ABO: A Debt to Repay - Chapter 16
He Lin brought Xu Xi to the hospital where He Fang was staying.
He Fang was wearing the standard hospital gown and waved at Xu Xi from behind the isolation room’s glass window.
This had been the longest time Xu Xi had spent away from her. Since successfully divorcing Xu Chang and escaping that life, He Fang had been recovering well—so much so that she looked younger than before.
You could still see traces of the beautiful, youthful Omega who once turned heads and was adored by many Alphas.
Seeing her like this made Xu Xi truly happy.
They spoke briefly through the glass, and Xu Xi promised to come visit again after her surgery. She urged her to rest and await her transformation in peace.
When they exited the hospital, Xu Xi walked alongside He Lin. Sensing Xu Xi’s distracted mood, He Lin asked, “What’s wrong? Are you worried about your mother?”
Xu Xi shook her head. “No, I’m not worried. She’ll be better and better. I was just thinking—these days, even though Omegas have more rights, their biological makeup still puts them at a disadvantage.”
An Alpha could mark multiple Omegas and remain unaffected, but a lifelong mark deeply impacted the Omega—physiologically and emotionally. Once that bond was severed, it was the Omega who suffered the most.
Xu Xi was now thankful that He Lin hadn’t given her a lifelong mark yet. But if the day came when He Lin proposed it, could she really refuse?
“She just met the wrong person. But you won’t,” He Lin said gently.
Xu Xi looked up at him. The setting sun lit the clouds in vibrant, fiery hues, casting a warm glow behind the handsome Alpha. It made him appear to shine.
The cold glint that used to dwell in He Lin’s eyes was now replaced with tenderness, his entire expression soft and affectionate.
“I’ll treat you well. Really well.”
Xu Xi’s heart pounded faster—not because of those words alone, but because of this moment, this place, this person.
He Lin said he would treat her well.
Xu Xi had seen sweet beginnings turn bitter—her own parents had once been loving too. Xu Chang had made countless promises to He Fang, only to destroy them all with gambling. Classmates who once swore eternal love also broke up in the end.
With so many examples around her, Xu Xi had stopped believing in pretty words.
But He Lin sounded sincere. His eyes were clear. Xu Xi couldn’t help but want to believe him.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” He Lin waved a hand in front of Xu Xi’s dazed eyes and flicked her forehead lightly with a chuckle. “Silly.”
For once, Xu Xi didn’t talk back. She quietly kept walking forward—until a large hand wrapped around her and held it tightly.
He Lin led her toward the parking lot. “Let’s go. Time to head home.”
Xu Xi gazed at He Lin’s back, her expression relaxed and peaceful, the sweetness in her smile unconsciously blooming at the corners of her lips.
…
Once home, Xu Xi threw herself into a frenzy of makeup homework.
Aside from the hospital visit, the entire weekend had been monopolized by He Lin. Now it was nearly bedtime, and she still had to finish three sets of assignments the school had given out.
As Xu Xi focused intently on her math worksheet, a familiar voice came from behind.
“This question can be solved faster with a different method.”
Xu Xi looked at He Lin, then at the problem. “What method?”
Standing behind her, He Lin leaned down, picked up Xu Xi’s pen, and neatly wrote out the steps on a piece of scratch paper, explaining the process as he went.
Xu Xi listened carefully, too absorbed to notice how close they were. When the problem was done, He Lin asked, “Got it?”
Xu Xi nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
He Lin’s explanation was clear and concise. What once seemed complicated now felt easy.
“Can I use this method for the next question too?” Xu Xi asked.
“Let me see.”
He Lin leaned in again. This time, Xu Xi finally noticed how close she was and hurriedly pulled over a chair for him. He Lin raised a brow. “What, planning to turn me into your tutor now?”
Xu Xi nodded seriously. “Teacher He, sorry to trouble you.”
He Lin couldn’t help but smile. He tapped the desk lightly. “You forgot the tea.”
Xu Xi quickly brewed a cup and brought it over. “Teacher He, is there anything else you need? I still have a lot of homework.”
He Lin stopped teasing and sat down to properly tutor her.
With He Lin’s help—and Xu Xi’s natural intelligence and diligence—the assignments were finished quickly. Xu Xi even learned several useful shortcuts.
That night, lying in He Lin’s arms, Xu Xi hesitated for a long time before quietly asking:
“He Lin… if I don’t understand something in the future, can I ask you?”
He Lin chuckled. “Is that what you’ve been staying up to say? That’s nothing—of course you can. After work, I can help tutor you. You’re my Omega. If you want something, just say it. If I can give it to you, I will.”
He Lin pulled her closer, gave her a playful slap on the rear, and murmured, “Alright, time to sleep. Good night.”
In the darkness, Xu Xi stayed quiet for a while, then snuggled a little deeper into He Lin’s embrace and whispered:
“…Thank you.”