I Have To Love【Abo】 Chapter 3
byPink Face Takes the Stage
Xie Qiao woke up five days later.
His body had recovered, but he still lacked strength. He didn’t know how many medications he had vaguely consumed over the past few days; his mouth was filled with a bitter medicinal taste.
He looked around, his vision gradually returning.
He weakly propped himself up and pulled the quilt closer. A familiar scent made him wrinkle his nose; the licorice smell on the quilt was so thick it seemed to have been steeped for a long time.
It was entirely the cool, sweet scent of soothing pheromones.
The bedroom door was pushed open. Su Tai, wearing loungewear, entered carrying food. “Why are you sniffing around like a puppy? What are you smelling?”
The memories of the past few days rushed into his mind. Xie Qiao froze, his face flushing. “Brother, that, I…”
Su Tai saw his confused look, placed the dishes on the table, and stroked his hair. “It’s fine. Why be shy with your brother?”
“Brother, I… that… I didn’t do anything, did I?”
Su Tai smiled, teasing him, “You guess.”
Xie Qiao’s ears turned red, and he buried himself in the quilt. “I won’t guess.”
Su Tai sat on the edge of the bed. “Eat first.”
The salty beef congee and several side dishes were all Xie Qiao’s favorites and helped restore his physical strength. An omega’s heat period was already difficult, and Xie Qiao’s unique situation meant he suffered even more.
Su Tai watched him finish eating, then held his wrist and took a small tube of ointment from the side.
Xie Qiao didn’t pull back, allowing Su Tai to apply the cream to his fingers.
There were clearly no scars; the alpha was applying what felt like the emperor’s new clothes.
“How did this happen?” The alpha’s deterrent power, even when gentle, carried an undeniable force, sounding more like a confirmation than a question.
“Brother.”
“I’ve already had someone handle it. You went too far this time.”
Xie Qiao’s hand trembled, and the ointment smeared.
Su Tai’s tone was stern: “Why are you so nervous? If you know hitting a classmate is wrong, then don’t do it. You’re in university; do I still need to be called in as a parent?”
Xie Qiao stared unblinkingly at his brother, who was eight years his senior, and sighed internally with relief. It was about the school incident.
The incident had happened several days ago. While playing basketball at school, a male alpha had mocked him, and he hadn’t held back, throwing a punch. The shameless alpha had complained to the Counselor/Advisor, and he hadn’t even known Su Tai was called in.
He apologized sincerely, “I understand. It won’t happen next time.”
“I’m not blaming you, just don’t hurt yourself. You tend to scar easily; it won’t be good if you get two more that are hard to fade.”
“I know.” Xie Qiao looked up. “Brother, was it you who gave me the Temporary Mark?”
Su Tai stood up, not answering directly. “Find a boyfriend or girlfriend, A’Qiao. Relying on Inhibitors for your Heat/Estrus Period is no longer working. You managed to get through this time, but next time might be different.”
Xie Qiao’s eyes darkened, then he smiled. “I will, Brother.”
“What kind of partner do you hope I find? Male or female, alpha or beta.”
“Whoever you like. When you find someone, bring them back for your brother to meet.”
Su Tai rubbed his lowered head and turned to leave. His broad shoulders and narrow waist were encased in loungewear, revealing a firm backside and two long, powerful legs. His potent Alpha Pheromones were faintly discernible even with a Suppressant Patch on. Xie Qiao’s throat bobbed, his mouth dry.
The moment the door closed, Xie Qiao’s innocent smile turned into a sinister hunger. “I will, Brother.”
A notification popped up on his phone—a notice from the university class group chat, nothing important.
Su Tai had requested leave for him, and today was the last day. Since university didn’t assign homework, Xie Qiao played on his phone in his room.
He boredly scrolled through social media comments about Su Tai, sliding down one after another.
Hengling Group Chairman seen entering a five-star hotel with a beauty.
Hengling Group Chairman’s new flame.
Hengling Stock Price.
…
Xie Qiao scrolled through them all. He liked comments praising his brother’s handsomeness and capability, reported all comments speaking ill of him, liked those saying the news was untrue, and liked those calling him a playboy.
[Front-facing photo of the beauty] Xie Qiao raised an eyebrow, looking at the fresh-faced female omega in the picture, and immediately clicked ‘report’.
His brother only liked women, especially female omegas.
That truly makes things difficult, Brother. I can’t become a woman, so I can only become an omega.
A pop-up message with no contact name appeared: [Handled. The person’s surname is Sun, temporarily hired in the market. The employer has not been found yet.]
Xie Qiao recalled the person saying before death, “Someone told me to collect a debt from you.”
He typed: “Check the people in the Underground Fighting Ring. They might be there. Are there results from the previous matter?”
[Yes.] A few photos popped up immediately after.
Xie Qiao clicked them open, casually glancing at the pictures.
The photos showed a tall alpha supporting a small omega, completely wrapped up. The images were blurry, but the omega resembled the thin man in the photo on his bedside table. This alpha was just one of his many men.
His gaze seemed to bore a hole through the photo. Images of the man’s ferocious and rutting appearance flashed in his mind, and Xie Qiao closed his eyes in pain.
“Father, how exactly did you die?”
Xie Qiao sat curled up, sniffing the licorice pheromones. “Brother.”
Brother. Saying these two words, Xie Qiao curved his lips.
He reached up to touch the bite mark on his Gland. It was a deep, heavy mark—the first time he had been willing to give him a mark.
Brother, since you’ve loosened up, let’s break down the rest.
In the afternoon, Xie Qiao went downstairs to have dinner with Su Tai.
He placed his phone on the table and asked, “Brother, where is Aunt Wang?”
“In the kitchen.” Su Tai replied while eating and responding to work messages. “Why are you asking about Aunt Wang?”
“I want to eat sweet soup. I’m going to ask Aunt Wang to make me a bowl. Do you want some?”
Su Tai didn’t like sweets; such things were beloved by omegas. “No need. Why are you thinking about dessert during dinner?”
“My mouth is a bit bitter. I want something sweet to relieve it.”
“Go ahead, but don’t make too much.”
Xie Qiao got permission and ran to the kitchen, leaving his phone behind.
Beep, beep, beep—
Su Tai glanced at it. An unfamiliar number. He answered the call.
“There’s a lead on the dead person you were investigating. Cash on delivery.”
Su Tai frowned, hearing Xie Qiao’s cheerful footsteps, and hung up.
“A’Qiao, someone just called you.”
“Who?” Xie Qiao picked up his phone, sat opposite Su Tai, and clicked on the recent call record. His smile froze on his face.
“Who was it?” The question was now Su Tai’s.
Xie Qiao gave an awkward smile, covering up. “A friend.”
Su Tai put down his bowl. “Are you still investigating your father’s cause of death?”
Xie Qiao nodded slightly, feeling uneasy. “Father was the most important person to me. He was someone who should have lived no matter what. I don’t believe he committed suicide.”
“Is there anything your brother can help with?”
Xie Qiao smiled and shook his head. “I didn’t have the ability before. Now I do, and I want to investigate myself. I want to find the truth for him myself.”
Su Tai was calm and unperturbed. “Tell me if anything happens. I have work to deal with. Eat more.”
“Okay.”
Xie Qiao stared at Su Tai’s retreating back until Aunt Wang called him, bringing him back to reality.
“What are you thinking about, Young Master?” Aunt Wang placed a bowl of tapioca sweet soup in front of Xie Qiao.
Tapioca sweet soup was Xie Qiao’s favorite; it was always kept in the refrigerator and only needed to be heated before eating.
“Nothing. I just think my brother is too tired,” Xie Qiao said.
Aunt Wang replied, “Of course, the Master is tired managing such a large company alone. He hasn’t slept a wink these past few days, taking care of you non-stop.”
Xie Qiao blushed. “Aunt Wang, next time, don’t let my brother stay up for me. His health is important.”
“You have to tell him that. The Master only listens to you.”
Xie Qiao was pleased. “Okay.”