IBFAIBPMSH Chapter 15

As soon as the words leave his mouth, both the person and the bird in the car are momentarily stunned.

Seeing their reaction, Peter Wang can't contain his laughter, "You two are so in sync; is this what they call a pet resembling its owner?"

He then asks again, "Is it okay?"

"What do you want to do with Dabai?" Li Pu doesn't answer immediately but counters with a question.

"Just shoot a magazine," Peter Wang replies. "The sponsors are several gemstone companies. They've come up with a new idea: combining their work with animals. Everyone loves fluffy things. What do you think?"

Li Pu remains silent.

Bai Gaoxing envisions himself adorned in gold and jade, holding a large gem. It's quite exciting, to be honest.

Peter Wang smiles at him. "Dabai, if you're willing, just call. You have the final say. The money earned can buy you a lot of snacks."

Bai Gaoxing nods enthusiastically. "Okay, okay!"

The money isn't the main concern; the important thing is being able to go out. He would agree to anything, even if it means going to an exam right now!

After agreeing, he looks at Li Pu again, trying to convey his sincerity through his gaze.

Fortunately, Li Pu doesn't object and simply asks, "When?"

"It's hard to say," Peter Wang says. "But I need to set it with you first; who knows if they might suddenly change the schedule—like deciding to change things halfway."

Li Pu responds with a single word, "Okay."

So cool.

Bai Gaoxing feels sad about not being able to chat with anyone today.

After finishing his conversation with Peter Wang, Bai Gaoxing watches the phone screen go black again, feeling lost, and then Li Pu takes him past the community park.

It's the same spot as last time, and the old man with the birdcage has come down again. Of course, it's not because he has good eyesight, but rather because the magpie's screeching is like noise pollution, drilling deeply into his mind.

Bai Gaoxing shakes his head, not understanding how the starling can harbor so much resentment. He wakes up almost every day to its beautiful curse... yes, every day, every morning.

With new grievances and old grudges bubbling up, Bai Gaoxing holds back for a moment, but finally, when he's closest to it, he shouts in bird language, "Shut up!"

Li Pu is caught off guard by the loud voice again.

He takes a sharp breath, but unfortunately, he can't understand what Bai Gaoxing has said. All he knows is that the usually well-behaved and quiet Dabai has suddenly shouted. Perhaps it is excited to meet its own kind? he guesses.

So, after leaving the cover of the trees, Li Pu intentionally glances inside and coincidentally meets the old man's gaze.

"Oh, it's you, young man."

By the time Bai Gaoxing regains his composure, Li Pu has already taken him to sit on another stool the old man has brought down.

"The weather has been really bad these past two days, and my old arms and legs are sore..."

"I heard there's been a lot of rain lately. What's wrong with you..."

"Old problem..."

Bai Gaoxing has no intention of listening to the conversation between the two people. His eyes are fixed on the black starling in the mahogany cage, just as the starling's eyes are locked onto him.

The two stare at each other for a while, and finally, Bai Gaoxing can't stand the tension and breaks the silence.

"Damn it, why are you out here?" However, it's the starling that speaks first.

This is what he's afraid of.

Bai Gaoxing feels like a symbol is about to materialize on his forehead; he squawks, "Jealous, huh? Ha ha ha!"

Not only that, but he also spreads his wings and struts around on Li Pu's shoulders. "I can still walk, I can still jump, I can still jump!"

The starling is really angry.

It’s so angry that its black feathers bristle like thorns. "What are you so proud of, you bastard!? I'll kill you! I *****!"

The starling is like a lit firecracker, flapping and biting with its milky yellow beak, its claws scratching at the top of the cage. To the two onlookers, it looks frightened, jumping up and down inside the cage.

The old man immediately interrupts their conversation, hugging the cage with concern. "Xiaoguai, what's wrong with you?"

The starling is so enraged it’s panting.

Bai Gaoxing feels a chill run down his spine.

This temper might be even worse than a sparrow’s; would it really die from anger?

Li Pu observes Bai Gaoxing thoughtfully. "Is it scared of Dabai?"

Given that the starling is less than 30 cm long and the white parrot with tail feathers is nearly 40 cm, the size difference is quite apparent. Birds are inherently timid, so it makes sense for the starling to be scared.

The old man, distressed, raises his hand to cover the cage cloth.

Bai Gaoxing feels a twinge of regret. He has finally found someone who can talk and wants to chat more, but now it’s gone?

However, he doesn’t expect that the moment the old man raises his hand, the starling immediately perches on the round platform in the center of the cage and obediently recites the Eight Honors and Eight Shames.

Bai Gaoxing: ??

Li Pu is also confused. Why does it suddenly start talking?

The old man smiles kindly and pats the cage gently. "Okay, okay, then you can have fun."

He turns around to explain, "My Xiaoguai recites poems and talks when he doesn’t want to go home. He likes to play outside. Is your Xiaobai the same? He sticks to you every day just because he wants to go out and play."

Li Pu is about to say no—Dabai is very well-behaved and quiet at home—but suddenly remembers the mumbling he heard in the underground garage.

After a long pause, he finally manages to say, “… It’s like that.”

My dear!

Bai Gaoxing wishes he could grasp the old man’s hand and express his gratitude properly. He has been mumbling about wanting to play outside for a long time, yet Li Pu always assumes he’s just parroting and never considers his feelings.

He wonders if Li Pu will finally find his conscience this time.

Bai Gaoxing subconsciously glances at Li Pu and notices his thoughtful expression.

After a while, the old man hangs the cage under the shade of a tree, then takes a thick branch from the nearby green belt and places it next to the cage.

"Hang your little Bai up there to play; they all like it."

Li Pu is silent for a moment and tries to raise his hand to see if his pet is willing.

Bai Gaoxing eagerly climbs up.

After that, he doesn’t care how Li Pu is engaged in conversation with the old man; his focus is now on the starling.

Bai Gaoxing fixes his gaze on the pitch-black bird, which gleams with a metallic blue sheen, causing it to explode with curses again.

"You ***--"

"Do you still want to be covered?" Bai Gaoxing sneers. "I'm outside now; I can cover you. Just think about it—you'll never see the sun or the leaves again... Anyway, you won’t see anything!"

The starling is momentarily stunned by Bai Gaoxing’s shamelessness, a lump lodged in its throat, and finally lets out a single “Chirp.”

"Alright, chirp!" Bai Gaoxing shamelessly replies.

The starling takes a few deep breaths and replies coldly, "What do you want?"

He’s a cool guy with a slight husky voice.

Bai Gaoxing smiles amiably. "I’m new here and just wanted to ask you a few things, classmate."

The starling’s yellow eyes reveal confusion. "Classmate? What’s that?"

Bai Gaoxing shrugs. "Oh, I’m just used to it. Don’t mind the details."

After a pause, he asks, "Where is this place?" He has lived there for so long that, to be honest, he doesn’t even know the name of the community.

As expected, the starling shows a look of contempt. "You don’t even know this? Are you stupid?"

Bai Gaoxing scoffs, “Then tell me.”

The magpie responds, “Huan Tong Hua Yuan.”

Bai Gaoxing ponders. "Well... a little further out? Which street? Are there any important buildings nearby?"

The starling is speechless. "How should I know? I’ve lived here since I was a child. There’s a hospital, a shopping mall, and a subway station on the left outside. On the right... why are you asking this?" The black bird is shocked, looking at Bai Gaoxing in disbelief. "Are you planning to run away?"

Bai Gaoxing mentally maps out a route and hums casually, "What’s wrong with that?"

The starling clicks its beak. “If you want to run, I advise you not to do anything so brainless.”

Bai Gaoxing is intrigued. "What will happen?"

The starling's feathers bristle. "You’ll get caught by a stupid cat, have your brain eaten by a stupid shrike, or a stupid kid will break your wings and fill your stomach with sour water. It’s really stupid!"

One sentence brings four stupids. Truly impressive.

Bai Gaoxing suddenly feels that the starling is also in a difficult situation. It has probably seen all sorts of things while hanging outside.

But since it doesn’t know anything else, there’s nothing more to ask. Bai Gaoxing yawns lazily and engages in small talk.

"What do you usually do at home?"

"Eat, drink water, sleep, scold stupid magpies, and say congratulations and prosperity."

"What do you eat?"

"A mess; I can't really say. But I love to eat insects."

"What if you get bored?"

"Bored? Why would I be bored?"

"Because..." Bai Gaoxing tries to explain, "You hang outside all day, and there’s only one person at home. No one cares about you. How do you pass the time?"

Yes, this is his most important question! He really wants to know how other pet birds make life interesting. How can they avoid living a miserable life?

However, this time the starling tilts its head, confused. "Why would you be bored when there’s someone to keep you company at home?"

"Huh?" Bai Gaoxing doesn’t understand at first.

The starling says quickly, “Having a master is already quite satisfying, isn’t it? We only live for a few years, and every day spent with him isn’t boring at all.” This time it doesn’t curse anymore. “Before I die, just being with that old man is enough.”

Bai Gaoxing's eyes widen.

To be honest, he’s a bit moved. He can’t help but reflect on whether he’s been neglecting Li Pu.

Bai Gaoxing looks down at the man through the leaves. The usually indifferent face is now smiling. The sun adds a warm glow to him, making his handsome features even more attractive.

So, after Li Pu says goodbye to the old man and goes home, Bai Gaoxing struggles for a while between “I’m a person and shouldn’t think like a pet” and “I’m a pet now and should fulfill my duties.”

Finally, after Li Pu finishes tinkering with something on the balcony, he makes up his mind and jumps in front of him, saying, “Do you want to hear a joke?”

At the same moment, Li Pu says, "Dabai, do you want to go out and play?"

Bai Gaoxing silently looks at the carefully assembled stand on the balcony and the dazzling sunlight streaming in, bright enough to blind him. He shrinks back and retreats into the shadows.

... Never mind, thank you.

He’s afraid of getting sunburned.

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