I Became Famous After I Became a Parrot in the Movie Star's House - Chapter 40

“Don’t let those two make another trip; just send it to me directly from your computer or phone.”

Sure enough, not long after, Lei Li calls to ask about the camera that the two forget. After learning that it is left behind, she requests the material inside.

Li Pu is a bit surprised that Mei Youshu, who is usually reliable at work, has suddenly left the equipment behind this time. He wonders what has been recorded…

Li Pu picks up the camera and ponders for a moment. He becomes curious about what Dabai does when left alone at home or when facing strangers.

With that thought, he connects the camera to his laptop.

The video begins playing automatically.

Initially, it is a normal recording. The narration is clear, and the new assistant’s hands are steady; the picture doesn’t shake much. The lighting and angles are well done, clearly indicating that he has prepared in advance.

In the footage, the snow-white parrot displays all sorts of cute antics, shaking its head and making Li Pu smile.

Then—

“Bugs! So many bugs, so disgusting! So many bugs! So disgusting! So many bugs! So disgusting! So disgusting!”

“Wait! Don’t come over here!”

“Put down Dabai!”

“Stop!”

The picture shakes wildly and freezes on Mei Youshu’s face, which looks like “The Scream” painting. Li Pu falls silent, holding the camera for a long time without moving.

After a while, he turns to glance at the big parrot, which is peeking at him, and sighs.

On Li Pu’s face, Bai Gaoxing can read the five words: I’m glad you’re okay.

Who would have thought that such an “accident” would occur, and that it would ultimately be resolved by an innocent parrot?

Bai Gaoxing immediately puffs up his chest, walks up to Li Pu, and asks for some praise, “Eat melon seeds!”

He then pulls out two melon seeds from his pocket and hands them to Bai Gaoxing, giving his head a gentle pat.

Two… okay.

Bai Gaoxing habitually rubs Li Pu’s palm and cracks the melon seeds open in a minute.

Soon, Li Pu sends the video to Lei Li. Half an hour after sending it, there is activity in Li Pu’s team chat group.

New member @Lin Shi has been added to the group chat by the group owner @Lei Li.

At that moment, Lei Li sits in her office, holding her phone, laughing so hard she can barely breathe.

“Sister Li…” Mei Youshu says helplessly and shamefully, “The entire floor is filled with your voice.”

Lei Li takes a deep breath, “You two, what exactly happens?”

Mei Youshu fights to hold back his embarrassment and describes the situation in detail.

“So, one of you is afraid of birds, and the other is afraid of insects, and neither of you dares to move. In the end, it is Dabai who picks up the insect?” At this point, Lei Li can’t help but laugh again, her voice trembling.

After watching the long video, she expects it to be a normal recording without any standout moments, but she doesn’t anticipate such a big surprise.

“I think this video could be one of the top ten funniest hits of Xinghuo this year.” Lei Li wipes away tears of laughter and exhales deeply.

Mei Youshu shows a look of terror; she could really do something like this!

“Okay, I was just joking.” Lei Li holds a cigarette in her hand and taps the table with her fingertips. “Save the video first. Cut out the parts where Dabai dances, talks, and picks up the insect… For viewing purposes, the insect will probably need to be mosaiced later.”

Lei Li mentally plans out the situation. Xinghuo Live, the official platform, has already stated their position; if Li Pu faces any deliberate smear tactics during his next livestream, everyone will know what is really going on.

Of course, this assumes Li Pu will continue to livestream.

After being caught showing off Dabai, Li Pu’s Xinghuo Live and Firefly accounts have not been updated, leading people to speculate that he simply doesn’t want to draw attention… However, given Li Pu’s well-known “bad habit” of remaining silent during vacations, it is hard to tell whether he has set his accounts aside or given up on them entirely.

No worries, this is just entertainment. The more important work is still ahead. Plus, his appearance is already a significant improvement, right?

Lei Li skillfully reassures herself and continues browsing the news online.

…

Only one hour passes since the short live broadcast, but the excitement from it does not fade. Fans are still enthusiastically discussing the Xingyu live stream from earlier.

However, the conversations split into distinct groups. The “face-slapping” group is particularly vocal:

【”Haha, I’m slapping you in the face!”】

【”I’m so pissed off at those haters! Damn! I can’t stand random accusations!”】

【”Dabai is so cute!!! How can it say ‘kiss’!!!”】

【”I have to get a parrot after graduation and kiss it every day!!”】

【”I can’t tell if I should envy Li Pu or Dabai for getting all those kisses…”】

【”Li Pu’s house is so big and beautiful! It’s adorable to see him kissing Li Pu! Does he even need a parrot? I could pretend!”】

【”Don’t remind me. If Li Pu had come back one minute earlier, I would have licked his face one minute earlier!”】

【”This is the first time I see Teacher Li in a live broadcast. I take a screenshot and set it as my screensaver. And Dabai is the most beautiful and adorable free-range chicken I’ve ever seen!”】

【”Actually, Li Pu does appear in the live broadcast, but—he appears in someone else’s live stream.”】

【”Are you talking about the film festival? I am laughing my ass off. Many celebrities are live streaming, but the audience flocks to see Li Pu—different angles of him appear in each live streaming room (except for his front view).”】

But what everyone really cares about most is when Li Pu will start his next live stream.

【”Why has Mr. Li’s account been silent for so long?”】

【”Please do it again… just a short video would be fine!”】

【“Let it go, let it go, I feel like it’s hopeless. Those who understand, understand.”】

【“Seeing through but not saying it, I think he just wants to show off Dabai. Otherwise, why use a secondary account? Who would have thought he would suddenly become famous (dog emoji) and then go on strike?”】

The more they listen to these analyses, the more reasonable they seem. True fans have long known about Li Pu’s habits; even participating in a livestream this time can be considered extraordinary, and anything after that? Not happening.

After a lot of speculation, everyone realizes they can’t find Li Pu at all, so they leave messages and check in repeatedly on his posts, hoping for a miracle.

At this time, it is lunchtime. Bai Gaoxing can now stand still while Li Pu brings out the plate. This self-control earns him praise from Li Pu. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a few more pine nuts in his rice and can only watch Li Pu eat from the side.

Sooner or later! I’ll eat to my heart’s content!

Bai Gaoxing chews a piece of feed, but his eyes are secretly on the delicious food on the table, inching closer to Li Pu unintentionally. If he can’t eat it, at least he can smell it…

“Dabai, come here.” Li Pu sets down his chopsticks.

I really wasn’t trying to eat secretly!

The sudden summons makes Bai Gaoxing’s heart skip a beat. He remembers the black mark on his record from when he competes with Li Pu for a piece of meat but fails to snatch it and is harshly scolded. He quickly turns his head, feigning innocence, and scampers away.

Left at the table, Li Pu touches his face, puzzled. The overly soft gaze seems to linger.

He notices the parrot’s gaze and naturally thinks of Dabai‘s particularly affectionate behavior during the live broadcast that morning. He can’t help but wonder if Dabai wants to get closer to him.

Could this feeling be what people on the internet refer to as being… flattered?

Li Pu recalls what people have said online about “how heartwarming it is when a distant pet gets close,” and attributes this unusual behavior to Dabai. Although Dabai is usually very affectionate and often wants to snuggle up in bed with him, he has never said such intimate words as he does today…

He must have been watching too much TV again.

Li Pu assumes the culprit is the television and decides to check the channels when he has the chance.

At that moment, Bai Gaoxing, regarded as having abnormal behavior, approaches the sofa and looks up at the screen high on the shelf.

It has been several days since he pampered the machine…

After a few days, the once brand-new equipment is now covered with a thin layer of dust, and its owner, Li Pu, has neglected it entirely.

What a pity; it can’t showcase its excellent features.

Bai Gaoxing lowers his head and sighs before looking back.

Very good, Li Pu has entered the kitchen.

He presses his claws down, kicks hard, and launches himself toward the screen, slipping and leaving a few claw marks behind. Bai Gaoxing grasps the edge of the screen tightly and looks around, spotting the miniature camera on the shelf.

He freezes for a moment, suddenly remembering that there are two of these devices. Li Pu has only used one and placed it under the coffee table after filming.

Then this one…

A flurry of ideas races through Bai Gaoxing’s mind as he considers the 108 potential uses for this video recorder, and he feels a surge of excitement at the prospect.

No!

Bai Gaoxing raises a claw and smacks himself, his eyes widening. Hasn’t he learned his lesson yet? Has he forgotten how Li Pu’s small account was exposed? What if he accidentally posts something and causes a stir again?

But surely, netizens shouldn’t be so idle…

Bai Gaoxing finds himself lost in thought, estimating the news refresh frequency in the information age. Plus, Li Pu himself has participated in the live broadcast—even if it is only for two minutes. This means that netizens have accepted the idea that Li Pu will be live streaming.

No matter what happens in the future, it can’t be bigger than the Xinghuo account fiasco, right?

Bai Gaoxing makes a brief analysis. Although he hasn’t actually seen the news from that day, he has been delayed at the pet hospital the next day… But later, he can definitely feel the enthusiasm of Li Pu’s fans in the comments on those works.

It must have been quite terrifying that day.

Yet, until now, it seems that Li Pu hasn’t mentioned the live broadcast at all.

A little anxious, Bai Gaoxing dismisses the notion that this is the “calm before the storm” and leans toward the speculation that “this account is completely Li Pu’s personal account.” After all, he has been an actor for so long and has never used a live broadcast account, indicating that the company isn’t intervening and allowing Li Pu complete freedom.

Uh, or there could be a few other possibilities—he asks but doesn’t ask completely; he asks but misunderstands; he asks but doesn’t take it to heart.

No matter which scenario is true, it seems that no one knows it isn’t Li Pu himself broadcasting and posting short videos.

Including Li Pu himself. So…

Bai Gaoxing coughs softly. What is this feeling of guilt and excitement?

But he has to admit that after so many days, boredom has invaded every feather of his body once again—he can’t hold it back anymore.

So he decides he won’t send anything out; he can always entertain himself!

Before Li Pu emerges from the kitchen, Bai Gaoxing glides to the ground as if nothing has happened and takes a long look at the video recorder on the shelf.

…

However, he overestimates his strength.

Bai Gaoxing knows he can push this thing, but he hasn’t expected it to be so heavy to lift!

During his free time at night, he flaps his wings vigorously, creating a rustling sound in the air as several feathers fall. This commotion catches Li Pu’s attention, who is supposed to be reading a script in the bedroom, prompting him to come out and see what is happening.

Upon hearing the footsteps, Bai Gaoxing quickly jumps down and stuffs the video recorder into the gap of the sofa, then lies down on the sofa, pretending to be a statue.

“… Dabai?”

Bai Gaoxing turns his head slowly and sees Li Pu standing by the wall, looking at him.

He hurriedly feigns innocence, hops away from his hiding spot, and lands on the floor.

Witnessing this scene, Li Pu feels a bit speechless. He notices that Dabai occasionally acts silly, wondering if he is trying to attract attention.

After some thought, Li Pu picks up the rattan ball from the table and approaches.

Bai Gaoxing thinks, Don’t come over!

After reluctantly playing with Li Pu for a while, the man finally leaves without noticing the fallen video recorder. Bai Gaoxing lets out a sigh of relief and continues to laboriously reposition the device.

Originally, the video recorder is placed too high, capturing only the upper view of the house when turned on. Now, he successfully moves it to a spot where it can capture the same level as when he sits down.

Proud of his achievement, Bai Gaoxing feels a deep sense of dedication.

The next day, as usual, Li Pu sits on the sofa reading a book. The big white parrot nibbles on the sofa cover, climbs up the back of the sofa with difficulty, and quietly squats behind him.

The light behind the video recorder is on, indicating it has already started running.

Author’s note:

Dabai: Ready to get some technical stuff (adjusts sunglasses).