A Graduation Gift

Cassandra felt a dull pain stabbing at her back and waist. Sighing out loud, she could feel tight knots in her muscles. It was indeed not an easy job to manage a business.

"Cassandra?"

A familiar voice called out to her. She looked up and met a man's concerned gaze. He seemed very familiar, and it took Cassandra a moment to recognize him.

"Oh, Uncle… Uncle Jasper!"

She hesitated on using the honorific, unsure of how to address him. Calling him 'Uncle-In-Law' did not seem very appropriate as she hadn't married into Rufus's family yet. At the same time, 'Brother' would sound too intimate, and so she settled for 'Uncle'... The only problem was that Jasper looked too young to be addressed as such.

Sure enough, he gave her an awkward look upon her greeting. He signed inwardly, 'Am I that old?'

At this moment, a man in a suit strode to his direction and bowed before him respectfully.

"President Li, we didn't expect that you would be coming today. Is there anything I could do for you?"

Cassandra peeked at the name tag on his chest. It bore the title "Supervisor".

But her thoughts were elsewhere instantly. 'What? President Li?' Cassandra tried to hide her surprise upon hearing the man call Jasper 'President'.

"I have checked the reports. Good work,"

Jasper said to him, with calm and formal air. It was as if a different person was standing in front of her. She failed to find any trace of the laughter and playfulness he had on the night of New Year's Eve.

The man visibly brightened at the president's acknowledgement.

Then, Jasper turned to Cassandra and asked her softly, "Are you here to shop for anything?"

His voice pulled Cassandra from her thoughts and back to reality. "Oh, I'm here to pick up some supplies," she managed to reply.

Jasper waved a hand at the supervisor, and in an instant he was at his side, wearing a big smile.

"Give Miss Qin the cost price of all the products. Charge the remaining balance cost to my account,"

he instructed. The supervisor nodded repeatedly.

"Well, thank you so much for your help, President Li," Cassandra uttered with gratitude, stunned by his generosity.

Not once had it crossed Cassandra's mind that Jasper would be the president of this huge mall.

had engaged in industries of all aspects. If that was the

'Uncle' earlier, as if she was related to him. Somehow, she felt awkward when she thought about how it

as she stumbled over

in mind. In reality, Cassandra already had a clear

her at an unbelievably low price. She silently thanked him for his graciousness. Now, she could get the things she needed

she walked out of the mall. It was a good day and she felt very pleasant as she bounced on her feet and wore a smile on her face. Today seemed like her lucky day. She had already crossed

celebrate this day with Rufus.They could have tea together and

but there was still no sign of Rufus. Cassandra checked her phone. No messages. Her calls were also

a time before when Rufus didn't call or

told her that he

and waited. The sound of the clock seemed very loud in the silence of the

was enveloped in the

concert hall in G City, Amanda's performance was had paused into

on the stage. They had an almost ethereal sound as the melodies echoed

must sponsor Miss Ke's next concert. It would be a good step to enhance our cultural influence and visibility. It would be good to

his idea, and sank back to

hadn't planned to come to this concert at all. However, Horace asked his driver to wait for him right outside the office building and insisted on

also had received an invitation to this concert, but going was the last

had been other invitations in the past. Amanda had sent him two tickets for her previous show through her assistant, but

the crowd's faces when she played— mesmerized, and in absolute adoration. It was all too familiar, as he too, had once been one of them. He closed his eyes as

when she broke up with him at her father's request. All at once, his world turned gloomy, as if she took all the light with her. It took him a long time to move on. One day, he woke

that Amanda wanted to go back the way things were before. The knowledge brought him no feelings at all. It was as if his past self was a stranger. He had no desire to be

drifted to Cassandra, bringing up the image of her drunk and in tears. A pang of pain clutched at his heart. He never wanted to see it happen

voice broke through his musings as

planning to appoint a spokesperson for the scenic spot, and

hint of a smile was pulling on Horace's face as he heard

had been digging for

things he read. She would be the perfect match for Rufus— young, beautiful, talented, and from a good family. If he could pair them up, marriage would

and unresponsive about this. He sat on his chair restlessly.

Cassandra that he would go to the Garden Villa to have dinner with her on this holiday. He glanced at his watch for the hundredth time that evening. Given the time, it

be anxious, waiting for him; and of all things, he had even left his phone at his office,

his seat, trying to find a more

golden dress. There was a beat of silence as the crowd held their breath at the sight of her. Everyone's eyes

and started playing, her fingers leaping on the keys. The music echoed