The School Bad Boy

After successfully winning over the school bad boy, I dropped all pretenses and started making his life a living hell. No skipping class for the arcade, he had to be at my beck and call, and he wasnt allowed to get mad at me. Despite all this, the progress bar above his head continued to steadily climb. I was convinced he was madly in love with me.

Until the system finally came back online a year later. I confidently showed it the bad boys progress bar.

The system stared at the bright red numbers above his head, silent for a long moment. Finally, it gritted out:

That, my friend, is the Annoyance Meter!

I immediately denied it. No way! Adrian is totally smitten with me!

The system winced. No mistake, thats the Annoyance Meter. The pink glow is for actual progress. Listen, it sighed, seeing my silence, its my fault. I was in a rush back then and accidentally left you with an Annoyance Meter.

Can I check his progress bar now? I asked, defeated.

The system apologized. The main system is down for now, so I cant display it. But with his Annoyance Meter so high, I doubt hes developed much affection for you. Host, what exactly have you been doing to annoy him so much?

Silence.

I slowly recalled my actions over the past year. When I was pursuing him, I played the sweet, innocent girl. The moment he agreed to be my boyfriend, I shed the act. No more pretending; I treated him like my personal errand boy. I hated his silver hair and forced him to dye it black. I forbade him from going to the arcade, making him accompany me to the library instead. If he showed even a hint of reluctance, Id throw a tantrum. A year of this. The school bad boy, who used to skip class daily for online gaming, had been transformed into the perfect, devoted boyfriend, seemingly by my hand. And the numbers above his head just kept climbing.

Only now did I realize. His love for me was fake. Adrians Annoyance Meter had long since maxed out. He probably regretted getting together with me from day one. He must have been plotting how to break up with this drama queen.

The system, equally exasperated, advised: Host, you need to rein in your temper. With a wild card like him, you need to go with the flow, lower his Annoyance Meter! Then, let him slowly fall for you, got it?!

Before I could nod, Adrians voice came from behind me. Daydreaming again?

I snapped back to reality and saw Adrian, his face unsmiling, packing my schoolbag. When I didnt react, he gave me a cold stare. What, didnt you say you wanted to go to the library?

Just then, his phone rang. Adrian answered, and I heard the voices of his friends on the other end. Adrian, arcade tonight? You seriously not coming?

Adrian, his black hair now neatly styled, looked annoyed. No, Im going to the library with my girlfriend.

His friends groaned. Adrian, youve really changed. Whats so great about a boring place like the library? The school bad boy, going to the library? People will laugh!

Adrian snorted at their words, lowering his gaze to me. If I dont go, and she gets mad, whos going to calm her down? He started to hang up.

Finally reacting, I quickly stopped him. Wait

Adrian held the phone, sounding exasperated. What now, Princess? Something else youre unhappy about?

I took my backpack from him. Taking a deep breath, I looked at him with genuine consideration. You dont have to come to the library with me. Go to the arcade and have fun.

Adrian finally paused.

He looked at me, surprised, which was rare. You sure?

I said naturally, Of course. Im meeting my friend, Cassie, at the library, and were having dinner afterward. You dont need to tag along.

Adrian lowered his eyes, studying my face intently. He seemed to be trying to discern if I genuinely wanted to hang out with Cassie or if I was being sarcastic. But my expression remained normal throughout.

Adrian asked again, So, Im going then?

I nodded. Yep, go on.

He finally let out a sigh of relief, sounding somewhat appreciative. We really should give each other some space. Alright, Ill find you after you two finish dinner.

I nodded obediently again.

That evening, after Cassie and I finished dinner, I instinctively reached for my phone to call him to pick me up. Then I remembered he was probably having a blast gaming. If I called and ruined his fun, wouldnt he just get more annoyed with me? After some thought, Cassie and I just hailed a cab back.

Back at the dorm, I hurried to take a shower. When I came out, my roommate called out, Summer, your boyfriends waiting for you downstairs. He seems pretty anxious.

I was a bit puzzled. Shouldnt he still be gaming at this hour? Adrian usually stayed at the arcade all night. I checked my phone and found Adrian had called me countless times. The last few messages read:

Answer your phone.

Why didnt you call me to pick you up after dinner?

Where are you now? Who brought you back? What are you doing?

Why arent you talking to me? Didnt you agree to me going to the arcade?

Silent treatment, huh? Fine, then neither of us will talk.

Fifteen minutes later, he sent another message.

Baby, come downstairs.

Reading the messages, I immediately pulled on my clothes and hurried downstairs, terrified of further misunderstanding and annoyance from Adrian.

Adrian stood under a streetlamp, staring at me expressionlessly. Before he could speak, I ran over to him, explaining, I was just in the shower, not ignoring you on purpose. Cassie and I just happened to come back together after dinner; I didnt want to bother you by making you come all this way to pick me up.

After delivering that thoughtful and obedient explanation, I eagerly looked at the numbers above his head. They hadnt decreased. He still seemed very annoyed with me.

Adrian listened to my explanation, offering no further comment. It was as if he hadnt been the one bombarding me with questions on his phone moments before. He simply handed me a small cake, raising an eyebrow. Alright, good, as long as youre not mad. Its cold out, dont catch a cold. Take the cake and go eat it inside.

If this were before, Id probably still be clinging to him, chattering on about nonsense, then forcing him to kiss me. As for why forcing he thought it looked bad in public. I once dragged him behind a tree, righteous in my demand: Whats so bad about it? Just kiss me quickly, one second is all it takes! Adrian would reluctantly peck my lips.

But now, I dared not cause a fuss. I obediently took the cake, intending to leave.

The next second, Adrian pulled me back. I turned, puzzled. He then quickly bent down and pressed a kiss to my lips. Seeing me stunned, he raised an eyebrow again. Whats wrong? Didnt you say you wanted a goodnight kiss?

I stammered for a few seconds, remembering the systems advice: go with his flow, no more forcing him. So, I shook my head. Seriously, I said, No, you dont have to anymore! Not ever!

I tried hard to agree with his past view: Its true, it doesnt look good in public.

Adrian stiffened at my words. His thin lips pressed into a straight line. He didnt speak for a long time. I waited nervously. Finally, I heard him say, his tone unusually flat, Oh. Alright. It doesnt matter if I dont kiss you.

Back in the dorm, I got ready and lay in bed. Normally at this hour, Id be on a long phone call with him, chatting about what happened at school today. Then I remembered Adrian had been really busy with a competition lately. After a long internal debate, I reluctantly decided not to call him. Instead, I picked out a few interesting things, typed them out concisely, and sent them to him.

Adrian was always a good listener. Without realizing it, I sent him a long string of messages again. He replied to each one, then suddenly asked, "Doesn't typing tire you out?"

I stared at the message, stunned.

Bingo!

Adrian still thought my messages were too much! He was subtly telling me to stop texting him. I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and replied meekly, "Okay, it is a little tiring."

He quickly showed "typing" on the other end. But I immediately sent my next message: "Then I'm going to bed now. Goodnight."

Adrian's "typing" disappeared.

After a long pause, he replied: "Alright."

For the next few days, I strictly followed the systems advice. No more making a fuss, no more constantly clinging to him. Instead, I indulged him in everything. I even suggested, Baby, dont you like dyeing your hair? You can dye it whatever color you like now.

Adrian looked surprised. But you dont like me with dyed hair?

I remembered what I had done before. I had made him dye his hair black, button his collar all the way up, and wear black-rimmed glasses. Id essentially transformed a school bad boy into a model student. While putting on his glasses, Id told him, This gentle, studious look is the coolest, dont you get it? Adrian didnt understand but complied.

But now, I told him, Ill love you no matter what color you dye your hair! Besides, with his face, he could pull off any hair color.

Adrian seemed quite pleased by my words. So, that very day, he went and dyed his hair rose gold. The black-rimmed glasses were gone too, fully revealing his striking features. His friends, seeing him, nodded in approval. Nice, nice, now thats more like a bad boy! Adrian, you should have ditched that good student look ages ago!

Unfortunately, despite my efforts, Adrians Annoyance Meter remained unchanged. The system consoled me, Its okay, Host. No increase is already a good sign. Lets keep trying!

Until one evening.

My mom called. Summer, your Aunt Mayas family is back from abroad. Come have dinner with them. Afraid I wouldnt remember, Mom reminded me, You know, the ones who lived next door when you were little. You used to always cling to their son and play with him.

I vaguely remembered. So I nodded and agreed to go. After telling Adrian, I went to the designated restaurant. My parents and Aunt Mayas family were still close, but it had been a long time since Id seen them, so it was a little awkward. Their son, Vance, seemed to have just returned from studying abroad this year. He didnt talk much, but his tone was very gentle when he spoke to me.

After dinner, I needed to head back to school for class the next day. Aunt Maya, hearing this, immediately said, Vance hasnt been drinking, so let him drive you back. Before I could say anything, Vance had already picked up his keys. Lets go. I had intended to call Adrian, but seeing this, I decided against it.

At school, since it was late, he drove me directly to the dorm building. As we were talking, Vance suddenly exclaimed, Summer, why is that person staring at you?

I followed his gaze. Adrian was leaning against a tree, staring intently at me. He walked towards me, step by step, his rose-gold hair striking. Adrians gaze slowly fell on Vance. Only then did I notice Vances attire: black hair, black-rimmed glasses, collar buttoned all the way up. Vance shielded me slightly, his tone gentle, Summer, who is this? He perfectly fit the image of the gentle, studious type.

Adrian didnt reply to Vance. He just stared at him for a long moment. Then, expressionlessly, he looked at me, his voice firm. When you made me dye my hair black, you already had a blueprint in mind, didnt you?

I didnt react for a moment. But the next second, I saw Adrians Annoyance Meter, after all this time, finally move. I watched in horror as it shot up another huge notch, almost maxing out.

The systems alarm blared in my head, making me momentarily deaf to his words. I instinctively asked, What blueprint?

Adrian let out a tsk at my bewildered expression.

And then his Annoyance Meter completely hit 99%.

He stared at me, his gaze heavy, and for the first time, he was truly fierce with me. I was startled by him, my mind a blank. I couldnt even begin to process what he had just said. When I finally came to, he had already sent Vance away. Only the two of us remained.

Adrian dragged me to a dark, secluded corner, using the tree trunk as cover, pinning me against the wall. Who was that person? Your childhood friend? A rare hint of mockery flickered across his usually cold face.

I didnt know what that had to do with Vance, so I answered honestly, Um we played together when we were little. He just came back from abroad recently.

Adrian gripped my wrist tightly, asking, What about me? What about me? He stared at me, enunciating each word. Summer, this past year, have you been treating me like a dog? Is that amusing?

Making me dye my hair black, wear glasses, changing me into someone else

Hearing his words, my heart sank even deeper into despair. No wonder the Annoyance Meter was rising. He was clearly bringing up old grievances. He must still resent me for bossing him around and controlling him all that time. But I had been trying my best to rein in my temper lately. What would it take for Adrian to forgive me?

After a long silence, he took a deep breath and calmly asked another question, Summer, when you first pursued me, who were you thinking about?

At his question, I felt a pang of guilt. Indeed, my initial motive for pursuing him wasnt pure. I just wanted to complete the mission and get the 30 million credit reward from the system. That was 30 million C my family couldnt earn that much in a lifetime. Even spending 30,000 a month, it would last over 80 years. Enough for my parents and me to live comfortably. So, when I first pursued him, all I thought about was the 30 million.

Logically, I should now say some sweet, coaxing words, lie and say he was the only one on my mind. But when I looked into his eyes, I couldnt bring myself to say it.

Adrian lowered his gaze to my silence, scoffing. What are you feeling guilty about? Hmm? With that, he leaned in and kissed me directly. It was less a kiss and more a bite, like a dog latching onto meat and not letting go. A year of dating, and he had been so indulgent with me that I almost forgot. Adrian was actually a mad dog.

I could barely breathe, sliding down the wall. Adrian briefly released me, pulling me back up. His voice was fierce and cold. Stand still. Then he kissed me again.

I had no choice but to wrap my arms around his neck, my fingertips clutching his striking hair, using it to steady myself. My lips ached from his biting, and I felt my temper rising, wanting to curse him. But then I saw the bright red Annoyance Meter above his head. I realized things were different now. I just had to tilt my head back and endure it.

It wasn't until Adrian tasted a hint of saltiness that he abruptly stopped. I ignored the tears on my face, mumbling softly, ...I wont control you anymore, okay?

He reached out and wiped my tears away, then scoffed. You think throwing out threats like that will make me calm down?

I was bewildered. When did I threaten you?

He ignored me, pulling my hand and walking out of school. Save your crying for later, baby.

That night, Adrian took me to his off-campus apartment. The room wasnt large, but it had everything. After helping me wash up, he leaned in and kissed me again. The Adrian who used to be considerate and accommodating in every way. Tonight, no matter how much I cried or pleaded, he didnt stop.

When everything was finally over, I was too exhausted to move. But then the system exclaimed excitedly in my mind, Host! Adrians Annoyance Meter dropped by 1%!

The system chirped, A 1% drop at a time! Doesnt that mean it will only take 97 more times to clear the Annoyance Meter?

Me: ?

Feeling the aches in my body, I replied ruthlessly to the system: At that rate, the Annoyance Meter wont be cleared, but your host will probably be dead.

Despite my words, I still stayed at Adrians apartment. Every little bit of a drop in the Annoyance Meter counted. So I became even more cautious, no longer checking up on him or bossing him around. Sometimes when he came back late, Id quickly say, thoughtfully, Its okay, darling, even if youre a little late.

I expected this to make him happy. Instead, Adrians face grew even darker. His actions became more intense each night. I was on the verge of tears, not knowing what I had done to upset him again.