The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 74

Despite the previous day’s events, Shen Nian still took Shen Zui and left the ancient town the following morning. They checked into a high-specification hotel in a nearby city. Seeing the convenient modern facilities, Shen Nian finally let out a long sigh of relief.

“Won’t this disrupt your travel plans?” Shen Zui asked with some concern.

“No,” Shen Nian replied, shaking her head almost instantly.

Shen Zui let out a light laugh, her expression clearly saying, ‘I don’t believe you.’

“Really.” Shen Nian pulled her into an embrace, resting her chin on Shen Zui’s shoulder. Feeling the warmth of the woman in her arms, she murmured softly, “I didn’t have much of a plan to begin with. My only request was that we could be together quietly and spend this vacation together.”

Shen Zui hummed in response, her fingers sliding into Shen Nian’s hair, gently soothing her young lover.

The city was more populated than the ancient town, but Shen Nian disguised herself carefully. Over the next few days of sightseeing, their luck held, and she wasn’t recognized once.

On their final day, they visited an old shop in the suburbs recommended by a travel blogger. The return trip took longer than expected; by the time they hailed a taxi, it was already past seven in the evening.

As the driver headed toward the hotel, they unexpectedly ran into a massive traffic jam.

“How can this be?” Shen Nian asked, puzzled. The city wasn’t very large, and this was the first time they had encountered such a backup.

The driver, a local, laughed. “It’s bound to happen! There’s a fireworks display along the lake today, and the nearby roads are all blocked off. Every car is squeezed onto the main road.” He turned to look at them. “You’re tourists, right? Why aren’t you heading to the lake to join the excitement?”

Shen Nian, wearing her mask, replied, “We don’t like crowds.”

“Tsk, tsk.” The driver turned back to the wheel. “First time I’ve met people like you. Usually, I’m carrying folks toward the excitement.” Bored by the wait, he let out a yawn. “The lakeside fireworks are our city’s most famous event. Young people flock there; they say it’s a must-visit spot for couples.”

“Is that so?” Shen Zui, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

“Why would I lie to you?” the driver chuckled.

Shen Zui sat up a bit straighter. She looked out the window. “Is it nearby?”

The driver pointed. “Over there—see? Cars aren’t allowed on that road. If you walk to the end of it, you’ll be at the lakeshore.”

In the back seat, Shen Zui reached out and tugged lightly on Shen Nian’s sleeve. Shen Nian immediately understood her intention. She leaned in and said helplessly, “A fireworks display… don’t even think about it. There will be so many people…”

As she spoke, her warm breath brushed against the side of Shen Zui’s neck, making her shrink back sensitively. But Shen Zui didn’t retreat; she turned to look at her. “What’s wrong with there being a lot of people?”

Shen Nian: “…”

“We’re leaving tomorrow. If we miss it, we won’t see it again.” As she spoke, Shen Zui’s hand slid into Shen Nian’s, hooking her pinky finger.

Shen Nian trembled slightly, losing her focus. By the time she snapped out of it, she had already lost the chance to argue. She smiled helplessly, paid the driver, and stepped out of the car with Shen Zui.

Late June should have been sweltering, but this southwestern city was filled with flowers, making the temperature pleasant. Walking hand-in-hand, the night breeze carried a faint, fresh fragrance. As they entered the cordoned-off section, they were soon swept into the crowd.

Shen Nian’s heart was in her throat; she held Shen Zui tightly in her arms to protect her. Shen Zui found it amusing and, taking advantage of their slow pace, leaned toward her ear. “Great Star Shen,” she whispered playfully, “are you that afraid of being exposed?”

Shen Nian glanced down at her. Seeing that she didn’t realize the gravity of the situation, she pressed her closer into her chest. She lowered her head, secretly kissing the crown of Shen Zui’s head through her mask.

“Is it uncomfortable?”

Shen Zui shook her head.

Shen Nian insisted on reminding her, “There are so many people here. If you feel unwell for even a second, tell me immediately. We’ll leave right away.”

Shen Zui tightened her grip on Shen Nian’s wrist and replied cheerfully, “Understood.”

After a crowded walk, they reached the lakeside just as the fireworks display began. Trails of light leaped from the lake, exploding into clusters of brilliant fire-flowers against the night sky.

Fireworks themselves were nothing unusual, but the cheers and gasps of the surrounding crowd were infectious. This lively, shared atmosphere was something Shen Nian rarely got to experience.

She instinctively looked down, and Shen Zui happened to be looking at her at the same time. Their gazes met in the air, as lingering and intimate as a kiss. Shen Nian couldn’t look away.

Shen Zui was the first to snap out of it, pulling on Shen Nian’s collar. Amidst the noise, Shen Nian leaned down, trying hard to make out her words.

“Aren’t you going to watch the fireworks?”

The moment she heard the question, a massive firework soared into the sky and exploded directly above them. Shen Zui looked up to admire it, instinctively covering her ears with her hands.

Shen Nian also saw the grand spectacle—not in the sky, but reflected in Shen Zui’s eyes, which were as clear as mirrors. She had seen better, larger fireworks; the most recent had been New Year’s Eve six months ago. At that time, she was on a film set, and Shen Zui was away from A-City for work. After dinner, they had eased their longing for each other via video call.

Compared to that night, this display was small and insignificant. Yet, in this moment, Shen Nian was so mesmerized by the look in Shen Zui’s eyes that she nearly lost herself in that reflection.

Sensing her gaze, Shen Zui turned and said something. With the roar of the crowd and the booming fireworks, Shen Nian couldn’t hear her. Shen Zui pulled down her mask, carefully over-articulating her words. Shen Nian stared intensely, watching her lover’s lips part and catch a glimpse of her soft pink tongue.

“Yes, it’s beautiful,” Shen Nian said.

A faint look of confusion crossed Shen Zui’s eyes.

“I said, the fireworks are beautiful.” Shen Nian followed her lead and pulled down her own mask, suddenly leaning in until their noses touched.

Shen Zui smiled. “I wasn’t asking—mmph.”

Before she could finish, Shen Nian’s lips and tongue pressed down tenderly. Shen Zui froze, struggled briefly, but quickly went soft, allowing her to take whatever she wanted. Shen Nian’s tongue probed forward, successfully tasting the sweetness she had craved for so long.

All around them were tourists, their heads tilted toward the sky. No one noticed that in this small corner by the lake, two lovers were lost in a passionate kiss.

The display lasted only ten minutes. Soon, the PA system requested visitors to begin leaving to make room for the next group.

“Be careful,” Shen Nian said, using her body to shield Shen Zui from strangers.

Shen Zui looked up at her and suddenly hissed. “What’s wrong?” Shen Nian asked.

Shen Zui didn’t speak; she reached out and touched the left side of Shen Nian’s mask. When she withdrew her hand, she showed her fingertip—it was stained with a light red. Shen Nian recognized it as the color of the lipstick Shen Zui was wearing today.

She let out a low chuckle. Through the mask, her voice was deeper than usual. “Does this count as… being caught red-handed?”

Shen Zui smiled. “The crime being ‘stealing a fragrance’?”

“Mm-hmm,” Shen Nian hummed, tightening her arm around Shen Zui’s waist. She leaned down to her ear. “And the punishment?”

Shen Zui tried to push her away, but she wouldn’t budge. She glanced at the surrounding pedestrians. “…Let go first.”

“Don’t look at them.” Shen Nian’s finger slipped through the gap in the mask near Shen Zui’s chin, easily finding her lips to rub and tease.

Shen Zui grabbed her wrist, wanting to speak, but Shen Nian’s finger slipped into her mouth. People were bustling all around them; if anyone had turned their head, they would have seen the ambiguous movements. In this environment, Shen Nian’s fingertip toyed with her lover’s soft tongue, flirting in a hidden but undeniable way.

Shen Zui shuddered, a bit of moisture escaping the corner of her mouth. She had never been more grateful for the existence of masks than in this moment.

Satisfied at last, Shen Nian withdrew her hand and put her own finger in her mouth. Shen Zui gasped for air in her arms, her eyes full of panic and fluster. She gave Shen Nian a resentful, coquettish glare.

Knowing she had pushed too far, Shen Nian looked around awkwardly and saw a simple fruit stall. “Want some fruit?” she asked. “I’ll go buy some.”

The “Pearl of the Shen Family” tilted her chin up and gave a soft “Mm.”

There was an empty stone bench under a tree. Shen Nian settled her there and went to wait in line. The vendor was a local whose Mandarin was choppy. Under her recommendation, Shen Nian bought some local specialty mixed fruit. She felt she hadn’t been gone long, but when she returned to the tree, Shen Zui was nowhere to be found. Two strangers were now sitting on the bench.

Shen Nian’s heart skipped a beat. She began searching the area frantically. She believed that even if Shen Zui left, she wouldn’t go far without telling her. But after a full lap, she couldn’t find a single trace.

With shaking hands, she dialed Shen Zui’s number while returning to the bench. The call wasn’t being picked up. Suppressing her anxiety, she asked the two women on the bench, “Excuse me, did you see a girl sitting here earlier?”

The older girl nodded. “Was she wearing a mask like you?”

Shen Nian’s eyes lit up. “Yes!”

“She seemed a bit unwell,” the girl told her. “She was covering her mouth and walking that way…”

Shen Nian didn’t wait to hear the rest; she sprinted in the direction the girl pointed. She was so distracted that she didn’t realize her phone call had finally been answered at the very last second.

Shen Zui’s voice came through the receiver, drowned out by Shen Nian’s heavy breathing and rapid footsteps. Shen Nian ran for over a hundred meters before stopping when she still couldn’t see anyone. It was then she noticed her phone screen was lit.

She pressed it to her ear. Shen Zui heard her ragged breathing. “Shen Nian?”

Shen Nian bit her lip, trying to sound calm. “Where are you?”

“I think I’m at the exit. There’s a sign next to me that says ‘Jixiang Street’.”

“Okay. Good.” Shen Nian’s heart finally settled back into her chest. “Don’t run anymore. Wait for me right there. I’m coming over.”

The distance wasn’t great, but with the crowd, it took Shen Nian about six minutes to reach the location. She stood under the sign, looking around, when she felt a tap on her back. She spun around and met Shen Zui’s gaze.

“Nian Nian?” Shen Zui had been smiling, but seeing Shen Nian’s furrowed brow, she suddenly felt a bit flustered.

Shen Nian gripped her shoulders, checking her from head to toe. “Are you okay? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Shen Zui shook her head. She rested a hand on Shen Nian’s forearm. “Don’t be so nervous…”

Shen Nian realized her nerves were stretched too thin. She looked away, taking a long, deep breath.

“You—” Shen Zui started.

“Fruit,” Shen Nian interrupted, placing the box she had been clutching tightly into Shen Zui’s palm. “The fruit you wanted.”

Shen Zui held the box, feeling a bit at a loss. But in the next moment, Shen Nian took her other hand. “Let’s go back.” She leaned close to Shen Zui and whispered again, with a sense of relief as if having survived a disaster: “…Let’s just go back.”

They made it back to the hotel quickly. Throughout the trip, there was very little communication. Shen Zui could tell something was wrong—her wrist was being gripped so tightly by Shen Nian that it was hard to move. She tried to explain why she had left, but Shen Nian’s expression was cold, barely acknowledging her with a faint “Mm.”

Once they reached the room, Shen Nian finally let go. Before Shen Zui could breathe a sigh of relief, she heard a loud BANG behind her. She turned around to see the room door had been slammed shut.

“Sorry, I used too much force,” Shen Nian said.

“You…” Shen Zui approached her cautiously. “Are you angry?”

Shen Nian pursed her lips, staring at her intently. Shen Zui set the fruit on the cabinet and dove into her embrace. She was smart and willing to yield to pamper Shen Nian. “I’m sorry. It was my fault. Regardless of the reason, I shouldn’t have left without telling you.”

Shen Nian remained silent, standing like a statue.

Shen Zui looked up, her hand climbing Shen Nian’s arm. “I scared you, didn’t I?” She stood on her tiptoes, nuzzling Shen Nian’s cheek. “You must have been so panicked when you didn’t see me.”

Shen Nian finally moved. She grabbed Shen Zui’s shoulders. “You knew?”

Shen Zui sighed. “I didn’t think much of it at the time…”

“There were so many people there!” Shen Nian finally exploded. “The pheromones were mixed. If you had been swept away by the crowd and couldn’t get back to me, do you have any idea how serious the consequences of your allergic reaction could be?!”

Shen Zui kissed her chin. “It wouldn’t have happened.” Before Shen Nian could argue, she hooked her arms around her neck. “You’ve cured me quite well.”

Shen Nian froze, her anger instantly halving.

“Just now in the crowd, I didn’t smell anything,” Shen Zui said softly, her voice soothing. “I can’t remember when it started, but for a long time now, I haven’t been able to smell those unpleasant odors.”

Shen Nian looked dazed. “Then…”

“But you are still different.” Shen Zui leaned into her neck and took a deep breath. “Nian Nian always smells so good. I can sense your presence instantly.”

Shen Nian stroked her cheek. “That means… your condition has entered a new stage. Other pheromones don’t affect you anymore?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Shen Nian frowned. “Does that mean… you’re actually cured?”

Shen Zui paused. “Last month’s check-up showed that my data is no different from a normal person’s.”

Shen Nian blinked slowly. She leaned down to find the gland on the side of Shen Zui’s neck, her fingers lightly caressing the tender pink skin. Soon, she felt the area grow warm under her touch, and Shen Zui’s body began to tremble.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Shen Nian asked.

“Is it that important?” Shen Zui countered, leaning back into the embrace. “Even if I don’t reject others, yours are still the only pheromones I can accept.”

A smile finally appeared on Shen Nian’s face. “Beyond that…” she said, combing through Shen Zui’s long hair. “Shen Zui, you are a completely healthy, normal Omega.”

Healthy. Normal. For a long time, these were words Shen Zui thought she would never possess.

“I haven’t even completely marked you yet.”

The words slipped out of Shen Nian’s mouth before she could stop them. It was a deep-seated desire that escaped the moment her rationality slipped. Her heart began to race; she closed her eyes like an ostrich, not daring to guess Shen Zui’s reaction.

But suddenly… Shen Zui laughed. She looked up from Shen Nian’s chest, her eyes shimmering. She hooked a finger under Shen Nian’s chin. “You’ve been thinking about this?”

“…Yes,” Shen Nian swallowed hard. “Is it not normal for me to think about it?” Her gaze drifted down to Shen Zui’s abdomen. If she marked her completely…

Shen Zui leaned in and suddenly bit her earlobe. Shen Nian froze.

“I have always been yours,” Shen Zui’s voice was so low Shen Nian had to strain to hear it. “You can… at any time…”

By the time she realized what was happening, Shen Nian had already pressed her down onto the large bed. Her breathing was ragged. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Shen Zui raised an eyebrow. Her face was flushed like a peach forest in spring—enchanting and seductive. She nodded under Shen Nian’s gaze.

“Fuck!” Shen Nian couldn’t help but swear. She was so excited she was afraid she might lose control. “Shen Zui,” she whispered her name, collapsing onto her. She hid her face in the crook of Shen Zui’s neck, unable to speak.

Shen Zui was patient, stroking her hair. “Hmm?”

“You can’t do this…” Shen Nian finally found her voice, suppressing her surging emotions. “You can’t indulge me like this, without any bottom line…” Her voice cracked with a hint of a sob. She was like a bow pulled to its absolute limit.

Shen Zui moved her shoulder and cupped Shen Nian’s face. She kissed the corner of her eye, her nose, her cheek, her lips…

“Of course you can,” Shen Zui murmured into her ear the moment before Shen Nian took back control.

Her response was a scorching wet kiss and an uncontrollable, desperate claim.