I Became Famous After I Became a Parrot in the Movie Star's House - Chapter 9

As a psychologist responsible for Li Pu, An Xin’s deep impression of this VIP patient is as follows:

He has strong self-regulation abilities and, while his mental state isn’t a major issue, he suffers from frequent insomnia. 

An Xin has encountered cases where actors get too deeply immersed in their roles and provides psychological counseling to entertainers, but Li Pu is the first person he sees who can gradually pull himself out of it on his own.

That said, in theory, Li Pu’s mental state is still not entirely stable. If things continue like this, some worry he may retire before turning 30—there are, after all, precedents of actors becoming too absorbed in their roles, which had led to unfortunate outcomes. 

As for why Li Pu attends consultations every week, it is entirely due to the insistence of his agent, who acts responsibly toward his artist. 

It’s not hard to guess… the agent is probably worried that Li Pu, the famous actor, might experience long-term psychological consequences due to his intense focus and pressure.

But over the past few years of consultations, Li Pu’s overall condition is fine. He is young, strong, and healthy—tough enough to “kill a cow.” There is just one issue: Li Pu really needs companionship. 

To An Xin’s surprise, today he actually sees evidence of Li Pu keeping a pet.

“What kind of bird is it? Such long feathers… a goose?” 

Li Pu plucks a feather and stares at it for a while. “It’s a parrot.”

“A parrot.” An Xin sighs in exasperation.

He has lost count of how many times he has suggested that Li Pu get a lively, cute pet, whether as emotional support or to distract him from becoming overly absorbed in his work. It is a good idea. 

But Li Pu always uses the excuse of being too busy, preferring to rely solely on medication. 

Although it’s just tranquilizers and sleeping pills… medication is still medication, and long-term use isn’t ideal.

An Xin quickly shifts the topic. “Let’s talk business. The situation is much better than before. Luckily, your latest role is not on some bizarre subject matter.” 

Otherwise, it would take even longer. An Xin still remembers the time before last when Li had a script about a schizophrenic with split personality, or the time before that with an animal-to-human transformation story, or the time before that… the strange simulation experience causes Li Pu to get stuck in character for quite some time. Why are these weird films so popular nowadays?

An Xin twirls a pen between his fingers and casually asks, “So why do you finally take the advice and get a pet this time? Have you had a sudden change of heart?” 

“Then I must thank this friend.” An Xin eyes Li Pu for a moment before smiling. Li Pu doesn’t respond.

Li Pu didn’t respond.

They proceed with another thorough psychological consultation. The process flows smoothly, and An Xin sits back at his computer to enter the diagnosis.

“Insomnia?”

“A little.”

“…No need to downplay it now.” An Xin looks up at the man sitting across from him, noticing the pale blue circles beneath his thick-framed glasses. The truth is all too obvious. 

Li Pu remains silent. Although he goes to bed at nine, he can’t deny that his eyes stay open until midnight. 

Still, it was better than the sleepless nights he used to have.

An Xin considers this and writes a prescription. “Let’s stick with the same medication as before. However, it’s best to reduce your reliance on it.” He pauses, handing the prescription over. “I hope by your next visit, you’ll have fully recovered.”

Li Pu takes the prescription and nods.

…

Meanwhile, back at home.

Bai Gaoxing stares at the blinking charging light of the laptop under the coffee table—after seeing Li Pu’s mobile phone, he suddenly remembers the un-cleared browsing history on the laptop that he has forgotten about.

For the past few days, Li Pu hasn’t turned on his laptop, which is a relief, but he can’t deny that it feels like a ticking time bomb. He doesn’t know whether Li Pu has checked the browsing history yet.

Or… should he take this chance to destroy the evidence?

As soon as the idea forms, Bai Gaoxing dismisses it. In his current body, he definitely can’t move the laptop out of the drawer. 

Still, Bai Gaoxing tries. He bites the power cord, tugging at it, but lets go before he can bite through it. 

He stares at the deep bite mark, then grabs a napkin and tosses it over the evidence. 

Sorry about that. If there’s an issue, he’ll do his best to make up for it, but he has to ensure Li Pu won’t turn him into a braised parrot.

Being alone at home is far too boring. Bai Gaoxing flies to the balcony to admire the scenery for a while, then fishes the remote control out from between the couch cushions and turns on the TV.

Though this world isn’t his original one, the TV programs are pretty similar. After flipping through some news and cartoons, Bai Gaoxing stops when he spots a drama. 

Nothing special—just that the actor looks very familiar. 

Isn’t that Li Pu?

Bai Gaoxing stares at the screen. The makeup alters Li Pu’s features slightly, and his eyes are an unusual color. Plus, he’s wearing a black trench coat. 

In short, this isn’t some ordinary drama.

 It must be said that Li Pu is extremely photogenic. His handsome features and tall, lean figure are stunning from every angle. Especially in this eerie, suspenseful drama, it gives him an extra air of mystery.

…And then, right before Bai Gaoxing’s eyes, Li Pu transforms into a black cat. 

Definitely mysterious.

Bai Gaoxing is left wide-eyed, speechless at the special effects. 

He never would’ve guessed that Li Pu would star in an urban fantasy drama, but somehow the genre suits him… perhaps because it resonates with the surreal situation Li Pu is currently living through—like having a parrot that is actually a person from another world.

Since it’s Li Pu acting, Bai Gaoxing keeps watching and gradually gets drawn in. Just as he is getting into it, he hears someone opening the door. Panicking, he quickly jabs at the remote with his beak to turn off the TV, jumps off the couch, and flies to greet the person entering. 

Just before the TV turns off, the scene on screen freezes on a man revealing his true identity, his eyes lowered as he says, “Actually, I’m not human…”

Li Pu enters, casually placing his keys and the bag in his hand on the table in front of the aquarium. He removes his mask and glasses, hanging them on the wall beside him. 

Curious, Bai Gaoxing flies over to the table and tries to peek into the bag, but before he can undo the tie, Li Pu picks it up again and heads straight for the bedroom. 

How mysterious.

Bai Gaoxing suddenly thinks of the TV show he just watched. Whatever is in that bag, it definitely isn’t health products, as he can smell the distinct scent of disinfectant on Li Pu.

Watching Li Pu turn into the bedroom, Bai Gaoxing flaps his wings and follows. He expects to be shut out of the room like usual, but to his surprise, the door is left open this time, and the faint sounds of clothes rustling can be heard from inside.

This is the first time Bai Gaoxing sees Li Pu’s bedroom. He pauses, not flying straight in but cautiously poking his head around the corner. 

The room is decorated simply, with warm tones that create a relaxed atmosphere. It is completely different from the cold, detached image Bai Gaoxing has of Li Pu. Sunlight streams through the window, filling the room with a warm glow. Li Pu’s coat hangs neatly on the wall, and the bag is placed on the bedside table.

Looking closer, Bai Gaoxing notices a medicine box on the nightstand that is similar in color to the bag, along with a half-empty glass of water beside it. 

“Dabai?” Li Pu calls out.

Bai Gaoxing ignores him, flapping his wings as he flies over to the bedside table. When he lands, a few of his feathers stick to the clean, neatly made bed.

His eyes fall on the medicine box. The text on it is unfamiliar to him, but the words “calming sleep aid” in the bottom right corner are enough to tell him what the medicine is for.

Bai Gaoxing’s pupils tremble. 

His owner really is sick!

Before, he was just suspicious. After all, Li Pu’s habit of sitting quietly and meditating in corners is strange and doesn’t match the energy a man his age should have. But now, with the medicine—the box on the bedside table almost empty, and several identical boxes in the bag—it is clear that his cheap owner has a long-term condition that requires treatment.

Ah…

Bai Gaoxing feels a strange sense of guilt. 

Thinking back on how he has been messing around and pestering Li Pu to play with him over the past few days, disturbing his solitude, Bai Gaoxing now realizes he has been tormenting a sick man.

This won’t do.

No, this isn’t right!

Bai Gaoxing stares seriously at Li Pu. This man needs care and protection. 

He can’t disturb him anymore. 

It’s fine, Bai Gaoxing thinks. He can take care of himself. He can do it!

Bai Gaoxing resolves himself to this plan, but he is unaware that his intense, spinning thoughts are fully visible in Li Pu’s eyes. 

Li Pu, meanwhile, looks at him, utterly confused.

Previously, Da Bai has been fine, but after flying into the bedroom and seeing the medicine on the nightstand, he starts acting a bit strange. 

Could it be that the smell of the medicine affects birds?

Li Pu’s face darkens. He quickly ties the bag of medicine tightly and shoves the empty box into the drawer. 

Bai Gaoxing blinks, as if to signal that he understands. 

Li Pu doesn’t want to expose his pain in front of anyone. 

Not even to a bird. 

Got it.

With a squawk, Bai Gaoxing spreads his wings and shakily flies out of the room. 

Things unfold just as Bai Gaoxing imagines. 

That night, Li Pu sits on the sofa again, shutting himself off from the world. 

Bai Gaoxing instinctively stretches out a claw to check on him but quickly pulls it back. 

He has to be mindful of the patient’s mood.

He realizes that living alone is already difficult enough for Li Pu. He doesn’t want to add to his troubles. 

So, Bai Gaoxing obediently goes into his cage. He checks the food box and sees that about a third of it remains, enough to last until tomorrow. Content, he leans against the edge of the cage and falls asleep.

Before long, it is nine o’clock. 

Fast asleep, Bai Gaoxing doesn’t notice Li Pu, who has been sitting on the couch in a daze, glancing at the cage for a long time. Slowly, Li Pu gets up and walks over to the cage. 

A hint of confusion flickers in his dark eyes, followed by curiosity. He stares at the sleeping parrot in the cage for a while before quietly returning to his bedroom.

The screen of his phone lit up.

[Search: What should I do if the big parrot I’ve had for only three days suddenly starts ignoring me?]

…

The next morning, Bai Gaoxing is rudely awakened by the familiar sound of angry shouting downstairs. 

“…”

He is used to it by now. c

Yawning, Bai Gaoxing prepares to eat. But as he turns around, he sees Li Pu walking toward him with a fresh bag of food.

He watches in amazement as Li Pu fills the food box to the brim. The fragrant smell of grains, sunflower seeds, and nourishing pills fills the air. 

Is the sun rising from the west?

Bai Gaoxing tilts his head and looks at Li Pu, puzzled. Normally, he has to call out before Li Pu will refill his food. Why is he being so proactive today?

But this isn’t a question he can ask. After refilling the food, Li Pu leaves, tapping away on his phone as he messages someone.

[Dabai has some psychological trauma. You need to give it time; it’s only been a few days.]

[It’s already getting close to you. Just observe for now—it’ll come around.]

[If it doesn’t improve, I’ll check on it after I finish up here.]

Li Pu sighs quietly, turning off his phone before slipping it back into his pocket.

…

Wake up, eat bird food, watch Li Pu go for his morning run or buy groceries, argue with the bird downstairs, take a nap, sneak a bite of human food, watch TV… 

 Li Pu’s vacation life is too monotonous—retirement is not as peaceful as this. The only noticeable change is that lately, Li Pu’s attitude toward him improves—enough that he can sneak a few extra bites of food during meals.

But no matter how good things get, it can’t compare to having a proper conversation. 

After holding it in for these past few days, Bai Gaoxing is about to lose his mind.

Bai Gaoxing is extremely cautious about speaking. The last thing he wants is to be dissected as a monster or to end up repeating the same phrases every day like a fool. Plus, talking is exhausting. He only mutters to himself quietly late at night or when no one is around, just to keep his language skills from deteriorating.

The good news is that his speech ability hasn’t declined; in fact, it has improved. The bad news is that if he doesn’t start talking soon, he might really get depressed and start plucking his feathers.

After three days of this endless cycle, Bai Gaoxing can’t take it anymore. 

On this beautiful night, he flies over to Li Pu, determined to confess. 

He clears his throat, carefully watching Li Pu’s reaction, and says, “Actually, I’m a human being.”