The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 62

The next day, as Shen Nian settled into her seat on the plane, she heard a voice greeting her. She looked up to see Peng Bo walking toward her.

“Brother Peng?”

Peng Bo smiled. “Xi You asked to swap seats with me… I hope you don’t mind?”

“Of course not,” Shen Nian shook her head and sat back down properly. A moment later, Peng Bo stowed his things and took the seat beside her.

“Did you two have a falling out?” Peng Bo asked suddenly.

“Huh?” Shen Nian was startled for a second before shaking her head. “No.”

“Young people,” Peng Bo sighed, twisting the plain ring on his ring finger. “If you’re too stubborn about your pride, someone else will snatch your girlfriend away. Don’t wait until you’ve separated to regret it.”

Shen Nian gave a helpless smile. She was about to explain that she and Xi You weren’t in that kind of relationship, but she noticed his gesture. She remembered from his profile that Peng Bo had divorced last year.

“Are you… remarried?” she started to ask.

“Remarried! Yes, I’m back with my ex-wife!” Peng Bo revealed the answer with a boastful, lighthearted tone. “Most people in the industry know by now; it’ll be public soon.”

Shen Nian nodded, offering her congratulations. “It’s fate for two people to find their way back to each other.”

“That’s why I say, cherish the person in front of you,” Peng Bo lowered his voice. “Xi You has been getting very close to Fang Yangqi lately. Are you two… over?”

Shen Nian knew that even if she explained, he might not believe her. She pivoted the conversation. “Sometimes, spending time apart is a good thing, isn’t it?” She pointed to his ring. “You and your wife were divorced. What made you decide to get back together?”

The Wisdom of a Second Chance

Peng Bo’s expression turned into one of pure remorse. “I was with my wife since we were young. I was busy, and she was clingy and always followed my lead. I got too used to the good life and started thinking she was annoying. I nearly drove her to despair.”

“And then?” Shen Nian asked.

“Once we divorced and truly separated, everything felt wrong. I realized how hypocritical and selfish I had been. When I pursued her again, she asked if I was just missing the convenience of someone serving me. But I knew my heart. I didn’t miss the past; I looked forward to creating new memories with her. Realizing I had pushed her away made my heart ache.”

Shen Nian fell silent. Too much indulgence makes one forget to cherish. A temporary separation might be the very thing a relationship needs to thicken.

The Airport Encounter

At 9:00 PM, Shen Nian landed at the international airport. She headed straight for the parking lot, only to freeze when she saw Shen Zui stepping out of the driver’s seat.

“You’re driving?” Shen Nian asked.

“Mhm. Put your luggage in,” Shen Zui replied.

Shen Nian put her things in the trunk. When she returned to the side of the car, she saw the passenger door was open—an invitation. She gripped the door handle but didn’t move.

“Shen Nian?” Shen Zui leaned over to look at her.

“Yeah.” Suppressing a surge of longing, Shen Nian shut the passenger door with a snap, walked to the back, and sat in the rear seat. “Let’s go.”

Shen Zui bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with suppressed emotion, but she said nothing and started the car.

The Game of Cat and Mouse

Back at the apartment complex, the parking lot was silent. Shen Nian intentionally moved slowly while unloading her suitcase. Predictably, Shen Zui approached her.

“Is it stuck?” Shen Zui asked, her body pressing against Shen Nian’s back.

Shen Nian’s body trembled at the familiar warmth. She gripped the suitcase until her knuckles turned white. “I’ve got it,” she rasped.

Shen Zui’s arm slid around her waist, her fingers tracing a slow path. In the cold February air, the temperature between them began to rise. Just as Shen Zui was about to pull her into a full embrace, Shen Nian stepped aside.

“It’s fixed.”

Shen Zui stood her ground, blocking the path. Shen Nian reached out and tilted Shen Zui’s chin up. For a moment, their warm breaths mingled in the winter night, creating a humid mist in Shen Zui’s eyes. Shen Zui closed her eyes and hooked her arms around Shen Nian’s neck.

Suddenly, Shen Nian let out a soft chuckle and pulled back. She pointed to the ceiling. “There are security cameras. If we’re caught… it would ruin your reputation, Director Shen.”

Shen Zui recoiled, her eyes wide. Shen Nian gave her cheek a playful, heartless pinch. “You look cold. Let’s go inside.”

The “Scent” of Trouble

Inside the apartment, Shen Nian showered and intentionally put on one of Shen Zui’s silk robes, which was several sizes too small. It barely reached her thighs and clung tightly to her curves.

In the bedroom, the scent of plum blossoms (Shen Zui’s pheromones) grew thick. Shen Zui hugged her from behind. “Nian Nian… was the island fun? You were very popular. Who taught you how to solicit customers like that?”

Shen Nian turned around. “You watched the live stream?”

“Mhm,” Shen Zui admitted, her face flushed as she nuzzled against Shen Nian. “Nian Nian… more… I want more…”

Shen Nian carried her to the bed. Shen Zui’s movements were frantic, her kisses uncoordinated and desperate. Shen Nian realized that while she was trying to punish Shen Zui with distance, she was also punishing herself.

Shen Zui pulled back, looking frustrated. “Why isn’t it working? Am I doing it wrong?” She then began to lick Shen Nian’s lips like a kitten.

Just as Shen Nian was about to lose her resolve, her phone rang. It was her manager, Sister Mo. Shen Nian used the interruption to pull away. “I checked… your pheromones are sufficient. You don’t need a supplemental ‘Marking’ right now.”

She left the room to take the call, leaving a stunned Shen Zui alone on the bed.

Jealousy and the Song Festival

A few days later, a friend named Tao Di invited Shen Nian to a small song festival at a bar. While Shen Nian was on the phone, she noticed Shen Zui listening in.

Later, a wealthy socialite named Lin Xinwen called to invite Shen Nian to dinner. Shen Nian declined but mentioned the song festival. Lin Xinwen immediately asked to go along.

When the call ended, Shen Zui’s face was as dark as ink. “I didn’t know you two were so close.”

“You told me to get along with the Lin family,” Shen Nian countered. “I’m just ‘making friends’ like you suggested, Auntie.”

The use of the formal “Auntie” title made Shen Zui kick her in annoyance. “Frivolous!” she snapped. “You said you liked me. Has it been that long that you’ve already changed your mind?”

Shen Nian held Shen Zui’s hand against her own heart. “Can you feel it? It’s still beating for you. But you’re always the one running away. Are you afraid you’ve used up all my passion?”

The Drunken Kiss

At the bar, Shen Nian accidentally got drunk on “low-alcohol” cocktails. Lin Xinwen was flirting with her when Shen Zui arrived to pick her up.

“I’m here to take you home,” Shen Zui said, her heart aching at the sight of a disheveled Shen Nian.

Shen Nian, recognizing the scent of plum blossoms, immediately lunged forward and hugged Shen Zui tightly. “Shen Zui! Home… take me home!”

In the back of the car, with the privacy partition up, Shen Zui tried to give Shen Nian a bitter anti-alcohol tonic.

“It’s bitter! I want candy!” Shen Nian whined like a child.

“I’ll get you a sweet if you let go,” Shen Zui bargained.

Instead of letting go, the drunken Shen Nian pulled her down and captured her lips in a deep kiss. As their tongues met, the bitterness of the medicine was swallowed up and replaced by a sweetness that had nothing to do with sugar.

“See?” Shen Nian murmured against her lips. “It’s not bitter anymore.”