A Graduation Gift

Cassandra's mind went blank. She blinked in confusion at the sudden hug. The young woman let go of her, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Don't you remember me? I'm Stella Mu. We went to high school together, remember?"

The woman's tone rose as she explained upon seeing Cassandra's bewildered expression.

Cassandra frowned and racked her brain for the name. Soon, a girl with pigtails who wore black-rimmed glasses materialized in her mind. Whenever that little girl grinned, her braces made an appearance.

"You are Stella Mu?"

Cassandra asked with hesitation. This young lady standing in front of her was so beautiful that it was hard to connect her to the girl with braces from her memory.

Stella beamed at her words, thrilled to hear that her friend remembered her. She reached out and touched Cassandra's hand ecstatically.

"Yeah, I'm Stella! Glad you remembered me! I didn't expect to meet you here at Tang Group. Gosh, we haven't seen each other for years. I haven't seen you since we graduated from high school. Where have you been?"

Stella talked on and on as if she never planned to stop. Cassandra realized that she hadn't changed a bit. Her friend was still as lively and talkative as before.

She was still surprised at meeting a childhood friend. "I went to Rome to study. Came back not so long ago. You are so beautiful, Stella."

Cassandra smiled at Stella, sighing pleasantly at the change in her friend.

"Oh," Stella blushed. "of course, you went abroad! I should have guessed. Why didn't you keep in touch? Have I ever told you that you were my idol in high school? You were so beautiful and scored so well in exams. I admired and envied you."

Stella's excitement at meeting an acquaintance from years ago still hadn't dimmed. She wanted to catch up on everything they had been up to in the past several years.

Cassandra was a bit embarrassed. She gave Stella a smile and lowered her head. Time is cruel and strange. She had gotten engaged that year when she finished high school. Then, she went to Rome after getting married, without telling anyone.

Time in Rome had seemed to slow down. Her days were not as smooth as she had hoped for. She had endured a lot of loneliness in the foreign land. But eventually, she had made friends, and now she had left her social circle in the country behind.

Stella Mu was the first friend she had met after coming back to G City.

their conversation. They chatted for a long time. Cassandra learned that Stella was a fresh graduate and working in the marketing department of Tang Group. They might

active and lively, while Cassandra was calm and

days passed, and Rufus still had not

cafe. The inviting smell of coffee lingered in

asked in a low voice. She wondered what was troubling her friend. Cassandra seemed to be lost

her pretty face. She had been

not he come back to G City yet? It had been so many days

look so lost. Do

lot in the last few days, but they merely swapped stories of

just

head and the guilty tone in her voice were in direct contradiction

before she started working at Tang Group to keep their relationship

boyfriend. Neither do I.

in front of her. She took a sip and gossiped

president she was referring

would

regret as soon as the question spilled out of her mouth. She sounded incredibly desperate to her own ears. And how

friends with his assistant. Do you need me

be laughing at her, as if she had seen through Cassandra's ruse.

started, and then paused. "All right, time

at her watch. Immediately, she shot up from her seat and walked out of the coffee shop without

seat and caught up with

a piece of cake for you to get the man. Better win him over quickly. Then

Cassandra further. She flushed a bright shade of red. Her wanting to win Rufus over was a ridiculous idea. Only Stella would consider it a

informed that an emergency meeting was about to

meeting was about, but they still went back to their workplaces and prepared for it.

Inside the Conference Room

to her seat, her arms loaded with various