Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I sent the file password to Brayden. "Take a look first. If there's anything you don't understand, I'll explain it to you."

He swiped the screen a few times.

"Do these theories you mentioned have any factual basis?"

I told him, no, they didn't.

But this "Guide to Winning the Female Protagonist.pdf" was a distillation of my years of novel-reading experience, with specific references to the male supporting character's role at various stages. It was practically a handbook that anyone could follow.

Brayden leaned back in his chair, unmoved.

"Leanna, am I a guinea pig to you?"

"After helping you, if I still can't win her over, I'll end up with nothing."

I frowned. "Really, I'm not. Trust me, girls will like it."

I gritted my teeth and added, "I guarantee it. I'll teach you, support you, and provide aftercare."

With all these assurances, we reached an agreement for hands-on teaching.

He would provide me with material about the male supporting character.

I would be his practice subject, to minimize the gap between theory and reality, and to achieve the goal of winning over the female protagonist as much as possible.

I was thrilled.

I could openly enjoy the gossip for free.

Oh no, it was all for academic purposes.

We got to work immediately.

Brayden not only told me about the male supporting character's deeds but also filled out numerous questionnaires and even helped me draft the assignment outline.

However, he insisted on narrating in the third person.

No big deal, I was going to anonymize it anyway.

When it came to sensitive issues, many people would use "I have a friend who..." so there was nothing to nitpick about.

It was another day to accompany Brayden for practical exercises.

I cooperatively took the strawberry sundae from his hand.

He had done his homework, understanding girls' preferences in advance. He was teachable.

We chatted as we strolled.

"Why do you like her?"

Brayden glanced at me sideways. "She's adorably silly, and I'm just crazy about her."

See, even a male supporting character knew he was a bit off.

"Why don't you confess to her?" I asked, not missing a beat as I took a big bite of ice cream.

He chuckled. "I'm afraid she'll run away."

Hmm, that fit the image of the male supporting character's one-sided devotion.

"And how do you feel when she only has eyes for another man?"

"I'm about to explode, Leanna."

I advised him not to get too worked up.

"The male supporting character has his own unique charm. The female protagonist will gradually realize it."

He walked briskly.

I followed behind, muttering softly:

"Angry, angry, always like a gas tank.

"Don't you know that getting angry too often can be bad for your health?"

Watching horror movies was also an important part of our practice.

Brayden lowered his voice. "Aren't you scared?"

I pointed to the girl in the front row snuggling into her boyfriend.

"The textbook is fine. I'm just braver. Don't worry, this trick works."

In reality, my toes were curling up in fear.

As a mentor, how could I lose my dignity in front of my apprentice?

He squeezed over and grabbed my hand tightly.

"I'm scared."

The cinema was pitch dark, with screams echoing all around. The warmth of his body transmitted through our touching limbs.

My heart was pounding.

Good boy, he was learning to apply what he had learned. I was quite pleased as his mentor.

Sometimes, to gather intelligence, we would stake out the male and female protagonists together.

Seeing the protagonists being lovey-dovey in the tea garden, while the male supporting character beside me looked forlorn.

Being part of such classic scenes, I couldn't help but grin.

I patted the shoulder of the person next to me.

"Hey, let me tell you a secret.

"I've always liked the male supporting characters in novels, and I have high hopes for you too. Keep it up!"

Ignoring his reaction, I continued to immerse myself in the scene.

Wait!

Something felt off. He and she were getting closer in front of the haystack. This atmosphere...

"Don't look."

I covered Brayden's eyes. "It would hurt you too much."

I turned around, lost my balance, and fell right onto him.

A muffled groan sounded in my ear.

"I wasn't watching."

The setting sun cast a warm glow on his face. His skin looked so good.

Fair with a hint of blush, even the tiny hairs on his face were glistening.

His dark eyes were closed, eyelashes trembling slightly, and the mole at the corner of his eye was silently alluring.

He held me tightly around the waist.

I could even feel the faint outline of his eight-pack abs, as the intelligence had mentioned.

I struggled, and he groaned again.

His breath brushed against my cheek, making me feel ticklish.

"Leanna, don't move.

"They'll... they'll see us."