In the early autumn season of the southern region, even at night, the temperature remained slightly warm. The greenery of the locust trees lining the roads had already started to turn yellow. Amidst the interwoven branches, the shadows of the moon flickered and swayed.
Dressed in a formal black-and-white suit, looking exactly like someone selling insurance, Shen Yanmo kept sneaking glances at the woman across from him. The more he looked, the more satisfied he felt.
"Xiao Lou," he began, "I don't like discussing monthly salaries with women. After all, for me, directing a movie earns me tens of millions easily. So, discussing monthly salaries is pointless—our circles are different. You work at a radio station, so you're stuck with a fixed salary and not much room for advancement. Talking about it with you would just confuse you, right? The main thing is, my mom really likes you. She watches your news broadcasts every day. After we get married, she'll definitely treat you like her own daughter!"
The woman sitting across from him was a nationally beloved news anchor, with classically elegant almond-shaped eyes, brows like distant mountains, and a face that was both stunning and graceful. She exuded charm, warmth, and refinement—a veritable beauty in full bloom.
Even Shen Yanmo, a renowned director who had seen countless beauties, was momentarily dazed by Lou Yuzhu's appearance the first time they met face to face.
Determined to seal the deal, Shen Yanmo clasped his hands together on the table and pressed forward: "You understand, right? A high-caliber man like me doesn't need to go on blind dates. The only reason I'm here is that my mom really likes you."
With these words, he repeatedly implied how sought-after he was and subtly urged Lou Yuzhu to seize this rare opportunity to secure such an outstanding man.
Feeling smug and confident, Shen Yanmo elegantly poured half a glass of wine into the empty glass in front of her, radiating charm.
The dinner had been going on for fifteen minutes now, and Lou Yuzhu had hardly said a word.
Her expression management was impeccable. From start to finish, she maintained a polite, almost mechanical smile, as if she were still at work. She chewed over one particular statement: "Your mom… really likes me?"
The man responded with great pride, as though being approved by his mother was a monumental gift: "Exactly! No mother-in-law drama for us!"
Before all the dishes were even served, thunder rumbled outside, and it began to rain. Lou Yuzhu picked up her handbag and stood up. "Mr. Shen, I'm sorry, but I have a pet at home who's afraid of thunder. I need to leave."
The man immediately flew into a rage. "How can you address me like that? No one calls me Mr. Shen! Everyone calls me Director Shen! Hey… you…!"
Lou Yuzhu quickened her pace as she walked away. If it weren't for her professional identity and the necessity to maintain her public image, she would have rolled her eyes.
The person who introduced them had described the man as being 1.8 meters tall, more handsome than a celebrity, considerate, mature, and financially stable.
But when they met, she was greeted by someone with short arms, a disproportionately long torso, and short legs—so photoshopped that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him. He exuded not a shred of the artistic aura of a film director but instead gave off the vibe of an overbearing uncle. The moment he opened his mouth, it was revolting.
She pulled a folding umbrella from her bag and walked toward the restaurant's parking lot. On the way, she sent a voice message to her best friend, venting about the bizarre blind date she had just experienced.
There was no denying that Shen Yanmo was indeed a famous director with substantial financial resources, the type of man many considered a golden catch. However, the introducer had severely underestimated Lou Yuzhu's standards for a partner.
She had graduated from the School of Journalism at the Communication University of China and had once been the top liberal arts student in the city of Shen. She preferred romantic men with a scholarly temperament. Since she was capable of finding someone who checked all those boxes, there was no reason for her to settle for an oily man like Shen Yanmo.
What Lou Yuzhu couldn't have imagined was that her future partner would not only be dirt poor and illiterate but also carry the scent of grains all over and—most shockingly—not even be human.
The rain outside was heavy. By the time she walked from the underground parking garage to the building's entrance, her evening purple qipao was already half-soaked.
The thunder continued to rumble. She quickened her steps, opened the door to her apartment, and instinctively closed it behind her in one swift motion. She was worried that her pet might mischievously fly out—she hadn't trimmed its flight feathers.
Sure enough, within seconds of hearing the noise, her little parrot came flying over, charging recklessly. It flew so fast that it smacked right into her chest with a thud and slid down.
She caught it in her hands and gently stroked it. "Tao Tao, were you scared?"
The parrot in her hands had been a gift from her best friend to keep her company. It was an apple-green Australian ringneck parakeet with a faint blush of pink atop its head and around its eyes. Its tail feathers were a light pine blue, while the rest of its feathers were a vibrant mix of yellow and green—utterly adorable, like a macaron brought to life.
Its temperament, however, was far from sweet. Now standing in the palm of her hand, its back puffed up, its feathers fluffed to the extreme—a clear sign of agitation.
Her Tao Tao was very intelligent. It knew she didn't wake up before ten on her days off and could even discern whether she was going out based on whether she wore makeup. Before she left earlier, it had already been in a mood. Now, having waited until this late hour for her return, it was utterly furious.
She pulled aside the mesh curtains and closed all the windows, which muffled the sound of thunder significantly.
Grabbing a cushion, she set Tao Tao on top of it. One hand gently pressed down its fluffed feathers while the other scratched the soft feathers on its neck.
"Tao Tao, why are you so cute? Are you a little princess? My little Princess Tao Tao." As a responsible pet owner, Lou Yuzhu had long mastered the art of giving endless compliments to her pet.
Tao Tao, placated by her soothing words, nuzzled its head into her palm, asking for more pets.
After playing together for nearly half an hour, Lou Yuzhu got ready to freshen up. She returned to her bedroom and sat in front of her vanity to remove her makeup, with Tao Tao perched on her shoulder.
Her face felt slightly itchy. Looking into the mirror, she saw the little parrot meticulously pecking at her hair, trying to tuck a strand behind her ear.
Despite the difficulty of managing her long hair, Tao Tao repeatedly tried to complete the task, brushing against her cheek with its beak, which felt like the touch of a smooth nut.
Birds often groom each other to show affection.
Sometimes, Lou Yuzhu wondered what role she played in Tao Tao's heart...
After her shower, she blow-dried her hair.
Just as she reached for a certain item from her bedside drawer, Tao Tao flew over from its perch. It strutted across the bed, its little claws stepping on the blanket as it curiously observed her with wide eyes.
Only after raising a parrot did she learn that they preferred walking, climbing, and hopping to flying.
Feeling awkward under Tao Tao's inquisitive gaze, Lou Yuzhu discreetly pulled the blanket over herself.
Ten minutes later, she got up and took the item to the bathroom to clean it. When she came back, she saw Tao Tao on her bed, wings outstretched, shredding tissues from the bedside table into strips and tucking them into its tail feathers as decoration.
Walking over, she tapped Tao Tao lightly on the head. "You're just a bird. Who are you dolling yourself up for?"
Lou Yuzhu prepared some food for Tao Tao. Despite its lively energy, it had a picky appetite.
Normally, Tao Tao would have hopped over by now, but today it stayed motionless on the bed.
Sensing something was off, Lou Yuzhu approached. As soon as she got close, Tao Tao grew restless, spreading its wings and waddling toward her without taking flight.
"What's wrong? Is your wing injured?" she asked worriedly, bending down to check.
She wasn't sure if Tao Tao was extraordinarily clever or if it was just a trait of its species. Oftentimes, it felt like Tao Tao understood her words, far beyond what an ordinary bird should.
The little parrot pecked at the spoon of apple puree she offered, then leaned in close to her face, as if trying to feed her in return.
"Aww…" Lou Yuzhu's heart melted. She grabbed her phone to record a video. "Tao Tao's all grown up now, feeding Mommy. Such a good bird."
As encouragement, she scratched Tao Tao's back and sent the video to her best friend, Fu Ye.
Before long, Fu Ye replied:
[It's definitely grown up. It's courting you. Parrots feeding you food is their way of giving you a gift and expressing their affection. Look at its wings—it's even trying to mount you. By the way, it's an adult now. Without a companion, it's likely treating its owner as its mate.]
"…"
Good grief. She treated Tao Tao as her child, and now Tao Tao was courting her?
It was perfectly normal for adult parrots to go through this phase. The fault was hers for not considering this when she decided not to get Tao Tao a companion.
This was the first time she had encountered such a situation. Watching Tao Tao raise its wings toward her, she tried to gently press them down while replying to Fu Ye's message:
[Does being in heat make birds uncomfortable? Should I use a cotton swab to help it?]
She'd seen friends help their cats during such times by patting their behinds. Could parrots be helped in a similar way?
Afraid that Tao Tao might be uncomfortable, she didn't dare press its wings too hard. Instead, she lightly pinched the fluffy feathers under its chin.
Fu Ye responded: [Absolutely not!!! If it thinks it's been fertilized, it'll lay infertile eggs. Egg-laying can severely harm its health. Don't mess around.]