I Became Famous After I Became a Parrot in the Movie Star's House - Chapter 108

The air falls silent.

Steam from the hot porridge rises and drifts, slightly blurring Bai Gaoxing’s expression.

Li Pu’s hand still rests against the boy’s warm forehead, but the steam has heated his palm. He watches Bai Gaoxing, his fingers curling slightly—until, in the next moment, the boy moves away.

“No—I…” Bai Gaoxing’s voice carries a trace of bewilderment.

Bai Gaoxing quickly lowers his head, stirring the porridge with his spoon. “No, no, no! Just pretend I didn’t say anything!” he blurts out, his words hurried.

He scoops up a spoonful of porridge and puts it into his mouth. His expression immediately twists into a grimace.

Li Pu frowns. “Spit it out.”

But Bai Gaoxing doesn’t.

He takes a sharp breath and rushes straight to the kitchen, gulping down cold water before spitting it out. When he turns back, Li Pu is already holding his chin, prying his mouth open.

Li Pu’s frown deepens. From this angle, he can vaguely see Bai Gaoxing’s tongue, which has turned red from the burn, but he can’t clearly see his throat and doesn’t know if it has been burned.

But none of that compares to the regret Bai Gaoxing feels in his heart at this moment. He doesn’t know what possessed him to ask those questions just now. It makes him seem so irrational…

He sneaks a glance at Li Pu and finds the man staring intently at his mouth. Only then does he breathe a small sigh of relief.

But… what if Li Pu asks about it later?

Bai Gaoxing’s mouth begins to feel a little numb. He pushes Li Pu’s hand away in protest, planning to speak up and distract him, but then he hears a phone ringing from the table.

Perfect! Who’s calling at just the right moment?

Without hesitation, Bai Gaoxing snatches up the phone and dashes to the balcony, not noticing Li Pu’s gradually darkening gaze behind him.

Li Pu doesn’t understand why the young man asked such a question.

His eyes follow the boy’s figure in the distance. Sunlight falls on that soft, snowy-white hair, making it glisten as it sways slightly with Bai Gaoxing’s unconscious movements. The sight is almost blinding.

At first, he thinks he must have misheard.

It shouldn’t be up to him to tell Bai Gaoxing when to leave. The boy should be the one to tell him in advance.

And yet—he thought he was the one who should be asking that question.

He has wanted to speak countless times, but because Dabai always says he doesn’t know when he can return, he buries it deep in his heart.

But now…

Where did things go wrong?

Li Pu is a little confused. He carefully recalls the details of his interactions with Bai Gaoxing and can’t remember any moment when he might have given the impression that he wanted the young man to leave.

If anything, it’s the opposite.

He wants him to stay.

Not just temporarily, not in a way where he can come and go freely—he wants him to stay with him. Permanently.

At some point, he must have grown too used to Dabai’s presence.

Li Pu stands still, watching the strands of white flutter before his eyes, and finally admits it to himself—

He has selfish motives.

Meanwhile, Bai Gaoxing has already started talking with the person on the other end of the line.

It’s Lei Li.

“I try calling Li Pu just now, but he doesn’t pick up. I don’t know if he doesn’t hear it or if he mutes it again… I’ll just tell you directly,” her tone is calm, as if she is already used to chasing after unresponsive people.

Bai Gaoxing holds the phone. “Okay, what’s up?”

His tongue is still slightly numb, causing his words to slur a little. Lei Li catches on immediately.

“What’s wrong with your voice?”

Bai Gaoxing absentmindedly plucks at the dead leaves under the spider plant. “Burned it.”

…Really?

Lei Li is a little skeptical. Then, a memory surfaces—one that nearly leads to a misunderstanding. If she doesn’t know that Li Pu is always composed and self-disciplined, she might actually suspect him of doing something unspeakable to the young man.

Lei Li pauses before saying, “I saw the Xinghuo video you two shot today, and I also saw your response on Weibo. There are some important things we didn’t get to discuss last time. When will you two have time to come to the company?”

She doesn’t expect Li Pu to be so… stable? Even knowing Dabai has turned into a human, he still agrees to shoot short videos with him.

Lei Li recalls the first time she feels something is off about Li Pu—that vague phone call when he tells her, “It’s not me.”

Even though he later corrects himself, she can infer from that moment that the person who originally filmed the Xinghuo videos… might not have been Li Pu at all.

Has Li Pu known from the very start that Dabai isn’t just a simple parrot?

The thought is unsettling.

She is relieved that he doesn’t directly drag human-shaped Dabai into filming back then, but she can’t shake the worry—what if Li Pu really does it one day?

“By the way, is Li Pu not home?” she asks.

“He’s… here.”

Bai Gaoxing turns around reluctantly, catching sight of the man now seated at the dining table. His heart skips a beat.

“I’ll tell him later,” he adds.

“Okay,” Lei Li says, not noticing his hesitation. “Try to do it today. I’ll be waiting.”

The call ends.

Bai Gaoxing stands in the sunlight, feeling warm as the rays bathe him, though his stomach protests with hunger.

He wanders aimlessly on the balcony for a while, then finally walks back to the dining table.

By now, the porridge has cooled, a thin layer of rice oil forming on the surface. Bai Gaoxing sits down, picks up his spoon, and just as he is about to take a bite, Li Pu speaks.

“If you want to, you can stay here forever.”

Bai Gaoxing freezes.

He freezes for a moment, not expecting such a serious answer from the man. He looks up at him.

In those deep eyes, there is nothing but calm and quiet determination.

Bai Gaoxing stirs the porridge with his spoon again, and after a while, he gives a soft “Oh,” unable to stop himself from thinking that it might not be the case later.

But hearing Li Pu say that makes him happy.

Bai Gaoxing’s mood visibly lifts, and he doesn’t forget to blow on the porridge before eating. Just before finishing, he remembers to tell Li Pu about the phone call. “Lei Li wants us to go to the company.”

Just as he expects.

Li Pu isn’t surprised. After shooting the video with the young man, he has only just realized that Dabai is no longer just a parrot in the eyes of their manager. It will likely make her consider the influence of public opinion and think more carefully about many things.

Calling them over… is probably to remind them about how to respond to certain questions in public.

Li Pu looks at the young man in front of him, who seems visibly happier, and can’t help but show a softer expression.

Not long after, the two of them arrive at Star Entertainment.

Before getting out of the car, Bai Gaoxing takes out his glasses, glances at them, and puts them back.

“I don’t need to wear glasses and a mask, right?” He quickly glances at the company’s gate. “Anyway, the staff here are used to seeing stars and won’t randomly take photos. I don’t really need to maintain this image.”

The boy looks better without anything covering his face. His white eyelashes are striking, and when he gazes at him with those expectant eyes, it is difficult to refuse.

But the real reason comes next.

Bai Gaoxing tilts his head slightly, brushing his hair aside to reveal the back of his ears—bruised red.

“It still hurts a little. I’m not used to it yet.”

…Too delicate.

Li Pu feels something stir within him. Without a word, he reaches out and places the mask Bai Gaoxing has picked up into the storage compartment.

Then, the two walk into the company together.

They step inside, instantly drawing the attention of passersby—though most eyes are fixed on Bai Gaoxing.

After all, he is trending on Weibo.

Unlike his first, more mysterious appearance, this time, his snow-white hair and black eyes are fully exposed. He isn’t even wearing the glasses he had on when he first trended.

The onlookers stand frozen, watching them walk past.

After their figures disappear into the elevator, someone sighs, “I remember the day Brother Shu brought Dabai here.”

Li Pu and Bai Gaoxing can no longer hear such comments. They soon arrive at Lei Li’s office, where Mei Youshu and Lin Shi are already present.

It has been a while since they last met.

Bai Gaoxing looks at Lin Shi, whom he hasn’t seen in some time. Just as he is about to greet her, Mei Youshu coughs and takes the initiative to introduce, “This is Lin Shi, Brother Li’s temporary assistant.”

Oh, right. She’s a new member of Li Pu’s team now.

Bai Gaoxing smiles. “Hello.”

The black-haired girl stares at him blankly for a moment, then finally reacts. “Hello… You’re… White?”

Bai Gaoxing nods.

Lin Shi’s eyes flicker, and a faint blush appears on her face, as if she is trying to suppress her emotions. “Nice to meet you.”

Bai Gaoxing blinks. He can guess why she is surprised—after all, they have met before, and it has left a deep impression.

But that blush…

Bai Gaoxing, who hasn’t had much interaction with girls, also feels a bit uneasy, and a layer of awkward pink spreads across his face.

Lei Li looks at the scene, slightly amused. “Well, we’re all colleagues now, no need to be so shy.”

Mei Youshu leads Lin Shi out of the office, and Lei Li motions for Li Pu and Bai Gaoxing to sit down. She begins discussing the film’s schedule, upcoming plans, and arrangements for the trip to M Country.

Finally, they get to the issue of Weibo.

“I looked at the comments you replied to on Weibo. They were all things we discussed, but you still need to be cautious. You never know when something you say might contradict the information already out there.”

Netizens are sharp-eyed. If they can dig up things from years ago, they can surely magnify contradictory answers. Lei Li’s concern is exactly that—the more one says, the more mistakes they can make. That’s the part that needs to be handled carefully in the public eye.

Is she telling him to be extra cautious? Bai Gaoxing nods. His answers have been the truth, and he has specifically chosen things he has personally experienced.

But no worries—he is about to shoot a movie with Li Pu, so he’ll reply less going forward.

Seeing that the young man obediently agrees, Lei Li relaxes and turns to Li Pu. “Now, let’s talk about your work plans after the New Year.”

Just as they are about to dive into the serious discussion, Bai Gaoxing raises his hand. “Can I go out?” He doesn’t want to sit there any longer.

“Of course,” Lei Li replies. “Just don’t go too far, and be careful not to get lost. By the way, the cafeteria is on the sixth floor.”

“I remember!” Bai Gaoxing quickly slips out.

As the office door closes behind him, Lei Li lets out a helpless chuckle before turning back to Li Pu.

“Now that Dabai’s gone, I need to talk to you about Xinghuo.”

Li Pu looks up.

“First of all, don’t bring Dabai—human form Dabai—into Xinghuo’s appearances.”

“Of course not.”

“Also, don’t respond to those requests wanting to see Xiaobai in the same frame as Dabai.”

“Mm.”

Lei Li nods, choosing not to ask who posted the video. As long as she has Li Pu’s guarantee, she feels reassured.

But as they discuss the upcoming schedule, she notices something else.

Lei Li sighs deeply and closes her notebook. “Li Pu, have you noticed that you’re acting a little… off?”

She had noticed it the moment he walked in—he was completely distracted.

“Are you feeling unwell? Or is it because of Dabai?”

Lei Li’s keen observational skills are part of what makes her a great agent. There is no way she wouldn’t notice—because…

“You’ve been staring at him.”

In the quiet office, Li Pu lowers his gaze, lost in thought. After a long silence, he finally admits:

“I have been thinking about Dabai.”

Lei Li raises an eyebrow. What could possibly make Li Pu this distracted?

“What’s wrong with Dabai?” she asks, genuinely curious. “Tell me—maybe I can help.”

Li Pu frowns but quickly relaxes.

“I was thinking… what if Dabai leaves?”

“Wait.” Lei Li interrupts him. “Why do you think he’d leave?”

Li Pu doesn’t answer.

But Lei Li suddenly understands. Ever since the parrot turned into a human, there are things she might never fully grasp—things that can’t be explained to outsiders.

She thinks for a moment before asking, “Have you ever thought about him leaving before?”

“No,” Li Pu answers almost instantly. “I don’t want him to.”

Even he is taken aback by his own response.

When did he start thinking about keeping the young man by his side? No, it should be said that, from the moment Dabai was just a parrot, he never thought about them separating.

Perhaps it is just a habit formed over time, or maybe it is the only comfort he has when he struggles with his own emotions.

But now… things aren’t so simple anymore.

Lei Li listens carefully, considering his words.

Li Pu continues, “He’s not a parrot anymore.”

But he could suddenly leave one day…

Dabai’s home isn’t here, and surely, he doesn’t have any attachments to this place.

Not a parrot anymore—The way Lei Li hears it is different. If Dabai isn’t a parrot anymore, it means he won’t depend on his owner anymore—he will have his own life, and then… slowly drift farther apart from Li Pu.

Thinking about the almost intimate relationship they have now, even Lei Li, as an observer, feels a sense of regret.

Lei Li seems to understand something now.

“But it’s not like you’ll lose touch,” she reasons. “Even if you don’t live together in the future, you can always call each other and meet up when you have time.”

“No.”

Li Pu rejects her words without hesitation.

His rationality tells him it should be up to the young man to decide. He can’t and shouldn’t block him from going home, but…

“If he leaves… he might not come back.”

Lei Li sighs softly. How deeply involved has he become? How can he still act as if he doesn’t understand? She is watching it unfold right in front of her, yet she still feels like she isn’t fully grasping the situation.

Li Pu catches the expression on her face and instinctively tenses.

“Do you think I’m—”

Lei Li finishes his sentence. “In love with Dabai?”

Li Pu responds at the same time. “Too selfish?”

Li Pu: “?”