IBFAIBPMSH Chapter 25

Unlike last time when Li Pu is on a business trip and books a flight with a fixed schedule, this time it is just a gathering among friends, and it is uncertain when he will be back. What if the bar closes early? What if fans recognize him and he has to run away? What if...

So, Bai Gaoxing is cautious and doesn’t turn on the computer in the study. 

After all, Li Pu’s phone will do just fine.

Bai Gaoxing pushes a tissue across the table and presses it against the heavy metal fruit plate. Then, carefully gripping the thin, flexibLi Pune case with his beak—trying not to puncture it—he lifts the phone and props it up against the tissue.

The surface of the glass coffee table is slippery, and as soon as the phone leans on it, it slides down diagonally. Bai Gaoxing ponders for a moment, looks around, and drags over a heavier small plate.

With the plate to prop it up and the data cable pulling slightly, the phone finally stands at a slightly tilted angle.

Satisfied, Bai Gaoxing unlocks the phone and opens Firefly Live.

Similar to Xinghuo, which requires accumulating spark points, Firefly Live is based on "firefly points." The number of views a work receives translates into a corresponding number of firefly points. If a work posted on the same day reaches a certain threshold, the platform pushes it to more viewers.

But it doesn’t matter now—he isn’t expecting to reach that level anyway.

Bai Gaoxing clicks into the backend and is surprised to find that his number of fans has grown from ten to fifty. 

Not bad... quite a good conversion rate.

He then begins thinking about what to film.

Bai Gaoxing paces back and forth on the edge of the coffee table, his wings fidgeting as he thinks hard, the feathers on his head quivering. 

After all, he isn’t a professional in this area and doesn’t have much inspiration. He only recalls the short videos he made back when he was human—mostly explanations of knowledge points, like tips for the CET-4 and CET-6 exams, how to quickly familiarize oneself with a language, or even goofy videos like career possibilities in niche languages...

But now that he is a bird, he can’t possibly hold a notebook and pen, seriously lecturing the camera with topics that would put anyone to sleep, right?

The thought alone is... well, even he finds it ridiculous.

Bai Gaoxing is in a daze for a long time and finds that the best prop is actually human hands. He strokes and touches a fat white parrot, showing that the parrot is well-behaved and good to touch, which is very eye-catching.

Bai Gaoxing stares blankly for a while and realizes the best prop is actually human hands. Filming a plump, white parrot being stroked and petted, showing off how cute and well-behaved it is, would definitely draw attention.

Unfortunately, that isn’t an option for him now.

But he can pet himself.

Deep in thought, Bai Gaoxing presses the record button, lifts a claw, and pets his own head. 

If he were human, this would be a pretty difficult move, but as a bird, it is no problem at all—he can even curl his claws and tug at his tuft of feathers, stroking it forwards, backwards, however he likes.

Bai Gaoxing squints, trying to make the expression he remembers parrots having when they enjoy themselves, only to be horrified when he realizes that on his own face, while cute, it is incredibly embarrassing.

His bird face heats up, and his claw trembles slightly.

Enough! That adorable creature in the camera definitely isn’t him!

After finishing a set of actions while holding back his shame, Bai Gaoxing chooses another cute pop background music and clicks "Save to Draft."

No need to send it just yet.

Bai Gaoxing continues to brainstorm ideas for the second and third videos. He eventually settles on singing one, reciting a poem in another, and wrapping it all up with some casual chat to give off a smart impression.

The most important thing is to keep his voice consistent with the unique tone of a parrot and avoid slipping into his normal human voice—otherwise, people might accuse him of using a voice-over.

He doesn’t want Li Pu to end up taking the blame for him.

Bai Gaoxing replays the three videos over and over again. Gradually, the overwhelming shame that washes over him begins to subside, and his perspective shifts from "Who is this even?" to "This bird is actually pretty cute."

Not bad.

Having watched plenty of cute pet videos himself, Bai Gaoxing feels that his content is on par, so he posts the videos one by one.

After posting, he scrolls through the recommended videos. 

Partly to pass the time and partly to study the market. 

Even if he is just filming for fun now, he still wants to improve his craft.

But things don’t go as planned. Bai Gaoxing quickly finds himself addicted to funny videos, endlessly liking and saving them. When he finally snaps out of it, he notices a number on the "Message" icon in the lower right corner.

What’s going on?

With a nervous flutter, Bai Gaoxing opens the message. He is met with a flood of likes and comments on his three videos.

@CakeLittleBlueberry and 59 others liked your video.

@SillyGirl: Aaaahhh this is too cute!!!

@OrangeCrab: Is this your own pet? It speaks so well!

@AAA Cute Pet Market: OMG, this is the first time I’ve heard a parrot recite Shui Diao Ge Tou! Are parrots competing in poetry recitals now? ...

And many more...

Wait, really?

Bai Gaoxing hadn’t expected the response to be this positive. He sighs, realizing that cuteness really is the ultimate truth in this world. He quickly types a reply: "Thank you for liking it!" and pins it to the top.

Among the three videos, the singing one has the fewest likes. Maybe it is because his singing is a bit off-key? But that is just how he is—it can’t be helped.

Bai Gaoxing clicks on the singing video again and listens to it. He decides to enjoy the peace of keeping the quiet moments for himself while leaving the "evil sounds" for others to hear.

He continues to watch more videos, humming the tune as he scrolls through his phone. What he doesn’t realize is that, with the platform’s algorithm working in his favor, those videos are now being recommended to hundreds of people and spreading rapidly.

The firefly points required for them to be pushed to the homepage are drawing closer and closer.

…

Meanwhile, at a nearby food stall.

The clamor of voices, one overlapping the other, is enough to give anyone a headache. Sparks from the barbecue mix with thick smoke, drifting straight up into the sky.

In the corner of a group of plastic tables, Li Pu and Peter Wang sit facing each other.

"I thought..." Li Pu says carefully, "you would choose a quieter place."

“What did you say—?” At that moment, a group of young men nearby, caught up in the excitement of their drinking games, shout and cheer loudly. Peter Wang leans forward, cupping his hand behind his ear, and yells, “I can’t hear you—!”

Li Pu: “…”

Once the noise dies down, he repeats himself.

"Oh, that." Peter Wang responds, "If we go to a bar, someone’s bound to recognize you. And restaurants are too formal. Food stalls are perfect—lots of people, all kinds of people. No matter what you're wearing, no one pays attention to you."

The two young men, both wearing hats and masks, looked at each other.

The two young men, both wearing hats and masks, look at each other. Li Pu’s reason for dressing like this is obvious. As for Peter Wang, his natural blonde hair stands out everywhere he goes. He has considered dyeing it but is allergic to most hair dyes and hates the idea of wearing a wig.

Li Pu, knowing his childhood friend all too well, says, "Tell me the truth."

Peter Wang sighs, "Alright, I’ve never eaten at a food stall before. I want to try it." He grabs the menu card from the table. “I really envy how easygoing your parents are. You’re the perfect example of a ‘good kid’... Which of these is good?”

Celebrities have strict dietary restrictions. Li Pu: “I have no idea.”

"If I’d known, I would’ve just eaten at your place," Peter Wang grumbles, glancing at the menu before yelling out, "Boss! A large serving of crayfish! Just a little spicy."

"Got it!" comes the immediate response from the grill.

“You have no idea how tough it’s been for me these past few years while you’ve been back. Being alone over there is unbearable…” Peter Wang grumbles as he opens a beer, venting about how strictly he is controlled abroad, his complaints so intense that they could carry him eight hundred meters away to play the role of a water ghost in the nearby Nanhu Park.

Li Pu, being a natural listener, quietly takes it all in.

Since childhood, Li Pu has always been the model "child from someone else’s family."

An only child, raised in a warm family with enlightened parents who have never doubted him. Even when he chooses to pursue an acting career at the best age, his parents don’t object. They simply tell him: Be brave and chase your dreams. If you don’t make it, you can always come home and inherit the family business.

Unexpectedly, he made a name for himself.

Still, Li Pu’s parents have their own concerns. 

Precisely because their son is so independent and never seems to need anything from them, they find themselves worrying. After all, one person is still just one person. On top of that, their child seems to be more dedicated to acting than others, and it is harder for him to step away from it. Because of this, they feel that staying in the entertainment industry might not be the best choice.

For these reasons, they don’t force him to change his path, but they hint a few times: Son, stop messing around and come home to get married.

Li Pu, of course, pretends not to understand.

In his plans, he still…

"Anyway, there's no way I'm going back in the next two years. Do you think I should destroy my card and fake my death, or pretend I’ve gone missing?" Peter Wang, now a little drunk, asks his friend's opinion.

Li Pu remembers that Peter's mother has already been informed of his return to China. She doesn’t seem interested in dragging him back home and instead asks Li Pu to keep an eye on him. After a long pause, Li Pu says, "Just send them a message every now and then."

Peter Wang stays silent and then burps.

Covering his face, he sobs, "I miss them a little."

Li Pu sighs inwardly. It is obvious that his friend is just going through a temporary spat with his family.

The evening stretches on longer than expected. Childhood friends who haven’t seen each other in years always have a lot to catch up on, and there are plenty of tipsy, rambling conversations in between. When Li Pu finally manages to get Peter into a car, Peter grabs his sleeve and suddenly asks, “Has your mom been nagging you about getting married?"

Li Pu hesitates for a moment, then replies, "Yes."

Immediately, Peter, feeling the solidarity of shared struggles, pats his chest and declares, "Tell me, what kind of person do you like? I'll help you find someone! Tall, short, fat, thin, sexy, and wild!"

Li Pu gives a sideways glance at the driver in the front seat, then with an exasperated look, shoves Peter further into the car. "Please take him home. Thank you."

As the taxi drives off, Li Pu suddenly realizes there is something heavy in his hand: "..."

Peter has packed food and forgotten to take it with him.

Oh well, guess it's midnight snack time. He doesn’t eat much anyway.

When Li Pu returns home, Bai Gaoxing is humming to himself.

After Li Pu leaves, Bai Gaoxing keeps an eye on the time. As soon as the phone charges to ten percent, he unplugs it and continues playing.

He expects Li Pu to return by the time his phone battery reaches 1%, but the phone powers off, and still, Li Pu is nowhere in sight.

The good news: he doesn’t have to worry about getting caught secretly charging the phone. The bad news: how is he supposed to survive without a phone?!

Bai Gaoxing turns on the TV and rolls around on the sofa, listening absentmindedly to the sound. When he hears the door unlock, he can’t even be bothered to get up.

Li Pu, surprised not to see the usual shadow leaping toward him when he enters, glances at the sofa and finds the sight amusing.

It is the first time he hasn’t been home after nine o’clock. Is Dabai... sleepy?

Li Pu suspects he has successfully trained a biological clock into Bai Gaoxing. He walks over to check and sets the bag in his hand on the coffee table.

Hmm... What’s that smell...?

Just as he is about to reach out and touch Bai Gaoxing, the bird suddenly springs to life, fluttering his wings and leaping next to the bag.

Crayfish!

"It smells so good! Thank you! It smells so good! Thank you!" Bai Gaoxing is almost incoherent with excitement, not knowing how to express his gratitude for the owner who has gone out to eat and remembered to bring something back for him.

But in the next second, Li Pu cruelly pushes him away and takes the bag back.

"You can’t eat this."

Why?!

Bai Gaoxing looks shocked and angry as he watches Li Pu head to the kitchen, get a bowl, and start peeling the crayfish.

The red and white meat is neatly piled in the bowl, while the bright red shells stack up on the table. Bai Gaoxing reaches out to grab one, but Li Pu quickly pulls it away.

My heart hurts...

"Isn't it for me?" he asks, his voice laced with disappointment.

"No," Li Pu replies coldly.

"Isn't it for me?" Bai Gaoxing insists, stepping on Li Pu's hand and shaking his fluffy body in protest.

"No. Be obedient and get down." Li Pu struggles to peel the crayfish, his hands covered in oil, and he has to half-lift Bai Gaoxing to get him to move.

"It's not for me..." Bai Gaoxing’s mood plummets. He turns away and waddles over to the small pile of shrimp shells.

Well, at least licking the shells should be fine, right? He can handle a little spice.

Bai Gaoxing compromises. He grabs a crayfish head with his claw, staring at it longingly. The slightly red sauce glistens on the shrimp shell, slowly dripping down, its tempting aroma filling his senses. His tongue inches closer, the delicious spicy scent overwhelming his nostrils—

Whoosh!

The shells are swept into the trash.

To make matters worse, when Li Pu notices the crayfish head still in Bai Gaoxing's claws, he reaches out and takes it away without a word, disregarding the red oil that stains his fingers.

Bai Gaoxing stares at him in shock, his heart breaking into pieces.

Perhaps feeling the weight of his gaze, Li Pu looks back at him, smiles gently, and then places the peeled crayfish into a new plastic bag before getting up to put it in the refrigerator.

Why is it like this...?

Bai Gaoxing watches with longing eyes, and in the end, all he can do is turn back and carefully tuck a fallen piece of shrimp shell into his feathers.

Poor me.

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