I Became Famous After I Became a Parrot in the Movie Star's House - Chapter 74

At this moment, the production team is huddled in the cottage, discussing the show’s direction.

“The online response to Dabai is the best so far. Let’s increase his screen time.”

“Agreed. Also, let’s design more interactive sessions with the owner. It’d be great to include more talking moments.”

“By the way, Pingke isn’t talking much. Didn’t he seem pretty chatty during the live broadcast? Why is he so quiet now?”

“Maybe he’s not used to the environment yet. Wang Hong mentioned he’s slow to warm up. Let’s hope for more activity from him later!”

“Doug will likely shine during the outdoor segments.”

“What about Susu and Liu Liang? They don’t seem to have any standout traits.”

“Let’s focus on their cuteness. Isn’t it trendy to have mascots these days?”

Excitement!

The production team rubs their hands together, ready to dig for highlights and memorable moments, aiming to make a strong impression during the show’s premiere week.

Meanwhile, the guests are in their rooms, preparing with their pets.

Unlike Wang Hong’s efforts, Zhang Junjun’s meticulous reviews, or Liu Liang’s struggles, Li Pu seems completely at ease.

After all, Dabai is no trouble at all.

Dabai often follows commands with just a few words. Sometimes, Li Pu even muses that if Dabai could think like a human, they’d probably have casual conversations daily.

Li Pu glances over at the parrot rolling around on the bed and sighs.

Scratch that. Most of the time, Dabai is just plain silly.

On the bed, Bai Gaoxing, who has been idly rolling around, feels bored.

It seems like everyone else is busy interacting with their pets, but he has nothing to do.

He sprawls out on the soft quilt and stares at Li Pu, who is seated at the table.

The afternoon sun pours in from the balcony door, outlining the man in a gentle halo. Combined with the golden hues of the autumn landscape outside, it is like a picture-perfect scene.

Too bad he’s developed the habit of napping like Li Pu and now feels increasingly sleepy.

His head and eyelids grow heavier until they finally shut with a soft plop.

When he wakes up again, it is almost three o’clock. Someone is knocking on the door, calling them to join the activity.

Bai Gaoxing groggily gets up and swipes a claw over his beak. Good, no drool.

Turning around, he notices Li Pu lying next to him. At some point, he joined the nap too.

What a lazy group we are, Bai Gaoxing thinks, shaking his head.

Looking around again, he spots that the cameras in the room have been covered with clothes.

【Ahhh! I’m so frustrated! We missed the chance to see Teacher Li and Dabai napping together!】

【What kind of twisted fan behavior is this, LOL? Sobs.】

【Why cover them up! I wanted to see their sleeping faces!】

—The livestream comments are desperate during the nap session.

Back in the living room, the guests are gathering. Wang Hong yawns and smiles. “I was so nervous earlier that I couldn’t sleep. At least Pingke’s finally settling in a bit.”

She raises the arm where the parrot is perched. “Right, Pingke?”

“Yes.”

Bai Gaoxing freezes.

It is the first time he’s ever heard Pingke speak.

The pink parrot opens its beak, moves its tongue, and speaks in human language. The words are clear, the tone refined, and—likely due to its female owner—carries a slightly coquettish lilt.

Bai Gaoxing racks his brain, and after much thought, finally settles on the word to describe it: flirty.

But isn’t this pink Batan parrot… male?

He scrutinizes Pingke’s eyes. Based on his limited knowledge, parrots with dark brown irises are typically male.

While he knows that a parrot’s mimicking voice doesn’t determine its gender, hearing such a tone still feels a bit odd.

Bai Gaoxing continues staring at Pingke, trying to make sense of it.

Wang Hong notices his focused gaze and smiles. “Does Dabai want to play with Pingke?”

She walks over with Pingke in her arms. “Want to say hello?”

Under Wang Hong’s expectant gaze, Bai Gaoxing hesitates for a moment before cautiously raising his paw to the pink parrot. “Hi?”

But Pingke stays silent, turning its head away—only to sneak a glance at him moments later.

???

Bai Gaoxing is confused.

“I’ve never seen you act so shy at home!” Wang Hong teases Pingke with a mock scolding.

Pingke responds with a simple, “Oh.”

That’s… kind of cool?

To keep Dabai from feeling down over the failed interaction, Li Pu rubs his parrot’s head and changes the subject. “When does the event start?”

“It’s almost time——”

Before Wang Hong can finish, the program team’s announcement comes through, prompting the guests to prepare for the next segment.

The game is straightforward, divided into three stages:

1. First round: The owner calls their pet to see if it responds. Walking over or even just looking up counts, unless the pet completely ignores them.
2. Second round: The owner gives commands for the pet to perform actions—at least three. Each additional action earns extra points.
3. Third round: The pet is separated from the owner, who calls them from outside. The pet needs to come out upon hearing their voice.

As for the difficulty levels:

• The first round is the easiest. The owner is a familiar person, so even a rabbit would look up.
• The second round requires the pet to perform their best-known tricks, which can be anything.
• The third round…

“Why do I feel like this stage wasn’t in the earlier episodes?” Liu Liang, a self-proclaimed expert who has binge-watched every installment of Cute Pet Diary, voices his suspicion.

The production team grins mischievously. “This is a brand-new addition~”

Of course.

I knew they were planning to make things harder, Liu Liang thinks with exasperation.

Bai Gaoxing glances at Doug, who is quietly sitting at Zhang Junjun’s feet, and can’t shake the feeling that this is his biggest rival.

When it comes to obedience, Bai Gaoxing has to admit he can’t compete.

However, the unexpected happens much sooner than anyone anticipates.

The game proceeds in the order determined by drawing lots. During the first two stages, Bai Gaoxing performs exceptionally well. When Li Pu calls him, he responds faster than Doug. His actions are so natural and smooth—just like now, when Li Pu says, “Raise your hand,” and Bai Gaoxing immediately places his paw into Li Pu’s palm.

Although, in his eagerness, he takes a step too wide and accidentally strains his thigh.

Bai Gaoxing hops on one paw for a moment, looking a little comical.

“Teacher Li, how did you train him to do that!?” Wang Hong exclaims enviously. “I’ve been teaching Pingke this handshake trick for ages, but he just refuses to stretch out his claws!”

Li Pu, ever straightforward, replies, “I didn’t really teach him much.”

For the next action, Li Pu chooses for Bai Gaoxing to “fly to his hand.” Standing several meters away, Li Pu raises his hand, and Bai Gaoxing spreads his wings and lands squarely in the center of Li Pu’s palm with precision.

Watching this, Wang Hong, whose Pingke has also completed the same task, can’t help but ask, “Teacher Li, how long did it take to teach him this? Did you start right after Dabai was weaned?”

Li Pu replies matter-of-factly, “Didn’t I just call, and he came over?”

Wang Hong: “???”

【Oh my, what a Versailles moment, hahahahaha!】

【The ultimate humble brag: ‘My Dabai is just naturally gifted!’】

【Honghong: I want to punch someone.】

Li Pu reflects for a moment. It’s true—he’s never really trained Dabai in these “skills” that everyone seems to admire. Dabai simply seems to know how to do them, as if he were born with the ability.

Of course, it’s also possible that Dabai has learned them before coming to live with him.

Thinking of this, Li Pu can’t help but feel a twinge of regret for missing out on Dabai’s early years, when he grew from a fledgling into the remarkable bird he is now.

The audience is thoroughly entertained by Li Pu’s remarks, and the previously tense atmosphere of the competition becomes much lighter. Soon, they reach the final stage.

“For this round, the pets will stay inside while the guests wait outside,” the production team explains.

Bai Gaoxing is taken to a simple room. A window in front of him is covered by curtains, so he can’t see outside. A speaker on the wall will relay the owner’s voice, and when called, the pet has to exit through a side door.

It sounds easy enough.

Bai Gaoxing glances at the other “colleagues” in the room, who are separated from him by transparent partitions. Then, he raises his head and watches Li Pu walk away.

Before the door closes, Li Pu turns to look back at him.

Bai Gaoxing gestures a small “V” for victory with his wing.

After all the owners leave, the room falls silent, save for the faint sound of a duck’s webbed feet pattering on the floor.

Bai Gaoxing fluffs his feathers, ready for action at a moment’s notice.

Suddenly, there’s a faint click, click, click from the wooden board to his left.

Bai Gaoxing freezes, turning his head in that direction. He remembers that the pink Badan is stationed on his left.

Sure enough, a pink head peeks out from behind the board, its dark brown eyes gleaming with an unmistakable intelligence.

“…Is something wrong?” Bai Gaoxing asks hesitantly after a long pause.

The other bird simply stares at him without speaking, making him feel a bit uneasy.

Is it trying to say hello? he wonders. But Pingke hadn’t responded earlier when he greeted it. Could it have such a long reaction time that it’s only now processing my words?

Bai Gaoxing studies Pingke closely, curious about what it might say.

The next moment, the pink parrot finally opens its beak:

“Hi~ beauty!”

…

Outside the cabin, the program team is fully prepared to capture the action.

They are confident the upcoming scene will be iconic. Judging by Dabai and Doug’s impressive performances earlier, the first and second places are almost certainly going to be decided between them.

To emphasize the importance of the final round, the program team has even doubled the point value for this stage!

The director leans toward the screenwriter, watching the monitor. “Dabai will definitely come out first.”

“Hahaha, I’m betting on Doug,” the screenwriter replies.

“Well, let’s see. It’s starting now.”

The cameras work overtime, capturing every angle of the cabin as the guests begin calling their pets one by one.

But, to everyone’s surprise, no one emerges from the cabin door.

“What’s going on?”

The crew exchanges puzzled glances, and an unsettling thought crosses everyone’s mind simultaneously:

Did they fight!?

As the owners of Dabai and Doug, Li Pu and Zhang Junjun are the first to react, sprinting toward the cabin in a panic.

Inside, Bai Gaoxing is already in a state of shock. “What did you just say!?”

He is so flustered he doesn’t even register Li Pu calling his name from outside. The situation before him is utterly unexpected—Pingke finally speaks, but what it says is completely baffling.

To make matters worse, Pingke is chasing him!

“Beauty, what’s your name? Tell me~” the pink parrot chirps gleefully.

“I’m a man!” Bai Gaoxing retorts, both alarmed and exasperated.

“You’re so beautiful! What’s your name?” Pingke presses on, undeterred.

“I’m a man! Get away from me!” Bai Gaoxing exclaims, ducking and dodging.

“Oh, you’re a man? I like that even more. What’s your name?”

“Dabai! Dabai! Don’t you hear them calling us?”

“I don’t understand what people are saying. Do you? Oh, by the way, I think my name is Pingke. You’re so beautiful~”

This is absurd! Bai Gaoxing thinks, circling the walls of the room to escape. He has never imagined things would take such a ridiculous turn. Pingke’s natural voice is silly enough to make the entire scene hilariously surreal—too funny to put into words.

The only saving grace is that Pingke is speaking to him in bird language, so the humans can’t understand.

“Dabai?” Li Pu’s voice echoes faintly from outside.

When Li Pu and his group enter the room, they are met with utter chaos. The pink parrot, Pingke, is relentlessly chasing the white parrot, Dabai, while Doug crouches nearby, propping himself up on his hind legs and whining softly. The Call duck waddles out unsteadily, looking equally baffled.

If anyone could understand dog language, they’d hear Doug pleading: Stop fighting! Stop fighting!

“Hey! Did I win this round?” Liu Liang’s voice rings out from outside.

But winning or losing is no longer the issue.

Pingke relentlessly chases after Bai Gaoxing, occasionally opening his beak as though trying to grab him.

“What’s wrong, Pingke?” Wang Hong, feeling both worried and embarrassed that her own bird is chasing the movie star’s bird, rushes over to intervene, attempting to pick up her parrot.

Pingke effortlessly dodges her and even uses her hand as leverage to leap higher.

“Hey, beautiful, let’s get to know each other!”

“I told you, I’m male!”

“Fine, handsome beauty, let’s get acquainted!”

The two parrots’ chirping noises, initially faint, grow louder and louder, successfully drawing the attention of the production crew.

“What’s going on here?” the director asks, walking over with a puzzled expression.

“No idea,” Li Pu replies, stepping forward and extending his hand to his distressed parrot.

“Help!!!” Bai Gaoxing screeches, leaping into Li Pu’s palm and landing safely, trembling slightly.

Pingke, undeterred, spreads his wings and tries to follow, but Wang Hong’s quick reflexes stop him. She grabs her unruly parrot mid-flight.

“Teacher Li, I’m so sorry! This is the first time Pingke has ever behaved like this,” Wang Hong apologizes, clearly mortified.

“It’s fine,” Li Pu says, gently stroking Dabai’s back. He can feel his bird’s heart racing faster than usual.

Li Pu glances at Pingke, who is now firmly held in Wang Hong’s hands. Despite being restrained, the pink parrot keeps stretching its neck, intently staring at Dabai as though plotting its next move.

Ultimately, Wang Hong’s group is the last to leave the cabin.

“Well… maybe Pingke has finally gotten comfortable here and just wants to make friends with Dabai,” Wang Hong suggests weakly, attempting to downplay the situation.

At a small table beside them, Pingke is at it again, sidling closer to Dabai and nudging under his beak.

“Comb my feathers!” Pingke demands cheerfully.

“Comb my feathers!”

“Comb my feathers now!”

“Ahhhhhh! I’ve had enough!” Dabai finally snaps, delivering a swift peck to Pingke’s head.

Pingke tilts his head upward, utterly unfazed. “You pecked me! You must love me so much!”

What the…!?

Bai Gaoxing takes several cautious steps back, his feathers ruffling. If I can’t win against you, I’ll just avoid you altogether!

Li Pu watches the bizarre interaction unfold, muttering under his breath, “…Seriously?”

It seems less like Dabai wants to be friends and more like he desperately wants to escape.

As the two parrots continue their whispered exchange, they draw the attention of everyone around them.

“I like you,” Pingke declares bluntly. “Let’s have baby parrots together!”

Bai Gaoxing, utterly exasperated, responds, “I’m a man! I can’t have babies!”

Pingke chirps back cheerfully, “That’s okay, we don’t need to have babies.”

This pink Badan is a complete chatterbox and hasn’t stopped talking since the afternoon, making his ears feel like they’re about to grow calluses.

Bai Gaoxing is at his wit’s end, trying to figure out how to make this relentless pink parrot understand they are not compatible. “You need to find a female parrot! Please, stop talking to me!”

Pingke, however, is undeterred. “Men can be together! I’ve seen lots of them do it. You’re so beautiful. Can I call you my wife?”

“No! Absolutely not!” Bai Gaoxing shouts, feathers bristling.

Pingke tilts his head, looking hurt. “Oh… okay…”

Wait. What does he mean by lots of them do it?

What kind of environment have you been living in?

Bai Gaoxing’s eye twitches as he eyes Pingke suspiciously, trying to make sense of the bizarre situation.

What happens next leaves him utterly speechless. Pingke lowers his head, pecks at his own tail feathers for a moment, and plucks out a soft, perfectly formed feather. Holding it gently in his beak, the pink parrot offers it up with a look of pure sincerity.

Bai Gaoxing’s eyes widen in horror as he realizes what this gesture means.

He shakes his head repeatedly, his panic evident.

Pingke says, “I’m giving this to you. I really like you!”

“No, no, no! I don’t want it!” Bai Gaoxing protests, shaking his head furiously.

Pingke persists. “Why not? Do you already have a mate?”

“Yes! Yes, I do!” Bai Gaoxing blurts out in desperation.

“Who is it?” Pingke asks, undeterred, his eyes locking onto Bai Gaoxing.

“Yes… yes…” Bai Gaoxing stammers, glancing frantically around for an escape. His gaze lands on Li Pu, who is standing nearby. A surge of hope and desperation wells up inside him.

In one swift motion, Bai Gaoxing plucks out one of his own feathers, flies straight to Li Pu, and drops the feather into the man’s collar.

Startled, Li Pu stares at the feather in confusion. Before he can react, Bai Gaoxing presses himself against Li Pu’s cheek and turns to face Pingke with absolute determination.

“It’s him!” he declares loudly. “He’s my mate!”

Author has something to say:

Dabai: My man! Cool, right?

Li Pu: [slowly pulls the feather out of his collar]