After confirming that her eldest daughter really could hear Yan Xianjue's thoughts,
Mother Yan decided she would no longer let Yan Wan keep worrying.
She urged Yan Xianjue, who had been drinking soup for ages without seeming to make any dent in it, to hurry up, finish it, and go upstairs to do his homework.
[Strange. Why do I feel like Mom threw me away after using me?]
Yan Xianjue stared at Mother Yan in confusion for a while.
Then he tipped back his head and downed the soup in the stew pot in two gulps.
He still wanted to listen a little longer, so he dawdled and refused to leave.
But Yan Wan was too emotionally conflicted to pay attention to him, while Mother Yan knew perfectly well that they could not bring it up in front of him.
Though their reasons differed, both of them began urging him away at the same time.
"Fine." Yan Xianjue sounded rather unhappy.
*
After Yan Xianjue left, Yan Wan immediately took two deep breaths.
Only after her heartbeat had settled somewhat did she ask in shock, "Mom! What is going on?"
Mother Yan's expression confirmed that her mother had absolutely done it on purpose.
"Just as you heard."
After making sure Yan Xianjue had gone upstairs, Mother Yan got straight to the point and briefly explained how everyone in the family could hear Xianjue's thoughts.
Yan Wan felt as though her entire worldview had been rebuilt in the span of a few short minutes.
She took some time to process it.
"I can hear Xianjue's thoughts."
Mother Yan nodded.
"Xianjue thinks we live in a novel."
Mother Yan continued nodding.
"He also knows the plot of this novel, and our family has already gotten through several crises thanks to his thoughts?"