The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 61

After a full night of restful sleep, Shen Nian was awakened by her alarm the next morning.

The residence was quiet. Peng Bo and the others had already headed to the cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style tea restaurant) to prepare for the opening. After washing up, Shen Nian headed toward the kitchen, where she suddenly heard voices. She paused, catching sight of two figures—a man and a woman—reflected in the glass window.

“Shen Nian is still sleeping? I can’t believe she left you, an Omega, here to do all the work alone,” Fang Yangqi grumbled as he placed a pot of milk tea on the stove. “She doesn’t have a shred of Alpha chivalry.”

“It’s not like that,” Xi You replied, attempting to defend Shen Nian, though she couldn’t hide her “Green Tea” (manipulative) tendencies. “I can handle these things. It’s fine if she gets some extra rest.”

Outside the kitchen, Shen Nian let out a cold sneer. The scrolling comments on the live stream were already echoing her thoughts:

If I remember correctly, Shen Nian worked until midnight to finish all the prep work, right?

Help! Why is my “Tea Detector” beeping so loudly?

What is Fang Yangqi’s problem? Doesn’t he know Xi You has a girlfriend?

Don’t be so double-standard. I want to know why Xi You is clinging to our “Big Brother.” Is she oblivious? If she has a girlfriend, shouldn’t she keep her distance from single men?

The netizens were arguing fiercely, which delighted the director watching behind the scenes. “Tsk, the variety show’s popularity was dipping, but now it’s all back!” he said to his assistant. “Tell the cameraman not to rush Fang Yangqi. This is great—create more opportunities for the three of them to interact.”

The Kitchen Confrontation

Realizing that staying outside would look like intentional eavesdropping, Shen Nian made some noise to alert them and stepped into the kitchen with a composed expression.

“Good morning.”

“Morning… Oh, morning,” Fang Yangqi stammered, his smile superficial. “Shen Nian, you’re up?”

“Brother Fang, weren’t you supposed to be running the restaurant? Why are you still here?” Shen Nian asked, feigning surprise.

Fang Yangqi glanced at Xi You and huffed. “I was going to, but I saw Xi You alone in the kitchen, so I came to lend a hand.” He lit the stove and began stirring the milk with a metal spoon. “Shen Nian, you—”

“Stop!” Shen Nian interrupted his condescending tone and stepped forward to turn off the flame.

“You!” Fang Yangqi gasped.

“The milk needs to be blended as soon as it’s hot. The tea leaves haven’t even steeped yet. If you boil the milk now, the flavor will be ruined,” Shen Nian explained calmly.

Fang Yangqi looked sheepish. “Oh, I see.”

A cold glint flashed in Shen Nian’s eyes as she turned to Xi You. “Xi You, didn’t I remind you last night?”

Xi You, holding a bag of tea leaves, looked confused. “Huh? Did you?” She wrinkled her nose, acting aggrieved. “Shen Nian… don’t be mean. I know tea needs to be brewed with boiling water…”

“Exactly,” Fang Yangqi said, standing by her side. “You woke up late, and now you don’t even trust your partner?”

Shen Nian pointed to the basin of water in front of Xi You. “Then what are you doing with that?”

“Washing them,” Xi You said innocently. “I saw white powder on the leaves. I thought I should scrub them clean before brewing.”

Shen Nian was speechless.

My “Stupidity Allergy” is acting up, one commenter wrote. Is she serious? How did Shen Nian ever like her?

The True “Model Worker”

After Fang Yangqi and Xi You left to “help” elsewhere, Shen Nian worked alone. An hour later, when Xi You returned, she found Shen Nian loading the heavy mobile cart and hauling ice buckets. Despite her cool temperament, Shen Nian’s back was soaked with sweat. As she lifted a heavy bucket, her shirt pulled up slightly, revealing a glimpse of her lean, pale waist.

The chat exploded: She has abs! Look at that waist! Forget Xi You, sister, look at me!

“I’m almost done,” Shen Nian said, wiping her brow. “Wait a moment, I’ll change clothes before we head out.”

While selling milk tea, the heat was grueling. Xi You hid in the shade, complaining about the sun, while Shen Nian handled the customers. When a local girl named Hedy tried to flirt with Shen Nian, Shen Nian politely declined.

“I’m not as pretty as her?” Hedy asked, pointing at Xi You.

“It’s not about her,” Shen Nian smiled. “The person I like gets very jealous… If she sees this, she’ll be unhappy.”

The Secret Viewer

Miles away, Shen Zui was watching the live stream in her office. Hearing Shen Nian describe her as “jealous” brought a rare light to her somber mood. Her assistant, Qin Li, was shocked to find her high-efficiency boss “slacking off” by watching a variety show during work hours.

Back on the island, Hedy asked what kind of girl Shen Nian liked. Shen Nian looked at the camera, knowing the world was watching.

“She is smart, mature, and charming,” Shen Nian began. Then her expression softened. “But at home, she’s like a precious, clingy Ragdoll cat. She can’t stand the slightest grievance; if she’s angry, she might kick you, and it takes a long time to coax her into a hug.”

The sincerity in her voice silenced the “shipping” rumors between her and Xi You. Netizens finally realized: Shen Nian doesn’t like Xi You at all!

The Results

By the end of the three-day challenge, the group faced a steep revenue goal. While Fang Yangqi and Xi You failed to bring in significant sales on the final day, Shen Nian’s hard work at the restaurant saved the team. They brought in 3,200 credits, far exceeding the goal.

Even the other guests, like Peng Bo, realized the truth. “I think Xi You isn’t good enough for Shen Nian,” he whispered to a colleague.

As the filming wrapped, Shen Zui prepared to meet Shen Nian at the airport. “Cancel my schedule for tomorrow night,” Shen Zui told her assistant. “I’m going to pick her up myself.”