Senior Sy noticed Noah was drinking too much already, so he approached him and took him to sit near him.

  "Son… That's enough…" Noah heard Liam's father say as he asked the waiter to get him another beer. He saw the old man signalling the waiter not to get any more bottles but instead instructed the waiter to get Noah something to sober him up and feel better.

  "Your sister has left already. Here, drink this and you will feel better…" Senior Sy said, handing him the bottle of sobering drink from the waiter.

  Noah then saw the old man had a beautiful smile on his face as he looked into a particular direction. Noah followed where he was staring. The old man's eyes were at Liam and Lana, who were sharing a sweet melody dance as they hugged each other.

  "Such a lovely couple, I guess…." Noah commented dryly.

  Senior Sy chuckled as he realized Noah followed his gaze, so he said, "Son, do you know what's the biggest joy of a father? It's seeing his children settling down with suitable partners in life, someone with whom they can be with for a lifetime."

  "How come you didn't have a lifetime, Sir?" Noah unconsciously asked.

  Senior Sy was caught off guard by that question.

  Noah turned at him and said, "I'm so sorry Sir. I didn't mean to…… just… that I noticed that you are alone at this party…"

  Senior Sy heaved a long sigh and turned to look at Noah and said, "I guess I was not that lucky son. That's why I keep praying that all my children may never end up like me… without a lifetime partner…… I want my children to have someone who could stay with them for the rest of their lives."

  Noah suddenly felt guilty seeing that genuine smile from the old man. He did not mean to say that, but it unconsciously slipped out from his mouth.

  "I'm sorry…" he whispered apologetically.

  Senior Sy was surprised with his apology. He chuckled and said, "For what? You don't have to, son… I may not have got a lifetime partner, but I'm blessed with beautiful and good children. That is more than enough for me to have a happy lifetime with them… Don't be sorry for things you're not involved with or got a hold too."

  Senior Sy turned again to look at Noah and with the same warm smile he added, "I hope you and Liam could become real friends despite being competitors in business."

  Noah only answered him with a faint and awkward smile. He wondered if that time would really come because he knew his heart was full of hatred and somehow becoming friends with him would be a struggle.

  The party soon ended and almost everyone left except for the three drunkards, Luo, Daryl and Noah. Liam instructed Andrew to drop off the three of them to their respective homes since it would not be safe to let any of them drive their own cars.

  "Let's have another round at our favorite bar?" Daryl asked Luo while they were inside the car, not minding that Noah was sitting with them in the back seat. Luo was in the middle while the two men, Daryl and Noah, were both flanking her, sitting on her left and right, respectively.

  "Isn't it too late already for another round?" Noah mumbled. Daryl's face crumpled and was about?to say another word, but Luo interrupted and said, "Yeah, Daryl… Let's go for a drink some other time. I feel tired anyway."

  Daryl no longer insisted seeing it was already midnight besides he still had a pile of work to finish the next day in the office.

  Daryl was the first one to get off since his place was the first one Andrew passed by along the way.

  "Andrew, you can stop over at?the cafe in the next street. Drop me and Luo there. We will have some coffee and I want to have some talk with her. You can go ahead and I'll have my driver to pick us up." Noah instructed.

  Luo turned to look at Noah and burst, "Me? Coffee with me at this hour?"

  "Miss Luo?" Andrew asked as he looked at the rearview mirror, waiting for her confirmation on what Noah just said.

  Luo heaved a sigh and said, "It's okay, Andrew. You can do as he said…"

  Andrew stopped the car at the said coffee shop, and Noah with Luo got out of the car. Luo followed Noah, wondering what could be the deal of the man at this hour. They both had drunk a lot in the party but sobered up a bit now because of the medicine Senior Sy gave them.

  Inside the cafe they sat opposite each other, Noah ordered hot coffee for them both.

  Luo placed her palms under her chin with her elbows on the table and stared at Noah with a grin.

  "What?" Noah beamed with collided eyebrows.

  "I should be the one asking that… What now? I'm supposed to be home sleeping on my soft bed at this hour, you know. So what is it that you want to talk about…" Luo asked with her eyes ogling at Noah.

  She loved to see his exaggerated expressions whenever Noah would crumple his face in irritation. Sometimes she would often question her character, for since when did she start to enjoy bullying a man this much but Noah was an exception from the others. It was like she could not get enough of bullying him.

  "So you're a heavy drinker as well. We're so compatible and can be good drink buddies…" She commented with a wink when Noah seemed to think still what to say to her.

  Noah's face was so serious, but Luo did not give a damn even if he looked stern. When he still did not respond, Luo pouted her lips and said, "Okay if we are not going to talk like what you said then I'll just go and get myself a cab. I hate talking to a statue…"

  She was about to stand up when she heard Noah speak, "So tell me how much will it cost for you to sleep with me, huh?"