Everyone Can Hear My Thoughts, and Now They're Panicking

Jane Lancaster glanced around. "It seems not everyone shares your opinion."

The middle-aged man grew irritated. "You..."

"Oh, Miss Lancaster doesn’t drink? That was my oversight, then." A hearty laugh rang out.

Jane Lancaster looked up and saw several people, and memories immediately flooded her mind.

’So this is Ronald Hughes. He looks quite friendly.’

Ronald Hughes was nearly forty when he had this precious son. He was glowing from the happy occasion, a smile never leaving his face.

Standing beside him was a young woman who bore a faint resemblance to Mia Lanley. This was Mrs. Hughes, the mother of the little guest of honor.

Ronald Hughes had his assistant swap the drink for a glass of juice and handed it to Jane Lancaster. "Miss Lancaster isn’t in the best of health, so it’s indeed not advisable for her to drink."

"For the two of you to attend my son’s 100-day celebration today, you truly grace the Hughes family’s humble home!" He smiled and raised his glass to Jane and Alvin Lancaster first.

When Mrs. Hughes clinked glasses with Jane, Alvin Lancaster tensed up for a moment.

He had only just learned that Mrs. Hughes and Mia Lanley were cousins. How could he not understand why the people at this table had been acting that way?

This was already one of the tables at the very back. Although the Hughes Family wasn’t part of Stratton’s business circles, the Lancaster Family’s status was high enough that they shouldn’t have been seated in some obscure corner.

Such an arrangement was, in itself, a sign of disrespect and neglect.

But when he had first come in, the butler had clearly arranged a table for them in the middle section.

Someone must have targeted them intentionally. He didn’t have to think twice about who it was—it had to be Mrs. Hughes.

Fortunately, though, nothing had happened.

Ronald Hughes said with a smile, "It’s been a long time since you two have visited the Hughes family. You are honored guests. Why not come over to the main table? We can have a proper chat later."

"You’re the man of the hour today. There’s no need to go out of your way for us. We can take care of ourselves," Alvin Lancaster said, politely declining what he assumed was a mere courtesy.

Ronald Hughes insisted graciously, "Please, you must take the seats. We have been poor hosts today."

Jane Lancaster, however, understood the situation. She glanced at the quiet Mrs. Hughes.

Mrs. Hughes met her gaze and returned a faint smile, extending an invitation of her own. "Yes, and I was just hoping to have a chat with Miss Lancaster myself."

She had done it to stand up for her cousin, and since Jane Lancaster had come alone, she had deliberately placed her in this obscure corner.

She even had someone spread the word that Jane Lancaster had offended her, inciting these people to target Jane.

But her cousin had just told her what happened, and she now knew that her cousin had wrongly accused someone.

That being the case, she was naturally willing to bury the hatchet and extend an olive branch.

Jane Lancaster said, "There’s really no need. We’re fine at this table."

Mrs. Hughes met her gaze for a moment, then looked slightly taken aback. ’She’s really not just feigning retreat to advance?’

’She didn’t come here specifically for my husband, hoping to stir up more hype as Stratton’s number one socialite?’

This time, Mrs. Hughes’s smile was much more sincere. "Well, you eat first, then. Later, come to my room for a cup of tea."

Her husband was a literary author whose works had won numerous awards. They had been adapted into television series and films for both the big and small screens, gaining considerable attention.

Back then, she had started as her husband’s assistant before eventually becoming his wife.

The story of him praising Jane Lancaster had become a popular topic. Although her husband had explained that an elder from the Solara branch of the Hughes family admired Jane, and he had merely relayed the sentiment.

But she couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

Jane Lancaster waited for the toasting party to leave before picking up her chopsticks and continuing to eat.

Alvin Lancaster asked, "Jay, are we really not changing tables?"

He wanted to say that even if they didn’t go to the main table, moving to the one in the middle would be fine. There was no need to stay here and be ostracized.

Jane Lancaster said, "No. I said we’re not moving, so we’re not moving."

’If I move, how am I supposed to find our little target later?’

Alan Wallace felt conflicted. Mr. Hughes’s invitation was such a golden opportunity, yet she had just turned it down!

"Oh, right," Jane Lancaster paused and looked up. "Mrs. Hughes and I had a bit of a misunderstanding before, but it’s been cleared up now."

The face of the middle-aged man who had tried to drive her away earlier turned into a kaleidoscope of colors, flushing red and pale in turns.

Alvin Lancaster went to the restroom. As he passed a side hall, someone called out to him. "Alvin, it really is you! My big brother just told me, and I couldn’t believe it!"

"Henry!" Alvin Lancaster recognized him. It was the Hughes family’s younger son, Henry Hughes, who was around the same age as him and Jim Jenson.

However, after Jim Jenson went abroad, Henry Hughes had also transferred to an international school, so they rarely saw each other.

Jim Jenson walked out with a smile. "See? I told you you’re still closer with Henry. Shouldn’t old friends share a hug when they meet?"

The moment Alvin Lancaster saw him, he grew wary. According to his sister’s inner thoughts, the two of them were definitely not good friends. ’Why is he being so enthusiastic?’

Henry Hughes scratched his head. "Ah, let’s not."

Jim Jenson said, "Well, we can at least have a smoke together, right? Let’s go. To the backyard."

Without giving Alvin Lancaster a chance to refuse, he pushed him forward.

Alvin Lancaster thought it over. ’A cigarette shouldn’t be a problem. If I’m careful and only smoke my own, there shouldn’t be any issues.’

The backyard opened up to a lake, with a pavilion built by the water’s edge. Someone sitting in the pavilion heard the noise and turned around.

"Young Master Hughes." Jim Jenson walked over quickly.

Alvin Lancaster looked at the person’s face, memories surging. "You’re Young Master Hughes!"

The white-clad youth in his memory had always had the air of an untouchable flower on a high mountain. He was an honored guest from Solara, so the Hughes and Jenson families had specially arranged for people to keep him company.

But he had a somewhat cold personality. Even when he was out with them, he spent most of his time reading a book.

Unlike other boys, he wasn’t boisterous, which made him seem particularly refined.

Jean Hughes extended a hand. "Alvin? Long time no see."

Alvin Lancaster was flattered. In his memory, this person had always been cold and distant; he never expected him to initiate a handshake.

"Want to go next door and sit for a while?" Jean Hughes asked.

Years ago, the Hughes family had bought the small villa next door. Jean Hughes preferred quiet over commotion, so he lived there alone to avoid being disturbed by outsiders.

Alvin Lancaster hesitated. A smoke wouldn’t take long, but going next door would be a bit time-consuming.

He was worried something might happen with his sister.

Seeing his hesitation, Jean Hughes frowned and glanced at Jim Jenson.

Jim Jenson said with a smile, "You didn’t know? Young Master Hughes brought his internet-famous dog, Reggie, with him! Let’s go check him out."

"What, you don’t know who Reggie is?" Jim Jenson raised his voice. "Then you really have to see him!"

Watching the dog video Jim Jenson showed him, Alvin Lancaster was also charmed by the beautiful animal.

He thought to himself, ’I guess it wouldn’t hurt to go for a bit. Just for a little while. I can just make my excuses and leave later...’

"What’s a Reggie? Can I go see it?" Jane Lancaster, who had followed them, was too curious and couldn’t help but speak up.

Henry Hughes turned around and snapped, "Who let you in? Get out!"

Seeing Jane Lancaster, he froze for a second and shut his mouth.

Jim Jenson said snidely, "This is Stratton’s number one socialite. She’s not just anybody. Of course she can come and go as she pleases."

Jane Lancaster looked at the silent Jean Hughes.

Jean Hughes’s tone was calm. "Don’t be like that. She’s Alvin’s sister, which makes her our sister, too."