The soft, fluffy feathers on Tao Tao's belly and tail feathers were a deep indigo blue, a striking contrast to the colors of its wings, head, and throat—each a beautiful, dreamy shade in its own right.
Lou Yuzhu traced her fingers gently from the bird's belly down to its long tail feathers, brushing along the elegant flight feathers she had chosen not to trim. Tao Tao could fly high and far, as free as it pleased.
"Come on, let's go out and buy some clothes," she said, pressing her cheek against Tao Tao's tiny body, nuzzling its feathers affectionately. Then, with a hint of concern, she added, "But you can't change into your human form outside, okay?"
Based on last night's security footage, it seemed that Tao Tao could control when it shifted forms. When she'd kissed it endlessly, leaving it with no escape, Tao Tao had panicked and immediately reverted to its bird form to flee.
Even if her assumption was wrong, it wouldn't be too much of an issue. So far, Tao Tao had never transformed into its human form during the day—it only ever seemed to happen at night.
Lou Yuzhu retrieved a small leash. The delicate chain clipped onto Tao Tao's slender little claw, the retractable cord ensuring it wouldn't fly too far.
After a quick wash and change in the bathroom, Lou Yuzhu glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her lips were still red and swollen from last night. As the blush crept back to her face, she quickly splashed herself with cold water, trying to cool down.
Once dressed, she pulled out a small crossbody bag, barely larger than a phone, and placed Tao Tao inside. She left the zipper slightly open, just enough for Tao Tao to stick its little head out. Wrapping the leash around her wrist, she was ready to head out.
Before she could leave, her phone lit up with a series of messages from Fu Ye:
[I've moved. Here's my new address.]
[So many flowers… I can't bear to throw them away (crying emoji).]
[IMAGE]
The image showed a pile of uprooted flowers, all of which Fu Ye adored. Her garden had been filled with a variety of blooms, especially the white roses known as 'Pope John Paul II'. These flowers had been cultivated for over three years, yet now they lay uprooted, their leaves withered and their roots severed.
Fu Ye loved her flowers dearly. She wasn't the type to treat them so roughly, which gave Lou Yuzhu a sinking feeling. Something was definitely wrong.
"Fu, are you moving right now? I'll come over to help you pack," Lou Yuzhu said, dialing a voice call while grabbing her car keys. "I'm off work today anyway. After we're done, come shopping with me. I want to buy Tao Tao some clothes."
"Gah gah!" came an indignant squawk from the bag.
Lou Yuzhu gently pushed Tao Tao's head back into the bag, saying, "Don't worry. The two of us need to spend more time together. Otherwise, you'll keep thinking I'm your mate, and that's just… weird."
Fu Ye's house was in an upscale neighborhood, the kind of place only the wealthy could afford. Both Lou Yuzhu and Fu Ye came from ordinary families, and even if they worked for a hundred years, they wouldn't be able to buy a house there.
Three years ago, Fu Ye had said she was staying there as a favor from a friend, so it'd be more convenient to commute to work. Lou Yuzhu hadn't pried further back then.
But now, it seemed likely that Fu Ye had fallen out with that wealthy friend.
"Are you really not keeping these flowers?" Lou Yuzhu asked when she arrived, seeing neighborhood staff clearing away the damaged rose bushes.
Fu Ye smiled helplessly. "I don't have a choice. The new place doesn't come with a yard. These flowers were planted in the ground, and even if I moved them to pots on the balcony, they wouldn't survive."
The moment Tao Tao saw Fu Ye, the little bird in the bag went berserk. Its feathers puffed up, and its shrill cries were piercing, a mix of anger and aggression directed straight at Fu Ye.
Lou Yuzhu zipped the bag shut completely, cutting off the bird's view. Sure enough, once it was plunged into darkness, Tao Tao quieted down.
As she helped Fu Ye pack, Lou Yuzhu noticed that Fu Ye's eyes were slightly swollen. "What's wrong with your eyes? Have you been crying?"
Fu Ye looked up. "No, I think it's just an allergy from the wine I drank yesterday. What about you? What happened to your lips? Why are they so swollen?"
"Oh, that…" Lou Yuzhu rubbed the tip of her nose, "I, uh, drank a bit too much last night and… bumped into something while showering."
"Gah!" Tao Tao's frustrated squawk pierced the air, even muffled inside the bag.
"You should just let it out," Fu Ye suggested, tossing a handful of freeze-dried fruit snacks into her palm. She teased, "Parrots are natural-born vinegar jars, you know."
Especially parrots without companions—they tended to develop an intense possessiveness toward their owners.
Lou Yuzhu unzipped the bag, and Tao Tao immediately flew out, landing firmly on her shoulder. It raised its claw and used its beak to peck at the leash clasped around its foot, trying to undo it.
Fu Ye opened her palm and offered the bird a piece of dried fruit.
Tao Tao pecked at it, then flapped its wings and flew three meters away, stopping just at the leash's limit. There, it promptly dropped the snack as far away as it could before flying back to its owner's shoulder.
Not only did it refuse to eat, but it also made a point of discarding the food as far away as possible.
Lou Yuzhu clicked her tongue in annoyance, grabbing the bird in her hand. She hadn't even started to scold it when the little puffball in her palm began puffing up and thrashing about. Its tiny chest heaved furiously, as if it were about to burst, and its sharp cries were so loud they pierced the ears.
She was genuinely worried that Tao Tao might get so angry it would keel over. Whatever words of reprimand she had were stuck in her throat.
"Is Tao Tao a bad bird? Always so angry," she murmured, using her thumb to gently stroke the rosy feathers on its head. She nuzzled it with her nose, her voice softening. "Don't worry, baby. I only kissed you; I didn't kiss Fu Ye. You're smart—you know what place she has in my life, right?"
Fu Ye couldn't help but laugh. "I think I might be offended by that…"
Lou Yuzhu raised a finger to her lips and made a "shh" gesture. "I have to coax this little one, or it might work itself into a fit."
She set the fluffy ball of feathers on her collarbone, patting and soothing it. She even picked up the freeze-dried fruit snacks and hand-fed them to Tao Tao.
Tao Tao had clearly been spoiled to the point of developing a temper, but there was no quick fix for this. The only real solution was to send Tao Tao to school, where it could meet other birds and make friends. Otherwise, its possessiveness would only grow worse.
As expected, the moment Lou Yuzhu softened her tone, Tao Tao calmed down significantly. It stopped squawking and settled back into the bag, happily munching on sunflower seeds.
By the time they finished moving Fu Ye into her new place, it was already afternoon.
Lou Yuzhu and Fu Ye sat in a dessert shop, enjoying afternoon tea. After some rest, they planned to head to the mall together for a shopping spree.
But there was one issue—they couldn't link arms or show any physical closeness, because the moment Tao Tao spotted them, the little parrot would burst out of the bag, flapping its wings and crying out in heartbroken agony. Its cries were filled with grief and betrayal, its tiny neck stretched high, and its wings beating dramatically in protest.
Lou Yuzhu had no choice but to lower the hand she had linked with Fu Ye's, letting it drop. Tao Tao, refusing to return to the bag, perched proudly on her shoulder, keeping a watchful eye like a jealous lover.
"Do you think I can get its enrollment paperwork finalized in the next few days?" Lou Yuzhu sighed, clearly exhausted. "You've seen it for yourself now—there's no way I can go on a date with Dr. Zhu if Tao Tao's around."
If Tao Tao ever caught her, the bird would probably slam itself into a wall out of sheer rage. Its temper was truly unmatched.
Fu Ye, who had already coordinated with the school, reassured her. "It shouldn't be a problem. But what if Tao Tao still likes you even after starting school? Have you considered the possibility of falling for Tao Tao yourself?"
The two of them spoke boldly, fully aware that Tao Tao couldn't understand a word of their conversation.
Lou Yuzhu instantly dismissed the idea. "No way. You know me—I've been into handsome guys my entire life. I don't get butterflies for women, let alone… birds. My orientation isn't something I can change. It's just how I was born."
She felt stuck. To her, Tao Tao was just a pet she had raised. At most, it was a companion or a friend, but there was no way she could see Tao Tao as a romantic partner.
Fu Ye stopped in front of a section featuring preppy women's clothing. "Well, you never know. Sexuality is fluid. Lots of people think they're as straight as a flagpole, but once they meet the right person… or bird, who knows?"
"Fu, why would you even think that?" Lou Yuzhu looked at her in disbelief. Suddenly, she grabbed Fu Ye's sleeve. "Wait… don't tell me… No way! Have you been hiding something from me? Good grief, are you secretly—?"
She stared at Fu Ye in shock. They had been friends for so many years. Fu Ye had even dated a boyfriend in college, sharing all kinds of intimate details with her back then. They had never once talked about women.
But now that she thought about it, Fu Ye hadn't mentioned any handsome guys in the past three years. It was unsettling to think about.
Fu Ye licked her lips, amused by Lou Yuzhu's horrified expression. She laughed out loud, her voice full of mischief. "Hahaha, what are you even talking about? Don't overthink it. What do you think of this outfit? Totally gives off a high school girl vibe, right?"
She held up a JK-style outfit: a light purple plaid skirt, a crisp white blouse, a delicate ribbon tie, and a matching blazer.
"It's cute, really cute," Lou Yuzhu admitted, glancing at the parrot perched on her shoulder. "But I don't think it would suit Tao Tao. She's got more of a pear-shaped body—her hips and thighs are a bit… uh… rounded. This kind of short skirt wouldn't be flattering for her."
Fu Ye picked up a denim midi skirt and an A-line white dress. "What about these two?"
Lou Yuzhu's eyes lit up. "Wow, these are so dreamy! Such first love vibes!"
The outfits were fresh, youthful, and perfect for a sweet, girlish look.
In her excitement, Lou Yuzhu went on a shopping spree, buying not only dresses but also casual T-shirts, loose-fitting pants, sneakers, and even some loafers and flats. It was as if she were dressing up a doll—there was a special joy in picking outfits for Tao Tao, and she wanted to try every possible style on her.
However, when it came time to choose undergarments, she hesitated. "I think… I need to go two sizes up from mine?"
She wasn't entirely sure, but she had a vague feeling that was about right.
"Go for lace," Fu Ye suggested. "Birds like that texture. Just don't get anything red—birds are afraid of that color."
Lou Yuzhu thought about asking Tao Tao directly but felt too embarrassed to bring it up. In the end, she stuffed the curious parrot back into her bag and picked out a few sweet, lightweight lace bras.
"Do you think I should also get some toys for her to play with at school?" Lou Yuzhu asked, conflicted. She didn't know what was appropriate—she couldn't exactly send Tao Tao to school with a stuffed animal.
"How about a foot chain?" Fu Ye suggested. "Parrots—and parrot people—tend to love those."
"Wouldn't that be… a little too intimate?" Lou Yuzhu's ears turned red.
Fu Ye smirked. "It would."
"…"
By the time they got home, it was already evening. Lou Yuzhu made four trips back and forth to unload the car, completely exhausted.
On her final trip, she walked into the living room and saw Tao Tao sitting on the couch, tearing open shopping bags. The little bird-turned-girl seemed to realize the clothes were for her. She was pulling out outfits and holding them against herself, trying to figure out how they'd look.
What Lou Yuzhu saw nearly made her laugh out loud. Tao Tao had put on a T-shirt correctly but was completely lost when it came to skirts. She hadn't pulled up the zipper or tied the strings, leaving the clothes in a chaotic mess.
Lou Yuzhu walked over to help, guiding her step by step. "Before you put on clothes, you need to wear undergarments first. It might feel a little uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to it…"
Her words came to an abrupt halt.
Tao Tao had pulled out one of the new lace bras Lou Yuzhu had just bought, tossing it onto the carpet with a pout. "Don't like."
Lou Yuzhu bent down, picked it up, and shoved it back into Tao Tao's hands. "You do like it!"
What? Was Tao Tao questioning her taste now? This lace bra was sweet and adorable—what reason could there possibly be not to like it?
But the girl simply flung the bra back onto the floor and dashed into the bedroom.
Lou Yuzhu thought she was throwing a tantrum, but when she followed her into the room, she saw Tao Tao digging through her closet. Moments later, Tao Tao triumphantly pulled out a certain… questionable piece of lingerie.
It was a sheer, barely-there design with only a few strands of silk to it. Lou Yuzhu had worn it only once, admiring herself in front of the mirror at the time.
"This one," Tao Tao declared seriously, holding it up. "I want this one."
Lou Yuzhu felt lightheaded. She closed her eyes, blood rushing to her face as her entire body heated up in embarrassment. "Your memory is that good? No way… I only wore it once! How could you still remember? No way, no way…"
She had even struck poses in front of the mirror, making exaggerated expressions and admiring herself endlessly. Please, someone tell her this silly bird didn't remember that!