A Graduation Gift

Cold sweats were running down Cassandra's forehead. She didn't know what to do considering that she was the center of attraction and everyone was staring at her. She stood awkwardly alone on the rostrum with her face as pale as the bare walls. Obviously, there was something wrong with her.

Arthur knitted his eyebrows in confusion and anxiously leaned back in his chair.

"What's going on with her?" he tilted his head to his assistant and asked.

His assistant, however, just shrugged his shoulder because he had no idea what was happening. Judging from their previous experiences in doing businesses with the Tang Group, they had witnessed what Cassandra was capable of and they dared not to underestimate her.

They had come and prepared for whatever Cassandra had in store for them, but now it seemed that it was the other way around. Something wrong was happening to her.

Rufus sensed the oddity in the way Cassandra held the flash disk on her clenched fist. He stood up without any hesitation, walked to the organizers and whispered something to them.

He was planning to ask them to give Cassandra another thirty minutes. That would buy Leo some time to go back and fetch a backup copy. He was surprised when Cassandra had braced herself and snapped back right away.

She waved up the flash disk for everyone to see and slowly explained her tight spot.

"It seemed that my flash disk has decided to leave me hanging alone, and it's not good timing," she spoke in no hurry as she shrugged her shoulders with a helpless expression on her face.

Everyone present in the room smiled at her frankness.

"The reason I bought this flash disk was that it got the coolest, most attractive, and had the most unique appearance amongst all the products of the same brand, but it turned out that it didn't serve its purpose. It has a nice appearance but of little use," she continued.

The room was filled with laughter.

Rufus straightened his back and fixed his eyes on Cassandra interestingly.

He was curious about what she would say next.

Then, she changed the topic.

"When I was a little girl, I thought that the most important thing in a certain design was an attractive appearance, but the longer I worked in this industry and the more I learned, the better I understand that the final purpose of design is practicality. The utility should not be sacrificed on behalf of beauty," she narrated emotionally.

The audience she was speaking to was a group of experts when it came to design and architecture. Thus everyone seemed to get the implication of her statement as they nodded their heads in approval.

They had seen the designs of both Tang Group and Dawn Star Group in the past. The former was conservative and practical while the latter focused on the novel appearance. To cover up the unexpected emergency brought about by her broken flash disk, Cassandra compared and contrasted the two design plans taking the example of her own experience.

In the next few minutes, she briefly introduced her design and the reasons behind such a proposal.

by her vivid introductions and the small incident earlier, all the attendees were absorbed in the picture

and he handed it to

to see with their own eyes the things they heard slowly unfolding in front of them. They had been impressed by her description, and the pictures gave them another

on his chair when he realized that there was no need for him to help her out. Cassandra's wit saved her and perfectly solved the crisis. Her misfortune turned out to be

he thought about the promise she made to him yesterday. He felt elated

discuss things and the results would be announced several days later. However, judging from the way they commended Cassandra, it was no doubt that Tang Group would win the bidding this

to Cassandra and gave her a bear hug after she

Great job, Cassandra! You're the best!"

while casting a quick glance at Rufus.

help but notice the myriad expressions in his

her plan, but she was hit by a sudden inspiration when her eyes met Rufus'. Then she gathered up all her strength and started from her broken flash disk, changed the topic to her design

relief, it all turned out to be perfect. Almost everyone in the room recognized her efforts. All went well

flash disk. It was made from a brand known for quality, but she wondered how could it failed to work only several days

eyes away from Cassandra and fixed them on Cloris. He looked

to the ladies' room before Cassandra's presentation. She looked tense and was gripping something in her hands. Moreover, he heard a weird tinkling of something metal colliding with the lavatory.

that her much-loved, sweet, little sister stole her flash disk from her, she must be

sister and reached out

just like Cloris did in front of so many people. The shaking hands were

moment she reached out her hand, and he

as Rufus gave her hand a slight but

flash disk. I'll take it to the engineers to see if they can restore the data in it," he asked deliberately.

hear. He did that

who recommended the flash disk to Cassandra the other day, and I feel so guilty that it almost ruined such a big occasion. So to make it up with what I have done,

scared that Rufus would

placed her hand

company and it's improper for you to just take it to some friends of yours!"

she turned to face Rufus.

whether it can be restored or not. I'll just keep the disk as a souvenir, and

had already confirmed what he needed to know. It made no difference if

Cloris took a deep breath

Cassandra's face was as bright as before. She had no idea that a

in front of Cassandra with his hand extended to congratulate her.

want to show you my appreciation. Congratulations!" he exclaimed with