The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 47

The midsummer heat faded quickly, and in the blink of an eye, September arrived, bringing a new batch of students to A University.

Shen Nian made a point of waking up early to do her makeup. At the final step, she hesitated between two lipsticks and turned to ask, “Which color do you think looks more approachable?”

Nearby, Shen Zui was leaning lazily against the headboard. She glanced over and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Welcoming the freshmen.” Shen Nian’s lips curled upward, her eyes shining brighter than usual. “Today is the Freshman Convocation. I promised Yang Min I’d head over to help out.”

“…” Shen Zui half-squinted her eyes. “You’re interested in that sort of thing?”

Shen Nian didn’t answer, looking down to admire the rich pigment of the lipstick. Of course she wasn’t interested. In her previous life, she had been dragged along by Xi You to join the fun and happened to witness a very “interesting” incident. This time, after cutting ties with Xi You, she had “coincidentally” befriended the study commissary, Yang Min.

Knowing she was willing to participate, the members of the Drama Club were overjoyed.

While she was lost in thought, Shen Zui pointed to her left hand. “Use that one. It’s lighter, but it suits your complexion.”

Shen Nian snapped back to reality, her tone lifting slightly. “I thought this one was better, too~” With that, she turned back to the mirror and began applying it carefully.

During this time, Shen Zui got out of bed and walked up behind her. She wasn’t wearing shoes; her bare feet stepped onto the soft bedroom carpet as silently as a cat. Shen Nian could feel the warmth of the other woman’s body against her back, followed by the sensation of Shen Zui’s chin resting on the crown of her head.

Shen Zui reached out to tilt Shen Nian’s chin, inspecting her from side to side in the mirror. Shen Nian blinked at her, shamelessly flaunting her beauty. “Well? How do I look?”

“Niannian is beautiful,” Shen Zui said nonchalantly. “I wonder how many underclassmen you’re going to enchant.”

“Is that so?” Shen Nian smiled. Ever since she woke up, her mood had been excellent, brighter than the morning sun outside the window. She looked up at Shen Zui. “Should I wear a sign on my chest?”

Shen Zui didn’t follow her train of thought. “Hmm?”

“It’ll say…” Shen Nian drew a heart in the air with her lipstick. “Taken.”

Their eyes met. The girl’s gaze was direct and burning, nearly causing the placid lake in Shen Zui’s eyes to boil over. In the next moment, Shen Zui looked away and gave Shen Nian’s ear a sharp, unkind pinch.

“Ouch!” Shen Nian cried out dramatically.

“Stop acting.” Shen Zui turned and walked toward the bathroom. “Leave early. Don’t be late.”

With a smile on her face, Shen Nian called out to her back, “I know!”

After a quick breakfast, she left the apartment to meet Yang Min’s group. All morning, she was surrounded by enthusiastic freshmen, busy answering questions and organizing discipline. She didn’t even have a chance to sit down.

Fortunately, the freshmen were “exceptionally polite.” By the time the noon break rolled around, Shen Nian’s arms were filled with various drinks and snacks—and that was only after she had exhausted herself refusing most of them.

“It really has to be you…” In the cafeteria, Yang Min looked at her with reverence.

“Hmm?” Shen Nian wiped her sweat. “Didn’t you guys get anything?”

“No,” the group replied in unison.

Shen Nian realized then that she was the most exhausted person in the group.

“I’ve realized it now…” Yang Min leaned over and patted her shoulder. “This world is just one giant ‘Face Card’ game.”

The class monitor sat nearby with her chin in her hand. “Most people who get into our Performance Department are good-looking. But Shen Nian… tsk tsk.”

Xu Lele chimed in to finish the thought: “Even among a group of beautiful people, Shen Nian stands out as particularly stunning!”

“Let’s just eat,” Shen Nian interrupted, her face flushing. She picked up two bottles of water. “Anyone want a drink?” The group laughed and chatted, making the meal exceptionally pleasant.

The afternoon was much easier. Since the task was simply to organize the freshmen for the convocation, there wasn’t much to do. Yang Min told her, “We don’t need many people this afternoon. If you’re tired, you can head back to rest.”

Shen Nian shook her head. “I’m fine.” The event she was looking forward to was happening this afternoon; there was no way she was leaving now.

“Alright then.” Yang Min’s eyes darted around. “In that case, come with me to the venue to confirm the seating before they bring the freshmen over.”

Shen Nian readily agreed.

Shortly after arriving at the venue, Yang Min received a call and asked Shen Nian to take the list of freshmen from the Performance Department to the Student Union office in the back. Shen Nian nodded and followed the signs to the rear of the hall.

Just as she located the office and raised her hand to knock, the wooden door suddenly swung open from the inside.

“It’s fine, I’ll figure it out myself, uh—”

The person walking out didn’t expect someone to be standing there and jammed on the brakes just before a collision. Because she was unstable, she nearly fell, only managing to steady herself by grabbing the doorframe.

Shen Nian reflexively retracted the hand she had almost reached out to help with.

“Heh.” Shen Zhuan stood up straight, brushed off her clothes, and glanced sideways at her. “What a coincidence.”

Shen Nian thought to herself: It’s no coincidence.

Behind Shen Zhuan, a Student Union officer named Huang Duo’er looked between the two of them. “Oh? You two know each other?”

In front of an outsider, every move Shen Zhuan made was polite and refined. She didn’t answer directly, merely looking at Shen Nian with a fake smile. “Junior, you’ve worked hard for the Freshman Convocation.”

“It was nothing.” Shen Nian raised the list in her hand, subtly changing the subject. She looked at Huang Duo’er. “Hello, Senior. I’m here to hand in the freshman list for the Performance Department.”

“Oh, right!” Huang Duo’er’s attention was successfully diverted. She smiled and said, “Here, you can just give it to me.”

Shen Nian handed over the list, mentally checking off another task. “Thank you for the trouble. I’ll be going—”

“Wait, Shen Nian!” Huang Duo’er suddenly looked up.

Shen Nian was confused. “Senior knows me?”

“Oh, come on, you’re Shen Nian!” Huang Duo’er grinned widely. “You’re a celebrity at A University; who doesn’t know you? I even went to see your play with my friends!”

“Tch,” Shen Zhuan let out a cold, lukewarm laugh.

Shen Nian glanced at her, then bowed slightly and nodded politely to Huang Duo’er.

Huang Duo’er stepped forward and grabbed Shen Nian’s sleeve. “Shen Nian, you’re from the Performance Department. You must be great at makeup, right?”

Shen Nian didn’t know how the senior connected “Performance Department” to “makeup skills,” but she thought about it and said, “I’m okay.”

“Here’s the thing!” Huang Duo’er’s eyes lit up. “Student Shen Zhuan… wait, I just realized you both have the surname Shen. What a coincidence.” She laughed before getting back to the point. “Student Shen Zhuan is an Outstanding Student Representative and has to give a speech at the convocation later. She’s been busy today and didn’t have time to do her hair or makeup. Are you free? Could you help her out?”

Shen Nian looked down slightly and saw that Shen Zhuan was also looking at her. The other woman’s gaze was dark, and a trace of a contemptuous smile hung at the corner of her mouth.

“That… might not be appropriate?” Shen Nian instinctively refused.

“Hmm?” Huang Duo’er tilted her head. “Why? Don’t you have time?”

Before Shen Nian could speak, Shen Zhuan suddenly interjected, “Haha, let’s not trouble Junior Shen. People in the Performance Department spend all day fussing over their faces; they probably don’t like ‘serious’ students like us.”

The words were laced with hidden thorns, leaving Huang Duo’er stunned for a moment.

“That’s not it,” Shen Nian spoke up, raising an eyebrow. “I’m just afraid that with my skill level, I won’t be able to paint the mask of an ‘Outstanding Student Representative’ on your face.”

Shen Zhuan was never one to make things easy for her. “Technical matters just require a bit of finesse, don’t they? But I see you have quite the personality. If you’re trying to act cool and don’t want to help, I can understand.”

Huang Duo’er, caught between them, looked completely lost and could only let out a few awkward, NPC-like laughs.

“I didn’t mean it that way,” Shen Nian said with a playful smile, cracking her knuckles. “It would be my honor to help on such an important occasion. Senior, if you don’t mind, let’s find a quiet room right now so I can do your makeup.”

As she spoke, she stared directly at Shen Zhuan, her eyes flashing with undisguised loathing.

Hearing this, Shen Zhuan’s hand clenched at her side. This speech was vital for her resume; she couldn’t afford a single mistake. Thinking of this, she took a deep breath. “No need.”

Seeing her retreat, Shen Nian pressed the attack. “Why not?” She “persuaded” her patiently, “Senior, it’s already this late. you won’t find another makeup artist. Why not let me try? I promise I will give you a look that you’ll be satisfied with.”

Shen Zhuan gritted her teeth. “I said no need!” The words came out sharper than she intended, and she quickly looked at Huang Duo’er.

Huang Duo’er’s expression was stiff. “Shen… Shen Zhuan…”

“It’s fine.” Shen Zhuan glanced at her phone and took a deep breath. “I have other things to prepare. Let’s not talk about this anymore. Bye.” With a glare at Shen Nian, she turned and fled.

“Uh…” Huang Duo’er finally snapped out of it. She looked at Shen Nian. “Junior, I’m sorry… Shen Zhuan has a speech today, she might be a bit nervous.” She then muttered to herself, “Strange, she’s usually so kind. Why today…?”

“It’s fine,” Shen Nian said softly. She didn’t leave immediately; instead, she asked with interest, “What kind of person is Senior Shen Zhuan?”

“Shen Zhuan!” Huang Duo’er grinned. “She’s an ‘Outstanding Student Representative,’ what do you think?” She began counting on her fingers: “She’s not only a top student but has a great personality. She’s always very pleasant to be around, like a breath of fresh air. You’ll never feel burdened when you’re with her.”

Masking her true emotions, Shen Nian gave a lukewarm smile. “Is that so?”

“Yes!” Huang Duo’er nodded emphatically. “We’re both in the Economics and Management Department. We’ve been classmates for three years, and I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about her. Honestly, she’s probably the closest thing to perfect in our school!”

“What high praise.” Shen Nian looked at her.

Huang Duo’er was momentarily dazzled by Shen Nian’s smile. “Hehe, yeah…”

Shen Nian rubbed her chin. “Senior, is Shen Zhuan single?”

“Eh?” Huang Duo’er blinked. She thought about it and nodded. “I think so. I’ve never heard of her dating anyone.”

“I see…”

“Even though she’s a Beta, a lot of people like her.” Huang Duo’er peeked at Shen Nian’s profile. “Haha, though she can’t compare to you, as far as I know, she’s received quite a few confessions and love letters. But she’s rejected them all to focus on her studies.” She couldn’t help but sigh, “What a great person!”

Shen Nian curled her lips, looking toward the end of the corridor where Shen Zhuan had disappeared, and nodded in agreement.

“Yes. What a ‘great’ person she is.”