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

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: I’m Not Waiting for You, I’m Waiting for Miss Lancaster

Jane Lancaster was startled and looked up. The light had just turned green, so she paid it no mind.

Pauline Shaw composed herself. ’No, I can’t fall for it.’

’Jane Lancaster’s inner voice that day had clearly said I’d be valued by my boss, get a promotion, and a raise. But today, the story changed? Now she’s saying I’m getting the cold shoulder?’

’I can’t help but suspect she’s deliberately using her inner voice to mislead and influence me.’

When the light turned green, Pauline started the car and said, "Jay, here’s the thing. Today, my boss wants me to go with him to a business meeting and play golf with a major client, but it won’t count as overtime. What do you think I should do?"

Jane Lancaster said in surprise, "Then you should go to the meeting! What a great opportunity! Don’t worry about me, it’s no big deal. Your career is more important!"

’Is she regretting not taking the opportunity? Hilarious. He’s just trying to manipulate you, you know.’

’First, he butters you up, then he gives you the cold shoulder and benches you for a few days. Once you’re getting desperate, he’ll make up with you, and then you’ll be putty in his hands, won’t you?’

’Aren’t you just trying to hint at what a huge sacrifice you’re making to hang out with me? If you’d actually gone, you would have ended up as nothing more than a caddy. A total waste of time.’

Pauline thought with a blank expression, ’I never should have asked her this question.’

’What does she mean, "nothing more than a caddy"? To her, I’m the real free chauffeur and playmate.’

’Gordon Dawson was right. A high-and-mighty princess like her—how would she ever know gratitude? It’s a miracle she doesn’t just bully people.’

[BEEP. Character affinity change detected. Aversion +1]

Jane Lancaster heard the system’s notification and was a little surprised. ’I haven’t even done anything yet, have I?’

’But this is a good thing.’ After a moment’s thought, she asked, "How did you know to look for me at the hotel?"

Pauline Shaw said, "Alvin told me."

After she spoke, she noticed Jane Lancaster still staring at her and couldn’t help but feel a little impatient. ’What’s that supposed to mean? Does she think I’d lie?’

"Alvin said you were missing Julian and planned to stay at a hotel for a couple of days," she added.

But inwardly, she couldn’t help but wonder. ’That’s right, why did she suddenly go stay in a hotel out of the blue?’

’Didn’t my cousin personally pick her up and take her back to the Lancaster estate that day?’

’What’s Alvin Lancaster’s deal? Is he trying to keep family business private? No, that’s not right. Aren’t he and Pauline Shaw pretty close? Why wouldn’t he tell her about something this big?’

’I guessed right, something definitely happened!’ Pauline Shaw pursed her lips. It seemed she would have to have a good talk with Alvin Lancaster later.

Seeing the thoughtful expression on Pauline Shaw’s face, Jane Lancaster felt very satisfied.

’Tsk, you people really are a bunch of schemers, each with a thousand tricks up your sleeve.’

’She catches on quick, already suspicious. That’s great. All I have to do is sit back and reap the rewards.’

Pauline Shaw was speechless. She stomped on the gas, and the car sped all the way to the jewelry exhibition.

The moment Jane Lancaster walked in, she saw a lavishly dressed Luna Morgan and immediately wore an "I-knew-it" expression.

’I just knew I had a feeling something good was going to happen today. And it’s true! I’ve already run into the female lead!’

’She’s surrounded by so many admirers. Don’t tell me there’s going to be some plot twist where I get put in my place? Is it going to be that exciting?’

Pauline Shaw didn’t feel like talking anymore. ’Can’t she see how troubled Luna Morgan is?’

Several men were gathered around Luna Morgan, each one attentive and eager.

"I’m sorry, I’m waiting for someone here... I’m really sorry, and I don’t drink..."

Luna Morgan’s brow furrowed slightly. She wasn’t very good at refusing people and was at a complete loss as to how to handle the situation.

Pauline Shaw walked over. "Excuse me, she’s waiting for me."

The men looked at her, displeased. ’What business is it of hers?’

"Let’s go. Didn’t you say you had something to talk to me about?" Pauline Shaw said, taking Luna Morgan’s arm to leave.

But Luna Morgan didn’t move. "Pauline, I wasn’t waiting for you. I was waiting for Miss Lancaster."

She hadn’t seen Jane Lancaster yet and didn’t want to leave.

Hearing this, the men nearby immediately became more aggressive, blocking their path.

"Did you hear that? She wasn’t waiting for you. What gives you the right to butt in?"

"We were talking about buying jewelry. Stay out of it."

"Yeah, we were having a nice chat. It’s not right for you to just try and take her away."

Pauline Shaw took a deep breath and asked patiently, "Then what do you want?"

"She can go, but she has to drink this." One of the men took a glass of champagne from a waiter, his eyes fixed on Luna Morgan.

Luna Morgan frowned. She really couldn’t drink, but to de-escalate the situation, she decided to drink it anyway.

But just as she took the glass, Pauline Shaw snatched it away.

"I’ll drink it for her..." Pauline Shaw downed the glass in one go, gestured to the group, and prepared to leave, only to be blocked again.

Pauline Shaw was getting impatient. "Didn’t I just drink the wine?"

"One glass would have been enough for her. But if you’re drinking in her place, it’s three glasses, minimum," the man in the suit taunted.

The others chimed in, "That’s right! Why should it be so easy? Drinking for someone else means you have to drink extra!"

Pauline Shaw said, "Fine. You said it. Three glasses it is. But you have to keep your word."

Three glasses of wine weren’t a big deal for her. After all, she had been attending cocktail parties since she was a child; she could handle that much alcohol.

As she raised the glass to drink the second one, Jane Lancaster’s inner voice suddenly drifted over.

’No way, is Pauline Shaw always this reckless?’

’What does she mean, "three glasses it is"? It’s obviously going to be three glasses, and then another three.’

’And she expects them to play by the rules? She has no idea that they’re the ones making the rules, and they can change them whenever they want.’

’He agreed to three glasses, but the others didn’t. Then comes the problem: "Why did you drink his three glasses, but not mine?"’

’Once a compliance test starts, it doesn’t stop. She shouldn’t have drunk a single glass. Why is she even trying to be nice to them? Is she stupid?’

Pauline Shaw’s hand, holding the glass, froze. She subconsciously peeked at the man in the suit through the gaps between her fingers.

The man’s eyes flickered with ill intent. As for the others, they exchanged knowing smiles.

...Jane Lancaster was right. These guys really were planning to find excuses to force her to keep drinking.

She placed the glass in her hand back on the waiter’s tray. "I’m not drinking anymore."

The man in the suit’s face fell instantly. He had never been so openly defied before.

"Hey beautiful, that’s not right. This had nothing to do with you in the first place; you were the one who had to play the hero. Now you’re going back on your word. Are you trying to back out?"

"You don’t have to drink, fine. You can go, but she can’t."

Pauline Shaw’s gaze swept the area before landing on Jane Lancaster in the corner. "Luna, were you waiting for Jay? She’s over there."

’Since you’re so capable, don’t think you can stay out of this.’

"Miss Lancaster!" Luna Morgan cried out in pleasant surprise. Then, as if remembering something, she hurried over to stand in front of Jane Lancaster. "She can’t drink!"

Jane Lancaster: "..."

’The female lead is clueless about her own affairs, but so considerate when it comes to others.’

’A moment ago she was a little bunny, and now she’s become tough and stubborn, shielding me like a protector.’