The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 82

One late autumn afternoon, after filming the final indoor scene, Director Cai Kang’s debut film officially wrapped.

While those around her cheered and celebrated, Shen Nian, the lead actress, remained expressionless. She sat blankly on a prop sofa, her head bowed as if still submerged in the heavy grief of the character who had lost her lover. The artificial sunset lighting cast a long shadow across her face, making her look fragile, as if she might collapse at any moment.

Gradually, the noise quieted. The crew’s eyes fell on her, marveling at how she remained breathtakingly beautiful even in such a broken state. Zhou Nan noticed something was wrong and stepped forward to snap her out of it. But before his hand touched her shoulder, Shen Nian “woke up” on her own.

She avoided his hand and looked at him, confused. “What is it?”

“What’s wrong with you?” Zhou Nan countered. He leaned down to observe her. “Still haven’t stepped out of character? Everyone is happy it’s a wrap, but you look miserable.”

“Sorry.” Shen Nian forced a smile and stood up to stretch her stiff limbs. Her gaze inadvertently met that of the other female lead, who played her lover in the film. The woman looked away instantly.

Cai Kang, seeing this, teased, “What’s going on? You were crying your eyes out during that last shot. Why aren’t you going over to comfort Shen Nian now?”

The lead actress, a steady performer who had been in the industry for a long time, pouted. “No, no way.”

“Why not?” Cai Kang asked.

“The way she looks with those eyes right now… she could look at a dog and make it feel loved,” the actress said, covering her flushing face. “Staring at her for too long is dangerous. It’s easy to get unnecessary delusions.”

Cai Kang laughed. “Shen Nian is like that. She’s so good that I often can’t tell if she’s acting or if it’s genuine emotion.”

The actress shook her head. “No, when I’m acting with her, I always get the distinct feeling that she’s looking through me at someone else. But the emotion in her is real. It’s like… a tsunami.”

“What kind of metaphor is that?” Cai Kang asked.

“I mean,” the actress whispered, “it’s so heavy it makes it hard to breathe.”

That night, Shen Nian returned to her room early. Everyone understood she was in a bad state, so after she stayed at the wrap party for a short while, Cai Kang and Zhou Nan urged her to rest.

She was exhausted, but her mind was clear and restless. After a video call with her grandmother—promising to visit the nursing home in two days—she collapsed onto the bed.

Just as she was drifting off, her phone rang. It was 9:00 PM. She picked up and greeted, “Director Duan.”

On the other end, Duan Wenyin replied warmly, “Shen Nian. Good evening. Am I disturbing you?”

“No.”

“I heard you wrapped. Congratulations!”

“Thank you,” Shen Nian replied, trying to sound spirited.

After some pleasantries, Duan Wenyin’s tone shifted. “I’m in City L, right next door at the Qingfeng Hotel.”

Shen Nian was surprised. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here… to handle some business,” Duan Wenyin said. “When are you heading to City K? We can go together.”

“In two days,” Shen Nian explained. “I want to go back and visit my grandmother first.”

“I see… back to City A?”

“Right next to City A,” Shen Nian rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Not far.”

Duan Wenyin was silent for a moment. “I’m free for the next few days. Can I come with you?”

Shen Nian sat up, making sure she hadn’t misheard. “Isn’t the crew busy?”

“The important things are settled; the assistant director is handling the rest,” Duan Wenyin said easily. When Shen Nian didn’t respond immediately, she laughed. “If it’s inconvenient, don’t worry about it.”

“It’s not that.” Shen Nian lay back down. “I’ll send you my itinerary later. If you don’t find it a hassle, you can come.”

The next morning, the two were on the same flight in adjacent first-class seats. When Shen Nian took off her sunglasses, Duan Wenyin immediately noticed her state.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t sleep well?”

Shen Nian gave a bitter smile. “Is it that obvious?” She had tried to cover the dark circles under her eyes with cream, but Duan Wenyin saw through it instantly.

“The protagonist’s emotions in the last few scenes were very low,” Shen Nian explained. “I might not have fully recovered yet.”

Duan Wenyin seemed relieved. “I see.”

Shen Nian put on her sleep mask. “I’m going to nap.”

“You should. You can’t just push yourself because you’re young,” Duan Wenyin said gently.

Shen Nian smiled. “My girl—my girlfriend said the exact same thing.”

Duan Wenyin laughed. “Then we have the same view.”

Shen Nian noticed that Duan Wenyin didn’t seem bothered by the mention of a girlfriend. She remembered that in her previous life, Duan Wenyin had been very kind to her. In that life, Duan Wenyin had eventually gone on a blind date arranged by her family and dated a male Alpha. But after Shen Nian’s death, Duan Wenyin had moved abroad in grief.

“I need to adjust quickly,” Shen Nian continued. “Otherwise, I won’t be able to get into character for your film.”

“Don’t be humble,” Duan Wenyin said. “I don’t believe you’d make that kind of mistake.”

As Shen Nian settled back, she felt Duan Wenyin reach over to adjust her eye mask. Duan Wenyin’s finger brushed lightly against the corner of her eye. “Sleep. You have a long road ahead of you…”

The words felt pointed, and Shen Nian froze for a second, but the mask hid her reaction. She forced herself to sink into sleep.

At the airport, Shen Nian got into a car sent by Shen Zui. The driver, Lao Liu, had been with Shen Zui for a long time.

“Who was that lady?” he asked casually as they hit the highway.

“The director of my next film,” Shen Nian replied, looking at her phone.

“Oh, a director. I thought she was a friend.”

Shen Nian nodded. “A friend as well.” In her heart, Duan Wenyin was a mentor and a savior from her past life.

Lao Liu drove her to the apartment near A University.

“Where is Shen Zui?” Shen Nian asked.

Lao Liu hesitated. “I’m not entirely sure of President Shen’s whereabouts.”

“Is she coming back tonight?”

“Uh…”

Shen Nian read the hesitation. “So, she’s been staying at the Shen manor lately?”

Lao Liu looked troubled. “Miss Nian, I… I really don’t know.”

Shen Nian didn’t press him. She went up to the apartment, which felt cold and lacked “human presence” despite being clean. She didn’t unpack; she just started going through the motions of cooking and cleaning.

Around 7:00 or 8:00 PM, Shen Zui returned. Shen Nian was on the sofa reviewing a script. She stood up and naturally opened her arms to catch her lover.

They didn’t speak, but the warmth between them said enough. The cold, decisive CEO leaned lazily against Shen Nian’s shoulder, her exhaustion seemingly vanishing.

“Working late again?” Shen Nian stroked her back.

“Mm,” Shen Zui replied, her voice incredibly soft. “Have you been waiting long?”

“…” Shen Nian couldn’t answer. Time felt blurred.

“You told me not to push myself,” Shen Nian teased, her fingers sinking into Shen Zui’s soft skin. “What about you?”

Shen Zui stepped back to look into her eyes. Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. “Are you complaining that I’m getting old?”

Shen Nian was amused. “What if I said ‘yes’?”

Shen Zui pressed a finger to her lips. Her mature, womanly aura surrounded Shen Nian. “Then you need to learn to ‘respect your elders’.”

Shen Nian kissed the inside of her wrist. “Like how?”

“Like…” Shen Zui whispered into her ear, “having less of an urge to explore your aunt’s body.”

Shen Nian’s breath hitched. “I was the one telling you to rest. How did this turn into a loss for me?”

“Are you unwilling?” Shen Zui moved closer, feeling Shen Nian’s rising body temperature.

Shen Nian tossed the question back. “I should ask you. Does my little aunt love work more, or her… niece?”

Shen Zui trembled with laughter in her arms. “Is it a hard choice?”

“With Nian-Nian,” Shen Zui whispered, wrapping her arms around her neck, “it’s always a single-choice question.”

They kissed passionately in the living room before Shen Nian carried her into the bedroom. For that night, they ignored the world’s troubles, returning to a time when only their entanglement mattered.

The Morning After: A Conflict of Interest

Sunlight squeezed through a gap in the curtains. It was 10:00 AM. The room smelled of cedar and cold plum, warmed by their bodies.

Shen Nian woke to find Shen Zui staring at her. She felt a sense of temporal distortion but instinctively leaned in for a kiss.

“What are you thinking about?” Shen Nian asked.

“Thinking that it would be nice if you were this gentle during the night,” Shen Zui teased.

Shen Nian coughed, remembering some vivid scenes from the night before. Shen Zui tried to get up, but Shen Nian pulled her back.

“If I were that slow at night, could you even bear it?” Shen Nian whispered, teasing the sensitive skin of her neck.

Shen Zui’s breath hitched, her face turning red. “Don’t… leave a mark…”

They finally made it to the dining table nearly an hour later. As Shen Nian served porridge, Shen Zui asked, “Are you coming back to the Shen manor with me this afternoon?”

Shen Nian’s nerves tightened. She stirred her porridge. “This afternoon? I’m busy.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have an appointment with my grandmother. I’m going to the nursing home to see her.”

Shen Zui frowned slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’ll go with you—”

“Next time,” Shen Nian interrupted. “I haven’t told her about the Shen family yet.”

Shen Zui nodded. “I see. Is Jiang Shubai there?”

Shen Nian shook her head. “He’s at the old house. The case has been filed, and I have people watching him so he doesn’t leave.”

“Nian-Nian,” Shen Zui bit her lip. “I want to discuss something with you.”

“Is the porridge not to your taste?” Shen Nian asked.

“No, it’s not that…”

“Then eat first,” Shen Nian said gently. “Eat something first. If we discuss it now and you lose your appetite, it would be a waste.”

They moved to the living room after the meal.

“Regarding that case, the Shen family received notice from the court recently,” Shen Zui began.

“Mm.” Shen Nian felt irritable, brushing at imaginary dust on the sofa.

“I’ve looked into the matter. It’s essentially as you described it that night.”

Shen Nian remained stoic. “Mm.”

“Nian-Nian.” Shen Zui tried to move closer. “I want…” Her voice became very quiet.

“I want you to stay out of this,” Shen Nian finished for her.

Shen Zui gave a bitter smile. “Do you think that’s possible? This whole thing started because of me. My mother forced the adoption to treat my illness.”

“I’m not trying to excuse them,” Shen Zui continued, looking up at her. “Would you be willing to drop the lawsuit and settle privately with the Shen family?”

The room felt cold to Shen Nian. Shen Zui, ever the professional negotiator, continued: “Beyond a formal apology and compensation, you can name any conditions. The Shen family will do their best to satisfy them.”

Shen Nian took a moment to regain control of her voice. “Is this your idea, or their request?”

“It’s my idea,” Shen Zui said firmly. “And it is the will of the Shen family.”

Shen Nian almost wanted to laugh. She stood up, pulling her hand away from Shen Zui’s grip. “They tore me away from my family and twisted my childhood. And now you want me to settle peacefully? To use ‘compensation’ to offset years of suffering?”

“I know you feel it’s unfair,” Shen Zui said, standing up to hold her arm. “I will make them apologize to you—”

“I don’t need an apology!” Shen Nian shouted. “I want them punished. The Shens, Jiang Shubai—they must all face the consequences! I just want them to admit their guilt and face the law. Is that too much to ask?”

“It’s not too much,” Shen Zui’s lips trembled. She leaned into Shen Nian’s chest. “But Nian-Nian, the past is the past. No matter what price they pay, it can’t fix what happened. We should look toward the future. A private settlement can give you a much better future than a court case.”

Shen Nian stepped back, her face in the shadows.

“But Shen Zui…” Her voice was as cold as ice. “I can’t be rational right now.”

The Trip with Director Duan

Later that day, Duan Wenyin brought gifts for Shen Nian’s grandmother and baked goods for Shen Nian.

“I found this bakery last time I was in City A,” she said, handing over a paper bag. “I went back for more as soon as I arrived.”

Shen Nian gave a quiet “thank you.” The atmosphere in the car was heavy, which Duan Wenyin noticed.

“Pop quiz!” Duan Wenyin said suddenly. “What did Zhou Yang say the first time she brought a gift to see Wen Zichen?”

Zhou Yang and Wen Zichen were the leads in the upcoming film. Shen Nian’s mind, which had been stuck on the argument with Shen Zui, started to turn. She instinctively smiled, her eyes brightening as she fell into character.

“I heard someone cried all night. Where is she? Why do I only see a red-eyed rabbit?”

Duan Wenyin played along as Wen Zichen. “Where did you hear such nonsense?”

“So it was a lie?” Shen Nian raised an eyebrow, her features taking on the “wicked” charm of her character. “Good thing I don’t believe rumors. I came specifically to feed the rabbit.”

She reached into the bag and pulled out a cream puff, biting into it. Cream sprayed out, ending the scene in a burst of laughter.

“Hahaha!” Duan Wenyin laughed heartily. Shen Nian couldn’t help but join in.

“How is it? Good bread, right?” Duan Wenyin asked.

“Mm,” Shen Nian nodded, finishing the pastry. “Thank you.”

“Now that is the Shen Nian I remember,” Duan Wenyin said. They discussed the movie for the rest of the trip.

At the nursing home, Shen Nian’s grandmother, Sang Li, looked much better than before. Her face was rosy and her spirit was high. Duan Wenyin was an expert at talking to elders, praising Shen Nian until the grandmother was beaming.

“Nian-Nian, get an apple for Xiao Duan. The biggest one in the basket!” the grandmother said.

They spent the whole afternoon there. In the evening, after dinner, they left.

“The food at the nursing home is a bit bland,” Shen Nian said to Duan Wenyin in the car. “I’ll buy you a late-night snack in City A.”

“Deal!” Duan Wenyin replied.

By the time Shen Nian returned to the apartment, it was past 11:30 PM. The living room was dark. She sat on the sofa, feeling a bit lightheaded from the wine she’d had. She thought it best to shower in the guest room before seeing Shen Zui.

But the bedroom door opened, and Shen Zui appeared in her robe.

“Where were you?” Shen Zui asked, her voice cold.

Shen Nian rubbed her ears, assuming Shen Zui was still angry from the morning. “I told you. Visiting Grandma.”

“Visiting Grandma until the middle of the night?”

“Shen Zui, I don’t want to fight,” Shen Nian said, standing up unsteadily. “Let’s not fight over this, okay?”