Chapter 15

　　“Mr. Qiao, thank you for coming,” Vera said with a neutral tone of voice. “I didn’t expect that you would grace this welcome party with your presence.” 　　After having learned her lesson last time, she spoke very carefully for fear of being misunderstood. She didn’t want anyone to think she had any ulterior motives. 　　“Then have a drink.” 　　While Sean Qiao spoke, the assistant beside him had already poured her some wine. 　　“Oh no, please, Mr. Qiao...” 　　Vera Qin just wanted to refuse, but this time Director Hao interrupted her. “Director Qin, you must drink Mr. Qiao’s wine. He’ll never forgive you if you don’t.” 　　Vera Qin could not refuse it. 　　“In that case, I’ll have a drink.” 　　However, after she had started, she couldn’t stop. Vera downed one cup after another, until her face was flushed. 　　Now that she had loosened up, Vera didn’t seem intimidating at all, but rather very charming. Sean Qiao was lost for a moment. 　　Vera Qin finally got drunk and had to be sent home. 　　Sean Qiao assisted her, rummaging in her bag for a long time before finding the key to the house, and opened the door to enter. 　　“Mummy.” 　　“Vera, you’re back...” 　　Hearing the door opening, Daniella Tang and Luna walked over together to meet her at the door. They were both surprised to find Vera slumped in the arms of a tall and handsome man. 　　“What’s wrong? Did she drink too much?” 　　Daniella Tang hurried over to help Vera. 　　Sean Qiao did not answer her question, but helped carry Vera to the sofa. While guiding him to the sofa, Daniella’s cell phone began to ring. 　　“Mom.” She listened as the other person spoke. “Well, don’t be mad, I’ll go back right away.” 　　Daniella Tang put down the phone, her expression nervous and anxious. 　　“I have to go back home, will you be okay? Can you look after Luna and Vera?” 　　Daniella Tang didn’t even wait for a reply, she immediately left. 　　“Uncle, did mom drink a lot of alcohol?” 　　Luna walked to Sean Qiao’s side and asked tentatively. 　　“Well...” Sean didn’t know how to answer the child. “I don’t think she drank too much, she should be fine after she gets some sleep.” 　　Luna tried to pull her mother from the Sofa. Her mother was too wasted to wake up, and too heavy for her to carry. So she asked him for help. “Uncle, please bring mommy to the bed.” 　　Surprised, Sean looked at her for a while. 　　Luna tugged at his hand. “She will be uncomfortable here.” 　　Sean heaved as he lifted her dead weight from the sofa. She was a tall woman, and it wasn’t the easiest thing to do. He carried her sideways, all the way to the bedroom. 　　“It’s getting late, go to bed with your mother. Uncle needs to go home.” 　　After helping Luna cover Vera with the blanket, Sean Qiao prepared to leave. 　　“Uncle.” Luna’s little voice stopped him. 　　“What?” 　　“Uncle, can you wait for me to fall asleep before you leave?” 　　She was making her puppy-dog eyes, and Sean couldn’t bear to say no. 　　“Alright. Go to bed, and I'll leave after you fall asleep.” 　　“Thank you uncle.” 　　Luna took his hand and pulled him to the other side of the bed. 　　“Uncle, sit down, and when I’m asleep you can leave.” 　　She went into bed, got into Mommy’s comforter, and then lay down in front of Sean Qiao. The whole time, she held his hand. 　　“Close your eyes so you’d fall asleep.” 　　Sean didn’t understand why Luna kept looking at him and smiled but didn’t sleep. 　　“I’m happy because it’s like I have a dad.” 　　Luna’s words reminded Sean that Vera’s family consisted of a mother and daughter. He felt his chest tighten as if it had been hit. 　　“Go to sleep.” 　　His voice had softened. Even if he was cold and unemotional by nature, he felt sorry for the child. She was an innocent casualty of her parents’ mistakes. 　　In the morning, Vera woke up dizzy. She knew it was all caused by alcohol. 　　When she turned around and saw that her little princess asleep beside her, she smiled in spite of her headache. 　　However, the next moment she froze and her smile stopped abruptly. 　　“Why are you here?” 　　Vera spoke in a low voice, for fear of waking up her daughter. 　　“It’s nothing.” 　　Sean didn’t know why he was still here, let alone why he’d fallen asleep. Normally, it was difficult for him to fall asleep in a strange place? 　　Vera tried hard to remember what happened last night, and finally she gave up because she found that her memory was fragmented. 　　Vera tiptoed out of bed and found that she was still wearing yesterday’s clothes. She was relieved. 　　Walking to his side, she pulled him out of the bedroom. 　　“Mr. Qiao, I don’t remember what happened last night, but it seems inappropriate for you to stay with me. No matter what, you should leave.”