IBFAIBPMSH Chapter 56

A soft yet majestic voice resonates throughout the palace, like a breeze gently pushing open a Buddhist bell. It gives off a feeling that is both convincing and tender, evoking pity.

The voice is mesmerizing. The words flow like pearls, and even the breath and rhythm are impeccably precise. No one can deny this speaker’s ability to deliver lines flawlessly.

Anyone familiar with Director Sun knows that he holds his actors to incredibly high standards when it comes to their basic skills. Furthermore, he is meticulous in selecting actors whose appearances and voices align closely with their characters. As a result, most of his TV series rely on the actors’ original voices rather than dubbing. This line, delivered with such emotion and finesse, could easily serve as a benchmark performance.

But behind the pearl curtain in the palace, Huang Shaqing feels a chill of terror. She knows with certainty: someone else delivered that line.

She peers out through the curtain, realizing she has missed the ideal moment to make her entrance. No matter what she does now, she won’t be able to match the rhythm of the scene.

What should I do? Should I go out now? Or should I call for the director to stop the scene? For the first time in her career, Huang Shaqing feels anxious about acting. Her heart races, cold sweat forming on her brow. This is my fault... Director Sun is going to kill me!

“Kacha!”

Sure enough, before she can make a decision, Director Sun’s voice roars from outside: “What’s going on!?”

The director is livid.

Huang Shaqing emerges from behind the curtain, her head hanging in shame. “I’m sorry, Director Sun. I was distracted.”

Director Sun, his eyes glued to the monitor, becomes even more enraged. “You can remember the lines, but you can’t walk!? Dabai performs so well just now, and you completely waste it! If Dabai doesn’t perform as well later, you’ve dug a hole for the entire crew!”

Huang Shaqing wants to cry but doesn’t dare. Dabai had performed too well—too well. It has scared her out of her wits!

“However,” Director Sun continues, attempting to calm himself in consideration of the animal’s presence, “this time, the delivery of the lines is outstanding. The audio quality is excellent. Keep it up.”

“Ah?” Huang Shaqing freezes, her confusion evident. She asks hesitantly, “Director Sun, are you saying... you think I delivered that line?”

“If not you, then me!?” Director Sun retorts, nearly laughing in disbelief. “It wasn’t your voice? Oh, it’s a bit rougher than usual, but if you listen closely, it’s definitely you. Do you have a cold?”

Huang Shaqing swallows hard. “Director Sun, I swear... it wasn’t me who said that line.”

“It wasn’t you?” Director Sun repeats, his frown deepening. “Then who was it?”

“It’s... it’s Dabai,” whispers the actress playing the palace maid.

She has been standing closest to the parrot and has clearly heard the voice coming from Dabai. To be honest, even if the scene hadn’t been ruined by Huang Shaqing missing her cue, it would’ve likely been interrupted because she almost forgot to exit the stage.

“Yes, I heard it was Dabai too,” Pei Jue chimes in, eager to back up the palace maid’s claim.

“What are you saying?” Director Sun turns to look at the two of them, his skeptical gaze sharp enough to slice through steel. The doubt in his eyes could drown a mosquito.

Next to the camera, the person in charge of the panoramic view calls up the footage just taken. "Director Sun, it was indeed Dabai who said it."

On the screen, after the palace maid delivers her line, the snow-white parrot opens its beak. After a brief pause, it delivers the next line with precision.

"...”

Director Sun lifts his head from the monitor. After a long silence, he turns to Li Pu, who looks just as surprised, and mutters an indecent word before exclaiming, “...Teacher Li, do you know your Dabai is this incredible?”

Meanwhile, Bai Gaoxing sits quietly in his cage, pretending to be dead.

Hearing the director’s booming voice, he flinches, his feathers sticking flat against his head. He hadn’t thought this through. He blurted out the lines on impulse, hoping to help, but he never considered the aftermath.

Imitating the maid’s voice is one thing—it’s a line he has rehearsed repeatedly, and the trainer had even shown him clips of the scene multiple times to help him memorize it.

But the empress’s line...

He’s only heard it once during the test shoot earlier.

Even Pei Jue, who has seen many rehearsals, hadn’t anticipated this.

Oh no. I’m doomed!

Bai Gaoxing stares intently at the ground, trying to count the tiles beneath him. Maybe if I stay quiet, no one will notice me, he thinks nervously.

Slowly, he tilts his head... and sees Li Pu’s face.

Ahhh, I’m so scared!

Startled, Bai Gaoxing loses his footing and slips off his perch. The gold chain tied to his claws tightens, nearly flipping him upside down.

Li Pu, who has only been glancing his way, immediately reaches out, lifts him up, and cradles him gently in his arms.

"..." 

Bai Gaoxing raises his claws skyward, glancing nervously between Li Pu and himself before squeezing his eyes shut.

“...Well done.”

After a pause, Bai Gaoxing hears the man’s calm voice offering praise.

Unable to resist, he peeks through one eye. Li Pu’s expression is both amused and helpless.

Maybe I’m okay after all?

With Li Pu’s help, he steadies himself back onto his perch. Straightening his posture, he strikes a pose, like a parrot surveying his kingdom.

Li Pu watches him thoughtfully for a moment, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a dried fruit provided by the trainer.

Dabai’s performance has far exceeded expectations—even better than when he rehearses with him. The “Breeding Manual” recommends rewards as positive reinforcement.

Noticing how Dabai’s fluffy feathers puff up slightly at the compliment, Li Pu realizes the praise has made him happy.

Smiling, he gently strokes the parrot’s head.

Soon after, Director Sun, having just reprimanded the actor for their distracted performance, approaches Bai Gaoxing with a gentle smile. “Dabai, let’s do it again later—but this time, no stealing lines, alright?”

Bai Gaoxing ruffles his feathers nervously, avoiding Director Sun’s gaze. He buries his head in his food, pretending not to understand anything.

The more Director Sun looks at the big white parrot, the more his admiration grows. It’s impressive enough that Dabai can imitate the palace maid’s voice, but to pick up a new line on the spot? That level of intelligence is remarkable.

Smart… very smart… A thought suddenly strikes him, and Director Sun catches onto it with a smile. “Alright, everyone, get ready! Let’s do it again.”

Li Pu leaves the stage, and Bai Gaoxing perches nonchalantly on his pole, acting as though nothing unusual has happened.

The actors and crew quickly resume their positions, but this time the atmosphere on set is palpably tense.

Director Sun leans in close to the monitor, holding his breath. Will they be able to replicate the previous success? The staff can’t help but steal glances at the bird stand, and the actors’ nerves are clearly on edge.

Oblivious to the pressure he’s caused, Bai Gaoxing focuses solely on his part. He resolves to behave this time and avoid any antics that might draw attention.

The scene begins again and plays out smoothly.

When Bai Gaoxing’s cue arrives, he mimics the palace maid’s voice once more. This time, however, he intentionally reduces the resemblance, toning it down from an eight out of ten match to a more modest seven. The delivery is also a little less seamless than before.

He has put careful thought into it. A perfect match might seem unnatural—it could raise questions or, worse, expose his unique abilities. That would be both troublesome and exhausting.

If the director isn’t satisfied, he can always come back to me, Bai Gaoxing mused. I can meet whatever he needs.

“Let me see who is so ignorant as to intrude upon my Changning Palace without permission!” This time, Huang Shaqing recites her line smoothly.

The noble empress emerges from the palace with slow, deliberate steps. Her conspiracy has been uncovered, but though her expression remains cold and composed, a subtle hint of panic glimmers in her eyes.

The remainder of the scene unfolds without a hitch. Bai Gaoxing stays in his position, playing the perfect backdrop and mascot, watching the actors’ performances from up close. He can’t help but wish the jade food box in the scene were filled with sunflower seeds. Unfortunately, he isn’t allowed such indulgences. He can’t even eat much rice, as his perch has to remain pristine for the sake of aesthetics. All for the camera, he sighs internally.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!”

At the director’s command, a collective sigh of relief echoes through Changning Palace.

Only Director Sun remains crouched in front of the monitor, his brows furrowed, his expression unreadable.

“Director Sun?” Huang Shaqing and Pei Jue step forward hesitantly. They have seen that look too many times before.

Both are unsure of how the scene turned out. If Director Sun is pleased, everyone can celebrate. If not, they’ll have to start over.

The two exchange a glance, silently wondering if something has gone wrong.

Director Sun adjusts his posture, directing all his attention to the parrot’s delivery.

In terms of fluency, it isn’t as seamless as the first version. Nor is the mimicry as precise. But the more he reviews it, the more he appreciates the slight imperfection—it feels more realistic, more natural, and ultimately more immersive than the initial take.

When Director Sun, thoroughly perplexed, turns around, he spots Li Pu standing in front of the parrot, speaking softly to it. He immediately calls out, "Teacher Li! Please bring Dabai over here!"

Thus, Bai Gaoxing officially meets Director Sun face to face.

The parrot stares at the man before him, curious about what this intense human might ask of him.

After a moment of deliberation, Director Sun speaks with a hopeful tone, "Can Dabai... say the line again?"

Bai Gaoxing is unfazed. Under the watchful eyes of the cast and crew, he calmly repeats the line. This time, sensing the director’s lingering attachment to the earlier performance, he opts for the first version—the one that sounds uncannily like the palace maid.

"Ah... this is perfect!" Director Sun claps his hands together, his excitement evident. It’s as if all the tension bottled up inside him has suddenly been released. His entire demeanor brightens. "Alright, that’s it! Dabai passed in one take!"

Passed in one take... passed in one take...

The director’s proclamation echoes in Bai Gaoxing’s mind. Coupled with the murmurs of astonishment from the people around him, he puffs up his chest and laughs secretly to himself.

Ha! I really am amazing!

With his part completed, Li Pu leads Bai Gaoxing out of Changning Palace. The parrot glances back one last time, observing the bustling staff and the actors still engaged in discussions with the director.

It’s over.

Yet, as they move further from the set, Bai Gaoxing feels a twinge of disappointment. The most crucial scene is done, and while some reshoots or smaller scenes might follow, the chance to perform such a pivotal role won’t come again.

From a distance, Bai Gaoxing gazes at the grand and ancient palace. With a sigh, he resigns himself to the end of his moment in the spotlight.

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Director Sun, who has just excitedly discussed the brilliant performance of their animal actor with the scriptwriter, calls out to Huang Shaqing.

"Be prepared."

"For what?"

"The scenes we previously had to cut due to objective reasons—I’m putting them back in..."

...

Because the filming has gone exceptionally well, Bai Gaoxing earns a rare treat: he doesn’t have to return to the bird room that night. Instead, he accompanies Li Pu to the hotel.

Mei Youshu, helping carry Bai Gaoxing’s "luggage," is with them in the elevator. As they ascend, Li Pu breaks the silence.

“Dabai... seems to be very skilled at imitating voices, doesn’t he?”

Mei Youshu freezes, his expression shifting as memories of his traumatic experiences resurface. He clearly recalls the sheer terror of hearing Dabai mimic Li Pu’s voice with eerie accuracy.

Ding! The elevator arrives.

Inside his bird bag, Bai Gaoxing shrinks contentedly, pretending to be oblivious.

“Yes,” Mei Youshu admits reluctantly as he hands Li Pu the room key. "When you weren’t home, I heard Dabai imitate your voice. It was... very convincing."

Li Pu nods thoughtfully. He has long ago noticed Dabai’s talent for imitating voices, recalling instances when the bird mimicked TV hosts and agents flawlessly.

Still, he wonders if this level of mimicry is unusual. Li Pu searches his limited knowledge of parrots but comes up empty-handed. This is something far beyond his expectations.

After confirming the time with his assistant for tomorrow's car pickup, Li Pu closes the door, carrying the bird bag. He unzips it, taking out Bai Gaoxing's daily necessities one by one.

As expected of a five-star hotel, the bed looks as soft as cotton!

Bai Gaoxing immediately jumps out of the bag, pounces onto the bed, and rolls several times on the wrinkle-free quilt.

Soon, his body becomes too warm, prompting Li Pu to pick him up.

"You’re here," Li Pu says as he lifts him into the air, repositioning him onto the bird stand on the table.

Bai Gaoxing pecks Li Pu's finger lightly to show his displeasure.

…

As night falls, Bai Gaoxing finally enjoys the night view after a long time.

Their hotel room is on the twelfth floor. From that height, he can see the ancient city in the distance, where the crew’s lanterns are arranged in a line, their warm glow contrasting beautifully against the stone walls. Even further out, Bai Gaoxing spots red lanterns from other crews, adding to the festive atmosphere.

He watches quietly, feeling that his mood this time is completely different from when he’s at home.

As for why... Well, it isn’t just him this time!

Having seen enough, Bai Gaoxing happily turns around and sees Li Pu sitting at the table, absorbed in his laptop with a thoughtful expression.

What is he looking at?

It’s the first time Bai Gaoxing has seen Li Pu working so hard. He can’t help but feel a bit impressed that Li Pu is reading the script even at night. Curiously, Bai Gaoxing leans forward and sees the search engine tabs on the screen:

• Can parrots imitate other people's voices?

• How fast can a parrot learn a sentence?

• Is it normal for a parrot to learn a sentence in one day?

Bai Gaoxing: "..."

Oh, so now you're finally going to suspect that I’m a monster!

Bai Gaoxing carefully backs away, but Li Pu, noticing his movements, waves him over. "Dabai, come here."

Hesitant, Bai Gaoxing approaches.

Another snack is handed to him, placed in his paw. It turns out that Li Pu isn’t going to catch him for research after all... Bai Gaoxing breathes a sigh of relief, only to see Li Pu click on one of the pages.

"Yes, my parrot can learn a sentence in one or two days."

"What's so hard about that? My parrot can pick up a sound in ten minutes."

"Anyway, my parrot is so smart, it can communicate in half a day."

Tch, all these show-offs!

Bai Gaoxing looks at Li Pu, then glances at the screen, silently thanking those online for bragging about their own parrots.

Eventually, it’s time for bed.

Li Pu, propped up by a pillow against the headboard, is finally reading the script. Bai Gaoxing stands on his perch, drowsy, when suddenly, the light from Li Pu’s phone screen flickers to life.

He yawns, flies to the bedside table, tugs at Li Pu's clothes, and motions for him to look at his phone. What if the crew has an emergency?

Li Pu closes the script, picks up the phone, and his expression shifts from surprise to contemplation.

The green light from the screen illuminates Li Pu's face as his fingers swipe across it. It’s clear that the other party has sent a lot of messages. Bai Gaoxing, curious, leans in and stretches his neck to get a better look. "What is this?"

Li Pu turns his head slightly, flicks his finger, and responds softly, "Flying Page."

"It's yours."

Author's note:

Dabai: Wow~⊙▽⊙

——

About the flying page: I asked my friends who work on set, and they usually call it a "title page," but the author feels that "flying page" fits better, so that's the term used here.

Relevant summary from the internet: The crew makes changes to the script that has already been confirmed and printed for everyone. These changes are referred to as a "flying page." The more official term is "title page," a single sheet of printed script, but it is often informally referred to as a "flying page."

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