A Graduation Gift

Rufus held Cassandra's hand and strode toward the stage, taking her along.

Looking at the two of them approaching, the crowd automatically cleared a path for them.

Amanda's face dulled, her lips pressed together. 'Why would Rufus bring Cassandra up here? What is he up to?' she wondered bitterly.

A hint of nervousness flashed through Lionel's eyes. Rufus's actions had perplexed him.

Cassandra, on the other hand, was in a daze. Even when they reached the stage, she still hadn't recollected her senses.

"Let Cassandra, Amanda and I perform together for this show!"

Rufus announced, taking the microphone. Then, he turned the speaker off and whispered to Cassandra, "Sing something. Anything is fine. I'll play the accompaniment music for you."

He turned the mic back on, fixing it on the stand and adjusting its height for Cassandra. He gave her an encouraging smile and a pat on her shoulder before he walked to the piano and took a seat.

Everyone in the room was shocked! The love triangle in the rumour was now on the stage, ready to perform together. What was this supposed to mean?

Some wondered if this was one of Rufus's business strategy to gain fame by becoming the hot topic all over the news.

Most of the crowd was curiously drawn to Cassandra, who, on the other hand, had no idea about what she was supposed to do. She had simply been dragged onto the stage, mindlessly, and then, asked to sing!

Even though part of her was pretty confident about her singing skills; truth was, she had never sung in front of so many people. The most she did was sometimes to hum and sing to herself in solitude.

Once, Rufus had joked saying she sang so well that she could even release an album of her own. Of course, she rejected the idea right away. She didn't want to become a publicly scrutinised singer. All she wanted was to work at her desk, drawing her sketches.

She found herself most relaxed working with the pen and the paper in silence, or making use of the design applications on the computer. It was almost meditative for her.

But in the moment, Cassandra had no chance to retreat. The mic was right in front of her, and hundreds of people were waiting for her to give them a performance. If she flinched, wouldn't she be viewed as a coward by the others in the industry?

What would they think of her—the head of the Qin Group wasn't even willing to sing a song at the charity dinner?

She couldn't let this happen!

'Never mind, just give it all!' she said to herself.

She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath, preparing herself.

The crowd went quiet, all their eyes fixed on Cassandra.

"In that misty morning when I saw your smiling face.

You only looked at me and I was yours.

But when I turned around, you were nowhere to be seen.

had walked away and closed the

I see you

the sky

stars start

know that

nightingale. Every note, every tune, every syllable came out perfectly. It was almost as if she was

was no hints of forced fanciness in her voice, no impure sounds. One could confidently say she sang as well as the singer who originally

with acapella. Slowly, a gentle stream of piano music filled the air, mixing

you in the sunshine, and when we were about a thousand years away...

the moonlight...Did we make every

my heart to you. And

the days grow older and the stars will start to dim.

have are memories and this

will I

will the sky start to

stars

know that

play the piano as spectacularly as Amanda, but his adept way of playing was enough to accomplish a successful duet, and satisfy the crowd. After all, most of them weren't particularly music maestros and didn't have picky

he raised his head and gazed at her, his eyes brimming with

met in the air midways and played with each other,

them, completely sidelined.

that misty morning, I saw your smiling

voice reverberated in the hall before

music gradually dissolved in the air

each other's gaze. They looked like

and scooped her into his arms, kissing

of affection. Amanda's eyes dripped of jealousy looking at them so

have imagined Rufus to have the audacity to bring Cassandra on the stage, let alone kiss her in front

them up there, only Rufus and Cassandra owned the stage. Amanda was

people who pitied Amanda and found Rufus' actions inappropriate, but it seemed that anything was allowed in the name of love—they were awed by the love between Rufus and Cassandra, and didn't notice how embarrassed Amanda was. The audience applauded, marking a perfect end to the

the piano. Her face turned deadly pale, her eyes

the performances such that hers was the last. She thought she would perform with Rufus in front of all the attendants. She wanted everyone to know how compatible she was with

of expecting Rufus would act so impulsively and sabotage her plan by inviting Cassandra, or rather, grabbing her

at all. All the guests were discussing about the couple, completely ignoring the third, extra person

she accept

blushed. She murmured to Rufus, her tone both shy and angry, at the same

prior information! What if I had messed up!

eyes, her lips and the glow on her was alluring. Under the sparkling yellow light, she looked enchantingly

wouldn't have messed

his love-filled eyes fixed at

they made. She couldn't stand to see them being all lovey-dovey, standing so close