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.

the 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

she was related to him. Somehow, she felt awkward

and Cassandra made sure to address him as 'President Li, ' this time, even as she stumbled over her words. Jasper felt even more uncomfortable at the

clear picture in her head of what she wanted, but she hesitated. She had a limited budget, and she had to

Jasper's help, all she needed were offered to her at an unbelievably low price. She silently thanked him for

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

with tea. It would be good to celebrate this day with Rufus.They could have tea together and she would tell

Her calls were also unanswered. She felt his absence put a damper on her

before when Rufus didn't call or send her a

he lived in the home of Tangs, but he told her that he would come to visit on the evening of Lantern Festival. What could

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 lulling her. After some time, she

her dreams, she was enveloped in the warmth of Rufus's arms.

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

room as the choir sang on the stage. They had

Rufus were seated in the front row. Turning to his side, Horace said, "We 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 show our involvement in community

his idea, and sank back

to come to this concert at all. However, Horace asked his driver to wait for him right outside the office

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

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

watched countless of her concerts. He remembered 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

was when she broke up with him at her father's request. All at once, his world

brought him no feelings at all. It was as if his past self was a stranger. He had

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

his musings as he replied to Horace.

has it that the local government is planning to appoint a spokesperson for the scenic spot,

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

the investor, he had been digging

for Rufus— young, beautiful, talented, and

unresponsive about this. He sat on his chair

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

anxious, waiting for him; and of all things, he had even left his phone at his office, so he had no way of reaching her.

seat, trying to find a more comfortable position

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

her fingers leaping on the keys. The music echoed