Bug Abuse? I Swear I'm Just Playing Normally!
Ch. 20 - New Bug Skill – The Sunflower from Plants vs. Zombies

[Sunflower That Absorbs Sunlight]

Description: Summons a cute sunflower. During the daytime, the sunflower will continuously absorb sunlight. Once it accumulates enough, it has a chance to summon plants to protect the player in times of danger. The more sunlight it gathers, the higher the probability and the greater the variety of summoned plants.

"A sunflower this time?" Bai Wan couldn't help thinking back to a fond childhood memory.

When he was young, Bai Wan went through a phase of obsession with Plants vs. Zombies. After staying up all night playing, he awoke in the morning to find an adorable little sunflower on his windowsill, smiling at him.

It was a happy time. His parents were often away with work, and during those lonely hours, that sunflower had been his warmest companion.

But a week later, Bai Wan got lazy and forgot to water it. The sunflower withered.

Looking at the newly unlocked skill now, Bai Wan nodded in satisfaction. It was a solid defensive ability, and most importantly, it didn’t consume any Paranormal Coins. That was the true edge of his bug-based abilities.

After learning the new skill, Bai Wan used the skill point he earned from clearing the dungeon to upgrade his Mario Sewer skill.

[Ding! Congratulations. Your skill: Mario's Gold Coin House has been upgraded to Level 2.]

[Mario's Gold Coin House]

Description: Allows the player to enter Mario's coin vault through any sewer within the dungeon. Usable once per dungeon.

Current Level 2 Effect: Coin vault now includes Mario Coins and a Mushroom Vending Machine. (Upgradeable)

Bai Wan was excited about the in-sewer Mario Coins and vending machine. He was even more curious what the sewers would evolve into if he kept leveling the skill. Would it eventually become a full game world of its own?

With the skills sorted, Bai Wan opened the files Liu Tong had sent over.

They were part of the special contract documentation. The terms were simple: a cooperative model. The Special Affairs Bureau would issue missions, which he could choose to accept or ignore.

If he completed one, he would be rewarded. If not, there'd be no penalty. In all, it was a very free arrangement.

The folder also included basic intel on the Paranormal Game and the Bureau itself.

As he skimmed through the documents, a sudden pang struck his chest.

A red message appeared before his eyes:

[Paranormal Game Release Notice]

Urban Legend: The Letter

Game starts in: 72:00:00

Bai Wan's expression darkened.

Already?! He had barely cleared the last dungeon and now had only three days until the next?

Wasn’t the usual rest period between games one to two weeks?

Staring at the name “The Letter,” Bai Wan felt certain the system was targeting him again.

Well, fine. Since it’s coming, might as well face it head on.

He checked Bai Xi's notifications. As expected, she had been assigned to the same urban legend.

Just then, a message from Liu Tong appeared on the screen: So, Bai Wan, have you thought it over yet?

Bai Wan picked up his phone and replied: [Sure. The special contract model works for me.]

It was a no-brainer. No obligations, no forced assignments. Just rewards for completed work. As a newcomer with very little knowledge of the Paranormal Game, he needed the Bureau more than ever.

The other side responded cheerfully: [Great. Then tomorrow at 9:30 AM, we’ll meet at our Bureau office to sign the contract. That okay?]

Bai Wan replied, “Can we make it later? Got something in the morning.”

[Oh right, I almost forgot. Tomorrow morning is Lan City’s ten-year anniversary celebration. You planning to attend?]

[Nope. I’m planning to sleep in.]

[...]

And so, they settled on meeting at 1:30 PM the next afternoon.

Back in the photo frame, Bai Wan’s family started arguing again.

"Grandson, grab Grandpa a pack of smokes."

"Son, bring Dad a bottle of liquor. We need to celebrate clearing the dungeon."

"No smoking! No drinking! Denied! Honestly, you two—always thinking about smoking and booze. Have you ever thought about looking after this family?" snapped Zhang Yanfang, Bai Wan’s mother, giving the two men a thoroughly disgusted look.

His father muttered, "I didn’t even drink during the last dungeon..."

"Endure it! At least wait until the next dungeon! And Dad, how many times have I told you to cut down on cigarettes?!"

"I haven’t even had time for a spa day! I slave away for this family day in and day out..."

And just like that, Zhang Yanfang launched into a full tirade. Bai Wan's father and grandfather exchanged glances of pure terror. A menopausal woman was a force to be feared, they didn’t dare talk back.

Meanwhile, Bai Wan stretched lazily and watched the chaos unfold with mild amusement.

"Bro, I think I can only stay in the real world for about an hour," Bai Xi said. Ever since leaving the portrait, her form had been growing increasingly faint. Eventually, she had to return.

Resigned, she scooped a bowl of cat food and disappeared back into the photo. And just like that, Bai Wan was alone again. 

He lay down on his bed, feeling a wave of fatigue. Fresh out of a dungeon, his body was worn thin from lack of sleep.

Though he usually acted carefree, he still carried the pain of seeing his family reduced to paper. Now, at last, there was a sliver of hope in the Paranormal Game.

He sank into bed, fully relaxed, and soon drifted off.

……

Lan City Special Affairs Bureau Command Room

"Is everything ready?" asked Zhou Lu, sounding upbeat.

"Boss, I got the whole building cleaned top to bottom by the janitor and stocked the office with snacks myself. We’re guaranteed to leave a good impression on Bai Wan!" said Wang Meng from the logistics department, brimming with confidence.

"I gathered every single document we have on the Paranormal Game and stacked them in the office. Once he starts reading, he’ll be buried in research for months. He won’t be able to leave even if he wanted to," said the scrawny, bespectacled Li Yintian, grinning sinisterly.

Their plan was simple: trap the newcomer in the office, win his trust over time, and make sure he joined their team.

Zhou Lu nodded in satisfaction. "Good. No matter what, we need to keep Bai Wan."

Lan City was a small city, with few players. Those willing to join the official Bureau were even fewer.

Someone like Bai Wan, a top-tier rookie, only popped up in big cities, where the player base was massive. To debut directly in the top 50 of the bounty list? That was downright outrageous.

Zhou Lu glanced toward Su Yuening and smiled.

"Ning Ning, how are your preparations coming? Did you watch the video? Learned how to do the hair flip? And what are you still doing in those clothes? Didn’t I tell you to wear stockings today? The black ones."

Su Yuening blushed, clearly embarrassed. "Captain, maybe we should just drop it... I’m really not good at this stuff."

"C’mon, what’s there to be shy about? You’re the face of our whole department. Guys his age? Stockings, a JK uniform, and long legs are all it takes to win them over. Trust me, you’ll have him wrapped around your finger."

Su Yuening wanted to cry. Yesterday, her captain had gone off the rails and demanded she seduce the newcomer. This was absurd.

Zhou Lu sighed and rested a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Ning Ning, do you remember the oath you swore when you joined us?"

"Of course. I never forgot."

She recited solemnly, "I, Su Yuening, volunteer to join the Lan City Special Affairs Bureau. I hereby swear to fight against the paranormal, to dedicate myself to humanity’s happiness, even at the cost of my life."

"Well said."

Zhou Lu nodded approvingly. "Then now is your chance to serve humanity, Ning Ning. Go put on the stockings!"

Su Yuening: "..."

Liu Tong couldn’t take it anymore. "Captain, if Ning Ning doesn’t want to do it, we shouldn’t force her. There are other ways to win Bai Wan over, right guys?"

"Well... it’s not that I disagree, but if it’s for humanity..." Wang Meng trailed off, clearly conflicted.

"It really depends on Ning Ning’s feelings," Li Yintian mumbled. "If she’s uncomfortable, then no. But if she’s okay with it, then seducing Bai Wan for the greater good isn’t so bad... it’s still for humanity."

Liu Tong stared at them. Something felt off. He glanced at the two men—both were avoiding his gaze, faces slightly flushed, eyes gleaming with... expectation?

"...Hey! You two just wanna see her in stockings, don’t you?!"

"H-Hey! That’s slander!"

"Exactly! Watch it, Liu Tong, or I’ll sue for defamation!"

Their panicked reactions were all the proof needed.

Liu Tong could only sigh, his expression went dark.

These perverts...

"Fine, I’ll go!" Su Yuening declared at last, bolting for the lounge with determination.

Wearing stockings was embarrassing, yes, but if it were truly for the sake of humanity...

Her eyes glinted with resolve.

……

Elsewhere.

At exactly 12:30 PM, Bai Wan lazily rolled out of bed, stared into space for a bit, then casually scrolled through his phone.

The top trending news in his browser was about a once-in-a-century meteor shower approaching Earth.

“A meteor shower, huh? If I could make a wish, I’d ask for my family to return to normal… and for me to go back to normal too.” Bai Wan stretched with a yawn, indulging in some impractical daydreaming.

After a quick wash-up, he hailed a ride to the agreed meeting spot.

It was a grand, imposing building. He had always assumed it was the headquarters of some large corporation, but to his surprise, this was actually the hidden base of Lan City’s Special Affairs Bureau.

Outside stood five people—four men and one woman—clearly waiting to welcome him. The man in front looked around forty, with a friendly and honest face.

Bai Wan approached.

“Ah, you must be Bai Wan! Such a fine young man!” greeted Zhou Lu enthusiastically.

“Hello, sir,” Bai Wan replied with equal warmth.

“Let me introduce our team. This is Wang Meng from logistics, and Li Yintian from records,” Zhou Lu said with a smile.

Bai Wan glanced at the two. Wang Meng was impressively muscular, an absolute unit—hard to believe he worked in logistics. If he joined a weightlifting competition, he could probably represent the nation.

The other, Li Yintian, was small and wiry with glasses, looking sharp and shrewd.

“Nice to meet you,” Bai Wan greeted politely.

“And this one you know already—Liu Tong.”

Bai Wan nodded. Liu Tong’s stern expression was recognizable even from a distance.

“And finally, this is the pride of our Lan City bureau, our visual ace—Sue Yuening,” Zhou Lu said with a grin.

Bai Wan looked at the girl standing out from the group.

Pale skin like polished jade. A face so fair it was almost translucent. Her eyes sparkled like autumn waters, and her waist-length white hair fluttered gently in the wind.

She wore a blue and white plaid JK uniform today, with sheer black thigh-high stockings clinging just tight enough to her skin. Between skirt and stocking, a strip of snow-white thigh peeked out, smooth and flawless. The uniform’s slim waistline flared out into the perfect curve of her hips. Her legs were long, straight, and striking.

And that white hair—she looked like an anime character came to life.

“Hello,” Bai Wan said warmly.

“Hi, Bai Wan.” Sue Yuening smiled slightly, her eyes filled with curiosity as she studied the laid-back young man before her.

So this is the mysterious rookie codenamed “Family”?

He seems so… normal. Like one of those homebody types. He should be easy to handle. 

All for the sake of humanity!

“Come, let me show you around HQ, and your office too,” Zhou Lu said cheerfully.

“I get an office even as a temp?” Bai Wan asked, surprised.

“Of course! Even temporary staff are part of our family. You can come by and hang out anytime you like. No obligations.” Zhou Lu chuckled.

Naturally, that wasn’t the full truth. Temporary hires usually didn’t get workstations. Bai Wan’s office had been arranged specially, all part of the plan to rope him in.

Zhou Lu led Bai Wan into HQ. The interior was elegant and thoughtfully designed. It looked very high-end.

“All our interior design was done with psychological principles in mind. It’s supposed to put people at ease,” Zhou Lu said, noticing Bai Wan’s impressed expression.

Good. He’s showing interest. Now to push a little more.

He gave the rest of the team a glance, silently urging them to present the best image of Lan City.

Everyone nodded. As they walked and chatted toward the training hall—

“Wow, the hall is massive,” Bai Wan exclaimed. It was wide and well-equipped, with a lot of very expensive-looking gear.

“Of course. You can’t hunt paranormals without a good physique. This environment, paired with personalized training programs, ensures everyone here’s in peak condition to hunt—”

“Shit!”

There was a sudden yelp. At the entrance, Li Yintian missed the threshold and stumbled forward.

Bang!

He crashed face-first into the floor.

Zhou Lu froze, his words caught in his throat.

He’d just been bragging about how energetic and refined they all were…and now one of them faceplanted?

Zhou Lu stared daggers at Li Yintian. 

Idiot! Always screwing up at crucial moments.

Forcing a smile, he tried to salvage the mood. “Haha, there’s a bit of a step here. Careful not to trip, Little Bro—”

“Shit!”

Bang!

Before he could finish, another voice cried out. Wang Meng had tripped too—his foot catching on the same step—and fell right on top of Li Yintian.

Zhou Lu: “…”

What the hell?! Are they playing dominoes?!

His eyes were wide. 

What the hell’s going on today? One person tripping is clumsy. But two?

Even Bai Wan was starting to feel awkward. Maybe I jinxed them?

“Captain…” Bai Wan started to say, just as Zhou Lu marched over, fuming.

“You two useless lumps! Can’t even walk properly? What did we even train you for?! You—”

“Shit!”

Bang!

Zhou Lu’s own foot snagged on the step, and down he went.

Bai Wan: “…”

Liu Tong: “…”

Zhou Lu: “…”

The three “official Para-Hunters” were now tangled in a heap, groaning on the floor.

Sue Yuening paused at the threshold. Her foot, which had started to lift, slowly retracted.

She didn’t know why, but something was telling her…if she stepped over that threshold, she’d trip too.

Could this be… a rules-type paranormal anomaly?

It took several seconds for the three men to get up again, each wearing a deeply embarrassed expression.

What just happened? They could’ve sworn they cleared the step. Why did they fall?

Had to be supernatural. Must be.

“Little Bro, let’s check out your office,” Zhou Lu said with forced calm, rubbing his sore backside.

“S-Sure…” Bai Wan followed, feeling a bit guilty.

They took the elevator up.

“Whoa, that’s a lot of material…” Bai Wan was stunned by the stack of paranormal documentation on his desk. It’d probably take months to get through all of it.

As he started flipping through the files, Zhou Lu shot a glance at Sue Yuening.

This intro went terribly. Time to recover the momentum.

Yuening, it’s your turn!

With resolute eyes, Sue Yuening nodded, picked up the kettle, and poured a cup of water.

Okay…

She took a deep breath and adjusted the sheer black stockings on her legs.

This is for the good of humanity.

And then she started walking toward Bai Wan.