I Have To Love【Abo】 Chapter 12
byPink Face Takes the Stage
Su Tai and Xie Qiao were the last to leave. The traffic thinned out as night fell and the city lights came on.
“Brother, where are we going now?” Xie Qiao turned to look out the window, then back at Su Tai, his nose twitching slightly, inhaling the licorice scent in the air.
“Taking you to get clothes custom-made.”
“Are we in such a rush? You’ve been busy all day, you should rest early.”
Su Tai had been too busy lately; the dark circles under his eyes were impossible to hide, and the fatigue and exhaustion were visible on his face.
The child he raised was finally showing concern, which warmed Su Tai. “I made an appointment in advance, and the tailor is waiting. Besides, you have school tomorrow, and I won’t have time—I have to go to North America.”
North America was far away, across the world’s largest ocean, with a time difference of several hours. Xie Qiao hadn’t expected Su Tai to travel, although it was common for him.
It was precisely because it was common that Xie Qiao felt more uneasy. He couldn’t be away from Su Tai for too long, not just physically, but psychologically. He would suffer from insomnia and severe anxiety. Thinking of this, his Gland began to ache faintly again.
Xie Qiao asked, “How long will you be gone?”
“A month.”
“Alone?”
Su Tai put down his work and looked up at Xie Qiao. Under the pale light, Xie Qiao’s lips were colorless, and unhappiness was written all over his face.
Su Tai’s eyes darkened, and he spoke softly, “Not alone, with colleagues.”
“If you go to North America, we’ll have a time difference of several hours.” Xie Qiao was glum. “You’ll be eating breakfast while I’m going to sleep.”
Su Tai chuckled. Xie Qiao had been acting more and more childishly lately, and the faint Turquoise Iris scent in the air turned bitter. “Message me anytime if anything happens. I’ll receive it.”
Xie Qiao said, “I know.”
I know I can receive messages and hear your voice, but then what?
His heart felt thrown into the ocean, the seawater squeezing a fragile organ, constantly drowning. Xie Qiao’s possessiveness overwhelmed him. He clenched his fists, his nails digging painfully into his skin.
The tailor shop was located in a small Western-style house in the bustling city, a two-story establishment. The first floor didn’t look like a tailor shop; it resembled a tea house.
“A-Tai, you finally made it. I thought it would be a while longer.” The owner was a gray-haired Beta male wearing vintage glasses with an antique silver chain draped over his shoulder.
Many Beta individuals work in the ready-to-wear industry because Alphas and Omegas can potentially leave their scent on clothes. While modern medicine has developed a series of methods to suppress Pheromones, allowing more Alphas and Omegas to enter the fashion industry, century-old tailor shops are still dominated by Betas.
“Long time no see, Uncle Li,” Su Tai said. “This is A-Qiao.”
Xie Qiao offered a gentle smile and politely said, “Hello, Uncle Li.”
Uncle Li smiled, shook his hand, and then looked back at Su Tai.
Su Tai said, “I’m having a few outfits made for him today. He’s still a university student, so nothing too mature or staid.”
Uncle Li replied, “Of course. I’ll take him to get measured first. You can sit here and relax.”
“Alright.”
Xie Qiao was led by Uncle Li to the fitting room. It was spacious, filled with various measuring tools and several mannequins displaying finished garments. Taking measurements was a meticulous and complicated process.
When Xie Qiao emerged, he saw Su Tai leaning back on the sofa, drinking tea.
Uncle Li called Su Tai to join them upstairs to select fabric. “The outfit he’s wearing today is quite nice. That brooch on his chest looks familiar; I think I’ve seen it somewhere.”
Su Tai replied, “It belonged to Father.”
“I knew it looked familiar.” Uncle Li and Mei Yuren were childhood friends and had treated Su Tai like his own son since he was young. “In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so big.”
Uncle Li’s tone was wistful, not just marveling at Su Tai’s growth, but reminiscing about the deceased.
It was as if he were saying, in the blink of an eye, he has been gone for so many years.
Su Tai responded, “If he were here, he would definitely come to you for clothes too.”
Uncle Li said, “He was picky, always finding fault, very delicate.”
“He was always particular, fond of exquisite and beautiful things.”
“And he loved spending money, very extravagant.” Uncle Li seemed much happier reminiscing about Mei Yuren. He had few friends who knew Mei Yuren, and only when Su Tai visited could they talk about him. “But he was smart and could earn money.”
Su Tai’s father was an internationally renowned designer. Even after marrying Su Kun, he continued to work, but… the love he sought ultimately failed him.
It is difficult to have everything in life; life is never truly complete.
“Enough talk, let’s choose the clothes.” Uncle Li called over Xie Qiao, who had been quietly following them. Because of Su Tai’s father, he had extra patience for Omegas.
He carefully selected fabrics, comparing them against Xie Qiao while muttering to himself, saying this one was too dark, this one too bright, this one too busy…
Xie Qiao was easygoing, saying everything looked nice when asked. He was a natural clothes hanger, but even the best hanger needed good clothes to match.
Handmade clothing takes a long time, and Xie Qiao wasn’t in a hurry. Slow work makes fine products. They selected four outfits, which would take about two months.
Xie Qiao stepped out of the shop and let out a long sigh of relief. Su Tai found it amusing. “Why do you look so relieved?”
“It was a bit stifling.”
“Don’t you like buying new clothes?”
“No, it’s just the first time, and I felt a little uncomfortable.”
Su Tai chuckled, looking at Xie Qiao’s face, which was flushed from the indoor heating. “Uncle Li likes to strive for perfection, so the first time is a bit troublesome. He’ll remember what suits you, and next time it will be quick.”
“We’re coming back next time?”
“One outfit can’t last a lifetime.”
Su Tai opened the car door for Xie Qiao, signaling him to get in first. “Let’s go home. You’ve had a long day, and you have school and work tomorrow.”
When they arrived home and went upstairs, Xie Qiao followed Su Tai like a shadow. Su Tai noticed his low mood and wondered if it was due to the Temporary Mark earlier. Marking between an Alpha and an Omega is the most primal form of possession and bond, affecting them not just physiologically but psychologically. Xie Qiao was already clingy, and after the marking, it took a long time to soothe him to sleep.
Su Tai stood at his door, and Xie Qiao’s voice came from behind him. “Have you packed your luggage?”
Su Tai removed his hand from the doorknob, turned to face Xie Qiao. “Yes.”
Xie Qiao continued, his peach blossom-bright eyes gazing at him. “Call me tomorrow morning, please. I’ll see you off.”
Su Tai replied, “You have class tomorrow morning. I’ll message you when I arrive.”
Xie Qiao sounded a little anxious. “I can take a leave of absence.”
“You already took a day off today. Why are you getting clingier as you get older? What will you do when you start your own family, hmm?”
“If I don’t start a family, can I stay here forever?”
Su Tai paused, recalling that Xie Qiao had asked him before, Can I still live here after Father passes away? At that time, he was thinner than he was now. Although he lacked nothing in the Su family, Xie Qiao always looked malnourished. He didn’t cry easily, but when he was sad, the corners of his eyes would turn red, his thick eyelashes beaded with moisture, and his lips were bright red, more vibrant than spring flowers in March or April.
“Half of this house belongs to you, so of course you can. There are over a hundred rooms here; you can live wherever you want, even if you want to stay in a different room every day.” Su Tai stepped forward, his tall Alpha body casting a shadow behind Xie Qiao. His cool fingers brushed Xie Qiao’s stray hair. “Are you planning to abandon your brother?”
“Of course not.” Xie Qiao’s eyes were devout, more sincere than a worshiper looking at Jesus.
“Will you listen to Brother?”
Xie Qiao stared intently. “Of course.”
Su Tai smiled, his gaze passing over Xie Qiao’s collar to the edge of his Suppressant Patch. The patch had been on all day and was starting to peel slightly. The scent of Turquoise Iris was clearer now, like crushed petals, laced with the raw bitterness of the plant. “Then be obedient and go to sleep quickly.”
“Okay.” Xie Qiao was reluctant but obediently returned to his room. As soon as he entered, Xie Qiao leaned against the door, clutching his shoulder, and slid down the door. It was terrible; his Alpha Pheromones had almost been exposed.
Only after seeing Xie Qiao enter his room did Su Tai return to his own. A month away was too long. During that time, Xie Qiao might very well enter his Heat Period. Although the Family Doctor and servants were sufficient to care for him, Xie Qiao recognized no one during that time. An Omega in Heat is incapable of anything but primal urges, and anyone could potentially harm him.
He received the final itinerary from his secretary and decided to return home a few days early or make time to come back during the trip.
A knock came at the door, the sound muffled through the wood. “Brother, I can’t sleep. Can I sleep with you?”
Su Tai got out of bed and opened the door. Xie Qiao stood there in his pajamas, hugging a pillow. His clean hair and flushed face suggested he had been warmed by the bathwater.
Su Tai said, “A-Qiao, you are twenty-three years old.”
He was a fully differentiated Omega, his non-blood-related, half-brother.
“I know, and I won’t do anything.” Xie Qiao blinked. “Brother, I feel like my Gland is hot, and I want to smell your scent.”
Wanting to smell your scent—if this phrase came from anyone else, Su Tai would take it as a sexual hint, an invitation. But Xie Qiao clearly just couldn’t bear to part with him right now.
“Your Gland is hot?” Su Tai raised a hand and placed it on Xie Qiao’s forehead. No fever, so it wasn’t his Heat/Estrus Period. “Come closer, let me see.”
Xie Qiao lowered his head, exposing his beautiful, long neck. The skin was delicate, and the Gland was red. Su Tai glanced at it, his expression unreadable, and pulled Xie Qiao into the room. The sweet licorice scent intensified from faint to strong, enveloping Xie Qiao.
The high concentration of soothing Pheromones completely softened Xie Qiao. He sat blankly on the edge of Su Tai’s bed, his gaze automatically following Su Tai as he poured water and retrieved medicine.
“Take the medicine first.”
Xie Qiao’s eyes were wet. Su Tai’s tone was gentle. “I’m not sending you away.”
Xie Qiao took the medicine from Su Tai’s hand. His soft lips, warm with heat, brushed against Su Tai’s palm, sending a jolt of numbness. After drinking the water, his lips were moist.
Su Tai’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Go to sleep.”
The medicine contained a sedative, and Xie Qiao fell asleep quickly, constantly inching closer to Su Tai in his dreams.
Su Tai sat on the other side, watching the person move nearer and nearer until one of his hands was grasped, and a face was pressed against his arm.
He tucked Xie Qiao into the blanket, staring at his sleeping face in a daze. “When will you finally be well?”