Qin Chu wanted Angelica to believe that without the Hero, she simply couldn't survive.
Only Qin Chu could rescue her from the Abyss; he was the sole light of hope in her life.
His existence was the only thing she could rely on to live a peaceful life.
In that moment, Angelica felt as though she was suffocating, her heart seemed to stop beating. That's why it was so unfair; Mr. Brave, with such a firm yet gentle tone, said he would never allow anyone to hurt her again. How could she possibly bear it?
The ship was instantly sunk.
Her face flushed red, and her breathing quickened.
She didn't even dare to look at Qin Chu's face, fearing she couldn't control the excitement in her heart and might do something presumptuous.
Bowing her head, it was a long time before Angelica finally recovered a bit and looked up at Qin Chu again, "Did you already know about the injuries on my body?"
Rose Vesper was a very malicious person who also greatly valued her own reputation.
She had always been tormenting Angelica, but she definitely didn't want others to know about it since it would damage the Holy Daughter's reputation.
Therefore, while tormenting Angelica, Rose Vesper avoided her face, neck, arms, and calves, but other areas covered by the maid costume had to endure double the damage.
"I noticed it the first time I saw you. Although you pretended everything was normal, sometimes a look of pain would still appear on your face," Qin Chu said.
Angelica clasped her hands over her heart, her voice trembling slightly, "Did you abandon the Holy Daughter, the Princess, and so many other dignified and beautiful young ladies, choosing me because you wanted to rescue me from Hell?"
Qin Chu smiled slightly; he did not answer Angelica's question, letting her imagine the answer herself.
Oftentimes, a woman's imagination is more effective than any sweet words one could offer.
And indeed, Angelica tilted her head, deep in thought.
Mr. Brave was truly kind-hearted. The moment he had noticed the scars on her body, he must have known her situation was terribly bad.
But since he had just arrived in this world, he didn't have the power to support any actions he wished to take; he could only leverage his identity as the Hero, sacrificing his reputation to make everyone believe he was merely obsessed with maids, forcibly choosing her just to rescue her from Hell.
Even if it meant giving up so many gentle, beautiful, elegant, and noble women, it didn't matter to him.
Ah, how great, how merciful, how kind was this man.
Angelica felt a burning in her chest, ashamed that she had once suspected Mr. Brave was only attracted to her body. Mr. Brave was not such a vulgar man. Her suspicions were disrespectful to the Hero.
The only thing that made Angelica feel slightly disappointed was that Mr. Brave had not chosen her out of affection.
If Mr. Brave could like her, even just a little bit, even if she could only have a very small place in his heart...
Ah, no, no, no, she shouldn't expect too much. Meeting Mr. Brave was already the greatest fortune of her life, offering her body to such a Hero was her honor. If she dared to want more, she could not bear it, and she would surely be scorned by Heaven.
However, even though the Hero didn't love her, she knew her heart had begun to fall.
It didn't matter if the Hero didn't like her, she would try her best to win a tiny place in his heart.
Angelica clenched her little fist; the heat in her chest made it unbearable for her any longer, and suddenly she threw her arms around Qin Chu's body.
Her soft pink lips pressed against Qin Chu's mouth.
Presumption no longer mattered.
She only wanted to kiss the man in front of her, wanting to give him her all.
In Qin Chu's mind, it seemed as though a bolt of lightning had passed, and his body stiffened for a moment.
After all, this was also his first kiss with someone; the mouth-to-mouth feeding by Rose Vesper didn't count as a kiss.
The feeling was a bit wonderful, and his usually calm heart even stirred a little, but the fluctuation wasn't strong enough to trigger the Compulsory Calmness.
After a slight hesitation, Qin Chu also embraced Angelica, reciprocating her kiss.
In that instant, he even felt an impulse to truly take care of this woman.
But this impulse was quickly suppressed by Qin Chu.
He had been deceived once and had suffered a betrayal.
Even if Angelica was now wholly focused on him, what about the future? If a stronger, more reliable dependency arose, allowing Angelica to survive without clinging to him, and if there were more substantial benefits, she might betray him just like Rose Vesper and the others, right?
Angelica was merely a useful tool, nothing more.
Kissing, he didn't know for how long it continued.
From the cheek to the neck, to...
Angelica's breathing grew more intense, her eyes filled with silky affection, Qin Chu knew that whatever he asked for at this moment, Angelica would definitely not refuse.
Until they were almost suffocating, they finally parted.
Angelica panted, her cheeks crimson: "Master, I shall serve you to bed now…"
She wanted to finish what she hadn't completed earlier.
But, Angelica's actions were stopped by Qin Chu.
"Your body is very fragile right now, you need to rest well." He stroked Angelica's head and said softly.
"Oh, by the way, though choosing you was to prevent you from suffering, the truth is I liked you a bit from the moment I first saw you," Qin Chu said unexpectedly.
This sudden declaration pierced the calmness Angelica had barely managed to maintain.
The Master didn't say he loved her, just that he liked her a bit…
But, this made Angelica believe even more in what Qin Chu had said.
So, this was really too unfair.
For the first time in many years, someone cared for her, someone rescued her, someone said they liked her.
Her heart trembled, the corners of her eyes quickly moistened, and she felt an urge to cry out loud.
Qin Chu's tender onslaught continued, his hand touching Angelica's cheek:
"If you want to cry, then cry..."
Angelica's lips trembled, the sourness in her nose intensifying, crying in front of her master felt incredibly rude, but she couldn't help it.
The fears, pressures, and pains that had long accumulated in her chest burst forth in that instant.
There was a time when even crying was a luxury for her, as her tears would only bring more cruel tortures from Rose Vesper.
She thought she had long forgotten what crying felt like.
Angelica could no longer control her emotions, she opened her mouth and cried loudly, seemingly wanting to release all her long-standing grievances.
Qin Chu said nothing more, just offered his chest for Angelica to lean on, a safe place for her to cry in his arms…
Angelica knew, she had fallen in love with him!
It wasn't gratitude for being saved, not just liking, not just hoping to occupy a small place in her master's heart, it was love!
It was a love deeply engraved in her bones.
Even if this was just her own wishful thinking, even if later, the master met a better woman and heartlessly abandoned her, this feeling would never fade.
She loved him!
The God Sect, the Holy Daughter, none of it mattered anymore.
Her body, her heart, her life, her soul, all existed only for Mr. Brave.