Trapped By His Affection

Chapter 1

I urgently needed a "sidekick" to finish my final project.

Who would have thought that I'd witness the classic scene of two guys fighting over a girl?

I took a bold step forward and stopped one of the men.

"Hey, I can help you become the sidekick! You can be my research material!"

Seeing that he was unmoved, I bit my lip and sweetened the deal.

"I'll teach you everything, guarantee your success, and I'll be there for you every step of the way."

Later, he cornered me in a booth at the bar, his eyes rimmed with tears, whispering pitifully, "Leanna, where's the after-care service you promised?"

~

"Bro, you and Corynn are not a good match, understand? I've known Corynn since we were kids. No one knows her better than I do."

I hid around the corner of the stairs, peeking at the confrontation below.

I understood the situation: the childhood sweetheart couldn't compete with the sudden appearance of the male protagonist.

At this moment, the male protagonist was pinned against the wall, his face bruised, yet he stubbornly retorted, "We're already together."

I clung to the railing, glancing at the childhood sweetheart who was indeed rolling up his sleeves.

I quickly ducked back, catching my breath.

Luck was finally on my side.

This semester, I was taking a specialized course called Introduction to Film and Literature.

For my final project, I decided to study the male supporting character in real life.

Literature mirrors reality, so I planned to compare a real-life male supporting character with one from a fictional work.

I wanted to impress my professor and boost my GPA.

But finding the perfect research material was tough. After all, who would run around with "I'm the male supporting character" written on their forehead?

My project progress had come to a standstill.

"You wish!"

Downstairs, the childhood sweetheart grabbed the male protagonist by the collar, his forearm muscles tensed.

His raised fist signaled he was ready to strike.

From my years of reading novels, I could predict how the story would unfold.

After the childhood sweetheart beat up the male protagonist, the female protagonist would feel sorry for the male protagonist and gradually distance herself from the childhood sweetheart.

The childhood sweetheart would convince himself that he had known the female protagonist the longest, and everyone else was just a fleeting presence.

When the female protagonist questioned him, he couldn't express his true feelings. He would suppress himself, drinking alone in a corner, crying his heart out, and silently licking his wounds.

He would then reappear before the female protagonist with his broken self. Not only would he apologize to the male protagonist, but he would also look after the occasionally heartbroken female protagonist.

At her wedding, he would only hear, "You are truly my best friend."

He would remain unmarried for life, and on his deathbed, his only wish would be for the female protagonist's happiness.

Oh, novels coming to life!

My project was saved.

I, Leanna, was indeed the luckiest girl in the world.

Before the situation escalated further, I stood up with a flutter.

First, I pretended to shout upstairs, "No need to see me off, Professor. I'm leaving now."

Then, like a clumsy penguin, I heavily alternated my feet on the stairs.

The clattering noise was impossible to ignore.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the male protagonist, who had been slumped against the wall, suddenly dash away.

It wasn't that serious; he could have taken a few more punches.

I forgot to mention, I've always been a fan of the childhood sweetheart.

It was also because of my preference for the childhood sweetheart that I chose this project direction.

The childhood sweetheart was still in place.

He was rotating his wrist, which seemed to be scratched, with spots of blood looking quite messy.

And with his other hand, he was leisurely picking up his backpack, ready to leave.

I jogged over, "Hey, um..."

He turned around.

Wow, he looks just like the perfect childhood sweetheart!

I saw his defined collarbones and muscle lines, subtly disappearing into the skewed neckline of his sweatshirt.

His disheveled hair had been casually swept back, showcasing his well-matched features.

His exquisite and heroic tear-filled eyes still held a trace of anger at the corners, but his pupils were filled with deep affection.

"Yes?"

I quickly snapped back to reality.

It felt like a flashback to the freshman representative speech years ago, and I said confidently:

"Hey, I need your help."

Chapter 2

"You think I'm the male supporting character?"

He couldn't see the big picture at all.

I understood completely.

The male supporting character in real life walked briskly ahead of me, making me jog to keep up, babbling explanations all the way. He didn't even slow down, as if he was escaping from a persistent salesperson.

"You've got the wrong person. I can't help."

True to his persona, the male supporting character showed affection only for the female protagonist. To everyone else, such devotion was just wishful thinking.

I quickly grabbed the strap of his backpack. "I'm willing to pay."

He staggered to a halt and turned to face me, frustration evident in his eyes.

Before he could rant, I made a shushing gesture. "Let me speak first."

"Look, I'm not insulting you with money. Your help should be compensated, and I believe in paying for valuable assistance."

Honestly, the assignment was important, but more than that, the idea of watching them play out their roles anywhere, anytime, thrilled me.

He suddenly leaned in close, his presence overwhelming me like a giant towering over a tiny doll. His eyes narrowed as he looked intently at me. "Go on."

I hesitated, then tentatively offered a price. "Three hundred?"

It was like paying for a reasonable concert ticket.

He remained unmoved.

"Five hundred?"

My voice grew smaller. "A thousand, tops."

That was enough to get me into the front row of a concert. Would that satisfy him?

He laughed softly, shaking his head as if he found the whole situation amusing. "Haha."

Rubbing his temples, he asked, "Hey, are you alright up here?"

Was he insulting me?

I took a step forward, hands on my hips, defiantly. "I'm perfectly fine, thank you very much. I even get scholarships every year!"

What does it feel like to be betrayed by your favorite character? Sigh, fictional characters are truly the best.

He didn't seem to care about my angry outburst.

"Oh, remember to download a scam alert app. You seem like a prime target for scams."

Ouch, that was a double blow.

But he didn't get to gloat for long; his phone rang. Judging by the conversation, it was the female protagonist, Corynn, asking him not to get involved anymore. He quickly ended the call, ready to find Corynn.

"You owe me your name at least, considering the band-aid."

He glanced at the band-aid on his hand. When I first stopped him, I had stuffed disinfectant wipes and band-aids from my bag into his hands.

Even the male supporting character couldn't refuse a favor.

"Brayden. Brayden, as in cautious."

Just as I guessed. I had vaguely heard someone call him Linjin before, and now I could confirm his full name.

He had no idea he was attaching himself to a stubborn problem.

The male supporting character, huh? He's all about pure love. He didn't care about anyone else and wouldn't be swayed by external things.

So, I decided to change my strategy. I'd hang around him every day, become his confidant, and see who would conquer whom when he finally broke down.

Brayden was really in a hurry. In no time, he was far ahead. I shouted from a distance, "Brayden, think about my proposal!"

Under the blue sky and white clouds, he waved back, leaving only his silhouette.

The wind carried his faint reply, "Next time, for sure."

Kid, do you know what it means to predict the future?

With his full name known and carrying a textbook only for juniors, and a shoulder bag printed with the name of his college, I didn't even need to go through Six Degrees of Separation.

Finding him? It wouldn't have to wait until next time!

Chapter 3

Through my bestie's boyfriend's roommate, I managed to get hold of Brayden's class schedule, and even more...

"Leanna, have you finally found someone you're interested in?"

My bestie teased me incessantly, playfully waving her hands around.

"He's for my assignment-or rather, I need him for my assignment. It's complicated."

"Starting with role play, huh? You little minx, living the high life!"

She put down her phone, blocking my view with her hand, her face beaming with a knowing smile.

"No need to explain, my dear. Just check your messages."

Our chat history was already scandalous enough, and it just got worse.

Besides Brayden's class schedule, I also got his grades from last semester, the location of his dorm, his height, and... a bunch of other random stuff.

My bestie rested her chin on her hands, batting her eyes at me. "My beautiful baby, getting him will be a piece of cake."

Actually, it wasn't that easy.

Most of the time, I hid in the shadows, sneaking around, freeloading and eavesdropping on gossip.

The female protagonist and the male protagonist had a quarrel, and Brayden patiently listened to her complaints in a café.

The female protagonist went shopping for clothes, and the two men secretly tried on new outfits, competing to see who looked better.

The female protagonist and the male protagonist went to an amusement park, and Brayden tagged along like a third wheel, his brows furrowed so tightly he could crush a fly.

The list goes on.

Brayden, as the male supporting character, truly had a heart of gold.

In just a few days, he not only made peace with the male protagonist but also managed to hang out with the female protagonist as a trio. I couldn't help but admire him.

He also indirectly confirmed my assignment's description of the male supporting character's traits.

I could never find the right moment to make a grand entrance.

But Brayden came to me on his own.

That day, Corynn arrived late and sat at the same table with the two of them.

She looked at the two meals in front of her, delighted and caught in a sweet dilemma.

I hadn't gotten my meal yet, still busy replying to messages in the class group chat.

"Here you go."

I looked up to see a tray with three dishes and a soup.

And there was Corynn, sitting across from the male protagonist.

Oh, so Brayden's meal had been rejected too.

He must have been so embarrassed, looking around until he spotted me as his lifeline.

Brayden sat down naturally, even shifting his body to let me greet the gossiping male and female protagonists.

"I told them you're my friend. Eat up."

A smart girl knows how to seize opportunities.

I opened my WeChat QR code and silently pushed it over. "Friend, let's add each other on WeChat."

"Alright, Leanna."

"You're so smart, using your real name as your WeChat ID. Mine is just Leanna."

He didn't continue the conversation, just focused on his meal.

No worries, a small step today means a big leap tomorrow.

Using the "friend" label, I repeatedly showed my goodwill.

Running laps with him on the track, helping print materials, sending warm goodnight messages... all basic operations.

In any case, I tried to become a familiar face, working hard to become a true friend.

One day, I went to the basketball court to bring him water again.

"Leanna, if this is all for some male supporting character research, you don't have to go this far."

I pretended to be angry. "I swear to the heavens and the earth, I really don't have those kinds of thoughts."

I silently prayed: Dear heavens, help me out here.

"I just feel we have a connection and want to be good friends with you."

Brayden drank water and casually said, "What, do you want to pursue me?"

Our words clashed in the air, shattering into pieces.

Brayden choked on his water, coughing uncontrollably.

I wanted to pat his back but decided against it, so I fanned him instead.

"No, no, I really don't have any improper thoughts."

Who would dare to covet the female lead's devoted admirer? The male supporting character only had eyes for the female protagonist.

It took a lot of effort to get this close; I didn't want to be chased away like a butterfly.

His face turned red from coughing.

Before he could leave, I quickly added:

"Not a bit, not a smidge, not at all. Please don't misunderstand."

The empty water bottle was casually tossed into the trash can, and the ball bounced louder in the second half.

See, after getting the answer he wanted, he played with more energy.