The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 72

Mo Huai was a picture of bewilderment. She kept shooting looks at Shen Nian every chance she got.

Who is she? How do you know her?

Shen Nian remained calm, maintaining a steady smile and using her eyes to signal her manager to “stay calm.”

On the other side, Duan Wenyin didn’t seem to notice the undercurrents between them—or if she did, she didn’t let it show. She seized every possible moment to push for a collaboration with Shen Nian.

“Miss Shen, this is a film project I am currently preparing to shoot. I have seen all of your performances, and I sincerely hope you will star in my film. Would you be willing to take a look?”

Shen Nian nodded. Her movements as she took the folder were almost impatient. “Of course.”

Quickly, she received the script she had been so familiar with in her previous life and began to browse through it composedly.

As Mo Huai brewed tea for them, she interjected, “Well? Do you like Director Duan’s—er, Director Duan’s story?”

Shen Nian gave a soft “Mm” without looking up. A moment later, she closed the script. “When do you plan to start filming?”

“If all goes well…” Duan Wenyin smiled at her, “October of this year.”

Shen Nian rubbed the bridge of her nose. It was a direct conflict with Cai Kong’s project; no wonder Mo Huai had given her a polite but immediate rejection earlier.

Duan Wenyin sensed her hesitation. Her fingers curled slightly against her lap, clutching her skirt. “If time is truly an issue, I am willing to delay the start of filming for you, Miss Shen.”

Mo Huai finally found an opening to speak. “What’s the latest you could push it?”

Duan Wenyin frowned in thought. “Mid-November.”

Mo Huai glanced at Shen Nian. This time, she didn’t refuse outright, opting for a more cautious reply. “Hmm, that timeframe… Shen Nian still wouldn’t be able to finish her original filming schedule by then…”

Shen Nian already had a new idea in mind. However, she had a team behind her and couldn’t simply make a decision without considering the logistics. After a moment, she looked at Duan Wenyin. “Director Duan, I like this project very much. But considering the scheduling issues, I need to discuss it with the company. May I give you an answer tomorrow?”

Duan Wenyin heard the underlying “please leave” but also realized that “discussing it” was not a mere platitude. She was delighted, her narrow eyes lighting up. “Of course.”

Shen Nian stood up and escorted her all the way to the elevators of the Chengyue building. Just before the doors opened, Duan Wenyin suddenly turned and grabbed Shen Nian’s sleeve. She was making one last effort for herself.

“I don’t know why, but even though it’s our first time meeting, I felt a special sense of kinship with you the moment I saw you. I don’t have extensive experience in filmmaking, but I sincerely hope we can have a pleasant collaboration.”

Beside them, Mo Huai’s eyebrows shot up. A thought flashed through her mind: Shen Nian hates physical contact with others. If the probability of Shen Nian agreeing to the job was sixty or seventy percent before, this touch would surely drop it to fifty.

She curled her lips, waiting for the fallout. But in the next second, Shen Nian’s response nearly made her jaw drop.

Duan Wenyin was a Beta, standing less than 170cm tall—significantly shorter than Shen Nian. Not only did Shen Nian lean down to listen to her seriously, but she also returned the smile.

She said, “…I believe this won’t be our only collaboration.”

“…” “…”

Not only Mo Huai, but even Duan Wenyin herself was stunned. Once she regained her senses, her cheeks flushed with joy, and she nodded repeatedly to Shen Nian. The elevator doors opened; Shen Nian exchanged contact information with her and watched her leave.

Two minutes later, a dazed Mo Huai returned to the office with her. She gulped down several cups of tea before finally looking at Shen Nian. “Alright, tell me. What was that about?”

“It’s nothing.” Shen Nian shrugged helplessly. She picked up the film materials and chose her words carefully. “I want to act in Duan Wenyin’s movie.”

“Oh,” Mo Huai replied coolly. “And what about Director Cai?” She crossed her arms and let out a short laugh. “We haven’t signed the contract, but we have a verbal agreement. What, are you going to break your word?”

Shen Nian shook her head. she said only two words: “Double-booking.”

Mo Huai gasped. “What?!”

Shen Nian looked up. “If Duan Wenyin can delay the start until mid-November, Director Cai’s filming will be in its final stages. With proper coordination, double-booking shouldn’t be a major issue.”

“…But didn’t you used to be strictly against double-booking projects?” Mo Huai’s lip twitched. “How many big directors and major investments have we turned down using that exact reason?”

Shen Nian didn’t speak; she just stared at her steadily. Mo Huai clutched her forehead and wailed, “If word of this gets out, how am I supposed to face the people I rejected before?”

Shen Nian patted her shoulder. “Sister Mo, don’t be so nervous.”

“No, I don’t get it.” Mo Huai wrinkled her nose, her gaze sharp. “Director Cai and Screenwriter Zhou were your mentors. I understand why you still take projects like The Records of Zhuang Zhou from them even though your status has skyrocketed. But what is the deal with this Duan Wenyin?” She stared at Shen Nian. “What? Did she save your life?”

“…” Shen Nian’s hands rested on her knees. She almost blurted out: Yes.

Duan Wenyin had saved her life. More accurately, Duan Wenyin had given her a second life.

In her past life, Shen Nian had been mired in a daze, lacking the courage to escape the Shen family. After graduating from the acting department, she had no plans for the future—the Shen family never lacked for material things, and the house and car Shen Zui gave her upon graduation were riches most people couldn’t earn in a lifetime.

She continued to drift in a state of depression until one day, while visiting Xi You’s film set, she accidentally met Duan Wenyin, who was filming at the same studio… From then on, Duan Wenyin became her benefactor.

Duan Wenyin came from an excellent background. Her elders worked in the national judicial departments, and she was a person of great integrity and persistence. She graduated from a top university abroad and had already filmed two works before returning home, though she had no fame domestically. After their chance meeting, she saw great potential in Shen Nian. Not only did she give her her first acting opportunity, but she also guided her back to theater troupes to relearn the valuable knowledge she had neglected in college.

When the Shen Nian of her past life won the Best Actress award, she didn’t thank her family or the platforms; the first person she mentioned was Duan Wenyin, who was like a second mother to her career. Later, when Shen Nian fell to her death, Duan Wenyin was heartbroken. After helping settle Shen Nian’s affairs, she went abroad again and never appeared in the story until its conclusion.

After all these years, they had met again. Shen Nian was no longer the ignorant newcomer wasting her life; she was a radiant award-winner. And yet, Duan Wenyin still picked her out of a crowd at a single glance.

“I’ve made up my mind.”

Shen Nian obviously couldn’t explain all this to Mo Huai. She handed the script over. “If you don’t have a problem with it, I’ll talk to Director Cai myself. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

Mo Huai was silent for two seconds. Despite her confusion, she finally nodded. “Got it.” She flipped through the materials. “Is this script really that good? It captivated you just like that?”

Shen Nian smiled. Mo Huai wasn’t really reading it; she just made a show of it before tossing it back on the desk. “You didn’t come here today specifically for that Duan Wenyin, did you?”

Only then did Shen Nian remember her original purpose. She shook her head. “I’m here to report my upcoming vacation plans.”

“Mm,” Mo Huai grunted. “Speak.”

Shen Nian sat back on the sofa and got down to business. “In a couple of days, Shen Zui and I plan to…”

By the time everything was settled and she returned to the apartment, it was around five in the afternoon. Since it was still early, Shen Nian felt a sudden burst of inspiration and stopped by the nearby supermarket to buy ingredients.

While she was busy in the kitchen, she received a friend request from Duan Wenyin. Shen Nian wiped her hands and hit accept, seeing a text greeting from the other woman.

[Good evening.]

Shen Nian: [Good evening.]

Perhaps surprised by the instant reply, the other side paused for two seconds.

Grace: [This might be a bit presumptuous, but may I ask about the result of your discussion today?]

Shen Nian’s lips curved into a smile. Duan Wenyin was exactly as she remembered—earnest, generous, and incredibly proactive.

Shen Nian replied: [You should receive the handover notice from Mo Huai tomorrow.]

The meaning of that sentence was self-evident. On the other end of the phone, Duan Wenyin’s eyes widened. Even though she had a premonition, seeing Shen Nian confirm it filled her with uncontrollable joy. She stood up and paced around the room several times.

Once her heart rate settled, she opened the chat again.

Grace: [That’s wonderful!] Grace: [I know you were the one pulling strings behind the scenes. Thank you for believing in me, and thank you for being willing to star in my movie!] Grace: [I will work hard!]

Mo Huai had rejected her flatly when she first sent the proposal. Duan Wenyin hadn’t given up; she had forced her way into a meeting at Chengyue to plead her case in person. Clearly, it hadn’t worked. Before Shen Nian appeared, she had been resigned to failure. But she never expected… a total reversal!

Shen Nian could imagine her joyful expression; even from a distance, her own mood was infected by Duan Wenyin’s. Though they weren’t close in this life yet, in her heart, she had always viewed the woman as both a mentor and a dear friend.

[I am looking forward to this collaboration.]

Shen Nian began typing: My schedule for the second half of the year—

Before she could finish, a call came from outside the kitchen. In the next moment, Shen Zui appeared at the door.

“Niannian?”

Shen Nian looked over, her smile growing even brighter. She looked at Shen Zui. “You’re back! So early today?”

Shen Zui’s gaze swept casually over the chopped ingredients on the counter before landing on the phone in Shen Nian’s hand. “Who are you chatting with so happily?” She had even stopped halfway through making dinner.

Shen Nian waved her phone. “A new director I met today. Her name is Duan Wenyin.”

“Is that so?” Shen Zui didn’t find that name in her memory. But she could feel Shen Nian’s happiness. “You’ve proven yourself,” she said without hesitation. “More and more talented people will seek you out. I’m happy for you.”

Shen Nian put down her phone, ignoring the half-finished message. She stepped close to Shen Zui, pulled her into her arms, and gave her a quick peck on the tip of her nose.

“Let’s not talk about them,” she whispered in her ear. “I’ve settled the vacation matters with Mo Huai. We can leave next week.”

Shen Zui’s eyes were filled with the image of her lover’s smiling face. Shen Nian asked impatiently, “What about you?” She brushed her lips against Shen Zui’s. “Has President Shen’s vacation been approved?”

“Mm.” Shen Zui followed her lead, her eyes also full of smiles. “It’s been approved.”

“Tsk, tsk.” Shen Nian narrowed her eyes. “It seems President Shen has a very considerate boss. To let such an important person go just like that.”

Shen Zui’s gaze fell on her bright red lips. “Indeed,” she asked. “Should I ‘thank’ her properly?”

“Of course.” Shen Nian nodded emphatically. With a surge of strength, she lifted the woman nearly off the ground. “I’ve prepared a feast.”

“Mm.” Shen Zui’s thumb gently brushed her cheek. She looked into Shen Nian’s eyes. “…She says she is very much looking forward to it.”

Shen Nian took a deep breath. Desire stirred, but she forced it down—there was no rush. She leaned in for a deep, lingering kiss before using her willpower to set the woman back down. “Go rest in the living room for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon.”

Shen Zui gave a soft “Mm.” She turned and left the kitchen. Soon after, the light aroma of food wafted out.

Shen Zui was not usually a person driven by appetite, but this time, listening to the “clink and clatter” of her little lover working in the kitchen, she rarely licked her lips and swallowed.

She was hungry.