The Supporting Female Lead Chooses to Mark the Villain [Rebirth] - Chapter 94

Life continued in a somewhat plain fashion.

Sang Nian spent most of her time at the riverview villa. Since she was finally on vacation, she wanted to spend every possible minute with Sannie to make up for the two missing years. However, her interactions with Shen Zui remained awkward. Though they ate at the same table and slept in the same bed, Sannie seemed to be the only bridge connecting them.

One evening, Sannie fell asleep on the sofa after playing too hard with Sang Nian.

“Is it bad for her to sleep now?” Sang Nian whispered. “She won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“Mhm,” Shen Zui nodded. Having more experience, she checked the time. “Wake her in half an hour. Don’t let her sleep too long.”

“Okay.”

And with that, the conversation ended. The silence in the living room swallowed them whole. Sang Nian stared at her daughter’s face until her eyes felt sore, and just as she was about to look away, Shen Zui spoke again.

“Are you on vacation right now?”

“When does it end?”

“I’m not sure.”

Shen Zui pursed her lips, looking at Sang Nian’s shadow on the sofa. “Sannie has been talking about a picnic in the park for a long time. I’m free this weekend. Want to go together?”

“Okay.”

Shen Zui leaned in slightly, her hand reaching toward Sang Nian’s arm. “Is there anything specific you want to eat? I’ll have them prepare it.”

“Anything is fine.” Sang Nian pulled her arm away under the guise of stroking Sannie’s hair. Her voice was flat. “You arrange it.”

Shen Zui clenched her fingers, quietly responding with a soft “Okay” before retreating to the bedroom. Some scars are invisible, but they are real. Healing requires time—or an unexpected spark.

The weekend arrived. Sannie was the most excited person in the villa, her laughter echoing through the halls from the moment she woke up.

“Sannie! Stop running!” Sang Nian had to use her “parent voice” as she chased the girl. “What if you fall?”

The little princess dashed back and held up her arms. “Hug!”

Sang Nian, a total “daughter-slave,” happily picked her up.

“Where’s Mama?” Sannie squirmed. “Mommy, go call Mama!”

Sang Nian straightened the girl’s dress and checked the picnic basket with the nanny before heading toward Shen Zui’s second-floor study. Just as they reached the stairs, Shen Zui walked out, finishing a call with her assistant.

“I can’t get away for that… I’ll send you the flight info, go pick them up and take them to the Changsheng Hotel,” Shen Zui said before hanging up.

“Mama!” Sannie called out.

Shen Zui looked up to see the two most important people in her life waiting for her. The stress of work vanished, replaced by a smile. “Ready to go?”

“Mhm!” Sannie reached out, transferring from Sang Nian’s arms to Shen Zui’s. She wrapped her arms around Shen Zui’s neck and lifted her chin regally. “We’re just waiting for you!”

In the car, Shen Zui made another call to someone named Qin Li, asking her to take over the airport pickup for a “Miss Zhou” and to show her around the city. Sang Nian wondered who this “Miss Zhou” was—a big client, perhaps?

“Mommy,” Sannie grabbed Sang Nian’s hand. “When will I be as tall as you?”

“In at least fifteen years.”

“When will I be as pretty as you?”

Sang Nian pinched her cheek. “Nini is already pretty enough.”

“But Mama says Mommy is the prettiest!” Sannie chirped.

Sang Nian caught Shen Zui’s gaze in her peripheral vision. She had to bite her lip to keep from grinning. “Actually, Nini is the prettiest.”

The park was crowded, but they found a nice spot under a tree. It was a rare sunny day in late autumn. Sannie immediately began running around like a little cloud on the grass.

In the two years she spent with Shen Zui, Sannie had developed the dignified air of a noble young lady, but with Sang Nian, she let that mask slip, becoming a carefree, energetic child. Sang Nian loved spoiling her, encouraging her to explore and learn to pick herself up if she tripped.

“Mommy! Take it off!” Sannie pointed at Sang Nian’s mask.

“I can’t,” Sang Nian adjusted it.

“Why?” The child didn’t understand that her mother was a superstar; she just knew the mask stopped them from kissing and cuddling.

Shen Zui stepped in to help. “Mommy is so wonderful that if other people see her, they’ll come over and try to take her attention away from you.”

Sannie blinked, then shook her head vigorously. “No! Mommy! Don’t hug other kids!”

Sang Nian realized Sannie was still thinking about the time she had seen Sang Nian holding Duan Wenyin’s baby.

“Mommy won’t,” Sang Nian promised.

Shen Zui stood up. “That Director Duan… she didn’t come back to the country with you this time?”

“Mhm. Her baby is still small, so she’s staying abroad with her husband for the next two years.”

“You certainly know her schedule well,” Shen Zui remarked casually.

Sang Nian nearly choked. She looked at Shen Zui, who “happened” to look away with an indifferent expression.

“Of course,” Sang Nian gritted out. “After all, the media calls us the ‘Golden Duo’.”

“Mommy, what’s a duo?” Sannie asked.

“It means ‘good friends’,” Sang Nian explained, rubbing her face against Sannie’s. “But we are much closer than that. We are the most special relationship there is.”

The little princess was satisfied and “rewarded” Sang Nian with a kiss on the forehead.

While Shen Zui prepared the food, Sang Nian went over to help. She handed Shen Zui a plate, but Shen Zui just stared at her.

“I didn’t know Duan Wenyin was married,” Shen Zui said.

“Her family didn’t approve of her marrying a foreigner, so they got married in secret. Only close friends know.” Sang Nian paused. “I learned back then that marriage isn’t just about two people loving each other. It involves two families. There are many things to consider.”

Shen Zui knew Sang Nian was talking about them.

“Last year on my mother’s birthday, I took Sannie to see her,” Shen Zui said, watching the girl pick flowers nearby. “It was the first time she knew Sannie existed. She accepted her quickly. My mother loves her as much as she loves me.”

Sang Nian’s face remained neutral. “And what does that prove? That she’ll accept me because of Sannie?”

Shen Zui was silent for a moment. “It doesn’t matter if she accepts it anymore. She’s grown old; she doesn’t have the energy to control everything like she used to.”

“And Grandma?” Shen Zui asked.

“She’s doing well,” Sang Nian’s expression softened. “Her eyes can’t be cured, but she’s healthy. I’ll take Sannie to see her soon.”

“Does Grandma ever pressure you to get married?” Shen Zui asked tentatively.

“Every single time.”

“Then…” Shen Zui took a breath. “What kind of granddaughter-in-law does she like?”

Sang Nian set down two bottles of juice. “She likes whoever I like.”

Shen Zui bit her lip. “…Does that include someone you used to like?”

Sang Nian looked at her. Shen Zui’s face was flushed. “I know you think our families are an obstacle, I—”

“Duan Wenyin was in a lot of pain when her family didn’t approve,” Sang Nian interrupted. “She asked for my advice. Do you know what I told her? I don’t know what others would choose, but for me, if I like someone, no one can be an obstacle between us.”

Shen Zui stared at her, her lips trembling.

Their conversation was interrupted when a young couple with a large Samoyed walked by. Sannie, who wasn’t even as tall as the dog, wasn’t afraid at all and reached out to pet it.

“Sannie!!!” Sang Nian rushed over, terrified.

The dog backed up, and the girl pulled her hand back. The dog owner explained that the dog, “Whitey,” was very gentle. Sang Nian apologized for shouting.

“Is this your daughter?” the girl owner asked, her eyes sparkling. “She’s so cute! We’re trying for a baby too. How did you and your partner have such a beautiful baby? What vitamins do you take?”

Sang Nian was speechless. She and Shen Zui hadn’t exactly “planned” the pregnancy.

The girl’s boyfriend whispered to her, “Honey, look at this lady. Her partner must be just as gorgeous. When two beautiful people have a kid, it’s bound to be a masterpiece. We can’t learn that.”

The girl looked closely at Sang Nian. “Even though you’re wearing a mask… has anyone ever told you your eyes look just like a celebrity’s? Like… Shen Nian?”

“Thank you,” Sang Nian said quickly. “We have to get back to our picnic.”

But Sannie wasn’t ready to leave. “Mommy! Whitey! I want to play with Whitey!”

The girl owner offered, “We haven’t found a spot to sit yet. If the little one wants to play, we can join you!”

Sang Nian sighed and pointed to their tree. When they returned, Shen Zui looked surprised at their new guests.

“Whoa—” the girl owner gasped, grabbing Sang Nian’s arm and pointing at Shen Zui. “Is this your wife?!”

Sang Nian coughed, trying to hide her reaction.

“Oh my god, your wife is so beautiful!!!”

Sang Nian looked down, unable to stop her lips from curling into a wide, happy smile.