I Have To Love【Abo】 Chapter 6
byPink Face Takes the Stage
Xie Qiao stood at the door, called a bodyguard, and watched the driver take the person away.
It was evening when he returned home. Su Tai hadn’t come back yet, so he sat at the table waiting.
Aunt Wang walked over, “Sir will still take some time to return. Eat first.”
Xie Qiao had already received a message from his brother, but a family should wait to eat together. Xie Qiao was stubborn. “It’s okay, Aunt Wang, I’m not hungry yet.”
“It will get cold soon,” Aunt Wang said. “Sir was afraid he’d be late, so he had it prepared for you to eat first.”
“It’s fine. We can heat it up when Brother comes back.”
Bored of waiting, Xie Qiao went out and stood by the door. The parasol leaves in the garden were turning yellow, and a few stars hung in the deep blue night sky. He looked up at them. In the past, the city pollution was so severe that you couldn’t see many stars. When Xie Qiao missed his father, Su Tai would take him to the desert to see the sky completely covered in stars. In the last two years, the environment had improved, and a few stars could be seen in the city. The brightest one was probably a star from countless years ago.
When Xie Qiao got tired of looking, he walked along the path paved with cobblestones. The slippers he wore were slightly uncomfortable, the pressure keeping him awake.
His ears were sharp, and he heard the distant gate open. He walked back inside and sat at the dining table, waiting for Su Tai.
Su Tai entered through the main door. A few strands of his neatly styled hair fell onto his dark eyebrows. A servant stepped forward to take his coat. “Why are you still waiting for me?”
Xie Qiao rested his head on his hand and smiled. “I haven’t been waiting long.”
“I heard you went to the Biological Research Institute today. What for?” His tone was casual, like making small talk.
Xie Qiao looked at the bodyguard standing by the door. “Our professor assigned a course paper on legal cases related to biological research. I went to ask the researchers today if they had any relevant materials.”
Su Tai glanced at him and sat down opposite him. “I know people in that field. Do you need Brother’s help?”
Xie Qiao narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Although I can manage myself, it would be great if Brother could help.”
“I’ll take you to meet him sometime. I also have some questions to ask him.”
“Ask what?”
“Ask about your pheromones, and see if there are any new drugs that can treat it. We can’t have any more problems during your Heat/Estrus Period.”
“Maybe last time was just an accident.”
“We can’t be careless about your health.”
Just as they were about to finish eating, Xie Qiao stopped Su Tai, who was about to leave. “Brother, my final exams are coming up soon. I want to go to the library to study tomorrow.”
“Didn’t you always study in the study room before?” Su Tai asked. “Is it too small? You don’t use the study room I cleared out for you.”
“No, I just think the atmosphere in the library is better,” Xie Qiao’s ear tips turned red. “It’s also easier to communicate with classmates.”
Su Tai recalled the photos the bodyguard had sent and understood. “Alright, try to come back early.”
Xie Qiao nodded. “I promise to be home early.”
The next morning, Xie Qiao woke up, packed his books, and prepared to leave. He only had one class today, so he didn’t bring much.
.
The bodyguard stood at the door, watched him get into the car, and followed.
Xie Qiao paused. “You don’t need to follow today.”
The bodyguard replied, “Sir instructed us to protect you at all times.”
“My brother also said you have to listen to me,” Xie Qiao said. “I will tell my brother, so it won’t count as dereliction of duty.”
The bodyguard was startled by his gaze, took two steps back, and didn’t follow.
After class, Xie Qiao came out and didn’t go directly to the library but got into an inconspicuous, inexpensive car.
The car drove towards the outskirts of Tancheng, to a dilapidated, seemingly abandoned building. There were few houses nearby, only vast farmland.
Xie Qiao got out of the car and entered. Two bodyguards stood at the dark entrance of the passage.
Seeing him, they immediately bowed and said in unison, “Boss.”
Xie Qiao put on the mask handed to him, revealing only his beautiful, thin lips.
He walked through the long passage and opened an iron door. Instantly, the noise intensified; cheers filled the Underground Fighting Ring.
Xie Qiao stood at the highest point, looking down at the fighters in the boxing ring. “Who won?”
The alpha man next to him replied, “A draw.”
“Oh.” Xie Qiao watched with interest as the two men wrestled, fist meeting flesh. What was being fought for here wasn’t just boxing, but the bets behind it—money earned by risking their lives. But there were always people who wanted quick money, and people who enjoyed this kind of entertainment, like the young masters, ladies, and high officials wearing masks below.
“Have you found out who hired the person from last time?” Xie Qiao’s voice was cold.
Cheng Yong handed over a document. “It was CEO Zhao of Ge Sheng. This person privately lends money at high interest. He lost a nine-figure sum at our fighting ring before. He seems to know your identity.”
Cheng Yong suspected it was revenge, but he didn’t say it. Xie Qiao was autocratic, and a slight misstep in speaking could lead to punishment.
Xie Qiao looked at the good-looking middle-aged man on the document. “Is that so? How do you think they found out my identity?”
Sweat beaded on Cheng Yong’s forehead. “This subordinate does not know.”
Xie Qiao rested his hands on the railing. The fighters in the ring had already been replaced, and a ring girl in a miniskirt signaled the start of the next match. He sneered. “Perhaps this place isn’t very safe either. Weren’t we planning to move? You’ll have to work hard during this time.”
Cheng Yong said, “It’s my duty… How should we handle CEO Zhao’s matter?”
“A father’s debt must be paid by the son. It is only right and proper,” Xie Qiao said with a sinister smile. “But we need to resolve it quickly, or being chased twice more will interfere with my schooling.”
His brother would find out.
Xie Qiao went downstairs, walking deeper into the underground area. The ground was slippery, and a persistent, metallic smell hung in the air. Just past the corner, a fist came flying out of the darkness. Xie Qiao tilted his head to dodge and tightly gripped the incoming fist with his right hand.
Xie Qiao’s arm muscles bulged. “Who sent you?”
“Mind your own business.” The dim light revealed a grim-faced man, with a terrifying scar running from his left forehead down to his right cheek. Xie Qiao pushed him back with a palm strike and agilely moved behind him. Cheng Yong stepped forward to engage.
Cheng Yong kicked the scarred man in the abdomen. The scarred man staggered a few steps, then stood firm and angrily lunged forward, punching Cheng Yong in the chest. The pressure, like a giant rock, compressed his heart. In a flash, Cheng Yong pulled out a dagger and pressed it against the scarred man’s carotid artery. Blood seeped out along the blade. If he pushed deeper, the scarred man would likely die instantly.
“Who sent you!” Cheng Yong shouted.
Before he finished speaking, a flying knife shot from behind, cleanly slicing off a lock of his short hair and embedding itself in the wall.
Cheng Yong abruptly turned to look where it came from. The lights in the corridor went out, leaving only one shining over Xie Qiao’s head.
A female voice came from behind Xie Qiao—an ambush.
Cheng Yong was preoccupied, so Xie Qiao wrapped his arm around the back and, after a few exchanges, pinned the woman against the wall.
“First time hitting a woman. Interesting.”
“Good moves.”
Xie Qiao looked up at the sound.
A middle-aged man in a short-sleeved shirt walked out of the darkness, his sandalwood beads clicking in his palm as he clapped. “Good moves.”
Seeing his face, Cheng Yong was startled, but Xie Qiao remained unfazed, seemingly having guessed who the visitor was.
“CEO Zhao.”
“Xie Qiao, long time no see. I didn’t expect you to be the boss behind this place,” CEO Zhao said. “It would have been better if I knew earlier; we could have caught up.”
Xie Qiao looked at him with bloodshot eyes, squeezing two words through his teeth. “Catch up?”
“Like this?” He tightened his grip on the woman’s neck.
“Of course not. I just wanted to give you some fun, a little welcome gift. I was afraid you’d forget me.”
Xie Qiao raised an eyebrow. “How much money do you want?”
“I am an honest businessman. Of course, I must be repaid what is owed. Even the dead must pay; ‘debt dies with the person’ doesn’t work with me.”
Xie Qiao looked at him and sneered. “If he had reincarnated immediately, he’d be ten years old by now. What needed to be paid has been paid. CEO Zhao’s honesty is more flexible than people.”
CEO Zhao laughed instead of getting angry. “Of course. How can a businessman operate without flexibility?”
He took out a bill. “Your father owed quite a bit. I recently found another one at home. I’ll give you a discount: fifty million. How about that?”
“Do you think it’s faster for me to kill you now, or to pay you back?” Xie Qiao tightened his grip on the woman’s neck.
“Xie Qiao, you are still young. You still want to be with your brother. Do you think if I were killed by you, he wouldn’t know?” CEO Zhao laughed. “I estimate that tomorrow, the entire Tancheng will report the news of my death. Do you think the police will investigate?”
Xie Qiao said, “I heard CEO Zhao has no sons or daughters, only an adopted daughter. If you want someone to care for you in your old age and bury you, we should sit down and talk properly.”
CEO Zhao looked at the woman under Xie Qiao’s hand. “I am honored by the invitation.”
In Xie Qiao’s office, CEO Zhao sat on the sofa. Cheng Yong brewed tea and placed it on the table.
CEO Zhao spoke first. “You really don’t know how to be gentle with women.”
Xie Qiao said, “No need for pleasantries. Where is my father’s IOU?”
Xie Qiao’s alpha father was a gambler. When Xie Qiao was young, he had his fingers chopped off due to gambling debts. Debt collectors chased them to their home. Xie Renqing took him to hide everywhere. Before the age of eight, he never lived a stable life or attended school.
Later, they completely lost contact. He was killed ten years ago due to gambling.
CEO Zhao spread the IOU on the table. “Take a look. I actually don’t want to ask you for it, but I can’t just ignore this much money.”
The IOU only showed 500,000. Xie Qiao leaned back on the sofa. “Five times that amount, nothing more.”
CEO Zhao narrowed his eyes. “Nothing more? You’ve made more than five times that amount from this fighting ring.”
Xie Qiao sneered. “So CEO Zhao is a sore loser.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the scarred man cursed, “You,” and aimed something directly at Xie Qiao’s temple.
At the same time, five or six red laser dots lit up in the room, aimed at CEO Zhao and his two companions.
CEO Zhao smiled and waved for him to put it down. “Ah, don’t treat an omega like that. It’s impolite.”
“CEO Zhao, you better decide now. After you walk out that door, I won’t acknowledge any of these debts,” Xie Qiao took a sip of tea. His brother’s preferred items were indeed good. “Have some tea and think about it slowly.”
“Since you feel this way, how can I, as an elder, disagree?” CEO Zhao glanced at the woman standing beside him. “However…”
“However what?”
“My daughter has taken a liking to you. How about you become my live-in son-in-law? We can become family.”
“What does CEO Zhao mean by this?”
“My daughter is very stubborn. I am being upfront because I’m afraid she might seek you out privately later, and that could be troublesome.”
“She is welcome to come find me,” Xie Qiao laughed, leaning back on the leather sofa, completely fearless. “As long as she’s not afraid of death.”
CEO Zhao looked at the woman standing nearby. “See? Our CEO Xie is arrogant. You’ll have to work hard.”
After CEO Zhao left, Cheng Yong asked, “Does he really want you to be his son-in-law?”
Xie Qiao sneered. “He wants this fighting ring, more like it. Zhao Wude only cares about money.”
“I think that person is quite inexplicable.”
“Yes, the man has been dead for so many years, and he still comes to collect debts. He hasn’t contacted me for years,” Xie Qiao noticed the wound on his hand and felt something was wrong. “Be careful lately. Don’t be too conspicuous. I suspect he has more than just debt collection in mind.”