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.

TY Group, an international business 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 the president of

she was related to him. Somehow, she felt awkward when she

even as she stumbled

already had a clear picture in her head of what she wanted, but she hesitated.

needed were offered to her at an unbelievably low price. She silently thanked him for his graciousness. Now, she

very pleasant as she bounced on her feet and

day with Rufus.They could have tea together

time ticked by and it was 9:00 in 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 damper on her

was very unusual. There had never been a time before when Rufus didn't call or send her a message if

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

pot to keep it warm. Then, she slumped back on the couch and waited. The sound of the clock seemed very loud in the silence of the hall, and she felt the rhythmic sound

dreams, she was enveloped in the warmth of

in the largest concert hall in G City, Amanda's performance was had paused into an interlude.

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

step to enhance our cultural influence and visibility. It would be

idea,

He hadn't planned to come to this concert at all. However, Horace asked his driver

had received an invitation to this concert, but going was the last thing on his

tickets for her previous show through her assistant, but he gave them to Victor and

faces when she played— mesmerized, and in absolute adoration. It was all too familiar, as he too,

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 up to find every trace of her gone from his heart. That

the way things were before. The knowledge brought him no feelings at all. It was as if his past self was

of her drunk and in tears. A pang of pain clutched at his heart. He never wanted to see

broke through his musings as he replied to Horace.

government is planning to appoint a spokesperson for the scenic spot, and they have their eye on Miss Ke," he said.

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

the investor, he 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

this. He sat on his chair

to have dinner with her on this holiday. He glanced at his watch for the hundredth time that evening. Given the time, it

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

trying to find a more comfortable position

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

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