The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 55

Kris left the following day, and after his departure, Wei Haohan stopped causing trouble. Filming proceeded smoothly. Following the final, intense struggle with the killer, Shen Nian’s scenes were officially declared finished.

Amidst the applause of the crew, she stood up and helped the veteran actor playing the killer to his feet. “Thank you for your hard work.”

“Young lady, you’ve got quite some strength!” The veteran actor patted her shoulder, sighing with genuine admiration. “Wonderful acting. That expression you made earlier truly frightened me!”

Shen Nian smiled at him. “Thank you.”

With sweat on her brow, she raised her arm to wipe it away. Her T-shirt was already short, and the movement pulled the fabric upward, revealing a glimpse of her well-defined abdominal muscles. It wasn’t until she heard a shy gasp from a nearby staff member that she realized she had exposed herself. Looking down, she saw that the artificial blood used in the scene had seeped through her clothes; red pigment was slowly trickling down the hollows of her abs.

It was a sight both bloody and strangely alluring.

“Here, wrap yourself up.” Pei Chunming handed her a thin blanket. “It’s freezing out; don’t catch a cold.”

The former Movie Queen had been free lately and often dropped by Lou Ze’s set. Since today was Shen Nian’s final day, she had specially checked the date to visit. As Mo Huai was away on business, Pei Chunming took it upon herself to look after Shen Nian.

“Thanks, Sister Pei.” Shen Nian’s lips curled into a smile. Over the past few weeks, the two had become quite well-acquainted.

Lou Ze hurried over to offer a few words of encouragement, but as Shen Nian was a supporting character and filming for the rest of the crew was ongoing, the crowd soon dispersed.

“Shen Nian,” Pei Chunming called out. “Come on, I’ll drive you back to the hotel.”

The hotel wasn’t far, and normally Shen Nian would have declined. However, she was currently covered in sticky artificial blood, and the biting wind made her shiver. She desperately needed a hot shower.

“My clothes are a mess… sorry for the trouble, Sister Pei.”

“Don’t mention it.” Pei Chunming waved her off and unlocked her car. “Let’s go.”

Just as they were about to board, a car in the darkness ahead flashed its lights twice. Shen Nian looked over instinctively, and a familiar license plate burned into her vision.

“Who is that? How rude!” Pei Chunming grumbled. She turned to urge Shen Nian along but was interrupted.

“Sister Pei, I won’t trouble you after all.” Shen Nian brushed her hair back, revealing her forehead. “My family is here to pick me up.”

Pei Chunming was stunned. “Family?”

Shen Nian waved goodbye with a grin and ran toward the vehicle. As the car started up and passed Pei Chunming, the actress caught a glimpse of the model under the streetlights. Even the world-weary Movie Queen couldn’t help but swallow hard at the sight of such luxury.

“Why are you here?!” Shen Nian sat stiffly in her seat, terrified of getting blood on Shen Zui. Despite her restraint, she couldn’t stop her eyes from feasting on Shen Zui, greedily trying to make up for the longing accumulated during their separation.

Shen Zui turned her head slightly. She wore light makeup—subtle, yet exquisitely detailed. Her outfit was elegant: a sky-blue modified qipao with a collar lined in snow-white fur. It was a peculiar choice—less like picking up a “younger relative” and more like dressing for a secret tryst.

Shen Nian’s eyes darkened for a moment. She probed, “Do you have other plans later?”

Shen Zui frowned. Her attention was entirely on the “wounds” on Shen Nian’s face. she leaned in, reaching out to touch them.

“Don’t,” Shen Nian recoiled slightly. She rubbed her own cheek. “It’s just paint.”

Shen Zui’s gaze flickered, and she slowly withdrew her hand. Seeing her retreat, Shen Nian pressed closer. “You haven’t answered me. Do you have a date later?”

“What date?” A flash of confusion crossed Shen Zui’s face.

Slowly, the realization dawned on Shen Nian. No other plans meant she came specifically for her. And coming specifically for her meant she had dressed up with care. Shen Nian’s lips twitched upward; she couldn’t hide her joy.

“What are you laughing at?” Shen Zui asked, unable to ignore the blatant delight.

Shen Nian couldn’t help herself. She reached out and took Shen Zui’s hand, clasping it firmly in her palm. It was early winter; though it didn’t snow in the south, the cold was bone-deep. Inside the heated car, Shen Zui’s hands were soft, fragrant, and warm. In contrast, Shen Nian was covered in “ugly” makeup, fake blood, and dirt from rolling on the ground.

For a moment, Shen Nian felt like a hoodlum from an old story, looking up at a high-born lady in a distant tower. Reachable, yet untouchable. Yet, here was Shen Zui, held firmly in her hand.

“You came all this way just for me?”

Shen Zui turned her head away, tilting her chin pridefully. “It was on the way.”

Shen Nian burst out laughing. A lying Shen Zui seemed less distant, more human. She thought her disguise was perfect, but it was full of holes—and she was incredibly endearing for it.

“Which ‘way’ was it on?” Shen Nian teased, rubbing the back of Shen Zui’s hand.

Shen Zui pursed her lips awkwardly. “…None of your business.”

“Alright, none of my business.” Shen Nian took a long, relieved breath. She glanced at Driver Liu in the front seat and temporarily suppressed the desires swirling in her heart.

Back at the hotel, they waited for the elevator in the bright lobby. Only then did Shen Zui see the full extent of Shen Nian’s disheveled state. Her brow remained furrowed; even knowing it was makeup, she couldn’t shake the gloom in her eyes.

“It’s fake,” Shen Nian said, touching a bit of the “blood” and showing it to her. “See? Just pigment.”

“Why didn’t you wash it off immediately?” Shen Zui asked.

“Limited conditions at the outdoor set,” Shen Nian explained. “I figured I’d have to shower anyway, so I didn’t want to bother the makeup artist.”

When the elevator arrived, Shen Nian led her in. Shen Zui took a wet wipe she had received from the front desk and moved to clean Shen Nian’s face.

“Don’t,” Shen Nian caught her wrist. Her warm breath brushed against Shen Zui’s skin, leaving a faint pink trail. “I’ll get you dirty.”

Shen Zui was a pampered pearl of the Shen family; there was no reason for her to suffer through this. Yet she simply bit her lip and retracted her hand. “When did you start worrying about such things?”

Shen Nian only smiled. They reached the room, and the moment they stepped inside, Shen Nian turned and pressed Shen Zui against the wall. The room was dark, lit only by the faint glow of the city through the window.

Shen Nian, with her broad shoulders and long legs, loomed over Shen Zui, caging her in. She used a clean finger to brush Shen Zui’s lips. “So… where are you staying tonight?”

Shen Zui’s breathing grew heavy. One hand pressed against Shen Nian’s chest, the other hooked loosely around her shoulder. “I haven’t decided.”

Shen Nian laughed softly. Her fingers grew bolder, even attempting to pry into the softness of Shen Zui’s lips until Shen Zui gave her a playful nip.

“I’m starting to believe you really were ‘just passing by,'” Shen Nian whispered.

Shen Zui: “…”

“Passing by to seek refuge with me.” Shen Nian swiped the key card, the lights flickered on, and she led her into the room.

The hotel was average—a three-star establishment with peeling paint and yellowed wallpaper. Seeing the elegant Shen Zui sitting on the bed felt surreal, sparking a wild, primal desire in Shen Nian.

Shen Zui soaked a cotton pad with makeup remover. “Come here.”

Shen Nian sat obediently. Shen Zui wiped her face with gentle strokes until her natural skin and features were revealed. Shen Zui sighed in relief, but as she moved the cotton pad toward Shen Nian’s collarbone, Shen Nian winced.

“This wound is real!” Shen Zui hissed, pulling the pad away.

“Mm.” Shen Nian touched the scrape. “Must have happened during the fight scene. It’s fine.”

“Why were you so careless?” Shen Zui’s face darkened. “Is the crew that unprofessional? Can they not guarantee your safety?”

Shen Nian found it a bit funny. “When the adrenaline hits, you don’t feel the pain. The staff probably didn’t notice either.”

When Shen Zui moved to find a bandage, Shen Nian stopped her. “No rush. Let’s finish everything first.”

“Where else?” Shen Zui’s voice trembled slightly.

Shen Nian lifted the hem of her shirt. The artificial blood had soaked through, leaving red streaks across her pale skin and the definition of her abs. Under the light, it looked like blooming red plum blossoms.

“Here.”

Shen Zui averted her eyes, then turned back with a look of resignation. She wiped the marks, her breathing unsteady. “…Does it hurt? I can’t find the wound.”

“It hurts,” Shen Nian lied through her teeth.

“Where?” Shen Zui’s voice grew tense with worry.

Shen Nian grabbed her hand, tossed the cotton pad aside, and guided Shen Zui’s bare fingers over her skin. “Everywhere. My whole body hurts… touch me and see…”

Shen Zui realized she was being teased and tried to push her away. “Is it that serious? Let’s go to the hospital.”

“The hospital can’t cure this.” Shen Nian pressed her down into the mattress. “It’s lovesickness. Only you are the cure.”

Shen Zui looked at her, entranced, and reached out to touch her cheek. The distance from City A wasn’t short; Shen Nian wasn’t the only one who needed “curing.”

“Do you mind the mess?” Shen Nian whispered, her breath hot.

Shen Zui’s eyes were misty. She didn’t speak, but her hand began to trace the red marks upward. Shen Nian had her answer.

“It doesn’t matter if it gets messy,” Shen Nian murmured, lowering her head to kiss her. “If it gets dirty… we can just wash together.”

Shen Nian left on an early flight the next morning. As she departed, the night crew was returning to rest. Lou Ze waved goodbye, his eyes lingering on the luxury sedan.

“Leaving already?”

“Mm.” Shen Nian handed her suitcase to Driver Liu and stepped into the car, ignoring the whispers of the crew behind her.

“Did Shen Nian land a sugar daddy?” “With a face like that, she was bound to find someone. Look at that car…”

The door closed, shutting out the gossip. Inside, Shen Zui was sleeping, a slight shadow of exhaustion under her eyes. Shen Nian pulled a blanket over her, and Shen Zui instinctively leaned into her. They huddled together, using their body heat to ward off the winter chill.

Back in City A, life resumed its frantic pace. After her final exams, Shen Nian began her first winter break since her rebirth. Her friends, Yang Min and Xu Lele, lamented her absence from the school drama club, but Shen Nian was content to rest.

When Yang Min invited her to an alumni mixer, Shen Nian declined. “I want to just lie down for a while after exams.”

“Come on! It’s a mixer! Don’t you want to meet someone?” Yang Min urged.

Shen Nian thought for a moment. “But… isn’t a mixer only for single people?”

The two girls froze. “Wait, are you not single?”

Shen Nian glanced at a text from Mo Huai about work, and replied absentmindedly, “I’m working on it.”

As she walked away, Yang Min nudged Xu Lele. “Looks like there’s no chance for you. Forget about it.”

As the Lunar New Year approached, the recently returned Shen Zui was incredibly busy, often traveling or returning home late. It wasn’t until the week of the holiday that she finally slowed down.

The day before New Year’s Eve, Shen Zui told her, “Pack your things. We’re going to the family estate for a few days.”

Shen Nian realized she meant the main Shen residence. For Shen Zui, it was only natural to spend the holidays with her blood relatives.

On the drive there, Shen Zui noticed Shen Nian was unusually quiet. “Are you unhappy?”

“No,” Shen Nian denied.

Shen Zui reached out and pinched Shen Nian’s cheek. Shen Nian didn’t pull away; she leaned into the palm, cherishing the touch. “Where will you stay? The small building?”

Shen Zui nodded.

“And me?”

“Where do you want to stay?” Shen Zui threw the question back.

“I want to stay with you,” Shen Nian said firmly. Though she had a room in the main house, only the small building felt like home because it was filled with Shen Zui’s scent.

Shen Zui mentioned that Shen Zhuan wouldn’t be returning for the holidays, likely hiding abroad after her recent humiliation. “So you can stay in the main house if you want. No one will bully you.”

“I want to stay with you,” Shen Nian repeated, kissing Shen Zui’s palm. “It has nothing to do with anyone else. It’s simply because I adore you.”

Shen Zui was stunned by the blunt declaration. Shen Nian smiled. “Are you surprised? You’ve known for a long time.”

Shen Zui simply replied, “I know,” and remained silent for the rest of the trip. But Shen Nian felt her mood brighten—Shen Zui was no longer as resistant to her feelings as she once was.

At the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, Shen Zhuan was absent, but Xi You was present and in high favor. Shen Nian was surprised; Xi You didn’t usually spend the holiday here.

Xi You greeted Shen Zui sweetly and received a “Red Envelope” (lucky money). Then, she turned to Shen Nian. “A-Nian.”

It was a nickname Shen Nian hadn’t heard in a long time.

“My movie Warm Light opens on the sixth. Will you come see it?” Xi You asked expectantly. The film was directed by Zhou Muqiu and had been heavily promoted.

Shen Nian nodded politely. “I’ll go if I have time.”

Xi You handed her an envelope with two tickets to the premiere in City A. “I hope you can come. We’ve been through so much… I want you to witness my comeback.”

Shen Nian smiled coldly. “‘So much’… unfortunately, none of it left good memories.”

“That’s just your opinion,” Xi You said, her smile fading. “It was all a misunderstanding. I really hope we can go back to the way we were.”

Before Shen Nian could respond, Shen Zui called her name from ahead. Shen Nian looked up and walked past Xi You, ending the conversation without another word.