Ye Tiancheng felt a sense of relief hearing the little fox agree.
However, Ye Tiancheng still looked at the little fox very seriously, his gaze filled with earnestness. Ye Tiancheng said to the little fox, "Little fox, thank you. You've helped me with so many things along the way. No matter if you remember those past events now or not, what has happened will never be erased."
"So, I can trust you, can I?"
The little fox paused slightly as he looked at Ye Tiancheng.
In truth, the issue of trusting the little fox had never truly been resolved.
To say he didn't trust the little fox wouldn't be entirely accurate, as Ye Tiancheng did trust him quite a bit. Ye Tiancheng didn't keep many things from the little fox and would even seek his help when necessary.
But to say he fully trusted the little fox also felt incorrect.
Firstly, the little fox himself had many issues. On the surface, anyone would think the little fox was loyal to Ye Tiancheng. However, the little fox's identity had always been a point of contention.
From the very beginning, Ye Tiancheng had suspected the little fox's origins and identity because the places the little fox appeared were suspicious, and he indeed possessed many peculiar traits.
Later facts proved that the little fox's identity was indeed not simple.
The little fox's true identity had been repeatedly speculated, then overturned, and then confirmed again, making it quite complex and truly enigmatic.
Initially, Ye Tiancheng suspected the little fox's identity and harbored various doubts about him. However, he later discovered that it was due to the little fox's constitution that he particularly attracted malevolent spirits, which led him to exhibit some strange behaviors.
Later, for some reason, Ye Tiancheng came to believe that the little fox meant no harm, and thus he trusted him.
But it was precisely after this that new problems arose concerning the little fox's identity.
When they were at the Odd Market, they encountered the ghost fox A'Zi, who possessed a fragment of the Fuxi Qin. Ye Tiancheng, in order to obtain the Fuxi Qin fragment, made a deal with A'Zi.
A'Zi allowed Ye Tiancheng to take the Fuxi Qin fragment, but Ye Tiancheng also had to find a way to help A'Zi leave the Odd Market. Ye Tiancheng's condition was that A'Zi must be restrained to accompany them.
Initially, everything seemed to be going well, and they had reached an agreement. However, at the last moment, Ye Tiancheng and A'Zi fell out because A'Zi was only willing to be restrained by the little fox, not by Ye Tiancheng.
But Ye Tiancheng also could not agree to let the little fox be the one to restrain A'Zi, leading to a confrontation where they resorted to fighting.
It was during this fight between Ye Tiancheng and A'Zi that Ye Tiancheng discovered that the little fox's identity held further complications. A'Zi and the little fox were inextricably linked. According to A'Zi, the little fox was merely a part of his soul that had been split off; they were essentially one.
This claim was still debatable, as it had not been verified. Ye Tiancheng was unwilling to arbitrarily conclude anything without evidence. Since Ye Tiancheng had chosen to trust the little fox at that time, he would not retract that trust for such a reason.
However, judging by A'Zi's furious demeanor at the time, it did not seem like he was lying. It was clear that he had not expected the little fox to disobey him.
But regardless, A'Zi likely genuinely considered the little fox to be on his side. There was no doubt about this, as A'Zi's feeling of misplaced trust at that moment was too evident, and he appeared genuinely surprised. The matter was clearly beyond his control.
As for Ye Tiancheng, the little fox had also revealed his true face to him. Ye Tiancheng finally discovered that the little fox was the person in red who had stolen the Fuxi Qin, which he had just reassembled from fragments in the Pure Land.
However, in that situation, although the little fox's true identity was exposed, the choice he made was to betray A'Zi and choose to protect himself.
It was because of this that A'Zi became so enraged on the spot.
Then, before Ye Tiancheng and the little fox could clarify things and discuss the identity issue properly, the little fox lost his memory once again.
Therefore, the little fox's issues were indeed significant.
If Ye Tiancheng had lacked a bit of courage, or if his trust in the little fox had been even slightly wavering, their current interactions would not be what they were.
In that case, let alone sharing the same room, Ye Tiancheng would likely have been unable to tolerate being under the same roof as the little fox.
The current equilibrium maintained meant that, among their group, Ye Tiancheng was actually the one who trusted the little fox the most.
Ye Tiancheng had granted the little fox a considerable amount of trust.
As for Fatty, he had previously been the one who doted on the little fox the most. However, after the incident, when Fatty learned of the doubts surrounding the little fox's identity, coupled with the little fox's physical transformation from a boy to an adult man, a change in his appearance, and his amnesia, forgetting much of his past.
Consequently, a rift had formed between Fatty and the little fox. Their interactions had become much more formal.
As for Hou Mingzhu and Ye Qingcheng, their feelings towards the little fox were neither trust nor mistrust. It primarily depended on Ye Tiancheng's attitude. If Ye Tiancheng treated the little fox as one of their own, then Hou Mingzhu and Ye Qingcheng would do the same.
Therefore, Hou Mingzhu and Ye Qingcheng appeared to be closer to the little fox than Fatty.
Since the little fox lost his memory, the reactions of everyone in their group regarding the issue of trust had been tacitly understood. On the surface, it had never been formally discussed.
Ye Tiancheng's opening statement was indeed the first time.
The little fox's mind raced with thoughts, but regardless of what he was thinking, his immediate reaction was to smile and nod vigorously, replying with firm conviction, "Of course. No matter who I was in the past, you will always be my elder brother, and I will never do anything that harms you."
"As long as I am still the little fox, I will always be your brother."
What the little fox didn't say was that if one day he could no longer be the little fox, and if he were to betray Ye Tiancheng, he would not give himself that opportunity before then.
Ye Tiancheng patted the little fox's shoulder, "This is something I should have discussed with you properly. But due to various reasons, we never properly brought it up, which was wrong. That's why I'm specifically talking to you about it today."
"My bringing this up isn't just to ask if you are trustworthy. The answer to this matter should already be in everyone's hearts. I believe you are smart enough to sense it."
"And the reason I'm telling you this is to let you know that I am willing to trust you, truly believe in you, and have always acted accordingly. Don't overthink it. As long as all the choices you make come from your heart, they will be supported. No matter what choice you make, no one will blame you."
Ye Tiancheng felt that saying such things face-to-face was quite cheesy. Men like them were not accustomed to such words, but some things needed to be said.
It was always assumed that the other person would know, but knowing something and hearing it directly from your mouth are two different things. Matters that are not explicitly stated can easily plant seeds of uncertainty in one's heart.
If someone lacks security, or is emotionally triggered by certain circumstances, they might easily waver and doubt due to the lack of a confirmed answer. This is undoubtedly detrimental to a team.
Therefore, Ye Tiancheng felt it was necessary to give the little fox this sense of security.
In fact, upon receiving a positive affirmation, it was indeed easier for people to gain conviction and feel at ease.
The insecurity stemming from his identity issues had always been present in the little fox's heart. Even though he always knew that Ye Tiancheng placed significant trust in him, discussed many things with him, even prioritized discussing them with him, and shared common secrets.
From this perspective, Ye Tiancheng undoubtedly trusted him greatly. Even with his questionable identity, Ye Tiancheng's actions were more than enough to prove his trust.
However, at times, when he thought of his true identity, his amnesia, and noticed Fatty's attitude towards him, the contrast between the past and present, the little fox couldn't help but feel unsettled.
Do they truly trust me? Will they really believe me?
The little fox would sometimes find himself thinking this.
But today, after Ye Tiancheng had this heartfelt conversation with him, the little fox truly felt much more settled. This was equivalent to having a guarantee, naturally allowing him to feel more confident and entrust his trust without any worries.
Ye Tiancheng had also noticed the little fox's personal emotional state, which was why he chose to speak up.
Sometimes he might not be able to perceive very subtle things, but Ye Tiancheng's care for his companions allowed him to resolve these potential issues.