I Became Famous After I Became a Parrot in the Movie Star's House - Chapter 50

Silence.

The huge office is silent.

After Lei Li asks that question, the air seems to stagnate. Bai Gaoxing is so nervous that he doesn’t dare to breathe, fearing that the next scene will be a workplace conflict.

He looks at Lei Li, then at Mei Youshu, and begins to wonder whether he should intervene if things escalate.

After a while, Mei Youshu breaks the silence.

“Ah? What happened to Brother Li?” he asks innocently.

Good! Bai Gaoxing silently applauds Mei Youshu’s quick thinking. One point for playing dumb!

But he is also curious about what has happened to Li Pu. He can’t access electronic devices at this office, unlike at home.

“Dabai’s matter,” Lei Li replies concisely.

As a manager, despite being away, Lei Li is well-informed about Li Pu’s situation. She knows that the rumors surrounding Li Pu and Dabai have resurfaced, despite previous attempts to quell them.

Speculation runs wild, from the company behind Dabai to the idea that Dabai is a marketing tool for Li Pu. The stories are so exaggerated that she almost believes it.

“That, ah.” After listening to Lei Li’s description, Mei Youshu isn’t surprised. “There have been such rumors all along. I guess unless Brother Li personally brings Dabai to an event, these rumors will never disappear.” Mei Youshu says, his expression turning slightly serious.”No, I should say that even if it is confirmed, there will still be people who pretend not to see it.”

For example, the official Star Entertainment Weibo has already posted on Weibo that Dabai is temporarily fostered by the company, but people still keep asking if Dabai has been abandoned by Li Pu.

Lei Li props her chin with one hand, “It’s a pity that there’s still some time before the recording of  “Cute Pet Diary” 

Then she turns her gaze to the parrot in the cage.

Bai Gaoxing feels uncomfortable being stared at, and after a long time, he describes the feeling as: an elementary school student meeting their homeroom teacher.

He quickly buries his head in his food, trying to avoid being questioned.

But Lei Li seems quite interested in him, her voice comes closer and closer, and then sounds above his head: “Is this Dabai?”

“Yes.” Mei Youshu replies.

“This is the first time I’ve seen it in person, I’ve only seen it in only photos before.” Bai Gaoxing watches the woman circle the cage, then squat down to look at him, her eyebrows curved. “It’s quite fat.”

!

This is called being sturdy!

Bai Gaoxing puffs up his feathers in frustration, making himself look even rounder.

Her dyed red nails scratch at the cage, Lei Li turns back and asks. “Can it talk?”

“Yes.” Mei Youshu nods.

“Okay.”

Lei Li stands up, and Bai Gaoxing’s eyes involuntarily follow her, watching her sit down at the computer desk.

Then, he watches her click into Li Pu’s account and look at the posted works.

Bai Gaoxing panics. Don’t do it in front of me!

“I’ve always thought that the video where he says ‘kiss kiss’ is pretty cute.”

“Yeah, I wonder how Brother Li taught him.”

“It’s not necessarily him. How could he teach that.”

“True…”

“Being able to memorize such long poems and speak English, Dabai’s language skills are among the best for his kind.”

“Pretty much. Dabai is quite talkative when he’s happy. He can chat with anyone.”

Lei Li and Mei Youshu discuss the videos Li Pu has posted, unaware that Bai Gaoxing in the cage has already stiffened like a zombie.

“Speaking of which, Li Pu hasn’t updated his account since he left.” Lei Li says.

“The filming for this drama is very rushed, and Brother Li really doesn’t have time,” Mei Youshu sighs. “Besides, even if he had time, he probably wouldn’t know how to shoot.”

Lei Li shrugs, “I think he’s becoming more cooperative lately, he’s improved.”

Speaking of which, she clicks on a short video. It’s Bai Gaoxing saying in a squeaky voice, “Such a cute little parrot is born to be kissed! Muamuamua~~”

“Hiss…” The woman seems to be stung, grimacing. “He doesn’t mind hurting his teeth making those sounds.”

Mei Youshu analyzes very seriously, “Well… maybe Brother Li just happened to come across some template and directly had Dabai learn it. These kinds of videos are very popular, after all, cute pets are inherently adorable.”

Bai Gaoxing is numb.

He was wrong, he would never entertain himself like that again!

Then the next video: “Who understands, such a soft and warm little thing willing to lean on you, lying in your palm, trying to be cute to death~”

Lei Li: “Hmm…”

Mei Youshu: “Ah…”

Ugh, ah, ah, ah, his toes are about to curl up and form a three-room apartment!

Bai Gaoxing starts scratching at the perches in his cage furiously.

“Clack-clack-clack-”

“What’s that sound?” Lei Li looks up.

Bai Gaoxing stops scratching.

“Maybe Dabai is bored,” Mei Youshu looks at the cage.

“Does it like the hustle and bustle so much?” Lei Li raises an eyebrow. “No wonder you brought him to the company, it can’t be left alone.”

As she says that, she stands up and walks towards the cage. “Can you open it?”

Mei Youshu hesitates, “…Yes.”

Lei Li blinks, “Oh, I almost forgot.” She waves her hand, “Forget it, just bring the cage over.”

The office desk is big enough, so Bai Gaoxing is directly placed on the desk along with his cage.

Bai Gaoxing doesn’t understand what’s happening, and turns his head around curiously until Lei Li turns the computer screen towards him. “Come, let’s watch it together.”

“…”

Next, Bai Gaoxing experiences firsthand the meaning of dying of embarrassment. While it seems like Li Pu is the one in the spotlight, only he knows the true identity of the soul behind the screen.

No, no more…

Bai Gaoxing feels his soul leaving his body.

Then, he sees the woman walk past him like a gust of wind, saying something to Mei Youshu, before leaving the office.

“Dabai,” Mei Youshu turns back to the parrot, “You need to study more. You’ll be busy in two days.”

Busy with what? Bai Gaoxing wonders.

Concerned about his own situation, Bai Gaoxing quickly raises his head, looks at the screen, and sees a famous internet parrot nodding its head cutely in the video.

Bai Gaoxing: “…”

Help!

…

After a half-day tour of the manager’s office, Bai Gaoxing is sent back to the 0720 live broadcast room.

But his ordeal is far from over.

Looking at the equipment on the table, Bai Gaoxing feels a sense of dread. Even the snacks offered by the staff can’t lift his spirits.

As soon as the staff member leaves, Li Pu’s agent and Mei Youshu enter the room, looking serious.

Great, more trouble, Bai Gaoxing thinks.

“I’ve already heard about what happened recently,” Lei Li rubs her temples. Thanks to the gossiping employees, she had learned about everything that had happened in the past few days after going to the bathroom twice.

Including but not limited to: Dabai appearing in a mukbang livestream, Dabai escaping for two hours, Dabai perching on the chandelier, and Dabai being spoiled by everyone in the company and having many photos taken.

But these weren’t the main points, the key point was the subsequent problems.

“I heard that many streamers want to borrow Dabai to appear in their live broadcasts as a mascot?” She smiles, “Aren’t they obviously trying to ride on Dabai‘s popularity?”

There are thousands of small-time anchors who can’t make a name for themselves, and there are many who are not even as famous as a parrot. Although it hurts, it is also true.

“That’s about right,” Mei Youshu looks very troubled, “So I rejected them all, and the people in charge of the operation accounts are not allowed to post anything, others can only take photos at most.”

“That’s right,” Lei Li says, “Appearing in the public eye too frequently isn’t a good thing, it will make it seem like Dabai is available to anyone and it is no longer tied to Li Pu.”

Mei Youshu sighs and adds, “Otherwise, I won’t be able to explain to Brother Li when he comes back.”

Bai Gaoxing, upon hearing this, feels a deep sense of realization.

He is a bird with some status now.

Thinking about it this way, the people who had been lurking at the door with selfie sticks and then chased away had this idea.

Then, he hears the agent say, “Public opinion is too intense. We can’t ignore it. I might as well take advantage of this free time and start a live stream with Dabai.”

Mei Youshu is stunned, “Who?”

Lei Li turns around, “Me.”

Bai Gaoxing squawks in surprise.

Lei Li is startled and looks at Mei Youshu, “…Did you hear something?”

“It’s Dabai,” Mei Youshu, the young man familiar with the parrot’s habits, gestures. “It often hums for no reason, probably because it misses its master.”

“Master…” Lei Li ponders for a moment, then raises an eyebrow. “What do you think about teaching it to call Li Pu ‘Master’? It would strengthen their bond.”

Bai Gaoxing is shocked.

What kind of wild idea is that!

While he sometimes calls Li Pu that, it was always for a specific request. As a bird of dignity, he would never do it without reason.

Lei Li hands him a strawberry from a food basket nearby.

Cough cough, this strawberry is so big!

Grabbing the strawberry that Lei Li hands over, Bai Gaoxing’s eyes light up.

People die for money, birds die for food, survival of the fittest! What’s a couple of words? What about dignity? What’s that? Can you eat it?!

Mei Youshu is also shocked, his expression complex, “…Isn’t it a bit…” too perverted.

Lei Li picks up a plump and vibrant small carrot to tease the parrot, “Hmm? A bit what?”

Mei Youshu looks at the parrot with an innocent look, “…Nothing.”

Wouldn’t doing this make Li Ge’s reputation even worse?

Bai Gaoxing happily finishes half a strawberry, getting his cheek feathers covered in pink, and uses his claws to wipe away the foam around his beak.

Lei Li finds it amusing and wipes his face.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she takes out her phone, “Since we’re borrowing his parrot, I should call him to let him know.”

…

In Chuncheng

On this afternoon of filming, the actors on the set don’t dare to breathe.

The staff member in charge of training the birds lowers his head and accepts the director’s criticism.

“How many days has it been, and you still can’t teach it a single line?” Director Sun frowns tightly, “Is it that difficult?”

The staff member mutters to himself, it wasn’t difficult, it was just that your requirements were too high, how could a bird’s small brain understand it.

But on the surface, he still shows a sincere apology: “I’m sorry, Director Sun, I will try to train it harder.”

Director Sun, still fuming, continues, “It’s just a few short lines, and they either say it wrong or don’t say it at all. There are so many spare parrots, and three people can’t teach even one of them?”

Currently, the filming of “The Legend of the Long Song” has progressed to a certain point. Coincidentally, the weather is slightly overcast this week, and the trees are full of flower buds, creating just the right atmosphere for a scene perfect for filming a pivotal scene where the heroine, trapped in a difficult situation, fights back.

However, while the female lead’s lines and acting are spot on, her special co-star is not.

The special co-star is a parrot.

Or rather, it is dozens of parrots, but they need to select one that can memorize its lines the best to officially perform in front of the camera.

The scene to be filmed seems simple: the female lead overhears the parrot repeating words from the queen’s place, seizing incriminating evidence, and then turning the situation around.

Pei Jue, who plays the female lead, is a newly-minted powerful actress who has won two consecutive Best Actress awards, but no matter how well she acts or how well she expresses her emotions, it can’t make up for the parrot actor’s constant “Ga”.

It is too distracting.

What is even more difficult is that if they cut this part and focus only on the parrot’s lines, it would be fine. But Director Sun insists on a one-shot take for this part, refusing to cut the camera, let alone use special effects or post-production dubbing. This means that the actors in this shot have to be perfect.

People can do it, but birds are uncontrollable.

For two days, the filming has come to a standstill.

Time is tight. If they miss this week, they might not be able to capture the best light and camera angles. But he is reluctant to just make do.

Director Sun sighs heavily and goes to the side to light a cigarette, and the bird trainers gather together to discuss countermeasures.

Trainer 1: “What do we do? We’ve already brought the smartest parrot in the garden, and the rest are even less likely to meet Director Sun’s requirements.”

Trainer 2: “I don’t know, it’s a headache. I dream of those two lines every night.”

Trainer 3: “Haha… I give up. The only smart parrot in the world that could meet Director Sun’s requirements is probably Dabai.”

Trainer 1 & 2: “Dabai?”

Trainer 3 shows them his phone, “The one raised by Teacher Li, it can talk much better than Big Head. From what I’ve observed, its pronunciation is clear and it learns quickly. It might be able to say the lines perfectly.”

The three of them huddle together, whispering and laughing, causing Director Sun, who has been paying attention to them, to twitch his eyebrow.

“What are you looking at?” A cold voice sounds, and the three of them look up in surprise, almost bumping their heads together.

“We… we’re looking at other people’s parrots.” With no other choice, Trainer 3 confesses.

“…Let me see.” Director Sun is suspicious and leans in closer.

The few of them scroll through Li Pu’s backstage on Star Entertainment’s official Weibo, and then from Star Entertainment’s official Weibo to the Star Entertainment Xinghuo account. Director Sun’s brows gradually relax, then become thoughtful.

After a while, Li Pu, who has just finished a call, comes back and is stopped by Director Sun.

“Teacher Li, I have a favor to ask…” The director, who had just been annoyed, rubs his hands together awkwardly.

After listening to the other party’s request.

Li Pu: “…”

Why does everyone want to borrow his parrot?