I Became Famous After I Became a Parrot in the Movie Star's House - Chapter 81

The Golden Tong Award is the most prestigious and authoritative TV drama award in China.

After its release, The Long Song is submitted for consideration. Now, the time has come for the award ceremony. The lead actors have all been notified to walk the red carpet, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the winners.

The next morning, Li Pu greets the program crew and packs up to return home.

“Brother Li, are you planning to take Dabai back too?” Liu Liang asks curiously, watching Li Pu carefully place the parrot into a bird carrier.

It’s common for artists to rush to various events during filming. Liu Liang, who is also attending the Golden Tong Award, has already packed and is observing the scene.

“Yes,” Li Pu replies while double-checking the zipper of the carrier.

“You could leave Dabai with the production team. We’ll be back in just two days anyway,” Liu Liang says, not understanding why Li Pu would bother bringing the bird along for such a short trip. After all, there won’t be much free time while preparing for the awards ceremony. “I left Susu here.”

Li Pu slings the bag over his shoulder. “Dabai is easier to handle. Besides, there’s a special request this time.”

“Easier to handle… true. If Susu were as easy to manage, I’d bring it too.” Liu Liang thinks about his own troublesome duck that leaves food scattered everywhere and agrees wholeheartedly.

Inside the carrier, Bai Gaoxing stretches lazily as he listens to their conversation. A special reason? Could it be that he’ll get to participate in the award ceremony? He lets his imagination run wild but wholeheartedly agrees with Li Pu’s decision to bring him along. Staying behind would be boring and awkward under the care of strangers.

As Liu Liang and Li Pu talk about seeing each other at the award ceremony in two days, Bai Gaoxing chirps a couple of times to say goodbye and bid farewell to the others.

Two hours later, they arrive home.

A familiar house, a familiar scent!

Bai Gaoxing crawls out of the carrier, glances around nostalgically, and then flies from room to room.

While Li Pu is still taking off his coat, Bai Gaoxing has already darted into the study and is tapping the computer.

It feels wonderful to be back. He hops onto the sofa and motions for Li Pu to join him and watch TV.

However, Li Pu doesn’t stay long. Shortly after settling in, he receives a call and has to leave again.

It must be something urgent at the company.

Judging by the voice on the phone, it’s Lei Li. That explains why they’ve come back two days earlier.

Free again.

Rolling lazily on the sofa, Bai Gaoxing slides off and wanders over to the electronic screen. He powers it on and opens the platform he hasn’t accessed in a while.

A flood of colorful notifications greets him.

As expected, his fans are as enthusiastic as ever, showering him with tens of thousands of likes. The comments section and private messages are overflowing.

After skimming through a few, Bai Gaoxing sets them aside, his spirits lifted by the warm welcome back.

These messages can wait for another time when there’s leisure to go through them slowly. Time spent alone is precious and can’t all be wasted on reading notifications.

Bai Gaoxing returns to his dashboard. The entire page is filled with short videos. Who would have thought that a few months ago, there was absolutely nothing here? He has built it all up bit by bit through his hard work—with Li Pu quietly supporting him in the background!

Now, as he looks at these videos, it feels as though he’s gazing at his own children.

Number of works: 88.

Eighty-eight children!

Tilting his head, Bai Gaoxing ponders for a moment. Why not round it up to an even number?

Stretching his claws toward the video recorder, which is covered in a thin layer of dust, he gets to work…

…

Meanwhile, news of the Golden Tong Award ceremony, set to take place in two days, is already spreading across the internet.

This year, the TV drama industry is booming, with one hit series after another. As a result, netizens are more excited than ever.

Fans of The Long Song are particularly vocal, believing the series outshines all the competition. The actors’ performances are more refined, the plot richer in detail, and the artistry more captivating. They are confident The Long Song has a strong chance of winning, making related topics trend at the top on Weibo.

However, as much as they look forward to the awards, many fans are even more excited about the Golden Tong’s red carpet segment.

Handsome men and beautiful women—a visual feast!

Even the inevitable fan squabbles online add to the entertainment.

【I can’t wait for The Long Song‘s red carpet appearance. Ahhh, this entire cast is god-tier gorgeous!】

【Reserving a trending hashtag for Teacher Li in advance! I still remember his last red carpet look… slurp.】

【It’s such a pity I can’t be there in person. Otherwise, I’m sure my eyes would shine brighter than the spotlights!】

【I heard there’ll be a live stream this time! Ahhh, so excited!!!】

While fans scream in anticipation, Li Pu has already arrived at his agent’s office.

“Did the variety show filming go smoothly?” Lei Li asks routinely.

“It went smoothly,” Li Pu replies with a nod.

“That’s good. I think Dabai adapted well too.” Lei Li, who has been following the show closely, then shifts to a more serious tone. “In the future, if you encounter dangerous situations like that, make sure to prioritize your safety.”

She has been extremely anxious after hearing about the unexpected incident during the show’s outdoor activities.

Under her concerned gaze, Li Pu recalls the numerous calls and messages he has received after the incident, as well as his assistant’s ongoing worry. He coughs lightly and says, “It’s just an accident.”

“An accident… Fine, an accident.” Lei Li raises an eyebrow but doesn’t press further. Instead, she pulls out a folder from her desk. “Let’s move on to business. This is more detailed information about the movie you selected. It includes the director’s style, previous works, and more. The audition is scheduled for mid-November. Go through it when you have time.”

“Got it.” Li Pu accepts the folder, casually flipping through a few pages before closing it. “Anything else?”

Lei Li almost laughs in exasperation. “Of course, there’s more. You’ve only been here a few minutes.”

After that, the two discuss upcoming announcements and the awards ceremony.

As their meeting wraps up, Lei Li suddenly pauses, as if remembering something. “For this audition, keep an eye on Park Jae-hui from Paohui Entertainment. You probably remember him—he’s somewhat of an acquaintance, right?”

Li Pu thinks for a moment.

He does remember. Park Jae-hui had been a strong contender for Best Actor at the film festival that year, making him Li Pu’s fiercest competition during that season.

And not just that year… Every time they’ve met since their debut has been at awards ceremonies where they were competing. Each time, it’s been Li Pu who takes home the award.

With this in mind, Li Pu nods. “I remember.”

“His appearance fits the role well, which gives him an edge in terms of looks. But it’s said the director values acting skills more,” Lei Li says. “So, you’ll be fine.”

“Mm.”

Li Pu remains calm.

Lei Li smiles faintly. She has a strong impression of Park Jae-hui—handsome, yes, but overly jealous. While he appears friendly on the surface, he has a habit of stirring up trouble in private under the guise of camaraderie. She vividly recalls his failed attempt to get close to Li Pu in the past and hopes he’ll behave better this time, at least to save himself some embarrassment.

“Alright, you can go now. Go back and spend time with Dabai.” Lei Li waves him off.

This time, she truly lets him go.

Watching Li Pu walk away, Lei Li stands at the door for a long while, letting out a soft sigh.

“Brother Li has been doing well during this variety show filming. There’s really nothing to worry about. Or are you just overthinking again?” Mei Youshu comments, noticing Lei Li’s thoughtful, slightly conflicted expression.

After all, over the years, it has become a habit for Lei Li to personally check in on Li Pu’s state after every project, ensuring he is grounded and adjusting well. Even Mei Youshu has grown familiar with the routine.

“But isn’t it… too normal this time?” Lei Li says, her uncertainty clear in her tone.

Mei Youshu quickly catches on to her concern.

In the past, Li Pu would often remain immersed in his roles for a while after filming, carrying traces of his characters even after the cameras stopped rolling. But this time feels different. The “normalcy” they are witnessing now seems almost abnormal.

Thinking about it, Mei Youshu also feels unsure. “It should be fine… Didn’t Dr. An already say he’s okay?”

“…True.” Lei Li nods after a moment.

Although the doctor has confirmed Li Pu’s recovery, Lei Li can’t help but think that it is better not to make any hasty assumptions about his state of mind.

It isn’t that she doubts the professional’s judgment, but as a manager, she believes it is her responsibility to proceed cautiously, step by step, to ensure his well-being.

“But I’m still worried he hasn’t fully come out of the role,” Lei Li admits, scratching her cheek lightly. Finally, she shrugs helplessly. “We’ll see.”

…

When the room is silent, the pets are up to no good.

After returning home, Li Pu finds himself reflecting on a line he’s seen online.

However, his long-standing trust assures him that Dabai definitely isn’t secretly chewing on the walls somewhere. If Dabai doesn’t come out to greet him, it can only mean he is asleep—

And sure enough.

Standing at the bedroom door, Li Pu spots the parrot sprawled on its back, sound asleep.

Checking the time, Li Pu decides not to disturb him. Instead, he turns toward the kitchen to prepare a meal.

Bai Gaoxing is awakened by the smell of food.

The mouth-watering aroma fills every corner of the house, irresistible and powerful enough to jolt Bai Gaoxing awake.

Did I fall asleep?

Bai Gaoxing stands up groggily, realizing he must have been too exhausted from shooting videos. At some point, he stumbles into the bedroom in a daze.

But none of that matters now.

Li Pu is back.

Without hesitation, Bai Gaoxing flies from the bedroom to the dining table, perching there to watch the man busy in the kitchen through the glass door.

Oil splatters, an apron—everything exudes a comforting sense of home.

Handsome, wealthy, successful, and a great cook.

I don’t know who would be lucky enough to marry him someday?

Bai Gaoxing’s thoughts begin to wander, thinking that if Li Pu gets married someday, could he, a humble parrot, still be able to beg for food under his care?

Sigh, one step at a time~

For now, his mission is to get a taste of this meal!

Charge!

…

The next morning, as netizens eagerly discuss the approaching awards ceremony, a new short video pops up on Xinghuo.

【Teacher Li has posted again!】

Fans rush over en masse and find, unsurprisingly, that the content is still Dabai.

The videos vary in length and quality, prompting fans to leave comments:

【Teacher Li, you really love Dabai, don’t you? Even a two-second clip is worth posting.】

【Stop it—has Teacher Li ever posted about anything else?】

【It seems like Teacher Li just got back from Cute Pet Diary today. He couldn’t even wait a second to post, huh?】

【Please, grant us a wish and post more often these days. I love seeing Dabai!】

Meanwhile, Bai Gaoxing happily explores the new special effects on Xinghuo, thrilled to find one that works perfectly for parrot selfies.

***

Two days pass in a blur.

During this period, Li Pu stays busy preparing for the awards ceremony, which means numerous dress fittings and other arrangements. Every evening, he returns home wearing a different men’s cologne, a detail that does not go unnoticed by Bai Gaoxing.

Good, the parrot thinks smugly. This means more freedom for me.

***

On the day of the awards ceremony, Dabai glances at the backstage counter.

Number of works: 99.

One short of triple digits.

His obsessive-compulsive tendencies flare.

Bai Gaoxing fixates on the number, his mind wrestling with the urge to pull something from the drafts to make it an even hundred. But before he can act on his compulsive thought, Li Pu walks in, followed by Assistant Mei Youshu.

“The ceremony starts at 8 p.m., so there’s plenty of time after you’re ready,” Mei Youshu says, looking sharp in a tailored suit. Standing at the door, he scans the schedule on his tablet. “I’ll head downstairs to get the car. Brother Li, you can put Dabai in the bag.”

“Okay.”

Li Pu grabs the bird bag leaning against the wall and walks toward Dabai.

Expecting to watch the live stream comfortably at home, Dabai widens his eyes as he is calmly scooped up and placed into the bag.

It isn’t until the zipper closes and the view shifts from the living room to a luxury car interior that Dabai realizes:

Wait, I’m going too?!