Facing the little fox's confirmation, Ou Xiaoxue nodded affirmatively and replied to the little fox, "I am very sure of this. Several times I was really close to death, but I inexplicably dodged it. I don't understand why, but they definitely didn't hold back against me."
Ye Tiancheng, who was grilling nearby, interjected at this moment, "Then this is really strange. Xiaoxue, don't blame us for not trusting you, it's just that this matter is too strange. Are you really sure?"
"Or, have you told us the truth? Can you guarantee that what you've said is completely true and reliable? It's very taboo to conceal things when solving such problems, because the consequences of doing so can be very serious, even fatal."
"At best, the little fox and I can save our lives. If we're lucky, we might even accidentally help you solve the problem, and then you'll be fine."
"But the possibility of that happening under a lie is very, very low. At worst, it could lead us to misjudge the opponent's background, and then we would fail. The little fox and I are not afraid of losing our lives; we have the ability to protect ourselves, and it's quite simple for us to survive and escape."
Ye Tiancheng paused slightly at this point before continuing, "We are asking you this with genuine sincerity, because at that time, even if the little fox and I can survive, no one can guarantee your safety."
"I believe you are not someone who disregards life. You have persisted in the villa for two days under such a strange situation, and I also believe that you still have the will to survive. You want to live."
"Therefore, for every question we ask, you must answer with your heart and seriously, because the information contained in these answers is truly very important. Do not joke with your own life. The little fox and I have repeated this to you many times."
Ou Xiaoxue understood the good intentions of Ye Tiancheng and the little fox. However, since Ye Tiancheng had spoken to this extent, she was also a little anxious and didn't know how to prove herself.
She frowned, but still said firmly, "Brother Ye, Brother Ye Li, I understand what you mean. I can assure you with absolute certainty that every word I say is the truth, and there is absolutely no concealment."
"I can swear an oath. If I have concealed anything from you, if I have told you even half a lie, then I will suffer any misfortune as a result. At that time, Brother Ye and Brother Ye Li, you do not need to concern yourselves with me. It will be my own doing, my own fault, and I deserve a bad end. I will have no complaints and will not resent you for not saving me."
This oath was indeed very serious, and Ou Xiaoxue's expression was also very solemn and sincere.
However, Ye Tiancheng's first reaction was to look at the little fox. When Ou Xiaoxue called the little fox out for the barbecue, Ye Tiancheng, while continuously grilling, had already noticed.
The little fox had already prepared to ask questions during the meal. Ye Tiancheng saw that the little fox had placed a talisman on Ou Xiaoxue's back.
Ye Tiancheng did not know much about these things, but he had learned a little when the little fox was studying them. Coincidentally, Ye Tiancheng happened to know about the talisman the little fox had placed on Ou Xiaoxue's back.
The function of that talisman was to ensure that the person under its influence would speak only the absolute truth, words from the heart, until the talisman completely lost its effect.
Ye Tiancheng and the little fox exchanged glances. After their eyes met, the little fox gave Ye Tiancheng a barely perceptible nod, confirming to Ye Tiancheng that the talisman was still effective and that everything Ou Xiaoxue was saying to them was the absolute truth, without any deception or concealment.
To be honest, such a talisman was something the little fox had specifically sought out in the past few days for Ou Xiaoxue's situation.
Previously, the little fox did not know how to draw this talisman, nor had he even seen it. After all, although the little fox knew many things, his learning time was limited, and there were still many things he had not had time to understand. He still needed to deliberately search based on his desired outcome to find the method for drawing such a talisman.
It was for this reason that Ye Tiancheng could recall the talisman's function and understand what the little fox had done the moment he saw it.
With this, Ou Xiaoxue's innocence could truly be confirmed. This person should truly have no problems; she was simply so foolish, so naive and simple, so honest, that she had been harmed to this extent, which was truly regrettable.
Then, the little fox spoke first, addressing Ou Xiaoxue in a gentle tone, "Since you've said it like this, my elder brother and I choose to believe you. We asked these questions for your own good, out of good intentions. We hope you won't hold a grudge against us for this reason. We also apologize; we may have been a bit aggressive in how we spoke to you earlier."
After the little fox spoke, Ou Xiaoxue also offered a way to smooth things over. Although she was not the sharpest person and could not understand all the calculations and hidden intentions between the little fox and Ye Tiancheng, she could sense that Ye Tiancheng and the little fox truly had no ill will towards her.
Otherwise, Ou Xiaoxue would not have trusted Ye Tiancheng and the little fox so much, basically believing whatever they said.
Moreover, the questioning from earlier could not be considered malicious on the part of Ye Tiancheng and the little fox. Ou Xiaoxue understood this. She was not a person with a bad temper, so she would not feel dissatisfied with Ye Tiancheng and the little fox for this reason.
Therefore, Ou Xiaoxue immediately shook her head and said, "How could I hold a grudge against Brother Ye and Brother Ye Li for this reason?"
"Unless I have something to hide, Brother Ye and Brother Ye Li are both acting for my good. Why would I feel dissatisfied for this reason? I was just anxious. I understood your concerns and didn't know how to prove myself. Fortunately, you are willing to believe me."
Ye Tiancheng also smiled and said, "It is also to find the truth. Since it has come to this point, and your life is in danger, we have no reason to stop. Naturally, we must seek the truth in everything."
Ou Xiaoxue expressed her understanding. The little fox then said, "If that's the case, let me think again. There must be something we haven't noticed."
Seeing the little fox frowning in thought, Ye Tiancheng smiled, picked up two grilled corn cobs, and handed one to the little fox and one to Ou Xiaoxue.
"Solving problems and finding the truth are certainly very important, but little fox, don't put too much pressure on yourself. You should relax when it's time to relax. Don't be too anxious. Eat first. It's better to think after eating. Otherwise, with an empty stomach, your brain won't get enough blood, and your mind won't work well."
As Ye Tiancheng spoke, he made a small joke with them. The little fox stopped dwelling on it, accepted the corn cob, and began to eat seriously.
Only he knew in his heart that most of his behavior when he started questioning Ou Xiaoxue was his conscious performance, only revealing the side he wanted Ou Xiaoxue to notice. He hadn't run out of countermeasures, nor did he have no questions to ask.
In fact, every step he was about to take, every question he was about to ask, and Ou Xiaoxue's reactions were largely within the little fox's control. There were no major deviations, and it was much smoother than he had imagined.
However, the little fox also knew that if his thought process appeared too fluent during the questioning, it would easily seem premeditated, which would be detrimental to gaining trust. The little fox's mind was not that dull, so he naturally knew what the best course of action was.
Ye Tiancheng also understood that the little fox was very smart and quick-witted. Moreover, his trust in the little fox was very high now. He believed that the little fox would not do anything bad or harbor any ill intentions, which was why he confidently entrusted these matters to the little fox. On one hand, it was indeed for training, and on the other hand, it was precisely because of trust.
With Ye Tiancheng's increasing indulgence, the little fox dared to reveal more sides of himself. Although there were still some concealments, he also didn't want Ye Tiancheng to see his less favorable side. He had no ill intentions. As long as he didn't make Ye Tiancheng dislike him, the little fox could pretend to be good his whole life.
Ou Xiaoxue, not understanding so many subtleties, simply thought that the little fox was worried about her situation and comforted him, "That's right, think slowly. It's not something that can be solved in a day or two. Besides, we are all safe now, so we can take our time. Thank you for worrying about me, Brother Ye Li."
The little fox smiled very innocently and agreed, not revealing the slightest hint of his true emotions.
After finishing the meal, the little fox helped with cleaning up. The bonfire was mainly extinguished, and there was no need to do anything else. Since Ou Xiaoxue arrived, they had been lighting bonfires to cook every day, and there was already a bonfire pit in a fixed location. They just needed to collect new firewood to light it for cooking.
After every meal, the main tasks were washing dishes and cleaning up kitchen waste. After all, Ye Tiancheng and the others wanted to live there, so they had to keep it tidy to live more comfortably. They couldn't let their living space become a garbage dump just because they were living in an illusion.
Before the formation was transferred to Ou Xiaoxue's villa, Ye Tiancheng often went out to dispose of the household waste. During this period, due to Ou Xiaoxue's situation, it had become quite troublesome. In the end, Ye Tiancheng, along with the Nuwa Stone, set fire to burn all the garbage.
Things that could not be incinerated were generally not particularly dirty or prone to spoilage, so they could be kept and dealt with after the current matters were resolved.
After Ou Xiaoxue moved in, she also helped with some aspects of daily life. Although Ye Tiancheng and the little fox did not give her the heaviest tasks, for Ou Xiaoxue, being able to help was the best. Her personality dictated that she could not be lazy and enjoy herself.
Ou Xiaoxue was indeed a very sincere person. Otherwise, even if they were not going to stand by and watch a tragedy unfold, and only chose to help in the end, Ye Tiancheng would not have put so much effort into Ou Xiaoxue's affairs, even if he had decided to save her.