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.

which had engaged in industries of all aspects. If that was the case…she turned to Jasper with wide eyes. That must mean that Jasper was

addressed him as 'Uncle' earlier, as if she was related to him. Somehow,

to address him as 'President Li, ' this time, even as she stumbled over her words. Jasper felt even more uncomfortable at the sudden show of

brands were best for the designs she had in mind. In reality, Cassandra already had a clear

She silently thanked him for his graciousness. Now, she could get

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

be good to celebrate this day with Rufus.They could have tea together and she would tell him all about what happened in her day. She clutched the bags in her hand

the evening, but there was still no sign of Rufus. Cassandra checked her phone. No messages. Her calls were also unanswered. She felt his absence put a

There had never been a time before when Rufus didn't

but he told her that he would come to visit on the evening of

she stood up and put the dish she had cooked in a pot to keep it warm. Then, she slumped back on the couch and waited. The sound of the clock seemed very

she was enveloped in

in G City, Amanda's performance was had paused into an interlude.

filled the room as the choir sang on the stage. They had an almost ethereal

step to enhance our cultural influence and visibility. It would be good to show our involvement in community matters, or people would start calling us as uncultured

with his idea, and sank back

planned to come to this concert at all. However, Horace asked his driver to

seat. He also had received an invitation to

past. Amanda had sent him two tickets for her previous show through her assistant, but he gave them to Victor

absolute adoration. It was all too familiar, as he too, had once been one of them. He closed his eyes

one time, she had seemed to make his world brighter and more beautiful. But that happiness lasted a short time. He could still remember how distraught he was 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.

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 involved with her in

and in tears. A pang of pain clutched at his heart.

musings as he replied

local government is planning to appoint a spokesperson for the scenic

hint of a smile was pulling on Horace's

the investor, he had been digging for any information he could

about the things he read. She would be the perfect match for Rufus— young, beautiful, talented, and from a good family.

about this. He sat on his chair restlessly.

her on this holiday. He glanced at his watch for the hundredth time that evening. Given the time, it would be close to midnight when he arrived

and of all things, he had even left his phone at his

trying to find a more comfortable position as his mind wandered to her.

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

playing, her fingers leaping on the keys. The music echoed through the halls, playing a melody that was vibrant