The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 50

Shen Nian didn’t expect to completely bring down Shen Zhuan with a single incident. After all, the Shen family had deep roots; a small setback like this wasn’t enough to make Shen Zhuan collapse entirely. However, now that Shen Zhuan had indeed lost her spot in the key department as expected, Shen Nian felt reasonably satisfied, despite a lingering bit of annoyance.

As the new semester began, life became increasingly hectic. Shen Nian gradually pushed the matter to the back of her mind, only occasionally hearing rumors about Shen Zhuan from others. It couldn’t be helped; the scandal had been too massive. Now, everyone knew that the “Outstanding Student Representative” from the Economics department was a scumbag who got someone pregnant and refused to take responsibility.

The turning point came during a phone call with Zhou Nan, when Shen Nian overheard two girls gossiping in the corridor.

“Hey, did you know? I saw Shen Zhuan at the Academic Affairs Office today!” “What?! Really? What was she doing there? She wasn’t expelled, was she?” The other girl shook her head. “No way.” She leaned in with a gossipy expression. “It seems she’s going abroad for research. She was submitting documents to the department.”

Shen Nian grew distracted by the news until Zhou Nan called her name several times over the phone. “Mm,” she snapped back to reality. “I’m listening, go on.”

“Right,” Zhou Nan said. He had a great impression of her and didn’t mind being ignored for a moment. “As I was saying, our drama has been acquired by a new platform. The upcoming promotions will need you leads to cooperate.”

“Understood,” Shen Nian walked to a quiet corner. “Just contact me in advance for anything.”

“Shen Nian…” Zhou Nan paused. “I’m saying this because I believe in you. Both Cai Kang and I feel you have great potential and a bright future. You must cherish your reputation. If any small-time influencers or off-brand advertisers approach you for collaborations during this time, you… you should consider them very carefully.”

Shen Nian smiled warmly. Having been reborn once, she had a clear career plan. She understood everything Zhou Nan was implying. What touched her was that a friend she hadn’t known for long was willing to offer such sincere advice.

“I understand, Screenwriter Zhou,” Shen Nian’s voice carried a hint of a smile. “Don’t worry.”

Zhou Nan stammered again, “Hehe, our show is about to air. As long as the data doesn’t tank, there will definitely be a second season. I just wonder if our team will still be whole by then.”

Shen Nian caught the underlying meaning. She didn’t hesitate to give him peace of mind: “I can’t speak for others, but as long as The Records of Zhuang Zhou is still produced by you and Cai Kang, I will definitely return for it.”

Zhou Nan was instantly delighted. “Mm mm, I knew you were a good kid through and through.”

After a few more pleasantries, Shen Nian hung up. The news was vital; the release of The Records of Zhuang Zhou was happening faster than she had anticipated. Then again, low-budget web dramas were cheap to produce and easier to get past censors. Now that they had a platform, Cai Kang just needed to work overtime on the final edits.

When she returned to the apartment after a day of classes, Shen Nian paused. There was a scent in the air that didn’t belong to her or Shen Zui. Usually, even when the medical team came, the house would only smell of strong rubbing alcohol. This meant a guest had visited.

As she changed her shoes, she spotted a pair of beautiful champagne-colored stilettoes by the carpet. Shen Nian grew thoughtful. The living room was empty, so she put down her bag and followed a faint sound to the study.

The door was closed. She had to get very close to hear the conversation inside. Shen Nian admitted her behavior was a bit unethical, but curiosity got the better of her. The information she gathered was blurry because one of the voices was choked with heavy sobbing. Confirming the crying person wasn’t Shen Zui, Shen Nian lost interest in eavesdropping and turned toward the kitchen.

Inside the room, Shen Zui watched Shen Zhuan, whose eyes were red and swollen, with an expressionless face. “…That’s… that’s how it is. Grandmother and Mother have arranged everything. I’ll… I’ll come back after I get my Master’s degree.”

Shen Zui gave a low “Mm.” She didn’t have deep feelings for Shen Zhuan. Having been bedridden for so long, everyone in the family—except for Shen Bi and Shen Nian—felt distant to her. On the other hand, Shen Nian’s presence made Shen Zhuan’s position in her heart awkward. Looking at Shen Zhuan, Shen Zui occasionally wondered why there was such a vast difference between her two nieces. Their personalities and looks were different, and the gap in her heart was even wider.

She admitted her heart was completely biased, but she felt an urge to give Shen Zhuan a bit of compensation—a price for her blatant favoritism toward Shen Nian. “I have a friend who works in administration at that university. I’ll give you her email later. If you have any problems, you can contact her directly.”

Shen Zhuan forced a smile. “Thank you, Aunt…”

“Mm.” At this point, Shen Zui’s limited patience for others was nearly exhausted. “There are many things to prepare for going abroad. You should—”

“Aunt!” Shen Zhuan sensed she was being dismissed and stood up quickly. “I… I have one more thing to ask for your help with…”

Shen Zui raised an eyebrow. “Mm?”

“It’s about my mother’s side… the Qi family…” Shen Zhuan bit her lip, tears welling up again. “Qi Zhou has been in custody for several days, and no one dares to bail him out. He definitely knows he was wrong. If you continue to cut off cooperation with the Qi family, my mother and the others…”

“Shen Zhuan.” Shen Zui frowned slightly. Her hand gripped the study door handle as she looked at her niece. “Do not forget what your last name is.”

Shen Zhuan pursed her lips. “But…” She gathered her courage. “Aunt, I know Qi Zhou is a failure, but… but he and Mom are the ones who truly treat me well! Can’t you do it for my sake…?”

“Enough!” Shen Zui’s temper flared. She opened the door, and their voices carried directly to Shen Nian, who was cutting fruit.

Shen Nian put down the knife and walked into the living room. She heard Shen Zui’s indignant voice: “When your sister was being bullied by them, did the Qi family ever think about the Shen family’s face?”

Shen Zhuan was left speechless. She had learned her lesson; though she still felt disdain for Shen Nian, she no longer dared to voice it in front of Shen Zui.

Shen Zui didn’t want to waste more time with her and walked out. She immediately saw Shen Nian in the living room, and their eyes met. Shen Nian gave her a nonchalant smile. Two seconds later, Shen Zhuan chased after her.

Seeing Shen Nian, Shen Zhuan froze, her eyes overflowing with malice. But she quickly hid it and, for the first time, actually called out: “Shen Nian.”

Shen Nian raised an eyebrow. She wiped her hands with a tissue and asked leisurely, “Staying for dinner?”

This “mistress of the house” attitude almost made Shen Zhuan snap. She twitched her lips. “No… no need.”

“Oh.” Shen Nian nodded, looking at the sunset glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Then you should head back early, Sister. Otherwise… you might miss dinner at home.”

Shen Zhuan took a step forward and took a deep breath. “About what happened before… I… I’m sorry.”

Shen Nian looked at Shen Zui, then asked, “Which incident are you referring to?”

Shen Zhuan ground her teeth. “Heh… stop pretending. You know.”

“I don’t know.” Shen Nian threw away the dirty tissue and walked gracefully toward her. She looked directly into Shen Zhuan’s eyes. “You’ve bullied me so many times. If you don’t be specific, I really don’t know which one you’re talking about.”

Shen Zhuan lowered her head, her fists clenched. Watching her like this gave Shen Nian a rush of satisfaction. As time passed and the sun dipped lower, the orange light retreated from the living room, sliding down Shen Nian’s straight calves.

Shen Zhuan spoke again: “The recent one. At the house. The time Qi Zhou and I slandered you.”

“Oh,” Shen Nian replied.

“Qi Zhou… he was arrested. I want to apologize on his behalf as well.” Shen Zhuan scrambled for words. “He was too anxious then and didn’t think much. Maybe his memory was confused, so…”

“It’s okay.” Shen Nian interrupted her stumbling speech.

Shen Zhuan was surprised. “Huh?”

“Yes, it’s okay,” Shen Nian shook her head. “As long as he bears the consequences for his mistakes, I don’t really care about the apology.” She looked at her pointedly. “Only those still at large need to weep and beg for forgiveness.”

Shen Zhuan trembled. “You…”

“But I’m quite petty.” Shen Nian winked at her with a superficial smile. “I won’t forgive you.”

“You!” Shen Zhuan’s anger flared. She raised a fist but caught Shen Zui’s gaze from the corner of her eye. Her fire instantly died out. “Hehe… you’re… you’re right.”

Shen Zui rubbed her temples. “Enough. Go back. It’ll be rush hour soon.”

Shen Zhuan hadn’t achieved her goal yet. “Aunt…” She turned back to Shen Nian. “Shen Nian, since you said Qi Zhou has paid the price, then… then could you…” She bit her lip, clearly finding it hard to say. “Could you restore our cooperation with the Qi family?”

Shen Nian remained silent. Shen Zhuan turned to Shen Zui with a pleading tone. “Aunt, the family suddenly withdrew investment. My grandfather can’t hold on. I… I…” Finding no other way, she pressed her palms together toward Shen Nian. “Shen Nian, please say something…”

Shen Nian had never seen her so humble, however fake it was. She felt it was ironic. “Isn’t the current head of SX mother? If you want to save the Qi family, what’s the use of asking us?”

Shen Zhuan lowered her head. Shen Nian glanced at Shen Zui. She knew Shen Zui had ordered the withdrawal, but she didn’t realize that even after resigning, Shen Zui’s influence was still so absolute.

“Heh,” Shen Nian chuckled. “It can’t be that… you don’t even have the power to make decisions, right?”

This truly triggered Shen Zhuan. She broke down and screamed, “Have you said enough?! I’ve already apologized! What else do you want?!”

The classic language of a victim-blamer. Shen Nian stood her ground. “Correct. And I also said, I won’t forgive you.”

“You f***ing—” Before she could finish, Shen Zui frowned and called out sharply: “Shen Zhuan?”

“You’re biased! Why do you only protect her?!” Throwing down these words, Shen Zhuan couldn’t take it anymore. She turned and ran out of the apartment, slamming the door with a thunderous BANG to vent her rage.

Shen Nian felt the floor shake. She looked at the closed door, thinking she should ask the doctor to come up for a full disinfection later. Shen Zui used voice control to turn on the lights. Before the sunset vanished completely, the white ceiling lights took over, illuminating everything clearly.

“Want some fruit?” Shen Nian asked, heading to the kitchen. A half-cut peach—Shen Zui’s favorite—lay on the cutting board.

Shen Zui followed and leaned against the doorframe. After watching Shen Nian work for a while, she said, “Mother has arranged for Shen Zhuan to study abroad.”

“Mm,” Shen Nian didn’t look up. She sliced the peach and arranged the pieces neatly in a salad bowl. She brought the bowl to Shen Zui. “Want some?”

Shen Zui only looked up, gently brushing a stray hair behind Shen Nian’s ear. “Niannian, don’t be angry anymore. They won’t be able to bully you in the future.”

Shen Nian curled her lips, though the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She popped a piece of peach into her mouth and crunched it to pieces.

Half a month later.

As Shen Zhuan’s flight for her studies abroad took off, The Records of Zhuang Zhou premiered. The drama was severely under-resourced. Marketing was scarce, consisting only of a few obscure ads from the platform and Shen Nian’s own social media reposts.

But then, Tao Di reposted her promotion. 【Ahhh! I’ve been waiting so long for @Shen Nian’s new drama! Starting tonight, let’s all support it!】

The comments flooded in. 【I’ll watch it just for Shen Nian’s face.】 【Is it a low-budget web drama? I thought it was a new MV. No matter, I will continue to dote on her!】 【Tao Di and Shen Nian are interacting again! My CP is giving out candy! So happy!】

Shen Nian closed the app and thanked Tao Di privately. Tao Di: 【Oh, it’s nothing! You filmed an MV for me for free! I only wish I had more fans to help you more.】 Shen Nian: 【It’s enough. Thank you.】 Tao Di: 【I hope we can collaborate more in the future. MVs, or maybe I can sing the theme song for your show!】 Shen Nian: 【The production team is too poor to afford you. Maybe next season, I’ll recommend you to the director.】 Tao Di was thrilled. 【Really?! Great!】

Tao Di’s roommate, Huang Yiyi, noticed her flushed face. “What’s up? So happy?” “Nothing!” Tao Di called her over. “Yiyi, don’t you love dramas? Let me recommend a super good new one!” “What show?” Huang Yiyi leaned in, then rolled her eyes. “Oh, a low-budget web drama? No thanks, I don’t watch those. They’re usually brainless, with terrible styling and acting.”

The Records of Zhuang Zhou had just been uploaded, so Tao Di hadn’t seen the content yet either. But she defended it: “It’s different!” “How so?” Huang Yiyi snickered and opened her tablet. She was an avid drama watcher but was currently in a “drama drought.”

Tao Di whispered, “But Shen Nian is in it. Didn’t you say she’s beautiful?” Huang Yiyi didn’t look back. “If you’re her friend, you should tell her not to act in these things. Trashy web dramas only consume an actor’s youth.” “She’s just starting out!” Tao Di showed her Shen Nian’s promotional poster.

Huang Yiyi had been uninterested, but Shen Nian’s “visual ceiling” beauty in the poster was hard to ignore. Cai Kang and Zhou Nan knew who the star was and put a lot of effort into this shot. In the photo, Shen Nian stood alone, her posture as elegant as green bamboo. Her deep eyes were like a spring that drew people in.

Huang Yiyi clutched her chest. “Is… is that photoshopped?” Tao Di pouted. “Where? That’s just how she looks!” Huang Yiyi “tsk-tsk’d” several times. “Your filter for her is too strong. You’re saying someone can actually grow up looking like that?”

“Yes!” “Fine, fine.” Huang Yiyi surrendered. “But seriously, how does she look like that?” Tao Di beamed. “Right? She looks like she was grown specifically to match people’s hearts.” Huang Yiyi nudged her. “Something’s fishy. Is there something going on between you two?” Tao Di’s face burned. “No! We’re just ordinary friends!”

Huang Yiyi smirked. “Ordinary friends, huh? Sure.” She went back to her seat, but since she couldn’t find anything else to watch, she searched for The Records of Zhuang Zhou. “Let me see how much she actually photoshopped it.”

The two roommates sat back-to-back, quietly watching. An hour later, Tao Di cried out, “Eh?!” She was about to ask why episode 3 wouldn’t open when she heard a more piercing wail from Huang Yiyi: “AHHH! WHY IS IT GONE already?!”

“Yiyi…” Tao Di peeked over. “Why can’t I watch episode 3?” “Because they only release two episodes a day! AHHH, I’m so mad!” Huang Yiyi complained. “I usually don’t watch airing shows. Two episodes aren’t enough!” “So… we can watch more tomorrow?” Tao Di was satisfied. “How am I supposed to sleep with it stuck there?!” Huang Yiyi rushed to her. “You know Shen Nian! Ask her for the later episodes! Or just a spoiler!” “No way, she’s an actor, not the director!” Tao Di rolled her eyes. “Why are you watching anyway? Didn’t you say it was photoshopped and unwatchable?”

“Waaaah,” Huang Yiyi fake-cried. “I’ve learned my lesson. I must pay the price for my ignorant words. Good Tao Di, give me her contact info so I can apologize to her in person!” “I can hear your ulterior motives from Siberia!” Tao Di turned away. “No, it’s rude.”

Huang Yiyi went back to her seat and restarted the show. “Fine, I’ll watch it again. With Shen Nian’s face, I won’t get tired of it even after several rewatches. It’ll sustain me until tomorrow.”

In fact, the comment section was exploding. 【Ahhh, Shen Nian’s face healed my eyes, which were blinded by ‘idol dramas’.】 【The plot is tight and the acting is great. Is this really low-budget? I couldn’t even bring myself to watch at 2x speed.】 【I’m a fan now! Can the actress playing the Alpha girl be my wife?】 【No! Shen Nian is clearly MY wife!】

In just one night, The Records of Zhuang Zhou climbed from an obscure corner to the top 20 of the platform’s popularity chart. The hashtags #RecordsOfZhuangZhou and #ShenNian began to climb the hot search rankings…

On Sunday night, Shen Nian returned from the gym. Opening the master bedroom door, she heard a familiar line of dialogue—it was from her drama. Shen Zui was leaning against the headboard, focused on the tablet on her lap. The screen light softened her cold features. She looked languid and gentle.

Shen Nian coughed to announce her presence. Shen Zui paused the video. “Why are you watching this?” Shen Nian was surprised. Shen Zui rarely watched entertainment, let alone a fantasy web drama. “It was recommended on the homepage… I just clicked it.”

Shen Nian smiled. “Is it good?” Shen Zui hesitated for a moment, then gave a slight nod. “When did you start giving me these polite platitudes?” Shen Nian teased. “I’m not.” “Then what’s good about it?” Shen Nian tilted her head. “The plot? The pacing? The cinematography?”

Shen Zui looked up at her. “They are all… average.” Shen Nian leaned down. “Then…?” “You look good.” Shen Zui reached out to lift her chin, her thumb brushing Shen Nian’s skin. “Niannian looks very good in it.”

Shen Nian froze, then smiled and hummed softly. She looked at the paused screen—it was a scene where her character, Chen Min, was negotiating. The firelight in the ruined temple illuminated half her face, highlighting her delicate features. However, there was a smear of dust on her face for the plot. “How did you catch this specific moment?” Shen Nian muttered. “Hmm?” Shen Zui looked up.

Shen Nian leaned down and pressed her lips against Shen Zui’s, simultaneously taking the tablet away. “She doesn’t look good…” she complained softly between kisses. “Stop looking at her. Look at me.”

Shen Zui was pushed back onto the bed, soon breathless. A beautiful blush appeared on her fair cheeks, like red plums blooming in the snow. Her lips were moist and glistening, silently inviting. Shen Nian felt her body heat up.

It was autumn. Shen Nian was wearing a long-sleeved silk shirt. She began to unbutton it from the top. By the third button, it got stuck. Lacking patience, she leaned down urgently. “Shen Zui,” she whispered. “Help me.”

Shen Zui’s gaze followed the buttons down. She reached out, her fingertips pressing against Shen Nian’s emerging abdominal muscles. “Mm,” Shen Nian groaned. “Does it hurt?” Shen Zui asked, confused. “It tickles.” Shen Nian grabbed her hand.

Shen Zui seemed to laugh. She pulled her hand away and reached for Shen Nian’s shirt hem, slowly pulling it out from her trousers. She began to caress her through the fabric. Shen Nian’s face flushed. “How does it feel?” Shen Nian whispered. “Mm,” Shen Zui nodded with satisfaction. “The feel is quite good.” Shen Nian was stunned. “I wasn’t asking about the fabric…” “I know.”

Shen Nian took a deep breath, surrounded by the faint scent of cold plum. She leaned down to crush Shen Zui’s lips, then pulled back to look “menacing.” “What do you know?” Shen Zui’s hand slipped inside the shirt. She looked at Shen Nian with a flash of mischief in her eyes. “I wasn’t… talking about the fabric either.”

Shen Nian’s breath hitched. She leaned down, planting hot kisses all over Shen Zui’s cheeks and the corners of her mouth. Shen Zui ran her fingers through Shen Nian’s hair. “Niannian…” Shen Nian bit her lower lip. “Call me ‘Shen Nian’.”

Shen Nian intentionally avoided her lips and moved to the gland on the side of Shen Zui’s neck. She licked and kissed slowly, teasing her until Shen Zui’s gasps grew louder. Shen Zui’s hands wound around her back, unconsciously clutching the shirt. “Shen Nian!” “Mm.” Hearing what she wanted to hear, Shen Nian smiled and buried her head in the crook of Shen Zui’s neck, holding her tight.

The next morning, when Shen Nian left the bedroom, Shen Zui was still fast asleep. She kissed her forehead and headed to school. In three days, her followers had grown to 600,000.

In the drama group chat: Zhou Nan: 【Shen Nian! You are truly famous!】 Cai Kang: 【This is just the beginning. The data is organic. Your traffic surpasses some third-tier stars!】

When she entered the classroom, Yang Min joked, “Good morning, big star.” She handed her a pen and paper. “For old time’s sake, give me an autograph.” Shen Nian signed it with a flourish. “Keep it well.” Suddenly, several more pieces of paper were shoved in front of her. “Me too!” “I’ve watched the latest episode, you’re so good!”

Teacher’s also noticed. The speech teacher used a clip from Zhuang Zhou as an example. “You can hear the recording equipment wasn’t great. In these conditions, the difference in the actors’ voice acting is even more obvious. Shen Nian’s voice is much more powerful and stable than the others. This comes from daily practice.”

After class, she was surrounded. Yang Min, as the class representative, stayed on the outskirts. Just then, Xi You and her roommates passed by. “What is she so proud of?” “Exactly. Acting like she won Best Actress or something.” “It’s just a web drama. I wouldn’t act in such a low-budget project even if they invited me.”

Yang Min rolled her eyes. “What are you saying?” “None of your business!” “Mm-hmm,” Yang Min pinched her nose. “Could you turn down the smell? The sourness of your jealousy is making my eyes sting.”

Xi You’s roommate stepped forward. “Who are you calling jealous?!” “The one who reacts,” Yang Min snapped back. Xi You stepped out with a frown. “Yang Min, watch your words. We were just walking. Why are you attacking us?” With Xi You there, the others grew emboldened. “Exactly! Why are you targeting us?”

Yang Min’s anger rose. “You know who started it. Gossiping right in front of people, then calling me toxic when I catch you? Amazing.” “What did we say?” they countered. Yang Min looked at Shen Nian. “Don’t dare to admit it? Didn’t you say Shen Nian’s achievements are worthless?”

The class started whispering. Shen Nian looked Xi You in the eye. Xi You crossed her arms and looked away. A girl with a high ponytail said, “So what if we said it? Is it wrong? Being so arrogant over a trashy web drama?” Yang Min shot back, “Who’s arrogant? If you were an A-list star, we’d listen. But you have no work and no fans, so how do you have the face to judge Shen Nian?”

Laughter erupted in the room. The girl’s face darkened, and she grabbed Xi You’s arm. “Heh, I might not compare to ‘Star Shen’, but my horizons are broader. Xi You, a real movie lead, hasn’t said a word. Why is it Shen Nian’s turn to show off?”

Yang Min froze. Rumors had been circulating that over the summer, Xi You had gone to a professional film studio to star in the famous director Zhou Muqiu’s new film, Warm Light. “It’s… it’s true?” Yang Min murmured. Seeing Xi You’s arrogant expression, most people had their answer. “Wow, a movie lead right at debut? What’s Xi You’s background?” “Zhou Muqiu! I dream of being in her films.”

Xi You smiled with “appropriate” humility. “I was just lucky… When the movie premieres, I’ll treat everyone to the cinema.” The class instantly shifted their praise to Xi You. “Really?!” “Xi You, you’re so generous!” “As expected of a movie lead!”

Xi You enjoyed the attention. she shot a provocative, triumphant look at Shen Nian. Shen Nian simply shrugged. She had known Xi You’s jealousy since they were kids. How could the proud “protagonist” endure being surpassed by her “follower”?

Xi You was stunned by Shen Nian’s indifference. She frowned. “It’s late, want to go to the canteen together?” Her roommate added, “Wow, Xi You, you have no ego at all! Unlike some people who think they’re amazing after one web drama.”

But surprisingly, the people who were just complimenting her didn’t follow. Instead, they huddled back around Shen Nian. “Oh, you go ahead. I haven’t finished listening to Shen Nian.” “Right, eating can wait. Speech training techniques are more important.” “LOL, Xi You might sound high-status, but Shen Nian is the actual top of the class.” One person joked, “Xi You is great too. Maybe we can ask her how to become a lead.” “Forget it,” another replied. “We don’t have those connections. It’s better to build a solid foundation first!”

Xi You stood frozen as a cold autumn wind blew in. she looked at Shen Nian with pure hatred, unable to comprehend what was happening. Shen Nian had already looked away—she had a clear plan for her life, and Xi You wasn’t in it.

Yang Min looked at Xi You with a smirk. “Weren’t you going to eat? Hurry up, or the food won’t be warm anymore~” Xi You glared at her, sneered, and turned to leave the classroom. Her roommates scrambled to follow.