ABO: A Debt to Repay - Chapter 7

“Cousin?”

He Lin raised his eyebrows at Xu Xi, who was giving him a pleading look. Glancing at the group of students about the same age as Xu Xi, He Lin said, “Sure thing, little cousin.”

He Lin emphasized the words “little cousin,” even giving Xu Xi’s shoulder a light squeeze.

Xu Xi silently thanked He Lin for playing along. Turning to Zhao Yuran and the others, she said, “Let’s go.”

Ever since He Lin had appeared, Zhao Yuran hadn’t been able to take her eyes off her. This incredibly handsome Alpha—was he really Xu Xi’s cousin?

When they arrived home, Aunt Wang was visibly surprised to see so many guests. Before she could say anything, He Lin spoke up, “Make a few more dishes, please. These are Zhao Zhao’s classmates.”

Aunt Wang went off to cook, and He Lin turned to the group. “Feel free to look around, but those two rooms over there are bedrooms—please don’t enter them.”

He Lin exuded a commanding presence. The students all seemed intimidated and cautious—except Zhao Yuran. Despite having insisted earlier on wanting a tour, she now avoided it and instead walked over to He

Lin, asking cheerfully:

“Cousin, it’s impressive that you own a place like this at such a young age!”

One glance was enough for He Lin to see through this Omega’s intentions. She had seen how Zhao Yuran had bullied Xu Xi outside the residential gate just now. He Lin gave a faint smile but didn’t answer. Instead, he countered:

“Not going on the tour? Weren’t you just telling Zhao Zhao how much you wanted to broaden your horizons?”

Zhao Yuran was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected He Lin to have heard what she said earlier to Xu Xi—let alone call her out on it. Embarrassment washed over her.
Still, it was rare to meet an Alpha so outstanding. Zhao Yuran didn’t want to give up easily. She decided to play the pity card.

It was a trick she’d used often with Alphas in the past, and it usually worked. After all, Alphas were all the same, weren’t they?

Ignoring He Lin’s earlier words, she bowed her head and said:

“My family’s never been well-off. I’ve only seen upscale neighborhoods like this from the outside. I’m not as lucky as Xu Xi. All I can do is work really hard—”

“Zhao Zhao, are you hungry? I brought you some pastries. Want to have a few first?”

He Lin cut her off mid-sentence. Zhao Yuran looked up, stunned. Clearly, He Lin had never been listening to her in the first place.

This was even more embarrassing than before. Zhao Yuran didn’t dare push her luck further and quickly ran off to join the other students.

Once everyone had left the room, He Lin pinched Xu Xi’s waist and whispered in her ear, “I helped you out—now think about how you’re going to repay me.”

Blushing, Xu Xi stepped away from him. He Lin simply chuckled and didn’t tease her any further.

Because of He Lin’s presence, the classmates didn’t linger long. After finishing the meal, they left. Xu Xi didn’t ask them to stay either. Once they were gone, she planned to take an afternoon nap. But He Lin climbed into bed with her and pulled her into his arms.

“You didn’t want them to come, so why didn’t you just say no? Afraid of causing a scene?”

That was exactly it—she was afraid of conflict.

Sometimes, Xu Xi envied people who could speak their minds so freely. But she wasn’t like that. She was afraid of confrontation.

“What are you afraid of? So, what if it causes a scene? If you keep acting this way, people will just think you’re easy to push around.”

Xu Xi remained silent. He Lin kissed the side of her neck and said:

“Next time you want to say no, just say it. I’ll back you up.”

When Xu Xi was younger and living with her mother, she knew how hard things were for her. That’s why she always tried to protect her—she’d only share the good, never the bad. No matter how big or small the issue, she never let it worry her.

That didn’t mean she hadn’t been hurt before. She simply believed those wounds were too trivial to bother anyone with—she could deal with them himself.

But now, she had He Lin’s broad and warm embrace at her back. He Lin had said he’d support her. Maybe it was just a casual remark, but it stirred something inside Xu Xi.

Support me… What a beautiful phrase…

With the comforting scent of pinewood surrounding her, Xu Xi quickly drifted off to sleep. But He Lin, watching her rest in his arms, had more than just tenderness in his eyes—there was determination too.

Earlier that morning, He Lin had visited his private physician, Dr. Chen Si, and told him that he had finally met an Omega whose compatibility with him was extremely high.

After an examination, Dr. Chen informed him: Xu Xi was essentially his medicine.

Perhaps Xu Xi was the only person in the world who could be his cure.

Xu Xi’s pheromones could heal his pheromone disorder. As long as they maintained an intimate relationship and frequently exchanged pheromones, then in as little as six months—or at most two to three years—

He Lin could become a normal Alpha again, able to perceive Omega pheromones like anyone else.

And by then, if he no longer felt anything for Xu Xi, he could simply let her go. They’d each move on in search of their own true love. If needed, He Lin would compensate her—so neither owed the other anything.

But until then, he didn’t just need Xu Xi’s cooperation—he wanted Xu Xi’s heart and soul to belong solely to him.

For someone like Xu Xi—an Omega lacking in security, kind and pure-hearted—a cage full of thorns would only make her want to escape. To keep her willingly, happily inside that cage, He Lin knew the trap must be lined with sweet, sweet honey.