BFAIBPMSH Chapter 90

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? ? ?

? ? ? ? !

Bai Gaoxing imagines countless reactions from Li Pu after seeing him—surprise, fear, panic—but he never expects that Li Pu will simply make a phone call and leave.

No, where are you? ? ?

Bai Gaoxing watches Li Pu’s figure disappear from his sight, his eyes full of disbelief.

Then, he shudders.

November is already very cold, and the sensation of skin sticking to cold tiles is unpleasant. On top of that, the bathroom window is still slightly open, and the cool wind blows in, sharp and biting like needles.

Bai Gaoxing realizes that he isn't wearing anything.

So… feathers really do count as part of the body?

He tries to hug himself to keep warm, but he can’t even raise his arms properly; his movements are stiff and slow. He has no choice but to seek help from someone, and Li Pu is the only one in the room.

"Li..."

He opens his mouth and forces out a sound with difficulty.

"Li... cough..." The sound is still unclear, but it’s much better than before.

"Li, Pu..."

Saying the words is harder than he expects. Bai Gaoxing doesn’t understand—he speaks so fluently as a parrot, but now, after becoming human, it’s as if he has lost his ability to speak.

He pants slightly and adjusts his voice. "Li, Pu. Li, Pu."

He can’t shout.

Bai Gaoxing lowers his eyes. Though only a few dozen seconds have passed, his fingers are already turning red from the cold, and the chill begins to spread.

He takes a deep breath and tries again with a more audible name.

"... Master!"

Outside the door, Li Pu pauses for a moment, then continues to walk.

After saying these words, Bai Gaoxing's cheeks flush with embarrassment, and his palms clench involuntarily. There are always differences between humans and birds. For example, when he was a bird, his feathers were so thick that he never blushed when he spoke.

He looks at the door expectantly, hoping Li Pu will hear him and return in the next second.

But no one comes.

Bai Gaoxing waits quietly for a while, then lowers his head in disappointment.

That’s right... no one could accept such a thing so quickly. He can totally understand.

Then, be self-reliant!

Bai Gaoxing turns his attention back to himself, trying to move his legs and arms, attempting to stand up by holding the wall. Although he doesn’t know how long it will take, the situation is much better than before. At least now, he can feel the existence of his legs and feet.

Bai Gaoxing moves on the ground bit by bit, carefully and persistently controlling his body, and finally gets closer to the wall. However, just moments ago, he suddenly turned into a human and bumped into the shelf. Now, as he moves, he feels a dull pain in his body.

He sighs.

Suddenly, a shadow covers his head.

The incredibly soft touch stuns Bai Gaoxing, and then a soft cloth wraps around him. A warm palm presses against his cheek, and the fingertips gently wipe under his eyes.

"Don’t cry."

Bai Gaoxing realizes that his tears seem to have never stopped from the beginning.

He stares at the man in front of him in a daze, and his tears flow more violently when he sees his calm eyes and gentle expression.

Li Pu purses his lips.

He isn’t exactly good at comforting people.

Perhaps he should first understand what is happening, but at that moment, he only thinks of going to the bedroom to get some clothes.

...Especially after hearing the word "master," even though it’s hard to believe, he confirms the boy’s identity.

Dabai.

It can only be Dabai. Li Pu lowers his eyes. The boy’s hair is exactly the same as Dabai’s—almost pure and flawless white—but there’s a hint of gray hanging down from the top of his head, as if it’s dyed. His fluffy short hair makes him look very well-behaved, and the hair at the back of his head is noticeably longer, almost like a drooping feather crown.

Even his eyelashes have bits of snow-white in them.

In the boy’s pair of black, bright, and clear eyes, there is no trace of strangeness, only familiarity and trust.

"You..." Li Pu considers what to say, "Can you stand up?"

Bai Gaoxing shakes his head.

The next moment, he sees Li Pu’s face draw closer, and then he’s embraced in a warm hug.

His body is lifted into the air, and his perspective shifts. Bai Gaoxing opens his eyes wide in shock and instinctively grabs Li Pu’s arm. He subconsciously tries to struggle, but his back and knees are held even tighter.

A complete sense of security.

Bai Gaoxing turns his eyes, and from this angle, he sees the bathroom, which is a mess due to his crash. Probably because he turned into a human after standing on the shelf, the shelf has completely crushed, with only one of the four fixed corners remaining. All the cans and bottles have fallen and rolled to the ground.

"Li..." He raises his finger and speaks more clearly, “Aren’t we... going to clean this up?”

Li Pu glances back, his eyes lingering on it for less than a second, "I’ll clean it up later."

“...Mm.”

Very light.

This is Li Pu’s first impression. The boy’s body is thin and tall, typical of young people. Even with a thin layer of muscle, it doesn’t weigh much.

I wonder if this has anything to do with him being a bird...

However, there’s still some flesh where it should be.

Li Pu does his best to ignore the soft sensation he accidentally touches when picking the boy up earlier. He quickly walks over and gently places the boy on the bed.

Then he goes to the closet to find clothes for him.

At this moment, Bai Gaoxing finally calms down.

He shakes his head, which has been a little dazed since he turned back into a human, and turns to look at Li Pu.

The man is facing away from him, rummaging through the closet.

Bai Gaoxing looks down at the clothes Li Pu is wearing now, which are plush, soft, loose, and comfortable. Maybe... pajamas?

He blinks, and his vision, which has become a little blurry from crying, clears up again.

Soon, Li Pu finds the clothes he has kept at the bottom of the closet.

The boy definitely won’t be able to wear his current size, so he finds the clothes he wore when he was younger, along with brand-new underwear that he has never used.

"Can you wear this?" He hands the clothes to the boy.

"Yes!" Bai Gaoxing nods vigorously and slowly reaches out to take the clothes.

Although his movements are still a little slow, it’s much better than before. He has to prove he’s fully capable of taking care of himself! Otherwise, he will be looked down on.

"That’s good." Li Pu breathes a sigh of relief. "Then you change your clothes first. I’ll go out and wait—"

Bai Gaoxing is already lying on his back on the bed, his temporarily powerless legs tangled in his pajamas. "Help me!"

Li Pu: "..."

After helping the boy put on a complete set of clothes, Li Pu buttons his shirt to the top and helps tidy his messy hair. "Okay."

The boy sits on the edge of the bed, like an exquisite human-shaped doll.

Li Pu looks at him quietly, seemingly calm, but his thoughts are a mess.

Is this reality? Or is he dreaming?

After he thought that Dabai was human, Dabai really becomes a human, and his appearance is very similar to the pictures he has seen. So, there must be something wrong with his brain. Maybe it’s just that his consciousness is interfering with his vision. Dabai is actually still a parrot, but he looks like a human...

Li Pu slowly reaches out and pinches the boy’s face.

"Hmm?" Bai Gaoxing looks at Li Pu’s action in surprise. His cheek is pinched, and his voice becomes vague, "Gaha?"

It seemed like a real person.

While Li Pu is lost in thought, a text message comes from his mobile phone. It’s from Mei Youshu: [Brother Li, I’ve already registered for you. Are you going in the afternoon?]

After looking for a while, he types a reply. [No need.]

Then he puts the phone back in his pocket.

"It’s so big."

On this side, Bai Gaoxing, now dressed, shakes his sleeves, which have grown a little longer, and can’t help but sigh.

Li Pu turns his eyes away. Although he has tried his best to find clothes from his younger years, they’re still too loose for the boy’s frame.

So, he helps the boy roll up his sleeves and fasten the cuffs.

Then, he remains silent.

Li Pu has no idea what to say.

But strangely, he feels that this situation is somewhat familiar.

Where has he seen this before? Right, it was the plot of a TV drama he once filmed.

In that urban fantasy drama, he played a black cat that could turn into a human. The circumstances of his first transformation are a bit similar to what is happening now. He still remembers the lines from the actor who played opposite him. The lines are roughly...

"First time turning into a human?"

Bai Gaoxing looks completely confused.

But seeing Li Pu's serious and solemn expression, he hesitantly responds, "Yes... do other animals turn into humans too?" With such calmness, could it be that this world really has supernatural phenomena!?

The answer is of course no.

Li Pu begins to have a headache again.

That line seems especially bad; he should have said something else. For example, in the logic of those TV dramas, abnormal phenomena—ghosts, goblins—would appear in front of people, usually to ask them to help fulfill their wishes.

"Is there anything you want to do?" Li Pu thinks this question is more reliable.

Sure enough, after asking, the boy is stunned for a moment before nodding.

"What is it?" Li Pu tries to keep his tone steady.

"I'm hungry, I want to eat." Bai Gaoxing says, holding his rumbling stomach.

...

Li Pu thinks he might really be going crazy.

Otherwise, why would he see Dabai turn into a human, and now he’s still cooking for Dabai who has turned into a human?

Li Pu, who has clung to materialism for more than 20 years, is on the verge of breaking. While telling himself this is probably an illusion, he’s sure the illusion can't feel so real.

(Translator’s Notes: Materialism, in the philosophical sense, is the belief that physical matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena, including mental phenomena and consciousness, can be explained in terms of matter and physical processes. In a materialist view, everything that exists is either made of matter or is a result of interactions between material substances.)

The steaming porridge is served on the table, exuding an enticing rice aroma. Li Pu has cooked a fresh pot, different from the one made for breakfast.

On the table, Bai Gaoxing’s eyes light up.

He looks at Li Pu, then at the porridge placed in front of him. He swallows his saliva. "Yes, can I eat it?"

Li Pu nods. Bai Gaoxing eagerly picks up the spoon, but his hands and arms are shaking.

He still can't control his body. He was even carried into the dining room earlier. The spoon he scoops up the rice porridge wobbles, and half of it spills before it reaches his mouth.

But he still enjoys it, and the joy in his eyes is so bright.

After a few attempts, Li Pu can’t stand it anymore. He takes the spoon from the boy’s hand. "Open your mouth."

"Ah?" Bai Gaoxing is stunned for a moment, then opens his mouth wide: "Ah—"

The rice porridge is fed one spoonful at a time.

Bai Gaoxing relaxes his hands, sits upright at the table, and waits to be fed.

Li Pu's expression is tense.

His eyes are still on the boy, and he keeps feeding him, but the absurd reality has shocked him so much that he can’t help but lose focus while feeding.

"Li Pu!"

A breathless and surprised cry brings him back to his senses.

He has fed the boy incorrectly.

Li Pu looks at the spoon he has poked against the boy's cheek and the porridge on his face. Quickly, he grabs a tissue and wipes him off. "... Sorry."

Bai Gaoxing allows the man to wipe him, and the skin that is rubbed with a little force turns red. He blinks. "It's okay. What's wrong with you?"

Li Pu doesn’t know how to answer.

After dinner, Bai Gaoxing becomes idle again.

Bai Gaoxing watches the man washing dishes in the kitchen, thinks for a moment, and slowly stands up, using the dining table for support.

He has adapted to his body quite well, but he wants to regain his freedom of movement as quickly as possible. However, he overestimates his control over his legs. As soon as Bai Gaoxing takes a step, he stumbles forward.

"Be careful!"

The door behind him opens quickly, and an arm stops him firmly, preventing him from falling flat on his face.

"Thank you..." Bai Gaoxing smiles awkwardly.

He hugs the arm across his chest and turns his head expectantly. "Can you help me walk?"

For the whole afternoon, Bai Gaoxing practices walking with Li Pu’s help.

It’s a completely novel experience, like relearning everything. If he didn’t have the memory of walking in his mind, it would probably take him much longer to succeed.

In the spacious living room, the boy stumbles as he walks, with the man always following closely behind, reaching out to steady him whenever he starts to fall, and more than once, being nearly knocked into his arms.

Bai Gaoxing’s forehead is sweating, his cheeks gradually flushed, but his eyes grow brighter with excitement, and his steps become more relaxed. After crashing into Li Pu one last time, he doesn’t push the man away to stand up but hugs him tightly.

"I'm so tired." He whispers, "Let me rest for a while."

Li Pu hesitates for a moment, then raises his hand and touches his head.

Just like before.

Then, he feels a wet heat against his chest.

The boy chokes at first, then trembles and cries, and eventually breaks down completely, as if he is trying to vent something.

Li Pu gently pats his back and says nothing.

The setting sun pours in through the French windows, and the warm glow envelops the two of them.

After a long time, Bai Gaoxing finally lifts his head from Li Pu’s chest. His eyes are wet and red, and his eyelashes, glistening with tears, look bright.

"I... actually... didn’t want to cry..."

He rarely cries.

Bai Gaoxing doesn’t know how to make the other person believe him, but suddenly he finds the situation particularly funny. He sobs and grumbles in his throat.

He is just... too happy.

At this moment, he isn’t alone anymore. He doesn’t have to rely on himself for everything like before.

After a while, Bai Gaoxing feels a little embarrassed for crying so long. He quickly wipes his tears, sniffles his nose, and asks hoarsely, "What are we eating tonight?"

Li Pu: "..."

Their eyes meet. There's no doubt it is Dabai.

...

Later that night, Li Pu cleans up a guest room for Bai Gaoxing.

"Call me if you need anything."

Bai Gaoxing looks at the brand-new quilt and nods obediently to the man. "Okay."

However, late at night, Bai Gaoxing sneaks out of the guest room and runs to Li Pu’s bed.

He doesn’t know why, but he doesn’t want to be alone. Besides, he has gotten used to sleeping with Li Pu—whether as a person or a bird, it doesn’t matter!

The soft, big bed feels completely different from lying on it during the day. Bai Gaoxing happily hugs the quilt, rubs the pillow, and quietly moves closer to the warmth beside him.

Li Pu sleeps very soundly.

After staying up all night yesterday and a full day of deep thought, he falls asleep as soon as he touches the bed, with no signs of his usual insomnia.

In the dark, Bai Gaoxing listens to Li Pu's even breathing and carefully presses his head against Li Pu’s back.

Good, he doesn't wake up.

Bai Gaoxing slowly closes his eyes and falls asleep quickly.

The next morning.

Li Pu suddenly opens his eyes, his mind full of everything that has happened yesterday.

Even his dream last night had been about those events—bizarre and making him feel exhausted.

Wait.

Maybe it is all just a dream.

Li Pu hears the sound of birds in the distance, and he breathes a sigh of relief, his thoughts easing.

I tell myself it’s impossible for that to happen... In addition to the daytime events, I actually dreamed that Dabai, who had turned into a human, sneaked into my bed and slept with me.

…But this dream feels too real.

Li Pu rubs his forehead and sits up, still feeling a dull headache.

At that moment, a rustling sound suddenly catches his attention.

 Li Pu pauses, lowers his eyes, and sees the snow-white head lying on the bed.

Once their eyes meet, the boy’s eyes light up, and he raises his head, showing a bright and brilliant smile. "You're awake!"

Author's words:

Dabai: "You're awake! What's for breakfast?" (cheerful)

Li Pu: "I'm sure I'm not awake yet."

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