The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 49

Qi Yun’s heart ached so much that she rushed forward and pulled Shen Zhuan into a tight embrace. She shrieked at Shen Zui, “What are you doing?!”

Shen Zhuan clutched her mother’s arm, calling out “Mom” helplessly, though her eyes remained fixed on Shen Zui in a daze.

Shen Zui’s brow furrowed, her gaze toward Shen Zhuan now filled with a hint of contempt. “I told you, if this is your temperament, you should stay at home. Surrounded by wolves and tigers, the next time you trip, it won’t be as simple as a slap.”

Shen Nian vaguely remembered Shen Zui giving the same warning before; back then, Shen Zhuan had argued back self-righteously. As the scene repeated itself today, Shen Zhuan looked like a defeated rooster, her arrogance completely extinguished. That slap seemed to have cleared her mind significantly; she huddled in Qi Yun’s arms, clutching her face and weeping, not daring to utter a single word of protest.

Just then, a man rushed in from outside. Qi Zhou was flushed, his mouth agape as he gasped for air, yet he didn’t dare rest. He looked at Qi Yun and Shen Zhuan. “Sister, Little Zhuan, it’s… it’s over! That—pant—that woman escaped!”

“What?” Shen Zhuan froze, then pushed Qi Yun aside and grabbed his collar. “Where did she go?”

Qi Zhou shook his head, his face pale. “I—I don’t know.”

“She’s a pregnant woman, where could she possibly go?” Qi Yun snapped, her sibling affection forgotten as she launched into a tirade. “What exactly have you been doing? Why can’t you handle even a small matter like this?”

Qi Zhou’s eyes darted around frantically. “Someone must be targeting us!” he said tremulously. “I told you that you should have given me more resources. I don’t have enough people on my side; how was I supposed to keep her under control?”

“Waaaaah—” Qi Yun sobbed, clutching Shen Zhuan’s arm. “Who is it? Who is the one plotting against our Little Zhuan?”

Qi Zhou’s eyes shifted. “Little Zhuan and I haven’t offended anyone recently…” His gaze suddenly landed on Shen Nian. Diverting the blame was a trick he and Shen Zhuan played masterfully. “If we’re talking about conflict, I suppose there was that recent run-in with Shen Nian.”

He looked at Shen Nian. “…Shen Nian, I really didn’t expect you to be so ruthless toward your own sister. This concerns her entire future!”

Shen Zhuan trembled with rage. “It’s her! It’s her! I told you it was her!” She wiped her tears. “I felt something was wrong yesterday. Why would a useless person like her show up at the Freshman Convocation for no reason? This was all premeditated!”

At this, everyone’s gaze shifted to Shen Nian. Initially, Shen Que hadn’t believed Shen Zhuan’s claims; she didn’t think an adopted child like Shen Nian could influence much. But seeing both Shen Zhuan and Qi Zhou pointing the finger at Shen Nian, she began to harbor doubts.

“Shen Nian.” Shen Que stepped forward. “Did you really take the woman away?”

Shen Nian’s expression was flat. “No.”

The two words felt far too weak in this room.

Shen Que bit her lip. “In the past, I let your bickering with Shen Zhuan slide, but this is a serious matter. How long are you going to keep causing trouble?”

Shen Nian almost laughed from anger. She crossed her arms, refusing to let their accusations cause her any internal turmoil. “I am a member of the Drama Club. I was at the convocation to help maintain order for the freshmen. As for this ‘pregnant woman’ they’re talking about, I only heard the gist of it on the scene yesterday. Beyond that, I know nothing.”

It wasn’t a lie. Shen Nian held her head high, meeting the gaze of the four “eccentrics” with steady eyes.

“It was definitely you!” Qi Zhou raised his voice. If he didn’t find a scapegoat, he would have to bear the brunt of the responsibility. Having successfully splashed the dirty water onto Shen Nian, he wasn’t about to let it go. “I remember clearly. When we met at A University before, you took that woman away right in front of Little Zhuan and me! I was wondering what you were up to back then, but I never expected you to be so malicious—actually instructing her to ruin Little Zhuan’s speech!”

He glared at her. “Shen Nian, I’m telling you, if Little Zhuan really loses that quota because of this, we are not finished with you!”

Shen Nian frowned. “You’re lying through your teeth.”

“You still won’t admit it?!” Qi Zhou shouted.

Shen Nian asked calmly, “When did I ever see that woman? And when did I take her away from you and Shen Zhuan?” She narrowed her eyes. “Qi Zhou, you are responsible for the things you say.”

“It was at the end of last semester!” Qi Zhou turned and shot a look at Shen Zhuan.

Shen Zhuan snapped back to reality. She stiffened her neck and nodded. “Yes, at the end of last semester. After your play ended, we met outside the venue. That crazy woman chased us right then.”

Shen Nian was stunned for a moment. She looked at Shen Zhuan and let out a laugh, truly amazed that the other woman had no bottom line. “Now that you mention it, I remember. We did meet, but I was in a rush to get to the crew’s party and took a taxi immediately.”

Qi Zhou shouted, “Who knows if you’re telling the truth! We say you took that woman into the car with you!”

“Heh.” Shen Nian gave a cold laugh.

“Aha! It really was you!” Qi Yun began to spiral. “What exactly do you want? Why are you hurting Shen Zhuan? Why are you hurting my daughter?”

Shen Nian frowned and took a step back. She took a deep breath and looked at Qi Zhou again. “So your meaning is that back then, the woman was already pestering Shen Zhuan and clearly wasn’t going to let it go. And yet, you and Shen Zhuan just stood there and watched as I took her into a car and left? Is that what you’re saying?”

Qi Zhou and Shen Zhuan both froze.

Shen Nian found it incredibly amusing. “Qi Zhou, putting the truth aside for a moment—for this matter to have reached this point, you have to be either stupid or malicious. Which one is it?”

“…” Qi Zhou’s face turned beet red.

Shen Zhuan knit her brows and secretly poked him. Qi Zhou gritted his teeth. “…So, you admit it! You admit that woman was acting under your instructions!” He turned to Shen Que. “President Shen, listen to her! She’s admitted it—she planned this from start to finish! She’s jealous of Shen Zhuan; she’s hell-bent on destroying us!”

Shen Que’s mind was in a fog, but she was clearly more willing to accept this convenient “fact” than to think for herself. “Shen Nian! You ungrateful little thing!”

Shen Nian looked at her with a gaze that bordered on pity. She turned her head to look at the dark-faced Shen Zui beside her. They were biological sisters—how could the difference between two people be this vast?

“I have an idea!” Qi Zhou struck while the iron was hot. “Let’s hold a press conference. We’ll say that woman was actually sent by Shen Nian, and the pregnancy has nothing to do with Little Zhuan. That way, we can clear the misunderstanding!”

Qi Yun quickly chimed in, “Yes, yes! We have to clear Little Zhuan’s name immediately.”

“And then, heh—” Qi Zhou looked at Shen Nian with a sinister gaze, “we’ll sue Shen Nian for slandering her own sister and send her to prison. That will immediately divert public attention.”

Shen Zhuan agreed, “Yes!”

“By then, we’ll frame it as Shen Zhuan being a victim of a frame-up who stayed strong. We won’t have to worry about her career being unstable,” Qi Zhou finished, nearly applauding his own “genius” plan.

Shen Nian suppressed the fury in her heart and even managed a grin.

“What? Not satisfied?” Qi Zhou mocked.

“I think your idea is great,” Shen Nian said, spreading her hands. “Go ahead. Call the police. I also feel that there’s no way to communicate with you people. Let’s go to the station, give our statements, and let the authorities investigate this from beginning to end.”

Qi Zhou’s expression stiffened. “…”

Shen Nian sneered. “I believe the law will return my innocence to me.”

Shen Zhuan was now as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle. “Mother… Mom—”

Shen Nian took a step toward her. “What are you afraid of? You have Qi Zhou as a witness. If your conscience is clear, why won’t you confront me at the police station?” She pulled out her phone. “Let’s call them.”

Shen Zhuan was frantic. She wasn’t completely stupid; she lunged forward and knocked Shen Nian’s phone away. “You’re not allowed!”

Shen Nian looked at her calmly. “Hmm?”

Shen Zhuan panted heavily, pointing at the door. “You… you go and turn yourself in.”

Shen Nian let out a sharp laugh. “Tch—”

“I said, you! Go! Turn yourself in!!!” Shen Zhuan repeated, grabbing Shen Nian’s shoulders. “The family has raised you for so many years; shouldn’t you sacrifice yourself for the family? Just do as Qi Zhou said. Go turn yourself in, or else… or else…” She gritted her teeth. “Even if I lose the quota, I will never let you have a good life!!!”

Shen Nian responded word by word: “Keep. Dreaming.”

At this point, Shen Que also walked over. “Shen Nian, Little Zhuan is right.”

Shen Nian didn’t give her a pleasant face either, tossing back the same two words: “Keep. Dreaming.”

“You—” Seeing Shen Nian dare to defy her, Shen Que raised her right hand high.

Just as the slap was about to land, Shen Nian was already prepared to dodge and strike back. But a second before she could move, a hand intercepted Shen Que’s.

Shen Zui held Shen Que’s arm with one hand while her other hand picked up her ringing phone. The person on the other end reported something both urgent and steady. Shen Zui nodded throughout, responding with “Mm” and “Good.”

Finally, she gave an order: “I don’t care what she wants—money, a future—the Shen family can satisfy her. I only have two requirements: the baby must be aborted, and she must cooperate with all of the Shen family’s subsequent clarification work.”

The person on the phone replied, “Understood!”

Shen Zui hung up the phone in front of everyone. The living room fell into a two-second silence.

“Aunt…” Shen Zhuan stammered.

“I’m the one who took the woman away,” Shen Zui said. Though she had clearly lost her patience, her voice was unnervingly calm. “By the time you lot remembered, others would have already used that knife to stab the Shen Corporation three times over.”

Shen Zhuan lowered her head, while Qi Zhou guiltily began to edge toward the door.

“Shen Zui, you… you truly thought of everything,” Qi Yun forced a smile. “Then… then this matter…”

“I will minimize the impact,” Shen Zui said.

“Aunt!” Shen Zhuan looked up in joy, her tears falling. “I—I knew you wouldn’t leave me hanging! So, my management trainee quota won’t be affected, right?”

“Mm,” Shen Zui looked at her mysteriously.

“That’s wonderful!” Shen Zhuan wept with joy, turning to hug Qi Yun. Beside them, Shen Que’s expression was complex, but her clenched fists slowly relaxed.

Watching the faces of this family, Shen Nian lowered her head and gritted her teeth. Shen Zui, Shen Zui…

She had truly underestimated Shen Zui’s capability! Why did this family of stupid, malicious fools have someone like Shen Zui backing them up? Was it true that as long as she couldn’t bring down Shen Zui, she would never be able to deal with Shen Zhuan or the Shen family?

The turmoil in her heart made Shen Nian forget to hide her expression, which was caught by Qi Zhou. He knew he had been framing Shen Nian, but seeing her face, a string in his mind was suddenly plucked—this matter really does have something to do with her. It was his closest moment to the truth. But he quickly shook his head; his arrogance made him think little of Shen Zui’s influence. Just as Shen Zhuan and Qi Yun were discussing where to celebrate, Shen Zui spoke again.

“That was the plan.”

The room went dead silent. It took several seconds for Shen Zhuan to react. “Was…?” She stared at Shen Zui. “What do you mean? Aunt, you…”

Shen Zui looked down and tapped her phone a couple of times. In the next moment, she dropped a bombshell: “I gave the management trainee quota to the Pang family.”

Qi Yun and Shen Zhuan cried out in unison: “WHY???!!!”

“I owed them a favor,” Shen Zui looked up, her tone as indifferent as if she were talking about the morning weather. “They were planning for it anyway. Since you vacated the position, the Pang family will naturally step in.”

“No, but… but why, Aunt? Aunt, I…” Shen Zhuan began to speak incoherently.

Shen Zui ignored her. She walked to Shen Nian’s side and took her hand. “Sigh—” It was rare to hear Shen Zui sigh. “Niannian was right. I shouldn’t have brought you back.”

Shen Nian’s lips twitched; she realized her face was terrifyingly stiff. A surge of emotion was stuck in her throat. She turned her face away, refusing to look at Shen Zui.

“Niannian has been wronged,” Shen Zui murmured.

Shen Zhuan chased after her, tears and snot flowing. “Aunt…”

“Shen Zhuan, I’ve said it before,” Shen Zui turned and gave her a look. “If your virtue doesn’t match your position, you shouldn’t harbor delusions. Did you think I was joking with you all this time?”

“…” Shen Zhuan wiped her face. “That woman…”

Shen Zui shook her head, her expression full of disappointment. “It’s not about that. You’re young, and there are many temptations out there. If you want to play around with something fresh—men, women, Betas, Omegas, even Alphas—that’s not an issue. But your methods of concealment… they are truly low-tier. So low-tier they resemble a farce. I’m bored of watching it.”

She rubbed her temples. Shen Zhuan tried to grab her sleeve. “Aunt… give me one more chance…”

“Most importantly…” Shen Zui sidestepped her and faced her, saying word for word, “I remember telling you this.”

Shen Zhuan froze. “Huh?”

“Shen Nian is not someone you can bully at will. She has a backer you cannot afford to offend.”

Everyone looked at her. Even Shen Nian couldn’t help but look up. She felt her right eyelid twitch.

Shen Zui adjusted her sleeves with a frown. She looked at Shen Nian. “Let’s go. We’re heading back.”

Shen Nian lowered her head and gave a soft “Mm.”

“Shen Zui!” Shen Que finally couldn’t take it. She was the elder sister, yet from the moment Shen Zui appeared, the control was entirely in Shen Zui’s hands. She felt humiliated. “Did you discuss any of this with me?!”

Shen Zui looked at her. “You don’t agree?”

“Of course I don’t agree!” Shen Que shouted. “Shen Zhuan is my daughter! What right do you have to give her quota away? What right do you have to decide her future?!” She was like an erupting volcano; her shouts weren’t just for Shen Zhuan, but for herself, who had been overshadowed by Shen Zui for all these years.

Shen Zui simply nodded. “Mm.” She turned and continued walking out.

Shen Que’s anger hit a void, leaving her momentarily dazed. She screamed at Shen Zui’s back, “Did you hear what I said?!”

Shen Zui didn’t even turn her head. “I heard you.” Fearing her sister didn’t understand, she added kindly, “Then go ahead and do what you want.”

I don’t care if you agree. I don’t even care if you resist.

Shen Que stood frozen, her face turning deathly pale.

The two of them walked out side-by-side. At the car, Shen Nian leaned over to open the door for Shen Zui. As she prepared to go to the other side, she met Qi Zhou’s gaze. Despite the sunny day, Qi Zhou shuddered, cold sweat dripping from his brow.

“Shen… Shen Nian…” He stepped forward and called her name. Shen Nian ignored him. “Shen Nian, I—I’m sorry!” Qi Zhou didn’t dare look at Shen Zui in the car, chasing after Shen Nian. “Just now… I remembered wrong! I misunderstood! I apologize to you! Please… please don’t take it to heart.”

Shen Nian opened the car door. “When are you free? I’ll treat you to dinner to apologize. I promise you’ll be satisfied, Shen Nian, Shen Nian—”

Shen Nian sat inside the car and closed the door, cutting off the noise outside. The driver started the car, and the luxury sedan smoothly left the Shen estate.

Shen Zui was busy, even in the car, making calls and sending instructions on her phone. Shen Nian had no interest in those things; she leaned against the window and dozed off. When she woke up, they were back at the apartment near A University.

Her phone vibrated with a text—a notification of a massive bank transfer, accompanied by a humble apology from Qi Zhou. Shen Nian didn’t bother looking at it, glancing at Shen Zui instead.

As if reading her mind, Shen Zui asked, “Do you want to forgive him?”

Shen Nian laughed and asked back, “Should I?”

Shen Nian deliberately moved closer to her. “Having a strong backer isn’t enough; one has to see how reliable that backer is.”

Shen Zui said nothing, simply placing a call. “Mm, check into Qi Joy Entertainment’s tax issues. Also, the Shen family’s subsidies to the Qi family…”

Shen Nian watched her walking away, unsure of how to react. Shen Zui reached the elevator and turned around. “Hmm? Why are you standing there? Follow me.” She then said to the person on the phone, “I know. I’ll handle Mother’s side. Mm, good.”

Shen Nian let out a breath, smoothed her hair, and slowly followed her.

In the elevator, Shen Zui hung up and suddenly said, “The woman said that at the convocation, she received a text from an unknown number.”

Shen Nian watched the floor numbers rising on the screen. The moment the doors opened, she seemed to react, replying softly, “Oh.”

She stepped out of the elevator first. The sunlight in the corridor fell on her, and with every step, she walked firmly through the bright light.

Shen Zui retracted her gaze and, with two taps, deleted a recording from her phone. She replied to the person on the other end: “It’s not important.”