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.

walked away and

I

will the sky

the stars start

know that you're

Her voice was smooth and clear, like a nightingale. Every note, every tune, every syllable came out perfectly. It was almost as if she was a professional

One could confidently say she sang as well as the singer who originally

of piano music filled the air, mixing harmoniously with

in the sunshine, and when we were about

hold you in the moonlight...Did

a cold December night, I gave my heart to you. And by

days grow older and the

memories and

I see you

the sky start

the stars start to

will I know that

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

voice as he raised his head and gazed at her, his eyes brimming

met

them, completely sidelined.

I

reverberated in the hall before it

music gradually dissolved in

gaze. They looked like a perfect

her into his arms, kissing her

eyes dripped of jealousy looking at them so close

bring Cassandra on the stage, let

were three of them up there, only Rufus and Cassandra owned the stage. Amanda was terribly humiliated. She felt completely hollow,

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

fists in anger, standing in the shade of the piano.

perform with Rufus in front of all the attendants. She wanted everyone to know how compatible she was with Rufus, so that Cassandra would

inviting Cassandra, or rather, grabbing her hand and bringing her to the stage. The duet they were supposed to perform together simply became accompaniment music for

they didn't care about Amanda at all. All the guests were discussing about the couple, completely ignoring the third, extra person on the

could she

murmured to Rufus, her tone both shy and angry, at the

could you make me sing without any prior information! What if I had messed up! It would've been so

her was alluring. Under

wouldn't have messed

his love-filled eyes fixed

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