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.

of all aspects. If that was the case…she turned to Jasper with wide eyes. That must mean that Jasper was the president

if she was related to him. Somehow, she felt awkward when she thought about how it might have seemed to

Li, ' this time, even as she stumbled over her words. Jasper felt even more

gave recommendations about which brands were best for the designs she had in mind. In reality, Cassandra already had a clear picture in her head of what she wanted, but she hesitated. She had a limited budget,

at an unbelievably low price. She silently thanked him for his graciousness. Now, she could get the things she needed

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 lucky day. She

to buy some chicken to stew with tea. It would be good to celebrate this day with Rufus.They could have tea together and she would

but there was still no sign of Rufus. Cassandra checked her phone. No messages. Her calls were

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

in the home of Tangs, but he told her that he would come to visit on the evening of Lantern

it warm. Then, she slumped back on the couch and waited. The sound of the clock seemed very loud

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

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

the choir sang on the stage. They had an almost

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 matters, or

was evidently satisfied with his idea,

the seconds. He hadn't planned to come to this concert at all. However, Horace asked his driver to wait for him right outside the

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

Amanda had sent him two tickets for her previous show through her

and in absolute adoration. It was all too familiar, as he too, had once been one of them. He closed his eyes

he was when she broke up with him at her father's request. All at once, his world turned gloomy, as if she took all

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

tears. A

broke through his musings as

has it that the local government is planning to appoint a spokesperson for the scenic spot, and they have their eye on Miss

a smile was pulling on Horace's

been digging for any information

about the things he read. She would be the perfect match for Rufus— young, beautiful, talented, and from a good family. If he could pair them up, marriage would naturally fall into

about this.

glanced at his watch for the hundredth time that evening. Given the time, it would be close to midnight when

of all things, he had even left his phone at his office,

a more comfortable

held their breath at the sight of her. Everyone's eyes were fixed on her as she crossed the stage

her fingers leaping on the keys. The music echoed through the halls, playing a melody that was vibrant as spring.