I Got Cast as the Devoted Second Male Lead

[Blurb] Xu Shenqing is the devoted male supporting character in a novel. He is handsome, gets excellent grades, and is good at cooking, playing sports, and being everyone’s nice guy. In the mornings, he even rides his bike to buy his roommate three buns for two yuan each from the stall outside the school gate. But he also has to serve as the seasoning between the novel’s male lead and his love interest: offering the love interest an umbrella when he gets soaked in a storm, comforting him when he’s sad, and eventually getting rejected by him, as though that’s only natural. It’s all very formulaic, but Xu Shenqing has no other choice. In this bustling world of romance, he plays the nameless passerby, occasionally feeling tired of it all. Playing the devoted supporting character every day isn’t easy, but that’s all right. He still has a buddy. His buddy is handsome, rich, cool, good at everything, and fiercely loyal. When Xu Shenqing offers the love interest an umbrella, his buddy holds one over him to keep off the rain, then pats his shoulder and shares half his popsicle. When Xu Shenqing is dejected after being rejected (he’s acting), his buddy lets out a loud sigh, then takes him to the French restaurant outside the school gates, as if he truly feels sorry for him. When Xu Shenqing tosses and turns over a text message (really, he drank too much Luckin and can’t sleep), his buddy quietly drinks with him. The evening breeze seems to make his good friend’s eyes look just as sad. Xu Shenqing has often thought that having Wei Jin as his buddy is all he needs in this life. Until one day, Xu Shenqing is finally about to finish his exhausting, repetitive role as the male supporting character. He pretends to be heartbroken over a breakup, then drinks himself into a stupor. He’s almost drunk. The alcohol is so fragrant, the evening breeze so cool, but Wei Jin’s body is frighteningly warm, and his grip on Xu Shenqing’s shoulder is tight. His smile is carefree, but plainly forced: “Hey, could you maybe consider me?” Xu Shenqing can’t help it. He nearly chokes on his drink. Reader’s Guide: ① “There’s someone in this world who lives in your bright, carefree youth” One-on-one romance, happy ending, they only have eyes for each other. Please don’t read if you’re possessive about pairings. ② The premise is as described in the blurb, so please accept it before clicking in. The love interest and the original novel’s receiver have no intimate interactions, and he never falls for him. The original novel’s leads are a couple. Contains a small amount of System elements. ③ More to come if I think of anything. ★ My next book should be I Thought the CEO Was Forcing Me Into a Relationship Fake-straight, seemingly taciturn and aloof but actually calculating top x a slightly unhinged (?) bottom who thinks he’s a straight man being forced into a relationship Theme: Flowers bloom again, but people are never young twice.