The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 45

“I’m sorry,” Shen Nian said, shaking her head. She chose a tactful excuse. “It’s too late now, and we both have scenes to film tomorrow…”

“It’s because we have to film early tomorrow that I’m here!” Tan Zhu grabbed her sleeve and took a deep breath. “The truth is… the scenes between you and Wu Feng today put a lot of pressure on me. Anyone can see that he was completely suppressed by your aura. He couldn’t keep up with your acting at all.”

Shen Nian paused. “Uh…”

Tan Zhu continued, “We are the two most important leads, and we have the most scenes together. If I end up like Wu Feng…” Her originally rosy cheeks turned pale. “I really don’t know if I’ll have the courage to make it through the entire shoot.”

Seeing her like this, Shen Nian’s heart softened. Tan Zhu was a kind person; back when the original male lead, Wang Ze, was mocking Shen Nian, Tan Zhu had stepped up several times to speak for her. Furthermore, they did indeed have many upcoming scenes together; rehearsing in advance was a sign of responsibility toward the entire crew.

Thinking of this, Shen Nian could no longer refuse. She stepped aside to let Tan Zhu in, leaving the door wide open. After all, with one being an Alpha and the other an Omega, it was best to avoid any suspicion during a late-night rehearsal.

“Have a seat. I’m going to pour you some water; I’ll be right back.” Shen Nian picked up her phone, which was still in the middle of a video call.

Tan Zhu had achieved her goal. A smile played on her lips as she nodded shyly. “Mm~”

Shen Nian turned and left the room. Under the moonlight, she looked back at her phone. On the screen, Shen Zui’s slightly furrowed brow seemed almost surreal.

“Shen Zui?” Shen Nian called out.

Shen Zui looked up and let out a faint smile. “Is that your capable co-star?” She critiqued, “Quite pretty.”

“Mm,” Shen Nian replied as she walked toward the side room.

Shen Zui’s eyes darkened as she watched her. “I am not in City A; you shouldn’t go out so easily. Are you planning to stay out overnight? Did the doctor approve?”

“Thanks to you,” Shen Zui leaned back against a soft cushion. “I won’t have any issues for the next week.”

Realizing the implication, Shen Nian’s lips curled into a grin, a spark of light flashing in her eyes. Recalling the two days before her departure, she couldn’t help but savor the memory, her tongue instinctively brushing against her upper canine tooth.

Shen Zui looked slightly displeased, but her attention was quickly diverted. “You… are staying in a place like this?”

Shen Nian had reached the utility room and was pouring water from a thermos. The sound of the water hitting the cup masked her delicate features in rising steam. “Mm,” she grunted softly, replacing the lid.

Shen Zui’s brow knitted into a deep frown.

“It can’t be helped. That’s just how the mountains are—the conditions are a bit harsh,” Shen Nian said lightheartedly. “It’s fine. Once we finish the scenes in the temple, it will be better.”

Shen Zui remained silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “You say it so easily? Since you were a child, when have you ever suffered like this?”

“It’s strange,” Shen Nian pondered. “I don’t actually feel miserable. On the first day, everyone else was in a frenzy, but I felt quite at ease. Seeing them so lost, I even stepped in to help quite a bit.”

“Are you waiting for me to praise you?” Shen Zui asked.

Shen Nian shook her head and smiled. She looked out the window. “Maybe because of the mountains, the air is good. It feels more comfortable than the big city.”

“Your ability to find joy in hardship is quite impressive,” Shen Zui remarked, turning away.

“You could say that.” Realizing she had been out for too long, Shen Nian heard Tan Zhu calling her name.

“Fine then,” Shen Zui pursed her lips. “Go back and rehearse with your leading lady.”

Shen Nian rubbed her ear. “If you keep speaking with such sarcasm, I’m going to start thinking you’re jealous.”

Shen Zui’s brow twitched, and in the next second, she disconnected the video call. Shen Nian sighed at the darkened screen, tucked her phone into her pocket, and called out, “I’m over here.”

The courtyard was unlit. Carrying the cup, she stepped out of the utility room and found Tan Zhu standing in the moonlight. “Let’s head back inside.”

“Sorry…” Tan Zhu fiddled with the hem of her shirt. “I was a little scared being by myself.”

Shen Nian smiled as she approached. “Scared?”

“Well, we are filming a fantasy drama after all,” Tan Zhu asked. “Shen Nian, do you believe there are ghosts and demons in this world?”

“I don’t know.” Having experienced rebirth, Shen Nian no longer dared to call herself a staunch materialist. One must maintain a sense of awe toward the unknown.

Tan Zhu stared at her, dazed for a moment.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Nian asked, stopping in her tracks.

Tan Zhu snapped out of it and gave her a radiant smile. “If you told me you were a mountain spirit in disguise, I would definitely believe you!”

Shen Nian was speechless. She felt the girl’s train of thought was a bit too erratic. “I’m not.”

Fortunately, Tan Zhu was a sensible girl. She quickly changed the subject and followed her back into the room.

After that night, whatever Tan Zhu told the others, the rest of the crew began to realize that although Shen Nian looked noble and aloof, she was actually very approachable. Consequently, more and more people sought her out for rehearsals or acting advice.

During one break, Zhou Nan overheard their conversation and remarked in amazement, “Are you really just a freshman? The way you explain things makes it seem like you’ve been in this industry for years. I’ve never even heard of some of those techniques.”

Shen Nian was stunned for a moment but laughed it off. In such an atmosphere, filming efficiency skyrocketed, shortening the original fifteen-day schedule to about ten days.

The final scene took place late at night. After a battle with the “Mountain God,” the protagonist Chen Min (played by Shen Nian) and Hua Shan (played by Tan Zhu) team up to seal the spirit within The Scroll of Zhuang Zhou. However, Hua Shan is severely injured, and Chen Min must carry her down the mountain.

The set was nearly ready. Director Cai Kang signaled them to prepare. Shen Nian bent her knees and turned to Tan Zhu. “Get on.”

“Alright!” Tan Zhu chirped, happily jumping onto her back. “Phew—” she sighed contentedly, wrapping her arms around Shen Nian’s neck. “Filming all night is so exhausting… I can’t even straighten my back.”

Shen Nian hoisted her higher. Tan Zhu tilted her head. “Shen Nian, am I heavy?”

“Not at all,” Shen Nian replied with a smile.

“Your physical stamina is incredible!” Tan Zhu’s legs were wrapped around her waist. “Out of all of us, you have the most action scenes, yet you look completely at ease every day when we finish.”

Behind the camera, Zhou Nan and Cai Kang were whispering, so the filming didn’t start immediately. Shen Nian replied, “I trained specifically for this role. The energy consumption during filming is indeed high, but fortunately, I can manage.”

Tan Zhu blushed for some reason. To distract herself, she reached out. “Your hair…”

Shen Nian instinctively moved away, not letting her touch her. “What is it?”

“Oh,” Tan Zhu paused. “It’s just… you’re sweating, and the hair by your ear is a bit messy. I was going to fix it for you.”

Since Shen Nian couldn’t see it herself and her hands were occupied, she nodded. “Sorry to trouble you.”

“Don’t be so polite with me!”

Shen Nian turned her head to let her fix it. As she looked down at the gravel on the ground, she caught a camera flash from the corner of her eye. She looked over and saw a minor actress from the crew.

“Hello!” Caught in the act, the girl didn’t hide, waving at them instead.

“Xiao Nuo,” Tan Zhu called out in surprise. “Why haven’t you gone back yet?”

Xiao Nuo replied while filming them with her phone, “I just asked Screenwriter Zhou, and he said your scenes will be done in half an hour. I couldn’t sleep by myself, so I’m waiting for you.”

Tan Zhu was delighted. “Mm-hmm!”

Xiao Nuo approached them, looking at the pair on her screen. “It’s such a shame the script is only in its first season and you don’t have a romance subplot. You two look so well-matched!”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Tan Zhu waved her off. Shen Nian sighed in relief, only for Tan Zhu to add, “We’re covered in dirt right now, how do we look ‘well-matched’?”

“You don’t understand,” Xiao Nuo shook her head solemnly. “It’s this natural, unpretentious vibe that makes your interaction feel so real and ‘ship-worthy’!”

Tan Zhu burst into laughter, her chin resting on Shen Nian’s shoulder. Just as Shen Nian was about to speak, the staff signaled for the countdown. Xiao Nuo quickly retreated, and Tan Zhu adjusted her state, whispering a soft “Sorry” in Shen Nian’s ear.

Three seconds later, filming began.

Shen Nian stepped forward with effort, occasionally turning back to check on Tan Zhu’s condition.

“Are you alright? Hang in there!”

“Chen Min…” Tan Zhu’s breath was weak. “Am I… going to die here?”

“No,” Shen Nian gritted her teeth. She looked at the dappled shadows of the trees on the path ahead and promised, “I won’t let you die here.”

Encouraged by these words, Tan Zhu’s limp arms tightened around her neck.

“Cut!” “Great! That was fantastic!” “The mountain scenes are officially wrapped!” “Shen Nian, Tan Zhu—quick, come have some water.”

Amidst the cheers of the crew, Shen Nian leaned over and gently set Tan Zhu on the ground. “Careful.”

Tan Zhu didn’t even look at the water bottle handed to her; instead, she reached up to wipe the sweat from Shen Nian’s brow. “You must be exhausted.”

Filming from late night until the early hours had indeed left Shen Nian drained. She closed her eyes and leaned against a tree trunk, panting heavily. She didn’t notice that several cameras were still pointed at her and Tan Zhu, recording their intimate interaction.

“Tsk, tsk,” Cai Kang said, increasingly satisfied. “This is perfect. We won’t have to worry about behind-the-scenes footage.”

Zhou Nan poured cold water on his excitement. “What’s the use? If this drama flops, all the footage in the world won’t matter.”

“Impossible!” Cai Kang raised his head with confidence. “Your screenwriting skills speak for themselves, and the leads—especially Shen Nian and Tan Zhu—performed beyond expectations! If this show isn’t a hit, there is no justice in the world!”

Zhou Nan wanted to continue teasing his friend, but the light in his eyes betrayed his own excitement. He took a deep breath and looked up through the branches at the full moon hanging high above.