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.

chatted for a long time. Cassandra learned that Stella was a fresh graduate and working in the marketing department of Tang Group. They might not be in

lively, while Cassandra was calm and distant. Their personalities were in stark contrast to each other. However, it

and Rufus

day, Cassandra and Stella were meeting each other at a cafe. The inviting smell of coffee lingered in the air. "What's

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

surfaced on her pretty face. She

to G City yet? It

a boyfriend? You look so lost. Do you miss

about her personal life. They had been hanging out a lot in the last few days, but they merely swapped stories of their childhood and reminisced on old times. The subject of their personal affairs hadn't

just thinking about my work,"

shake of her head and the guilty tone in her voice were in direct contradiction to her words.

marriage. She had made an agreement with Lionel before

you don't have a boyfriend. Neither do I. You know what? The new president is super handsome.

front of her. She

new president she was referring to

would

winced in regret as soon as the question spilled out of her mouth. She sounded incredibly desperate to her own ears. And how would Stella even know when

But I'm friends

to be laughing at her, as

no...It's none of my business," Cassandra started, and then paused. "All

at her watch. Immediately, she

seat and caught up with Cassandra,

know you are beautiful. It would be a piece of cake for you to get the

wanting to win Rufus over was a ridiculous idea. Only Stella would

that an emergency meeting was about to be held

had any idea what the meeting was about, but they still

Inside the Conference Room

moved to her seat, her arms loaded