to the elevator. “She’ll be much better off once you’re gone.”

Shen Nian rubbed her nose, realizing she might have been a bit excessive. She waved goodbye and stepped into the elevator.