Chapter 4

I then crawled back into the bed, shivering.

Zac did not leave. Instead, he stayed by the bed, gently patting my quilt with his fingers and telling me not to be afraid.

It was just like now.

I pondered and suddenly realized that the culprit behind this sudden thunderstorm was none other than him! I quickly smacked Zac's hand away and got up, backing a few steps away from him. "Don't think I was helping you because of that!"

Zac was still squatting on the ground, looking up at me. "I know."

Huh? He knew? I was a bit confused but still insisted on finishing the cruel lines of the villainous supporting actress.

"I drove those people away, not because I wanted to help you. It's because... because only I can bully you!"

Although I stumbled halfway through, I was sure my tone was harsh and my expression fierce.

Zac did not get angry. Instead, he smiled and echoed me, "Yep, only you can bully me."

I was even more confused. His reaction was a bit off.

Before I could think, I was caught off guard by large raindrops. The sky, which had been clear just moments before, suddenly turned into a torrential downpour. The rain was heavy, and I frantically raised my hands to shield my head.

At the same time, Zac stood up, took off his school uniform jacket, and held it over my head.

The boy stood in front of me, using his jacket to shield me from the rain. He was so close to me that it felt like he was hugging me. I could even smell the refreshing scent of his shower gel.

His hair was soaked, raindrops clinging to his long eyelashes. In the heavy rain, his dark puppy-dog eyes looked even more glassy and innocent than usual.

I stared blankly at him, feeling my heart pounding faster in the drizzling rain.

After being drenched in the rain, Zac and I both fell ill.

Perhaps it was punishment for helping Zac. Although Zac was injured and caught in the rain, I became much sicker than him, nearly dying again and remaining unconscious for over a month. It terrified my parents.

When I opened my eyes, the world had changed. No, Zac had changed. A small green bar appeared above Zac's head—like the HP bar in a game, with the number 50 next to it.

I rubbed my eyes, making sure I was not seeing things. What was this? A new setting?

"You're awake?" Zac noticed I was awake and quickly moved closer, placing his hand on my forehead.

Then, he added as if he was relieved, "Finally, the fever's gone down."

My attention was entirely on the small green bar above his head. After thinking for a moment, I raised my hand and touched his face gently.

Zac froze, too afraid to move. Only his eyes widened slightly as his ears reddened.

"N-Nova?" The little green bar above his head went from 50 to 60, and an out-of-character warning suddenly popped into my mind.

I quickly pinched his cheek, fiercely ordering him, "Who permitted you to call me by my name? Call me 'Ms. Vettel!'"

Perhaps hurt by my pinch, Zac immediately changed his tune, obediently calling me 'Ms. Vettel.'

The alarm in my head went off, and the number above his head dropped from 60 to 55.

I suddenly understood.

That little green bar was probably related to his mood and changed according to it! As long as I lowered Zac's mood bar, it would count as bullying him and I could keep my villainess persona intact.

I got it! I had mastered the rules of this world!

With Zac's mood bar as a loophole, I could stop being harsh to him all the time. As long as I ruined his mood before the out-of-character warning went off, I could avoid the punishment.