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

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: But Why Should I Listen?

Vincent Holt walked onto the stage with a microphone and said with a smile, "Today, a distinguished guest came to wish my grandmother a happy birthday, and it made her so happy she stood up. Can you guess who it was?"

He deliberately built up the suspense.

Old Mrs. Holt was elderly and had mobility issues, so she was usually in a wheelchair.

When Vincent said she had been happy enough to stand, it surprised her sons so much that they all turned to look at the matriarch’s table.

"Really? Mom can stand up now? That’s wonderful!"

"It must be because her grandson’s fiancée is here," someone chimed in, trying to be pleasant. "I hear the young lady from the Lancaster family has fully recovered. That means she’s a person of good fortune."

"A double blessing, a double blessing!" another person shouted.

Who in their social circle didn’t know Jane Lancaster’s story? She had the heroic halo of a good Samaritan, was the woman Caleb Lowell insisted on marrying, and with Julian Lancaster present, everyone felt obligated to show support and say a few nice things.

Julian Lancaster smiled and thanked everyone for their kind words.

’What’s there to thank them for? Big Brother, you’re thanking them way too soon.’

’He’s obviously setting a trap for us. I’m not the one who’s supposed to be in the spotlight today.’

Sure enough, just as Jane’s thought faded, Vincent Holt announced in an exuberant voice, "Let’s welcome Luna Morgan to the stage!"

Everyone was stunned. What kind of stunt was this?

Under the gazes of the crowd, Luna Morgan braced herself and walked onto the stage.

She was wearing a qipao today, its fresh elegance imbued with a classic, graceful charm. She was delicately beautiful.

"As you all know, my grandmother has long been troubled by chronic arthritis in her legs. She’s seen countless doctors over the years to no avail. It was Luna who recommended a renowned physician to treat her. She even helped with massages and acupuncture, which is why my grandmother can stand again today!"

"She is the distinguished guest who made my grandmother so happy she stood up!"

After he finished, he led the applause. The designated mood-setters in the audience followed suit, gradually inspiring a wave of applause from the entire crowd.

Luna Morgan hadn’t expected Vincent Holt to pull a stunt like this. She had heard the earlier comments and felt nothing but awkward.

"I am here to wish you a happy birthday. I heard that Old Mrs. Holt enjoys the erhu, so I’d like to offer this birthday melody. I wish you boundless fortune and a long, prosperous life!"

As she spoke, she glanced at Jane Lancaster from afar, hoping Miss Lancaster wouldn’t misunderstand.

When her gaze shifted and met Julian Lancaster’s dark, deep eyes, her heart couldn’t help but tighten.

The Eldest Young Master used to love listening to her play the erhu, saying its sound could calm a person’s heart.

She wondered if he was still troubled by nightmares. She only hoped that the sound of her erhu today could bring his heart a moment of peace.

Luna Morgan didn’t dwell on it. She lowered her head, took a deep breath, and a stream of fluid, beautiful notes from the erhu flowed from her fingertips.

Everyone present was quite surprised. Even those who didn’t understand music could tell she played the erhu remarkably well.

For an amateur to play so well, she had clearly put in a lot of thought and effort into practicing. It was a very thoughtful gesture.

Jane Lancaster listened for a while and felt there was nothing to criticize.

But there was still a wide gap between playing well and being breathtakingly brilliant.

Technique was something one could perfect through diligent practice, but talent was innate—an insurmountable chasm that ordinary people could rarely cross.

After listening for a bit, she lost interest and turned to look at the next table.

Alvin Lancaster was listening with a focused expression, but Julian Lancaster’s face was impassive, as if he were completely unmoved.

’That’s not right. Wasn’t it with this exceptional erhu skill that Luna Morgan slowly won her way into Julian Lancaster’s heart?’

’Even though he has a very robotic air about him, he has a high appreciation for music and art. I have no idea why he’s so fond of the erhu, of all things.’

Alvin Lancaster glanced hesitantly at Julian. Since when did his older brother like listening to the erhu?

After she finished playing, Luna Morgan obediently walked off the stage. She wanted to go to a table at the back, but she was intercepted by Vincent Holt, who was waiting for her, and was invited over to the main table.

Old Mrs. Holt naturally had to support her grandson’s efforts. She said with a smile, "I like you very much. Come sit here next to me."

There were only two seats next to her. Jane Lancaster was in one, and although Luna Morgan tried to decline, she was ushered into the other.

Vincent Holt said a few more words to wrap up the performance, then dropped the microphone and walked over. He stood right behind Jane Lancaster as he spoke to Old Mrs. Holt.

Jane Lancaster picked up a vibrant jade-green vegetable roll and gave him a meaningful look.

’Putting on such a song and dance here... a real showman. No wonder the Holt Family’s stocks are a sea of red.’

For some reason, Vincent Holt understood her glance, and his face turned pale.

The Holt Family had been on a downward slope for years. His father had been actively searching for new sources of profit, but unfortunately, all his song and dance had only resulted in losing more money.

Some media outlets were quite vicious, saying that judging by his father’s style, he seemed less like an entrepreneur and more like an opera singer.

Vincent Holt took a deep breath and told himself to calm down.

"Jane Lancaster, I heard you used to play the erhu too. Since you’re all better now, why don’t you show us what you’ve got?"

It was unclear if they had been prompted, but people nearby started to chime in and jeer.

"It’s the old matriarch’s birthday. The grandson’s fiancée should perform a talent."

"We also want to hear the number one socialite’s erhu. I wonder if it sounds even better than Miss Morgan’s."

"Do one, do one~~"

Luna Morgan said, "That might not be a good idea. Miss Lancaster has only just recovered."

She keenly sensed that Vincent Holt seemed to be trying to make things difficult for Jane Lancaster and didn’t want the two of them to be compared.

Vincent Holt replied, "Luna, that’s where you’re wrong. What kind of effort does it take to play the erhu?"

Old Mrs. Holt’s face fell, clearly displeased.

She began to wonder: was Jane truly unable to play, or was she just looking down on an old woman like her and refusing to play?

Jane Lancaster’s voice was calm as she said, "Young Master Holt, you must be mistaken. I don’t know how to play the erhu."

A blunt refusal to play along.

Vincent Holt pressed, "What about the violin, then? You’re the sister of the violin prodigy, Adrian Lancaster. Don’t tell me you can’t even play that?"

"I can’t," Jane refused again.

Now, even a fool could tell it was just an excuse. After all, Jane Lancaster had performed a violin solo at the Holt residence before.

"Jane Lancaster, you’ve gone too far! Are you deliberately trying to embarrass my grandmother?" Vincent Holt exploded.

Someone quickly tried to smooth things over. "Are you afraid of embarrassing yourself? It’s clearly the thought that counts. No one will laugh at you."

"Yes, yes, Old Mrs. Holt wants to hear it, just indulge the old lady."

"The old matriarch likes you the best. She’s always talking about you."

Jane Lancaster was mentally savaging this part of the plot.

’In the original plot, I was supposed to have meticulously prepared a violin performance and then used it as an opportunity to give Luna Morgan a hard time.’

’Caleb Lowell has no female elders in his family, and Old Mrs. Holt once took care of him, so he sees her as his own grandmother. He also told me to respect her and be close to her.’

’Old Mrs. Holt claims to like me best, and as long as I’m obedient, she would indeed help me make things difficult for this "seductress," Luna Morgan.’

’And that would set the stage for Luna Morgan to stun the audience with her erhu skills, a scene where several men would be captivated by her.’

’But why should I be obedient?’

Just a little bit of disobedience, and all the spears were suddenly turned and aimed at her.

Jane Lancaster let out a small laugh. "So my dear Great-Aunt is always talking about me? Then how come no one from the Holt family ever came to see me in the hospital?"