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 door.

I

sky start to

the stars start

know that

a nightingale. Every note, every tune, every

sounds. One could confidently say she sang

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

the sunshine, and when we were

ever hold you in the moonlight...Did we make every minute last another day...

to you. And by the summer

the days grow older and the stars

I have are memories and

I see

will the sky

the stars start to

will I know that you're

the stage, Cassandra pulled the mic out from the stand and walked toward the piano. Rufus couldn't 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

flowing voice as he raised his head and gazed at her,

met in the air midways and played with each other, twisting

them, completely

morning, I

last verse softly. Her voice reverberated in

the music gradually dissolved in

each other's gaze. They looked like

finally got up and scooped her into his arms, kissing her on the forehead.

display of affection. Amanda's eyes dripped of jealousy looking at them so close to each

could never have imagined Rufus to have the audacity to bring Cassandra on the stage, let alone kiss her in front

there, only Rufus and Cassandra owned the stage. Amanda was terribly humiliated. She

allowed in the name of love—they were awed by the love

standing in the shade of the piano.

the last. She thought she would perform with Rufus in front of all the attendants. She wanted everyone

inviting Cassandra, or rather, grabbing her hand and bringing her to the

this 'Act of love, ' that they didn't care about Amanda at all. All the guests were

she accept that!

brought Cassandra down the stage as her face blushed. She murmured to Rufus,

me sing without any prior information! What if I had messed up!

glow on her was alluring. Under the sparkling yellow light, she

messed up.

was relaxed. He kept his love-filled eyes

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